Week commencing 10 May 1993

I don’t know what to say about this week in 1993’s new entries peaking outside the Australian top 100, other than they are an eclectic bunch.  Shall we take a look?

D:Ream: things could only get better from this chart position.

Top 150 debuts:

Number 128 “Things Can Only Get Better” by D:Ream (1993 release)

Peak: number 128 (1993 chart run); number 9 (1994 chart run)

Peak date: 10 May 1993 (1993 chart run); 28 March 1994 (1994 chart run)

Weeks in top 150: 35 weeks (5 weeks in 1993; 30 weeks in 1994)

Top 150 chart run: 1993: 128-145-133-142-134.  

Re-entry 14 February 1994: 87-59-42-24-19-13-9-11-10-10-10-11-10-11-14-14-18-20-19-21-26-36-43-50-58-61-89-68-106-105

Weeks on chart: 43 weeks (1993 and 1994 chart runs combined)

Pop group D:Ream formed in Manchester, England in 1992.  The band’s live line up included Brian Cox, who would later become a professor of particle physics and a famous TV science broadcaster, on keyboards, although singer Peter Cunnah played keyboards on their studio recordings.  Their first single, an early version of “U R the Best Thing”, scraped into the lower end of the UK Top 75 in June 1992.  “Things Can Only Get Better”, their second single, would become their breakthrough hit in Australia, but not upon its initial 1993 release.  The track was lifted from their debut album D:Ream on Vol. 1 (number 12, June 1994).

The early 1993 release of “Things Can Only Get Better” peaked at number 24 in the UK in January 1993, and at number 23 in Austria for two weeks in June 1993.  The song would get a subtle remix, and a new music video, opening with the “you can walk my path, you can wear my shoes” couplet, for a late December 1993 re-release in the UK, where it became a much bigger hit, peaking at number 1 there for four weeks in January-February 1994.

The late 1993/early 1994 release of “Things Can Only Get Better” also peaked at number 2 in Ireland in January 1994, number 7 in Sweden in February 1994, number 20 in Germany in March 1994, number 20 in the Netherlands in March 1994, number 11 in Switzerland in March 1994, number 10 in the Flanders region of Belgium in April 1994, and number 46 in New Zealand in April 1994.  The song also reached number 7 on the US Billboard Dance Club Songs chart in January 1994.

In Australia, the 1994 release of “Things Can Only Get Better” peaked at number 9 in March 1994.  The single performed strongest in South Australia/Norther Territory, where it reached number 3 on the state chart.

“Things Can Only Get Better” received a third lease of life in the UK, being used (with D:Ream’s permission) as the ‘new Labour’ campaign song, led by Tony Blair, at the 1997 election.  The single was re-released again, peaking at number 19 in the UK in April 1997.  D:Ream came to regret to regret their decision to allow Labour to use their song, following the 2003 invasion of Iraq, which was supported by Tony Blair.

We’ll see D:Ream next in July 1993 with another single that would later go on to become a hit when remixed and re-released.

Number 130 “Play Me” by The Welcome Mat

Peak: number 123

Peak date: 24 May 1993

Weeks in top 150: 8 weeks

Top 150 chart run: 130-124-123-124-133-125-135-144

We last saw Sydney band The Welcome Mat in March 1993.  “Play Me” was the second single lifted from their debut album Gram (number 107, April 1993).

We’ll next see The Welcome Mat in 1996.

Number 134 “Gentleman Style” by Indecent Obsession

Peak: number 118

Peak date: 24 May 1993

Weeks in top 150: 6 weeks

Chart run: 134-127-118-140-140-136

Weeks on chart: 6 weeks

Aussie pop band Indecent Obsession last graced our presence in 1992.

“Gentleman Style” was the fourth and final single released in Australia from the band’s second album Indio (number 39, August 1992).  Another track from the album, “Whispers in the Dark”, received a single release in Europe, but not Australia.  On the state charts, “Gentleman Style” performed strongest in Queensland, where it reached number 70.

I hadn’t heard this one until writing this post.  I liked it.  As I have no doubt previously written, I think Indecent Obsession’s success was hindered by being initially marketed as a ‘pin-up’ boy band aimed at teenage girls… and possibly also by having a stupid band name.

Indecent Obsession singer David Dixon would soon leave the group, taking on the role of Joseph in the Australian leg of stage production Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, a role Jason Donovan filled in Europe.  David embarked on a brief solo career, landed a minor hit on the Australian chart with “Joseph Mega-Mix” (number 53, June 1993).  We shall see David bubble under with a solo single in 1994.  He further delved into acting, taking on the role of bad boy Nathan Roberts (almost my namesake), Irene’s jailbird son, on Home and Away towards the end of 1993.  I read somewhere years ago that David was now working as a helicopter pilot.

The rest of the group, meanwhile, continued as Indecent Obsession, recruiting English vocalist Richard Hannassey.  We’ll see the new line up Indecent Obsession bubble under in 1994.

Number 140 “All Together Now” by Jon English

Peak: number 128

Peak date: 31 May 1993

Weeks in top 150: 6 weeks

Top 150 chart run: 140-141-131-128-141-143

English-born Australian-based singer-songwriter and actor Jon English placed 18 singles on the Australian top 100 between 1973 and 1983, with  “Six Ribbons” (number 5 for two weeks in February-March 1979) being the biggest of those.  Jon played the role of ageing rocker Bobby Rivers on Australian sitcom All Together Now, which aired between January 1991 and September 1993.  This was the theme song used for the show.  Although I don’t recall ever watching an episode of it, I do remember the show.

This would be Jon’s final top 150 single in Australia.  He died in 2016, aged 66, due to complications from surgery for an aortic aneurysm.

Number 144 “Ride Like the Wind” by East Side Beat

Peak: number 144

Peak date: 10 May 1993

Weeks in top 150: 1 week

Known chart run: 188-144

Weeks on chart: 6 weeks

We last saw Italian dance project East Side Beat in March 1993.  “Ride Like the Wind”, a cover version of the Christopher Cross song (number 25, June 1980), was released in Europe in late 1991 as their first single, but received a belated Australian release in 1993 as their second single.

Internationally, “Ride Like the Wind” peaked at number 3 in the UK in December 1991, number 4 in Ireland, number 4 in the Flanders region of Belgium for five weeks in January-February 1992, number 29 in Austria in January 1992, number 6 in the Netherlands in February 1992, number 24 in Germany in February 1992, number 12 in France in February 1992, and number 23 in Switzerland in March 1992.

Domestically, “Ride Like the Wind” was most popular in Victoria/Tasmania, where it reached number 132 on the state chart.

While there was no music video filmed for “Ride Like the Wind”, you can see East Side Beat perform it live on Top of the Pops here.

We won’t see East Side Beat again, but singer Carl Fanini will bubble under with Clubhouse in 1994.

Number 145 “The Love I Lost” by West End featuring Sybil

Peak: number 145

Peak date: 10 May 1993

Weeks in top 150: 1 week

Top 150 chart run: 145

Weeks on chart: 8 weeks

We last saw American singer Sybil Lynch in 1991.

West End was an alias of Eddie Gordon, though what role he played on this recording, I am not sure, as his role is not specified on the credits.  “The Love I Lost” was otherwise just a Stock Waterman (formerly Stock Aitken Waterman) production with Sybil on vocals.  Eddie’s role at PWL was to find artists or songs to bring in to be produced by Stock Waterman or distributed in the UK through PWL Records.  As doing a version of this song was Eddie’s idea, he wasn’t too pleased that he did not receive any credit, other than West End being billed, on the single sleeve.  The song is a cover version of Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes’ “The Love I Lost” from 1973.  This version was the lead single from Sybil’s fourth studio album Good ‘N’ Ready (released in Australia in August 1993, did not chart).

Internationally, “The Love I Lost” peaked at number 3 in the UK for two weeks in January 1993, number 9 in Ireland, number 90 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in April 1993, and number 68 in Germany in April 1993.  The song also peaked at number 18 on the US Billboard Dance Club Songs in May 1993, and number 18 on the Dance Singles Sales chart in June 1993.

In Australia, “The Love I Lost” performed strongest in Western Australia, where it reached number 117 on the state chart.

I didn’t hear this one until picking up the UK 2-CD compilation The Greatest Hits of 1993 while on a family holiday in Hong Kong in January 1994.

We will see Sybil on one more occasion, in August 1993.

Number 147 “Dollar Bill” by Screaming Trees (1993 release)

Peak: number 147 (1993 chart run); number 119 (1995 chart run)

Peak date: 10 May 1993 (1993 chart run); 13 February 1995 (1995 chart run)

Weeks in top 150: 5 weeks (1 week in 1993; 4 weeks in 1995)

Top 150 chart run: 147.  Re-entry 6 February 1995: 132-119-139-144

American rock band Screaming Trees formed in 1984 in Ellensburg, Washington.  “Dollar Bill” was the second single issued from the band’s sixth studio album Sweet Oblivion (number 77, March 1993), following “Nearly Lost You” (number 96, March 1993), which was their only single to dent the ARIA top 100.

Internationally, “Dollar Bill” peaked at number 52 in the UK in April 1993.  The song also registered on two US Billboard genre-specific charts, peaking at number 28 on the Alternative Airplay chart in January 1993, and number 40 on the Mainstream Rock Airplay chart in July 1993.

Interestingly, “Dollar Bill” re-entered the ARIA top 150 in early 1995, reaching a higher peak of number 119.

I hadn’t heard this one before.  The guitar refrain during the introduction and verses reminds very much of George Michael’s “Waiting for That Day” (number 50, May 1991).

Screaming Trees lead singer Matt Lanegan died in 2022, aged 57.  A cause of death has not been publicly revealed.  Screaming Trees bassist Van Conner has also passed away, in 2023 aged 55, from pneumonia after contracting COVID-19 following surgery.

We’ll next see Screaming Trees in 1996.

Number 149 “Tap the Bottle” by Young Black Teenagers

Peak: number 136

Peak dates: 17 May 1993 and 31 May 1993

Weeks in top 150: 10 weeks

Top 150 chart run: 149-136-145-136-148-148-140-141-148-(out for 1 week)-150

American hip-hop group Young Black Teenagers formed in 1989 in Long Island, New York.  Contrary to the group’s name, none of its members were teenagers, and all were Caucasian!  “Tap the Bottle” was lifted from their second and final album Dead Enz Kidz Doin’ Lifetime Bidz (released in Australia in May 1993, missed the top 150).

Internationally, “Tap the Bottle” peaked at number 5 in New Zealand in May 1993, number 55 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in April 1993, and number 39 in the UK in April 1994 (not a typo).

This was the only Young Black Teenagers release to trouble the top 150 in Australia.  I am not sure whether I have heard this one before; the chorus riff seemed vaguely familiar.

Bubbling WAY down under:

Number 174 Brisbane EP by Custard

Peak: number 153

Peak date: 19 July 1993

Weeks on chart: 14 weeks

Brisbane band Custard last joined us in 1992.  It fits that they should release an EP named after their home city.

“Nightmare Two” was the lead track from the 7-track EP, which includes one unlisted track.  On the state charts, the EP was most popular in Queensland, where it reached number 79.

Custard will join us next in November 1993.

Number 192 “Slow Emotion Replay” by The The

Peak: number 173

Peak date: 31 May 1993

Weeks on chart: 3 weeks

English band The The, fronted by Matt Johnson who was the only constant member, last joined us in 1989.

“Slow Emotion Replay” was the second single lifted from their fourth studio album Dusk (number 20, February 1993), following “Dogs of Lust” (number 70, March 1993).  Internationally, the single peaked at number 35 in the UK in the April 1993.

Domestically, “Slow Emotion Replay” performed strongest in Western Australia, reaching number 153 on the state chart.

I didn’t hear this one at the time, but caught the video (I cannot remember where, probably on rage) a few years back and like the song very much.  “Everybody knows what’s going wrong with the world, I don’t even know what’s going on in myself” is a powerful lyric.

Skip to 4:17 minutes in the video embedded below to bypass the dialogue intro and get to the song.

We’ll next see The The in August 1993.

Next week (17 May): Four top 150 entries and three bubbling WAY down under debuts.

< Previous week: 3 May 1993                   Next week: 17 May 1993 >

Week commencing 12 October 1992

Of this week in 1992’s new entries peaking outside the top 100: I only knew one of them at the time. Perhaps these songs are new to you, too?  Let’s take a look.

Indecent Obsession could not achieve a ‘decent’ chart position with this release in 1992.

Top 150 debuts:

Number 116 “Domino” by Kiss

Peak: number 110

Peak date: 26 October 1992

Weeks in top 150: 5 weeks

Top 150 chart run: 116-116-110-116-130

Weeks on chart: 6 weeks 

We last saw American glam rock band Kiss in 1990.

“Domino” was the second single issued from the band’s sixteenth studio album Revenge (number 5, July 1992), following “God Gave Rock & Roll to You II” (number 18, August 1992). Unlike most Kiss tracks, “Domino” has lead vocals sung by the band’s bassist, Gene Simmons.

Internationally, “Domino” peaked at number 26 on the US Billboard Mainstream Rock Airplay chart in October 1992.

Domestically, the single performed strongest in South Australia/Northern Territory, where it reached number 83.

The song and music video seem very out of touch with what was happening in 1992 - i.e. this kind of rock/metal had been largely replaced with grunge and alternative music. My initial thought upon watching the music video for the first time was… this is bad.

Kiss will not bubble under again on the singles chart, other than with “Hell Or Hallelujah” (number 584, July 2012). I will definitely not be writing these chart recaps for 2012.  Several later albums peaked outside the top 100, some of which are older albums listed as though they are new entries on the ARIA database, including Double Platinum (number 175, February 1995), Dynasty (number 186, February 1995), Animalize (number 224, February 1995), Unmasked (number 189, February 1995), Playlist Plus (number 258, March 2009), Love Gun (number 216, November 2014), and Rocks Vegas (number 401, September 2016).

Number 136 “Rebel with a Cause” by Indecent Obsession 

Peak: number 122

Peak date: 19 October 1992

Weeks in top 150: 5 weeks

Top 150 chart run: 136-122-125-133-138

Weeks on chart: 6 weeks 

Aussie band Indecent Obsession formed in Brisbane in 1987, although one of the band members, guitarist Andrew Coyne (the one with long hair), was from my hometown, Geelong.  The group signed with former Countdown host Ian “Molly” Meldrum’s Melodian label, which he set up to promote local, young talent.  The group burst onto the scene in mid-1989 with their debut single “Say Goodbye” (number 6, August 1989), which I first became aware of when my sister bought the cassingle for this track.  Looking at the single sleeve, they seemed like Australia’s answer to Bros (who my then 15 year-old sister was also a fan of). The trouble with having ‘pin up’ looks (well, the aforementioned Andrew excepted) and appealing to/being marketed as an act that appeals to teenage girls, is that it’s then difficult for other demographics to take your work seriously, even if you’re also a ‘real’ band who write their own songs and play instruments, and that was definitely the case for Indecent Obsession.  It didn’t help that the initial pressing of the band’s debut album Spoken Words (number 28, December 1989) depicted them standing on the beach wearing wetsuits.  The album’s artwork was later changed, due to them copping so much flack over it.

Indecent Obsession’s second single “Tell Me Something” (number 17, October 1989) gave them some minor international success, reaching number 31 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in September 1990, which is not bad at all for a new pop act from down under.

They received diminishing returns with the third and fourth singles issued from Spoken Words, “Come Back to Me” (number 40, January 1990) and “Never Gonna Stop” (number 72, February 1990).  The band were the support act on the Australian leg of Kylie Minogue’s Enjoy Yourself tour in early 1990.  I remember a girl from my class went to that show just to see Indecent Obsession.

The band returned in 1992 with their second album Indio (number 39, August 1992), led by the single “Kiss Me” (number 27, May 1992), which topped the singles chart in South Africa.  “Rebel with a Cause” was the third release from the album, following “Indio” (number 41, August 1992).  I remember seeing “Rebel with a Cause” being reviewed in Smash Hits magazine, but did not hear it until obtaining the VHS compilation I ripped the music video (embedded below) from about ten years ago.  I think all of the Indio singles deserved to do much better on the charts.

On the state charts, “Rebel with a Cause” was most popular in Queensland, where it reached number 99.

We shall next see Indecent Obsession in 1993.

Number 146 “Shame Shame Shame” by Sinitta

Peak: number 135

Peak date: 26 October 1992

Weeks in top 150: 146-139-135

Top 150 chart run: 3 weeks

Weeks on chart: 7 weeks 

We last saw British-American songstress Sinitta in 1990.

“Shame Shame Shame”, co-produced by Phil Harding and Ian Curnow from PWL, was issued as the lead single of what would eventually become Sinitta’s third album in 1995, Naughty Naughty, released only in Spain and several East Asian countries.  It was an album of cover versions, and “Shame Shame Shame” was originally recorded by Shirley & Company, with their version peaking at number 16 in Australia in August 1975.

Sinitta’s version of “Shame Shame Shame” peaked at number 28 in the UK in July 1992, and number 30 in Ireland during the same month.

Locally, the single was most successful in South Australia/Northern Territory, where it reached number 103.

I remember catching the video for this one on M.C. TeeVee.

This would be Sinitta’s final release in Australia.  She would go on to land a few more low-charting singles, all cover versions, in the UK in 1993, including an EP of Supremes covers.  While Sinitta may have landed in cover version hell after parting ways with Stock Aitken Waterman in 1989, her relationship with Simon Cowell continued to pay dividends, providing Snit (as I remember Number One magazine referring to her) with work in the reality TV karaoke contest world this century.

Bubbling WAY down under:

Number 177 “High” by Hyper Go Go

Peak: number 177

Peak date: 12 October 1992

Weeks on chart: 8 weeks

The two founding members of English house act Hyper Go Go met at school in Colchester.  “High” was their first release on trendy dance label Deconstruction, giving the band their first taste of commercial success.  “High” peaked at number 30 in the UK in August 1992, and number 45 in the Netherlands in November 1992.

Domestically, “High” performed strongest in Western Australia, where it reached number 139.  I have noticed before that these early rave/breakbeat tracks seemed to often do best in Western Australia.

“High” would eventually appear on the act’s only album National Anthems, which failed to chart in Australia.  A 1996 remix of the single peaked at number 32 in the UK in October 1996.

Although I do not recall hearing this one before, the piano riff sounds very familiar.  Update: a reader has kindly informed me that the riff is sampled from Rhythm Is Rhythm’s “Strings of Life”, from 1989.

We’ll see Hyper Go Go under another name in 1993.

Number 180 “Come with Me (Tonite)” by Astral Project

Peak: number 179

Peak date: 23 November 1992

Weeks on chart: 7 weeks 

Australian house act Astral Project were Arden Godrey and Andy Van Dorsselaer; the latter being better known as Andy Van, who was one half of Madison Avenue. Madison Avenue scored four out of four top 10 hits in Australia with their singles, including “Don’t Call Me Baby” (number 2, November 1999) and “Who the Hell Are You?” (number 1 for two weeks in June 2000).

“Come with Me (Tonite)” was the first of two singles released by the band, and the only one to chart.  The single was most popular in Victoria/Tasmania, where it reached number 155.

I first heard this one on the free Australian Music Day 1992 promotional CD compilation, which a friend from school gifted me about a year later.  It’s quite ahead of its time for Australian dance music back then.

The pair’s second single, “Feel It”, was released as a double A-side with a new mix of “Come with Me”, in 1994.

Number 199 “Generations” by Inspiral Carpets

Peak: number 199

Peak date: 12 October 1992

Weeks on chart: 4 weeks

English band Inspiral Carpets last graced our presence in July 1992.

“Generations” was the fourth single released from the band’s third album Revenge of the Goldfish (number 123, June 1993), and the fourth consecutive release by the band to peak between number 177 and 199 in Australia.  “Generations” performed much better In the band’s homeland, peaking at number 28 in the UK in September 1992.

In Australia, “Generations” performed strongest in Western Australia, where it reached number 157.

While I don’t recall hearing this one before, it’s on a DVD of Inspiral Carpets music videos I own that I haven’t fully watched yet.  I quite enjoyed “Generations” and would listen to it again.

We’ll next see Inspiral Carpets in 1993.

Number 220 “Low Life in High Places” by Thunder

Peak: number 220

Peak date: 12 October 1992

Weeks on chart: 1 week

English hard rock band Thunder formed in London in 1989.  “Low Life in High Places”, their first and only single to chart in Australia, was the first single issued from the band’s second studio album Laughing on Judgement Day.

Internationally, “Low Life in High Places” peaked at number 22 in the UK in August 1992, number 47 in the Netherlands in October 1992, and number 44 in New Zealand in February 1993.

Locally, “Low Life in High Places” was most popular in Western Australia, where it reached number 193.

I have this peak as it’s an artist late blog reader Brad asked for.  He often liked rock/metal acts more than I do, but I quite enjoyed listening to this one, which I otherwise would probably have never heard.

Thunder had five low-charting albums in Australia between 2016 and 2021, with Rip It Up (number 237, March 2017) being the highest-charting of those.

Although we won’t see Thunder again on their own, a cover version they recorded for a charity single, on which multiple artists perform versions of the same track, will bubble under in early 1994.

Next week (19 October): Seven top 150 entries and six bubbling WAY down under debuts.

< Previous week: 5 October 1992                      Next week: 19 October 1992 >