Week commencing 15 March 1993

One thing this week in 1993's new entries peaking outside the Australian top 100 have in common is that I was not familiar with any of them at the time.  Perhaps they are new to you too?  Let's take a look.

 

Gyan trying to visualise a second hit that never came.

 

Top 150 debuts:

 

Number 120 "Walking Through Syrup" by Ned's Atomic Dustbin

Peak: number 111

Peak dates: 22 March 1993 and 5 April 1993

Weeks in top 150: 6 weeks

Top 150 chart run: 120-111-113-111-122-121

 

We last saw English rock band Ned's Atomic Dustbin in 1991.

 

"Walking Through Syrup" was the second single released in Australia from the band's second studio album Are You Normal? (number 79, March 1993).  It followed "Not Sleeping Around", which was released locally in October 1992 but missed the top 150.

 

I cannot find evidence of "Walking Through Syrup" charting elsewhere, other than the song reaching number 13 on the US Billboard Alternative Airplay chart.

 

A third single from Are You Normal?, "Intact", was released in Australia in May 1993, but missed the top 150.  "Walking Through Syrup" was the band's final ARIA top 150 single, although they had a later charting album with Brainbloodvolume (number 128, April 1995).  After that album, the band split, before reforming in 2000.

 

 

 

Number 125 "Quality Time" by Hi-Five

Peak: number 114

Peak date: 5 April 1993

Weeks in top 150: 7 weeks

Top 150 chart run: 125-117-123-114-125-120-133

 

American R&B vocal quintet Hi-Five last joined us in 1992.

 

"Quality Time" was the second single lifted from the group's second album Keep It Goin' On (number 130, November 1992).  It followed "She's Playing Hard to Get" (number 46, January 1993), which was Hi-Five's highest-charting single in Australia, and spent 24 weeks in the top 150.

 

Internationally, "Quality Time" peaked at number 38 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in January 1993, and number 36 in New Zealand in March 1993.

 

I wasn't expecting the vocals on this one to be as deep as they are, given the pre-voice breaking vocals heard on some of the group's earlier singles.

 

I remembered that two of the band members had died, one of whom was paralysed in the 90s following a car accident, when looking for information on Hi-Five when they first bubbled under in 1991; but one thing I overlooked was that another member of the group, Russell Neal, was charged with murdering his wife in 2014!  So much tragedy in one group.

 

We'll see Hi-Five one more time, in 1994.

 

 

 

Number 139 "Stay" by Wrecking Crew

Peak: number 117

Peak date: 19 April 1993

Weeks in top 150: 10 weeks

Top 150 chart run: 139-138-122-127-124-117-129-140-142-146

 

Australian band Wrecking Crew formed in Sydney in 1987.  "Stay" was their second release, following their debut single "Welcome to the Circus", which was released in November 1992  but missed the top 150.  Both tracks appear on the band's only album Fun in the Doghouse (number 115, June 1993).

 

I can't find much information about the band online, but can tell you the band members were Dave Wilkins (vocals), Brenton Dehn (guitar), Dave Reynolds (bass), and Gary Synerdahl (drums). 

We'll see Wrecking Crew once more, in July 1993.

 

 

Number 144 "Stop the World" by Extreme

Peak: number 128

Peak date: 12 April 1993

Weeks in top 150: 7 weeks

Top 150 chart run: 144-134-145-142-128-133-150

Weeks on chart: 10 weeks

 

We last saw American band Extreme in 1989.  Since then, the group had their commercial breakthrough in Australia with the acoustic ballad "More Than Words" (number 2 for two weeks in August-September 1991), and its follow-up, "Hole Hearted" (number 24, November 1991).  Neither track was typical of the band's usual rock/metal sound, which is always problematic.

 

"Stop the World" was the second single released from Extreme's third studio album III Sides to Every Story (number 42, October 1992).  It followed "Rest in Peace" (number 76, October 1992).

 

Internationally, "Stop the World" peaked at number 12 in the UK in November 1992, number 19 in Canada in February 1993, and number 95 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in February 1993.

 

Locally, "Stop the World" performed equally-strongest in Queensland and Western Australia, reaching number 116 on both state charts.

 

An interesting, if not rather disturbing, fact I uncovered while researching this track is that the music video features the late British actress and model Kadamba Simmons, who was strangled to death by her ex-boyfriend in June 1998, aged 24.

 

We won't see Extreme again, but they had a final charting single in Australia in 1995 with "Hip Today" (number 99, February 1995).

 

 

Number 145 "Visualize" by Gyan

Peak: number 145

Peak date: 15 March 1993

Weeks in top 150: 1 week

Top 150 chart run: 145

Weeks on chart: 8 weeks

 

Gyan (pronounced 'gee-AHN', with a hard g) - not her real name (she has never revealed what that is) Evans grew up in Belmont, a suburb of Geelong (and where I lived until I was 10), and attended the primary school adjacent to the high school I went to.  She made a splash on the chart with her debut single "Wait" (number 14, October 1989), and a promising recording career seemed to beckon.  Unfortunately, that was not to be the case, and only one other single of hers, second release "It's Alright" (number 49, December 1989), landed within the ARIA top 50.  Both tracks were taken from her gold-certified debut album Gyan (number 27, November 1989), which also contained her third single "Black Wedding Ring" (number 93, February 1990).

 

After a two and a half year hiatus, Gyan returned in the second half of 1992 with her second album Reddest Red (number 105, October 1992), preceded by the single "Something's Gotta Give" (number 80, September 1992).  Neither release set the charts on fire.

 

"Visualize" was the second single lifted from Reddest Red, and took five months after its mid-October 1992 release to crawl into the top 150, after debuting at number 227 on 2 November 1992.  On the state charts, "Visualize" performed strongest in Victoria/Tasmania, where it reached number 99.  I am not sure why there was such belated interest in the single.  I didn't hear this song until obtaining the video in the mid-late 2000s - it's nice enough, but a bit on the unmemorable side.  Gyan's voice is fantastic as always on this track, though.

 

A third single from Reddest Red, "Goodnews", appears to have been released in 1993, though it is not listed among the weekly lists of new release titles in The ARIA Report.  It did not chart.

 

Gyan now lives in Byron Bay.  This was her last charting release.

Bubbling WAY down under:

 

Number 161 "Build" by Innocence

Peak: number 161

Peak date: 15 March 1993

Weeks on chart: 8 weeks

 

We last saw English R&B band Innocence in February 1993, a mere six weeks ago.

 

"Build" was the title track and third single lifted from their second and final studio album Build (number 217, December 1992).  It followed "I'll Be There" (number 174, August 1992) and "One Love in My Lifetime" (number 168, February 1993).

 

Internationally, "Build" peaked at number 72 in the UK in November 1992.  In Australia, the single was most popular in Queensland, where it reached number 145 on the state chart.

 

I first heard "Build" in the early 2010s when it appeared on a VHS compilation I was digitising.  I like the stark piano ballad a lot, and think it should have been a much bigger hit.

 

Innocence disbanded after this single's release.

 

 

 

Number 190 "Paper Doll" by Fleetwood Mac

Peak: number 183

Peak date: 22 March 1993

Weeks on chart: 6 weeks

 

We last saw transatlantic band Fleetwood Mac in 1990.

 

"Paper Doll" was one of four new songs recorded for the compilation album Selections from 25 Years - The Chain (number 2, September 2013), which originally peaked at number 125 in Australia in February 1993.  Stevie Nicks sings lead on this track.

 

At the time of writing this, the Wikipedia page for this single incorrectly claimed that "Paper Doll" was exclusively released as a single in North America.  Last time I checked, Australia was not part of that continent!  It does not, however, appear to have been released in the UK, missing the top 200 singles chart there completely.

 

Internationally, "Paper Doll" peaked at number 8 on the US Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 chart (analogous to peaking at number 108, though not quite) in December 1992, and at number 9 in Canada in February 1993.  The song also registered on two US Billboard genre-specific charts, peaking at number 26 on the Mainstream Rock Airplay chart in December 1992, and number 32 on the Adult Contemporary chart in January 1993.

 

In Australia, "Paper Doll" performed strongest in Western Australia, reaching number 133 on the state chart.

 

Despite their Greatest Hits (number 3, January 1989) compilation being seemingly inescapable, I hadn't heard "Paper Doll" until writing this post; granted, the song does not appear on that set.  I wasn't expecting to like the song, given it's an obscure-ish cast-off track of theirs, but it's quite decent.  The music video for "Paper Doll", on the other hand, was quickly thrown together, using footage from earlier Fleetwood Mac videos.

 

Fleetwood Mac will next join us in 1997.

 

 

Number 200 "Living on Dreams" by Flash and The Pan

Peak: number 200

Peak date: 15 March 1993

Weeks on chart: 1 week

 

We last heard from Australian duo Flash and The Pan in 1992.  "Living on Dreams" was the second and final single from their sixth and final studio album Burning Up the Night (released Australia in September 1992, did not chart).

 

On the state charts, "Living on Dreams" performed strongest in Victoria/Tasmania, where it reached number 176.

 

We will see Flash in the Pan on one more occasion, in 1995.

 

 

Next week (22 March): Eight top 150 entries and two bubbling WAY down under debuts.

 

< Previous week: 8 March 1993                               Next week: 22 March 1993 >

Week commencing 1 February 1993

The only common thread linking this week in 1993’s debuts peaking outside the Australian top 100 is that all of them peaked within the month of February 1993.  Let's take a look at them.

Céline Dion: nothing broken but the chart.

Top 150 debuts:

Number 111 “Certain People I Know” by Morrissey

Peak: number 104

Peak date: 15 February 1993

Weeks in top 150: 6 weeks

Chart run: 111-129-104-117-120-141

Weeks on chart: 6 weeks

We saw Morrissey's former band The Smiths just last week, and last saw him as a solo artist in 1991.

 

"Certain People I Know" was issued as the third single in Europe and Australasia from Moz's third solo studio album proper, Your Arsenal (number 12, August 1992).  It followed "We Hate It When Our Friends Become Successful" (number 55, June 1992) and "You're the One for Me, Fatty" (number 85, August 1992).

 

Internationally, "Certain People I Know" peaked at number 35 in the UK in December 1992, where it became Morrissey’s lowest charting solo single to date.

 

In Australia, "Certain People I Know" was most popular in South Australia/Northern Territory, where it reached number 92 on the state chart.

 

I didn't hear this one at the time, but became acquainted with the song via a UK VHS compilation I digitised in the late 2000s.

 

We will next see Moz in 1994.

Number 116 “Someday (I’m Coming Back)” by Lisa Stansfield

Peak: number 116

Peak date: 1 February 1993

Weeks in top 150: 5 weeks

Top 150 chart run: 116-(out for 1 week)-123-119-128-131

Weeks on chart: 6 weeks

English songstress Lisa Stansfield last graced our presence in 1992.

 

"Someday (I'm Coming Back)" was recorded for The Bodyguard soundtrack (number 1 for 5 weeks in January-February 1993).  It was the third single lifted from the album, following Whitney Houston's "I Will Always Love You" (number 1 for 10 weeks between December 1992 and February 1993) and The S.O.U.L. S.Y.S.T.E.M.'s "It's Gonna Be a Lovely Day" (number 90, February 1993).

 

Internationally, "Someday (I'm Coming Back)" peaked at number 10 in the UK in December 1992, number 16 in Ireland in January 1993, number 42 in the Netherlands in January 1993, number 39 in the Flanders region of Belgium in February 1993, and number 51 in Germany in February 1993.

 

Domestically, "Someday..." performed strongest in Victoria/Tasmania, where it reached number 85 on the state chart.  The single performed better nationally on the Australian Music Report singles chart, where it reached number 98.

 

I am a bit surprised that "Someday (I'm Coming Back)" did not chart better in Australia, as it's one of Lisa's poppier efforts.  However, Lisa generally did not fare too well with her singles in Australia, for some reason.  Perhaps the mammoth success of The Bodguard soundtrack hindered “Someday (I’m Coming Back)”’s sales.

 

We'll see Lisa bubble under next in July 1993.

Number 118 “Can I Get Over” by Definition of Sound

Peak: number 106

Peak date: 15 February 1993

Weeks in top 150: 7 weeks

Known chart run: 208-118-110-106-110-125-124-143

Weeks on chart: 9 weeks

English duo Definition of Sound last joined us in 1992.

 

"Can I Get Over" (no question mark) was the second and final single lifted from the group's second album The Lick (number 176, November 1992).  Internationally, the single peaked at number 61 in the UK in November 1992.

Locally, "Can I Get Over" was most successful in New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory, where it reached number 89 on the state chart.

I don't recall hearing this one at the time, but became familiar with it via its appearance on a VHS compilation I digitised in the early 2010s.

It looks like Definition of Sound lost their record deal with Circa Records, after the poor chart performance of The Lick and its singles.  They would eventually return in 1995 (1996 in Australia), on new label Fontana, with a single that would finally give the pair a top 40 hit here.  We will see Definition of Sound bubble under again in 1996.

Number 124 “Since I Met You Baby” by Gary Moore and B.B. King

Peak: number 124

Peak date: 1 February 1993

Weeks in top 150: 2 weeks

Top 150 chart run: 124-142

Weeks on chart: 5 weeks

Northern Irish guitar whizz Gary Moore last joined us in 1992.

 

"Since I Met You" was the fourth and final single released in Australia from Gary's ninth solo studio album After Hours (number 8, April 1992).  For this track, he teamed up with veteran American blues guitarist/singer B.B. King, who landed a top 30 hit in Australia with U2 in 1989 with "When Love Comes to Town" (number 23, May 1989).  B.B., real name Riley B. King, was a mere 67 when "Since I Met You Baby" was charting.

Internationally, "Since I Met You Baby" peaked at number 59 in the UK in July 1992, where it was the third single issued from After Hours.

Locally, "Since I Met You Baby" performed equally-strongest in Victoria/Tasmania and Queensland, where it reached number 103 on the state charts.

Gary will join us once more in June 1993.  We will not see B.B. King, who died in 2015 aged 89, again.

Number 143 “Poison Heart” by Ramones

Peak: number 143

Peak date: 1 February 1993

Weeks in top 150: 3 weeks

Top 150 chart run: 143-147-147

Weeks on chart: 4 weeks

American punk rock band Ramones (no 'The') last joined us in 1989.

 

"Poison Heart" was the lead single from the band's twelfth studio album Mondo Bizarro (number 93, October 1992).  Internationally, "Poison Heart" peaked at number 69 in the UK in December 1992.  The track also peaked at number 6 on the US Billboard Alternative Airplay chart in October 1992.

Locally, "Poison Heart" was most popular in New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory, where it reached number 127.

I won't be writing about Ramones again, but they had three later (very) low-charting singles in Australia during the streaming era: "I Just Want to Have Something to Do" (number 979, April 2014), "California Sun" (number 1815, August 2017), and "Rockaway Beach" (live at Friars, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, 30 December 1977) (number 2351, September 2019).

Number 144 “He Can’t Decide” by Paul Kelly, Renee Geyer, Vika Bull, Deborah Conway

Peak: number 112

Peak date: 22 February 1993

Weeks in top 150: 8 weeks

Top 150 chart run: 144-130-117-112-113-122-128-139

We last saw Australian singer-songwriter Paul Kelly in 1992.

 

"He Can't Decide", a collaboration between Paul Kelly, Renee Geyer, Vika Bull (then of The Black Sorrows and later one half of Vika & Linda), and Deborah Conway was recorded for the ABC television series Seven Deadly Sins - the soundtrack album for which peaked at number 71 in March 1993.

 

I hadn't heard this one before.  I wasn't expecting the samba style.

 

We'll next see Paul Kelly in 1994, Renee Geyer in July 1993, Vika (as one half of Vika & Linda) in 1995, and Deborah Conway in 1994.

Number 146 “Laura” by Jimmy Nail

Peak: number 146

Peak date: 1 February 1993

Weeks in top 150: 1 week

Top 150 chart run: 146

Weeks on chart: 11 weeks

English recording artist Jimmy Nail is also an actor, film producer, and writer for television.  He came to prominence in Australia with the single "Ain't No Doubt" (number 5, October 1992) - his only single to dent the top 100, effectively rendering him a one-hit wonder in this country.

Seven years before "Ain't No Doubt", Jimmy landed a hit in the UK with his version of Rose Royce's "Love Don't Live Here Anymore", peaking at number 3 there in May 1985.  The single was released in Australia in July 1985, but failed to chart.  Interestingly, and somewhat annoyingly, Jimmy changes the "just a vacancy" lyric in the chorus of "Love Don't Live Here Anymore" to "just look back and see" - perhaps it was a misheard lyric?

"Laura" was the follow-up release to "Ain't No Doubt".  Both tracks were lifted from Jimmy's second studio album Growing Up in Public (number 64, November 1992).  Internationally, "Laura" peaked at number 58 in the UK in September 1992.

In Australia, "Laura" was most popular in Western Australia, where it reached number 116 on the state chart.  "Laura" debuted on the ARIA singles chart at number 158 on 7 December 1992, but took almost two months to crack the top 150.

 

I don't recall hearing "Laura" before.

 

A third single from Growing Up in Public, "Only Love (Can Bring Us Home)", was released in Australia in March 1993, but failed to chart.  Oddly, this single does not appear to have been released in Jimmy's native UK, and only German pressings are listed on discogs.com.

 

Jimmy will join us next in 1996.

 

Number 147 “Lil' Red Ridin’ Hood” by Paul Norton

Peak: number 147

Peak date: 1 February 1993

Weeks in top 150: 1 week

Chart run: 199-147

Weeks on chart: 2 weeks

Australian singer-songwriter Paul Norton last joined us in 1990.

 

"Lil' Red Ridin' Hood" was the second and final single lifted from Paul's second album Let It Fly (number 141, November 1992).  It followed “When We Were Young” (number 99, October 1992).

 

On the state charts, "Lil' Red Ridin' Hood" performed strongest in Queensland, where it reached number 133.

 

I don't recall hearing this one before.  This was Paul's final single release.

Number 149 “Carry On” by Martha Wash

Peak: number 149

Peak date: 1 February 1993

Weeks in top 150: 1 week

Known chart run: 151-149

Weeks on chart: 5 weeks

Although "Carry On" was American singer Martha Wash's first charting release in her own right, she was no stranger to the charts.  Martha's career began as one of Sylvester's backing singers, together with Izora Armstead, as Two Tons o' Fun.  The pair then rebranded as The Weather Girls, and landed a number 16 hit in Australia with "It's Raining Men" in June 1983.

Martha's vocals were uncredited on a number of recordings from the late 80s/early 90s, from Seduction, Black Box, and C + C Music Factory.  Martha sang vocals on all of the non-"Ride on Time" tracks on Black Box's Dreamland (number 1, March 1991) album, including the singles "I Don't Know Anybody Else" (number 6, April 1990), "Everybody Everybody" (number 35, July 1990), "Fantasy" (number 3, February 1991), "The Total Mix" (number 24, April 1991), "Strike It Up" (number 20, May 1991), and "Open Your Eyes" (number 60, February 1992).  Her vocals were again used without her permission on C + C Music Factory’s "Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now)" (number 3. February 1991.  Martha's vocals were lip-synced by others in the videos for these tracks, as her full-figured body was deemed unmarketable.  Martha successfully sued the aforementioned acts, and as a result, it became US law that featured vocalists must receive credit on studio recordings and in music videos.

"Carry On" was the first single lifted from Martha’s debut solo album Martha Wash (released in Australia in April 1993 but failed to chart).  Internationally, the single peaked at number 74 in the UK in November 1992, and number 38 in the Netherlands in February 1993.  The track also registered on several US Billboard genre-specific charts, reaching number 1 on the Dance Club Songs chart in December 1992, number 1 on the Dance Singles Sales chart in January 1993, number 68 on the R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart in January 1993, and number 97 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart in January 1993.  A 1997 remix of "Carry On" peaked at number 49 in the UK in October 1997.

In Australia, "Carry On" performed strongest in Western Australia, where it reached number 116.

We'll next see Martha in April 1993.

Bubbling WAY down under:

Number 180 “One Love in My Lifetime” by Innocence

Peak: number 168

Peak date: 15 February 1993

Weeks on chart: 6 weeks

We last saw English R&B band Innocence in 1992.

 

"One Love in My Lifetime" was the second single lifted from the group's second album Build (number 217, December 1992).  The single peaked at number 40 in the UK in September 1992.

In Australia, "One Love in My Lifetime" was most popular in New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory, where it reached number 144 on the state chart.

We'll see Innocence on one more occasion, in March 1993.

 

Number 182 “Unsung” by Helmet

Peak: number 182

Peak date: 1 February 1993

Weeks on chart: 3 weeks

American Alternative metal band Helmet formed in New York in 1989.  "Unsung" was the first single lifted from their second album, and first major label release, Meantime (number 88, February 1993).

Internationally, "Unsung" peaked at number 119 (number 91 on the compressed chart) in the UK in November 1992.  "Unsung" also peaked at number 29 on the US Billboard Alternative Songs chart, and number 32 on the Mainstream Rock Tracks chart.

Locally, "Unsung" performed strongest in New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory, where it reached number 169 on the state chart.

Helmet will join us next in 1994.

Number 192 “Nothing Broken but My Heart” by Céline Dion

Peak: number 192

Peak date: 1 February 1993

Weeks on chart: 2 weeks

Canadian songstress Céline Dion launched her recording career as a 13 year old in the French-speaking province of Quebec.  Her international recording career commenced in 1990, and we saw Céline bubble under in 1991.

 

"Nothing Broken but My Heart" was lifted from Céline's eleventh studio album, and second album recorded in English, Céline Dion (number 15, September 1992).  The track, written by Diane Warren, was preceded by the singles “Beauty and the Beast” (number 17, July 1992), “If You Asked Me To” (number 52, September 1992), and “Love Can Move Mountains” (number 54, October 1992).  Although I have previously described Diane Warren as "beige songwriter extraordinaire", I actually don't mind "Nothing Broken but My Heart", which I became familiar with via the American Top 40 radio program.

 

Internationally, "Nothing Broken but My Heart" peaked at number 29 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in October 1992, and number 3 in Canada in October 1992.  The track also registered on several US Billboard genre-specific charts, reaching number 26 on the Pop Airplay chart in October 1992, number 35 on the Radio Songs chart in October 1992, and number 1 on the Adult Contemporary chart in October 1992.

Domestically, "Nothing Broken but My Heart" performed strongest in New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory, where it reached number 178.

 

Céline would go on to greater commercial success in Australia with her next album The Colour of My Love (number 1 for 8 non-consecutive weeks between May 1995 and September 1995).  I won't be writing about Céline again, but she had a number of very low-charting singles in Australia between 2014 and 2020.

Number 193 “I Wish the Phone Would Ring” by Exposé

Peak: number 193

Peak date: 1 February 1993

Weeks on chart: 3 weeks

American Latin freestyle group Exposé last joined us in 1990.

 

"I Wish the Phone Would Ring" was the lead single from Exposé's third and final studio album Exposé, which does not appear to have been released in Australia.  Internationally, the single peaked at number 28 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in December 1992, and number 49 in Canada in December 1992.  The track also registered on numerous US Billboard genre-specific charts, reaching number 20 on the Rhythmic Airplay chart in November 1992, number 21 on the Radio Songs chart in November 1992, number 21 on the Pop Airplay chart in December 1992, and number 14 on the Dance Singles Sales chart in December 1992.

Locally, "I Wish the Phone Would Ring" performed strongest in New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory, where it reached number 179.

"I Wish the Phone Would Ring" was the final Exposé single released in Australia.

Next week (8 February): Another busy week, with twelve top 150 entries and two bubbling WAY down under debuts.

< Previous week: 25 January 1993                     Next week: 8 February 1993 >

Week commencing 10 August 1992

This week in 1992's new entries peaking outside the top 100 are a mixed bunch.  Before taking a look at them, I have updated the following earlier post:

 

* 15 July 1991 - with a new bubbling WAY down under entry from The Farm.

 

Opus III's Kirsty Hawkshaw certainly felt the wind with that hairstyle in 1992.

 

Top 150 debuts:

 

Number 129 "N.W.O" by Ministry

Peak: number 118

Peak date: 24 August 1992

Weeks in top 150: 7 weeks

Top 150 chart run: 129-119-118-131-124-129-135

 

We last saw American industrial metal band Ministry in March 1992.

 

"N.W.O", which of course stands for New World Order, is considered a protest song against American president at the time, George H.W. Bush.  The song contains numerous samples of his political speeches.  The track was the second single lifted from the band's fifth studio album ΚΕΦΑΛΗΞΘ (number 54, August 1992), which is also known as Psalm 69: The Way to Succeed and the Way to Suck Eggs.

 

Internationally, "N.W.O" peaked at number 49 in the UK in August 1992.  It also reached number 11 on the meaningless US Billboard Alternative Airplay chart during the same month.

 

I am slightly amused to see that an extended dance mix exists for this track.

 

This would be Ministry's final single to peak within the ARIA top 150.

Number 142 "Pain Lies on the Riverside" by Live

Peak: number 142

Peak date: 10 August 1992

Weeks in top 150: 1 week

Top 150 chart run: 142

Weeks on chart: 8 weeks

American band Live formed in York, Pennsylvania in 1984.  "Pain Lies on the Riverside" was the band's second single released in Australia, lifted from their second studio album and first major label release Mental Jewelry (number 137, July 1992).  It followed "Operation Spirit", which was released in Australia in May 1992 but failed to chart.

I was not aware of Live until "Selling the Drama" (number 49, September 1994), from their third album and commercial breakthrough Throwing Copper (number 1 for 7 non-consecutive weeks in August 1995 and January 1996), crept into the top 50 in 1994.  The band's biggest hit in Australia would be "Lightning Crashes" (number 13, September 1995), the following year.

 

Overseas, "Pain Lies on the Riverside" charted on the US Billboard Alternative Songs chart, where it reached number 24.  It does not appear to have dented any other national chart.

 

Domestically, "Pain Lies on the Riverside" was most successful in South Australia/Northern Territory, where it reached number 120.

 

We will next see Live in 1995.

 

Bubbling WAY down under:

 

Number 168 "Rising Sun" by The Farm

Peak: number 168

Peak date: 10 August 1992

Weeks on chart: 4 weeks

 

We last saw English band The Farm in July 1991.

 

"Rising Sun" was issued as the lead single from The Farm's second studio album Love See No Colour (number 242, November 1992) in Australia.  The album oddly missed the top 75 in the UK, despite their debut album topping the albums chart there in 1991!  The album's title track was issued as the first single from the album in the UK, but stalled at number 58 there in December 1991.  Fickle poms, eh?

Internationally, "Rising Sun" peaked at number 48 in the UK in June 1992.  Locally, it was equally most-popular in New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory and South Australia/Northern Territory, where it peaked at number 159 on both state charts.

We'll see The Farm once more, in November 1992.

 

 

Number 174 "I'll Be There" by Innocence

Peak: number 174

Peak date: 10 August 1992

Weeks on chart: 5 weeks

 

We last saw English band Innocence in 1991.

 

"I'll Be There" was the first single lifted from the group's second album Build (number 217, December 1992).

 

Internationally, "I'll Be There" peaked at number 26 in the UK in June 1992.  Locally, the single found greatest success in Victoria/Tasmania, where it reached number 156.

 

We'll next see Innocence in 1993.

 

 

Number 178 "Burning Up the Night" by Flash and the Pan

Peak: number 178

Peak date: 10 August 1992

Weeks on chart: 2 weeks

Australian duo Harry Vanda and George Young were, respectively, the lead guitarist and rhythm guitarist in The Easybeats, who scored two number one singles in Australia with "Sorry" (number 1, November 1966) and "Friday on My Mind" (number 1, December 1966).  During the 1970s, they produced AC/DC's first few albums, and wrote and produced numerous hits for John Paul Young, including "Love Is in the Air" (number 3, June 1978).

 

The duo began releasing material in 1976 as Flash and the Pan, which was essentially a side-project.  The pair landed back-to-back top 5 hits in Australia with "Hey, St. Peter" (number 5, February 1977) and "Down Among the Dead Men" (number 4, September 1978).  Flash and the Pan last charted in Australia with "Midnight Man" (number 66, February 1985).  During the 1990s, the pair wrote and produced Mark Williams' "Show No Mercy" (number 8, July 1990).

 

"Burning Up the Night" was the lead single and title track of Flash and the Pan's sixth and final studio album Burning Up the Night, which was released locally in September 1992 but failed to chart.

 

On the state charts, "Burning Up the Night" performed strongest in Queensland, where it reached number 155.

 

George Young passed away in 2017, aged 70.

 

We shall next see Flash and the Pan in 1993.

  

 

Number 179 Find 'em, Fool 'em E.P. by S'Express

Peak: number 179

Peak date: 10 August 1992

Weeks on chart: 4 weeks

 

We last saw S'Express in 1989.  A track that Mark Moore, who essentially was S'Express, remixed bubbled under in 1990.

 

Since then, S'Express had gained a new lead singer, Sonique (real name Sonia Clarke), who would go on to score two solo hits in Australia with "It Feels So Good" (number 21, July 2000) - more than a year after it debuted at number 236 in March 1999 - and "Sky" (number 18, February 2001).

"Find 'em, Fool 'em, Forget 'em" appeared on S'Express's second album Intercourse, which was released in Australia in August 1992 but failed to chart.  The track was originally released as a single in its own right in the UK in early 1991, peaking at number 83 there in March of that year.  For the Find 'em, Fool 'em E.P., the track was paired with "Let It All Out", which did not appear on the album.

The 1992 release of the single peaked at number 43 in the UK in May 1992.  In Australia, the E.P. was most successful in South Australia/Northern Territory, where it reached number 141.

While we won't see S'Express bubbling under again, they landed another minor hit in Australia with "Theme from S-Xpress (The Return Trip)" (number 42, July 1996).

 

We will see Sonique on her own in 1998.

 

 

Number 184 "I Talk to the Wind" by Opus III

Peak: number 162

Peak date: 7 September 1992

Weeks on chart: 5 weeks

 

English electronic band Opus III were Kevin Dodds, Ian Munro and Nigel Walton, with Kirsty Hawkshaw providing vocals.  They landed a minor hit in Australia with their debut single "It's a Fine Day" (number 54, May 1992), which was a cover version of an a cappella track recorded by Jane in 1983.  Listening to the original, Kirsty provides almost an exact replica of Jane's vocals - at least to my ears.

"I Talk to the Wind" was the second and final single lifted from Opus III's debut album Mind Fruit (number 173, August 1992).  Like its predecessor, this track was another cover version, this time quite a radical reworking of a song originally recorded by King Crimson in 1969.

Internationally, Opus III's rendition of "I Talk to the Wind" peaked at number 52 in the UK in June 1992.

Locally, "I Talk to the Wind" was most successful in New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory, where it reached number 145.

We'll next see Opus III in 1994.

 

 

 

Number 192 "Dr. Bombay" by Del Tha Funkee Homosapien

Peak: number 160

Peak date: 17 August 1992

Weeks on chart: 4 weeks

 

Born Teren Delvon Jones, Del Tha Funkee Homosapien became a one-hit wonder in Australia earlier in 1992 with "Mistadobalina" (number 11, June 1992).  Mistadobalina would be name-checked in the opening line of "Dr. Bombay", which I had not heard before, as well as in the second verse.

 

"Dr. Bombay" was issued as Del's second single from his debut album I Wish My Brother George Was Here (number 151, July 1992) in Australia.

Internationally, "Dr. Bombay" peaked at number 26 in New Zealand in August 1992.  Locally, the single performed best in Western Australia, where it reached number 147 on the state chart.

"Dr. Bombay" would be Del's last single to chart in Australia.  To my surprise, however, he landed a second charting album, in 2008, with his fifth studio album Eleventh Hour (number 538, March 2008).

 

Number 202 "Make It with You" by The Pasadenas

Peak: number 182

Peak date: 17 August 1992

Weeks on chart: 4 weeks

 

We last saw English group The Pasadenas in March 1992.

 

"Make It with You" was lifted from their covers album Yours Sincerely, and is a cover version of a song originally recorded by Bread in 1970.  Bread's version peaked at number 8 in Australia on the Go-Set chart in October 1970.

Internationally, The Pasadenas' version of "Make It with You" peaked at number 20 in the UK in April 1992, number 28 in Ireland in April 1992, and number 54 in Germany in June 1992.

Domestically, "Make It with You" performed strongest in Queensland, where it reached number 148.

This would be The Pasadenas' final charting release in Australia.

 

Next week (17 August): A quieter week, with only four top 150 debuts.

 

< Previous week: 3 August 1992                               Next week: 17 August 1992 >

Week commencing 29 April 1991

The only common theme I can identify from this week in 1991's batch of new chart entries peaking outside the ARIA top 100 is that they are all from artists who are not Australian.

 

Before we take a look at this week's new entries, I have updated some earlier posts with the following:

• 22 May 1989 - a new bubbling WAY down under entry from Col Joye;
• 19 June 1989 - a new bubbling WAY down under entry from X;
• 14 January 1991 - an audio clip for the Chosen Few track has been added;
  
• 18 February 1991 - a new bubbling WAY down under entry from Masterboy.

You may also have missed that I resumed my 1981 Kent Music Report beyond the top 100 recaps this week.  These will posted on Wednesdays.

Wilson Phillips: Australia was not in love with their latest single in 1991.

 

Top 150 debuts:

 

Number 138 "You're in Love" by Wilson Phillips

Peak: number 108

Peak date: 27 May 1991

Weeks in top 150: 7 weeks

Top 150 chart run: 138-118-113-117-108-119-115

Weeks on chart: 10 weeks

 

We last saw Wilson Phillips in December 1990.  "You're in Love" was the fourth single lifted from the group's debut album Wilson Phillips (number 7, July 1990), and gave the girls their third US Billboard Hot 100 number one single in April 1991.  The single also peaked at number 3 in Canada in April 1991, and within the top 30 in the UK and Ireland, the top 40 in the Netherlands and the Flanders region of Belgium, and at number 54 in Germany.

In hindsight, I find it interesting that none of the post-"Hold On" (number 2, July 1990) singles from the Wilson Phillips album dented the top 50 in Australia, and three of the album's singles peaked outside the top 100.  Though, as I wrote last time, the Wilson Phillips sound was probably a bit too squeaky clean for the Australian market, one large hit aside.  Furthermore, I only recall hearing "You're in Love" on the American Top 40 radio show.

We'll next see Wilson Phillips in October 1991.

 

 

 

Number 142 "Stranger Than Fiction" by Joe Jackson

Peak: number 119

Peak date: 1 July 1991

Weeks in top 150: 10 weeks 

Chart run: 142-131-134-122-124-122-134-121-122-119

Weeks on chart: 10 weeks

 

We last saw English singer-songwriter Joe Jackson in July 1989.

 

"Stranger Than Fiction" was the lead single from Joe's eleventh studio album Laughter & Lust (number 57, September 1991).  Internationally, the single peaked at number 182 (number 112 on the compressed chart) in April 1991, number 71 in the Netherlands in May 1991, and number 53 in Germany in June 1991.

In Australia, "Stranger Than Fiction" took ten weeks to reach its peak in the top 120, and then fell off the chart the following week.  The single was most popular in Victoria/Tasmania, where it reached number 88 on the state chart.

The music video for "Stranger Than Fiction", embedded below, portrays Joe as being totally disinterested in the 'hot' women, typical of those appearing in male artists' music videos around this time, surrounding him.  Perhaps Joe was dropping some not-so-subtle hints about his own sexuality here.

We shall next see Joe in September 1991.

 

Bubbling WAY down under:

 

Number 167 "Can You Dig It?" by The Mock Turtles

Peak: number 167

Peak date: 29 April 1991

Weeks on chart: 1 week 

English band The Mock Turtles formed in Middleton in 1985.  While not their first single in their homeland, "Can You Dig It?" was the band's debut Australian release, lifted from their first studio album Turtle Soup.

Internationally, "Can You Dig It?" peaked at number 18 in the UK in April 1991, and at number 12 in Ireland during the same month.

In Australia, "Can You Dig It?" was most popular in Victoria/Tasmania, where it reached number 151.  This single was the band's only release to chart in Australia, although two further singles were issued: "And Then She Smiles" (released locally in July 1991) and "Strings and Flowers" (November 1991).

In 2002, Vodafone used "Can You Dig It?" in a TV commercial in the UK.  This led to Norman Cook (of Fatboy Slim, Beats International and The Housemartins fame) remixing the track - though rather subtly, as I could barely distinguish the difference at first (it is mainly the percussion).  The remixed version charted in the UK, reaching number 19 in March 2003.

I can't say with certainty, because I cannot find any reference to it online, but I suspect that the guitar riff from this track is sampled (at a different pitch) on a track from another artist we will see in 1992.

Number 170 "Town without Pity" by Stray Cats

Peak: number 170

Peak date: 29 April 1991

Weeks on chart: 1 week

Stray Cats last graced our presence in February 1991.  "Town without Pity" was the third and final single lifted from the band's sixth studio album Let's Go Faster (number 57, March 1991).  As with the previous single, "Town without Pity" was another Australian-only release.  The song is a cover version of a song originally recorded by Gene Pitney in 1961 for the film Town without Pity.

On the ARIA state charts, "Town without Pity" performed strongest in Queensland, where it reached number 141.

We shall next see Stray Cats in 1992.

Number 186 "Easy Come Easy Go" by Winger

Peak: number 186

Peak date: 29 April 1991

Weeks on chart: 1 week

We last saw American metal band Winger in January 1991.

"Easy Come Easy Go" was the third and final single - and second to chart in Australia - from Winger's second studio album In the Heart of the Young (number 135, September 1991).  The single peaked at number 41 on the US Billboard Hot 100 singles chart in March 1991.

Locally, "Easy Come Easy Go" was most popular in New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory, where it reached number 168.

 

When it comes to metal, I generally prefer the softer, 'power ballad' side as with Winger's previous single.  I hadn't heard this one before, and while it's not something I would seek out, I find it OK.

 

"Easy Come Easy Go" was Winger's final single to chart in Australia.  They had another charting album, however, with their next album Pull peaking at number 164 in August 1993.

 

 

Number 187 "Remember the Day" by Innocence

Peak: number 187

Peak date: 29 April 1991

Weeks on chart: 2 weeks

We last saw Innocence in February 1991, and here they are with the fifth and final single - and fourth to register a place on the ARIA chart outside the top 100 - from their debut album Belief (number 115, February 1991).

 

"Remember the Day" peaked at number 56 in the band's native UK in March 1991.

 

Within Australia, "Remember the Day" performed strongest in New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory, where it reached number 169.

 

We will next see Innocence in 1992.

 

 

Next week (6 May): Four new top 150 debuts, although one of these is a song from 1986, and five bubbling WAY down under entries.

 

< Previous week: 22 April 1991                                      Next week: 6 May 1991 >

Week commencing 18 February 1991

Three of this week in 1991's top 150-peaking debuts are from artists aged over 40.  So, if you're in that age-bracket and haven't yet conquered the charts, there is still hope!  Let's take a look at this week's pop relics...

 

Mica Paris made a small 'contribution' to the chart this week in 1991.

 

Top 150 debuts:

 

Number 119 "You're Amazing" by Robert Palmer

Peak: number 103

Peak date: 4 March 1991

Weeks in top 150: 7 weeks

Top 150 chart run: 119-104-103-108-111-118-120

Weeks on chart: 8 weeks

 

We last saw English singer Robert Palmer in November 1989, and here he is with the second single released in Australia from his tenth studio album Don't Explain (number 29, January 1991).

 

Interestingly, "You're Amazing" was not issued as a single in the UK, where they instead went with "Mercy Mercy Me/I Want You" (number 89, May 1991), which was released as the third single from the album locally.

 

Don't Explain was Robert's first studio album following his Addictions Volume 1 (number 10, December 1989) compilation.  I have a theory, evidence for which has been demonstrated many times, that an artist's popularity often takes a nosedive following a greatest hits album - even if the compilation is a big success.

Where "You're Amazing" was released, it peaked at number 28 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in January 1991, and apparently at number 14 in Canada - but I cannot verify the Canadian peak, as the reference cited for it on Wikipedia has expired.  Hmmm.

 

On the ARIA state charts, "You're Amazing" performed strongest in South Australia/Northern Territory, where it reached number 72.  The single registered on the top 100 on four of the five state charts, only falling short in Victoria/Tasmania. 

"You're Amazing" fared better on the Australian Music Report singles chart, where it reached number 93.

I personally think "You're Amazing" was the right choice to follow-up "I'll Be Your Baby Tonight" (number 4, January 1991), Robert's duet with UB40, despite the single flopping.  Robert never charted higher than 89 on the Australian singles chart following "I'll Be Your Baby Tonight".  That single brought a close to Robert's string of ten top 40 singles in Australia between 1979 and 1990.

 

I am not sure why "You're Amazing" flopped.  I heard it played on the radio a bit at the time, though never saw the video until now, which, unless I am mistaken (which I probably am), seems to have Jennifer Lopez in it as one of Robert's three back-up girls.  I can only put it down to popular music styles changing in the early 90s, and Robert, at the ripe old age of 42 when this was released, may have been getting a bit too 'old' to be a successful pop star.

Robert will grace our presence again in September 1991.

 

 

 

Number 147 "Well, Did You Evah!" by Deborah Harry & Iggy Pop

Peak: number 106

Peak dates: 11 March 1991 and 18 March 1991

Weeks in top 150: 7 weeks

Chart run: 147-140-111-106-106-110-122

Weeks on chart: 7 weeks

 

I like Deborah Harry, whom we last saw in August 1990.   I don't mind Iggy Pop, whom we last saw in February 1990.  Put the two artists together and this should be good, right?

Wrong!  Or so I think.

I've heard/seen "Well, Did You Evah!" a couple of times before, but can never, for the life of me, remember how it goes, which is never a good indication.  The only things I can recall about the song are the word "swellegant" and the video was filmed in black and white.

 

The song was recorded for the HIV/AIDS benefit album Red Hot + Blue (number 38, January 1991), where a bunch of different artists recorded (often radically reworked) versions of Cole Porter songs.  Neneh Cherry's "I've Got You Under My Skin" (number 61, November 1990) from the album was a minor hit in Australia in 1990.

Internationally, "Well, Did You Evah!" peaked at number 42 in the UK in January 1991, and number 29 in Ireland during the same month.

On the ARIA state charts, "Well, Did You Evah!" was most popular in South Australia/Northern Territory, where it reached number 58.

 

"Well, Did You Evah!" peaked higher on the Australia Music Report singles chart, reaching number 97.

We will next see Deborah in 1993, and Iggy in 1994.

 

 

Number 148 "I Can't Stand It!" by Twenty 4 Seven featuring Captain Hollywood

Peak: number 130

Peak date: 25 February 1991

Weeks in top 150: 5 weeks

Known chart run: 169-148-130-135-138-148

Weeks on chart: 11 weeks

 

Dutch Eurodance group Twenty 4 Seven broke into the Australian charts in a big way in early 1994 with "Slave to the Music" (number 2, February 1994), but before then, they made some minor ripples outside the top 100 with "I Can't Stand It!".

 

Originally released in the Netherlands in late 1989 with rapper MC Fixx It, the verses of "I Can't Stand It!" were soon re-recorded with Captain Hollywood after MC Fixx It left the group.  A music video for both versions was filmed, however, and I have embedded the second one, with Captain Hollywood, below, as that is the version that charted in Australia.  You can view the original version of the video with MC Fixx It here.

Internationally, "I Can't Stand It!" reached the top 5 in the UK, Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Sweden.  It also reached the top 20 in the Netherlands, the top 30 in New Zealand, and the top 40 in France and Belgium.

Australia wasn't quite as sold on "I Can't Stand It!", although, outside of possibly the club scene (which I was then too young to be part of), the song obtained little exposure locally.

 

On the ARIA state charts, "I Can't Stand It!" performed strongest in Western Australia, where it reached number 87. 

The single fared better on the Australian Music Report singles chart, where it reached number 100.

Captain Hollywood would eventually move on to his own 'solo' project, er, the Captain Hollywood Project, landing a minor hit in Australia in 1993 with "More and More" (number 43, August 1993).  We'll see Captain Hollywood Project bubble under in 1993 and 1994.

The female vocalist on "I Can't Stand It!", Nancy Coolen - simply known as Nance, would stick with Twenty 4 Seven throughout their hit-making (in Australia) period in 1993-4.

We will see Twenty 4 Seven bubble under again in 1995, with Nance still on female vocal duties.

 

 

Number 149 "Proof" by Paul Simon

Peak: number 134

Peak date: 4 March 1991

Weeks in top 150: 8 weeks

Top 150 chart run: 149-136-134-144-143-138-141-138

 

Between 1972 and 1990, Paul Simon placed 15 singles within the Australian top 100.  The biggest of those was the inescapable-at-the-time "You Can Call Me Al" (number 2, November 1986).  Before going solo, Paul was one half of Simon & Garfunkel, from whom we saw the other member, Art, bubble under in October 1981.

"Proof", which I had not heard before, was the second single lifted from Paul's eighth solo studio album The Rhythm of the Saints (number 3, November 1990), following "The Obvious Child" (number 42, November 1990).

It seemed, by this stage, that Paul was more interested in recording interesting albums (if you like his sort of music), experimenting with 'world' music, than landing hit singles.  Though I'm sure there would have been some pressure, still, to land a hit, given the massive success of Paul's previous album Graceland (number 1, October 1986), which spent 42 consecutive weeks in the top 10 of the Australian albums chart between October 1986 and July 1987.

Elsewhere, "Proof" peaked at number 89 in the UK in February 1991.

 

 

Bubbling WAY down under:

 

Number 155 "Bring Your Daughter... to the Slaughter" by Iron Maiden

Peak: number 155

Peak date: 18 February 1991

Weeks on chart: 1 week

 

English heavy metal band Iron Maiden formed in London in 1975.  Between 1982 and 1993, they placed 6 singles on the Australian top 100 chart, with "Run to the Hills" (number 27, September 1982) being the biggest of those. The band fared better on the albums chart, with The Number of the Beast (number 8, August 1982) being the biggest - though not highest-charting - of those, being certified platinum.  We saw the band's lead singer, Bruce Dickinson, solo in 1990.

 

"Bring Your Daughter... to the Slaughter" was the second and final single lifted from Iron Maiden's eighth studio album No Prayer for the Dying (number 23, November 1990), following "Holy Smoke" (number 93, November 1990).  "Bring Your Daughter..." peaked at number 1 in the UK in December 1990, taking advantage of the post-Christmas market there with lower sales, giving the band their only number 1 single in their homeland.  The single also peaked at number 6 in Ireland in January 1991, number 19 in Switzerland in January 1991, number 17 in the Netherlands in February 1991, and number 47 in New Zealand in March 1991.

Locally, "Bring Your Daughter... to the Slaughter" was most popular in Victoria/Tasmania, where it reached number 136.

 

For those not into metal, Iron Maiden are probably best known in Australia for being name-checked in the chorus of Wheatus' "Teenage Dirtbag" (number 1 for four non-consecutive weeks between November 2000 and January 2001).

We shall next see Iron Maiden in 1992.

 

 

Number 175 "A Matter of Fact" by Innocence

Peak: number 175

Peak date: 18 February 1991

Weeks on chart: 1 week

 

Innocence joined us a mere four weeks ago, and here they are with the fourth single - and third to chart in Australia - from their debut album Belief (number 115, February 1991).

"A Matter of Fact" peaked at number 37 in the band's native UK in December 1990.

On the ARIA state charts, "A Matter of Fact" performed strongest in New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory, where it reached number 155.

Innocence will join us next in April 1991.

 

 

Number 180 "Dance to the Beat" by Masterboy

Peak: number 175

Peak date: 25 February 1991

Weeks on chart: 2 weeks

 

Masterboy are a German eurodance act.  "Dance to the Beat" was their debut release.  "Dance to the Beat" peaked at number 26 in Germany in August 1990, and, curiously, does not appear to have charted anywhere else besides Australia.

On the ARIA state charts, "Dance to the Beat" was most popular in Western Australia, where it reached number 135.

 

I hadn't heard this track before.  While I like the musical backing, I am not as sold on the vocals, even though they are only spoken.

I was not aware of Masterboy until catching one of their videos on a new releases episode of rage (these ran between 1993 and 1995 on Friday mornings) in 1994.  We will next see Masterboy in 1994, with that track.

 

 

Number 181 "Situation" (Remix) by Yazoo

Peak: number 167

Peak date: 25 February 1991

Weeks on chart: 3 weeks

 

After Vince Clark left Depeche Mode in November 1981, he formed Yazoo with singer Alison Moyet.  The pair released two albums, Upstairs at Eric's (number 10, November 1982) and You and Me Both (number 34, September 1983), and went their separate ways in May 1983.  Alison embarked on a solo career, and Vince would eventually go on to form Erasure. 

On the singles charts in Australia, Yazoo scored a pair of top 10 hits with "Only You" (number 7, August 1982) and "Don't Go" (number 6, November 1982).  They also landed two more top 100 singles, with "The Other Side of Love" (number 86, February 1983) and "Nobody's Diary" (number 17, August 1983).

"Situation" originally appeared on the American and Canadian pressings of the Upstairs at Eric's album, where the duo had to change their name to Yaz (not to be confused with English recording artist Yazz!).  It was released as a single in North America, Asia and continental Europe (not the UK), and peaked at number 73 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in October 1982, number 18 in the Netherlands in November 1982, and number 7 in the Flanders region of Belgium in December 1982.  You can listen to the original 1982 version of "Situation" here.

The 1990 remix of "Situation" peaked at number 14 in the UK in December 1990, number 38 in the Flanders region of Belgium in January 1991, number 36 in Germany in February 1991, and number 40 in France in June 1991.

In Australia, the remixed version of "Situation" performed strongest in New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory, where it reached number 154 on the state chart.

This was Yazoo's final Australian singles chart entry, although a later album, Only Yazoo (The Best of) (number 261, December 1999), registered on the albums chart.

 

Number 184 "Contribution" by Mica Paris

Peak: number 184

Peak date: 18 February 1991

Weeks on chart: 1 week

 

We first saw English singer Mica Paris bubble under in 1989.

 

"Contribution" was the lead single and title track from Mica's second studio album Contribution (number 234, September 1993), which somehow did not chart in Australia until 1993, following her third album Whisper a Prayer (number 225, August 1993) - which yielded no charting singles in Australia.  Perhaps this late chart entry for the second album is due to the chart going a bit lower by then.

Internationally, "Contribution" peaked at number 33 in the UK in October 1990.

On the ARIA state charts, New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory made the biggest "contribution" (ho ho) to this single's chart 'success', as it reached number 163 there.

I only know a handful of Mica Paris tracks, but like most of what I have heard.  "Contribution" is one I had not heard before, but I enjoyed it and would listen to it again.

There was another mix of "Contribution" released, which featured rapper Rakim.

Mica will join us once again in 1995 with a song I did hear at the time.

 

 

 

Next week (25 February): A mere two new top 150 debuts and three bubbling WAY down under entries.  That should give me some time to add a bunch of newly-uncovered bubbling WAY down under entries from 1989-1991.

 

< Previous week: 11 February 1991                                 Next week: 25 February 1991 >