Again, I knew none of this week in 1992's new entries peaking outside the top 100 at the time. Before we take a look at them, I have updated the following earlier posts:
* 18 February 1991 - with a new bubbling WAY down under entry from Iron Maiden;
* 2 September 1991 - with a new bubbling WAY down under entry from Primal Scream.
Bob Geldof: there wasn't 'room' for his new single in the ARIA top 100 in 1992.
Top 150 debuts:
Number 118 "From Here to Eternity" by Iron Maiden
Peak: number 109
Peak date: 28 September 1992
Weeks in top 150: 7 weeks
Top 150 chart run: 118-109-116-128-131-132-132
Weeks on chart: 12 weeks
We last saw English metal band Iron Maiden in 1991.
"From Here to Eternity" was issued as the second single from Iron Maiden's ninth studio album Fear of the Dark (number 11, May 1992). It followed "Be Quick Or Be Dead" (number 47, June 1992), which was the band's final top 50 single in Australia.
Internationally, "From Here to Eternity" peaked at number 21 in the UK in July 1992, number 27 in Ireland in July 1992, number 70 in the Netherlands in August 1992, and number 33 in New Zealand in August 1992.
Domestically, "From Here to Eternity" performed strongest on the New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory state chart, where it reached number 55. The single peaked outside the top 100 on the remaining four state charts.
While I'm generally not a fan of metal, I don't mind Iron Maiden's "Can I Play with Madness" (number 58, May 1988).
"This Is Australia Calling", the third of 11 consecutive John Williamson singles to peak outside the top 100 (!), was released to promote the compilation album Australia Calling: All the Best Vol 2 (number 32, December 1992). The release of this album spawned his previous compilation All the Best! (number 27, August 1986) to re-enter the chart and climb to the dizzy heights of number 246 in November 1992.
On the state charts, "This Is Australia Calling" performed strongest in New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory, where it reached number 100.
We last saw English 'Madchester' band Happy Mondays in April 1992.
"Stinkin Thinkin" - no apostrophes - was issued as the lead single from the band's fourth studio album ...Yes Please! (number 99, October 1992). Internationally, the single peaked at number 31 in the UK in September 1992. "Stinkin Thinkin" also registered on three meaningless US Billboard charts, peaking at number 21 on the Alternative Airplay chart in October 1992, number 1 on the Dance Club Songs chart in October 1992, and number 15 on the Dance Singles Sales chart in December 1992.
Domestically, "Stinkin Thinkin" was most popular in Western Australia, where it reached number 87 on the state chart.
Number 143 "Room 19 (Sha La La La Lee)" by Bob Geldof
Peak: number 143
Peak date: 21 September 1992
Weeks in top 150: 5 weeks (3 weeks in 1992; 2 weeks in 1993)
Known chart run: 215-143-144-148. Re-entered 22 March 1993: 147-(out for 9 weeks)-150
Weeks on chart: 17 weeks
Irish singer-songwriter Bob Geldof is probably better known for being behind Band Aid and Live Aid, and being tangled up in the messy demise of INXS front man Michael Hutchence - via his ex-wife Paula Yates, than his music these days. Bob started out as the lead singer of Irish new wave band The Boomtown Rats, who scored four Australian top 100 singles between 1979 and 1981, with one of those singles, "I Don't Like Mondays", topping the Australian singles chart for two weeks in November 1979. The only other Boomtown Rats single to dent the top 40 in Australia was "Banana Republic" (number 18, March 1981), and the band split in 1986.
Bob then launched a solo career, and just crept into the top 100 in Australia with his debut solo single "This Is the World Calling" (number 93, December 1986). His debut solo album, Deep in the Heart of Nowhere, released locally in December 1986, failed to chart in Australia.
Bob returned in 1990 with his second solo album The Vegetarians of Love (number 43, April 1991), which produced his biggest hit and only solo top 50 single in Australia, "The Great Song of Indifference" (number 25, November 1990). That single was much more successful in Western Australia, where it reached number 6 on the state chart, than anywhere else. "Love Or Something" (number 74, April 1991) gave Bob his third and final top 100 single in Australia.
"Room 19 (Sha La La La Lee)" was released as the lead single from Bob's third studio album The Happy Club (number 91, May 1993). Internationally, the single peaked at number 53 in Germany in August 1992. It just missed the UK top 75, peaking at number 78 in August 1992.
In Australia, "Room 19..." performed strongest in South Australia/Northern Territory, where it reached number 108 in May 1993. The single also peaked in Victoria/Tasmania in 1993, but in 1992 on the remaining three state charts.
"Room 19 (Sha La La La Lee)" was re-released in Australia in January 1993, and returned to the top 150 for one week in March 1993. I've got an inkling that the later re-entry at the end of May 1993, after 9 weeks out of the top 150, is a mistake on the ARIA database, and it should actually be Bob's next single, which entered the top 150 the following week.
English singer Dina Carroll last graced our presence in 1990.
"Ain't No Man" was lifted from Dina's debut album So Close (number 208, August 1993). Internationally, the single peaked at number 16 in the UK in July 1992, number 63 in Germany in October 1992, and number 34 in the Netherlands in May 1993.
In Australia, "Ain't No Man" performed strongest in Western Australia, where it peaked at number 127. I am not sure why the single peaked almost a year here after its debut, as no re-release is listed in the new releases lists in The ARIA Report, although the music video is listed as a new addition to the rage playlist in July 1993. The single peaked in South Australia/Northern Territory in October 1992, but in September 1993 on all of the other state charts.
I remember seeing this one reviewed in Smash Hits magazine, but did not hear it at the time. I did hear a couple of Dina's later singles, one of which we will see in early 1994, when she pays us another visit.
Number 198 "Slip Inside This House" by Primal Scream
"Slip Inside This House", lifted from Primal Scream's third studio album Screamadelica (number 102, July 1992), was an Australian-only single. On the state charts, "Slip Inside This House" performed strongest in Victoria/Tasmania, where it reached number 133.
Primal Scream would have their commercial breakthrough in Australia in 1994 with the single "Rocks" (number 43, May 1994), and the album Give Out but Don't Give Up (number 28, April 1994).
We'll next see Primal Scream in 1997.
Next week (28 September): Six top 150 entries and four bubbling WAY down under debuts.
All but two of this week in 1991's eleven new entries debuting and peaking outside the ARIA top 100 are by artists hailing from the UK, which is an unusual occurrence. Let's take a look at them.
EMF scored an 'unbelievably' low peak in Australia with their latest single.
Top 150 debuts:
Number 110 "You Woke Up My Neighbourhood" by Billy Bragg
Peak: number 107
Peak date: 11 November 1991
Weeks in top 150: 6 weeks
Chart run: 110-107-114-120-124-121
Weeks on chart: 6 weeks
We last saw English singer-songwriter Billy Bragg, born Stephen William Bragg, in March 1989. Since then, Billy landed his first top 100 single in Australia with "Sexuality" (number 46, September 1991). Songs with 'sex', or a version thereof, in the title seemed to be big in 1991.
"You Woke Up My Neighbourhood" was the second single lifted from Billy's sixth studio album Don't Try This at Home (number 35, October 1991).
Internationally, "You Woke Up My Neighbourhood" peaked at number 54 in the UK in September 1991. it also reached number 25 on the meaningless US Billboard Alternative Airplay chart in November 1991.
Domestically, "You Woke Up My Neighbourhood" performed equally-strongest in Victoria/Tasmania and Western Australia, reaching number 81 on both state charts.
Billy will next join us in 1996.
Number 136 "No Deeper Meaning" by Culture Beat
Peak: number 126
Peak date: 2 December 1991
Weeks in top 150: 11 weeks
Known chart run: 161-136-141-144-128-126-140-134-(chart repeated for 2 week Xmas break)-140-136
Weeks on chart: 13 weeks
German eurodance act Culture Beat last joined us in June 1991.
"No Deeper Meaning" was the fourth and final single released from Culture Beat's debut album Horizon (number 150, August 1991). It was also their third consecutive single to peak outside the ARIA top 100.
Overseas, "No Deeper Meaning" peaked at number 5 in the Netherlands in October 1991, number 30 in the Flanders region of Belgium in October 1991, and number 19 in Finland.
Within Australia, "No Deeper Meaning" was much more popular in Western Australia than elsewhere, where it reached number 74. The next-highest state chart peak "No Deeper Meaning" obtained was number 111, in South Australia/Northern Territory.
If a music video for "No Deeper Meaning" exists, it has not been uploaded to YouTube (and is not in my collection), but you can view a TV performance of the track here.
Culture Beat would finally make their breakthrough in Australia in 1993, when "Mr. Vain" topped the singles chart for one week in October of that year. A new female singer, Tania Evans, was on board by then, replacing Lana Earl.
Culture Beat followed-up the ARIA platinum-certified "Mr. Vain" with two further gold singles from their second album, the gold-certified Serenity (number 5, March 1994): "Got to Get It" (number 7, December 1993) and "Anything" (number 12, March 1994).
We shall next see Culture Beat in 1996.
Number 138 "Always Look on the Bright Side of Life" by Monty Python (1991 release)
Peak: number 119
Peak date: 18 November 1991
Weeks in top 150: 4 weeks
Top 150 chart run: 138-121-119-147
This single peaked at number 9 in Australia in March 1980, spending 14 weeks in the top 100.
Being born in 1978, I was exposed to, and enjoyed, numerous British comedy TV programs growing up, including some that were largely filmed before my time, such as George and Mildred and The Benny Hill Show. Monty Python's Flying Circus, which was originally broadcast between 1969 and 1974, was not one of them, however, and I don't think I had even heard of them until noticing that this track was in the UK top 10 published in the back of the Australian edition of Smash Hits magazine in 1991. I am pretty sure I caught the video for it once on TV around this time.
"Always Look on the Bright Side of Life" started out as the double A-side on the UK 1979 "Life of Brian" single, with Sonia Jones' "Brian" on the A-side. The latter track was the theme song from Monty Python'sLife of Brian movie, in which "Always..." also featured. Oddly for the UK, who seemed to lap up any old novelty record no matter how bad it was, this single did not chart there.
In continental Europe, North America and Australasia, this single was released with "Always Look on the Bright Side of Life" as the A-side, and "Brian" as the B-side. The original release of this single peaked at number 9 in Australia in March 1980, number 34 in the Netherlands in January 1981, and number 30 in the Flanders region of Belgium in January 1981. This leads me to believe that Monty Python must have been quite big in Australia in the early 1980s, even though I had never heard of them as a toddler.
In 1991, BBC Radio 1 DJ Simon Mayo started playing "Always Look on the Bright Side of Life" on his breakfast radio show, known for resurrecting novelty records, which led to its re-release. The 1991 release of "Always..." peaked at number 3 in the UK in October 1991, number 1 in Ireland, number 35 in the Flanders region of Belgium in December 1991, number 3 in Germany in December 1991, number 3 in Switzerland in December 1991, number 5 in Norway in December 1991, and number 2 in Austria in February 1992.
Number 142 "Waratah Street" by John Williamson
Peak: number 142
Peak date: 4 November 1991
Weeks in top 150: 3 weeks
Top 150 chart run: 142-144-148
Weeks on chart: 4 weeks
We last saw Australian country legend John Williamson in August 1991.
"Waratah Street" was the second and final single, and almost title track, from John's tenth studio album Waratah St. (number 14, September 1991).
On the state charts, "Waratah Street" performed strongest in Western Australia, where it reached number 119.
Number 147 "What Can You Do for Me" by Utah Saints (1991 release)
Peak: number 143
Peak date: 11 November 1991
Weeks in top 150: 6 weeks (in 1991-1992); 14 weeks (1991, 1992 and 1993 chart-runs combined)
Top 150 chart run: 147-143-149. Re-entered 27 January 1992: 144-149-148
Re-entered 29 March 1993: 105-104-90-93-99-99-105-126
Weeks on chart: 29 weeks (1991, 1992 and 1993 chart-runs combined)
This single peaked at number 90 in Australia in April 1993 when re-released, spending a further 8 weeks in the top 150.
Despite their name, Utah Saints hail from North Yorkshire in England rather than the American state of Utah. "What Can You Do for Me" was their debut release. Vocally, the track is based on samples from Eurythmics' "There Must Be an Angel (Playing with My Heart)" (number 3, August 1985) and Gwen Guthrie's "Ain't Nothin' Goin' on but the Rent" (number 75, November 1986). The song's title comes from the sample from the Gwen Guthrie track.
Internationally, "What Can You Do for Me" peaked at number 10 in the UK in September 1991, number 16 in Ireland, and number 35 in Sweden in December 1991.
Utah Saints made their breakthrough in Australia with their next single, "Something Good" (number 10, November 1992), which used vocal samples from Kate Bush's "Cloudbusting" - a single that bubbled under in Australia in January and February 1986.
Both "What Can You Do for Me" and "Something Good" appear on Utah Saints' debut album Utah Saints (number 111, August 1993). "Something Good" became a hit again, with Kate's vocals replaced by a sound-a-like singer, in 2008, when "Something Good '08" peaked at number 32 in May of that year.
Following the success of "Something Good", "What Can You Do for Me" was re-released in Australia, reaching a new peak of number 90 in April 1993. On the state charts, the 1993 release of "What Can You Do for Me" performed strongest in Western Australia, where it reached number 49.
There was also a US remix of "What Can You Do for Me", with a new music video filmed to promote its release there.
As if all of these different versions and releases was not enough, "What Can You Do for Me" had a third lease of life on the Australian chart, when the 2012 remix peaked at number 694 in April 2012.
Utah Saints landed a third top 100 single in Australia from their debut album with "Believe in Me" (number 92, August 1993), which prominently sampled The Human League's "Love Action (I Believe in Love)" (number 12, March 1982).
We shall next see Utah Saints in 1995.
Number 150 "Such a Feeling" by Bizarre Inc
Peak: number 150
Peak date: 4 November 1991
Weeks in top 150: 1 week
Top 150 chart run: 150
Weeks on chart: 5 weeks
We last saw English dance act Bizarre Inc in June 1991. "Such a Feeling" was their second single released in Australia.
"Such a Feeling" peaked at number 13 in the UK in October 1991.
On the ARIA state charts, "Such a Feeling" performed strongest in Western Australia - where this early rave music seemed to do better than the rest of the country, based on the state chart peaks for this and, recently, The Prodigy - reaching number 80 there.
I get this one confused with the similarly-titled "Such a Good Feeling" by Brothers in Rhythm, which was released around the same time, though not in Australia.
We will next see Bizarre Inc in 1992, with one of my favourite tracks of the year.
Bubbling WAY down under:
Number 159 "Lies" by EMF
Peak: number 159
Peak date: 4 November 1991
Weeks on chart: 2 weeks
One thing I did not know (or had forgotten) about English band EMF is that the band's name is short for Epsom Mad Funkers, which was the name of a New Order fan club. I had perhaps thought the band's name stood for electromagnetic force.
EMF burst onto the Australian chart in early 1991 with their debut single "Unbelievable" (number 8, April 1991). Just when it seemed like EMF were going to be the next big thing (a girl in my class at school had EMF written in large letters on her pencil case), their second single, "I Believe" (number 54, July 1991), flopped in Australia, although it did give them a second UK top 10 hit.
EMF's third single "Children" (number 49, September 1991) returned them to the ARIA top 50, if only just. It looked at this point, to me, like EMF might become one-hit wonders in Australia, and indeed that is what happened.
"Lies", the fourth and final single from the band's debut album Schubert Dip (number 44, June 1991), fared even worse, peaking outside the ARIA top 150.
I am not sure why EMF faltered so quickly on the charts. I can only guess that it was partly due to the band inhabiting that awkward spot between boy band who appeal to teenage girls (see the aforementioned pencil case example) and credible band who write their own songs and play their own instruments. Having pin-up looks (well, some of the band did) can be both a blessing and a curse. The teenage girl fans will move on to someone else six months later, and the 'serious music' fans won't take you seriously because of your appeal to teenyboppers.
Internationally, "Lies" peaked at number 18 in Ireland in August 1991, number 28 in the UK in August 1991, number 99 in Germany in September 1991, and number 18 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in November 1991. "Lies" was the only EMF single other than "Unbelievable" to register on the Billboard Hot 100.
Within Australia, "Lies" performed strongest in Queensland, where it reached number 133.
EMF split in 1997, though have since had a couple of reunions. Lead singer James Atkin now works as a school teacher, which seems to be the career of choice for former pop stars. You can view a video of James teaching on YouTube here. The band's original bass player, Zac Foley, died in 2002 from a drug overdose, aged 31.
EMF would never trouble the ARIA top 100 again, though we will see them bubble under on a few occasions in the coming years, with the next one being in 1992.
Number 176 "Pet Shop Boys Mega Mix" by Pet Shop Boys
This single is a bit of an enigma to me - it is not listed in the weekly lists of new release titles for either The ARIA Report or the Australian Music Report, and only Scandinavian pressings (and promotional ones at that) are listed on discogs.com. Do any Pet Shop Boys fans reading this know about this single's Australian release? I am guessing that perhaps it was made available on 12" vinyl in DJ-orientated stores.
Anyway, the megamix contains excerpts from the Pet Shop Boys songs "Being Boring" (number 82, February 1991), "So Hard" (number 27, December 1990), "Heart" (number 18, June 1988), "Suburbia" (bubbled under, November 1986), and "It's a Sin" (number 10, August 1987). They have not been mixed together in a particularly innovative way.
On the state charts, "Pet Shop Boys Mega Mix" performed strongest in Western Australia, where it reached number 137.
Number 186 "Stay Beautiful" by Manic Street Preachers
Peak: number 186
Peak date: 4 November 1991
Weeks on chart: 1 week
Welsh band Manic Street Preachers formed in Blackwood in 1986. While the group released a number of singles independently in the UK between 1988 and 1991, "Stay Beautiful" was their major label debut, and their first Australian release. The track was also the lead single from Manic Street Preachers' debut album Generation Terrorists (number 182, April 1992).
In the UK, "Stay Beautiful" peaked at number 40 in August 1991, becoming the first of the band's 34 UK top 40 singles to date.
Domestically, "Stay Beautiful" was most popular in Western Australia, where it reached number 151.
I first became aware of Manic Street Preachers when reading about the disappearance, and presumed suicide, of the band's rhythm guitarist Richey Edwards in early 1995, in the British music newspaper N.M.E, which was one of the music publications I graduated to from Smash Hits in the second half of 1994. The first Manics song I heard, "A Design for Life" (number 50, July 1996), was also their first single to dent the ARIA top 100.
The Manics never really had major chart success in Australia, with only one other top 50 single, "If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next" (number 49, September 1998). The band have landed two top 20 albums in Australia, however; although both had relatively brief chart runs.
Manic Street Preachers sort-of scored their biggest hit in Australia as the backing musicians on Kylie Minogue's "Some Kind of Bliss" (number 27, October 1997), during her 'indie' phase.
At
my first ever 'job', standing in an assembly line collating packages
for off-campus uni students, I remember a 'colleague' there stating that
Manic Street Preachers were her favourite band, when the topic of music
came up. While the job was 'enjoyable' in the sense of getting paid to
essentially stand around and talk all day, I declined the offer for
more work after 3 days, due to the horrendous paper cuts I'd come home with on my fingers...
"Crown of Madness" was released as the lead single from the second Dave Stewart and The Spiritual Cowboys album Honest (number 187, November 1991). The single peaked at number 96 in the UK (number 84 on the compressed chart) in September 1991; the only other country it charted in.
In Australia, "Crown of Madness" performed strongest in New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory, where it reached number 162.
Although Dave Stewart and The Spiritual Cowboys' releases were generally flops, Dave would have still been raking in the cash in 1991 from his former band Eurythmics' Greatest Hits compilation, which spent seven weeks at number 1 in Australia in April and May of 1991, and topped the charts in the UK, Germany, Austria, the Netherlands, and New Zealand.
We will next see Dave, on his own, in 1994.
Number 201 "Jacky" by Marc Almond
Peak: number 201
Peak date: 4 November 1991
Weeks on chart: 1 week
We last saw English singer Marc Almond, born Peter Mark Sinclair Almond, in June 1989.
"Jacky" was the lead single from Marc's seventh solo studio album Tenement Symphony, which was released in Australia in November 1991 but did not chart. The track is a cover version of a 1966 song by Belgian singer-songwrister Jacques Brel. An English language adaptation was released by Scott Walker in 1967.
Overseas, "Jacky" peaked at number 17 in the UK in October 1991, number 14 in Ireland, number 57 in the Netherlands in October 1991, and number 32 in the Flanders region of Belgium in November 1991.
Domestically, "Jacky" was most popular in Western Australia, where it reached number 169.
At the time of writing, "Jacky" is the earliest single I have an ARIA singles chart peak for outside the top 200.
I hadn't heard "Jackie" before. Marc's next single, which I have heard before and like, "My Hand over My Heart", was released in Australia in March 1992, but failed to chart.
We last saw Sydney Youngblood in November 1989. "Hooked on You" was the lead single from Sydney's second album Passion, Grace and Serious Bass... (number 130, November 1991).
Internationally, "Hooked on You" peaked at number 72 in the UK in June 1991, number 34 in Sweden in July 1991, number 36 in Germany in July 1991, number 27 in Switzerland in August 1991, and number 35 in France in October 1991.
Within Australia, "Hooked on You" performed strongest in Western Australia, where it reached number 60 - the only ARIA state chart where it registered a top 100 peak.
I think I caught "Hooked on You" once on one of the SBS music video programs, The Noise or M.C. TeeVee, at the time, but the song did not stick in my memory. Listening to it again now, I enjoy the song, but it doesn't stand out like the singles from Sydney's debut album.
A second single from Passion, Grace and Serious Bass..., "Wherever You Go", was released in Australia in October 1991, but failed to chart.
Top 150 chart run: 134-122-104-107-111-125-119-(out for 1 week)-147-148-(out for 1 week)-139-139-142-146-149-149-149-149-(chart repeated for 2 week Xmas break)
Weeks on chart: 21 weeks
Until now, I had erroneously assumed that American rock duo The Rembrandts were Dutch, I guess owing to being named after the painter. The pair's debut single "Just the Way It Is, Baby" (number 26, June 1991) reached the top 30 in Australia. In contrast to that song's moderate peak on the chart, "Just the Way It Is, Baby" received massive airplay in Melbourne, and reached number 13 on the Victoria/Tasmania state chart.
"Someone" was the second single lifted from The Rembrandts' debut album The Rembrandts (number 93, August 1991). The single peaked at number 78 in the US in July 1991, number 57 in the Netherlands in July 1991, and number 45 in Germany in August 1991.
Domestically, "Someone" was most successful in Western Australia, where it reached number 47. "Someone" peaked within the top 100 on all of the ARIA state charts except New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory.
"Someone" broke into the top 100 on the Australian Music Report singles chart, where it peaked at number 75.
With a tally of 19 weeks in the top 150, "Someone" was the second most long-lasting 'hit' to peak within the 101-150 region of the chart that debuted in 1991. The single was still charting on the last chart survey of the year, in December 1991.
I don't recall hearing this one before, though assume it must have received FM airplay.
American rapper Nichelle Strong, better known as Nikki D, scored a minor 'hit' on the ARIA singles chart with "Daddy's Little Girl" (number 59, July 1991), which prominently sampled D.N.A. featuring Suzanne Vega's "Tom's Diner" (number 8, November 1990).
"Hang on Kid" was the second single lifted from Nikki's debut - and only album to date - Daddy's Little Girl, which was released in Australia in October 1991 but missed the top 150. I cannot find evidence of "Hang on Kid" charting in any other country. I don't recall hearing this one before.
A third single from Daddy's Little Girl, "Wasted", was released in Australia in February 1992. It missed the top 150.
Number 145 "Take Us to the Top" by Jason Martin
Peak: number 145
Peak date: 12 August 1991
Weeks in top 150: 2 weeks
Top 150 chart run: 145-(out for 2 weeks)-148
Last week we had an Australian sports-themed single that I couldn't embed a video for, and here is another. Jason Martin was a rugby league player who at this point in 1991 was playing for the North Sydney Bears. While I've never heard "Take Us to the Top", I remember this track being reviewed in Smash Hits, along with a picture of the single sleeve showcasing Jason's impressive mullet (see below).
Jason's Wikipedia page states that the music video for "Take Us to the Top" showed Jason playing rugby league, while other members of his team performed backing vocals. Hopefully some kind soul uploads it one day.
2024 update: you can view a snippet of the "Take It to the Top" music video in the TV interview clip embedded below. It's about as 'good' as you would expect from a sports star...
Number 146 "Until She Comes" by The Psychedelic Furs
Peak: number 146
Peak date: 12 August 1991
Weeks in top 150: 1 week
Top 150 chart run: 146
English band The Psychedelic Furs formed in 1977. The group landed three top 100 singles in Australia, with "Love My Way" (number 23, January 1983) and "Heartbreak Beat" (number 26, March 1987) cracking the top 30. The band also bubbled under the top 100 in 1984 and 1986, but I am yet to cover those years.
"Until She Comes" was the lead single from The Psychedelic Furs' seventh studio album World Outside (number 108, August 1991). Their previous album Book of Days (number 114, February 1990), yielded no top 150 singles in Australia.
While I cannot find evidence of "Until She Comes" registering a position on another country's chart, it spent two weeks at number one on the meaningless US Billboard Alternative Airplay chart in September 1991.
I hadn't heard "Until She Comes" before. While I like a couple of earlier Psychedelic Furs singles I know, I can't say I am a huge fan of this one.
Number 147 "I Don't Love You Anymore" by The Reels
Peak: number 125
Peak date: 14 October 1991
Weeks in top 150: 10 weeks
Top 150 chart run: 147-144-149-148-(out for 1 week)-146-(out for 1 week)-131-137-125-135-138
"I Don't Love You Anymore" was The Reels' first single that was not a cover version since 1985. Presumably, the track was recorded for what would have become their fourth studio album of original material, not counting the covers album Neighbors (number 92, December 1988). However, "I Don't Love You Anymore" would not appear on any studio album, but instead ended up on the compilation Requiem (number 131, January 1993), released in November 1992, which collated most of the band's previous singles.
I caught the video for "I Don't Love You Anymore" a couple of times on TV as a new release, catching it on rage while waiting for the top 60 to start at least once. I am surprised the single did not perform better on the charts, as it deserved to do so. The music video is memorable for having numerous people who sit alongside or hover around Reels singer Dave Mason, lip syncing lyrics and playing with his hair, among other things, while Dave remains largely stationary.
On the state charts, "I Don't Love You Anymore" performed strongest in South Australia/Northern Territory, where it reached number 74.
We last saw Australian country music veteran John Williamson in November 1990.
"A Flag of Our Own" was the first of two singles from John's tenth studio album Waratah St. (number 14, September 1991). On the state charts, "A Flag of Our Own" performed strongest in Queensland, where it reached number 93.
I hadn't heard this one before. It's really not my kind of music.
We last saw English indie band Inspiral Carpets in December 1990.
"Please Be Cruel" was the second and final single from Inspiral Carpets' second studio album The Beast Inside (number 157, June 1991). It followed "Caravan", which was released in Australia in May 1991 but failed to chart.
In the UK, "Please Be Cruel" peaked at number 50 in June 1991.
Within Australia, "Please Be Cruel" performed strongest in New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory, where it reached number 170.
I bought a second-hand DVD of Inspiral Carpets' music videos on eBay a couple of years back, but haven't watched most of it yet. I hadn't heard this track before. It's alright, but not my favourite of theirs.
Number 197 "Wishing You Were Here" by Alison Moyet
Peak: number 197
Peak date: 12 August 1991
Weeks in top 150: 1 week
English singer Alison Moyet last graced our presence in May 1991. "Wishing You Were Here" was issued as the second - and in Australia, last - single from her third studio album Hoodoo (number 120, July 1991).
Internationally, "Wishing You Were Here" peaked at number 72 in the UK in June 1991.
Domestically, the single performed strongest in Victoria/Tasmania, peaking at number 175.
I hadn't heard this one before. While I can appreciate the musicality of the track, it bored me a little.
A third single from Hoodoo, "This House", was released in Europe.
Alison will next join us in 1994.
Next week (19 August): Nine new top 150 debuts, and one bubbling WAY down under entry.
This week's chart in 1990 is notable for being the only occasion since the chart was extended beyond number 100 in January 1989 that the ARIA singles chart did not go until at least number 150. Instead, the chart ended at number 140 this week in 1990.
Why this occurred, I do not know. The albums chart, in contrast, often ended before number 150 in 1989-90, after various artists compilation albums were removed from the chart on the survey dated 26 June 1989. The albums chart ended as high as number 138 on three occasions in 1989.
I am only speculating here, but it is possible that ARIA had a minimum sales threshold for a title to obtain a chart placing - and, potentially, this threshold was not reached this week in November 1990. After a period of going to at least number 150, the ARIA albums chart ended before number 140 for the first 19 weeks of 1990; finishing as high as number 138 on another three occasions.
In case you were wondering, the lowest-ranked single on the chart this week in 1990, at number 140, was Junior Tucker's "16 (Into the Night)", which would eventually peak at number 46 in Australia in April 1991.
Before we take a look at this week's chart from 1990, I have updated one of my earlier posts:
* 13 February 1989 - with a new bubbling WAY down under entry from The Beatmasters with P.P. Arnold added.
The Charlatans debut, but not with the only one of their songs you know.
Top 140 debuts:
Number 133 "Then" by The Charlatans
Peak: number 104
Peak date: 21 January 1991
Weeks in top 150: 13 weeks
Chart run: 133-150-114-106-115-(chart repeated for 2 week Xmas break)-118-119-104-113-121-131
Weeks on chart: 13 weeks
English band The Charlatans formed in 1988. Their second single, and first to be released in Australia, "The Only One I Know" (number 75, September 1990), was their only single to dent the ARIA top 100. In contrast, "The Only One I Know" peaked at number 9 in the UK in June 1990. The indie 'Madchester' scene, which The Charlatans are associated with, never really took off in Australia, with The Stone Roses' "Fools Gold" (number 13, May 1990) being its only sizable hit.
"Then", the second single released in Australia from The Charlatans' debut album Some Friendly (number 79, January 1991), faltered just short of the ARIA top 100. "Then" peaked at number 12 in the UK in September 1990, and number 11 in Ireland during the same month.
On the state charts, "Then" performed strongest in New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory, where it reached number 79.
Top 150 chart run: 134-149-143-146-142-(chart repeated for 2 week Xmas break)-131-138-142-136-141-132-142-135-137-139-134-135-146
Until now, the single peaking outside the top 100 that spent the most weeks in the top 150 has been 10,000 Maniacs' "Trouble Me", which notched up 17 weeks in 1989. American duo David Eric Lowan (who went by his middle name of Eric) and Dan Navarro (cousin of Dave Navarro, who has played guitar for Jane's Addiction and Red Hot Chili Peppers) better that record by three weeks with the title track from their Walking on a Wire (number 130, April 1991) album. What makes this feat even more impressive is that "Walking on a Wire" spent all 20 of its weeks in the top 150 hovering between numbers 131 and 149, and its chart run was unbroken.
Lowen & Navarro had previously enjoyed success on the Australian chart as the songwriters of Pat Benatar's "We Belong" (number 7, February 1985). The pair also share song co-writing credits on Bangles' "I'll Set You Free" (number 81, July 1990), "Everything I Wanted" (released in Australia in September 1990, did not chart), and "Something That You Said" (number 102, April 2003); and The Triplets' "You Don't Have to Go Home Tonight" (number 45, June 1991).
At the time of writing this, I cannot find evidence of "Walking on a Wire" charting anywhere else. I say that, as the Billboard website seems to have changed its URLs for artist chart histories, as it seems to do every 6 months or so, annoyingly, and I cannot find a method of searching for this song's chart history. I'm guessing that this track might have made one of the Billboard subsidiary (meaningless) charts if not the Hot 100.
I don't recall hearing this song before, despite its long chart run. I like it.
Sadly, Eric Lowan died in 2012, aged 60, from complications of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or motor neuron disease as it is better-known in Australia.
A second Lowen & Navarro single, "The Spell You're Under", was released in Australia in March 1991, but missed the top 150.
Chart run: 138-117-118-113-122-(chart repeated for 2 week Xmas break)-120
Weeks on chart: 8 weeks
John has been releasing music since 1970. While the singles charts were not really his main market, John had placed seven singles in the top 100 at this point in time, with "Old Man Emu" (number 4, 1970), "The Vasectomy Song" (number 28, December 1983) and "Rip Rip Woodchip" (number 39, July 1989) making the top 40. Surprisingly, "True Blue" (number 43, March 1987), which seems to me like it would be his signature song, missed the top 40. We saw John just a few weeks ago.
"Christmas Photo" was the second single lifted from JW's Family Album (number 21, December 1990), and tells a tale of Christmas in Australia, which lands in the middle of summer, in contrast to the winter/snow imagery from the Northern hemisphere we are bombarded with around Christmas time.
On the state charts, "Christmas Photo" performed strongest in Queensland, where it reached number 89.
We shall next see John Williamson bubble under in August 1991.
Number 139 "Don't Ask Me" by PiL
Peak: number 139
Peak date: 19 November 1990
Weeks in top 150: 2 weeks
Known chart run: 158-139-(out of top 150 for 1 week)-146
Weeks on chart: 4 weeks
PiL, P.I.L., Public Image Ltd, or Public Image Limited - whatever you choose to call them - bubbled under previously in 1989. "Don't Ask Me" was recorded for their The Greatest Hits, So Far (number 102, November 1990) compilation. The single peaked at number 22 in the UK in October 1990.
In Australia, "Don't Ask Me" was most popular in Queensland, where it reached number 130 on the state chart.
This week in 1990's new entries again cover a broad range of genres. Let's take a look at them.
Inner City were on the outer with their latest release in 1990.
Top 150 debuts:
Number 125 "Lift Me Up" by Jeff Lynne
Peak: number 125
Peak date: 29 October 1990
Weeks in top 150: 2 weeks
Top 150 chart run: 125-148
English singer-songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist Jeff Lynne was the front man of Electric Light Orchestra, commonly abbreviated as ELO. Between 1973 and 1986, ELO placed 20 singles on the Australian top 100 chart, including their "Xanadu" (number 2, September 1980) collaboration with Olivia Newton-John. ELO's biggest hit in their own right in Australia was "Livin' Thing" (number 2, February 1977).
Jeff's first solo single, "Doin' That Crazy Thing", was released in 1977, but did not chart anywhere. Jeff issued another one-off single, from the Electric Dreams soundtrack (number 54, October 1984), "Video!", in 1984. "Video!" peaked at number 87 in the UK in July 1984, and number 85 in the US in August 1984, but did not chart in Australia.
More-recently, Jeff had been part of Traveling Wilburys, who landed two top 20 singles, "Handle with Care" (number 3, January 1989) and "End of the Line" (number 12, March 1989), and a number one album, with Vol. 1 (number 1, February 1989), in Australia.
Jeff also co-produced George Harrison's Cloud Nine (number 10, April 1988), Roy Orbison's Mystery Girl (number 1, February 1989), and Tom Petty's Full Moon Fever (number 13, June 1989) albums. At this point in time, Jeff seemed to be the go-to producer for veteran acts seeking a career resurgence.
Jeff's first solo album, Armchair Theatre (number 35, July 1990), was not released until 1990. The album's lead single, "Every Little Thing", peaked at number 31 in Australia in August 1990. The single also reached number 59 in the UK in July 1990, and number 18 in Canada in August 1990.
"Lift Me Up" was the second and final single from Armchair Theatre. The only other place the single charted was in Canada, where it reached number 37 in October 1990.
As with its predecessor, the "Lift Me Up" music video makes extensive use of animation.
I didn't think I knew "Lift Me Up", but the chorus sounds familiar. It's not what I'd typically listen to, but I like it. My dad was an ELO fan, buying several of their 70s albums on CD in the early-mid 90s. I don't recall him buying Jeff's solo album, however, although he did own Traveling Wilburys' Vol. 1.
While Jeff will not appear in the top 150 again as a solo artist, he continued to have success producing for other artists. It must have been disappointing for Jeff that he did not achieve the
same level of success with his own work.
We shall see Jeff again as part of Traveling Wilburys in February 1991.
Number 138 "King of Dreams" by Deep Purple
Peak: number 138
Peak date: 29 October 1990
Weeks in top 150: 2 weeks
Top 150 chart run: 138-144
Weeks on chart: 3 weeks
Between 1971 and 1973, British rock band Deep Purple landed 6 singles on the Australian top 100, although only one of those made the top 40. But hit singles aren't really the raison d'être for a band like Deep Purple, are they?
"King of Dreams" was the lead single from Deep Purple's thirteenth studio album Slaves and Masters (number 72, November 1990). The single peaked at number 70 in the UK in October 1990, and number 56 in Canada in December 1990.
Locally, "King of Dreams" performed strongest in Western Australia, where it reached number 113.
With some exceptions, I am not generally a fan of the heavier side of rock, so I was not expecting to like this song... not that it's that 'heavy', but the chorus is quite melodic. I actually don't mind it.
Outside of fans of 80s/early 90s alternative music, The Pogues are best known for their festive season duet with Kirsty MacColl, "Fairytale of New York" (number 49, December 2019)... and lead singer Shane MacGowan's teeth.
Although "Fairytale of New York" was issued in Australia in December 1987, it did not chart until the digital/streaming era, as the song belatedly became known to a wider audience locally (I first heard it in 2005). Its Australian peak to date of number 49 may be beaten in future years, as Christmas-themed songs of yesteryear continue to fill up the Christmas chart every year, sometimes bettering their previous peaks.
That aside, "Summer in Siam" was only The Pogues' second single to reach the top 150 in Australia. We saw the first one back in March 1989. The band achieved greater success on the Australian albums chart, with Rum Sodomy & The Lash (number 89, April 1986), If I Should Fall from Grace with God (number 36, February 1988) and Peace and Love (number 61, September 1989) all charting locally.
"Summer in Siam" was the lead single from The Pogues' fifth studio album Hell's Ditch (number 82, November 1990). The single peaked at number 21 in Ireland in September 1990, and number 64 in the UK during the same month.
Shane MacGowan, the band's singer, will bubble under in 1995.
Number 141 "Long Cool Woman in a Black Dress" by Charlie Sexton
Peak: number 141
Peak date: 29 October 1990
Weeks in top 150: 2 weeks
Chart run: 155-141-149
Weeks on chart: 3 weeks
American singer-songwriter Charlie Sexton placed four singles within the Australian top 100 between 1986 and 1990, with his biggest hit down under being "Beats So Lonely" (number 17, April 1986). We also saw Charlie bubble WAY down under in June 1989 with a single that only charted in Australia.
"Long Cool Woman in a Black Dress", a cover version of a 1971 song by The Hollies, appears on the Air America (number 133, October 1990) soundtrack. It appears that "Long Cool Woman in a Black Dress" was only released as a single in Australia.
On the state charts, "Long Cool Woman..." performed strongest in Western Australia, where it reached number 123.
This was Charlie's last release to chart in Australia.
Number 143 "That Man (He's All Mine)" by Inner City
Peak: number 143
Peak date: 29 October 1990
Weeks in top 150: 1 week
Chart run: 143
Weeks on chart: 1 week
Detroit techno pioneer Kevin Saunderson formed Inner City with singer Paris Grey (real name Shanna Jackson) in 1987. The pair placed all four singles from their debut album Paradise (number 38, September 1989) in the ARIA top 100 - "Big Fun" (number 57, March 1989), "Good Life" (number 52, March 1989), "Ain't Nobody Better" (number 67, June 1989), and "Do You Love What You Feel" (number 76, August 1989). "What'cha Gonna Do With My Lovin'" (number 86, February 1990), a new track recorded for their Paradise Remixed (number 119, April 1990) album, also made the top 100.
While Inner City never landed a top 50 single in Australia, they achieved greater success in the UK, with 9 top 40 singles, 4 of which made the top 10. The pair also topped the US Billboard Dance chart on five occasions - not that I consider this a 'real' chart.
"That Man (He's All Mine)" was the lead single from the band's second studio album Fire (number 166, January 1991). "That
Man..." peaked at number 42 in the UK in October 1990. It missed the
US Billboard Hot 100, but peaked at number 20 on the Dance Singles Sales
chart in December 1990, and number 15 on the Billboard Dance chart in
January 1991.
On the ARIA state charts, "That Man (He's All Mine)" performed strongest in Victoria/Tasmania, where it reached number 140.
"That Man..." was the only single issued from Fire in Australia. A second single from the album, "Till We Meet Again", was released in Europe and North America, and peaked at number 47 in the UK in March 1991.
Despite being a fan of the singles from Inner City's first album, I never heard "That Man..." at the time, suggesting that lack of promotion was a factor in it not performing as 'well' as the singles from the first album on the chart.
Number 144 "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" by The Jeff Healey Band
Peak: number 127
Peak date: 19 November 1990
Weeks in top 150: 4 weeks
Top 150 chart run: 144-147-144-127
The Jeff Healey band visited us twice in 1989, in June and July. "While My Guitar Gently Weeps", a Beatles cover, was the second single issued from the album Hell to Pay (number 20, July 1990). It followed "I Think I Love You Too Much", which was released in Australia in June 1990 but missed the top 150.
"While My Guitar Gently Weeps" peaked at number 27 in the band's native Canada, and at number 85 in the UK in October 1990.
On the Australian Music Report singles chart, "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" peaked at number 92.
Jeff Healey died in 2007, aged 41, following a three-year illness with bone cancer.
Number 146 "I Almost Felt Like Crying" by Craig McLachlan and Check 1-2
Peak: number 103
Peak date: 5 November 1990
Weeks in top 150: 5 weeks
Top 150 chart run: 146-103-110-116-124
Back in 1990, Aussie Craig McLachlan was best known as a TV soap actor, playing the roles of Henry Ramsay on Neighbours between 1987 and 1989, and Grant Mitchell on Home and Away in 1990-91. Currently, he is best 'known' for being accused of some rather unsavoury acts, which I won't repeat here, but you can check this link if you don't already know.
In between, Craig briefly tried his hand at being a pop star in the late 80s/early 90s. With his back-up band Check 1-2, Craig landed a couple of hits - "Rock the Rock" (number 36, December 1989), "Mona" (number 3, May 1990) and "Amanda" (number 24, August 1990).
"I Almost Felt Like Crying" was the fourth and final single lifted from the band's only album Craig McLachlan and Check 1-2 (number 4, June 1990). The single also charted in the UK, where it reached number 50 in November 1990.
On the Australian Music Report singles chart, "I Almost Felt Like Crying" peaked at number 100.
Following this release, Craig ditched Check 1-2, and became a solo artist. He landed three further top 100 'hits' in Australia, with the fittingly-titled "On My Own" (number 23, September 1991) being the biggest. Craig's debut solo album Hands Free peaked at number 104 in March 1992 on the ARIA albums chart.
Craig will join us again as part of a stage show cast towards the end of 1992.
Number 147 "Crazy 4 U" by Sybil
Peak: number 147
Peak date: 29 October 1990
Weeks in top 150: 1 week
Chart run: debuted 3 September 1990: 158-(off chart for 7 weeks)-147
Weeks on chart: 2 weeks
American chanteuse Sybil graced our presence back in February 1990. "Crazy 4 U" was the second single lifted from her second album Sybil (released in Australia in March 1990, did not chart) in Australia. Salt 'N' Pepa perform a rap in the middle of the song, though are not credited as featured artists. They do, however, appear in the music video.
Internationally, "Crazy 4 U" peaked at number 71 in the UK in April 1990. While it missed the US Billboard Hot 100, "Crazy 4 U" reached number 45 on the Dance Singles Sales chart in May 1990, and number 19 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart during the same month.
On the ARIA state charts, "Crazy 4 U" performed strongest in Queensland, where it reached number 125.
Interestingly, another Sybil single, "Walk on By", was released in Australia in between "Crazy 4 U"'s release in August 1990 and its debut in the top 150 nearly three months later. "Walk on By", however, failed to chart.
English singer Steven Morrissey's Australian chart career commenced when he was lead singer of The Smiths. Although the group achieved consistent chart success in the UK, they never really crossed over to a mainstream audience in Australia, only landing two top 100 singles, "This Charming Man" (number 52, April 1984) and "Stop Me If You Think You've Heard This One Before" (number 91, February 1988). The Smiths also had two singles bubble under the top 100 during the 1980s, but we'll get to those in my 1980s Kent Music Report recaps in a few years' time.
The Smiths had greater success on the Australian albums chart, placing four albums within the top 40 during the 1980s. We will see several of the band's singles bubble under when re-issued in a couple of years from now.
Following the demise of The Smiths in 1987, Morrissey embarked on a solo career. His debut single, "Suedehead", peaked at number 45 in Australia in May 1988, and became his biggest hit here. Second single "Everyday Is Like Sunday" did not chart nationally (when the ARIA singles chart stopped at number 100), but registered on the Western Australia state chart at number 97 in July 1988. Morrissey's debut solo album Viva Hate reached number 21 in April 1988.
"Piccadilly Palare" was issued to promote the Morrissey compilation album Bona Drag (number 57, October 1990), which contained all of his singles to date, along with B-sides. The single peaked at number 18 in the UK in October 1990, and number 5 in Ireland during the same month.
On the ARIA state charts, "Piccadilly Palare" performed strongest in South Australia/Northern Territory, where it reached number 113.
Smiths bassist Andy Rourke plays on "Piccadilly Palare", marking the last occasion that Morrissey would collaborate with any of his former bandmates. No music video was filmed to promote "Piccadilly Palare".
We saw American singer-songwriter Carly Simon sampled on a track debuting last week, and here she is with one of her own. Between 1971 and 1989, Carly placed 15 singles on the Australian top 100 chart. Five of those singles reached the top 5, with Carly's biggest hit in Australia being "You're So Vain", which went to number 1 in 1973. Carly last appeared on the ARIA chart with "Let the River Run" (number 83, May 1989).
"Better Not Tell Her" was the lead single from Carly's fifteenth studio album Have You Seen Me Lately? (number 160, November 1990). Interestingly, the song did not chart in the US, but peaked at number 30 in Canada.
On the ARIA state charts, "Better Not Tell Her" performed strongest in Western Australia, where it reached number 108 in February 1991. Unusually for a single peaking outside the top 150 in 1990, "Better Not Tell Her" spent 9 weeks on the chart. The single peaked in four different months on the five state charts, hindering its success on the national chart.
This would be Carly's final single to chart in Australia.
Number 155 "Old Man Emu" (1990 version) by John Williamson
Peak: number 155
Peak date: 29 October 1990
Weeks on chart: 106 weeks
Australian country singer John Williamson originally released "Old Man Emu" in 1970, when it reached number 4 on the singles chart. The track was re-recorded for his JW's Family Album (number 21, December 1990).
As the ARIA database tends to combine separate releases of the same title as though they were the same release, "Old Man Emu" is credited with spending 106 weeks on the chart at the time of writing. Almost all of those weeks would be from the streaming era, and probably stem from the original recording of the song. What that says about the tastes of the Australian streaming public, I don't know...
Number 160 "Took the Children Away" by Archie Roach
Peak: number 160
Peak date: 29 October 1990
Weeks on chart: 51 weeks (probably only 1 or 2 weeks of those were from its 1990 chart run)
Indigenous Australian singer-songwriter Archie Roach was born in
Mooroopna, Victoria. After several turbulent years, including many
years of homelessness and alcohol addiction, Archie launched his
recording career in 1990 with the single "Took the Children Away", and the album Charcoal Road (number 86, March 1991).
"Took the Children Away" tells the story of the Stolen Generation of Aboriginal children who were forcibly removed from their homes to be raised by white parents. When he was 2 or 3 years old, Archie and his siblings were removed from their family and placed in an orphanage, later to be raised by Scottish immigrants.
Although the single only reached number 160 on the ARIA singles chart upon its original release, the song became more widely-known in later years, as evidenced by the music video's 1 million plus views on YouTube, which is much more than one would expect from a single peaking this low on the chart.
"Took the Children Away" received a 30th Anniversary Edition digital release in 2020, re-entering the chart. On the state charts, the single performed strongest in Queensland, where it reached number 9 in April 2021 - there is a large discrepancy between state chart peaks (which I assume must be based on purchased legal downloads) and the national singles chart (based almost entirely on streaming) in the streaming era. The highest state charts peak for this single in 1990 I can see was in South Australia/Northern Territory, where it reached number 129. I assume this single only spent one or two weeks on the chart in 1990, as its lowest state chart tally is two weeks (in 1990, national and state chart week tallies were always the same).
A second single from Charcoal Road, "Down City Streets", was released in April 1991, but did not chart.
