Week commencing 17 February 1992

There is no common thread linking this week in 1992's debuts peaking outside the top 100, so let's just dive straight in.

 

Dire Straits really were in 'dire straits' with their chart position for their latest single.

 

Top 150 debuts:

 

Number 118 "On Every Street" by Dire Straits

Peak: number 109

Peak date: 24 February 1992

Weeks in top 150: 4 weeks 

Top 150 chart run: 118-109-113-123

 

Between 1978 and 1991, English rock band Dire Straits placed 13 singles on the Australian chart, with the Twisting by the Pool EP (number 2, February 1983) being their highest-peaking hit. 

"On Every Street" was the title track from the band's sixth and final studio album On Every Street (number 1, September 1991).  It followed "Calling Elvis" (number 8, September 1991) and "Heavy Fuel" (number 26, December 1991).

 

Internationally, "On Every Street" peaked at number 42 in the UK in February 1992, number 42 in the Netherlands in March 1992, and number 23 in France in April 1992.

 

The single performed stronger on the Australian Music Report singles chart, where it reached number 80.

This would be Dire Straits' only single to peak in the 101-150 region of the ARIA singles chart, although (spoiler alert) they had a 1986 single that made the Kent Music Report beyond the top 100 list.

I don't recall hearing this one before.  It takes over three minutes to reach its crescendo, which probably isn't a great thing for a commercial single.

 

 

Number 122 "In My Life" by Bette Midler

Peak: number 107

Peak date: 2 March 1992

Weeks in top 150: 6 weeks

Chart run: 122-115-107-109-120-117

Weeks on chart: 6 weeks

 

We last saw American singer and actress Bette Midler in 1991. 

"In My Life" was the second and final single lifted from the For the Boys soundtrack (number 44, February 1992); the movie for which Bette also played a starring role in.  The song is a cover version of a track originally recorded by The Beatles in 1965.  It followed "Every Road Leads Back to You" (number 74, February 1992).

 

While I cannot find evidence of "In My Life" charting on any other sales-based chart, it did reach number 20 on the US Billboard Adult Contemporary chart in May 1992.

 

Within Australia, "In My Life" was most popular in Queensland, where it reached number 68.

We'll next see Bette in 1995.

 

 

Number 125 "So Real" by Love Decade

Peak: number 121

Peak date: 9 March 1992

Weeks in top 150: 7 weeks 

Top 150 chart run: 125-122-126-121-126-131-123

English electronic dance group Love Decade formed in 1991, and "So Real" was their second single, though their first Australian release.  It was the group's only release to trouble the ARIA top 150.

Internationally, "Love Decade" peaked at number 14 in the UK in November 1991, becoming their biggest hit there.  It also reached number 25 in Ireland in December 1991.

 

I have heard this one before, though wouldn't have known it at the time.

 

 

Number 135 "Sunless Saturday" by Fishbone

Peak: number 135

Peak date: 17 February 1992

Weeks in top 150: 1 week

Top 150 chart run: 135

 

American rock band Fishbone formed in 1979.  "Sunless Saturday" was issued as a single locally at the start of July 1991, though somehow took seven and a half months to register a place in the top 150 - for one week only, at that.  It was the band's first release to chart in Australia.

 

"Sunless Saturday" is lifted from the band's third studio album The Reality of My Surroundings (number 136, July 1991).

 

I cannot find evidence of this single charting elsewhere, other than on the US Billboard Alternative Airplay chart, where it reached number 7 in May 1991.

 

We shall see Fishbone again next week!

Number 140 "Runaway Bay" by Ghostwriters

Peak: number 117

Peak date: 9 March 1992

Weeks in top 150: 7 weeks

Top 150 chart run: 140-120-131-117-141-140-144

 

Australian band Ghostwriters formed in 1990, as essentially a side project between Midnight Oil's drummer Rob Hirst and Hoodoo Gurus' bassist Richard Grossman.  Neither artist was credited on the liner notes for their debut album Ghostwriters (number 96, January 1992), however, given they wished to initially remain anonymous.  Session musicians on the album were credited by their first name and surname initial.

Ghostwriters' debut single "...Someone's Singing New York New York" (number 29, December 1991) dented the ARIA top 30.  It would become their only single to enter the top 100.

 

We shall next see Ghostwriters in June.

 

 

Number 147 "Cruelest Plague" by Helvelln

Peak: number 118

Peak date: 9 March 1992

Weeks in top 150: 8 weeks 

Top 150 chart run: 147-143-130-118-125-125-138-142

Sometimes, the timing of my posts is quite lucky.  The (audio only) video embedded below for this track was uploaded to YouTube just a month ago - without this, I wouldn't be able to hear this track or share it with you.

Helvelln were an Australian band, composed of members Andy Papadopoulos, Jeremy Gronow, and Nick Green.  They released just one album Helvelln (number 136, September 1991), from which this track is lifted.  While it's not the sort of music I'd normally listen to, I didn't mind this one.  It would be the band's only ARIA top 150 single.

A reader has kindly informed me that Helvelln won the national Australian University band competition in 1991, and the prize was a recording session, from which "Cruelest Plague" resulted.

 

 

Number 150 "The Way I Feel About You" by Karyn White

Peak: number 150

Peak date: 17 February 1992

Weeks in top 150: 1 week

Top 150 chart run: 150

Weeks on chart: 5 weeks

 

We last saw American singer Karyn White in her own right in 1989, and as a featured artist in 1991.

"The Way I Feel About You" was the second single lifted from Karyn's second album Ritual of Love (number 152, October 1991).  It followed "Romantic" (number 68, October 1991), which topped the US Billboard Hot 100 in November 1991, and was Karyn's only ARIA top 100 entry.

 

Internationally, "The Way I Feel About You" peaked at number 65 in the UK in January 1992, number 12 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in February 1992, and number 47 in New Zealand in March 1992.

 

Within Australia, "The Way I Feel About You" was most successful in New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory, where it reached number 136.

Karyn will join us for one last visit in 1994.

  

Bubbling WAY down under:

 

Number 162 "Sweet Soul Music" by London Boys

Peak: number 152

Peak date: 2 March 1992

Weeks on chart: 5 weeks

We last saw London Boys in 1989.

 

"Sweet Soul Music", credited to Soul Kitchen featuring London Boys in some markets, was the title track from London Boys' second album Sweet Soul Music, which was released in Australia in February 1992 but did not chart.

 

Internationally, "Sweet Soul Music" peaked at number 11 in Austria in September 1991, and number 81 in Germany in October 1991.

 

Domestically, "Sweet Soul Music" was most successful in Victoria/Tasmania, where it reached number 141.

This was London Boys' last release to chart in Australia.

Number 182 "I Can't Wait" by Stevie Nicks (1992 release)

Peak: number 182

Peak date: 17 February 1992

Weeks on chart: 1 week

This single originally peaked at number 20 in February 1986 and spent 18 weeks in the top 100.

 

We last saw American singer-songwriter Stevie Nicks in 1981.

 

"I Can't Wait" was originally released in Australia in December 1985, as the lead single from Stevie's third solo album Rock a Little (number 5, June 1986).  The single appears to have been issued in Australia before other countries, and we even received an exclusive, earlier edit of the music video, which I have embedded as the second video below, as it is blocked on YouTube.   In other markets, "Talk to Me" (number 22, April 1986) was released as the first Rock a Little single.

"I Can't Wait" was re-issued in Europe in late 1991 as the second single from Stevie's first compilation album Timespace - The Best of Stevie Nicks (number 13, December 1991) - an album I toyed with buying at the time, but did not.  The re-issue of "I Can't Wait" peaked at number 47 in the UK in November 1991, bettering its original peak there of number 54 in February 1986.

 

"I Can't Wait" received a re-release in Australia in January 1992, as the follow-up to "Sometimes It's a Bitch" (number 18, November 1991).  The 1992 issue of the single performed strongest in New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory, where it reached number 163.

One of my favourite Stevie quotes is regarding the "I Can't Wait" music video.  Posting it here in full for you: "I look at that video, I look at my eyes, and I say to myself, 'Could you have laid off the pot, the coke and the tequila for three days, so you could have looked a little better?  It just makes me want to go back into that video and stab myself."

We shall next see Stevie on her own in 1994, but before then, she'll appear as a featured artist in July 1992.

The Australian edit of the "I Can't Wait" music video:

Number 184 "My Town" by Glass Tiger featuring Rod Stewart

Peak: number 184

Peak date: 17 February 1992

Weeks on chart: 2 weeks

We last saw Canadian band Glass Tiger in 1989.

"My Town" was the second single issued in Australia from Glass Tiger's third, and final, studio album Simple Mission, which was released in Australia in August 1991 but failed to chart.  It followed the single "Animal Heart", released locally in July 1991, which also did not chart.  On this track, the band teamed up with Rod Stewart - although he does not appear in the music video, and does not perform on the version of the track used in the video!  You can hear the version of "My Town" featuring Rod here.

 

Internationally, "My Town" peaked at number 8 in Canada in November 1991, number 33 in the UK in November 1991, and number 51 in Germany in January 1992.

In Australia, "My Town" performed strongest in Western Australia, where it reached number 153.

 

This would be Glass Tiger's last charting release in Australia.  Rod will join us again in August 1992.

Next week (24 February): Four top 150 debuts, and two bubbling WAY down under entries.

< Previous week: 10 February 1992                                   Next week: 24 February 1992 >

Week commencing 4 December 1989

Now in the final month of 1989, the chart year is drawing to a close, with this week's chart being the third-last one for the year.  Unusually, of the ten songs I write about this week, I only knew two of them at the time - and they are both from the bubbling WAY down under section.  At least one of this week's new entries does not have a music video, and two of the songs I write about were not even on YouTube until creating this post!  Shall we take a look?

 

Olivia Newon-John: The charts weren't the only thing she was on the 'fringe' of in 1989.

 

Top 150 debuts:

 

Number 108 "The Arms of Orion" by Prince with Sheena Easton

Peak: number 108

Peak date: 4 December 1989

Weeks in top 150: 10 weeks

Chart run: 165-108-121-115-(chart repeated for 2 week Xmas break)-124-126-118-115-117

Weeks on chart: 11 weeks

 

Prince, under the pseudonym Alexander Nevermind, first collaborated with Sheena Easton through writing the infamous "Sugar Walls" (number 87, June 1985), recorded for her A Private Heaven album (number 88, March 1985).  The pair then recorded a duet, "U Got the Look" (number 90, October 1987) for Prince's Sign "☮︎" the Times album (number 20, May 1987).  While neither of these collaborations had much chart success in Australia, both reached the top 10 of the US Billboard Hot 100.

"The Arms of Orion" was released as the third single from Prince's Batman soundtrack (number 4, July 1989), without an accompanying music video, which probably hindered its chart success.  The single performed stronger on the Australian Music Report singles chart, where it peaked at number 88.  "The Arms of Orion" also peaked at number 36 on the Billboard Hot 100 in December 1989, and number 27 in the UK during the same month.

Within Australia, "The Arms of Orion" performed equally-strongest in New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory and Victoria/Tasmania, where it reached number 77 on the state charts.  However, despite peaking highest in the two most-populous states, it didn't boost the single into the top 100, as it peaked  peaked eight weeks apart on both state charts.

 

While I saw this single in the shops, I never heard the song until looking it up on YouTube out of curiosity a few years ago.  That is, unless it is featured in the 1989 Batman movie, which I saw at the cinema, but can barely remember anything about (was there actually a plot?).

Sheena will pay us another visit in 1991, and Prince will join us again in 1996.

 

 

 

Number 114 "The Time Warp (PWL Remix)" by Damian

Peak: number 114 

Peak date: 4 December 1989

Weeks in top 150: 7 weeks

Top 150 chart run: 114-125-130-(chart repeated for 2 week Xmas break)-116-128

 

The original version of "The Time Warp", by The Rocky Horror Picture Show Original Cast, like the 1975 film that spawned it, had a 'rocky' start, eventually peaking at number 3 in December 1980, spending 15 weeks in the Australian top 10.  Damian, hailing from Manchester in the UK, in a similar fashion, kept re-releasing his version of the track until it became a hit - well, in the UK, anyway.  Originally peaking at number 94 in the UK in September 1986 (after debuting on the chart in March of the same year), it was re-recorded and re-released as "The Time Warp II" - having two separate chart runs between December 1987 and September 1988, peaking at number 51 there in January 1988.  Finally, Damian's version of "The Time Warp" was remixed by Pete Hammond at PWL (home of hit-makers extraordinare Stock Aitken Waterman), and his Midas touch propelled the single to number 7 in the UK, for two weeks in September 1989.  Phew!

In Australia, we got "The Time Warp II", released in November 1988.  The PWL remix of "The Time Warp" was released locally in early November 1989.  Judging by the embedded music video, Damian moonlighted as a clown/stilts walker.   Sadly, he died from cancer in 2017, aged 52.

Number 123 "Our Children's World" by Oz Art for Ozone

Peak: number 123 

Peak date: 4 December 1989

Weeks in top 150: 10 weeks 

Top 150 chart run: 123-130-127-(chart repeated for 2 week Xmas break)-143-140-134-140-141

 

This track was (obviously) a charity record, by an ensemble of Australian artists - presumably to raise funds for environmental causes.  Artists participating in this project included: Andy McLean (21 Guns), Brian Canham (Pseudo Echo), David Janz (Janz), Grace Knight (Eurogliders), Jim Keays (Masters Apprentices), John Swan (Swanee), Juno Roxas (Roxus), Lisa Edwards, Lisa Schouw (Girl Overboard), Matthew De La Hunty (Tall Tales & True), and Wendy Stapleton (Wendy & The Rocketts).  I have no recollection of hearing this track before, so lack of exposure/promotion might have been a problem.  Like almost all charity records, it kind of... sucks.

Going by the rear sleeve used as an image still for the (audio-only) video below, there was a music video filmed for this one - but no-one has yet uploaded it to YouTube.

 

 

 

Number 133 "Pretending" by Eric Clapton

Peak: number 106 

Peak dates: 18 December 1989 (chart repeated 25 December 1989 and 1 January 1990), 8 January 1990 and 25 January 1990

Weeks in top 150: 11 weeks

Chart run: 133-119-106-(chart repeated for 2 week Xmas break)-106-107-110-106-114-133

Weeks on chart: 11 weeks

Up until now, Eric had placed eight singles within the top 100 on the Australian singles chart, with the biggest of those being "I Shot the Sheriff" (number 11, November 1974).  "Pretending" was the lead single from his Journeyman album (number 27, December 1989).  "Pretending" performed better on the Australian Music Report singles chart, where it peaked at number 85.  "Pretending" peaked at number 55 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in December 1989, and at number 96 in Eric's native UK in July 1990.

 

In Australia, "Pretending" was most popular in South Australia/Northern Territory, where it reached number 46 on the state chart.  The single peaked within the top 100 on all five state charts, but this was not enough for it to dent the national top 100.

 

Eric will join us again in 1990.

 

 

 

Number 134 "Good Love" by Zan

Peak: number 134 

Peak date: 4 December 1989

Weeks in top 150: 9 weeks 

Chart run: 176-134-140-143-(chart repeated for 2 week Xmas break)-142-139-146-139

Weeks on chart: 10 weeks

Zan, real name Suzanne Abeyratne, was co-lead vocalist in the Australian band I'm Talking, who placed five singles in the Australian top 40 between 1985 and 1986, with the biggest of those being "Do You Wanna Be?" (number 8, June 1986).  Of the singles the band released, Zan only sang lead on one of them, "Holy Word", which peaked at number 9 in September 1986.

 

I'm Talking bubbled under on the Kent Music Report's list of singles receiving significant sales reports beyond the top 100 with "How Can It Be", which reached fifth place on the list in November 1986.

 

I'm Talking disbanded in 1987, prompting both of its vocalists - Zan and Kate Ceberano - to launch solo careers.  Zan's debut single, "It's Your Move", peaked at number 82 in April 1989, and this was its follow up.  On the state charts, "Good Love" performed strongest in Western Australia, where it reached number 104.

 

Zan released one further solo single, "Nobody Else", in January 1991, but it failed to chart.

As this song was not previously on YouTube, I've had to resort to uploading the video below, which is just the audio of the 12" mix - the only version I was able to source.

Number 141 "Radar Love" by White Lion

Peak: number 117

Peak date: 8 January 1990

Weeks in top 150: 10 weeks

Chart run: 151-(off chart for 1 week)-141-142-133-(chart repeated for 2 week Xmas break)-117-120-139-129-129

Weeks on chart: 11 weeks

A cover version of the Golden Earring classic (number 10, September 1974), "Radar Love" was released as the second single from the Danish/American band's third album, Big Game (number 119, August 1989), and became their third single to bubble under in 1989, after we saw the band debut in May.  White Lion's version of the track peaked at number 59 on the US Billboard Hot 100.

Locally, "Radar Love" performed strongest in South Australia/Northern Territory, where it reached number 77.

White Lion will join us one more time, in 1991.

 

Number 142 "Guitar Concierto de Aranjuez" by Tommy Emmanuel

Peak: number 138

Peak date: 18 December 1989 (chart repeated 25 December 1989 and 1 January 1990)

Weeks in top 150: 8 weeks 

Top 150 chart run: 142-146-138-(chart repeated for 2 week Xmas break)-139-141-142

 

Guitar maestro Tommy Emmanuel's first foray onto the Australian charts came in 1988, when the album Up from Down Under peaked at number 48 in July 1988.  "Guitar Concierto de Aranjuez" was a version of "Concierto de Aranjuez", composed in 1939 by Spanish composer Joaquin Rodrigo, and lifted from Tommy's Dare to Be Different album (number 13, August 1990).  Tommy will join us again in 1990.

 

 

Bubbling WAY down under:

 

Number 155 "Free Fallin'" by Tom Petty

Peak: number 155 (in 1989); number 59 in 2017

Peak dates: 4 December 1989 (1989 chart run); 9 October 2017 (2017 chart run)

Weeks on chart: 40 weeks (1989 and 2017 chart runs combined)

 

Sometimes, some of an artist's most well-known songs are not their biggest chart hits, and here we have a prime example of that, with Tom Petty's "Free Fallin'".  Despite peaking at number 7 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in January 1990, becoming his biggest hit there, "Free Fallin'" stalled outside the top 150 in Australia in 1989.  Tom's biggest chart hits in Australia had been "I Won't Back Down" (number 16, July 1989), and, with The Heartbreakers, "Refugee" (number 24, May 1980) and their duet with Stevie Nicks, "Stop Draggin' My Heart Around" (number 10, September 1981).

 

"Free Fallin'" was lifted as the third single from Tom's Full Moon Fever album (number 13, June 1989), following "I Won't Back Down" and "Runnin' Down a Dream" (number 68, September 1989).

Following Tom's death in October 2017, "Free Fallin'" re-entered the ARIA singles chart, and peaked at number 59 during the same month.  "Free Fallin'" was Tom's highest-peaking single to re-enter the ARIA chart in the week following his death, placing higher than "I Won't Back Down" at number 78 in the same week.  This would suggest that "Free Fallin'" could now be regarded as being Tom's 'signature' track in Australia, despite its low peak of number 155 in 1989.

Tom will next join us in 1991.

 

Number 165 "London Nights" by London Boys

Peak: number 165

Peak date: 4 December 1989

Weeks on chart: 1 week 

London Boys nudged the lower end of the top 150 back in September, and here they were with the second single lifted from their The Twelve Commandments of Dance album (number 137, August 1989) in Australia.  "London Nights" fared much better in the UK, where it became the duo's highest-charting single, peaking at number 2 in July 1989.  London Boys will visit us again in 1992.

 

 

 

Number 178 "Reach Out for Me" by Olivia Newton-John

Peak: number 153 

Peak date: 15 January 1990

Weeks on chart: 2 weeks

Here's one I hadn't heard before.  As Olivia explains during the spoken intro to the embedded music video, this one was written for her daughter, Chloe, who was almost 4 years old at this point.  Olivia recorded an album of children's songs, Warm and Tender (number 109, February 1990), from which this track is lifted.  "Reach Out for Me"'s two weeks on the chart were non-consecutive, with the single re-entering and reaching its peak in mid-January 1990.  Disregarding the US Billboard Adult Contemporary chart (which I don't consider a 'real' chart), Australia was the only place this single charted.

Olivia will next visit us in 1992.

Next week (11 December): a quieter week, with three new top 150 entries, and one bubbling WAY down under debut.  You can also follow my posts on instagram and facebook.

 

< Previous week: 27 November 1989                               Next week: 11 December 1989 >

Week commencing 4 September 1989

This week, there are a measly two new top 150 debuts.  One thing they have in common is that they're both by duos - except one of the duos was once a four-piece group.  Let's take a look...

London Boys: What you might get if Zorro, the Village People and the Umbilical Brothers had a child.

Top 150 debuts:

Number 123 "One Better World" by ABC 

Peak: number 122

Peak date: 11 September 1989

Weeks in top 150: 7 weeks

Chart run: 123-122-126-140-140-137-147

Weeks on chart: 7 weeks

ABC burst onto the Australian charts in 1982 with back-to-back top 10 hits "Poison Arrow" (number 4, August 1982) and "The Look of Love" (number 7, October 1982).  Since then, it was all downhill for them in terms of commercial success, with only two further top 30-peaking hits - the last of which was "When Smokey Sings" (number 25, October 1987).  The group of originally four members quickly disintegrated, leaving only lead singer Martin Fry and Mark White, joined by new member 'Eden' (whose voice wasn't actually used on recordings) for their third album, released in 1984.  In between their third and fourth albums, Martin Fry underwent successful treatment for Hodgkin's lymphoma, which had reportedly reached a life-threatening stage.

Two of my favourite ABC singles missed the top 100 altogether down under: "How to Be a Millionaire" (though it came close, placing second on a list of 'singles receiving significant sales reports beyond the top 100' in March 1985), and "King Without a Crown" (released locally in January 1988).

Roll on to 1989, ABC were now just Martin and Mark, and "One Better World" was the lead single from their fifth album, Up (number 132, December 1989).  "One Better World" was a modest number 32 hit in the UK in June 1989, becoming the group's final top 40 single in their homeland.  In Australia, "One Better World" performed equally-strongest on the New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory and South Australia/Northern Territory state charts, where it reached number 109.

A second single lifted from the album, "The Real Thing", peaked at number 68 in the UK in September 1989, but failed to chart in Australia, where it was released in late November 1989.

Despite the lack of success, ABC will join us for one last time in 1990.

 

 

Number 149 "Requiem" by London Boys 

Peak: number 149

Peak date: 4 September 1989

Weeks in top 150: 1 week

Top 150 chart run: 149

Weeks on chart: 2 weeks

Based in Hamburg but met-in-London London Boys were Edem Ephraim and Dennis Fuller, whose act incorporated dancing, gymnastics, backflips and... going by the videos, silly dress-ups.  Written and produced by Ralf René Maué (who also wrote flop singles for Sinitta and Samantha Fox), "Requiem" stalled at number 59 in the UK in December 1988 upon initial release, before being beefed up a little bit by Pete Hammond (from the Stock Aitken Waterman Hit Factory), and rebounding to number 4 on the UK chart in May 1989.  Parent album The Twelve Commandments of Dance was also a success in Britain, peaking at number 2 on the albums charts.  In Australia, it was a different story, where this single barely scraped the top 150, and the album peaked at number 137 in August 1989.

Tragically, the London Boys were both killed in a car accident in the Austrian Alps in January 1996, aged 36.  Ephraim's wife and a DJ friend, who were passengers, and the driver of the other vehicle, were also killed in the crash.  Both London Boys were survived by children.

On a brighter note, although they never landed a top 100 hit in Australia, London Boys will visit us twice more in the coming years, with the next occasion being in December 1989.

Next week (11 September): Three new top 150 debuts, including the original version of a minor hit from 1992; plus two bubbling WAY down under entries.  You can also follow my posts on facebook and instagram.

< Previous week: 28 August 1989                                        Next week: 11 September 1989 >