Special post: State chart-only number 1 singles June-December 1988

It has been quite a while since I've made a post outside of the weekly top 150 recaps.  Writing this one has been on my mental 'to do' list for quite a while.  Although this blog normally deals with flops that missed the ARIA top 100, for a change, in this post I will write about singles that went to number one on at least one of the five state charts, but did not top the national chart.

 

Avid collectors of the printed ARIA top 50 charts that used to be available freely in record stores may recall that ARIA started including the state top 10 charts on those on the chart dated week ending 29 April 1990 (which reflects the chart survey conducted 23 April 1990).  Here's a refresher (hopefully it will be at a readable size font if you right click View Image, or open it in a new tab):

 

Then, in December 1991, ARIA switched to posting the state top 50 singles and albums chart on the reverse of the national chart, with each state having their own state chart printed on the back.  I do wonder what happened at/near border towns...  Here's an example I collected at the time, showing the Victoria/Tasmania state chart on the reverse.  I have split the image into two halves so that it (hopefully) displays more clearly below:

 

 

Then, of course the printed top 50 chart underwent a re-design in August 1992.  Here's one with a Queensland state chart, provided by the late Craig MacGregor:

 

 

Top 50 state chart information was also provided in a table within The ARIA Report, with an example below:

 

ARIA state chart data from June 1988 (when ARIA commenced producing the chart in-house) to December 1989 inclusive has never been publicly available.  While I don't have a complete set of state charts, I am reasonably confident that I now have all of the state chart number 1 singles spanning this period.

 

 

State chart-only number one singles - June 1988 to December 1988:

 

1. "Blue Monday 1988" by New Order

State(s) that it went to number one in: Victoria/Tasmania

Known dates it was number one: 6 June 1988

National chart peak: number 3 

National chart debut: 29 May 1988

National chart run: 31-3-4-5-7-7-13-14-14-16-20-28-35-37-54-53-72-75-96

 

Topping the very first Victoria/Tasmania state chart produced by ARIA is New Order's "Blue Monday 1988".  During the same week, it climbed from number 31 to number 3 nationally.  While the English band never scored a national number one single in Australia, "Bizarre Love Triangle" (number 5, March 1987) also topped the Kent Music Report state chart for four weeks in Victoria in 1987.  Excellent taste, Victorians and Tasmanians!

 

 

2. "Underneath the Radar" by Underworld

State(s) that it went to number one in: Western Australia

Known dates it was number one: 6 June 1988

National chart peak: number 5

National chart debut: 11 April 1988

National chart run: 82-68-52-49-40-36-28-26-13-5-16-9-10-7-12-11-10-7-10-10-16-23-28-35-36-44-45-46-46-55-56-60-70-75-90

 

British band Underworld landed a state chart number one in Western Australia on the first chart survey ARIA conducted.  Surprisingly, this one was only really a hit in Australia, where it reached number 5 nationally, and in New Zealand, where it reached number 14.  "Underneath the Radar" crept into the lower region of the US Billboard Hot 100, reaching number 74 in May 1988.  Astonishingly, the single did not even register on the UK top 200, which is quite a travesty!

 

3. "The Perfect Day" by Fischer-Z

State(s) that it went to number one in: Western Australia

Known dates it was number one: 13 June 1988

National chart peak: number 12

National chart debut: 2 May 1988

National chart run: 95-90-87-68-60-55-22-82-47-45-37-31-21-18-12-13-16-17-14-21-20-26-33-34-33-57-58-57-96

 

Like Underworld above, English band Fischer-Z were two-hit wonders in Australia, (almost) eight years apart, with "So Long" (number 15, December 1980) and this one.  Also like Underworld, the line-up of the band had completely changed in between the two Australian hits, with the lead singer being the only constant.  Narrowly missing the top 10 nationally, Western Australia had the good sense to make this a number one hit.  The single had a rather yo yo-like chart run for a period, climbing from 55 to 22 on the second ARIA-produced chart (the week it was number one in Western Australia), before dropping back down to 82 then climbing back up the chart slowly again.  I wonder what was going on there.

 

4. "Better Be Home Soon" by Crowded House

State(s) that it went to number one in: Queensland and Western Australia

Known dates it was number one: 4 July 1988 (WA); 11 July 1988 (QLD)

National chart peak: number 2

National chart debut: 13 June 1988

National chart run: 36-3-3-2-2-3-2-2-4-5-6-6-10-17-18-23-37-43-52-62-61-71-84-96-95

 

Probably thought of as a number one hit by most people, "Better Be Home Soon" surprisingly only peaked at number 2.  Having said that, I was not a fan of the song at the time, but have since grown to like it over the years.

 

 

5. "Doctorin' the Tardis" by The Timelords

State(s) that it went to number one in: Victoria/Tasmania and Queensland

Known dates it was number one: 29 August 1988 (VIC/TAS); 19 September 1988 (QLD)

National chart peak: number 2

National chart debut: 1 August 1988

National chart run: 57-8-4-3-3-3-3-2-3-3-7-12-13-25-35-51-52-53-78-83-94-(2 week Xmas break)-98

 

Another one many people probably assume was a number one hit is The Timelords' (an alias of The KLF) novelty hit, "Doctorin' the Tardis".  It seemed there were more Doctor Who fans in Victoria, Tasmania and Queensland than the rest of the country.

 

 

6. "Don't Be Cruel" by Cheap Trick

State(s) that it went to number one in: Victoria/Tasmania and Queensland

Known dates it was number one: 19 September 1988 (VIC/TAS); 12 September 1988 (QLD)

National chart peak: number 4

National chart debut: 27 June 1988

National chart run: 50-29-20-25-16-14-9-8-5-5-4-4-5-5-6-12-19-23-28-44-46-43-74-75-75-97-(2 week Xmas break)-96 

Deciding to follow-up a massive number one hit "The Flame" (number one on the first ARIA-produced national singles chart, no less) with a safe Elvis cover was a choice... but it paid off for Cheap Trick, giving them back-to-back top 5 success in Australia.

 

 

7. "All Fired Up" by Pat Benatar

State(s) that it went to number one in: Queensland and Western Australia

Known dates it was number one: 3 October 1988 (QLD); 26 September 1988 (WA)

National chart peak: number 2

National chart debut: 1 August 1988

National chart run: 70-41-20-15-7-5-5-4-2-2-5-7-9-11-14-19-20-33-50-66-(2 week Xmas break)-71-75-83-95-101

 

American singer Pat Benatar landed a number one hit in Australia in early 1984 with the brilliant "Love Is a Battlefield".  While she never replicated that feat, she came close with "All Fired Up"; another song I wasn't particularly fond of at the time, but has since grown on me.  A little known fact about this track is that it's a cover version of a 1987 single from Australian country band Rattling Sabers, which peaked at number 94 in Australia in November 1987.

 

 

8. "The Only Way Is Up" by Yazz and The Plastic Population

State(s) that it went to number one in: New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory

Known dates it was number one: 17 October 1988 (NSW/ACT)

National chart peak: number 2

National chart debut: 19 September 1988

National chart run: 86-34-14-8-2-5-5-5-6-5-4-4-5-7-(2 week Xmas break)-6-9-8-13-17-21-22-36-46-48-60-65-79-83-84

 

English singer Yazz (born Yasmin Evans) was backed up by Coldcut, for whom she was a featured artist on "Doctorin' the House" (number 45, August 1988), using the pseudonym 'The Plastic Population', for this track, which is another cover of an obscure song, originally recorded by Otis Clay.  Yazz's version spent a respectable 16 weeks in the Australian top 10.  Sometimes incorrectly referred to as a one-hit wonder, Yazz had another top 30 hit in Australia, minus The Plastic Population, with "Stand Up for Your Love Rights" (number 22, December 1988), which I prefer slightly to this one, and, er, another three solo top 100 'hits'.

 

 

9. "A Groovy Kind of Love" by Phil Collins

State(s) that it went to number one in: all except South Australia/Northern Territory!

Known dates it was number one: 24 October 1988 (NSW/ACT); 31 October 1988 (VIC/TAS); 31 October 1988 (QLD); 24 October 1988 (WA)

National chart peak: number 2

National chart debut: 3 October 1988

National chart run: 31-10-5-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-3-5-(2 week Xmas break)-8-11-14-17-23-27-64-47-45-68-81-82

 

Spending a mammoth seven consecutive weeks at number 2, Phil Collins' "A Groovy Kind of Love", recorded for the soundtrack of the film Buster (which Phil also starred in), somehow managed to top four of the five state charts, but not the national chart.  In the odd state chart-out, South Australia/Northern Territory, "A Groovy Kind of Love" only managed to reach number 5.

 

 

10. "When a Man Loves a Woman" by Jimmy Barnes

State(s) that it went to number one in: South Australia/Northern Territory

Known dates it was number one: 14 November 1988

National chart peak: number 3

National chart debut: 31 October 1988

National chart run: 24-6-4-3-3-3-6-11-(2 week Xmas break)-14-20-27-39-61-63-71-77-109-97

 

I've never been a big fan of Scottish-Australian pub rock legend Jimmy Barnes' screaming vocals, and they're cranked up to 11 on this live rendition of the Percy Sledge song, which South Australia/Northern Territory obviously loved.  The song could alternatively be titled "How to Destroy Your Vocal Cords Permanently in One Easy Lesson".

 

 

11. "Nothing Can Divide Us" by Jason Donovan

State(s) that it went to number one in: South Australia/Northern Territory

Known dates it was number one: 21 November 1988

National chart peak: number 3

National chart debut: 24 October 1988

National chart run: 4-4-4-3-4-6-8-7-10-(2 week Xmas break)-16-15-24-29-29-47-52-73-82-92-82

 

Rejected by Rick Astley, "Nothing Can Divide Us" was recycled by Hit Factory maestros Stock Aitken Waterman to give 'our' Jason his first hit.  It's a bit of a stretch to think that Jason, who could barely hold a note at this point, could manage a song written with Rick Astley in mind, but here it is.  Jason's voice sounds a bit like it came out of a computer, but this was the pre-Auto-Tune era, and the studio wizardry wasn't quite as good.  Having said that, I do like this.

 

For years, I thought this was a legitimate national ARIA chart number one, as it was number one for a week on the chart used (based on what, I don't know) by Take 40 Australia prior to 1989.  They did switch to using the ARIA chart in January 1989.

 

 

12. "If I Could" by 1927

State(s) that it went to number one in: Victoria/Tasmania

Known dates it was number one: 28 November 1988

National chart peak: number 4

National chart debut: 7 November 1988

National chart run: 64-29-9-5-5-4-4-(2 week Xmas break)-4-5-5-6-11-7-10-10-14-16-17-22-25-31-45-38-42-56-65-77-86-97

 

Aussie band 1927's second single seems like it was a national number one; and it indeed was... on the bogus chart used by Take 40 Australia in 1988.  So, yes, it's another one that I thought was a legitimate number one for years.  FM radio in Melbourne certainly loved this one, and it's quite good, if not a little on the sappy side, lyrically.

 

 

13. "Bring Me Some Water" by Melissa Etheridge

State(s) that it went to number one in: South Australia/Northern Territory

Known dates it was number one: 28 November 1988

National chart peak: number 9

National chart debut: 24 October 1988

National chart run: 55-29-24-11-10-10-9-10-13-(2 week Xmas break)-13-14-12-20-19-24-34-33-38-52-53-62-79-74

 

Another one FM radio in Melbourne flogged to death is American singer-songwriter Melissa Etheridge's "Bring Me Some Water".  So much so that I believed for many years that Melissa was an Australian!  Indeed, Australia seems to have given Melissa her first taste of real chart success.  Fox FM were playing this one for weeks before it hit the chart, and it's one of those songs I could never work out the title to, assuming it might be "Sweet Devil's Got My Soul."

 

 

14. "Especially for You" by Kylie Minogue & Jason Donovan

State(s) that it went to number one in: South Australia/Northern Territory

Known dates it was number one: 19 December 1988 (chart repeated 26 December 1988 and 2 January 1989)

National chart peak: number 2

National chart debut: 19 December 1988

National chart run: 2-(2 week Xmas break)-2-2-2-3-4-7-11-15-17-30-29-28-31-42-49-52-58-58-80-86-99

In retrospect, it seems quite shocking that a Kylie Minogue and Jason Donovan duet, considering how big they were at the time, didn't go to number one in Australia.  It did, however, debut at number one on the South Australia/Northern Territory state chart, the only state chart it reached the top.  "Especially for You" was also number one for one week in January 1989 on the chart used by Take 40 Australia before they switched to using the ARIA chart the following week - so it's another one I assumed was a legitimate Australian number one single for years.  I'm sure you've heard/seen "Especially for You" umpteen times before, so here's a parody of the video that's worth checking out (or so I think), from two British comedians who decided to make use of their wig collection during COVID lockdowns by uploading videos to YouTube.

 

 

Part two of this post will cover the state chart-only number one singles for the first half of 1989.  Stay tuned!

 

                                      Part two: State chart-only number 1 singles January-June 1989 >

Week commencing 23 November 1992

This week in 1992 saw no fewer than 14 new top 150 entries peaking between numbers 101 and 150 - though we don’t know what one of them is, one title would eventually crack the top 100 in six months’ time, and another is a remixed repackaging of two top 30 hits from the last 18 months.  In addition to that, five of the 14 titles registered a place on the Australian Music Report top 100 - one peaking 76 places lower on the ARIA chart, which is probably another record.  Another title appears to have two separate, possibly concurrent, chart runs.  Shall we take a look?

M.C. Mario: ‘Supermarioland’ did not quite cross over to Super ARIA Land.

Top 150 debuts:

Number 110 Unknown Single by Unknown Artist 

Peak: number 102

Peak date: 30 November 1992

Weeks in top 150: 9 weeks

Top 150 chart run: 110-102-104-119-(chart repeated for 2 week Xmas break)-113-130-127

The last, and only previous, time an unknown single from an unknown artist entered the top 150 was in January 1992.

I cannot say with any certainty whether any of these singles are the unknown title, but my thoughts are that it could be Robert Palmer’s “Witchcraft” (which was released locally the week prior, so the timing would fit), Simple Minds’ “Love Song”/“Alive and Kicking” 1992 re-release (also released 16 November 1992 locally), or Vanessa Williams’ “Work to Do” (released 9 November 1992 locally) - none of which otherwise registered on the ARIA chart.  The Simple Minds single did make the Australian Music Report’s list of singles receiving significant sales reports beyond the top 100.

My contact at ARIA kindly investigated this for me, referring back to their old database, which did not shed any light on what the missing title should be, as you can see by the blank entry debuting at number 110 in the screenshot below:

A screenshot from the 30 November 1992 chart, showing the blank title at number 102:

A screenshot from the 7 December 1992 chart, showing the blank title at number 104:

This will be the last blank title - at least until 1999! (I do not have those charts as of yet.)

Number 118 “Heartbreak Radio” by Roy Orbison

Peak: number 103

Peak date: 18 January 1993

Weeks in top 150: 13 weeks 

Top 150 chart run: 118-119-126-125-(chart repeated for 2 week Xmas break)-123-120-103-109-112-126-110

Weeks on chart: 15 weeks 

Roy Orbison last paid us a visit in May 1992.

 

"Heartbreak Radio" was the second single lifted from Roy's posthumous album King of Hearts (number 25, May 1982).  As with the previous single, it's another Jeff Lynne production, and, to my surprise, Jeff performs in the music video (obviously, Roy wasn't able to... although his image is used throughout).  The song is a cover version, originally recorded by Frankie Miller in 1980.

Overseas, "Heartbreak Radio" peaked at number 36 in the UK, number 31 in Canada, and number 69 in Germany - all peaking in November 1992.

Domestically, "Heartbreak Radio" performed much stronger on the South Australia/Northern Territory state chart than elsewhere, where it reached number 37.  Its next-highest state chart peak was number 94 in Queensland, for contrast.

"Heartbreak Radio" peaked higher nationally on the Australian Music Report singles chart, reaching number 98.

We won't see Roy on the singles chart again, although his previous single, "I Drove All Night", would re-enter the chart in March 1993 after being re-released.

 

Number 122 “Hot Fun in the Summertime” by The Beach Boys

Peak: number 122

Peak date: 23 November 1992

Weeks in top 150: 7 weeks

Chart run: 215-122-129-129-128-(chart repeated for 2 week Xmas break)-142

Weeks on chart: 8 weeks 

We last saw American band The Beach Boys in 1990.

"Hot Fun in the Summertime", a cover version of a song originally recorded by Sly & The Family Stone in 1969, was the lead single from The Beach Boys' twenty-seventh studio album Summer in Paradise (number 81, November 1992).

 

Internationally, "Hot Fun in the Summertime" peaked at number 66 in Canada in September 1992.  It also reached number 17 on the US Billboard Adult Contemporary chart during the same month.

 

Locally, "Hot Fun in the Summertime" was most popular in South Australia/Northern Territory, where it reached number 92.

 

Watching the video for this song for the first time, my first thought was how incredibly ancient all members of The Beach Boys look (John Stamos excepted, obviously) - yet they only would have been around 50/in their early 50s at the time, which isn't much older than I am now!  Somehow, people used to look older at a given age than they do these days.

The Beach Boys had later low-charting singles with "That's Why God Made the Radio" (number 914, July 2012), which was their first new single in 20 years, and two older recordings: "Wouldn't It Be Nice" (number 1184, June 2016) and "Sloop John B" (number 1807, June 2016).  "Little Saint Nick" (number 39, January 2023) also tends to chart around Christmas time in recent years.

Number 126 “Don’t You Want Me” by The Farm

Peak: number 115

Peak date: 7 December 1992

Weeks in top 150: 11 weeks 

Known chart run: 204-126-118-115-121-(chart repeated for 2 week Xmas break)-(out of top 150 for 4 weeks)-134-149-141-142-131

Weeks on chart: 17 weeks 

English band The Farm last paid us a visit in August 1992.

 

"Don't You Want Me", originally recorded by The Human League (number 4, July 1982), was the second single lifted from The Farm's second album Love See No Colour (number 242, November 1992).  The track was recorded for Ruby Trax (The NME's Roaring Forty) compilation, an album from which we have now seen three tracks bubble under.

 

Internationally, The Farm's version of "Don't You Want Me" peaked at number 18 in the UK in October 1992, and at number 19 in Ireland in October 1992.

 

Locally, "Don't You Want Me" performed strongest in New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory, where it reached number 88.  The single peaked higher nationally on the Australian Music Report singles chart, where it reached number 99.

 

I first heard this track on the UK Chart Attack radio show.  I otherwise would probably have not heard it at the time.

 

This would be The Farm's final single to chart in Australia, although they would have a later low-charting album with Hullabaloo (number 169, August 1994).

Number 127 “I’m Gonna Get You” by Bizarre Inc featuring Angie Brown

Peak: number 127

Peak date: 23 November 1992

Weeks in top 150: 3 weeks

Known chart run: 127-140-137-177-(chart repeated for 2 week Xmas break)

Weeks on chart: 11 weeks (this chart run); plus 22 weeks (second/duplicate chart run).  33 weeks total?

We last saw Bizarre Inc in November 1991.

 

"I'm Gonna Get You" features Angie Brown on vocals.  While that may not be a name familiar to most readers, she provided uncredited vocals on Motiv 8's "Rockin' for Myself" (number 9, September 1994), which was a top 10 hit in Australia in 1994. 

Internationally, "I'm Gonna Get You" peaked at number 3 in the UK in October 1992, number 17 in Ireland in October 1992, number 3 in the Netherlands in January 1993, number 14 in the Flanders region of Belgium in February 1993, and number 47 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in April 1993.  The single also topped the US Billboard Dance Club Songs chart in January 1993.

In Australia, "I'm Gonna Get You" was most popular in Western Australia, where it reached number 66 on the state chart in August 1993.  For reasons unknown, there are two separate chart listings/runs for "I'm Gonna Get You" on the ARIA database: one peaks at number 127, and the other, entering on 14 December 1992, peaks at number 158!  The first chart run lasts 11 weeks on the chart, and the second has a 22-week chart run.  Both are charting in February and September 1993, so I am not sure whether there is overlap/duplication.

"I'm Gonna Get You" peaked higher nationally on the Australian Music Report chart, reaching number 95.

 

"I'm Gonna Get You" is another that I owe a debt to UK Chart Attack for introducing me to.  I love the "why waste your time, you know you're gonna be mine" couplet repeated throughout.  It should have been a much bigger hit in Australia.

 

We shall see Bizarre Inc again in 1993.

Number 128 “Harvest Moon” by Neil Young

Peak: number 117

Peak date: 30 November 1992

Weeks in top 150: 11 weeks

Known chart run: 190-128-117-143-127-(chart repeated for 2 week Xmas break)-124-124-122-124-125

Weeks on chart: 15 weeks 

Canadian singer-songwriter Neil Young is best known for his 1972 hit "Heart of Gold", which peaked at number 15 in Australia on the Go Set chart in June 1972.  His previous charting single in Australia was "Ten Men Workin'" (number 100, July 1988), with The Blue Notes.

"Harvest Moon" was the title track from Neil's twenty-first studio album Harvest Moon (number 40, November 1992).  Internationally, "Harvest Moon" peaked at number 5 in Canada in February 1993, number 36 in the UK in February 1993, and number 28 in Ireland in February 1993.

On the state charts, "Harvest Moon" was most successful in Queensland, where it reached number 89.

We'll next see Neil in 1993.

 

Number 131 “I’ll Be Gone” by John Williamson

Peak: number 131

Peak date: 23 November 1992

Weeks in top 150: 2 weeks 

Top 150 chart run: 131-137

Weeks on chart: 3 weeks

We last saw Aussie country singer John Williamson in September 1992.

 

"I'll Be Gone" was the second new single lifted from John's Australia Calling: All the Best Vol 2 (number 32, December 1992) compilation.  The single was most popular in South Australia/Northern Territory, where it reached number 100.

We'll next see John in 1993.

Number 135 “Bad Moon Rising” (Remixes) by The Reels

Peak: number 125

Peak date: 11 January 1993

Weeks in top 150: 10 weeks 

Chart run: 135-136-145-142-(chart repeated for 2 week Xmas break)-139-125-134-129

Weeks on chart: 10 weeks 

We last saw Aussie band The Reels in August 1991.

 

“Bad Moon Rising” (number 11, October 1986), originally released by the band in 1986, was a cover version of a song originally recorded by Creedence Clearwater Revival (number 3, July 1969 on the Go Set chart).  The song was remixed by Filthy Lucre and issued as a single to promote their Requiem (number 131, January 1993) compilation.

 

On the state charts, "Bad Moon Rising" (Remixes) was most popular in Queensland, where it reached number 87.

 

Unfortunately, I was unable to find a copy of the Filthy Lucre Edit, used as the single version, to embed in this post.  The video embedded below uses the Filthy Lucre Temple Dub, which was another track on the CD single.

 

This would be The Reels' final singles chart entry.  They had later low-charting albums with Reel to Reel: 1978-1992 (number 563, September 2007), Quasimodo's Dream (number 339, September 2011), Beautiful (number 627, March 2013), The Reels (number 852, March 2019) and 6 Great Gift Ideas (number 1187, November 2019).

Number 140 “When I Look into Your Eyes” by Firehouse 

Peak: number 140

Peak date: 23 November 1992

Weeks in top 150: 5 weeks 

Top 150 chart run: 140-147-(out for one week)-148-(chart repeated for 2 week Xmas break)

Weeks on chart: 18 weeks

We last saw American rock band Firehouse in January 1992.

 

"When I Look into Your Eyes" was issued as the lead single in Australia from Firehouse's second album Hold Your Fire (number 180, October 1992).

Internationally, "When I Look into Your Eyes" peaked at number 8 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in October 1992, number 18 in Canada in October 1992, and number 65 in the UK in December 1992.

Domestically, "When I Look into Your Eyes" performed strongest in South Australia/Northern Territory, where it reached number 31 on the state charts.  The single was much more-popular in South Australia/Northern Territory than elsewhere, as it peaked outside the top 100 on the remaining four state charts.

"When I Look into Your Eyes" peaked higher nationally on the Australian Music Report singles chart, where it reached number 64.

I became acquainted with this song via the American Top 40 radio show.  The single debuted on the chart at the end of September 1992, but took almost two months to dent the top 150.

We shall see Firehouse again next week!

Number 142 “The Crying Game” by Boy George (1992 release)

Peak: number 142 (1992 chart entry): number 39 (1993 chart entry)

Peak dates: 23 November 1992 (1992 chart run); 24 May 1993 and 31 May 1993 (1993 chart run)

Weeks in top 150: 2 weeks (1992 chart run); 14 weeks (1993 chart run); 16 weeks total.

Known chart run (1992 entry): 171-142-146

Top 150 chart run (1993 entry, entered 26 April 1993): 85-61-54-40-39-39-40-47-44-46-62-61-82-102

Weeks on chart: 28 weeks 

Boy George last graced our presence in 1989.

 

"The Crying Game" is a cover of a song written by Geoff Stephens and first released by Dave Berry in 1964 (number 73, September 1964).   It was recorded for use in the movie The Crying Game.   The track would also eventually appear on the At Worst... The Best of Boy George and Culture Club (number 185, January 1994) compilation.

Internationally, "The Crying Game" peaked at number 22 in the UK in September 1992, number 68 in Germany in December 1992, number 26 in Ireland in April 1993, number 15 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in May 1993, number one in Canada for one week in May 1993, and number 32 in Sweden in June 1993.

Locally, "The Crying Game" was most popular in Western Australia, where it reached number 17.

I am not certain, but I may have first heard "The Crying Game" on UK Chart Attack.  I do not know why it took a re-release six months later for it to become a minor hit in Australia - perhaps coinciding with the film's local release?

 

We'll next see Boy George in 1994.

Number 144 Balistyx EP by Various

Peak: number 133

Peak dates: 14 December 1992 (chart repeated 21 December 1992 and 28 December 1992)

Weeks in top 150: 9 weeks 

Top 150 chart run: 144-143-148-133-(chart repeated for 2 week Xmas break)-147-144.  Re-entered 31 May 1993: 148.

The Balistyx EP contains five tracks by four different artists.  The lead track, "I Told Ya" (embedded below), is credited to David Faustino ("D" Lil).  David is best known for playing the role of Bud Bundy on the American sitcom Married... with Children.

 

Track 2 is Rainbow "Keep It Up" (which I cannot find online), track 3 is Total Opposite "Love & Games" (ditto), and track 4 is MHNC Crew "Music Hears No Color".  Track 5 is a remix of "I Told Ya".

That's about all I can tell you about this release.

 

Number 145 “Dance without Sleeping” by Melissa Etheridge

Peak: number 145

Peak date: 23 November 1992

Weeks in top 150: 1 week

Top 150 chart run: 145

Weeks on chart: 8 weeks 

We last saw American singer-songwriter Melissa Etheridge in 1990.

"Dance without Sleeping" was issued as the third and final single from Melissa's third studio album Never Enough (number 8, April 1992), following "Ain't It Heavy" (number 44, April 1992) and "2001" (number 71, June 1992).

Internationally, "Dance without Sleeping" peaked at number 118 in the UK in November 1992, number 74 in the Netherlands in November 1992, and number 46 in Canada in November 1992.  It also peaked at number 24 on the US Billboard Adult Contemporary chart in November 1992.

Domestically, "Dance without Sleeping" performed strongest in Victoria/Tasmania, where it reached number 127.

I hadn't heard this one before, but quite enjoyed it.  The song had a much more laidback vibe than I was expecting.

We will next see Melissa in 1994.

Number 146 “Supermarioland” by Ambassadors of Funk featuring M.C. Mario

Peak: number 126

Peak date: 4 January 1993

Weeks in top 150: 9 weeks 

Top 150 chart run: 146-145-140-143-(chart repeated for 2 week Xmas break)-126-127-131

Weeks on chart: 15 weeks 

Although I had been a chart/music nerd since I was 9, I was also quite into Nintendo computer games in my tweens and early teens.  So much so that I was branded "Nintendo Nath" by a friend of a friend in high school at one point.  The Super Mario Bros games were my favourite.  I didn't make the transition to the Game Boy handheld device, though, which if I remember correctly, was first available in Australia around late 1990.  The graphics in particular seemed to be much lower quality than that available on the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES).  The Super Mario Land game was popular on Game Boy, but was not available on NES.  I guess it was only a matter of time until some bright spark thought of releasing a single based on the Super Mario Land theme.  That bright spark in this instance was Simon Harris.  M.C. Mario was also known as Einstein, who had a minor hit in Australia with Technotronic on "Turn It Up" (number 87, March 1991), which also featured Melissa.

Elsewhere, "Supermarioland" peaked at number 8 in the UK in November 1992, number 22 in Ireland in November 1992, and number 69 in the Netherlands in December 1992.

Locally, "Supermarioland" performed strongest in Western Australia, where it peaked at number 73.

This is another track that I first heard on UK Chart Attack.  I probably otherwise would not have been aware of the song at the time.

 

We will see another Nintendo-themed track bubble under in 1993.

Number 150 “Gypsy Woman”/“Peace” (Remixes) by Crystal Waters/Sabrina Johnston

Peak: number 150

Peak date: 23 November 1992

Weeks in top 150: 1 week

Known chart run: 164-150

Weeks on chart: 3 weeks 

 

Crystal Waters' "Gypsy Woman (She's Homeless)" (number 11, August 1991) was originally a top 20 hit in Australia in 1991.  Sabrina Johnston's "Peace" (number 24, March 1992) was a top 30 hit in Australia in early 1992.  The two tracks were paired together, in remixed form, for a single release, promoting the Red Hot + Dance (released in Australia in July 1992, missed the top 150) compilation.  Red Hot + Dance was released to raise funds for HIV/AIDS research, and contained three new George Michael songs recorded for his shelved album Listen without Prejudice Vol. 2, including "Too Funky" (number 3, August 1992), plus remixes of already-released tracks by ten other artists.  “Gypsy Woman” (Joey Negro’s MindMix) and “Peace” (Nu-Mix). embedded below, were combined for this single release.

 

Internationally, the combined "Gypsy Woman"/"Peace" (Remixes) single peaked at number 35 in the UK in September 1992.  Locally, the single performed strongest in New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory, where it reached number 135.

 

Crystal and Sabrina will join us next, separately, in 1995, with Sabrina being a featured artist next time.

Bubbling WAY down under:

Number 154 “Million Miles Away” by Kim Wilde

Peak: number 154

Peak date: 23 November 1992

Weeks on chart: 7 weeks 

 

We last saw Kim Wilde in August 1992.

 

"Million Miles Away" was issued in Australia as the third and final single from Kim's eighth studio album Love Is (number 82, July 1992).  The single was not released in Kim's homeland the UK; instead only receiving a commercial release in continental Europe, Japan and Australia.  "Million Miles Away", despite being one of Kim's best singles and better music videos in my opinion, did not chart anywhere else, performing strongest on the New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory state chart, where it reached number 142.  Sometimes there is no justice... although a lack of promotion was a factor.  I caught the video as a new release once on rage, but that’s it.

We will next see Kim in 1994.

Number 209 “Kickin’ It” by After 7

Peak: number 191

Peak date: 30 November 1992

Weeks on chart: 2 weeks 

American R&B group After 7 last joined us in 1990.

"Kickin' It" was issued as the first single from the group's second album Takin' My Time (number 196, October 1992).  Internationally, it peaked at number 45 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in October 1992, and number 29 in New Zealand in December 1992.

Locally, "Kickin' It" performed strongest in New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory where it reached number 173.

I hadn't heard this one before.  It's typical early 90s New Jack Swing.

This would be After 7's last single to peak outside the top 100 in Australia.  They landed their biggest hit in Australia in 1996 with "'Til You Do Me Right" (number 16, March 1996). 

 

After 7 had a later album peaking outside the top 100 in Australia with The Very Best of After 7 (number 181, May 1997).

Number 217 “Goodbye” by The Sundays

Peak: number 175

Peak date: 30 November 1992

Weeks on chart: 11 weeks 

We last saw English band The Sundays in 1990.

 

"Goodbye" was issued as the lead single from The Sundays' second album  Blind (number 78, January 1993).  The single peaked at number 27 in the UK in September 1992.

Locally, "Goodbye" performed equally-strongest in Victoria/Tasmania and Western Australia, reaching number 161 on both state charts.

The Sundays would land their biggest Australian hit with their next charting release “Summertime” (number 42, February 1998), which reminds me of the long Summer break between my first and second year of university.

 

 

Next week (30 November): Eight top 150 entries and six bubbling WAY down under debuts. 

< Previous week: 16 November 1992                    Next week: 30 November 1992 >

Week commencing 27 July 1992

There's no common theme I can identify linking this week in 1992's new entries peaking outside the top 100.  Before diving in, I have updated the following earlier posts:

* 21 January 1991 - with a new bubbling WAY down under entry from Pop Will Eat Itself;

* 8 July 1991 - with new bubbling WAY down under entries from Pop Will Eat Itself and Soul Family Sensation.

Ce Ce Peniston kept on walkin' in the opposite direction from the top 100 this week in 1992.

Top 150 debuts:

Number 109 “Beds Are Burning” (live) by Midnight Oil

Peak: number 108

Peak date: 3 August 1992

Weeks in top 150: 7 weeks 

Top 150 chart run: 109-108-113-110-117-127-136

 

It's kind of fitting that I would finally lose my hair (after a year of chemotherapy) during the week that Australian band, Midnight Oil, fronted by famous baldie Peter Garrett, would be the first entry I have to write about.  The Oils formed in 1972, though were originally known as The Farm (not to be confused with the UK band of the same name).  This is the first occasion Midnight Oil appear in the below number 100 section of the chart, although we have a seen the band's drummer, Rob Hirst, as a member of Ghostwriters previously.

Although the original 1987 studio version of "Beds Are Burning" (number 6, September 1987) was technically not their highest-charting single in Australia, it is without doubt their signature track, and biggest international hit, reaching the top 10 across Europe and the top 20 in the US.

Midnight Oil's biggest Australian hit was their Species Deceases EP (number 1 for 6 non-consecutive weeks in December 1985 and January 1986), which became the first release to debut at number 1 on the Australian singles chart.  My favourite track of theirs would be "The Dead Heart" (number 4, August 1986), which, together with the studio version of "Beds Are Burning", was taken from their sixth studio album Diesel and Dust (number 1 for 6 weeks in August-September 1987).

Fast forward to 1992, the Oils released the live album Scream in Blue - Live (number 3, May 1992).  This live version of "Beds Are Burning" was issued as the second single from it, following "Sometimes" (number 33, May 1992).  The track was recorded in Darlinghurst in 1989, from the Our Common Future concert.  Skip to 1:25 in the video embedded below if you just want to get to the music.  I don't recall hearing this version before.

 

On the state charts, this live version of "Beds Are Burning" performed strongest in Victoria/Tasmania, where it reached number 74.

We shall next see Midnight Oil in 1993.

Number 122 “Boy (Why You Wanna Make Me Blue)” by Deborah Blando

Peak: number 122

Peak date: 27 July 1992

Weeks in top 150: 3 weeks

Chart run: 206-122-127-131

Weeks on chart: 4 weeks

Brazilian songstress Deborah Blando, born in Italy, seemed to come out of nowhere in 1992 with her single "Innocence" (number 31, May 1992), which I rather like, though had not heard until it entered the top 60 on rage.  There were a few curiosities like that around mid-1992; I suspect heavily-discounted singles (of which "Innocence" was one), which was a new marketing strategy in Australia at the time (during a recession), was a factor at play - not to say that I think "Innocence" didn't deserve to do well.  Indeed, I can see a copy of the Australian CD single with a $1.95 price tag on it (as opposed to the regular $7.95 or even $8.95 price of CD singles at that time) on eBay; I am guessing the cassette single was sold for $0.95, as was a Shakespears Sister cassingle I bought in July 1992.  To my eyes, Deborah looked like the new Cyndi Lauper, and even had a similar voice in some ways.

"Boy (Why You Wanna Make Me Blue)" is a cover of a song by The Temptations, originally titled "Girl (Why You Wanna Make Me Blue)", from 1964.  The track was apparently Deborah's debut single overseas, but her second released in Australia, lifted from her debut album A Different Story (number 182, April 1992).

I cannot find evidence of this single charting elsewhere, though it presumably charted in Brazil, assuming they had charts at the time.  In Australia, the single performed strongest in New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory, where it reached number 107.

I don't recall hearing this one at the time, though caught a brief preview of the video (though I think without audio) on Video Smash Hits.  It's OK, but I much prefer the moody eeriness of "Innocence".

This would be Deborah's last foray onto the Australian chart, though I remember seeing her appear on some Rio festival on Hey Hey It's Saturday towards the end of 1993.

Number 130 “Keep on Walkin’” by Ce Ce Peniston

Peak: number 123

Peak dates: 10 August 1992 and 17 August 1992

Weeks in top 150: 6 weeks

Top 150 chart run: 130-126-123-123-141-150

Weeks on chart: 7 weeks

American singer and former beauty pageant winner Ce Ce Peniston, born Cecilia Veronica Peniston, launched her recording career with the enduring "Finally" (number 8, March 1992), which she co-wrote.  I first heard that track while on a family holiday in Canberra just after Christmas 1991.  She followed up that track with "We Got a Love Thang" (number 36, June 1992), which originally peaked at number 68 in May 1992 and dropped out of the top 100 for two weeks before miraculously climbing back up to number 36, and then dropping to number 72 again the following week!  I assume the bounce in sales was due to maybe a short promotional visit to Australia from Ce Ce, heavy discounting (as mentioned for Deborah Blando above), or perhaps the record company just buying up copies themselves?  Whatever the reason, it saved Ce Ce from becoming a one-hit wonder in Australia.

"Keep on Walkin'" was issued as the third single from Ce Ce's debut album Finally (number 95, March 1992).  I first became familiar with the track via the American Top 40 radio show.  This track was co-written by Kym Sims, whom we have seen bubble under twice in 1992 in her own right.  Both she and Ce Ce worked with producer Steve "Silk" Hurley.

 

Internationally, the single peaked at number 10 in the UK in May 1992, number 17 in Ireland in May 1992, number 31 in the Flanders region of Belgium in June 1992, number 41 in the Netherlands in July 1992, number 67 in Canada in August 1992, and 15 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in August 1992.  It also topped the meaningless US Billboard Dance Club Songs chart in June 1992.

In Australia, "Keep on Walkin'" performed strongest in New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory, where it reached number 92.

We shall next see Ce Ce in 1994.

Number 131 “Karmadrome”/“Eat Me Drink Me Love Me Kill Me” by Pop Will Eat Itself

Peak: number 121

Peak date: 3 August 1992

Weeks in top 150: 5 weeks

Top 150 chart run: 131-121-127-136-146

Weeks on chart: 8 weeks

We last saw English band Pop Will Eat Itself in 1991.

 

"Karmadrome"/"Eat Me Drink Me Love Me Kill Me" was issued as the lead single from Pop Will Eat Itself's fourth studio album The Looks Or the Lifestyle? (number 165, October 1992).  Internationally, the single peaked at number 17 in the UK in May 1992.

In Australia, "Karmadrome"/"Eat Me Drink Me Love Me Kill Me" performed strongest in Victoria/Tasmania, where it reached number 106.

 

I don't recall hearing either track before.

We'll next see Pop Will Eat Itself in October 1992.

Number 148 “Galileo” by Indigo Girls

Peak: number 130

Peak date: 10 August 1992

Weeks in top 150: 6 weeks

Top 150 chart run: 148-142-130-134-140-136

Weeks on chart: 11 weeks 

 

Amy Ray and Emily Sailers, better known as Indigo Girls, hail from Atlanta, Georgia.  The pair met in primary school, and began performing as Indigo Girls in 1985, while attending university.

 

Their debut Australian release was the single "Closer to Fine" (number 57, August 1989), lifted from their second album Indigo Girls (number 64, September 1989).  I remember catching that one on rage before the top 50 chart in 1989.  It would be the only Indigo Girls single to dent the top 100 in Australia.

"Galileo" was issued as the first, and in Australia, only, single from the duo's fourth studio album Rites of Passage (number 110, October 1992).

 

Internationally, "Galileo" peaked at number 89 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in August 1992, and number 86 in the UK in November 1992.  It also reached number 10 on the meaningless US Billboard Alternative Airplay chart in June 1992.

 

In Australia, "Galileo" was most popular in Queensland, where it reached number 111.

 

We will next see Indigo Girls in 1994.

Bubbling WAY down under:

Number 174 "Every Time I Roll the Dice" by Delbert McClinton featuring Bonnie Raitt & Melissa Etheridge

Peak: number 160

Peak date: 3 August 1992

Weeks on chart: 11 weeks

 

American blues singer-songwriter Delbert McClinton hails from Lubbock, Texas.  His recording career began in 1972, although "Every Time I Roll the Dice" would be his only single to chart in Australia.  The Australian pressing of this release lists Bonnie Raitt and Melissa Etheridge as featured vocalists (presumably as a selling point) on the cover artwork, although they are really just providing backing vocals on the track.  This track is lifted from Delbert's twelfth studio album Never Been Rocked Enough (number 123, September 1992), which was also his first album to chart locally.

Delbert's biggest and only top 40 hit in his homeland was the 1980 single "Giving It Up for Love", which reached number 8 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in February 1981.

Internationally, "Every Time I Roll the Dice" peaked at number 13 on the meaningless US Billboard Mainstream Rock Airplay chart in July 1992, and number 40 in Canada in July 1992.

In Australia, "Every Time I Roll the Dice" was most popular in South Australia/Northern Territory, where it reached number 95.  The Never Been Rocked Enough album was also much more popular in South Australia/Northern Territory than elsewhere, where it reached number 33 on the state albums chart.

 

"Every Time I Roll the Dice" fared better on the Australian Music Report singles chart, where it reached number 90 nationally.

Although we will not see Delbert again, he had two later low-charting albums in Australia with the combined Second Wind/Keeper of the Flame set (number 414, June 2002) - these albums were originally released in 1978 and 1979, respectively, and Outdated Emotion (number 1234, May 2022).

Number 196 "It Only Takes a Minute" by Take That

Peak: number 191

Peak date: 3 August 1992

Weeks on chart: 4 weeks

We last saw British boy band Take That in March 1992.

 

"It Only Takes a Minute" is a cover version of a track originally performed by Tavares in 1975, which did not chart in Australia.  Take That's version was released as the fourth single in their homeland from their debut album Take That & Party (number 104, May 1993), where it became their first major hit, and first release to peak within the top ten.  In Australia, "It Only Takes a Minute" was Take That's second release.

Internationally, "It Only Takes a Minute" peaked at number 7 in the UK in June 1992, and at number 11 in Ireland during the same month.

Domestically, "It Only Takes a Minute" was most popular in New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory, where it reached number 172.

I first heard this one on the UK Chart Attack radio show, where it was played for several weeks, appearing in their top 5 (songs charting in the UK that had not yet crossed over or been released in the US).  The song is catchy and probably one of my favourite Take That singles, although I do not consider myself a fan of theirs.  I did not realise until researching this post that "It Only Take a Minute" was a cover.

Given that my interest in the charts wanes significantly towards the end of the 1990s, and subsequently I will almost certainly not be writing posts about 2007 charts here, I can tell you that Take That had further singles peaking outside the top 200 here from 2007 onwards, following their reformation in 2006 - but I have zero interest in those tracks.  If you really want to know, they are: "Rule the World" (number 209, November 2007), "Greatest Day" (number 202, December 2008), "The Flood" (number 300, November 2010), and several lower-charting singles I care even less about in the 2010s.

 

Take That also had later low-charting albums in Australia with The Circus (number 180, December 2008), The Greatest Day - Take That Present: The Circus Live (number 820, January 2010), Progress Live (number 524, December 2011), and III (number 263, December 2014).

Number 197 "Best of You" by Kenny Thomas

Peak: number 197

Peak date: 27 July 1992

Weeks on chart: 1 week

We last saw English singer Kenny Thomas in April 1992.

 

"Best of You" was issued as the third single from Kenny's debut album Voices (number 133, May 1992).  Internationally, "Best of You" peaked at number 11 in the UK in October 1991, number 27 in Ireland in October 1991, number 66 in Germany in December 1991, number 87 in the Netherlands in December 1991, number 31 in New Zealand in May 1992, and number 23 in France in July 1992.

Locally, "Best of You" performed 'best' in New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory, where it reached number 179.

Kenny will join us one more time, in 1994.

 

 

Next week (3 August): Six top 150 entries and five bubbling WAY down under debuts.

< Previous week: 20 July 1992                                Next week: 3 August 1992 >