Week commencing 22 February 1993

This week in 1993's new entries peaking outside the ARIA top 100 singles chart are quite a mixed bag.  Before we take a look at them, I have updated a few earlier posts with new bubbling WAY down under debuts:

 

* 1 May 1989 - with a new bubbling WAY down under entry from Tom Cochrane & Red Rider;

* 7 August 1989 - with a new bubbling WAY down under entry from Mark Williams and Karen Boddington;

* 25 February 1991 - with new bubbling WAY down under entries from Candy Dulfer and Stereo MC's;

* 18 March 1991 - with a new bubbling WAY down under entry from Harry Connick, Jr.;

* 22 April 1991 - with new bubbling WAY down under entries from Tom Jones and John Waite.

 

 Dr. Alban: one love, and only one real hit in Australia.

 

Top 150 debuts:

 

Number 115 "Drift Away" by Michael Bolton

Peak: number 104

Peak date: 1 March 1993

Weeks in top 150: 5 weeks

Known chart run: 223-115-104-109-119-123

Weeks on chart: 7 weeks

 

We last saw the God of flowing locks, Michael Bolton, in 1992.

 

"Drift Away" was the second single released in Australia from Michael's covers album Timeless (The Classics) (number 2, January 1993).  The song was originally recorded by John Henry Kurtz in 1972, and a version by Dobie Gray reached number 44 on the Kent Music Report singles chart in 1973 - I don't, however, consider David Kent's charts prior to May 1974, when the Kent Music Report started, as being 'official', as he back-calculated these pre-1974 charts for his 1992 book, i.e. they were not published at the time.  "Drift Away" followed Michael's version of "To Love Somebody" (number 39, January 1993).   While I don't recall hearing "Drift Away" at the time, I do remember an excerpt of the chorus being used on the TV advertisement for the Timeless... album.  Footage from a live performance, similar to the "To Love Somebody" video, was used in the commercial - but I cannot find this on YouTube.

 

Internationally, Michael's rendition of "Drift Away" peaked at number 18 in the UK in December 1992, number 15 in Ireland in December 1992, and number 23 in New Zealand in April 1993.  Oddly, it does not appear to have received a single release in North America.

 

Locally, "Drift Away" performed strongest on the Western Australia state chart, where it reached number 66.

 

We shall next see Michael in 1996.

 

 

Number 123 "Juice" by Headless Chickens

Peak: number 104

Peak date: 3 May 1993

Weeks in top 150: 16 weeks

Known chart run: 206-123-124-137-136-122-128-121-116-116-106-104-111-106-113-119-126

Weeks on chart: 25 weeks

 

We last saw Kiwi band Headless Chickens in 1992.

 

"Juice" was issued as the fourth single from their debut album Body Blow (number 45, July 1993), although it did not appear on the original 1991 pressing of the album.  I didn't think I knew this song, from the title, but I was familiar with the more electronic-sounding version of the song, titled “Dreamchild”, that appears on Strawpeople's second album Worldservice, from 1992, which was later repackaged as Broadcast (number 46, August 1995).  Fiona McDonald, who was involved with both bands, sings vocals on both tracks.  One of the things I love about writing this blog is making discoveries like this, and "Dreamchild"/"Juice" is a song I like a lot.

 

Internationally, "Juice" peaked at number 7 in New Zealand in February 1993.

 

In Australia, "Juice" was most popular in Victoria/Tasmania, where it reached number 81 on the state chart.  The single peaked within the top 100 on four of the five state charts, only just missing out (number 103) in Queensland.

 

"Juice" definitely deserved to chart much higher here.  Despite narrowly missing the top 100, it had a decent chart run, though, spending nearly six months on the chart, with almost four of those inside the top 150.

 

Headless Chickens released a fifth single from Body Blow, "Mr Moon" (number 93, August 1993), which gave them their first Australian top 100 single.

 

We will next see Headless Chickens in 1997, but before then, we'll hear Fiona McDonald's voice on a Strawpeople track that bubbles under in 1996.

 

 

Number 129 "Back to the Light" by Brian May

Peak: number 123

Peak date: 1 March 1993

Weeks in top 150: 4 weeks

Chart run: 129-123-135-138

Weeks on chart: 4 weeks

 

We last saw Queen guitar maestro and astrophysics PhD Dr Brian May in 1992.

 

"Back to the Light" was the title track and third single lifted from Brian's first solo album proper, Back to the Light (number 94, December 1992).  It followed "Too Much Love Will Kill You" (number 18, November 1992).

 

Internationally, "Back to the Light" peaked at number 19 in the UK in November 1992, number 20 in the Netherlands in December 1992, and number 39 in the Flanders region of Belgium in January 1993.

 

In Australia, "Back to the Light" performed strongest in Queensland, reaching number 107 on the state chart.

 

I don't recall hearing this one before, though it probably received an airing on the UK Chart Attack radio show.

 

Brian made a new video for "Back to the Light" in 2021, which you can view here.

 

This would be Brian's last solo charting single in Australia, although he had later low-charting albums with Live at Brixton Academy (number 190, April 1994) and Another World (number 165, July 1998).

 

Two further singles from Back to the Light were released in the UK, but not Australia - "Resurrection" (UK number 23, June 1993) with Cozy Powell, and "Last Horizon" (UK number 51, December 1993).

 

We will see Brian bubble under as part of Queen next in 1996.  Meanwhile, another member of Queen will bubble under next week!

 

 

Number 135 "One in Ten" by 808 State Vs UB40

Peak: number 135

Peak date: 22 February 1993

Weeks in top 150: 2 weeks

Known chart run: 159-135-141

Weeks on chart: 5 weeks

 

English electronic group 808 State last joined us in 1991, and we last saw English reggae band UB40 in 1990.  The two bands collaborated for this release - or rather, 808 State reworked the original UB40 single "One in Ten" (number 87, October 1981) from 1981.  UB40 are known for their cover versions, but "One in Ten" was one of their self-penned hits, written about the approximate 10% unemployment rate in the West Midlands of England, where the band originate from, in mid-1981.  Featuring cutting lyrics such as "I am the one in ten, a number on a list", "nobody knows me but I'm always there, a statistic a reminder of a world that doesn't care", “I'm the child that never learns to read, 'cause no-one spared the time", and “I’m another teenage suicide, in a street that has no trees”, this song packs a punch and paints a bleak picture.  Piercing social commentary isn’t the first thing that springs to mind when one thinks of UB40, even though the band’s name stems from the name of the British unemployment benefit.

 

I became familiar with the UB40 original after catching the video on rage in 2009, when Suggs from Madness was guest programming an episode, and liked the song.  I hadn't heard the 808 State remix of the song until writing this post.  It's a shame that the official YouTube channel upload of UB40's "One in Ten" video has mono audio and tape artefacts - my digital TV copy from rage is better quality than this.

 

The 808 State version of "One in Ten" was the first single issued in Australia from their fifth studio album, and third major label release, Gorgeous (number 131, March 1993).  However, it was the second single from the album in the UK, following "TimeBomb" (UK number 59, August 1992), which did not receive an Australian release.  This version of "One in Ten" contains a musical riff sampled from Kraftwerk's "The Model" (number 33, May 1982).

 

Internationally, "One in Ten" peaked at number 17 in the UK in December 1992, number 19 in Ireland in December 1992, and number 22 in the Netherlands in March 1993.

 

Locally, "One in Ten" was most popular in Western Australia, where it reached number 118 on the state chart.

 

We'll next see 808 State in May 1993, and UB40 in 1994.

 

 

Number 139 "No Tomorrow" by Atomic Dining Club

Peak: number 139

Peak date: 22 February 1993

Weeks in top 150: 1 week

Top 150 chart run: 139

 

We last saw Aussie band Atomic Dining Club in 1992.  Unfortunately, this one wasn't available to listen to anywhere online, and I do not know the song.  This was the band's final top 150 single.

 

 

Number 146 "Starting to Believe" by Images

Peak: number 144

Peak date: 8 March 1993

Weeks in top 150: 3 weeks

Top 150 chart run: 146-146-144

 

Another obscure Australian band, and another one where I cannot find the song online anywhere to listen to.  I have been in touch with someone who owns the album this is taken from, Images (which missed the top 150), and I may be receiving an audio rip of the track to upload here... one day.  Watch this space!  This was the band's only single to trouble the top 150.

 

 

Bubbling WAY down under:

 

Number 193 "One Love" by Dr. Alban

Peak: number 193

Peak date: 22 February 1993

Weeks on chart: 1 week

We last saw Nigerian-born but Sweden-based Dr. Alban in 1991.  Since then, he broke through into the ARIA top 100 with the lead single from his second album One Love (The Album) (number 149, November 1992), "It's My Life" (number 97, November 1992), which would later reach a higher peak of number 43 in Australia in May 1994 when re-issued after his major hit "Sing Hallelujah!" (number 5, March 1994).  "One Love" was released as the second single from the album, sandwiched between the two aforementioned singles, the latter of which we received somewhat belatedly in Australia.

 

Internationally, "One Love" peaked at number 19 in Sweden in August 1992, number 10 in Norway in September 1992, number 27 in Austria in September 1992, number 11 in Switzerland in October 1992, number 7 in Germany in October 1992, number 14 in the Netherlands in October 1992, number 8 in the Flanders region of Belgium in November 1992, number 45 in the UK in November 1992, number 3 in Ireland in November 1992, and number 42 in New Zealand in February 1993.

 

In Australia, "One Love" was most popular in South Australia/Northern Territory, where it reached number 151 on the state chart.

 

I didn't hear "One Love" at the time, but the music video appeared on a VHS tape I digitised about 10 years ago.  I like it, but it doesn't really stand out like "It's My Life" or "Sing Hallelujah!".

 

We'll next see Dr. Alban in 1994.

 

 

Number 211 "Take Me to Heart" by The Neville Brothers

Peak: number 200

Peak date: 1 March 1993

Weeks on chart: 2 weeks

 

American R&B/funk/soul band The Neville Brothers last joined us in 1990.

 

"Take Me to Heart" was the second single released from the band's sixth studio album Family Groove (number 70, July 1992).  It followed their cover of Steve Miller's "Fly Like an Eagle" (number 44, July 1992), which was The Neville Brothers' biggest hit and only top 50 single in Australia.

 

I cannot find evidence of "Take Me to Heart" charting anywhere else.  Locally, "Take Me to Heart" performed strongest in Western Australia, where it reached number 173 on the state chart.

 

While we won't see The Neville Brothers bubble under again, they had a few later lower-charting albums in Australia: Live on Planet Earth (number 209, July 1994), Greatest Hits (number 219, September 1998), and Walkin' in the Shadow of Life (number 275, March 2005).  We will see band member Aaron Neville bubble under in May 1993.

 

 

 

Number 213 "Feed the Tree" by Belly

Peak: number 158

Peak date: 7 June 1993

Weeks on chart: 6 weeks

Alternative rock band Belly formed in Rhode Island in 1991.  "Feed the Tree" was the third single issued in Australia from their debut album Star (number 74, June 1993).  It followed "Dusted" (released in Australia in July 1992, did not chart) and "Gepetto" (released in Australia in November 1992, did not initially chart but will later on in 1993).

 

Internationally, "Feed the Tree" peaked at number 32 in the UK in January 1993, and number 95 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in May 1993.  The track also reached number 1 on the US Billboard Alternative Airplay chart in March 1993, for what that is worth (not much in my book).

 

Locally, "Feed the Tree" performed strongest in Victoria/Tasmania, reaching number 149 on the state chart.

 

Belly never landed a top 100 single in Australia, but two of their albums dented the top 100.  Interestingly, "Feed the Tree" did not reach its peak until early June 1993, one week after their next charting single peaks!

 

I did hear "Feed the Tree" at the time, probably when switching radio stations to Triple J.

 

We'll next see Belly in May 1993.

 

 

Next week (1 March): Six top 150 entries and four bubbling WAY down under debuts.

 

< Previous week: 15 February 1993                Next week: 1 March 1993 >

Week commencing 30 March 1992

Again there is no easily-identifiable common thread running among this week in 1992's new entries peaking outside the top 100, so let's just dive straight in.

 

Color Me Badd: their first 'badd' chart position in Australia.

 

Top 150 debuts:

 

Number 101 "Heartbreaker" by Color Me Badd

Peak: number 101

Peak dates: 30 March 1992 and 6 April 1992

Weeks in top 150: 5 weeks

Top 150 chart run: 101-101-108-119-129

 

American vocal quartet Color Me Badd formed in 1985.  Coincidentally, I recently watched a YouTube video on the band, whom I did not know much about previously.  To my surprise, the group formed while still at school - I would have assumed that the members auditioned to be in the band.

Color Me Badd burst onto the Australian chart with back-to-back top ten hits "I Wanna Sex You Up" (number 4, August 1991) and "All 4 Love" (number 9, November 1991).  From then, however, it was all downhill for their chart fortunes in Australia, with their third local release "I Adore Mi Amor" (number 27, February 1992) being their only other ARIA top 50 single.  In contrast, all three singles reached the top two on the US Billboard Hot 100.

While the US went with "Thinkin' Back" as the fourth single from the band's debut album C.M.B. (number 17, February 1992), Australasia and Europe went with "Heartbreaker", which was not released as a single in the US.

Internationally, "Heartbreaker" peaked at number 58 in the UK in February 1992, number 32 in New Zealand in April 1992, and number 61 in the Netherlands in April 1992.

 

Without giving much away, if you are interested in what happened to Color Me Badd since their split in 1998, it is well worth viewing this 15 minute video I caught recently on YouTube.

 

We will next see Color Me Badd in 1996.

 

 

Number 112 "Beautiful People" by Freaked Out Flower Children

Peak: number 102

Peak date: 13 April 1992

Weeks in top 150: 6 weeks 

Top 150 chart run: 112-104-102-104-122-123

Freaked Out Flower Children were essentially the two guys (Tricky and Gumpy) behind Mighty Big Crime, whom we last saw in 1991, with Australian TV host of The Bugs Bunny Show and Sex (!), Sophie Lee, plus a few other model-type women.  What contribution the latter group and Sophie had, other than to stand around pouting while looking 'hot' and apparently providing minimal backing vocals, I am not entirely sure.  Though we are led to believe that Sophie played some recorder-type instrument in the music video for the group's debut single, a cover version of Eric Burdon & War's "Spill the Wine" (number 31, February 1992).

"Beautiful People" was issued as the second and final single from the only Freaked Out Flower Children album Love In (number 81, February 1992).  A music video for the track exists, but has not made its way online at the time of writing, and I know of know source for it.

The track was also remixed for single release, but I've had to resort to asking an online contact for a rip of the LP version, as - short of buying the CD single myself and ripping the track - the song is not otherwise online.

This was Freaked Out Flower Children's final release.

Number 122 "Girls on My Mind" by David Byrne

Peak: number 119

Peak date: 6 April 1992

Weeks in top 150: 9 weeks 

Top 150 chart run: 122-119-132-129-135-137-127-129-136

We last saw David Byrne in 1990.

 

"Girls on My Mind" was first single lifted from David's second solo studio album Uh-Oh (number 67, April 1992).   Internationally, "Girls on My Mind" peaked at number 39 in New Zealand in May 1992.

This would be David's last solo single to crack the ARIA top 150, although we will see him as part of Talking Heads in December 1992.

Number 133 "Money Worries" by MC OJ & Rhythm Slave

Peak: number 133

Peak date: 30 March 1992

Weeks in top 150: 2 weeks

Top 150 chart run: 133-144

 

MC OJ & Rhythm Slave were a New Zealand hip-hop duo.  "Money Worries", which I had not heard before, was their only ARIA top 150 entry.  "Money Worries" peaked at number 36 in New Zealand in January 1992.  The track was lifted from the duo's only album What Can We Say.

 

 

Bubbling WAY down under:

 

Number 154 "Steel Bars" by Michael Bolton

Peak: number 154

Peak date: 30 March 1992

Weeks on chart: 10 weeks

 

We last saw Michael Bolton in 1991.

 

"Steel Bars" was released as the fourth single from Michael's seventh studio album Time, Love & Tenderness (number 11, August 1991).  The song, however, was a radio-only single in Michael's native US, rendering it ineligible to chart on the US Billboard Hot 100 at the time.  I first heard this song on the American Top 40 radio show.

Elsewhere, "Steel Bars" peaked at number 17 in the UK in February 1992, number 22 in Ireland in February 1992, and number 57 in Germany in April 1992.

Within Australia, "Steel Bars" performed strongest in South Australia/Northern Territory, where it reached number 116.

 

I don't remember "Steel Bars" receiving any promotion, and never saw the music video at the time, which probably explains its lack of chart success.  While I'm not always a fan of Michael's ballads, I am somewhat partial to his more-upbeat singles from this era, and "Steel Bars" is one I enjoy, and I thought it should have done much better commercially.

 

Unrelated, really, but if you've ever wondered what a Michael Bolton song might sound like with Stock Aitken Waterman-style production, Tee Webb released this version of the song in 2021.

We will next see Michael Bolton in 1993.

 

 

Number 159 "Was It Worth It?" by Pet Shop Boys

Peak: number 153

Peak date: 13 April 1992

Weeks on chart: 5 weeks

Pet Shop Boys last graced our presence in 1991.

 

"Was It Worth It?" was the second new track recorded for Pet Shop Boys' Discography (number 6, December 1991) compilation, and was much better than the other new song, "DJ Culture", which I am not a fan of.  However, "Was It Worth It?" performed equally-bad or worse on the chart than "DJ Culture" almost everywhere it was released!  Sometimes (OK, often...) the record-buying public get it completely wrong.

"Was It Worth It?" peaked at number 24 in the UK - the duo's lowest-peaking single there since the 1985 release of "Opportunities (Let's Make Lots of Money)" - in December 1991.  It also peaked at number 25 in Ireland in December 1991, number 19 in Germany in January 1992, number 50 in the Netherlands in February 1992, and number 23 in Sweden in February 1992.

Locally, "Was It Worth It?" performed strongest in Western Australia, where it reached number 118.

 

We won't see Pet Shop Boys again until 2000 - assuming I am still writing these chart recaps in 2031 (my interest in charts wanes severely in 1999).

Number 167 "Who? Where? Why?" by Jesus Jones

Peak: number 167

Peak date: 30 March 1992

Weeks on chart: 2 weeks

We last saw Jesus Jones in 1991.

 

"Who? Where? Why" was issued as the fourth and final single from Jesus Jones' second studio album Doubt (number 23, June 1991) in Australia.

 

Overseas, "Who? Where? Why?" peaked at number 21 in the UK in March 1991, and number 48 in New Zealand in November 1991.

Domestically, "Who? Where? Why?" was most popular in Victoria/Tasmania, where it reached number 141.

 

We'll next see Jesus Jones in 1993.

Number 185 "Who's Crying Now" by Randy Crawford

Peak: number 175

Peak date: 6 April 1992

Weeks on chart: 2 weeks

We last saw Randy Crawford in 1989.

"Who's Crying Now" was lifted from Randy's tenth studio album Through the Eyes of Love (number 113, August 1992).  The song was originally recorded by American rock band Journey, which peaked at number 65 in Australia in October 1981.

 

Internationally, Randy's rendition of "Who's Crying Now" peaked at number 30 on the US Billboard R&B chart.

 

On the ARIA state charts, "Who's Crying Now" performed strongest in Queensland, where it reached number 160.

 

We shall see Randy again in 1998.

Number 194 "Something 'Bout Love" by Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam

Peak: number 194

Peak date: 30 March 1992

Weeks on chart: 1 week

 

Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam last joined us in 1989. 

"Something 'Bout Love" was lifted from the band's fourth and final studio album Straight Outta Hell's Kitchen (number 129, October 1991).

"Something 'Bout Love" did not chart anywhere else that I can ascertain.  The single performed strongest on the New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory state chart, where it reached number 176.

This was the final Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam release to chart in Australia.

 

 

Next week (6 April): Seven top 150 debuts and two bubbling WAY down under entries.

 

< Previous week: 23 March 1992                                      Next week: 6 April 1992 >

Week commencing 11 November 1991

Four of this week in 1991's six new entries debuting and peaking outside the ARIA top 100 are from artists we have seen before.   Let's take a look at them.

 

Lisette Melendez: a few weeks in the top 150.

 

Top 150 debuts:

 

Number 125 "When a Man Loves a Woman" by Michael Bolton (1991 release)

Peak: number 122 (1991 release); number 100 (1996 release)

Peak dates: 25 November 1991 and 2 December 1991

Weeks in top 150: 13 weeks (in 1991); 21 weeks (1991-2 and 1996 chart runs combined)

Top 150 chart run: 125-123-122-122-124-123-(chart repeated for 2 week Xmas break)-124-124-123-145-146

Re-entered 18 March 1996: 123-123-119-135-100-106-113-123

Weeks on chart: 27 weeks (1991-2 and 1996 chart runs combined)

This single peaked at number 100 in Australia on 15 April 1996, when re-issued, spending another 8 weeks in the top 150.

We last saw Michael Bolton in August 1991.

 

"When a Man Loves a Woman", a song originally recorded by Percy Sledge in 1966, was a number 3 hit in Australia in November 1988 when Jimmy Barnes released a live version as a single.  I suspect that this relatively recent hit is one reason why Michael Bolton's rendition of the song did not take off in Australia.

"When a Man Love a Woman" was released as the third single from Michael's seventh studio album Time, Love & Tenderness (number 11, August 1992). 

 

Internationally, Michael's version of the song peaked at number 1 on the US Billboard Hot 100 for one week in November 1991, number 12 in Ireland in November 1991, number 8 in the UK in November 1991, number 21 in New Zealand in December 1991, number 4 in Canada in December 1991, number 52 in Germany in December 1991, number 34 in Sweden in January 1992, number 17 in the Netherlands in January 1991, number 21 in the Flanders region of Belgium in February 1992, and number 34 in France in May 1992.

In Australia, "When a Man Loves a Woman" had an interesting chart run, spending the first 11 weeks of its top 150 chart run hovering between numbers 122 and 125.  Given that the single was not a hit the first time around, it was re-issued in Australia in 1996 following the release of Michael's Greatest Hits 1985-1995 (number 6, September 1995) compilation.  The 1996 release of "When a Man Loves a Woman" just scraped into the ARIA top 100, peaking at number 100 in April 1996.

On the ARIA state charts, "When a Man Loves a Woman" performed strongest in Victoria/Tasmania, where it reached number 69 in 1996.  The single peaked in early 1992 in Queensland and Western Australia, and in 1996 in all other states.

We shall next see Michael in 1992.

Number 129 "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" by Oleta Adams

Peak: number 107

Peak date: 18 November 1991

Weeks in top 150: 5 weeks

Chart run: 129-107-123-125-130

Weeks on chart: 5 weeks

We last saw Oleta Adams in February 1991.

 

"Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me " was originally recorded by Elton John, and reached number 13 in Australia in September 1974.  Oleta's version was recorded for the various artists tribute album Two Rooms: Celebrating the Songs of Elton John & Bernie Taupin (number 15, November 1991). 

Internationally, Oleta's version of the track peaked at number 33 in the UK in October 1991, and number 32 in the Netherlands in November 1991.

Within Australia, "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" was most popular in South Australia/Northern Territory, where it reached number 86.

Oleta's version of the song was soon after eclipsed by the live George Michael/Elton John duet version of "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" (number 3, January 1992).

We will next see Oleta in 1993.

Number 139 "What About Now" by Robbie Robertson

Peak: number 133

Peak date: 6 January 1992

Weeks in top 150: 11 weeks 

Chart run: 155-139-134-140-145-137-138-(chart repeated for 2 week Xmas break)-133-134-136

Weeks on chart: 12 weeks

 

Canadian musician Robbie Robertson was born Jaime Royal Robertson.  He was the lead guitarist and a songwriter for The Band before launching his solo career in 1987.

 

Robbie's only Australian singles chart entries to date had been "Showdown at Big Sky" (number 95, February 1988) and "Somewhere Down the Crazy River", which peaked at number 100 on the Australian Music Report in June 1988, during the week before ARIA commenced producing the chart in-house (it otherwise went on to peak at number 83 on the AMR chart).

"What About Now" was the lead single in Australia from Robbie's second solo album Storyville (number 113, November 1991).

 

While I cannot find evidence of "What About Now" charting on any other sales-based chart, it registered on two meaningless subsidiary US Billboard charts.  "What About Now" peaked at number 15 on the Mainstream Rock Airplay chart, and number 28 on the Alternative Airplay chart in November 1991.

 

Domestically, "What About Now" performed strongest in Western Australia, where it reached number 87.

This was Robbie's last single to chart in Australia.  A second Storyville single, "Go Back to Your Woods", was released in Australia in March 1992.

 

Robbie had a couple of later albums that peaked outside the top 100 in Australia: Contact from the Underworld of Redboy (number 189, April 1998), and How to Become Clairvoyant (number 129, April 2011).

 

 

Number 147 "A Day in My Life (Without You)" by Lisette Melendez

Peak: number 135

Peak date: 18 November 1991

Weeks in top 150: 5 weeks 

Chart run: 185-(out for 2 weeks)-147-135-139-140-144

Weeks on chart: 6 weeks

 

We last saw Lisette Melendez in April 1991. 

"A Day in My Life (Without You)" was issued as the second single from Lisette's debut album Together Forever (number 199, December 1991). 

 

Internationally, "A Day in My Life..." peaked at number 49 in the US in November 1991.

 

Within Australia, "A Day in My Life..." was most popular in New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory, where it reached number 125.

 

Listening to this track, the first thing that strikes me is that the backing music is almost identical to Corina's "Temptation" (number 57, October 1991), which was an observation I made with the last Lisette track we saw.

 

Lisette will join us again in 1992.

 

 

Bubbling WAY down under:

 

Number 177 "Coast Is Clear" by Curve

Peak: number 172

Peak date: 25 November 1991

Weeks on chart: 3 weeks

 

English duo Curve are made up of singer Toni Halliday and instrumentalist/programmer Dean Garcia.  The pair were signed to Dave Stewart's, whom we saw last week, label Anxious Records.

"Coast Is Clear", which does not appear on Curve's debut album Doppelgänger (number 136, May 1992), was Curve's debut release in Australia.  The single became the pair's first top 40 entry in the UK, where it reached number 34 in May 1991.

 

In Australia, "Coast Is Clear" performed strongest in Western Australia, where it reached number 145.

 

Curve never had a top 100 entry in Australia, but we will see them bubble under on five more occasions on the singles chart, between now and 1998.  We shall next see Curve in 1992.

 

 

Number 184 "Top of the World" by Van Halen

Peak: number 162

Peak date: 25 November 1991

Weeks on chart: 2 weeks

 

We last saw Van Halen in August 1991.

 

"Top of the World" was released as the third single from Van Halen's ninth studio album For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge (number 5, July 1991). 

Overseas, "Top of the World" peaked at number 61 in the UK in October 1991, and number 27 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in November 1991.

On the ARA state charts, "Top of the World" was most successful in New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory, where it reached number 149.

Van Halen will join us next in 1995.

 

 

Next week (18 November): Three top 150 debuts and one bubbling WAY down under entry.

 

< Previous week: 4 November 1991                                     Next week: 18 November 1991 >

Week commencing 26 August 1991

There seems to be something for everyone among this week in 1991's debuts outside the ARIA top 100, with everything from middle-of-the-road ballads your mum would like, to rave anthems, ragga, guitar-based songs your dad would enjoy, to ABBA pastiches.  Let's take a look.

 

The Shamen (no, that's not Slugworth on the left) were not quite moving mountains on the Australian chart in 1991.

 

Top 150 debuts:

 

Number 114 "Time, Love and Tenderness" by Michael Bolton

Peak: number 111

Peak date: 23 September 1991

Weeks in top 150: 7 weeks

Chart run: 114-116-124-123-111-120-127

Weeks on chart: 7 weeks

 

We last saw Michael Bolton in October 1990.

 

"Time, Love and Tenderness" was the second single and almost-title track (note the use of 'and' vs. '&') from Michael's seventh studio album Time, Love & Tenderness (number 11, August 1991).  It followed "Love Is a Wonderful Thing" (number 25, June 1991).

 

Internationally, "Time, Love and Tenderness" peaked at number 27 in Sweden in July 1991, number 28 in the UK in August 1991, number 7 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in September 1991, number 4 in Canada in September 1991, and number 74 in Germany in October 1991. 

Within Australia, "Time, Love and Tenderness" was most popular in Western Australia, where it reached number 52.

I remember hearing this one numerous times on the American Top 40 radio show, and - a couple of years later - on easy-listening Melbourne FM radio station TT FM (as it was then known).  I am surprised it couldn't even dent the ARIA top 100, but I guess people bought the album instead.

 

Michael will join us next in November 1991.

 

 

Number 118 "It Hit Me Like a Hammer" by Huey Lewis & The News

Peak: number 106

Peak date: 9 September 1991

Weeks in top 150: 5 weeks

Chart run: 161-118-109-106-112-125

Weeks on chart: 6 weeks

 

We last saw Huey Lewis & The News in February 1989.

 

"It Hit Me Like a Hammer" was the second single from the band's sixth studio album Hard at Play (number 61, July 1991).  It followed "Couple Days Off" (number 40, July 1991), which would be Huey Lewis & The News' final top 40 hit in Australia.

 

Overseas, "It Hit Me Like a Hammer" peaked at number 51 in Germany in August 1991, number 21 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in September 1991, and number 9 in Canada in September 1991.

Domestically, "It Hit Me Like a Hammer" performed strongest in South Australia/Northern Territory, where it reached number 86.

I am not sure whether I heard this one at the time.  While it's pleasant enough, there's nothing particularly memorable about it.  The song sounds like it belongs in the 80s more than the early 90s.

We'll see Huey Lewis & The News again in 1994 for one final appearance.

 

 

Number 120 "Take Me in Your Arms and Love Me" by Scritti Politti featuring Sweet Irie

Peak: number 113

Peak date: 2 September 1991

Weeks in top 150: 4 weeks 

Top 150 chart run: 120-113-139-130

 

British band Scritti Politti formed in Leeds in 1977.  During the band's tenure, Welsh front man Green Gartside (born Paul Strohmeyer) has been the only constant member.

 

Between 1984 and 1986, Scritti Politti placed four singles on the Australian chart, although only one of those, "Wood Beez (Pray Like Aretha Franklin)" (number 25, July 1984), peaked higher than number 70.  Their most-recent single to chart in Australia was "She's a Woman" (number 82, June 1991), on which Jamaican artist Shabba Ranks was featured.  The band's last album to chart locally was Provision (number 97, June 1988).

 

"Take Me in Your Arms and Love Me" peaked at number 47 in the UK in August 1991.  The song is a cover version of a song originally released by Gladys Knight & The Pips in 1967.  A studio album did not follow, and the band went on hiatus soon after, eventually reforming in 1999.

I heard this one for the first time in the early 2010s when it showed up on a UK VHS compilation I was digitising.

 

Number 130 "Move Any Mountain - Progen 91" by The Shamen

Peak: number 104

Peak date: 24 February 1992

Weeks in top 150: 18 weeks

Known chart run: 160-130-144-(out of top 150 for 4 weeks)-146-149-(out of top 150 for 6 weeks)-139-139-137-(chart repeated for 2 week Xmas break)-(out of top 150 for 1 week)-150-146-133-123-113-116-104-118-119

Weeks on chart: 30 weeks

 

Scottish band The Shamen formed in Aberdeen in 1985.  Initially, the band's music was guitar-driven and inspired by 1960s psychedelic music.  In 1987, however, founding member Colin Angus was inspired to experiment with electronic sounds, and the band evolved into a rave party act.

"Pro>gen", the first release of the song later re-titled "Move Any Mountain", was The Shamen's first UK singles chart entry, peaking at number 55 in April 1990.

Two further singles made ripples on the UK chart: "Make It Real" (UK number 42, September 1990) and "Hyperreal" (UK number 29, April 1991).  The latter was The Shamen's first single released in Australia, in July 1991, but it failed to chart.  "Hyperreal" also featured the voice of Plavka, who went on to later chart success with Jam & Spoon, notably on "Right in the Night (Fall in Love with Music)" (number 2, May 1994).

The 1991 re-release of "Move Any Mountain" peaked at number 4 in the UK in August 1991, number 17 in Ireland in August 1991, number 21 in Sweden in September 1991, number 17 in the Netherlands in September 1991, number 8 in the Flanders region of Belgium in October 1991, number 4 in Switzerland in October 1991, and number 38 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in February 1992.  "Move Any Mountain" would be The Shamen's only single to register on the Hot 100.

In Australia, "Move Any Mountain"'s top 150 chart run was split into four separate runs, and the single did not reach its peak until six months after its debut.  The single peaked in New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory in August 1991, and in February 1992 on all other state charts.  "Move Any Mountain" performed strongest in South Australia/Northern Territory, where it reached number 85.  The single peaked within the top 100 on all state charts except Queensland.  Despite never breaking into the top 100 nationally, "Move Any Mountain" spent a mammoth 30 weeks on the ARIA singles chart, straddling the occasionally blurred line between 'hit' and 'flop'.

"Move Any Mountain" was lifted from The Shamen's fourth studio album En-Tact, which was released in Australia in January 1992, but did not chart.

A new music video, shot in Tenerife, was filmed for the 1991 release of "Move Any Mountain".  Tragically, band member Will Sin (real name William Sinnott) drowned on 23 May 1991, aged 30, while swimming off the coast of La Gomera, while on location to shoot the video.  Will's scenes were included in the video, but his death resulted in the surviving members of the band contemplating whether or not they should continue.

The Shamen did go on, and would achieve their commercial breakthrough - if only fleeting - in Australia towards the end of 1992 with "Ebeneezer Goode" (number 14, January 1993), which was certified gold.  Interestingly, that single only spent 25 weeks on the chart in comparison to "Move Any Mountain"'s 30.  "L.S.I. (Love, Sex, Intelligence)" (number 53, January 1993) went one better, though, racking up a tally of 31 weeks on the ARIA chart.

I was not aware of "Move Any Mountain" until late 1995, when the rage top 50 chart went on hiatus for three months, due to a dispute over paying the major record companies royalties to play their videos.  During those months, rage aired (and re-aired!) music videos on minor labels, including those distributed though Liberation Records in Australia, which The Shamen were.  "Move Any Mountain" received several spins during this period.

We shall next see The Shamen in 1993.

 

 

 

Number 132 "So Like Candy" by Elvis Costello

Peak: number 129

Peak date: 2 September 1991

Weeks in top 150: 6 weeks

Top 150 chart run: 132-129-134-139-139-139 

Weeks on chart: 8 weeks

 

We last saw English singer-songwriter Elvis Costello (born Declan MacManus) in July 1989.

 

"So Like Candy" was the second single lifted from Elvis' thirteenth studio album - and third where he receives sole credit - Mighty Like a Rose (number 37, June 1991).  It followed "The Other Side of Summer" (number 96, June 1991).

 

Internationally, "So Like Candy" peaked at number 66 in the Netherlands in August 1991, and number 115 (number 102 on the compressed chart) in the UK in October 1991.

Domestically, "So Like Candy" was most successful in South Australia/Northern Territory, where it reached number 115 on the state chart.

I first heard/saw this one on rage in the late 2000s or early 2010s, when the music video was chosen by a guest programmer.

We'll next see Elvis in 1994.

 

 

 

Number 143 "Hero" by Steeltown

Peak: number 143

Peak dates: 26 August 1991 and 2 September 1991

Weeks in top 150: 3 weeks

Top 150 chart run: 143-143-144

 

I had assumed that Steeltown must be an Australian band, given that the music video (embedded below) has fewer than 1000 views in the ten years it has been on YouTube, and I could find no evidence of this charting elsewhere.  That assumption is only partially true, however.  While based in Australia, Steeltown formed from members of the Scottish group The Technicians, who relocated to Australia in the 1980s, and had two minor 'hits' here with "Hot for Love" (number 90, July 1987) and "Clockwork Clown" (number 96, April 1988).

Listening to "Hero" for the first time as I write this, the track sounds more like Frankie Goes to Hollywood - to my ears - than the typical pub rock sound Australian bands were churning out in the early 90s.

 

 

 

Number 145 "I Write You a Love Song" by Izabella

Peak: number 140

Peak date: 2 September 1991

Weeks in top 150: 3 weeks 

Top 150 chart run: 145-140-(out for 2 weeks)-145

 

Here's one I didn't hear until a few years ago, but remember reading the single review in the Australian edition of Smash Hits magazine, and seeing the cassette single in the shops.

 

Izabella, full name Izabella Skorupko, is a Polish-born model, actress and singer who was based in Sweden for her career.

 

"I Write You a Love Song" peaked at number 10 in Sweden in March 1991, and at number 93 in Germany in September 1992 - somewhat belatedly.

 

"I Write You a Love Song" sounds rather ABBA-ish, and I think it could have been a decent-sized hit if it received more exposure.  It was Izabella's only release in Australia.

"Brando Moves" is another Izabella song I have heard, and is well worth checking out if you enjoy this one.

 

 

 

Number 149 "Daddy Freddy's in Town" by Daddy Freddy

Peak: number 121

Peak date: 2 September 1991

Weeks in top 150: 7 weeks 

Top 150 chart run: 149-121-130-133-132-140-138

 

Daddy Freddy, born S. Frederick Small (we don't know what the S. stands for) is a Jamaican ragga artist.  The chorus of "Daddy Freddy's in Town" is taken from Led Zeppelin's "Black Dog".

 

"Daddy Freddy's in Town" peaked at number 33 in New Zealand in October 1991.  The single performed better on the Australian Music Report singles chart, where it reached number 94.

 

I hadn't heard this one before.

 

 

 

Bubbling WAY down under:

 

Number 177 "Runaround" by Van Halen

Peak: number 169

Peak date: 2 September 1991

Weeks on chart: 3 weeks

 

American rock band Van Halen last paid us a visit in January 1989.  At this point in 1991, Van Halen had placed ten singles on the Australian chart, with "Jump" (number 2, March 1984) being their biggest hit.  The band's most successful track locally with Sammy Hagar leading the group was "Why Can't This Be Love" (number 8, June 1986).  My favourite Van Halen track is "Dreams" (number 51, September 1986).

 

"Runaround" was the second single released from Van Halen's ninth studio album For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge (number 5, July 1991).  It followed "Poundcake" (number 55, July 1991).

 

Internationally, "Runaround" peaked at number 50 in Canada in September 1991.  The song also topped the essentially meaningless US Billboard Mainstream Rock Airplay chart for four weeks in August 1991.

 

Within Australia, "Runaround" was most popular in South Australia/Northern Territory, where it reached number 138.

 

I hadn't heard this one before, though I don't seek out heavy rock music.

 

Van Halen will next join us in November 1991.

 

Number 180 "Lift"/"Open Your Mind" by 808 State

Peak: number 153

Peak date: 2 September 1991

Weeks on chart: 2 weeks

 

English band 808 State last visited us in June 1991. "Lift"/"Open Your Mind" was the band's fourth single in a row to peak outside the ARIA top 100 singles chart, and their second double A-side single to do so.

"Lift" was... lifted from the band's ex:el (number 109, April 1991) album, but "Open Your Mind" was a new track.

"Lift"/"Open Your Mind" peaked at number 38 in the band's native UK in August 1991.

Domestically, "Lift"/"Open Your Mind" was most successful in Western Australia, where it reached number 134.

 

I hadn't heard either track before.  Both are notable for making use of samples that would appear on later hits for other artists.  "Lift" samples a string rift from Love Unlimited Orchestra's "Love's Theme", which was used on Dannii Minogue's "Baby Love" (number 26, April 1992).  "Open Your Mind" samples dialogue from the 1990 movie Total Recall, which was later used on Usura's "Open Your Mind" (number 29, May 1993).

808 State will next join us in 1993.

 

 

Number 195 "Hello Afrika" by Dr. Alban

Peak: number 180

Peak date: 2 September 1991

Weeks on chart: 2 weeks

Here's one I did hear at the time, through seeing the music video on the SBS music video TV show M.C. TeeVee.

Nigerian-born Dr. Alban, born Alban Uzoma Nwapa, relocated to Sweden in the early 1980s to study dentisty.  Dr. Alban supported himself through his studies by working as a DJ.  After qualifying as a dentist and starting his own practice, Dr. Alban continued to work as a DJ on the side.

In 1990, Dr. Alban met Swedish DJ, songwriter and producer Denniz Pop (real name Dag Volle), who went on to produce many internationally-successful acts such as Ace of Base, *NSync and Backstreet Boys.  Denniz co-wrote and produced "Hello Afrika" with Dr. Alban, and Swedish rapper Leila K, who scored a couple of minor hits in Australia in 1990 with Rob 'n' Raz, including "Got to Get" (number 57, July 1990).  Denniz sadly died in 1998, aged 35, after being diagnosed with stomach cancer.  Backstreet Boys dedicated "Show Me the Meaning of Being Lonely" (number 19, February 2000) to him.

 

Internationally, "Hello Afrika" peaked at number 7 in Sweden in October 1990, number 2 in Germany in February 1991, number 1 in Austria in March 1991, number 3 in Switzerland in March 1991, and number 25 in the Netherlands in May 1991.

 

Domestically, "Hello Africa" performed strongest in New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory, where it reached number 161.

 

Dr. Alban would eventually score his breakthrough hit in Australia in 1994 with "Sing Hallelujah!" (number 5, March 1994), which went platinum.  Before then, "It's My Life" crept into the top 100, initially peaking at number 97 in November 1992, before reaching a higher peak of number 43 in May 1994, after being re-released following the success of "Sing Hallelujah!"

"Hello Afrika" appeared on Dr. Alban's debut album Hello Afrika, which was issued in Australia in November 1991 but did not chart.  A second single from the album, "No Coke", was also released locally in November 1991, but failed to chart.

Dr. Alban will next pay us a visit in 1993.

 

 

Next week (2 September): Four new top 150 entries and one bubbling WAY down under debut.

 

< Previous weeks: 19 August 1991                                     Next week: 2 September 1991 > 

Week commencing 1 October 1990

Before diving into this week's 1990 post, I have updated two earlier posts with newly-uncovered bubbling WAY down under entries from The Christians:

 

- 13 February 1989

- 16 April 1990

 

This week in 1990, all but two of the new entries are from artists we have not seen before.  How refreshing!  And a mixed bag they are, covering everything from easy listening tunes your mum would enjoy, through to Prince-related pervy romps about jerking everything in sight, 'credible' indie tunes, and... a ballad from Broadway!  Shall we take a look?

Michael Bolton: the sole provider of flowing locks this week in 1990.

 

Top 150 debuts:

 

Number 127 "Soul Provider" by Michael Bolton

Peak: number 119 

Peak date: 5 November 1990

Weeks in top 150: 6 weeks

Chart run: 127-129-129-131-135-119

Weeks on chart: 6 weeks

Michael Bolton's first chart success in Australia came in the form of writing songs for other artists.  Laura Branigan took the Michael Bolton co-written "How Am I Supposed to Live Without You" to number 46 in Australia in October 1983.  Of course, Michael would score a much bigger hit with his own recording of the song, which reached number 2 in Australia in March 1990.

Then Cher landed a number 8 hit with "I Found Someone" in May 1988, a track co-written by Michael Bolton, and originally recorded by Laura Branigan.  Poor Laura - I have written previously about her knack of recording songs that later became much bigger hits for other artists.  Michael recorded his own version of "I Found Someone" for his Greatest Hits 1985-1995 (number 6, September 1995) compilation.

Ironically, Michael's first hit in his own right in Australia was a cover version, of Otis Redding's "(Sittin' on) The Dock of the Bay" (number 3, May 1988).  The success of this single spurred the first release from Michael's The Hunger (number 36, July 1988) album, "That's What Love Is All About" (number 90, May 1988), to chart, albeit lowly.  A third single from the album, "Wait on Love", was issued locally in August 1988, but failed to chart.

"Soul Provider" did not chart when it was issued as the lead single from Michael's sixth studio album Soul Provider (number 1, April 1990) in August 1989.  Following the success of "How Am I Supposed to Live Without You", "How Can We Be Lovers" (number 3, May 1990), and... er, "When I'm Back on My Feet Again" (number 77, July 1990), Michael's record company decided to have another crack at making the album's title track a hit, and failed.

"Soul Provider", naturally, enjoyed greater success on the US Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number 19 in September 1989.  The single also reached number 75 on the Dutch singles chart in June 1990, and number 77 in the UK in October 1990.  Locally, "Soul Provider" performed strongest on the Queensland state chart, where it reached number 83.

A fifth (not counting both releases of the title track) and final single from Soul Provider, "Georgia on My Mind", was released in Australia in November 1990, but failed to chart.

We will next see Michael bubble under in August 1991.

Number 135 "Strung Out" by Wendy & Lisa

Peak: number 133

Peak date: 5 November 1990

Weeks in top 150: 6 weeks

Chart run: 135-139-134-138-145-133

Weeks on chart: 6 weeks

Wendy Melvoin and Lisa Coleman came to fame as part of Prince's backing band The Revolution, with whom he recorded the Purple Rain soundtrack (number 1, August 1984), and the albums Around the World in a Day (number 12, May 1985) and Parade (number 8, May 1986).

Following Prince's cessation with working with The Revolution, Wendy & Lisa embarked on their own separate recording career, releasing the albums Wendy and Lisa and Fruit at the Bottom - neither of which charted in Australia.

We saw Wendy & Lisa bubble WAY down under with their first Australian chart entry in July 1989.

"Strung Out" was the lead single from the duo's third album Eroica (number 126, September 1990).  Internationally, "Strung Out" was biggest in the UK, where it reached number 44 in July 1990.  The single also peaked at number 31 in the Netherlands in August 1990, and number 42 on the Flemish chart during the same month.

"Strung Out" would be Wendy & Lisa's only ARIA top 150 singles chart appearance, and their final charting single in Australia.

 

Number 138 "The Ship Song" by Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds

Peak: number 138

Peak date: 1 October 1990

Top 150 chart run: 138-143

Weeks in top 150: 2 weeks

Australian Nick Cave began his recording career with The Boys Next Door in 1978, with a cover version of Nancy Sinatra's "These Boots Are Made for Walking".  Although no singles released by the band charted, their album Door Door (number 93, August 1979) dented the top 100.  Their 1979 single "Shivers" became a number 19 hit in February 1993 when covered by The Screaming Jets.

The Boys Next Door then changed their name to The Birthday Party, and again landed no top 100 singles, but placed one album in the top 100: Prayers on Fire (number 96, July 1981).  The Birthday Party disbanded in 1983.

Nick then began recording with The Bad Seeds in 1984.  "The Ship Song" was the first single from the group to chart in Australia, although three albums had previously charted locally: Your Funeral... My Trial (number 98, December 1986), Tender Prey (number 109, February 1989), and The Good Son (number 93, May 1990).

 

Oddly, "The Ship Song" was first released in Australia on BMG Records in April 1990, but was then re-issued on Festival Records (who were now distributing product on Mute Records, through which this was released) in September 1990.  It was the first single lifted from The Good Son.  A second single from the album, "The Weeping Song", was issued in November 1990, but missed the top 150.

"The Ship Song" fared better in the UK, where it peaked at number 84 in March 1990.

We will next see Nick in 1994.  Before then, Nick managed to score four ARIA top 100 singles, although none peaked higher than number 62, with "Do You Love Me?", in May 1994.

Number 145 "Smoking Her Wings" by The Bats

Peak: number 145

Peak date: 1 October 1990

Weeks in top 150: 1 week

Top 150 chart run: 145

Weeks on chart: 2 weeks

Hailing from Christchurch in New Zealand, The Bats formed in 1982.  Between 1984 and 1993, the group placed four singles on the New Zealand top 50 singles chart, although none peaked higher than number 34 ("By Night" in November 1984).  I was actually living in New Zealand when "By Night" peaked, but have no recollection of their biggest 'hit' - granted, I had just turned 6, and it's not the kind of music the radio stations my parents would have listened to played.

In Australia, nothing The Bats released made the top 100, so, all things considered, number 145 wasn't too bad for them, especially for a single that did not chart in their homeland.  "Smoking Her Wings" was lifted from the album The Law of Things (number 133, May 1990), which did chart in New Zealand, reaching number 38 in May 1990.

 

Interestingly, a compilation album from The Bats, titled Compiletely Bats (that's not a typo), also registered on the ARIA top 150 albums chart, peaking at number 139 in August 1990.

 

On the state charts, "Smoking Her Wings" was most successful in New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory, where it reached number 139.

I didn't know "Smoking Her Wings" at the time, but captured it on rage a few years back (I uploaded the video embedded below).  The song has really grown on me and I rather enjoy it.

Although The Bats would not land another top 150 single in Australia, they made the top 150 albums chart again with Fear of God (number 140, November 1991).

The Bats are still together today, and released an album, Foothills, last year, which peaked at number 13 in New Zealand in November 2020.  The Bats have maintained their original line-up since their inception in 1982.

We will see The Bats again in 1993.

Number 147 "Someone Like You" by Linda Eder

Peak: number 147

Peak date: 1 October 1990

Weeks in top 150: 1 week

Top 150 chart run: 147

 

American singer and actress Linda Eder performed in the Broadway musical of Jekyll & Hyde, from which "Someone Like You" is lifted.  An album performed by Linda, Highlights from Jekyll & Hyde, reached number 138 on the ARIA top 150 albums chart in September 1990.

Not being well-versed, or even versed at all, in musicals, I had never heard of Linda before, but she apparently received rave reviews for her performance as Lucy Harris in Jekyll & Hyde.  Listening to this track now for the first time, it gives me major Céline Dion vibes, perhaps minus some of the vocal theatrics, even down to Linda's early 90s Céline-esque permed hair style.  The song is nice enough, but not the sort of thing I would actively seek out.

Number 148 "Looking for Atlantis" by Prefab Sprout

Peak: number 145

Peak date: 15 October 1990

Weeks in top 150: 3 weeks

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

Weeks on chart: 5 weeks

I think I first encountered English band Prefab Sprout when seeing "Cars and Girls" (number 41, May 1988) listed in the top 50 chart printed in one of the first editions of the Australian Smash Hits magazine I bought.  I remember thinking "that's an interesting name for a group."

"Cars and Girls" was Prefab Sprout's biggest hit in Australia, with only two other singles of theirs making the top 100: "When Love Breaks Down" (number 55, April 1985) and "Appetite" (number 45, November 1985).

 

In their homeland, the group notched up 19 top 100 singles between 1984 and 1997, although only seven of those made the top 40.  Prefab Sprout's biggest hit in the UK was "The King of Rock 'N' Roll", which reached number 7 in May 1988.

"Looking for Atlantis" was the first single lifted from fifth Prefab Sprout studio album Jordan: The Comeback (number 148, October 1990).  The single peaked at number 51 in the UK in August 1990.  The album was much more successful in the UK, peaking at number 7 in September 1990.

In Australia, "Looking for Atlantis" was most popular in Western Australia, where it reached number 87 on the state charts.

We shall see Prefab Sprout Again in 1992.

Bubbling WAY down under:

Number 153 "Jerk Out" by The Time

Peak: number 153

Peak date: 1 October 1990

Weeks on chart: 2 weeks

The Time, fronted by Morris Day, are an act closely associated with Prince, forming in Minneapolis in 1981.  The band originally contained members Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, who left in 1983 and went on to become a highly successful songwriting and production team for artists such as The S.O.S. Band and Janet Jackson.

The Time released three studio albums between 1981 and 1984, before disbanding in 1985.  The group reformed in 1990, and Jam and Lewis re-joined the group, before splitting again in 1991.  The Time reformed again, minus Jam and Lewis, in 1995.

"Jerk Out" was originally recorded by Prince, who co-wrote the track, in 1981, during the recording sessions for The Time's 1982 album What Time Is It?  While Prince's demo remains unreleased, audio from the jamming session where he performs the song has been uploaded to YouTube.

 

"Jerk Out" was the lead single from The Time's fourth studio album Pandemonium, which was issued in Australia in August 1990 but failed to chart.  "Jerk Out" was the bands first - and only - single to chart in Australia.  The single performed strongest in South Australia/Northern Territory, where it reached number 131.

 

Internationally, "Jerk Out" reached number 9 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in August 1990, becoming their biggest hit there.  The single also reached number 56 on the Dutch singles chart in September 1990.

The Time would eventually score a charting album in Australia when their 1981 debut The Time peaked at number 219 in March 1993 - I assume due to having been released locally on CD for the first time then.

Number 159 "River of Life" by The Neville Brothers

Peak: number 159

Peak date: 1 October 1990

Weeks on chart: 1 week

 

We last saw American R&B band The Neville Brothers in August 1990.

 

"River of Life" was the second single issued from their fifth studio album Brother's Keeper (number 87, November 1990).

 

Internationally, "River of Life" peaked at number 184 (number 120 on the compressed chart) in the UK in September 1990.

 

Locally, "River of Life" was most popular in Western Australia, where it reached number 141 on the state chart.

 

We'll next see The Neville Brothers in 1993.

 

 

Number 160 "Rough Stuff" by Adam Ant

Peak: number 160

Peak date: 1 October 1990

Weeks on chart: 1 week

We last saw Adam Ant in June 1990.

"Rough Stuff" was issued as the second single from Adam's fourth solo album Manners & Physique (number 138, March 1990).  Oddly, the single was not released in Adam's native UK.

"Rough Stuff" does not appear to have charted anywhere else, other than peaking at number 14 on the meaningless US Billboard Dance Club Songs chart.

On the state charts, "Rough Stuff" was most popular in Queensland, where it reached number 145.

The music video for "Rough Stuff" embedded below is for the extended version of the track.  The single version does not appear to be available on YouTube, but you can listen to the album version here.

We'll next see Adam in 1995.

Next week (8 October): Four new top 150 debuts and one bubbling WAY down under entry.

< Previous week: 24 September 1990                             Next week: 8 October 1990 >