Week commencing 1 February 1993

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

Céline Dion: nothing broken but the chart.

Top 150 debuts:

Number 111 “Certain People I Know” by Morrissey

Peak: number 104

Peak date: 15 February 1993

Weeks in top 150: 6 weeks

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

Weeks on chart: 6 weeks

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

We will next see Moz in 1994.

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

Peak: number 116

Peak date: 1 February 1993

Weeks in top 150: 5 weeks

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

Weeks on chart: 6 weeks

English songstress Lisa Stansfield last graced our presence in 1992.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

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

Peak: number 106

Peak date: 15 February 1993

Weeks in top 150: 7 weeks

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

Weeks on chart: 9 weeks

English duo Definition of Sound last joined us in 1992.

 

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

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

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

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

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

Peak: number 124

Peak date: 1 February 1993

Weeks in top 150: 2 weeks

Top 150 chart run: 124-142

Weeks on chart: 5 weeks

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

 

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

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

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

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

Number 143 “Poison Heart” by Ramones

Peak: number 143

Peak date: 1 February 1993

Weeks in top 150: 3 weeks

Top 150 chart run: 143-147-147

Weeks on chart: 4 weeks

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

 

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

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

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

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

Peak: number 112

Peak date: 22 February 1993

Weeks in top 150: 8 weeks

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

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

Number 146 “Laura” by Jimmy Nail

Peak: number 146

Peak date: 1 February 1993

Weeks in top 150: 1 week

Top 150 chart run: 146

Weeks on chart: 11 weeks

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

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

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

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

 

I don't recall hearing "Laura" before.

 

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

 

Jimmy will join us next in 1996.

 

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

Peak: number 147

Peak date: 1 February 1993

Weeks in top 150: 1 week

Chart run: 199-147

Weeks on chart: 2 weeks

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

Number 149 “Carry On” by Martha Wash

Peak: number 149

Peak date: 1 February 1993

Weeks in top 150: 1 week

Known chart run: 151-149

Weeks on chart: 5 weeks

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

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

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

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

We'll next see Martha in April 1993.

Bubbling WAY down under:

Number 180 “One Love in My Lifetime” by Innocence

Peak: number 168

Peak date: 15 February 1993

Weeks on chart: 6 weeks

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

 

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

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

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

 

Number 182 “Unsung” by Helmet

Peak: number 182

Peak date: 1 February 1993

Weeks on chart: 3 weeks

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

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

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

Helmet will join us next in 1994.

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

Peak: number 192

Peak date: 1 February 1993

Weeks on chart: 2 weeks

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

 

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

 

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

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

 

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

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

Peak: number 193

Peak date: 1 February 1993

Weeks on chart: 3 weeks

American Latin freestyle group Exposé last joined us in 1990.

 

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

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

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

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

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

Week commencing 9 March 1992

This week in 1992's new entries peaking outside the top 100 are an eclectic bunch, with everything from a 60's rocker your parents might have been fans of to a young big band crooner and pioneering electronic acts.  Shall we take a look?

 

Blue Pearl: passion for playing with knives.

 

Top 150 debuts:

 

Number 103 "You Didn't Know Me When" by Harry Connick, Jr.

Peak: number 103

Peak date: 9 March 1992

Weeks in top 150: 5 weeks

Chart run: 103-105-116-117-125 

Weeks on chart: 5 weeks

 

American singer Harry Connick, Jr. made his Australian chart debut with the album We Are in Love (number 120, July 1991).  We saw Harry bubble under in 1991.  His ARIA top 150 singles debut came with "It Had to Be You" (number 70, June 1992), which was first released locally in November 1989, and initially peaked at number 76 in October 1991.  That song was the title track to an Australian-only compilation of some of Harry's earlier recordings, It Had to Be You (number 4, March 1992), which became his commercial breakthrough in Australia.

"You Didn't Know Me When" was lifted from Harry's third studio album Blue Light, Red Light (number 10, March 1992).  I cannot find evidence of the single charting elsewhere.  In Australia, "You Didn't Know Me When" performed strongest in Victoria/Tasmania, where it reached number 77 on the state chart.

Harry's biggest hit in Australia came with "(I Could Only) Whisper Your Name" (number 15, December 1994), which I always associate with the Hey Hey It's Saturday band playing before heading to an ad break.

Last I was aware, Harry was currently a judge on the reboot of Australian Idol - I would not encourage any readers to watch that rubbish.

Number 130 "Don't Turn Around" by Neil Diamond

Peak: number 117

Peak date: 13 April 1992

Weeks in top 150: 6 weeks

Top 150 chart run: 130-124-132-120-124-117

Weeks on chart: 7 weeks

American singer-songwriter Neil Diamond is someone I'd never heard of until his albums started appearing in the ARIA top 50 in the early 90s, but he landed 28 charting singles in Australia between 1969 and 1982.  If I remember correctly (I can't really be bothered looking it up), Neil's renewed popularity in the early 90s was due to him touring Australia - I recall seeing TV commercials for his shows.  In particular, I remember hearing Neil's 1966 song "Cherry, Cherry", with its "she got the way to move me" chorus, in the adverts.  We have seen Neil previously in 1981.

As I suspected from the title, "Don't Turn Around" is a cover version of the song written by Albert Hammond and Diane Warren that was originally recorded by Tina Turner, as the B-side to "Typical Male" (number 20, November 1986), in 1986.  Aswad's version of "Don't Turn Around" peaked at number 34 in June 1988, and it would go on to become a number 19 hit for Ace of Base in August 1994.

"Don't Turn Around" was lifted from Neil's Lovescape (number 15, March 1992) album.  Internationally, the single peaked at number 79 in Canada in March 1992.

Neil's rendition of "Don't Turn Around" took six weeks to climb to its peak of number 117 in Australia, before falling out of the top 150 the following week.  On the state charts, "Don't Turn Around" was most popular in South Australia/Northern Territory, where it reached number 85.

We will next see Neil in April.

Number 146 "Never Stop" by The Brand New Heavies featuring N'Dea Davenport

Peak: number 140

Peak date: 13 April 1992

Weeks in top 150: 6 weeks

Top 150 chart run: 146-(out for 1 week)-141-145-145-140-(out for 1 week)-149

Weeks on chart: 8 weeks

British acid jazz and funk band The Brand New Heavies formed in 1985.  American singer N'Dea Davenport, who receives a featuring credit on this release, was the band's lead singer between 1990 and 1995, before rejoining them in 2005.  "Never Stop", lifted from the brand's debut album The Brand New Heavies (number 139, August 1992), was their first Australian release.

Internationally, "Never Stop" peaked at number 43 in the UK in October 1991, and number 54 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in October 1991.

 

Locally, "Never Stop" was most popular in New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory, where it reached number 101.

The Brand New Heavies never landed an ARIA top 100 single, but we shall see them bubble under on several occasions in the coming years, with the next instance being in 1993.

Number 148 "When I First Met Your Ma" by Paul Kelly and The Messengers

Peak: number 131

Peak date: 6 April 1992

Weeks in top 150: 6 weeks

Top 150 chart run: 148-145-145-142-131-144

Weeks on chart: 10 weeks

 

We last saw Paul Kelly and The Messengers in 1991.

 

"When I First Met Your Ma" was the only single released from the Hidden Things (number 29, April 1992) compilation album, which collated non-album tracks recorded by Paul Kelly and The Messengers (formerly Paul Kelly and The Coloured Girls) between 1986 and 1991.

On the state charts, "When I First Met Your Ma" performed strongest in Western Australia, where it reached number 89.

We shall next see Paul Kelly and The Messengers in 1994, but before then, Paul will appear on his own as part of a collaboration with other artists in 1993.

 

 

Bubbling WAY down under:

 

Number 176 "Instruments of Darkness (All of Us Are One People)" by The Art of Noise

Peak: number 170

Peak date: 16 March 1992

Weeks on chart: 6 weeks

 

We last saw English syth-pop act The Art of Noise in 1989.

 

"Instruments of Darkness..." originally appeared as a largely instrumental track on the 1986 album In Visible Silence (number 55, July 1986).  This remixed version was lifted from the compilation The FON Mixes (number 180, March 1992).  Internationally, the single peaked at number 45 in the UK in January 1992.

Domestically, "Instruments of Darkness..." was most popular in Western Australia, where it reached number 121.

Listening to this track for the first time, my initial impression was that it sounds very much like The Prodigy.  Then I discovered that The Prodigy's Liam Howlett co-produced this version of the track.

 

We shall next see The Art of Noise in 1995.

 

 

Number 180 "(Can You) Feel the Passion" by Blue Pearl

Peak: number 166

Peak date: 16 March 1992

Weeks on chart: 4 weeks

Blue Pearl were English producer Youth (real name Martin Glover) and American singer Durga McBroom, who had been a long term backing singer for Pink Floyd - both on their studio recordings and their live concerts.

The pair released their debut single "Naked in the Rain" in 1990, which reached number 4 in the UK, but failed to chart in Australia upon its local release in September of that year.  A second single, "Little Brother", was issued in Australia in June 1991, but similarly failed to chart, as did the album both singles were lifted from, Naked, which was released locally in June 1991.

The duo's third single, "(Can You) Feel the Passion", finally registered Blue Pearl a placing on the ARIA singles chart, albeit a rather low one.  The single fared better internationally, where it reached number 14 in the UK in January 1992, number 24 in Ireland, number 32 in Sweden in February 1992, number 34 in the Flanders region of Belgium in March 1992, and number 49 in the Netherlands in March 1992.  "(Can You) Feel the Passion" also topped the US Billboard Dance Club Songs chart in May 1992.

Locally, "(Can You) Feel the Passion" performed strongest in South Australia/Northern Territory, where it reached number 134.

 

"(Can You) Feel the Passion" lyrically references Bizarre Inc's "Playing with Knives", which we saw bubble WAY down under in 1991.

 

We will see Blue Pearl again in 1998.

Number 189 "In My Dreams" by The Party

Peak: number 186

Peak date: 23 March 1992

Weeks on chart: 2 weeks

We last saw The Party in 1991.

 

While "In My Dreams" was the lead single from the band's second album In the Meantime, In Between Time, curiously their debut album The Party (number 189, June 1992) peaked a few months after this in 1992 - although it is possible that this track was added to the Australian pressing.

 

Internationally, "In My Dreams" peaked at number 34 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in January 1992.

 

Within Australia, "In My Dreams" performed strongest in New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory, where it reached number 172.

 

I don't recall hearing this one before.  I wasn't expecting to like it, but it's actually quite decent.

 

This was The Party's final single to chart in Australia.

 

 

Next week (16 March): Five top 150 debuts, and five bubbling WAY down under entries.

< Previous week: 2 March 1992                                      Next week: 16 March 1992 >

Week commencing 7 October 1991

This week in 1991's debuts outside the ARIA top 100 are skewed towards those peaking outside the top 150, unusually.  Let's take a look at them.

 

Chantoozies: and then there were three.

  

Top 150 debuts:

 

Number 148 "Real Real Real" by Jesus Jones

Peak: number 117

Peak date: 11 November 1991

Weeks in top 150: 8 weeks

Chart run: Debuted 7 May 1990: 160.  Re-entered 7 October 1991: 148-143-143-135-121-117-120-118

Weeks on chart: 9 weeks

 

English band Jesus Jones formed in 1988. While their debut album Liquidizer (number 118, April 1990) yielded no charting singles in Australia, it gave them their first charting release locally.

"Real Real Real" was the first single lifted from the second Jesus Jones album Doubt (number 23, June 1991).  Originally released in Australia in April 1990, the single spent a solitary week at number 160 on the ARIA singles chart the following month.

Jesus Jones first came to the attention of most of the Australian record-buying public with the second single from Doubt, "Right Here, Right Now", which peaked at number 35 in July 1991, almost six months after its release.  That release was the only Jesus Jones single to dent the ARIA top 50.

Following the third Doubt single "International Bright Young Thing" (number 79, July 1991), "Real Real Real" was re-issued in Australia, climbing to a new peak of number 117.

 

Internationally, "Real Real Real" peaked at number 19 in the UK in May 1990, where it became the band's first single to dent the top 40 there.  It also reached number 37 in New Zealand in October 1991, number 26 in Canada in October 1991, number 4 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in November 1991, and number 59 in the Netherlands in December 1991.

Interestingly, "Real Real Real" was one of only two Jesus Jones singles to register on the US Billboard Hot 100 ("Right Here, Right Now" being the other one), and they both peaked within the top 5.

Domestically, "Real Real Real" was most successful in Victoria/Tasmania, where it reached number 89.

I have a vague recollection of catching the music video for "Real Real Real" on Coca-Cola Power Cuts in 1991.

Jesus Jones will next join us in 1992.

 

 

Number 149 "(Hammer Hammer) They Put Me in the Mix" by MC Hammer

Peak: number 149

Peak date: 7 October 1991

Weeks in top 150: 1 week 

Top 150 chart run: 149

Weeks on chart: 7 weeks

We last saw American rapper MC Hammer in July 1991.

"(Hammer Hammer) They Put Me in the Mix" originally appeared on MC Hammer's 1988 debut album Let's Get It Started (number 188, May 1991), minus the "(Hammer Hammer)" parentheses, and in a different mix to the 1991 single version, containing only sparse vocal samples.  I assume the track was remixed and issued as a single in Europe and Australasia in 1991 to generate interest in Hammer's debut album, following the success of his second one Please Hammer Don't Hurt 'Em (number 5, August 1990) - not that the strategy worked.

"(Hammer Hammer) They Put Me in the Mix" peaked at number 20 in the UK in July 1991, and number 11 in Ireland during the same month.

 

Domestically, "(Hammer Hammer) They Put Me in the Mix" performed strongest in Victoria/Tasmania, where it reached number 123 on the state chart.

"(Hammer Hammer)..." was the second MC Hammer single in a row to peak at number 149 in Australia, indicating the fame and popularity he had generated in 1990 and early 1991 was quickly fading.  The downward trajectory would continue, with Hammer's (now dropping the MC) next single, "2 Legit 2 Quit" (number 43, January 1992), and album, Too Legit to Quit (number 84, February 1992), underperforming.  Hammer's career momentum was momentarily restored with "Addams Groove" (number 12, February 1992), but that became his last ARIA top 100 entry.

I recall seeing the cassette single for "(Hammer Hammer) They Put Me in the Mix" in the shops, but did not hear it at the time.  It's not a great song.

"(Hammer Hammer) They Put Me in the Mix" fared much better on the Australian Music Report singles chart, where it reached number 99.

Hammer will join us again in 1994.

 

 

Bubbling WAY down under:

 

Number 156 "One Shot" by Tin Machine

Peak: number 155

Peak date: 14 October 1991

Weeks on chart: 7 weeks

 

British-American group Tin Machine, fronted by David Bowie, formed in 1988.  They landed one top 100 single in Australia, with "Under the God" (number 97, July 1989).

 

"One Shot" was the lead single in Australia from the second, and final, Tin Machine album Tin Machine II (number 139, October 1991).  This one missed the top 75 in the UK, and I cannot find evidence of it charting elsewhere (no, the US Billboard Mainstreams Rock Tracks chart does not count).

 

Within Australia, "One Shot" performed strongest in Queensland, where it reached number 128.

 

I hadn't heard this one before.  While I can appreciate David Bowie's talent and importance in pop music history, I generally don't care that much for his music, bar the occasional track.  This isn't one of them.

Another Tin Machine single, "You Belong in Rock N' Roll", was issued in Australia in February 1992, but failed to chart.

We'll next see David Bowie in 1992.

 

 

Number 167 "I'll Be There" by Chantoozies

Peak: number 167

Peak date: 7 October 1991

Weeks on chart: 2 weeks

 

Australian pop group Chantoozies formed in 1986 to play cover versions at the 25th birthday party of band member Tottie Goldsmith's - niece of Olivia Newton-John, no less.  The band's name was a play on the French word for female singer chanteuse, which is pronounced more like "shoh-tooz" than Chantoozie.

The original line-up for Chantoozies contained four female singers, all of whom had done TV acting work (notably, Ally Fowler, who had landed major roles in the soap operas Sons and Daughters and Neighbours), alongside four men who played the instruments.  Among the guys was David Reyne, James Reyne's brother, on drums.

Chantoozies' first two singles were cover versions, "Witch Queen" (number 4, April 1987) and "He's Gonna Step on You Again" (number 36, July 1987).  The success of the second single was probably hampered by The Party Boys releasing a cover version of the same track around the same time, which went to number 1 in Australia in July 1987.  I remember seeing Chantoozies perform "He's Gonna Step on You Again" on Hey Hey It's Saturday and wondering why they were doing a version of The Party Boys' song, which was currently a hit.

After nearly a year's hiatus, Chantoozies returned with an original track, "Wanna Be Up" (number 6, July 1988), written by two of the band's members - Eve von Bibra and Brett Goldsmith.  While it didn't peak quite as high as "Witch Queen", "Wanna Be Up" hovered within and around the top 10 for over two months, and spent more than 20 weeks in the top 50.  It is probably Chantoozies' best-remembered hit, and became a staple on the Summer Bay Diner jukebox on Home and Away, to boot.  A memorable scene - for me, anyway - was when Ailsa played "Wanna Be Up" on her cassette deck while Bobby's ghost was coming out of the fridge, during the midst of a mental breakdown in 1995 - some seven years after the song's release.

 

Chantoozies' debut album Chantoozies (number 8, September 1988) achieved similar success to "Wanna Be Up", going platinum.  It seemed like the band no longer needed to rely on recording cover versions for hits.

Tottie left the band before the first single from their second album, "Come Back to Me" (number 72, November 1989), was released.  Despite being added to the Summer Bay jukebox, "Come Back to Me" did not take off on the charts, and must have resulted in some panic.  The male members of Chantoozies split from the band before the belated release of their next single, "Walk On" (number 96, November 1990), which fared even worse on the charts.

 

Following these commercial disappointments, the pared-down trio remaining in Chantoozies resorted to what worked for them once - release a cover version.  Their version of Stephen Stills' "Love the One You're With" (number 21, May 1991) gave Chantoozies another hit - though it would become their last.  Australian sketch comedy TV program Fast Forward parodied Chantoozies' version of this song as "Sing a 60's Hit" - even though, technically, the original was released in 1970.

 

The second Chantoozies album Gild the Lily (number 71, April 1991) was released and stalled in the lower half of the ARIA top 100.

Chantoozies then released this cover of The Jackson 5's "I'll Be There", which did not appear on Gild the Lily.  I don't recall hearing this one at the time, or even being aware of its release.  The single sank without a trace on the chart, but found its greatest success in Queensland, where it reached number 141.

"I'll Be There" would be Chantoozies' final release until 2014, when they released a cover version of Promises' "Baby It's You", which did not chart.  Tottie had rejoined the group by this point.

 

 

 

Number 170 "Wintercoat" by Paul Kelly and The Messengers

Peak: number 170

Peak date: 7 October 1991

Weeks on chart: 2 weeks

 

We last saw Paul Kelly and The Messengers in June 1991, and here they are with their fourth consecutive single, and third (of three) release from Comedy (number 12, May 1991) to peak outside the ARIA top 100.

On the state charts, "Wintercoat" performed strongest in Queensland, where it peaked at number 142.

I don't recall hearing this one before.  Something about the piano in the verses reminds me of Madness's "Lovestruck" (number 127, September 1999); though that track came later, and it is presumably just a coincidence.

We shall next see Paul and the gang in 1992.

 

 

Number 190 "The Dream Is Still Alive" by Wilson Phillips

Peak: number 190

Peak date: 7 October 1991

Weeks on chart: 1 week

 

Squeaky clean American female vocal trio Wilson Phillips last joined us in April 1991.  "The Dream Is Still Alive" was the fifth and final single lifted from their debut album Wilson Phillips (number 7, July 1990).  It was also the third consecutive single from the band to peak outside the ARIA top 100.

 

Internationally, "The Dream Is Still Alive" peaked at number 12 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in August 1991, and at number 11 in Canada during the same month.

 

On the ARIA state charts, "The Dream Is Still Alive" was most successful in New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory, where it reached number 162.

 

I don't recall hearing this one before; I must have tuned out of American Top 40 when this was charting.  Carnie Wilson gets lead vocal duties on this one, which is a point of difference from the group's previous singles.

 

Wilson Phillips will pay us another visit in 1992.

 

 

Number 200 "Only Love Can Break Your Heart" by Saint Etienne

Peak: number 155

Peak date: 21 October 1991

Weeks on chart: 8 weeks

 

English band Saint Etienne formed in 1990.  Originally, the band was conceived as a project to feature different vocalists.  They decided, however, to stick with singer Sarah Cracknell after recording "Nothing Can Stop Us" (released in Australia in August 1991, did not chart) - a track later covered by Kylie Minogue - for their debut album Foxbase Alpha (number 783, February 2017).  We saw Cola Boy, an act tangentially related to Saint Etienne, in September 1991.

 

"Only Love Can Break Your Heart", a song originally recorded by Neil Young in 1970, featured vocals by Moira Lambert, and was Saint Etienne's first release.  Moira refused to appear in the music video, however, and so the original video for the song featured Lucy Gillie from the band Golden lip-syncing the song's lyrics.

 

The single initially stalled at number 95 in the UK in July 1990, before climbing to number 39 in September 1991 when re-released.  "Only Love Can Break Your Heart" also peaked at number 97 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in March 1992.  The second issue of the single was promoted with a new music video, embedded below, showing Sarah Cracknell miming to Moira's vocals.

 

Domestically, "Only Love Can Break Your Heart" performed strongest on the Western Australia state chart, where it reached number 116.

 

I first became aware of Saint Etienne when seeing the lyrics to "I Was Born on Christmas Day" published in a UK edition of Smash Hits I picked up at the airport in Hong Kong to read on the plane, on a flight home in January 1994.  I didn't hear any of their music, however, until catching the music video for "The Bad Photographer", which we'll see in 1998, on rage as a new release.  In other words, the band received virtually zero promotion in Australia, and sadly never landed a hit here.

 

We won't see Saint Etienne again until 1998, but, before then, two of their albums troubled the lower region of the ARIA albums chart: So Tough (number 175, April 1993) and Tiger Bay (number 178, August 1994).

 

Two of my favourite Saint Etienne singles that I won't get to write about are "Who Do You Think You Are" (released in 1993) and "I've Got Your Music" (released in 2012) - I recommend checking these out if you've not heard them before.

 

 

 

Number 202 "Dream Girl" by Definition of Sound

Peak: number 178

Peak date: 21 October 1991

Weeks on chart: 2 weeks

 

London-based duo Kevin Clark and Don Weekes first recorded together as Top Billin in 1988, before changing their name to Definition of Sound in 1990.  Their debut Australian single, "Wear Your Love Like Heaven" (number 77, June 1991), dented the ARIA top 100, as did the follow-up, "Now Is Tomorrow" (number 85, September 1991).

 

"Dream Girl" was the third track released from the first Definition of Sound album Love and Life (number 97, August 1991) in Australia.  Internationally, the single peaked at number 95 (number 83 on the compressed chart) in the UK in September 1991.

At the time of writing, "Dream Girl"'s debut position is the earliest ARIA singles chart position I have below number 200.

On the ARIA state charts, "Dream Girl" peaked highest in Victoria/Tasmania, where it reached number 148.

I heard most of the Definition of Sound singles at the time, but not this one.  The band would not break through in Australia until 1996, when "Pass the Vibes" (number 36, March 1996) crept into the lower region of the top 40.

We shall see Definition of Sound bubble under on numerous occasions over the coming years, with the next one being in 1992.

Next week (14 October): Eight top 150 debuts and two bubbling WAY down under entries.  Also, keep your eyes peeled for my 1982 posts returning after a hiatus on Tuesday next week (11 October).

< Previous week: 30 September 1991                               Next week: 14 October 1991 >

Week commencing 10 June 1991

I have no amazing insight into what connects this week in 1991's debuts peaking outside the top 100, so let's just dive straight in.  But before we do, I have updated last week's 1991 post with the following:

• 3 June 1991 - a new bubbling WAY down under entry from The Real Milli Vanilli.
   

Pat Benatar: she used to be somebody's rock chick.

  

Top 150 debuts:

 

Number 121 "True Love" by Pat Benatar

Peak: number 107

Peak date: 17 June 1991

Weeks in top 150: 4 weeks

Top 150 chart run: 121-107-117-114

Weeks on chart: 5 weeks

 

American singer Pat Benatar placed fourteen singles on the Australian chart during the 1980s, with three of those making the top ten.  Of these, "Love Is a Battlefield" (number 1, February 1984) was the biggest, with "All Fired Up" (number 2, September 1988) coming a close second.  We last saw Pat in April 1989.

"True Love" was the title track and only single issued in Australia from Pat's eighth studio album True Love (number 53, June 1991).  Known for her powerful rock voice, "True Love" was a radical departure from Pat's usual sound, dipping her toe into the jump blues genre.  Pat also had a make-over, displaying a softer image than typical for her (an evening dress!) in the music video.

"True Love" was only a hit in the Netherlands, where it reached number 21 in June 1991.  I cannot find evidence of this single registering on any other chart outside of Australia.

I hadn't heard "True Love" until writing this post, and was not aware of this album's existence at the time.  Pat seemed to disappear off the radar after "All Fired Up", with that song being her last major hit anywhere.  I have written before - and I am by no means the only person to make this observation - that a lot of artists associated with the 1980s fell on commercial hard times once the 1990s clocked over.

 

Within Australia, "True Love" performed strongest on the South Australia/Northern Territory state chart, where it reached number 77.

 

Pat would only land one further charting single in Australia, with "Somebody's Baby" (number 90, September 1993) in 1993.  That song deserved to do much better, and was as good as any of Pat's 80s hits in my view, but I guess Pat's time as an artist with hit singles was well and truly over by that point.

 

Pat placed a number of later albums on the ARIA albums chart - although all of them missed the top 100.  Her 1987 compilation Best Shots (number 19, February 1988) re-entered the chart in February 1992, reaching number 155.  Pat's next studio album Gravity's Rainbow peaked at number 130 in September 1993, Greatest Hits reached number 345 in January 2006, and 2 Classic Albums - Best Shots/Wide Awake in Dreamland peaked at number 344 in August 2011.

 

 

Number 135 "Falling" by One-Eyed Jacks

Peak: number 135

Peak date: 10 June 1991

Weeks in top 150: 2 weeks

Top 150 chart run: 135-137

 

I didn't watch Twin Peaks when it aired in Australia in early 1991, but you couldn't escape it.  Even my great uncle used to repeat the "she's wrapped in plastic!" line from the TV ads promoting the series.  Then, Julee Cruise's "Falling" topped the ARIA singles chart in April 1991.

It seemed obligatory for any big ballad hit in the 90s to have a cheap dance cover version recorded somewhere in continental Europe, featuring a singer whose primary language was probably not English, and here is the one for "Falling".

You can almost check the items off a list.  Cheap music video - check.  Woman with 'model' looks who may or may not be the actual singer (although surely they would have selected a better vocalist if she is only lip syncing) - check.  Sample from a recent dance/pop hit to give it a contemporary sound - check (in this instance, it's George Michael's "Freedom! '90").

 

Despite having said all of the above, I don't actually mind this version of "Falling".  I had not heard it before.

Danish DJ Kjeld Tolstrup was behind One-Eyed Jacks.  This track was their only release.  Oddly, I cannot find evidence of the single charting anywhere else.  Kjeld died in 2011, aged 45.

 

 

Number 146 "Keep It to Yourself" by Paul Kelly and The Messengers

Peak: number 146

Peak date: 10 June 1991

Weeks in top 150: 1 week

Top 150 chart run: 146

Weeks on chart: 4 weeks

We last saw Australian singer-songwriter Paul Kelly, with his then backing band The Messengers, in March 1991.  Here he is again, his fourth appearance in the 101-150 region of the ARIA singles chart in the space of twenty months.  While Paul might have snagged airplay and critical acclaim, commercial success usually eluded him on the Australian singles chart.

"Keep It to Yourself" was the second single lifted from the album Comedy (number 12, May 1991).  The single was most popular in Western Australia, where it reached number 121.

We shall next see Paul Kelly and The Messengers in October 1991.

 

 

 

Bubbling WAY down under:

 

Number 176 "What Is This Thing Called Love?" by Alexander O'Neal

Peak: number 176

Peak date: 10 June 1991

Weeks on chart: 1 week

 

American singer Alexander O'Neal last joined us in March 1991.  "What Is This Thing Called Love?" was the second and final single released in Australia from Alex's All True Man (number 108, April 1991) album.

 

Internationally, "What Is This Thing Called Love?" peaked at number 53 in the UK in March 1991, and number 81 in the Netherlands in April 1991.

 

Within Australia, "What Is This Thing Called Love?" performed strongest on the New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory state chart, where it reached number 160.

 

I hadn't heard this one before, but enjoyed it.  I think with a greater promotional push, Alex could have landed some commercial success in Australia during the late 1980s and early 1990s.

 

Alex will pay us another visit in 1997.  Before then, he placed another two albums on the ARIA albums chart: the compilation This Thing Called Love (number 214, July 1992), which took its name from this song despite it not being one of Alex's bigger hits, and Alex's next studio album Love Makes No Sense (number 192, April 1993), from which no singles charted in Australia.

 

 

Number 184 "Stop Myself"/"Godbless" by Died Pretty

Peak: number 163

Peak date: 5 August 1991

Weeks on chart: 6 weeks

 

Oh joy.  A double A-side single (which means I have to listen to two tracks) from a band I don't really care for: Australia's Died Pretty.  Alright, after listening to both tracks, they are not that bad; they're just not something I would intentionally seek out.  "Stop Myself" is my pick of the two.

 

We last saw Died Pretty in March 1990.  "Stop Myself" and "Godbless" were both lifted from the band's fourth studio album Doughboy Hollow (number 24, September 1991).  The single was most successful in Western Australia, where it reached number 126.

We will next see Died Pretty in September 1991.

Number 187 "Ruby Tuesday" (live) by The Rolling Stones

Peak: number 157

Peak date: 17 June 1991

Weeks on chart: 2 weeks

If I'm being brutally honest, I find it difficult to think of The Rolling Stones without thinking of how much Mick Jagger resembles The Joker from Batman, in my mind.  Why has he never played the role?!  OK, that aside and onto their music, we last saw British rock fossils The Rolling Stones in April 1990.

 

This live rendition of The Stones' 1967 song, recorded in Japan in 1990, appeared on their Flashpoint (number 12, April 1991) album.  It followed the single "Highwire" (number 54, April 1991), which was one of two new studio recordings included on the otherwise live album.

 

Internationally, this release of "Ruby Tuesday" peaked at number 59 in the UK in June 1991, number 34 in the Netherlands in July 1991, and number 27 in Switzerland in July 1991.  The original 1967 studio version of "Ruby Tuesday" peaked at number 1 in the US in March 1967, and number 6 in Ireland.

 

Domestically, this live version of "Ruby Tuesday" peaked highest on the Victoria/Tasmania state chart, where it reached number 141.

 

We shall next see The Rolling Stones in July 1991. 

Number 190 "Sing Your Life" by Morrissey

Peak: number 190

Peak date: 10 June 1991

Weeks on chart: 1 week

English singer-songwriter Steven Morrissey last joined us in March 1991.  "Sing Your Life" was the second single lifted from Moz's second solo studio album Kill Uncle (number 45, March 1991).  With this track, Morrissey makes his fifth appearance in the 101-150 region of the ARIA singles chart, in the space of just under two years.

 

"Sing Your Life" found greater success in Moz's native UK, where it peaked at number 33 in April 1991, although it was his lowest-peaking solo single there to date.  "Sing Your Life" did even better in Ireland, where it reached number 21 in April 1991.

 

Within Australia, "Sing Your Life" was most popular in Western Australia, where it reached number 156.

 

While I enjoy some singles by Morrissey and The Smiths, I am only a casual fan at best, and I hadn't actually heard this one before.  I liked it and would listen to it again.

One thing I have in common with Morrissey, which I didn't realise until now (the age when he started), is that we have both been vegetarians since age 11!  Well, kind of, for me, since I still ate chicken (I never cared for fish) until I was 15... and then once had a little bit of chicken fillet 'to be polite' at my grandparents' when I was 16.  Not eating meat for me is primarily a taste/texture issue - I find the taste and texture revolting.

 

Morrissey will next join us in November 1991.

 

Next week (17 June): A whopping nine new top 150 debuts and two bubbling WAY down under entries.

 

< Previous week: 3 June 1991                                                    Next week: 17 June 1991 >

Week commencing 18 March 1991

With one notable exception, which should become obvious, the artists debuting and peaking outside the top 100 this week in 1991 were either artists who had been around for a while but generally struggled to land hits in Australia, or those who were newer acts struggling to score hits.

 

Before diving into this week's post, again I have added the following to some earlier posts:

• 20 February 1989 - a new bubbling WAY down under entry from Gary Moore;
  
• 13 March 1989 - a new bubbling WAY down under entry from Alexander O'Neal;
• 15 May 1989 - a new bubbling WAY down under entry from Sa-Fire;
• 11 September 1989 - a new bubbling WAY down under entry from Danny Wilson.
  

Eurythmics: flops are a stranger to their Australian chart history.

 

Top 150 debuts:

 

Number 105 "Auberge" by Chris Rea

Peak: number 101

Peak date: 25 March 1991

Weeks in top 150: 6 weeks 

Known chart run: 152-105-101-110-108-121-120

Weeks on chart: 8 weeks

 

We saw English singer/songwriter Chris Rea bubble under in early 1990, and here he is with the lead single and title-track from his eleventh studio album Auberge (number 53, April 1991).

Between 1978 and 1989, Chris placed 12 singles on the Australian top 100 chart, with "Let's Dance" (number 9, October 1987) being the biggest of those.

 

"Auberge", meaning 'inn' in French, peaked at number 16 in the UK in March 1991, number 8 in Ireland, number 45 in the Netherlands in March 1991, number 20 in Germany in April 1991, number 31 in the Flanders region of Belgium in April 1991, number 29 in Austria in April 1991, and number 46 in France in April 1991.

 

In Australia, "Auberge" was most popular in South Australia/Northern Territory, reaching number 72 on the state chart.

 

The music video for "Auberge" is notable for being set within a single frame, although it was not shot in one continuous take.

Two further singles from Auberge were released in Australia - "Heaven" (May 1991) and "Looking for the Summer" (July 1991) - but both missed the top 150.

Chris's next two studio albums God's Great Banana Skin (number 137, November 1992) and Espresso Logic (number 109, March 1994) yielded no Australian top 150 singles, but we will see Chris bubble WAY down under next in 1992.

 

 

Number 122 "Body Language" by Adventures of Stevie V

Peak: number 108

Peak date: 1 April 1991

Weeks in top 150: 5 weeks

Top 150 chart run: 122-109-108-122-131

Weeks on chart: 6 weeks

 

British dance act Adventures of Stevie landed a number 18 single in Australia with "Dirty Cash (Money Talks)" in February 1991, although it took seven months from its chart debut at number 147 in July 1990 to reach its eventual peak.

"Body Language", the less-successful follow-up, peaked at number 29 in the UK in October 1990, number 14 in the Netherlands in December 1990, and number 40 in New Zealand in December 1990.  Both this track and "Dirty Cash" were lifted from his (their?) debut album Adventures of Stevie V (number 83, February 1991).

"Body Language" single fared better on the Australian Music Report, where it reached number 94.  The single performed strongest on the ARIA state chart for New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory, where it reached number 81.

"Body Language" would be the second and final Adventures of Stevie V single to chart in Australia.

 

 

Number 130 "Don't Start Me Talking" by Paul Kelly and The Messengers

Peak: number 105

Peak date: 8 April 1991

Weeks in top 150: 8 weeks

Chart run: 130-115-114-105-115-115-120-116

Weeks on chart: 8 weeks

Fast becoming a regular in the 101-150 region of the Australian singles chart, this is the third time we have seen Australian singer-songwriter Paul Kelly, along with his band The Messengers, in as many years, with the last occasion being in August 1990.

 

"Don't Start Me Talking" was the first of three singles lifted from the band's Comedy (number 12, May 1991) album, and all three singles missed the ARIA top 100.  "Don't Start Me Talking" was the highest-peaking of the lot.

The single fared better on the Australian Music Report singles chart, reaching number 92.

 

On the ARIA state charts, "Don't Start Me Talking" performed strongest in Victoria/Tasmania, where it reached number 87.

The music video for "Don't Start Me Talking" is notable for its use of Australian Sign Language (AUSLAN).

We shall next see Paul Kelly and The Messengers in June 1991.

Number 136 "Our Frank" by Morrissey

Peak: number 127

Peak date: 8 April 1991

Weeks in top 150: 6 weeks

Top 150 chart run: 136-144-(out for 1 week)-127-129-137-130

Weeks on chart: 9 weeks

 

Another regular to the below number 100 region of the ARIA singles chart is Steven Morrissey, whom we have seen on three previous occasions, with the most recent one being in October 1990.

"Our Frank" was the lead single from Morrissey's second studio album proper Kill Uncle (number 45, March 1991).

 

The single peaked at number 26 in the UK in February 1991, number 7 in Ireland in February 1991, and number 45 in New Zealand in March 1991.

Domestically, "Our Frank" performed strongest on the South Australia/Northern Territory state chart, where it reached number 98.

"Our Frank" peaked within the top 100 on the Australian Music Report singles chart, at number 97.

Morrissey will join us next in June 1991.

 

 

Number 146 "Superstition Highway" by Tall Tales and True

Peak: number 134

Peak date: 25 March 1991

Weeks in top 150: 2 weeks 

Top 150 chart run: 146-134

Weeks on chart: 5 weeks

Sydney band Tall Tales and True placed two singles on the ARIA top 100 in 1989: "Trust" (number 69, April 1989) and "Hold On" (number 70, July 1989).  Their debut album Shiver peaked at number 66 in June 1989.

As seemed to be a popular thing for Australian indie artists to do in 1990-91, the group then released this 4-track EP as a stop-gap in between albums - though 4-track CD singles were becoming the norm by this time.  "Superstition Highway" did not appear on the band's second album, released in 1992.

On the state charts, "Superstition Highway" performed strongest in South Australia/Northern Territory, where it reached number 106.

We shall next see Tall Tales and True in October 1991.

Number 147 "The Hurdy Gurdy Man" by Butthole Surfers
Peak: number 147

Peak date: 18 March 1991

Weeks in top 150: 1 week

Top 150 chart run: 147

Weeks on chart: 4 weeks 

American band Butthole Surfers (no 'The') were a group I hadn't heard of until their 1996 hit - their only Australian hit - "Pepper" (number 15, June 1996), a song I did not particularly enjoy, and, in hindsight made me question why I was listening to radio station Triple J, who seemed to love it, in 1996.  The group had actually been in existence for 15 years at that point.

"The Hurdy Gurdy Man" was lifted from the band's fifth studio album piouhgd (number 136, March 1991).  It is a cover version of a song originally recorded by Donovan in 1968.

 

Butthole Surfers' version of "The Hurdy Gurdy Man" peaked at number 98 in the UK in December 1990, and number 36 in New Zealand in March 1991.   The song was later used on the soundtrack for the 1994 movie Dumb and Dumber.

In Australia, "The Hurdy Gurdy Man" was most popular in South Australia/Northern Territory, where it reached number 118 on the state chart.

Butthole Surfers will next 'surf' the top 150 in 1996.

Number 149 "Feels Like I'm in Love" (90's PWL Remix) by Kelly Marie

Peak: number 149

Peak date: 18 March 1991

Weeks in top 150: 1 week

Top 150 chart run: 149

Scottish singer Kelly Marie, real name Jacqueline McKinnon, scored a pair of hits in Australia in the late 1970s/early 1980s, with "Make Love to Me" (number 5, March 1979) and "Feels Like I'm in Love" (number 7, December 1980).  But, aside from those two top 10 hits, none of 'Kelly''s other singles made the top 100 down under.

Fast forward to the early 90s, and the 70s (even though the original Kelly Marie version of this track was from 1980) revival had started.  It was timely, therefore, that "Feels Like I'm in Love", which topped the UK singles chart for two weeks in September 1980, and was a top 10 hit across Europe and in the US, received a 90s remix.  The remix in question was conducted by Dave Ford and Pete Hammond for PWL, Pete Waterman of Stock Aitken Waterman fame's record label.

The PWL remix of "Feels Like I'm in Love" surprisingly did not chart in the UK, or anywhere else that I can determine.

I was not aware of this remix at the time.  Listening to it for the first time here, I think it's OK, but I would take the 1980 version of the song over this any day.

Bubbling WAY down under:

Number 156 "Promise Me You'll Remember" by Harry Connick, Jr.

Peak: number 156

Peak date: 18 March 1991

Weeks on chart: 1 week

 

American crooner Harry Connick, Jr. released his debut album Harry Connick, Jr. in 1987.  His commercial breakthrough in Australia, however, would not come until 1991, with the Australian-only compilation of some of Harry's earlier recordings, It Had to Be You (number 4, March 1992).

 

"Promise Me You'll Remember" was recorded for the soundtrack of the movie The Godfather Part III, though was also included on the It Had to Be You compilation album.  Internationally, the single peaked at number 75 in the Netherlands in April 1991.

 

Locally, "Promise Me You'll Remember" performed strongest in Western Australia, reaching number 137 on the state chart.

 

We shall see Harry next in 1992.

 

 

Number 165 "Love Is a Stranger" by Eurythmics (1991 re-issue)

Peak: number 156

Peak date: 25 March 1991

Weeks on chart: 5 weeks

This single originally peaked at number 17 in Australia on 27 June 1983, spending 22 weeks in the top 100.

Annie Lennox and Dave Stewart (who we saw in January) first came to prominence as part of the band The Tourists, who landed a couple of hits in their native UK in the late 1970s and early 1980s.  Only one of their singles, however, a cover version of Dusty Springfield's "I Only Want To Be with You", registered on the Australian chart, peaking at number 6 in August 1980.  The band split up while touring Australia later in the year.

Dave and Annie, who had once been romantically involved, then decided to go it alone... together, and formed Eurythmics (no 'The').  Their debut album, 1981's In the Garden, was a commercial failure and did not chart anywhere... until the 2005 re-issue of the album peaked at number 521 in Australia in January 2006.  A single from the album, "Never Gonna Cry Again", charted at number 63 in the UK in July 1981, but did not register a blip when issued in Australia in October of that year.

The first three singles from the duo's second album Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This) (number 5, July 1983) also faltered on the charts, although the band's fortunes turned around dramatically when the album's title track was issued as the last single from it.  "Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)" (number 6, July 1983) was a major hit for the pair, reaching number 2 in the UK, and topping the US Billboard Hot 100 in September 1983.

The success of "Sweet Dreams" renewed interest in Eurythmics' previous single "Love Is a Stranger" (released in Australia in January 1983), and it followed "Sweet Dreams" into the top 20 in June 1983, peaking at number 17.

Between 1983 and 1990, Eurythmics notched up 18 Australian top 40 singles, with all but three of those reaching the top 20.  Their biggest hit in Australia was "Would I Lie to You?", which topped the singles chart for two weeks in June 1985.

Having that many hits, any greatest hits compilation released by the duo was bound to be a smash, and that's exactly what happened when Greatest Hits spent seven weeks at number 1 in April and May of 1991.  The compilation similarly spent its first nine weeks on the UK albums chart at number 1, with a tenth week at the summit a couple of weeks later.

 

"Love Is a Stranger" was re-issued to promote Greatest Hits - not that the album needed much promotion with the number of hits it contained.  The re-issued single, in contrast to the album, barely registered on the radar, peaking at number 46 in the UK in March 1991.

Australia appears to have been the only other country where the 1991 issue of "Love Is a Stranger" charted, albeit rather lowly.  On the state charts, "Love Is a Stranger" was most successful in South Australia/Northern Territory, where it reached number 123.

The "Love Is a Stranger" music video was re-edited (embedded below) to contain snippets of most of Eurythmics' earlier videos to promote the 1991 release, and the Greatest Hits album.

 

Eurythmics had quietly gone on hiatus prior to Greatest Hits being released, and would not release new material as a duo again until 1999.

 

The 1991 release of "Love Is a Stranger" was Eurythmics' only single to bubble under during the ARIA-produced chart era; although "You Have Placed a Chill in My Heart" made number 78 on the South Australia/Northern Territory state chart in September 1988 despite not charting nationally (when the chart ended at number 100).

 

Eurythmics bubbled under on the ARIA albums chart in 1993 with Live 1983-1989 (number 102, December 1993).

We shall see Dave Stewart again in November 1991, and Annie Lennox in 1996.

Number 170 "All I Want" by The Lightning Seeds

Peak: number 170

Peak date: 18 March 1991

Weeks on chart: 1 week

English band The Lightning Seeds (sometimes with 'The', sometimes without, to my annoyance), formed in Liverpool in 1989.

Their debut single, "Pure", peaked at number 92 in Australia in November 1990.  "All I Want" was the second single released locally from the band's debut album Cloudcuckooland (number 143, August 1990).

 

Internationally, "All I Want" peaked at number 155 in the UK (number 110 on the compressed chart) in May 1990.  Due to the way the compressed singles chart, where titles below number 75 with sales declines exceeding 20% on the previous week are 'starred out' or excluded from being assigned a chart placing, so that (in theory) newer titles entering lower in the chart have a greater likelihood of having their profile raised, "All I Want"'s 'real' peak (of number 155, with no singles excluded above it) occurred two weeks before its peak (of number 110) on the compressed version of the chart, when it was actually the 156th highest-selling single of that week.  Makes sense, huh?

Meanwhile, in Australia, "All I Want" performed strongest in Western Australia, where it reached number 147.

 

Susanna Hoffs from the Bangles covered "All I Want" for her second solo album, and we will see how that fared on the Australian charts in 1996.

 

Before then, will next see The Lightning Seeds in 1992.

 

 

Number 171 "Get Yourself Together" by Young Disciples

Peak: number 171

Peak date: 18 March 1991

Weeks on chart: 1 week 

Young Disciples, fronted by American singer Carleen Anderson, formed in London in 1990.  "Get Yourself Together" was the band's debut single, lifted from their only album Road to Freedom (number 117, March 1992).

Internationally, "Get Yourself Together"initially peaked at number 68 in the UK in October 1990 before achieving a higher peak of number 65 in October 1991, when re-issued.  Australia appears to have been the only other country where the single charted.

 

On the state charts, "Get Yourself Together" performed strongest in New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory, where it reached number 153.

In a first for this site, my mother happened to be in the vicinity while I was listening to this song to write this post, and "Get Yourself Together" gets her seal of approval!

Young Disciples will join us again in 1993.  Before then, the group released the single "Apparently Nothin'" in Australia in July 1991, but it failed to chart, despite being the band's biggest hit in the UK, reaching number 13 there in August 1991.

Next week (25 March): Four top 150 debuts and two bubbling WAY down under entries.

 

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