Special post: State chart-only number 1 singles January-June 1989

In the second instalment of this series of special posts, I will be taking a look at singles that reached number one on one or more of the five Australian state charts that were not national number ones.  In case you missed the first part, you can read it here.

 

The Proclaimers: (not quite) Twin peaks in Australia.

 

State chart-only number one singles - January 1989 to June 1989:

 

1. "Teardrops" by Womack & Womack

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

Known dates it was number one: 6 February 1989 (NSW/ACT and VIC/TAS)

National chart peak: number 2

National chart debut: 7 November 1988

National chart run: 80-56-50-23-21-13-8-(2 week Xmas break)-7-3-3-2-2-2-2-4-4-6-9-11-14-19-34-36-48-48-70-72-106-117

 

American husband and wife duo Linda and Cecil Womack started out as a songwriters for other artists in the 1970s, before releasing their own recordings in 1983.  Despite landing a top 20 hit in the UK with "Love Wars" in 1984, "Teardrops", the lead single from their fourth album Conscience (number 11, February 1989), was their first Australian release.  Oddly, "Love Wars" was released in New Zealand, though!  "Teardrops" was a national number one on the Australian Music Report singles chart, and often seems to be referred to as a number one hit, but it only peaked at number 2 on the national ARIA chart.  At the time, I was convinced that Linda was a man with a high-pitched voice, based on her appearance in the "Teardrops" video, and even had an argument about whether she was a man or a woman with my sister.

 

One interesting fact is that "Teardrops" was number one in the two most-populous states of Australia, Victoria (and Tasmania) and New South Wales (and Australian Capital Territory) during the same week.  Yet, this wasn't enough to dislodge The Beach Boys' "Kokomo" from the number one position, even though another single, The Proclaimers' "I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)", was number one that week in the third most-populous state, Queensland.  The competition must have been tight that week.

 

Another interesting fact is that the blonde woman singing back-up in the video went on to lip sync in the 1994 video for JX's "Son of a Gun" (number 6, August 1994).

 

 

2. "Tucker's Daughter" by Ian Moss

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

Known dates it was number one: 13 March 1989

National chart peak: number 2

National chart debut: 16 January 1989

National chart run: 94-37-9-8-5-5-2-2-2-4-4-6-6-7-15-17-28-25-35-41-68-66-84-77-72-84-92

 

Former Cold Chisel guitarist/sometime lead singer Ian Moss launched his solo career with this song, which was an Australian Music Report singles chart number one, but only reached number 2 nationally on the ARIA chart.  I didn't like this one at all at the time, but have since grown to not mind it.

 

 

3. "I'm on My Way" by The Proclaimers

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

Known dates it was number one: 24 April 1989 (SA/NT); 17 April 1989 (WA)

National chart peak: number 3

National chart debut: 6 March 1989

National chart run: 36-16-8-6-5-3-4-4-4-7-13-16-30-42-61-75-85-79

 

In Australia, "I'm on My Way" was the follow-up to Scottish twins The Proclaimers' massive number one hit, "I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)".  In the UK, however, it was the third single released from their second album Sunshine on Leith (number 2, April 1989).  "I'm on My Way" saved the twin brothers from one-hit wonder status in Australia; nothing else they released troubled the top 50.  With a Scottish-born father (who spoke with an Australian accent) and a Scottish grandmother and great uncle who retained their Scottish accents, The Proclaimers' brogue was somewhat endearing to me.  Stupidly, the music video for "I'm on My Way" appears to be blocked on YouTube, so I've had to resort to uploading my own copy of it below:

 

4. "Stop!" by Sam Brown

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

Known dates it was number one: 15 May 1989 (SA/NT); 1 May 1989 (WA)

National chart peak: number 4

National chart debut: 7 November 1988

National chart run: 72-94

Re-entered 30 January 1989: 89-83-57-39-37-28-21-17-10-10-8-6-5-5-4-4-7-10-18-25-24-42-45-47-59-61-70-55-75-101-95

 

Released in Australia in August 1988, Sam Brown's "Stop!" sure took its time to take off, peaking 8 and a half months later at number 4 nationally in May 1989.  It was a similar story in Sam's native UK, where "Stop!" originally peaked at number 58 in June 1988 before being re-issued and climbing to number 4 in February 1989, after topping the Flemish chart in Belgium in September 1988.  "Stop!" topped two of the ARIA state charts during a turbulent time at the top of the national chart, where there was a different number one every week for 9 consecutive weeks (some were previous number ones returning to the top spot).

 

 

5. "Bedroom Eyes" by Kate Ceberano

State(s) that it went to number one in: New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory, Queensland and Western Australia

Known dates it was number one: 29 May 1989 (NSW/ACT and WA); 12 June 1989 (QLD)

National chart peak: number 2

National chart debut: 24 April 1989

National chart run: 120-56-25-16-11-2-3-3-2-2-2-2-2-4-5-7-8-13-13-20-24-32-44-44-62-80-83-111-99

 

Formerly the lead singer on most of I'm Talking's singles, Kate Ceberano branched out on her own after the band's demise, launching her pop solo career (she had some earlier jazz releases) with "Bedroom Eyes".  As a 10 year-old when this came out, I didn't quite understand what 'bedroom' eyes were.  I wasn't a fan of this one at the time, but it has since grown on me.  Kate would later score a South Australia/Northern Territory state number one in 1992 with "See Right Through", which only peaked at number 33 nationally, in what would have to be one of the largest discrepancies between state and national chart positions (it was number 60 nationally that week).

 

 

6. "Stuck on You" by Paul Norton 

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

Known dates it was number one: 29 May 1989

National chart peak: number 3

National chart debut: 20 February 1989

National chart run: 159-(unknown)-140-120-93-61-49-20-13-11-8-6-3-4-6-5-11-15-15-27-32-40-52-54-62-92-102

 

"Stuck on You" was Australian singer-songwriter Paul Norton's debut single, although you wouldn't know that from the lyrics, where he mentions making a record that sold 54 (copies, presumably).  "Stuck on You" sold considerably more than that.  It would be his only major hit, although he had two other later singles that peaked in the 30's.

 

7. "Hand on Your Heart" by Kylie Minogue

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

Known dates it was number one: 5 June 1989

National chart peak: number 4

National chart debut: 29 May 1989

National chart run: 4-4-4-5-6-7-7-17-21-34-46-49-84-101-87-148

 

At the time, a brand new single from Kylie "only" peaking at number 4 in Australia seemed like a bit of a flop for her, given that three of her previous five singles had peaked at number 1, and another at number 2.  But, this one did manage to top the South Australia/Northern Territory state chart, which is something.  Interestingly, "Hand on Your Heart" peaked at number 2 in Victoria/Tasmania, Queensland and Western Australia, and number 3 in New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory - bettering its national peak in all states.  But, as I mentioned earlier, competition at the top of the Australian singles chart was intense during this period.

 

 

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

 

< Part one: State chart-only number 1 singles June-December 1988

Part three: State chart-only number 1 singles July-December 1989 >

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 12 November 1990

This week in 1990's new batch of top 150-peaking debuts is unusual, in that all but one of the singles spent at least 7 weeks on the chart.  As I have posted before, the average single peaking in the 101-150 region of the chart in 1990 spent between 5 and 6 weeks in the top 150, which means 7 of this week's 8 top 150 debuts had more chart longevity than normal.  You may be thinking that this could be because of the upcoming two-week Christmas break, where ARIA repeated the final chart of the year, artificially adding to the weeks in tally - but only one of this week's longer-charting debuts does not extend its chart run in 1991.

Before we take a look at this week's new entries, I have updated the following posts with newly-uncovered bubbling WAY down under singles:

* 2 July 1990 - with a new entry from Damn Yankees

* 30 July 1990 - with a new entry from Damn Yankees

* 13 August 1990 - with a new entry from Kate Ceberano and Her Sextet

 

Sting didn't generate much 'buzz' with his latest release.

 

Top 150 debuts:

 

Number 131 "Never Felt This Way Before" by Alston

Peak: number 131

Peak date: 12 November 1990

Weeks in top 150: 1 week

Top 150 chart run: 131

 

Alston Koch, known at this point in time as just Alston, was born in Sri Lanka, but emigrated to Sydney.  His recording career started in the mid-1970s, as part of the group Dark Tan.  Dark Tan placed three singles on the Australian top 100 between 1976 and 1979, with the biggest of those being "Disco Lady" (number 70, May 1978).

Alston then embarked on a solo career, releasing two non-charting singles during the 1980s, "20 Miles" (October 1983) and "Try Again" (November 1984).  Alston recorded Australia's theme song for the 1987 America's Cup, "Kookaburra", which was credited to Alston and The Fremantle Doctor, but it too did not chart, surprisingly.

 

"Never Felt This Way Before" was Alston's latest attempt at landing a solo hit.  While it charted, thanks to the ARIA chart now extending beyond number 100, it also did not achieve major success.  The track was remixed by Robert Racic, who was instrumental in shaping the sound of Australian electronic/dance music in the 1990s.

Alston reportedly achieved greater success with his music in Asia, although it is difficult to verify this claim, owing to Asian charts from the 1980s (if they were published) not being archived online to my knowledge.  Nonetheless, here is a video of Alston performing "Try Again" on Singaporean TV.

Alston had more success as a producer on the Australian charts, co-producing Melissa Tkautz's three biggest hits, "Read My Lips" (number 1, July 1991), "Sexy (Is the Word)" (number 3, September 1991) and "Skin to Skin" (number 16, May 1992).

Sporting a hairstyle and shades look not dissimilar to that of Eurythmics' Dave Stewart at this point in time, the record company seem to have felt that Alston might land a hit if they paired him with a 'hot' woman with model looks, and did just that, with Alston essentially being re-branded as S-Witch, who will see bubble under in 1991.

Alston eventually scored top 50 success in Australia with his Don't Funk with Me album, peaking at number 16 in June 2012.

 

 

Number 133 "Birthday" by Paul McCartney

Peak: number 102

Peak date: 26 November 1990

Weeks in top 150: 11 weeks

Chart run: 133-109-102-111-109-118-(chart repeated for 2 week Xmas break)-122-125-124

Weeks on chart: 11 weeks

As one of The Beatles, Paul McCartney needs no introduction.  We saw Paul bubbling under in August 1989, and here he is again, with the lead single from his Tripping the Live Fantastic (number 86, November 1990) album.  As you might have guessed from the album's title, this song is a live performance.  It is a solo rendition of a track from The Beatles' 1968 The Beatles (White Album).

Internationally, "Birthday" reached number 29 in the UK in October 1990, number 22 in Ireland in October 1990, and number 68 in the Netherlands in November 1990.

On the ARIA state charts, "Birthday" performed strongest in Queensland, where it reached number 79.  "Birthday" entered the top 100 on four of the five state charts, only missing out in Western Australia, where it peaked at number 101.  The single performed stronger on the Australian Music Report singles chart, where it reached number 100.

We shall next see Paul in 1993.

 

 

Number 134 "Sense of Purpose" by Pretenders

Peak: number 129

Peak date: 3 December 1990

Weeks in top 150: 5 weeks

Top 150 chart run: 134-136-141-129-140

Weeks on chart: 10 weeks

 

Pretenders are quickly becoming Bubbling Down Under royalty - this is the fourth time I have written about a song of theirs in under two years since starting these chart recaps.  To date, we have seen Pretenders in October 1981, March 1989, and June 1990.

"Sense of Purpose" was the second single lifted from Pretenders' fifth studio album Packed! (number 55, June 1990).  The single did not even chart in the UK, and appears to have only otherwise charted in Canada, reaching number 72.

 

On the state charts, "Sense of Purpose" performed strongest in Western Australia, where it reached number 113.

I hadn't heard this song before, but enjoyed it.  To me, although Chrissie Hynde maintained name recognition, it seemed like Pretenders disappeared off the face of the earth between 1988 and 1993.

Pretenders will join us again in 1994.  Before then, we'll see Chrissie as a featured artist in 1991.

 

Number 137 "Billy Billy" by Paul Norton

Peak: number 114

Peak date: 19 November 1990

Weeks in top 150: 9 weeks 

Chart run: 137-114-130-124-132-139-(chart repeated for 2 week Xmas break)-132

Weeks on chart: 9 weeks

Before launching a solo career, Australian singer-songwriter Paul Norton played bass in the band The Runners, who scored a minor hit with "Sure Fire Thing" (number 43, June 1982) in 1982.

Paul burst onto the charts in 1989 with his debut solo single "Stuck on You", which went all the way to number 3 in May 1989.  Unfortunately for Paul, it was all downhill for him, chart-wise, after that release.  Paul's second and third singles, "I Got You" (number 31, November 1989) and "Southern Sky" (number 37, August 1990), languished in the 30's on the chart, and he would never land another top 50 hit again.

"Billy Billy" was the fourth release from Paul's debut album Under a Southern Sky (number 44, September 1990).  I probably heard this at the time, given radio's penchant for playing his music back then, but have no recollection of it.

 

On the state charts, "Billy Billy" performed strongest in Victoria/Tasmania, where it reached number 103.

If a music video for "Billy Billy" exists, it has not been uploaded to YouTube.  Australian record company indifference to their archive strikes again...

Paul released a fifth single from Under a Southern Sky, "Shake That Devil", in February 1991, but it failed to chart.

We shall next see Paul in 1993.

Number 139 "Carry Me" by Ray Lyell and The Storm

Peak: number 117

Peak dates: 21 January 1991 and 28 January 1991

Weeks in top 150: 7 weeks

Top 150 chart run: 139-(out for 8 weeks)-135-117-117-123-128-137

 

Canadian band Ray Lyell and The Storm landed a hit, of sorts, on the Australian charts with the double A-side single "(Running from) Another Man's Gun"/"Colour of Money" (number 57, August 1990).  Despite its low peak, the single spent 18 weeks in the top 150, and "Colour of Money" received decent radio airplay - at least in Melbourne, and made its way onto the U Can't Touch This various artists compilation album.

"Carry Me" was the second, or third depending on how you count them, single from the band's only album, Ray Lyell and The Storm (number 44, August 1990).  Oddly, the single to seems to have only been commercially released in Australia, despite a music video being filmed to promote it.

"Carry Me" spent just one of its 7-week top 150 chart-run on the chart in 1990.  It re-entered in January 1991, reaching its peak of 117 later that month.

On the Australian Music Report singles chart, "Carry Me" peaked at number 91.

The band presumably split soon after this release, as Ray launched a solo career in 1992.  Ray will bubble under with his solo material on the Australian chart in 1993.

 

Number 146 "Rhythm of the Rain" by Dan Fogelberg

Peak: number 129

Peak date: 17 December 1990 (chart repeated 24 December 1990 and 31 December 1990)

Weeks in top 150: 7 weeks

Top 150 chart run: 146-(out for 2 weeks)-133-131-129-(chart repeated for 2 week Xmas break)-(out for 1 week)-149

 

Between 1975 and 1983, American Dan Fogelberg placed four singles on the Australian top 100, with the biggest of those, "Longer", peaking at number 41 in March 1980.  Dan had more success on the Australian albums chart, with seven top 100 albums, and Phoenix peaking at number 27 in April 1980.  Dan was much bigger in the US, where he scored four Billboart Hot 100 top 10 hits between 1979 and 1981.

 

"Rhythm of the Rain" was a cover of a song recorded in 1962 by The Cascades.  "Rhythm of the Rain" had also recently been covered by Jason Donovan (number 44, November 1990).  Dan's version of the track also charted in Canada, where it peaked at number 39.  For what it's worth (not much, if you ask me), Dan's rendition of "Rhythm of the Rain" reached number 3 on the US Billboard Adult Contemporary chart in November 1990.

 

Sadly, Dan died in December 2007, aged 56, following a three and a half year illness with prostate cancer.

Number 147 "Nature Boy" by Kate Ceberano

Peak: number 121

Peak date: 26 November 1990

Weeks in top 150: 10 weeks

Chart run: 147-137-121-128-135-135-(chart repeated for 2 week Xmas break)-129-130

Weeks on chart: 10 weeks

Kate Ceberano shared lead vocal duties - although she sang lead on all but one of their singles - with Zan Abeyratne in Australian band I'm Talking between 1983 and 1987.  I'm Talking landed five top 40 singles in Australia, with three of those reaching the top 10.  "Do You Wanna Be" (number 8, June 1986) was their highest-peaking single.  I'm Talking bubbled under with their final single in November 1986.

 

If you're a fan of I'm Talking and have not seen it before, check out the UK video for "Do You Wanna Be" which... I discovered on a VHS tape I'd bought, but which sat in an unopened parcel in my wardrobe for 4 and a half years (don't ask), back in June this year.  No-one in the band had a copy in their possession!

After I'm Talking split, Kate Ceberano released a jazz album, Kate Ceberano & Her Septet Live (number 29, April 1987), and a soundtrack album with Wendy Matthews, You've Always Got the Blues (number 7, June 1988).

 

Kate's solo 'pop' debut album Brave (number 2, August 1989) was released in 1989.  Brave was certified triple platinum and spawned four top 30 singles, one of which was a double A-side.  "Bedroom Eyes" (number 2, May 1989) was the biggest of those, spending seven non-consecutive weeks at number 2, despite topping the New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory and Victoria/Tasmania state charts.  "Bedroom Eyes" was the seventh highest-selling single of 1989 in Australia.

Following Brave, Kate released another jazz album Like Now (number 18, August 1990), this time with her Sextet.  We saw Kate Ceberano and Her Sextet bubble WAY down under in August 1990.

"Nature Boy", a cover version of a song originally released by Nat King Cole in 1948, appears on the soundtrack album for The Crossing (number 100, November 1990).

On the state charts, "Nature Boy" performed strongest in Western Australia, where it reached number 99.

Kate would return to pop in 1991, but will still explore other genres in between her pop album releases.  We shall see Kate bubble under next in 1994.

Number 148 "Tick Tock" by The Vaughan Brothers

Peak: number 117

Peak date: 17 December 1990 (chart repeated 24 December 1990 and 31 December 1990)

Weeks in top 150: 11 weeks

Top 150 chart date: 148-119-127-135-120-117-(chart repeated for 2 week Xmas break)-119-133-125

 

Brothers Stevie Ray Vaughan and Jimmy Vaughan united to record the album Family Style (number 17, November 1990).  This was the pair's only collaboration, as Stevie perished in a helicopter crash on 27 August 1990, aged 35.

At this point in time, Stevie had landed five charting albums in Australia, with Couldn't Stand the Weather (number 20, October 1984) being the most successful of those.  Stevie had only manged to score one top 100 single on the Australian chart, with "Cold Shot" (number 98, October 1984).  Both the single and album were credited to Stevie Ray Vaughan & Double Trouble, his backing band - though (obviously) not the same Double Trouble we saw a few weeks back.  "Tick Tock" was Jimmie's first foray onto the Australian singles chart.

Elsewhere, "Tick Tock" charted at number 65 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in November 1990, and number 44 in the Netherlands in December 1990.

"Tick Tock" performed stronger on the Australian Music Report singles chart, where it reached number 96 nationally.

 

Bubbling WAY down under:

 

Number 156 "Englishman in New York" (The Ben Liebrand Mix) by Sting

Peak: number 156

Peak date: 12 November 1990

Weeks on chart: 1 week

 

As the lead singer of The Police, Sting landed 14 charting singles in Australia between 1979 and 1986, with six of those reaching the top 10.  "Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic" (number 2, December 1981) and "Every Breath You Take" (number 2, July 1983) were their equal-biggest hits here.

Sting, real name Gordon Sumner, released his first solo single in 1982, with "Spread a Little Happiness" (number 80, October 1982), from the Brimstone & Treacle soundtrack.  While it was not a big success locally, the single reached the top 20 in the UK and Ireland.

Sting's first solo single from a studio album, "If You Love Somebody Set Them Free", peaked at number 18 in Australia in July 1985.  Its parent album The Dream of the Blue Turtles reached number 1 on the Australian albums chart in April 1986, nine months after debuting at number 5.

 

At this point in time, Sting had placed seven singles on the Australian top 100, with "Russians" (number 11, May 1986) being the highest-peaking of those.

"Englishman in New York" was originally issued as a single in Australia in March 1988, as the third release from Sting's second solo album ...Nothing Like the Sun (number 5, November 1987).  Somehow, it failed to chart, despite (I think) being one of Sting's most recognisable solo tracks now.  Its YouTube view count of (at the time of writing this) almost 237 million views would support my opinion.

"Englishman..."'s international chart stats also do not befit the song's enduring popularity, languishing at number 51 in the UK in February 1988, and peaking no higher than number 13 anywhere in the world (in the Netherlands).  The single peaked at just number 84 on the US Billboart Hot 100 in April 1988.

Perhaps it is because it seemed like the song deserved greater success that this remix of "Englishman in New York" was issued as a single.  The track was re-worked by Ben Liebrand, whom we have seen a couple of times in his own right this year, in February and September.

Listening to this version of "Englishman in New York", I can't help but notice the similarity to the 1988 Ben Liebrand remix of The Four Seasons featuring Frankie Valli's "December 1963 (Oh What a Night)", which became a belated hit in Australia, peaking at number 3 in February 1993.

 

Internationally, the Ben Liebrand remix of "Englishman in New York" peaked at number 15 in the UK in August 1990 (beating its original peak of number 51 in February 1988), number 20 in Germany in September 1990 (the original did not chart there), and number 60 in the Netherlands in October 1990.

 

On the ARIA state charts, the "Englishman in New York" remix performed strongest in Western Australia, where it reached number 125.

 

Although the remix was a greater commercial success, surely it is the original version of "Englishman in New York" that is remembered now.  I can't, however, determine why the song seems like it was a much bigger hit than it was.  The song's Wikipedia page does not give any clues.  Does anyone know why?

  

We shall next see Sting in April 1991.

 

 

 

Next week (19 November): Four new entries, and for the only time since the ARIA chart extended beyond number 100, the singles chart ends before number 150.

 

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