Week commencing 9 December 1991

One thing this week in 1991's debuts peaking outside the ARIA top 100 have in common is that I didn't hear any of them at the time.  Perhaps they are new to you, too?  Let's take our first listen together...

 

Tone Lōc: Lōced out of the top 100.

 

Top 150 debuts:

 

Number 118 "Send Me an Angel" by Scorpions

Peak: number 108

Peak date: 10 February 1992

Weeks in top 150: 12 weeks 

Top 150 chart run: 118-109-(chart repeated for 2 week Xmas break)-125-120-125-113-113-108-145-149

Weeks on chart: 13 weeks

 

German rock band Scorpions (no 'The') formed in 1965 in Hanover.  Their first taste of chart success in Australia, however, did not come until whistling anthem "Wind of Change" (number 7, October 1991) became a top 10 hit in 1991.  Prior to that, their tenth studio album Savage Amusement came close to cracking the top 100 nationally, peaking at number 86 on the South Australia/Northern Territory state albums chart in July 1988, and number 91 on the Western Australia state albums chart in August 1988 (before the national chart extended beyond number 100).

 

"Send Me an Angel" was issued as the third single in Australia from Scorpions' eleventh studio album  Crazy World (number 49, September 1991).  The album's lead single, "Tease Me Please Me", was released in Australia in February 1991, but missed the ARIA top 150.

Internationally, "Send Me an Angel" peaked at number 8 in France in July 1991, number 4 in the Netherlands in August 1991, number 4 in the Flanders region of Belgium in September 1991, number 5 in Germany in November 1991, number 14 in Switzerland in November 1991, number 27 in the UK in November 1991, number 8 in Austria in December 1991, number 4 in Sweden in December 1991, and number 44 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in January 1992.

Domestically, "Send Me an Angel" was most popular in South Australia/Northern Territory, where it reached number 44 on the state chart.  Its next-highest state chart peak was number 85 in Queensland.

 

"Send Me an Angel" found slightly greater success nationally on the Australian Music Report singles chart, where it reached number 96. 

I don't recall hearing "Send Me an Angel" at the time, but I enjoyed it.  I don't mind rock power ballads from this era.  Something about the singer, Klaus Meine's, non-native English-speaker accent is endearing.

 

We will next see Scorpions in 1993.

 

 

Number 123 "Way of the World" by Tina Turner

Peak: number 117

Peak date: 10 February 1992

Weeks in top 150: 11 weeks

Chart run: 123-128-(chart repeated for 2 week Xmas break)-122-132-132-129-122-117-126

Weeks on chart: 11 weeks

 

We last saw pop veteran Tina Turner in May 1990. 

 

"Way of the World" was released as the second single from Tina's compilation album Simply the Best (number 12, November 1991), following "Nutbush City Limits (The 90's Version)" (number 16, November 1991). 

 

Overseas, "Way of the World" peaked at number 13 in the UK in November 1991, number 12 in Ireland in November 1991, number 33 in Germany in December 1991, number 12 in Austria in January 1992, number 16 in the Flanders region of Belgium in January 1992, number 15 in the Netherlands in February 1992, number 25 in France in February 1992, and number 29 in Switzerland in March 1992.

 

Within Australia, "Way of the World" was most successful in Western Australia, where it reached number 74.

 

I don't recall being aware of this single's release at the time.  To me, it's a bit like Tina's "Two People", released locally in November 1986 but failed to chart - disappearing without a trace, despite being sandwiched between two hits from the same album, "Typical Male" (number 20, November 1986) and "What You Get Is What You See" (number 15, April 1987).  Not that the next single from Simply the Best, "Love Thing" (number 62, March 1992), was much of a hit - but it at least dented the top 100.

 

I can only surmise that "Way of the World" was a flop in Australia because it's quite a dull song, with a similarly boring video to match.

Tina will next grace our presence in 1994.

 

 

 

Number 133 "All Through the Night" by Tone Lōc

Peak: number 106

Peak date: 6 January 1992

Weeks in top 150: 10 weeks

Top 150 chart run: 133-124-(chart repeated for 2 week Xmas break)-106-121-126-118-148-150

Weeks on chart: 13 weeks

 

American rapper Tone Lōc, born Anthony Terrell Smith, scored two major hits in Australia in 1989, when rap was not that commercially successful here, with "Wild Thing" (number 15, May 1989) and "Funky Cold Medina" (number 8, August 1989).  Both singles ended up in the top 50 best-selling singles in Australia for the year.  Both hits were co-written by Marvin Young, better known as Young MC.

 

Tone also released a third, flop single that year: "I Got It Goin' On" (number 52, October 1989), which stalled just outside the ARIA top 50.  "I Got It Goin' On" was not co-written by Young MC; I see a pattern here.

 

"All Through the Night", the lead single from Tone's second - and final, to date - album Cool Hand Lōc (number 129, January 1992) was also not co-written by Young MC, and flopped everywhere.  The only other chart I can find that it registered on was the US Billboard Hot 100, where it peaked at number 80 in December 1991.

In Australia, "All Through the Night" performed strongest in Victoria/Tasmania, where it reached number 71 on the state chart - the only state chart where it made the top 100.

 

I remember reading a review of "All Through the Night" in December 1991, but never actually heard the song until listening to it to write this post.  It's quite different to Tone's earlier hits - he tries to be smooth and 'sexy', rather than cheeky and funny.  On the whole, I found the track boring and can see why it wasn't a hit.

 

"All Through the Night" features vocals from El DeBarge, although he does not receive a featured artist credit on the single cover.

"All Through the Night" would be Tone's last single released in Australia.

 

 

 

Number 134 "The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire)" by Natalie Cole

Peak: number 104

Peak dates: 16 December 1991 (chart repeated for 2 week Xmas break)

Weeks in top 150: 6 weeks 

Chart run: 134-104-(chart repeated for 2 week Xmas break)-105-135

Weeks on chart: 6 weeks

 

We last saw Natalie Cole in January 1990.

 

Before writing about this song, one thing I neglected to mention last time is that a friend from high school I kept in touch with for nearly a decade later (we have since fallen out) and I used to have a theory that no matter how big a recording artist is, the general public will only know/remember you for "3 hits" at most.  There were a handful of artists we thought were an exception to this 'rule', and, oddly enough, Natalie Cole was one of them!  Her "hits" the public remembered were: "Pink Cadillac" (number 6, June 1988), "Miss You Like Crazy" (number 34, October 1990), "Wild Women Do" (number 37, September 1990), and "Unforgettable" (number 2, August 1991), bringing her tally to an impressive four! 

 

OK, that silliness out of the way, "The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire)" was originally released by Natalie in 1988, recorded for the Scrooged soundtrack (number 114, January 1989).  The single came out in Australia in December 1988, but failed to chart.

 

The song is a cover version of The King Cole Trio's "The Christmas Song (Merry Christmas to You)", which was recorded in 1946.  Natalie's father, Nat "King" Cole, was obviously part of that trio, and, given her recent success with the Unforgettable with Love (number 1, July 1991) album - where Natalie sang 'duets' with her late father, thanks to studio wizardry - it was obviously timely to re-issue the single for the Christmas 1991 market.

 

The single was also released to promote Natalie's Christmas Box (number 127, December 1991), which was the Unforgettable with Love album re-packaged with "The Christmas Song..." single and a VHS.

Natalie certainly had more success on the Australian albums charts with her jazz/easy listening material.  Her more-recent pop albums Everlasting (number 68, July 1988) and Good to Be Back (number 87, September 1989) stalled in the lower half of the ARIA top 100.

 

Oddly, Natalie's rendition of "The Christmas Song..." does not appear to have charted anywhere else.  On the ARIA state charts, the single performed strongest in Victoria/Tasmania, where it reached number 93. 

"The Christmas Song..." performed marginally better on the Australian Music Report singles chart, where it crept into the top 100, reaching number 98.

 

Natalie recorded two later versions of the song, in 1999 as a duet with her late father and The London Symphony Orchestra, and in 2009 with Andrea Bocelli.

Natalie will join us again in 1993.

 

 

 

Number 147 Fairydust (EP) by The Welcome Mat

Peak: number 147

Peak date: 9 December 1991

Weeks in top 150: 1 week

Top 150 chart run: 147

This EP peaked at number 141 on the ARIA albums chart on 24 February 1992, spending one week on the ARIA top 150 albums chart.

 

Sydney band The Welcome Mat formed in Sydney in 1989.  The Fairydust EP was their first charting entry, although it had a somewhat unusual chart history, spending a solitary week in both the ARIA top 150 singles and albums charts!  Obviously, ARIA couldn't decide whether it was an EP or an album, with Fairydust peaking six places higher, at number 141, on the ARIA albums chart in February 1992.

 

The factors affecting whether an extended play's sales are counted towards the singles or albums chart is, presumably, determined at least partly by the retail price of the EP, and how many tracks it contains.  The Fairydust EP contained six tracks, pushing it into a grey area of being a mini-album rather than an EP.  Ratcat's Tingles EP (number 1 on the singles chart, April 1991) also contained six tracks, and while ARIA counted its sales towards the singles chart (with its $4.99 retail price, even on CD), the Australian Music Report (stupidly, in my opinion) counted it as an album.

 

Not being a huge fan of Australian indie rock bands from this era, I am not certain which track was promoted as the lead one from this EP, but I have embedded track one from it, "10,000 People with the Same Idea", below.  A music video was filmed for track five on the EP, "Cake", which I have also embedded below.

 

If you are so inclined, you can listen to the whole EP here. 

The Welcome Mat will next join us in 1993.

 

 

 

Number 148 "Shadowtime" by Siouxsie & The Banshees

Peak: number 148

Peak date: 9 December 1991

Weeks in top 150: 1 week

Chart run: 148

Weeks on chart: 1 week

 

We last saw Siouxsie and The Banshees in January 1989. 

"Shadowtime" was the second single lifted from the band's tenth studio album Superstition (number 55, September 1991).  It followed "Kiss Them for Me" (number 40, September 1991).

 

"Shadowtime" peaked at number 57 in Siouxsie and The Banshees' native UK in July 1991.  Within Australia, the single was most successful in Victoria/Tasmania, where it reached number 135.

I have never delved into Siouxise and The Banshees' work other than paying a view/listen to the videos of theirs that rage have aired in the last decade or so.  This one is decent.

Siouxsie and The Banshees will next join us in 1992, with a song I did hear at the time.

 

 

Bubbling WAY down under:

 

Number 158 "Both Sides Now" by Clannad & Paul Young

Peak: number 158

Peak date: 9 December 1991

Weeks on chart: 4 weeks

 

Paul Young last joined us in October 1991.  Irish band Clannad formed in 1970, and only ever placed one single in the Australian top 100, "In a Lifetime" (number 72, April 1986), which featured U2's Bono.  A pre-solo fame Enya was also part of Clannad between 1980 and 1982, together with three of her siblings.

 

"Both Sides Now" was a song written by Joni Mitchell, but first recorded by Judy Collins in 1967.  Joni recorded her own orchestral version of the song for her 2000 album Both Sides Now (number 110, June 2000).  The track appeared on Paul's From Time to Time: The Singles Collection (number 6, June 1992) compilation.

 

Internationally, "Both Sides Now" peaked at number 74 in the UK in August 1991, number 3 in Ireland in September 1991, and number 41 in the Netherlands in March 1992.

 

Domestically, "Both Sides Now" performed strongest in Queensland, where it reached number 137.

 

Paul Young will next join us in 1997.  We will not see Clannad in the top 150 again.

Also debuting this week:

Number 170 "Cruise Control" by Headless Chickens

Peak: unknown

Peak date: unknown

Weeks on chart: 34 weeks (including tally from 1994 re-release)

The ARIA database, unfortunately, tends to combine separate releases of the same title into one entry.  So, in this instance, the original 1991 release of Headless Chickens' "Cruise Control" is counted as being the same release as the radically different Eskimos in Egypt remix of the song, which peaked at number 26 in December 1994.  Since the 1991 release peaked outside the ARIA top 150, I am unable to give you a peak for it - I can only give you the debut position.

"Cruise Control" appeared on the New Zealand band's second studio album Body Blow (number 45, July 1993).  The 1991 release of the single peaked at number 6 in New Zealand in November 1991.

Anyone who watched Neighbours or Home and Away circa late 1994-early 1995 would have heard the Eskimos in Egypt Mix of "Cruise Control" pumping out of the coffee shop/diner jukebox.

Headless Chickens will next visit us in 1992.

Next week (16 December): The final chart survey for 1991, with three top 150 debuts and two bubbling WAY down under entries.

< Previous week: 2 December 1991                                     Next week: 16 December 1991 >

Week commencing 14 October 1991

Of the ten new entries outside the Australian top 100 this week in 1991, I only heard one of them at the time.  Perhaps most of them are new to you, too.  Shall we take a look?

 

Alice Cooper's gun was loaded, but it wouldn't fire on the ARIA chart this week in 1991.

  

Top 150 debuts:

 

Number 120 "Escape" by Gary Clail On-U Sound System

Peak: number 117

Peak date: 21 October 1991

Weeks in top 150: 5 weeks

Chart run: 174-120-117-122-123-126

Weeks on chart: 6 weeks

 

English recording artist (describing him as a 'singer' does not seem accurate) Gary Clail worked as a roofer, then landed a gig as an MC, rapping/talking over dub records at gigs for On-U Records.  Gary joined forces with On-U Records act Tackhead, before going solo in 1990.

"Human Nature", Gary's first Australian release under the Gary Clail On-U Sound System moniker, crept into the top 40, peaking at number 38 in August 1991.  It would become Gary's only ARIA top 100 single.  "Human Nature" also featured vocals from another one-hit wonder in Australia, Lana Pellay, who landed a top 20 hit in 1986 with the hi-NRG "Pistol in My Pocket" (number 17, June 1986).

 

"Escape" was the second single lifted from Gary's second album The Emotional Hooligan (number 95, August 1991).  Internationally, "Escape" peaked at number 44 in the UK in June 1991.

 

On the ARIA state charts, "Escape" performed strongest in South Australia/Northern Territory, where it reached number 73.

 

I don't recall hearing this one at the time, but discovered it via a VHS compilation I got hold of a decade ago (where the video embedded below is ripped from).  Like all of Gary's singles, this is another social commentary song; this time dealing with the subject of (I assume) how prisoners are treated by society once they've completed their sentences.

"The Emotional Hooligan" was issued as the third and final single from The Emotional Hooligan in Australia in January 1992, but did not chart.

 

We will next see Gary at the end of 1992. 

 

 

 

Number 121 "Don't Dream It's Over" by Paul Young

Peak: number 114

Peak date: 21 October 1991

Weeks in top 150: 6 weeks

Top 150 chart run: 121-114-117-126-132-132

Weeks on chart: 7 weeks

We last saw English singer Paul Young on his own in February 1991, and dueting with Zucchero in September 1991.

 

A cover version of Crowded House's "Don't Dream It's Over" (number 8, February 1987), this track was recorded for Paul's From Time to Time: The Singles Collection (number 6, June 1992) compilation.

 

Internationally, Paul's version of "Don't Dream It's Over" peaked at number 67 in the Netherlands in October 1991, number 20 in the UK in November 1991, number 13 in Ireland, number 9 in Germany in November 1991, number 25 in Sweden in November 1991, number 48 in the Flanders region of Belgium in November 1991, number 27 in France in November 1991, and number 6 in Norway.

 

Within Australia, "Don't Dream It's Over" was most popular in Queensland, where it reached number 95.

 

Oddly, Paul's rendition of "Don't Dream It's Over" was released as a single in Australia one week before its UK release.

 

I wasn't aware of this track at the time.  With the superior Crowded House version being so well-known in Australia, its release here was kind of pointless; pleasant though it may be. 

We shall see Paul again before the year is out, in December 1991.

 

 

Number 128 "No More Tears" by Ozzy Osbourne

Peak: number 105

Peak date: 21 October 1991

Weeks in top 150: 6 weeks 

Top 150 chart run: 128-105-107-111-119-122

 

English singer-songwriter Ozzy Osbourne, real name John Michael Osbourne, rose to fame as the lead vocalist in 1970s heavy metal band Black Sabbath, though is perhaps best known for biting the head off a bat on stage.

As a solo artist, the only track Ozzy has placed on the ARIA top 100 happens to be the only track of his I will ever enjoy - Was (Not Was)'s "Shake Your Head" (number 47, November 1992), on which Ozzy contributed vocals, along with actress Kim Basinger.  This track was originally released in 1983, with only Ozzy's vocals, as quite a different song.  A pre-fame Madonna auditioned vocals for that track, but she did not make the final cut.

 

Ozzy had last been on the Australian chart with the album No Rest for the Wicked (number 57, December 1988).  "No More Tears" was the lead single and title track from Ozzy's sixth solo studio album No More Tears (number 49, October 1991).

 

Overseas, "No More Tears" peaked at number 32 in the UK in October 1991, number 71 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in January 1992, and number 14 in the Netherlands in May 1992.

 

I wasn't familiar with this song at the time, though caught it on Australian music video TV program rage a few months back.

 

Ozzy will next grace our presence in 1992.

 

Number 131 "Love's a Loaded Gun" by Alice Cooper

Peak: number 125

Peak dates: 21 October 1991 and 4 November 1991

Weeks in top 150: 4 weeks 

Top 150 chart run: 131-125-126-125

Weeks on chart: 7 weeks

 

American rock singer Vincent Damon Furner, better known by his stage name Alice Cooper, had placed 17 singles on the Australian top 100 at this point in 1991, with "You and Me" (number 2, May 1977) being the highest-peaking of those.

After a nearly eight-year absence from the chart, during which Alice overcame alcoholism, Alice returned with a vengeance in 1989 with "Poison" (number 3, October 1989), kicking off the second phase of his career.  "Poison" was the first Alice Cooper song I heard, and 10 year-old me hated it at the time - I think it was the combination of heavy (for me) metal and his scary image; but I have since grown to love the track.  I started warming to Alice with the follow-up, "Bed of Nails" (number 13, January 1990).

"Love's a Loaded Gun" was the second single lifted from Alice's twelfth studio album Hey Stoopid (number 15, July 1991).  It followed the title track, "Hey Stoopid" (number 32, August 1991).

 

Internationally, "Love's a Loaded Gun" peaked at number 38 in the UK in October 1991.

 

In Australia, "Love's a Loaded Gun" was most successful in Queensland, where it reached number 102 on the state chart.

 

I didn't hear this one at the time.  Ironically, given my earlier comment about not liking "Poison" at the time, I prefer Alice with heavier sounds than this. 

We shall see Alice again in 1992.

 

 

Number 139 "Straight to Your Heart" by Bad English

Peak: number 116

Peak date: 4 November 1991

Weeks in top 150: 8 weeks

Top 150 chart run: 139-127-119-116-123-131-131-132

Weeks on chart: 9 weeks

 

We last saw Bad English in June 1990. 

"Straight to Your Heart" was the lead single from the second, and final, Bad English album Backlash (number 159, October 1991).

 

Internationally, "Straight to Your Heart" peaked at number 41 in the Netherlands in October 1991, and number 42 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in October 1991.

On the ARIA state charts, "Straight to Your Heart" was most-successful in Victoria/Tasmania, where it reached number 77.

I don't recall hearing this one at the time.  I enjoyed it more than I was expecting to; I don't mind melodic rock.  "Straight to Your Heart" sounds way more 80s than 90s, however.

 

The band released another single locally, "The Time Alone with You", in January 1992, which failed to chart.  "Straight to Your Heart" would be the final Bad English single to chart in Australia.

 

 

Number 146 "Running Back to You" by Vanessa Williams

Peak: number 102

Peak date: 11 November 1991

Weeks in top 150: 14 weeks (9 weeks in 1991, 5 weeks in 1992)

Top 150 chart run: 146-134-137-135-102-108-103-117-127

Re-entered 31 August 1992: 124-111-117-130-124

Weeks on chart: 18 weeks

 

Here's the one song of this week's 10 new entries I did hear at the time, catching the music video on Coca-Cola Power Cuts, and hearing the song a couple of times on American Top 40.

 

We last saw American singer Vanessa Williams in July 1989. 

"Running Back to You" was the lead single from Vanessa's second studio album The Comfort Zone (number 29, June 1992).  The single peaked at number 18 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in October 1991, and number 86 in Canada.

Within Australia, "Running Back to You" performed strongest in New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory, where it reached number 65.  The single peaked 33 places higher on the Australian Music Report singles chart, where it reached number 69.

 

Vanessa would not score her commercial breakthrough in Australia until her next single, the smash hit "Save the Best for Last" (number 1, July 1992).  Following the success of that track, "Running Back to You" was re-released in Australia in August 1992, climbing back to number 111 on the national chart the following month.  Despite not matching the peak of its 1991 release, "Running Back to You" peaked on three of the ARIA state charts - Victoria/Tasmania, South Australia/Northern Territory and Queensland - following its 1992 re-release.

I can only guess that "Running Back to You" didn't do so well in Australia because it was a bit too American-sounding for Australia's tastes in the early 90s.  It's a shame, because the song deserved to do much better.  Despite its low peak, "Running Back to You" spent a respectable 18 weeks on the chart all-up, however.

"Running Back to You" would be Vanessa's final single to peak outside the top 100 in Australia, although a later single, "Work to Do" (released November 1992) would make its way onto the Australian Music Report's list of singles receiving significant sales reports beyond the top 100.  While there were sometimes large differences between the AMR and ARIA charts, without giving too much away (spoiler alert!), there is a 'blank title' that made the top 150 on the ARIA database in late 1992, and part of me wonders if could have actually been "Work to Do".  But we'll never know.

I am not sure why the Australian record company did not release The Comfort Zone track "Just for Tonight" as a single locally.  I became familiar with that one via the American Top 40 radio show.

 

 

 

Number 147 "Lifeboat" by Tall Tales and True

Peak: number 129

Peak dates: 18 November 1991, 25 November 1991 and 2 December 1991

Weeks in top 150: 8 weeks

Top 150 chart run: 147-150-142-149-(out for 1 week)-129-129-129-135

Weeks on chart: 10 weeks

 

We last saw Sydney band Tall Tales and True in March 1991. 

"Lifeboat" was the lead single from the band's second studio album Revenge (number 42, June 1992).  I didn't hear this one at the time, but have seen the video a couple of times on rage in recent years.  I don't mind the song, and it could have become a hit with mainstream radio support.

 

On the state charts, "Lifeboat" was most popular in South Australia/Northern Territory, where it reached number 101.

While we won't see Tall Tales and True in the 101-150 region of the ARIA singles chart again, the band's third album Tilt peaked at number 140 in March 1995, and we will see them bubble WAY down under on the singles chart in 1994.

 

Number 150 "5.6.7.8" (1991 Remix) by Shut Up and Dance

Peak: number 142

Peak date: 21 October 1991

Weeks in top 150: 2 weeks 

Top 150 chart run: 150-142

 

Shut Up and Dance are English duo Philip Johnson and Carlton Hyman.  Originally released in 1989, "5.6.7.8" was the pair's debut single, though the original version was quite different to the 1991 remix that charted in Australia.  Interestingly, neither release made the UK top 75.

 

The 1991 remix of "5.6.7.8" prominently samples Whitney Houston's "I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)" (number 1, June 1987).

 

Shut Up and Dance would prominently sample another recent-ish hit in 1992, this time Marc Cohn's "Walking in Memphis" (number 11, August 1991), on "Raving I'm Raving", which peaked at number 2 in the UK in May 1992.  Except they forgot to obtain clearance to use the sample, and the single was subsequently withdrawn from sale, dropping to number 15 in its second week before falling out of the chart.  "Raving I'm Raving" was the first Shut Up and Dance track I heard, on the UK Chart Attack radio show, which I listened to religiously after discovering it in April 1992... until it was cancelled in my state (Victoria) in January 1993.

Another Shut Up and Dance track (my favourite) I was exposed to via UK Chart Attack was "The Art of Moving Butts", which is well worth checking out if you like early 90s dance music and have not heard it before.

"5.6.7.8" would be the only Shut Up and Dance single to trouble the ARIA top 150.

 

Bubbling WAY down under:

 

Number 180 "The Gift of Love" by Bette Midler

Peak: number 180

Peak date: 14 October 1991

Weeks on chart: 2 weeks

 

Bette Midler last graced our presence in January 1991.

 

"The Gift of Love" was the third, and - in Australia - final, single from Bette's seventh studio album Some People's Lives (number 7, April 1991).  It followed "From a Distance" (number 8, January 1991) and "Night and Day" (number 84, April 1991).

Internationally, "The Gift of Love" peaked at number 40 in Canada in October 1991.

On the ARIA state charts, "The Gift of Love" performed strongest in New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory, where it reached number 155.

I hadn't heard this one before.  It's OK, but doesn't stand out.  It sounds somewhat Beatles-esque to me in parts, and also reminds me of Susanna Hoffs' "Unconditional Love" (number 100, May 1991).

Bette will next join us in 1992.

 

 

Number 181 "Just a Little Bit Longer" by Maxi Priest

Peak: number 181

Peak date: 14 October 1991

Weeks on chart: 1 week

 

We last saw Maxi Priest in January 1991.

 

"Just a Little Bit Longer" was the fourth and final single from Maxi's fourth studio album Bonafide (number 25, September 1990).  The single was also released to promote his Best of Me (number 122, January 1992) compilation album - unusually, they did not record a new track instead.

 

"Just a Little Bit Longer" peaked at number 62 in the UK in October 1991.

 
Within Australia, "Just a Little Bit Longer" was most popular in New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory, where it reached number 156.

I hadn't heard this one before; I like it.

 

Maxi shall next join us again as a featured artist next week! 

 

 

Next week (21 October): Four top 150 debuts and seven (!) bubbling WAY down under entries.

< Previous week: 7 October 1991                                    Next week: 21 October 1991 >

Week commencing 9 September 1991

This week in 1991's new batch of songs peaking outside the ARIA top 100 are an interesting bunch.  Among them we have a 'hit single' that wasn't, a song that spent 30 weeks (!) on the chart despite climbing no higher than number 147, and two singles that had two separate chart lives, with slightly different artist credits each time.  We also have two artist names beginning with the letter Z.  Shall we take a look?

 

Zoë trip trip tripped away for 30 weeks outside the ARIA top 100.

  

Top 150 debuts:

 

Number 115 "The Eve of the War" (Ben Liebrand Remix) by Jeff Wayne

Peak: number 112

Peak date: 30 September 1991

Weeks in top 150: 4 weeks

Top 150 chart run: 115-116-122-112

This single peaked at number 118 on 19 March 1990 and spent 8 weeks in the top 150 then, when credited to Ben Liebrand.

 

We saw Dutch DJ and remixer Ben Liebrand chart with this track, where he received the sole artist credit, in February 1990.   This time, for reasons I cannot ascertain, "The Eve of the War" was credited to Jeff Wayne, with a Ben Liebrand Remix tag, although the song is exactly the same as the previous Ben Liebrand release.  The re-release of this track presumably had something to do with the War of the Worlds soundtrack, from which the song is lifted, peaking at number 4 on the ARIA albums chart in September 1991, after originally peaking at number 1 for 7 weeks in October-November 1978.  One thing I just learnt is that this soundtrack was number 1 on the Australian charts when I was born.

The Ben Liebrand remix of "The Eve of the War" peaked at number 9 in the Netherlands in June 1989, number 38 in the Flanders region of Belgium in June 1989, number 3 in the UK in December 1989, and number 3 in Ireland.

To me, this mix of "The Eve of the War" sounds very much like Rock Eisteddfod music.

 

 

Number 117 "Miles to Go" by Nick Barker and The Reptiles

Peak: number 103

Peak date: 23 September 1991

Weeks in top 150: 5 weeks 

Top 150 chart run: 117-106-103-121-131

 

Between 1989 and 1991, Australian rock band Nick Barker and The Reptiles placed six singles on the ARIA top 100.  Their version of Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel's "Make Me Smile (Come Up and See Me)" was the only one to dent the top 50, however, reaching number 30 in November 1989.

 

"Miles to Go" was the third single lifted from Nick and the gang's second studio album After the Show (number 33, April 1991).  It followed "Won't Get You Loved" (number 53, April 1991) and "Can't Hold On" (number 84, May 1991).

I don't recall hearing this one before.

We'll next see Nick, solo and credited as just 'Barker' (taking a leaf out of Diesel's book?), in 1994.

 

Number 126 "Promise Me" by Beverley Craven

Peak: number 117

Peak dates: 23 September 1991 and 30 September 1991

Weeks in top 150: 5 weeks 

Top 150 chart run: 126-131-117-117-129

Weeks on chart: 10 weeks

 

Sri Lankan-born British singer-songwriter Beverley Craven released her debut album Beverley Craven (number 141, July 1991) in Europe in 1990.  Initially, the album was not a success in the UK, but her debut single "Promise Me" became a top 10 hit in the Netherlands (number 7, October 1990) and the Flanders region of Belgium (number 2, November 1990).

 

After continental European success, "Promise Me" eventually peaked at number 3 in the UK in May 1991, and the album reached number 3 the following month, spending a year on the chart and selling over 600,000 copies.  "Promise Me" would also go on to peak at number 6 in France in June 1991.

In Australia, Beverley's chart success was much more subdued, and "Promise Me" would become her only single to dent the ARIA top 150.  I don't recall hearing this one at the time, but it could have been a hit if it had radio support (which I am assuming it didn't).  "Promise Me" peaked at number 98 on the Australian Music Report singles chart.

"Promise Me" was re-issued in Australia in March 1992, but did not re-enter the top 150.  Beverley released her last album in 2018, and was also treated for breast cancer in the same year.

We shall next see Beverley in 1992.

 

 

 

Number 137 "Hit Single" by Joe Jackson

Peak: number 129

Peak date: 23 September 1991

Weeks in top 150: 6 weeks 

Chart run: 137-134-129-131-132-133

Weeks on chart: 6 weeks

 

We last saw English singer-songwriter Joe Jackson in April 1991. 

The ironically titled "Hit Single", which only charted in Australia - and outside the top 100 at that - was the second release from Joe's eleventh studio album Laughter & Lust (number 57, September 1991).

 

On the state charts, "Hit Single" was the biggest 'hit' in South Australia/Northern Territory, where it reached number 110 on the state chart.

 

While "Hit Single" may not have become a hit, Joe embarked on a tour of Australia in September 1991, prompting his 1990 compilation Stepping Out - The Very Best of Joe Jackson (number 13, September 1991) to re-enter the chart and reach a new peak.

"Hit Single" would be Joe's last single to dent the ARIA top 150.

 

 

Number 147 "Senza Una Donna (Without a Woman)" by Zucchero & Paul Young

Peak: number 113

Peak date: 23 September 1991

Weeks in top 150: 8 weeks (1991 release); 14 weeks (1992 release)

Top 150 chart run: 143-144-113-119-121-125-128-130 

Re-entered 25 May 1992: 115-69-65-56-42-47-62-76-66-61-68-71-84-90

Weeks on chart: 17 weeks (1992 release)

This single peaked at number 42 on 22 June 1992, and spent 17 weeks on the chart, when re-released as a Paul Young single in 1992.

 

Italian singer-songwriter Adelmo Fornaciari, better known by his stage name Zucchero Fornaciari - or just Zucchero, began his musical career in 1970, after abandoning his studies to become a veterinarian.  He was part of several bands before launching a solo career in 1982.  We last saw English singer-songwriter Paul Young in February 1991.

"Senza Una Donna", which translates as 'without a woman', was originally recorded solo in Italian for Zucchero's fourth album Blue in 1987.  The track was re-recorded with Paul Young in 1990, with additional lyrics in English, and released as a single the following year.

"Senza Una Donna (Without a Woman)" peaked at number 4 in the UK in May 1991, number 2 in Ireland, number 2 in Germany in June 1991, number 2 in the Netherlands in June 1991, number 1 in the Flanders region of Belgium in June 1991, number 1 in Sweden in July 1991, number 1 in Norway, number 2 in Switzerland in July 1991, number 8 in Austria in July 1991, number 2 in France in August 1991, and number 14 in Canada in December 1991.

"Senza Una Donna..." was initially released as a Zucchero single in Australia, with a solo Zucchero track on the B-side.  The single crept into the Australian Music Report top 100 singles chart, reaching number 97 for one week in September 1991.

The single was re-issued locally in May 1992 to coincide with Paul Young's promotional visit to Australia to promote his best of compilation album From Time to Time: The Singles Collection (number 6, June 1992).  This time, it was treated as a Paul Young release, with two previous Paul Young hits on the CD single: "Everything Must Change" (number 27, February 1985) and "Wherever I Lay My Hat (That's My Home)" (number 9, September 1983).  This mini-Greatest Hits EP, combined with a special $1.95 price for the CD single, enticed enough people to buy "Senza Una Donna (Without a Woman)" for it to reach a much higher peak of number 42, in June 1992.

The re-release of "Senza Una Donna..." also resulted in the Zucchero album peaking at number 141 in July 1992.  On the state charts, "Senza Una Donna..." performed strongest in New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory, where it reached number 32.

We shall next see Paul Young in October 1991.

 

 

Number 149 "Sunshine on a Rainy Day" by Zoë

Peak: number 147

Peak date: 6 January 1992

Weeks in top 150: 4 weeks

Top 150 chart run: 149-(out for 1 week)-148-(out for 9 weeks)-148-(out for 4 weeks)-147

Weeks on chart: 30 weeks

 

English singer-songwriter Zoë Pollock, known professionally as just Zoë, launched her recording career with "Sunshine on a Rainy Day", a track produced by and co-written with her then-partner Martin Glover (better known as Youth), in 1990.  The 1990 version of the track stalled at number 53 in the UK in December 1990.

 

Following a remix by Mark 'Spike' Stent, "Sunshine on a Rainy Day" was re-released in 1991, together with a new music video (embedded below).  The 1991 release peaked at number 4 in the UK in September 1991, number 9 in Ireland, and number 40 in Sweden in November 1991.  The track was lifted from Zoë's debut album Scarlet Red and Blue (number 193, May 1992).

 

In Australia, "Sunshine on a Rainy Day" had quite a protracted chart life for a single that barely crept into the top 150.  Debuting at number 161 on 27 May 1991, the single took more than seven months to reach its eventual peak of number 147 in early 1992.  Even more unusually, during that time, the single only spent 4 of its 30 weeks on the chart within the top 150, none of which were consecutive.

 

"Sunshine on a Rainy Day" was most-popular in South Australia/Northern Territory, where it reached number 51.  The single's staggered chart run was partly due to it peaking at different times on the state charts, reaching its peak in September 1991 in Queensland and South Australia/Northern Territory, December 1991 in Victoria/Tasmania, and January 1992 in New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory and Western Australia.

On the Australian Music Report chart, "Sunshine on a Rainy Day" crept into the top 100 in September 1991, peaking at number 93; 54 places higher than its ARIA peak.

Zoë's "Sunshine on a Rainy Day" is one of few singles that have three different music videos filmed for it.  There's the original 1990 version, linked in the first paragraph above, the 1991 video linked below, and a third video filmed for the US release in 1992 here.  There's also a video for the 12" version released in the US - take your pick!

I am a bit surprised that "Sunshine on a Rainy Day" was not a hit in Australia, as it received some airplay - at least in Melbourne, on the supposedly-voted-for-by-listeners Hot 30 Countdown, which I think was hosted by Ugly Phil at the time.

While Zoë's version of the song was technically not a hit in Australia (although its chart longevity blurs the lines a bit), the song would have a second lease of life when recorded by other artists.  Naomi Campbell recorded a version for her 1994 album Babywoman, as did Emma Bunton for her debut solo album A Girl Like Me (number 86, May 2001) in 2001.  Christine Anu landed a number 26 hit in Australia with her version of "Sunshine on a Rainy Day" in June 2000.

Zoë will join us again in 1992.

 

Bubbling WAY down under:

 

Number 155 "Got It Bad" by Keith Urban

Peak: number 155

Peak date: 9 September 1991

Weeks on chart: 3 weeks

 

We last saw Keith Urban in June 1991. 

 

Keith's third single "Got It Bad" was the second issued from his debut album Keith Urban (number 98, October 1991).  The single performed strongest in Queensland, where it reached number 108.

Regular readers will know that I am not particularly fond of country music, and "Got It Bad" does not sway me.

Keith will next join us in 1997.

 

 

 

Number 168 "I Like It" by D.J.H. featuring Stefy

Peak: number 156

Peak date: 30 September 1991

Weeks on chart: 8 weeks

 

We last saw Italian dance act D.J.H. featuring Stefy in May 1991.

 

As with their last chart entry, "I Like It" samples Aretha Franklin's vocals again.  Internationally, "I Like It" peaked at number 16 in the UK in July 1991, and at number 20 in Ireland in July 1991.

 

In Australia, "I Like It" performed strongest in Western Australia, where it reached number 109.

 

While we won't see D.J.H. featuring Stefy again, we will see D.J.H. under a different name in 1992.

 

 

Number 195 "Can You Stop the Rain" by Peabo Bryson

Peak: number 195

Peak date: 9 September 1991

Weeks on chart: 1 week

 

American singer-songwriter Peabo Bryson made his debut on the Australian chart in 1983, dueting with Roberta Flack on "Tonight I Celebrate My Love" (number 10, November 1983), although he had been releasing material since 1975.  His biggest non-duet in Australia was "If Ever I'm in Your Arms Again" (number 20, August 1984).

"Can You Stop the Rain" was the title track from Peabo's fifteenth studio album Can You Stop the Rain (number 188, March 1992).  Internationally, the single peaked at number 52 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in August 1991.

 

Within Australia, "Can You Stop the Rain" performed strongest in South Australia/Northern Territory, where it reached number 152.

 

We shall next see Peabo in 1992.

 

 

Next week (16 September): Six top 150 debuts and two bubbling WAY down under entries.

 

< Previous week: 2 September 1991                                   Next week: 16 September 1991 >

Week commencing 11 February 1991

One thing tying all of this week in 1991's new entries together is that all but one of them has a male lead vocal.  Let's take a look.

 

New Order: how does it feel... to keep charting with the same song?

 

Top 150 debuts:

 

Number 129 "I Wanna Get with U" by Guy

Peak: number 129

Peak date: 11 February 1991

Weeks in top 150: 2 weeks

Top 150 chart run: 129-140

 

Going by the artist name, I was expecting Guy to be a solo artist, but it's actually a trio, made up of Teddy Riley, Aaron Hall and Damion Hall.  Damion replaced original band member Timmy Gatling after the band's first album Guy, released in 1988.

"I Wanna Get with U" was the lead single from Guy's second album The Future (number 129, February 1991).  Annoyingly, for me, the song was titled just "Wanna Get with U" (no "I" at the start) on the album and on the single artwork in the band's native US.  Elsewhere, it was titled "I Wanna Get with U" on the single sleeve.

Internationally, "I Wanna Get with U" peaked at number 50 in the US in December 1990, and number 28 in the Netherlands in January 1991.

 

Guy will join us again in January 1992.

 

 

Number 139 "My My My" by Johnny Gill

Peak: number 122

Peak date: 25 March 1991

Weeks in top 150: 9 weeks

Top 150 chart run: 139-141-144-145-126-125-122-128-128

Weeks on chart: 10 weeks

One-time New Edition member Johnny Gill joined us previously in December 1990 with the second single from his second solo album titled Johnny Gill (number 110, September 1990), and here he is with the third - in Australia, anyway.  "My My My" was the second single from the album in Johnny's native US.

I would have heard "My My My" on the American Top 40 radio show at the time, but couldn't remember how it went.  Listening to the song again now, it has that stereotypical early 90s 'lurve' ballad saxophone on it, and sounds like an obvious L.A. Reid/Babyface production.

Internationally, "My My My" peaked at number 10 in the US in September 1990, number 31 in New Zealand in October 1990, number 89 in the UK in October 1990, and number 37 in the Netherlands in November 1990.

On the ARIA state charts, "My My My" performed strongest in New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory, where it reached number 94.

We will see Johnny again as a solo artist in 1996, but before then, he will bubble under as both a featured artist and as part of his former group in 1992.

 

 

 

Number 141 "Heartbreaker (At the End of Lonely Street)" by Dread Zeppelin

Peak: number 138

Peak date: 18 February 1991

Weeks in top 150: 5 weeks 

Top 150 chart run: 141-138-139-142-146

I have heard this one before, once, as it's my rip of the video (which is blocked in Australia on YouTube) embedded below.  But I had no recollection of the song.  Prior to listening to it again, two things sprung to mind, going by the band name: it's no doubt by a 'joke' act, and it's almost certainly going to be 'dread'-ful (ho ho).  I was right on both accounts.

Surprisingly, for once the UK exercised some restraint, and this steaming pile of novelty rubbish did not become a massive hit there, stalling at number 83 in August 1990.  And also, for once, the Kiwis displayed poorer musical taste than their Aussie counterparts, as this single went all the way to number 40 there in February 1991.  Oh, New Zealand!

 

"Heartbreaker..." is lifted from the album Un-Led-Ed, which reached number 93 in Australia in April 1991.  The group also had another charting album in Australia, 5,000,000*, which peaked at number 150 in July 1991.  Oh, Australia!

 

 

 

Number 144 "Hotel California" by Jam on the Mutha

Peak: number 144

Peak date: 11 February 1991

Weeks in top 150: 1 week 

Top 150 chart run: 144

 

Speaking of things you can tell about a song before ever hearing it, I assume that this track is a (probably cheap and nasty) dance cover version of the Eagles song "Hotel California".   Well, I was right on that assumption, though it's slightly better than I was expecting.  My expectations, however, were low.

One interesting thing - for me, anyway, is that the vocalist on this track, Andy Caine, is a name I recognise as co-writing Yazz's "Fine Time" (number 60, March 1989).

This version of "Hotel California" peaked at number 62 in the UK in August 1990.

 

 

Number 146 "Inside Out" by Traveling Wilburys

Peak: number 117

Peak date: 18 February 1991

Weeks in top 150: 6 weeks 

Chart run: 170-146-117-133-126-142-137

Weeks on chart: 7 weeks

 

Supergroup Traveling Wilburys burst onto the scene in late 1988 with "Handle with Care" (number 3, January 1989) and the album Volume One (number 1, February 1989).  Their debut album was the highest-selling album of 1989 in Australia, and was on heavy rotation in my family car's cassette deck, thanks to my dad picking up the album.

 

Surprisingly, both "Handle with Care" and Volume One were much bigger in Australia than in the UK, where two-fifths of the band's original five members are from.  Of course, Roy Orbison died in December 1988, about six weeks after Volume One was released.  Two further singles were issued from the album, "End of the Line" (number 12, April 1989) and "Heading for the Light" (number 88, June 1989).

The band's second album, minus Roy, was titled Vol. 3 (number 14, November 1990), to "confuse the fuckers", to quote George Harrison.  Arguably, band member Tom Petty's 1989 album Full Moon Fever (number 13, June 1989), was Vol. 2, as all of the then-surviving Wilburys appear on it.

"Inside Out" was the second single lifted from Vol. 3, and followed "She's My Baby" (number 58, November 1990).  The band also landed a minor 'hit' on the Australian chart with the charity single "Nobody's Child" (number 66, September 1990).

Internationally, "Inside Out" also charted in Canada, where it reached number 50.

 

Locally, "Inside Out" performed strongest on the South Australia/Northern Territory state chart, where it reached number 76.

 

My dad didn't buy Vol. 3, so I never heard this one at the time.

 

Two more Wilburys have died since Vol. 3, their last studio album.  George Harrison succumbed to lung cancer in 2001, aged 58, and Tom Petty died in 2017 following a heart attack, aged 66.

We shall see Traveling Wilburys again in April 1991.

 

 

 

Number 148 "The First Time" by Surface

Peak: number 103

Peak dates: 1 April 1991 and 8 April 1991

Weeks in top 150: 10 weeks

Top 150 chart run: 148-(out for 1 week)-148-124-115-114-107-103-103-105-121

Weeks on chart: 13 weeks

Here's another one I would have heard on American Top 40 at the time, but have no recollection of.  It also sounds like another Babyface production to my ears, but isn't.

"The First Time" is lifted from Surface's third studio album 3 Deep (number 146, April 1991).  While the group had been releasing material since 1983, "The First Time" was the band's first single to chart in Australia.  Surface never landed a top 100-peaking single or album in Australia.

 

Internationally, "The First Time" topped the US Billboard Hot 100 in January 1991, and peaked at number 60 in the UK in January 1991, number 18 in Canada in March 1991, and number 7 in New Zealand in March 1991.

 

On the ARIA state charts, "The First Time" performed much stronger in New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory, where it reached number 54, than on any of the other state charts.  The single missed the top 100 on three of the four remaining state charts, peaking at number 89 in Western Australia, which was its second strongest state.  I can only assume, therefore, that the single received a lot more airplay in New South Wales than in other states.

On the Australian Music Report singles chart, "The First Time" peaked at number 78.

Surface will next grace our presence in April 1991.

 

 

Bubbling WAY down under:

 

Number 151 "Blue Monday 1988" by New Order

Peak: number 151 (in 1991); number 3 (1988 release)

Peak date: 11 February 1991 (in 1991); 6 June 1988 (1988 release)

Weeks on chart: 3 weeks (1991 chart run); 19 weeks (1988 release)

 

While I've never compiled a list of my favourite songs of all time, New Order's "Blue Monday" would land somewhere on it.  The 1983 single originally peaked at number 13 in Australia in August 1983, spending 26 weeks on the chart.  It then re-entered in March 1987, presumably due to renewed interest following the success of "Bizarre Love Triangle" (number 5, March 1987), climbing to number 69 in April 1987 and spending another 9 weeks in the top 100.

 

"Blue Monday" had similar chart longevity in the UK, where it initially peaked at number 12 in April 1983, before falling to as low as number 82 in July 1983, before rebounding back up to a new peak of number 9 in October 1983, in an unbroken chart run lasting 38 weeks.  Between 1983 and 1988, "Blue Monday" notched up 69 weeks in the UK top 100, becoming the best-selling 12" single of all time in the process.

Clocking in at seven and a half minutes, a single/7"-friendly edit of "Blue Monday" was not produced until Quincy Jones remixed the track in 1988, resulting in another single release.  "Blue Monday 1988" reached number 3 in Australia in June 1988, on the first (unpublished) singles chart produced in-house by ARIA.  You will otherwise see a number 4 Australian peak listed for "Blue Monday 1988" on sites such as Wikipedia and australian-charts, which is technically incorrect.

 

Worth noting here, also, is that "Blue Monday 1988" topped the Victorian/Tasmanian state singles chart in June 1988, as did New Order's "Bizarre Love Triangle" (number 5, March 1987) for four weeks in February and March 1987.  New Order did not otherwise score a number one single in Australia.

"Blue Monday 1988" re-charting in 1991 is presumably due to the single being issued on CD, for the first time, in Australia in January 1991.

While number 151 may not seem terribly impressive, it is somewhat 'good' for a re-issued single in Australia at that time.  Re-issued singles of songs that were hits the first time around generally did not chart at all in Australia, back then, unlike in the UK, or now when any old track is eligible to chart.  Furthermore, this release of "Blue Monday 1988" presumably happened without any promotion.  I certainly was not aware of its re-release at the time, as a casual New Order fan.

The re-issue must have caught on in Western Australia, as this release of "Blue Monday 1988" peaked at number 70 on the Western Australian state chart.

Another incarnation of "Blue Monday" will bubble under in 1995, but, before then, we shall next see New Order in 1994.

 

 

Number 163 "Wow Wow-Na Na" by Grand Plaz

Peak: number 153

Peak date: 18 February 1991

Weeks on chart: 9 weeks

 

Now this track is a bit of an oddity.  Produced by Stock Aitken Waterman, though production credits are given to the pseudonym DJ Crazyhouse (because SAW were not deemed 'cool' at the time), the track is heavily inspired by Together's "Hardcore Uproar" (which was not not released in Australia, but peaked at number 12 in the UK in August 1990), and featured the still-unreleased vocals from the chorus of Kakko's (a Japanese singer SAW failed to land any success with) version of "Na Na Hey Hey (Kiss Him Goodbye)".  "Na Na Hey Hey..." being a cover of the Steam song from 1969, which peaked at number 21 on the Go Set chart in March 1970.  Bananarama also landed a minor hit in Australia with their version of "Na Na Hey Hey..." peaking at number 38 in May 1983.

Internationally, "Wow Wow-Na Na" peaked at number 41 in the UK in September 1990.

Locally, "Wow Wow-Na Na" performed strongest in Western Australia, where it reached number 94 on the state chart.

 

 

Number 174 "Flashback Jack" by Adamski

Peak: number 174

Peak date: 11 February 1991

Weeks on chart: 1 week 

 

We first saw Adamski in May 1990.  "Flashback Jack" was the third single released in Australia from Adamski's debut album Doctor Adamski's Musical Pharmacy (number 144, November 1990).

Internationally, "Flashback Jack" peaked at number 46 in the UK in November 1990.  In Australia, the single performed strongest in Queensland, where it reached number 143.

Adamski will join us next in 1992.

  

Number 175 "Heaven Can Wait" by Paul Young

Peak: number 157

Peak date: 25 February 1991

Weeks on chart: 2 weeks

 

English singer Paul Young has visited us twice previously, in May 1990 and September 1990, with the first two singles from his fourth studio album Other Voices (number 102, July 1990).  "Heaven Can Wait" was issued as the third, and - in Australia - final, single from the album.

Internationally, "Heaven Can Wait" peaked at number 71 in the UK in October 1990.

On the ARIA state charts, "Heaven Can Wait" performed strongest in Victoria/Tasmania, reaching number 142.

A fourth single from Other Voices, "Calling You", was released in the UK, peaking at number 57 there in January 1991.

We will next see Paul on his own in October 1991, but before then, we will see him duet with another artist in September.

 

 

Number 178 "Wap Bam Boogie" by Matt Bianco

Peak: number 178

Peak date: 11 February 1991

Weeks on chart: 1 week

 

Matt Bianco, despite the name, is a group and not a solo artist.  Hailing from the UK, the group landed two minor 'hits' in Australia during the 1980s, "Whose Side Are You On?" (number 57, June 1985) and "Yeh Yeh" (number 64, March 1986).  We have previously seen Basia, who was once part of the group, bubble under.

"Wap Bam Boogie" originally appeared as the B-side on Matt Bianco's "Don't Blame It on That Girl" single, which bubbled under on the Australian Music Report singles chart in August 1988.

"Wap Bam Boogie" was issued as a single in its own right to promote the release of the compilation album The Best of Matt Bianco (number 147, November 1990).

 

Internationally, "Wap Bam Boogie" peaked at number 76 in the UK in December 1990.

 

While "Wap Bam Boogie" would become Matt Bianco's final single to chart in Australia, the group landed two further charting albums: Samba in Your Casa (number 172, February 1992), and The Things You Love (number 1224, November 2016).

 

 

Next week (18 February): Four top 150 debuts, and five bubbling WAY down under entries.

 

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