Week commencing 24 May 1993

This week in 1993’s new entries peaking outside the Australian top 100 are a mixed bag, split between artists your parents wouldn’t object to listening to and newer acts struggling with their latest releases.  Shall we take a look?

Kenny G doesn’t quite hit ’em with the old Peabo.

Top 150 debuts:

Number 126 “By the Time This Night Is Over” by Kenny G with Peabo Bryson

Peak: number 122

Peak date: 21 June 1993

Weeks in top 150: 7 weeks

Chart run: 126-129-128-130-122-128-124

Weeks on chart: 7 weeks

American lurve song crooner Peabo Bryson last joined us in 1992.  American saxophone whizz Kenny G (born Kenneth Bruce Gorelick… shortening the surname to G was a wise decision) first made small ripples on the Australian singles chart with “Songbird” (number 76, November 1987), lifted from his fourth album Duotones (number 25, November 1987).  More-recently, he scraped into the top 50 with “Forever in Love” (number 49, March 1993), the lead single from his sixth studio album Breathless (number 1 for one week in May 1993).

For this release, the pair joined forces, for what would become the second single from Kenny’s Breathless album.  “By the Time This Night Is Over” would go on to appear on Peabo’s sixteenth studio album Through the Fire (number 193, August 1994).  A Kenny collaboration with Michael Bolton, “Missing You Now” (number 61, August 1992), charted in 1992.  Coincidentally, “By the Time This Night Is Over” was co-written by Michael Bolton and beige songwriter extraordinaire, Diane Warren.

With that pedigree, you’d expect “By the Time This Night Is Over” to be a chart smash, but it was only a major hit in Canada, where it peaked at number 6 in July 1993.  Elsewhere, the single peaked at number 25 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in July 1993, and at number 56 in the UK in July 1993.  The song registered on several US Billboard genre-specific charts, reaching number 68 on the R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart in June 1993, number 1 on the Adult Contemporary chart in July 1993, number 29 on the Pop Airplay chart in July 1993, number 37 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart in July 1993, number 24 on the Radio Songs chart in July 1993, and number 46 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles Sales chart in July 1994.

Locally, “By the Time This Night Is Over” performed strongest in Western Australia, where it reached number 92 on the state chart.

I didn’t recall this one by title, but recognised it once the chorus kicked in.  I would have heard it being blasted from my parents’ then-new CD player they bought around March 1993.  Breathless was one of the first CDs my dad bought, and I remember still being subjected to it more than 18 months later.  Of course, now that I am middle-aged myself, I don’t have as strong a visceral reaction to Kenny G’s style of easy-listening music, and don’t even mind “Songbird”!  Both that song and “Forever in Love” remind me of the nightly ‘Love Songs and Dedications’ program aired on Melbourne’s ultra-daggy TT F.M. radio station - but hey, there wasn’t much choice at the time, and often listening to this was preferable to the ‘classic rock’ stations or Triple M.

Although the music video embedded below claims to be ‘live’, the studio version of the song is used - so it’s just a live (sic) performance video.

This was Peabo’s final charting release in Australia.  Kenny had a later low-charting single with “Legacy” (number 4118, January 2022).

Number 132 “C’mon People” by Paul McCartney

Peak: number 132

Peak date: 24 May 1993

Weeks in top 150: 4 weeks

Chart run: 178-(off chart for one week)-132-146-147-147

Weeks on chart: 5 weeks

We last saw English former-Beatle Paul McCartney in 1990.

“C’mon People” was the third single released in Australia from Paul’s ninth solo studio album Off the Ground (number 8, March 1993).  It followed the singles “Hope of Deliverance” (number 29 for two weeks in February-March 1993) and title-track “Off the Ground” (number 66, April 1993); the latter does not appear to have been issued as a single in the UK.

Internationally, “C’mon People” peaked at number 41 in the UK in February 1993, number 41 in Germany in May 1993, and number 80 in Canada in June 1993.

Domestically, “C’mon People” was most popular in Victoria/Tasmania, where it reached number 117 on the state chart.

I hadn’t heard this one before.  It sounds a bit Beatles-esque, as you might expect.  The initially sparse black and white video ends in colour and with a lot happening.

Paul will join us next in 2001.

Number 135 “The World (In a Wrapper)” by Ratcat

Peak: number 115

Peak date: 7 June 1993

Weeks in top 150: 7 weeks

Top 150 chart run: 135-123-115-123-116-129-130

Weeks on chart: 8 weeks

Sydney band Ratcat formed in 1985.  They released an EP, Ratcat in 1987, and an album, This Nightmare (number 81, July 1991), independently, before signing to RooArt, a label founded by INXS’s manager at the time, Chris Murphy.

The group experienced their first taste of commercial success when the Tingles EP (number 1 for two weeks in April-May 1991), led by “That Ain’t Bad”, debuted at number 118 in October 1990.  The EP slowly climbed up the chart, reaching the top spot for two weeks in April-May 1991.  The Tingles EP reaching number one was probably the first sign of ‘alternative’ music becoming mainstream in Australia.  

Ratcat swiftly followed that up with another number one single “Don’t Go Now” (number 1 for one week in May 1991), and a number one album Blind Love (number 1 for three non-consecutive weeks in May-June 1991).  However, Ratcat’s sudden success seemed to disappear just as quickly as it arrived, and the third single from Blind Love, “Baby Baby” (number 21 for three non-consecutive weeks in July-August 1991), ‘only’ reached number 21.

Taking a year off to record their third album, Ratcat returned in the second half of 1992 with the single “Candyman” (number 38, September 1992), and the album Inside Out (number 59, November 1992), which were both relative flops.  Second single “Holiday” (number 41, November 1992) stalled outside the top 40, despite being one of the poppier-sounding songs they released.  Third single “The World (In a Wrapper)” fared even worse, missing the top 100.

On the state charts, “The World (In a Wrapper)” was most popular in South Australia/Northern Territory, where it reached number 80.  Nationally, the single performed better on the Australian Music Report singles chart, where it reached number 97.

Another one I don’t recall hearing at the time, the featured rapper in the middle of the song was not something I was not expecting!  It was performed by Rosano “The Assassin” Martinez from Sound Unlimited Posse.

I think Ratcat suffered much the same fate as Aussie group Frente!  Having major commercial success kills off any ‘indie’ credibility you had.  The situation was probably worse for Ratcat, as they (at least the singer) had ‘pin-up’ appeal with teenage girls.

Ratcat would not trouble the top 100 again, but we will see them bubble under again in 1995.

Number 149 “Miss Chatelaine” by k.d. lang

Peak: number 145

Peak date: 21 June 1993

Weeks in top 150: 3 weeks

Top 150 chart run: 149-149-(out of top 150 for two weeks)-145

Weeks on chart: 11 weeks

Canadian singer-songwriter k.d. lang last visited us in 1992.

“Miss Chatelaine” was the second single lifted from k.d.’s second solo studio album Ingénue (number 3, April 1993), following “Constant Craving” (number 38, April 1993).  Internationally, “Miss Chatelaine” peaked at number 58 in Canada in October 1992, and number 68 in the UK for two weeks in June 1993.  The song also registered on the US Billboard Adult Contemporary chart, reaching number 32 in April 1993.

Domestically, “Miss Chatelaine” performed strongest in Victoria/Tasmania, reaching number 115 onthe state chart.  Interestingly, the single debuted on the ARIA chart at number 209 on 16 November 1992, following its initial Australian release two weeks prior.  “Miss Chatelaine” was re-released in Australia after the belated success of “Constant Craving”, re-entering the chart one week after its re-issue.

We’ll next see k.d. in July 1993.

Bubbling WAY down under:

Number 167 “Helpless Heart” by Graeme Connors

Peak: number 166

Peak date: 31 May 1993

Weeks on chart: 5 weeks

Aussie country singer-songwriter Graeme Connors last joined us in 1989.

“Helpless Heart” was the second single lifted from his sixth studio album The Return (number 90, March 1993).  On the state charts, the single was most popular in New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory, where it reached number 157.

I don’t really like country music, but this wasn’t too bad.

We’ll next see Graeme in June 1993 with, oddly, the single released before this one.

Number 184 “Looks Like I’m in Love Again” by Key West featuring Erik

Peak: number 184

Peak date: 24 May 1993

Weeks on chart: 2 weeks

Key West was a pseudonym for British producer and multi-instrumentalist Richard Anthony Hewson, from the RAH Band, who had a hit in Australia with “The Crunch” (number 16, April 1978).  Erik was British singer Erica Harrold.  The two joined forces for this release, which was produced by Stock/Waterman (formerly of Stock Aitken Waterman).

Internationally, “Looks Like I’m in Love Again” peaked at number 46 in the UK in April 1993.

In Australia, “Looks Like I’m in Love Again” was most popular in New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory, where it reached number 170 on the state chart.

We’ll see Key West again in 1999, and Erik in 1994.

Number 197 “Rave the Brave” by Celtic Kings of Rock

Peak: number 197

Peak date: 24 May 1993

Weeks on chart: 2 weeks

Aussie synth-pop duo Celtic Kings of Rock were David Smith and Crispin Trist from Boxcar, whom we last saw in 1992.  “Rave the Brave”, which makes the unusual pairing between bagpipes and dance music, was their only release under this artist name.

“Rave the Brave” performed strongest on the Western Australia state chart, where it reached number 158.

The song reminds me a little bit of Utah Saints and Usura.

Number 204 “It’s OK, All Right” by Def Dames Dope

Peak: number 158

Peak date: 9 May 1994

Weeks on chart: 22 weeks

Belgian girl group Def Dames Dope were produced by 2 Unlimited’s producers, Phil Wilde and Jean-Paul De Coster.  “It’s OK, All Right” was their first single, appearing on their debut album It’s a Girl! The Album, which does not appear to have been released in Australia.

Internationally, the single peaked at number 9 in the Netherlands in February 1993, and was number 1 for two weeks in the Flanders region of Belgium in February-March 1993.

In Australia, “It’s OK, All Right” was most popular in Queensland, where it reached number 80 on the state chart.  The single had a second lease of life following its re-release in April 1994, reaching its national peak the following month.  “It’s OK, All Right” peaked in either April or May 1994 on all state charts.  Spending 22 weeks on the chart is quite decent for a single that missed the top 150.  “It’s OK, All Right” fared much better nationally on the Australian Music Report singles chart, where it reached number 74 in 1994.

This one didn’t seem familiar to me by artist or title name, but I recognised the chorus riff.

We shall see Def Dames Dope on one more occasion, in 1994.

Number 213 “I’m Gonna Soothe You” by Maria McKee

Peak: number 160

Peak date: 28 June 1993

Weeks on chart: 9 weeks

American (I previously assumed she was British) singer-songwriter Maria McKee is best known for “Show Me Heaven” (number 3 for five weeks in December 1990-January 1991), which appeared on the Days of Thunder soundtrack (number 31, September 1990), and was her only solo Australian top 100 entry.  A little over a year before “Show Me Heaven”, Maria’s debut solo album Maria McKee (number 117, September 1989) made small ripples outside the top 100, despite yielding no charting singles.  Prior to going solo, Maria fronted the band Lone Justice, who had a top 40 single in Australia with “Shelter” (number 38, February 1987), and a top 100 album with their second album Shelter (number 66, February 1987).

Despite having limited commercial success in Australia with her own recording career, Maria penned a number one single recorded by Feargal Sharkey, “A Good Heart” (number 1 for two weeks in February 1986).  She also had a song written about her become a hit, Deacon Blue’s “Real Gone Kid” (number 18, February 1989).  The band toured with Lone Justice, and dedicated the song to her wild onstage performance.  Arguably, a second song written about Maria was a hit in Australia, Feargal Sharkey’s “You Little Thief” (number 4, March 1986), which was written by Maria’s ex (whom she had written “A Good Heart about after they split), Benmont Tench from Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, though he denies this.

“I’m Gonna Soothe You” was the lead single from Maria’s second solo album, You Gotta Sin to Get Saved (number 135, July 1993).  Internationally, the single peaked at number 35 in the UK in May 1993, and number 49 in Canada in September 1993.

In Australia, “I’m Gonna Soothe You” performed strongest in Western Australia, where it reached number 123 on the state chart.

I hadn’t heard this one before.  It’s very nice.  Maria’s unique voice, as always, is a highlight.

A second single from You Gotta Sin to Get Saved, “I Can’t Make It Alone”, was released in Australia in September 1993, but failed to chart.

As this was Maria’s last charting release in Australia, I thought I would mention Maria’s 1992 collaboration with Sweetest Child, “Sweetest Child”, which I like a lot.

Number 222 “Harbor Lights” by Bruce Hornsby

Peak: number 180

Peak date: 31 May 1993

Weeks on chart: 2 weeks

We last saw American singer-songwriter-pianist Bruce Hornsby in 1990 as part of Bruce Hornsby & The Range.  The group split in 1991, and Bruce embarked on a solo career.

“Harbor Lights” was the lead single from Bruce’s debut solo album Harbor Lights (number 118, May 1993).  Internationally, the single peaked at number 14 in Canada in June 1993.  The song also registered on two US Billboard genre-specific charts, reaching number 38 on the Mainstream Rock Airplay chart in April 1993, and number 13 on the Adult Contemporary chart in June 1993.

Locally, “Harbor Lights” was most popular in Queensland, reaching number 170 on the state chart.

Bruce would not trouble the ARIA top 150 again, but came close with his second solo album Hot House (number 151, September 1995), which became his final top 200 entry in Australia.  Bruce had two later very low-charting singles during the streaming era, with “Voyager One” (number 1782, March 2019) and “Cast Off” (number 1574, April 2019).

Next week (31 May): Six top 150 entries and five bubbling WAY down under entries.

< Previous week: 17 May 1993               Next week: 31 May 1993 >

Week commencing 18 May 1992

This week in 1992 sees a bumper ten new top 150 entries, with a further four bubbling WAY down under.  A theme running through this week's new entries is that quite a few of them did a bit better, landing within the top 100, on the rival Australian Music Report singles chart.

 

In other news, I have updated some earlier posts (a work in progress...) with newly-uncovered singles peaking outside the top 150, namely:

 

* 13 March 1989 - new bubbling WAY down under entry from Glass Tiger;

* 20 March 1989 - new bubbling WAY down under entry from The Smithereens;

* 24 April 1989 - new bubbling WAY down under entry from Not Drowning, Waving;

* 8 May 1989 - new bubbling WAY down under entry from Amy Grant;

* 5 June 1989 - new bubbling WAY down under entries from Tom Jones, Ten City, Cameo and Keith Richards;

* 13 May 1991 - new bubbling WAY down under entry from Shawn Christopher;

* 9 September 1991 - new bubbling WAY down under entry from Peabo Bryson.

 

Jenny Morris landed a break in her hit-run this week in 1992.

 

Top 150 debuts:

 

Number 120 "What a Lover" by Eve

Peak: number 120

Peak date: 18 May 1992

Weeks in top 150: 4 weeks

Top 150 chart run: 120-133-141-144

 

I wasn't aware of this track at the time, and can't tell you much about it, other than Eve was probably an Australian artist, as only an Australian pressing is listed on discogs.com.  This is the only release listed under that artist on the site.

"What a Lover" performed strongest on the South Australia/Northern Territory state chart, where it reached number 42.  "What a Lover" also peaked higher on the Australian Music Report singles chart, where it reached number 85.

Number 124 "Don't Lose the Magic" by Shawn Christopher

Peak: number 124

Peak date: 18 May 1992

Weeks in top 150: 4 weeks

Chart run: 194-(out for 2 weeks)-124-127-132-147

Weeks on chart: 5 weeks

We last saw American house singer Shawn Christopher in 1991.  "Don't Lose the Magic" was her second and final single to chart in Australia.  I didn't know this song at the time, but it was on a various artists music video compilation I recently picked up.  I like it.

Internationally, "Don't Lose the Magic" peaked at number 30 in the UK in March 1992, number 71 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in March 1992, number 27 in the Netherlands in May 1992, and number 30 in the Flanders region of Belgium in June 1992.

Domestically, "Don't Lose the Magic" performed strongest in New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory, where it reached number 104.

To my ears, "Don't Lose the Magic" has that Steve "Silk" Hurley sound that was popular in 1991-2, though he was not involved in its production.

Number 125 "Crackerjack Man" by Jenny Morris

Peak: number 125

Peak date: 18 May 1992

Weeks in top 150: 3 weeks

Known chart run: 204-125-139-150

Weeks on chart: 8 weeks

 

New Zealand singer Jenny Morris made her first appearance on the Australian chart in 1982 with the single "Puberty Blues" (number 88, February 1982), title track of the Australian film of the same name.  Jenny returned in November 1983 as the lead singer of QED, with the track "Everywhere I Go" (number 19, April 1984); a song I remember vividly from the time, when I was in Grade Prep at school.

Jenny then launched her solo career proper with the single "Get Some Humour" (number 82, February 1986).  Between 1986 and 1992, Jenny amassed seven top 40 singles in Australia, with the highest-peaking of those being "Break in the Weather" (number 2, October 1991).

 

"Crackerjack Man" was the fourth and final single from Jenny's third solo album Honeychild (number 5, October 1991). It followed "Break in the Weather", "I've Had You" (number 39, January 1992), and "Zero" (number 89, March 1992).

On the state charts, "Crackerjack Man" performed strongest in New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory, where it reached number 116.

I don't recall hearing "Crackerjack Man" at the time, but became familiar with it when digitising Jenny's The Best of Jenny Morris: The Story So Far VHS tape in 2005.  I had forgotten how the song went prior to listening to it again when writing this post, though I do like it.

"Crackerjack Man" fared better on the Australian Music Report singles chart, where it peaked at number 98.

 

Unfortunately, Jenny has had the neurological voice disorder spasmodic dysphonia for some time, making it difficult for her to speak let alone sing, as it gives the voice a strangled-strained quality, resulting in voice breaks.  I first became aware of spasmodic dysphonia at university, where I studied speech pathology, in the late 1990s.  Coincidentally, that's also where I first heard of BoTox (it can be injected into the vocal cords to treat spasmodic dysphonia, often giving relief for several months before needing to be injected again) - before it became widely known in association with cosmetic procedures, although Jenny has opted not to undergo this treatment when I caught her speaking about the issues she has with speaking/singing on an episode of Australian Story some years ago.

We shall next see Jenny in 1994.

Number 131 "Lift Me Up" by Howard Jones

Peak: number 131

Peak date: 18 May 1992

Weeks in top 150: 5 weeks

Known chart run: 202-131-140-140-145-149

Weeks on chart: 9 weeks

British singer-songwriter Howard Jones, born John Howard Jones, first appeared on the Australian chart with "New Song" (number 60, December 1983) in November 1983. He scored six top 40 hits in Australia between 1984 and 1986, with the biggest of those being "No One Is to Blame" (number 9, June 1986).  Somehow, I wasn't aware of Howard Jones at the time (I didn't start following music properly until 1987), but knew "No One Is to Blame" then, though not who it was by or what the song was called.

Howard was last on the Australian chart in 1989 with the single "Everlasting Love" (number 91, April 1989) and the album Cross That Line (number 97, May 1989).

 

"Lift Me Up" was the lead single from Howard's fifth studio album In the Running (number 158, June 1992).  Internationally, "Lift Me Up" peaked at number 52 in the UK in April 1992, number 6 in Canada in May 1992, and number 32 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in June 1992.

Within Australia, "Lift Me Up" was most popular in South Australia/Northern Territory, where it reached number 106.

We will next see Howard in 1993.

Number 132 "I Drove All Night" by Roy Orbison

Peak: number 132

Peak date: 18 May 1992

Weeks in top 150: 5 weeks (2 weeks in 1992; 3 weeks in 1993)

Top 150 chart run: 132-145.  Re-entry 22 March 1993: 140-149-(out for 1 week)-143

Weeks on chart: 16 weeks (9 weeks in 1992; 7 weeks in 1993)

 

We last saw Roy Orbison in 1989.

I, like most of the world, first became familiar with the song "I Drove All Night" when Cyndi Lauper released her version of it, reaching number 11 for three weeks on the Austalian chart in July 1989.  The song, however, was originally recorded in 1987 by Roy Orbison, though his version was not released as a single until 1992, more than three years after his death at age 52 in December 1988.  I first heard Roy's rendition of "I Drove All Night" on the UK Chart Attack radio show.

 

"I Drove All Night" was written by Billy Steinberg and Tom Kelly, who shared writing credits on hits such as Madonna's "Like a Virgin" (number 1, December 1984), Cyndi Lauper's "True Colors" (number 3, September 1986), Heart's "Alone" (number 6, August 1987), Whitney Houston's "So Emotional" (number 26, February 1988) and Bangles' "Eternal Flame" (number 1, May 1989) to name but a few.

The vocals from Roy's 1987 recording of "I Drove All Night" were used by Jeff Lynne who created a new mix of the track for Roy's posthumous King of Hearts (number 25, November 1992) album.  The track first appeared on the Nintendo: White Knuckle Scorin' album in 1991.

Internationally, Roy's version of "I Drove All Night" peaked at number 52 in Germany in March 1992, number 74 in Canada in May 1992, number 7 in the UK in July 1992, number 6 in Ireland, and number 48 in New Zealand in September 1992.

In Australia, "I Drove All Night" had two separate releases - a cassingle release on BMG in March 1992, and a CD/cassingle release on EMI in March 1993.  The 1992 release contained Sheena Easton's "Forever Friends" and Trixter's "Line of Fire" as B-sides, while the 1993 release contained B-sides from Roy.  The single peaked at number 132 on the ARIA singles chart in May 1992, and at number 140 in March 1993.  "I Drove All Night" performed strongest on the Queensland state chart for both releases, reaching number 87 in May 1992, and number 112 in April 1993.

The music video for "I Drove All Night" features actors Jason Priestley and Jennifer Connelly.

Céline Dion scored a hit with her version of "I Drove All Night" (number 22, March 2003) in 2003, though I prefer the Hex Hector remix of it.

Roy Orbison's recording is my favourite version of "I Drove All Night", though I like Cyndi's version too.  Another version of the song I like was recorded by The Protomen in 2012.  "I Drove All Night" is one of my favourite karaoke songs to sing... when no-one is in the vicinity.

We will next see Roy in November 1992.

Number 136 "Love U Love Me" by Atomic Dining Club

Peak: number 129

Peak date: 1 June 1992

Weeks in top 150: 7 weeks

Top 150 chart run: 136-131-129-140-136-134-149

 

Australian band Atomic Dining Club were Brian Mannix - former lead singer of Uncanny X-Men, Ross McLennon and Steve Harrison.  "Love U Love Me" was their debut single, from their only album Car Crash in Blue, which had three separate release dates listed in The ARIA Report, from May, June and August of 1993.  I am not sure which was the correct release date, or whether the album was even released at all, given that no copies of it are currently listed on discogs.com, and nothing came up when I googled the band name and album title.  Does anyone reading this know whether the album saw the light of day? The album missed the ARIA top 150 albums chart - I can tell you that.

Having not heard this track before, I liked it more than I was expecting to, given that I'm not really a fan of Uncanny X-Men, whose biggest hit was "50 Years" (number 4, June 1985).

"Love U Love Me" found greater success on the Australian Music Report singles chart, where it reached number 87.

 

A music video exists for "Love U Love Me", as it is listed as a new addition on the rage playlists in The ARIA Report, but nobody has yet uploaded it to YouTube.

We shall see Atomic Dining Club again in 1993.

 

Number 143 "The Big One" by Chris Wilson

Peak: number 143

Peak date: 18 May 1992

Weeks in top 150: 1 week

Top 150 chart run: 143

 

"The Big One" was Australian blues musician Chris Wilson's debut single.  The track was lifted from his debut album Landlocked, which originally peaked at number 120 in Australia in August 1992, but the 30th edition re-issue of the album actually peaked higher, reaching number 86 in December 2022.

I first became aware of Chris in 1995, when he sang the male vocal on Merril Bainbridge's "Under the Water" (number 4, August 1992) - the "I'll be your loverrrr, underrrr the waterrrr" bits.  I spelt the lyric that way in jest, as despite being Australian born and bred, Chris seems to rhotacise his r-coloured vowels - that is, pronounce the 'r' in them, like speakers of American, Canadian and Irish English do.  Australian English is non-rhotic, meaning that we do not pronounce the 'r' in vowel sounds, other than in connected speech where the vowel appears at the end of the word and is followed by another word beginning with a vowel sound, as in the phrase "four of those".  My speech pathology degree comes in handy for other things sometimes...

Chris followed up this track with the single "Alimony Blues" in October 1992, which missed the top 150.

Sadly, Chris passed away in 2019, aged 62, after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.

We will next see Chris in 1996, as part of the duo Wilson Diesel.

 

Number 144 "Girl for Me" by The Chevelles

Peak: number 144

Peak date: 18 May 1992

Weeks in top 150: 1 week

Top 150 chart run: 144

Perth band The Chevelles formed in 1989.  The group never landed a top 100 entry, and this was their only release to trouble the top 150.  An earlier EP, The Kids Ain't Hip, curiously spent two weeks at number 8 on the ARIA top 20 Alternative Singles chart in March 1991, before re-appearing on the top 20 Alternative Albums Chart, where it reached number 10 in April 1991.

"Girl for Me" is lifted from The Chevelles' debut album Gigantic, which was released in June 1993.  The single performed better on the Australian Music Report singles chart, where it reached number 97.

Number 145 "The Way I Made You Feel" by Ed Kuepper

Peak: number 144

Peak date: 25 May 1992

Weeks in top 150: 2 weeks

Top 150 chart run: 145-144

 

Born in West Germany, but based in Australia, Ed Kuepper was a founding member and guitarist of seminal punk band The Saints, formed in 1973.  The Saints first appeared on the Australian chart with their debut single "(I'm) Stranded" (number 98, March 1977). Ed left the band in 1979, before The Saints scored their biggest hit with "Just Like Fire Would" (number 29, April 1986).  We previously saw Ed with The Yard Goes On Forever in 1990.

Ed's debut solo album Electrical Storm was released in September 1985, but missed the national top 100.  Ed scored his first charting single with "Nothing Changes in My House" (number 99, January 1988).  His biggest solo 'hit' in Australia was "If I Had a Ticket" (number 72, April 1994).

"The Way I Made You Feel" appeared on Ed's fifth solo studio album Honey Steel's Gold (number 28, March 1992).

We will next see Ed in July 1992.

 

 

Number 147 "Play Dinosaur" by Degenerates

Peak: number 142

Peak date: 1 June 1992

Weeks in top 150: 4 weeks

Top 150 chart run: 147-143-142-(out for 1 week)-148

We last saw Australian band Degenerates in 1991.  "Play Dinosaur" was the title track from the band's debut album Play Dinosaur, which, as with Atomic Dining Club above, had three separate release dates listed in The ARIA Report (June, July and August 1992), and missed the top 150.

 

"Play Dinosaur" performed significantly better on the Australian Music Report singles chart, where it reached number 68.  I have to wonder why a single peaked 74 places higher on the AMR chart...

 

This would be Degenerates' final top 150 entry, though they released a second album Outspoken in March 1993.

Bubbling WAY down under:

 

Number 174 “Nighttrain” by Public Enemy

Peak: number 168

Peak date: 25 May 1992

Weeks on chart: 4 weeks 

We last saw Public Enemy in March 1992.

“Nighttrain” was issued as the third single from Public Enemy’s fourth studio album Apocalypse 91… The Enemy Strikes Black (number 11, October 1991).  Internationally, the single peaked at number 55 in the UK in April 1992, and number 42 in New Zealand in June 1992.  The song also registered on the US Billboard Hot Rap Songs chart, reaching number 17 in May 1992.

Locally, “Nighttrain” performed strongest in Victoria/Tasmania, where it reached number 142.

We shall next see Public Enemy in October 1992.

Number 189 "Bang" by Blur

Peak: number 189

Peak date: 18 May 1992

Weeks on chart: 1 week

 

We last saw English band Blur in 1991.  "Bang" was the second single released from the band's debut album Leisure (number 142, April 1992) in Australia.

Internationally, "Bang" peaked at number 24 in the UK in August 1991, and number 21 in Ireland in August 1991.  The single also peaked at number 40 on the US Billboard Dance Club songs chart in June 1992 - for what that is worth (not much, in my book).  This was classified as dance music in the US?!

Within Australia, "Bang" performed strongest in Victoria/Tasmania, where it reached number 168.

I don't recall hearing "Bang" before, though have a VHS-sourced copy of the video in my collection from a tape I digitised, so have actually heard it before.  Musically, it sounds quite similar to "There's No Other Way" to me.

"Bang" has been virtually disowned by Blur, who wrote the song in response to pressure they were placed under by their record label to produce another hit.  The band's bass player Alex James said in a 1999 interview that he didn't think the band would ever play the song live again.

We will next see Blur in 1993.

 

 

 

Number 209 "Closer Than Close" by Peabo Bryson

Peak: number 209

Peak date: 18 May 1992

Weeks on chart: 1 week

 

We last saw American singer-songwriter Peabo Bryson in 1991.

 

"Closer Than Close" was issued as the second single from Peabo's fifteenth studio album Can You Stop the Rain (number 188, March 1992).  Interestingly, this single was released in Australia in February 1992, but took just over three months to register on the charts.

"Closer Than Close" missed the US Billboard Hot 100, but peaked at number 10 on the pointless Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart in November 1991.

Within Australia, "Closer Than Close" peaked highest in New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory, where it reached number 186.

Peabo would land his final top 100 hits in Australia with the duets "Beauty and the Beast" (number 17, July 1992) with Céline Dion, and "A Whole New World (Aladdin's Theme)" (number 10, June 1993) with Regina Belle.  Both tracks were themes from Disney movies, Beauty and the Beast and Aladdin, respectively.

While we won't see Peabo bubbling under again on his own, we will see him as a featured artist in 1993.  Peabo had further low-charting albums in Australia with Through the Fire (number 193, August 1994) and Missing You (number 619, October 2007).

 

Number 211 "The Guitar (The Lion Sleeps Tonight)" by They Might Be Giants

Peak: number 180

Peak date: 8 June 1992

Weeks on chart: 3 weeks

We last saw American band They Might Be Giants in March 1992.  "The Guitar (The Lion Sleeps Tonight)" was the second single from their fourth studio album Apollo 18 (number 59, April 1992).

 

"The Guitar (The Lion Sleeps Tonight)" came together in a jam session based around The Tokens' "The Lion Sleeps Tonight". The song's chorus is sung by country singer Laura Cantrell.

I cannot find evidence of "The Guitar..." charting anywhere else.  Within Australia, the single performed strongest in Queensland, where it reached number 156.

We shall next see They Might Be Giants in 1994.

Next week (25 May): A quieter week, with three top 150 entries and two bubbling WAY down under debuts.

< Previous week: 11 May 1992                                         Next week: 25 May 1992 >

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.

 

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