This week in 1993’s new entries peaking outside the top 100 in Australia are quite a mixed bag, featuring veteran artists who had been around for decades, as well as new artists making their chart debut. Unusually, we also have two new entries from the same artist. Let’s take a look at them.
PJ Harvey didn’t quite measure up on the Australian chart with this release.
Top 150 debuts:
Number 113 “Sugar Kane” by Sonic Youth
Peak: number 110
Peak date: 3 May 1993
Weeks in top 150: 6 weeks
Chart run: 113-110-122-117-124-134
Weeks on chart: 6 weeks
We last saw American alternative band Sonic Youth in 1992.
“Sugar Kane” was issued as the third single from Sonic Youth’s seventh full-length studio album Dirty (number 22, August 1992). “Sugar Kane” was also the lead track on their Whores Moaning EP (number 44, February 1993), released only in Australia and New Zealand to coincide with their Australasian tour, which was the band’s highest-charting release on the Australian singles chart. It’s unusual that “Sugar Kane” would receive a single release in its own right just a couple of months later.
Internationally, “Sugar Kane” peaked at number 26 in the UK in March 1993. Domestically, the single performed strongest in Victoria/Tasmania, where it reached number 93.
I didn’t know this one at the time, but have caught the music video several times on rage over the years.
Sonic Youth will next join us in 1994.
Number 120 “Blood of Eden” by Peter Gabriel
Peak: number 112
Peak date: 3 May 1993
Weeks in top 150: 5 weeks
Chart run: 174-120-112-123-132-140
Weeks on chart: 6 weeks
English singer-songwriter Peter Gabriel last joined us in 1991.
“Blood of Eden”, featuring uncredited guest vocals on the chorus from Sinéad O’Connor (though she appears in the music video), was the third single lifted from Peter’s sixth studio album Us (number 3, October 1992). It followed “Digging in the Dirt” (number 23, November 1992) and “Steam” (number 29, February 1993). An earlier version of the track, minus vocals from Sinéad, appeared on the 1991 film Until the End of the World, but not on the soundtrack.
Internationally, “Blood of Eden” peaked at number 43 in the UK in April 1993. In Australia, “Blood of Eden” was equally most popular in New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory and Queensland, reaching number 93 on both state charts. “Blood of Eden” performed better nationally on the Australian Music Report singles chart, where it reached number 97.
I didn’t know this one until checking it out on YouTube out of curiosity when I got hold of the 1993 top 150 charts several years ago. I like it a lot, and think it deserved to do much better on the chart.
We shall next see Peter Gabriel in November 1993, and Sinéad O’Connor with another duet in August 1993.
Number 122 “Simple Life” by Elton John
Peak: number 122
Peak date: 26 April 1993
Weeks in top 150: 5 weeks
Top 150 chart run: 122-126-126-138-138
Weeks on chart: 7 weeks
English singer-songwriter Elton John, born Reginald Kenneth Dwight, needs no introduction. Starting with “Your Song” (number 10 on the Go Set chart, April 1971), Elton had placed 62 singles on the Australian top 100 chart at this point in 1993, with “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart” (number 1 for one week in August 1976) and “That’s What Friends Are For” (number 1 for one week in March 1986) reaching the top.
“Simple Life” was the fourth single lifted from Elton’s twenty-third studio album The One (number 2 for two weeks in June-July 1992), following title track “The One” (number 15, June 1992), Eric Clapton duet “Runaway Train” (number 53, September 1992), and “The Last Song” (number 32, January 1993).
Internationally, “Simple Life” peaked at number 3 in Canada in April 1993, number 30 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in April 1993, number 44 in the UK in May 1993, and number 63 in Germany in June 1993. “Simple Life” also registered on three US Billboard genre-specific charts, reaching number 1 on the Adult Contemporary chart in March 1993, number 26 on the Radio Songs chart in April 1993, and number 17 on the Pop Airplay chart in April 1993.
In Australia, “Simple Life” performed strongest in South Australia/Northern Territory, reaching number 99 on the state chart. “Simple Life” peaked higher nationally on the Australian Music Report singles chart, where it reached number 100.
We’ll next see Elton in 1996.
Number 128 “Dreams of Heaven” by Ground Level
Peak: number 119
Peak date: 3 May 1993
Weeks in top 150: 4 weeks
Top 150 chart run: 128-119-136-140
Weeks on chart: 12 weeks
Australian electronic music duo Ground Level were David Walker, hailing from Melbourne, and American Jean-Marie Guilfoil. “Dreams of Heaven”, their fourth single, achieved some underground success in the UK, reaching number 54 on the UK singles chart in January 1993.
“Dreams of Heaven” debuted on the ARIA singles chart at number 174 on 29 March 1993, taking almost a month to crack the top 150. On the state charts, “Dreams of Heaven” performed strongest in Western Australia, reaching number 60. “Dreams of Heaven” fared better nationally on the Australian Music Report singles chart, where it reached number 92.
“Dreams of Heaven” would eventually appear on the debut and only Ground Level album New Moon, in 1995, which did not chart.
I didn’t think I knew “Dreams of Heaven”, but it sounded familiar to me. I am not sure where I might have heard it, though have read it was used as background music on Neighbours at the time - but I stopped watching Neighbours in 1988. “Dreams of Heaven” sounds quite innovative and ahead of its time for 1993, which is impressive for an Australian dance track. It’s a shame that Australian radio wouldn’t touch this kind of music with a barge pole at the time - other than perhaps Triple J - as this could have been a hit had it received better promotion.
We’ll see Ground Level with another new entry, debuting outside the top 150, this week, unusually.
Number 142 “Lord of the Flies” by Scarymother
Peak: number 132
Peak date: 31 May 1993
Weeks in top 150: 10 weeks
Top 150 chart run: 142-136-137-133-137-132-135-141-142-149
Sydney band Scarymother formed in 1990. They supported Faith No More on their Australian tour in April-May 1993, coinciding with the release of their debut single “Lord of the Flies”, which was produced by Faith No More producer Matt Wallace. “Lord of the Flies” would go on to appear on Scarymother’s debut and only album Tai Laeo (number 94, May 1994), which was the band’s only top 100 entry in Australia.
We shall see Scarymother again in August 1993.
Bubbling WAY down under:
Number 176 “Candy Everybody Wants” by 10,000 Maniacs
Peak: number 174
Peak date: 24 May 1993
Weeks on chart: 7 weeks
We last saw American alternative rock band 10,000 Maniacs in February 1993.
“Candy Everybody Wants” was released as the second single from the band’s fifth studio album One Time in Eden (number 171, November 1992). Internationally, the single peaked at number 47 in the UK in April 1993, and at number 67 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in April 1993. In Australia, “Candy Everybody Wants” performed strongest in New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory, reaching number 163 on the state chart.
I hadn’t heard this one before; it’s quite pleasant.
10,000 Maniacs will next join us in 1994.
Number 182 “Anything” by Sydney Youngblood
Peak: number 163
Peak date: 31 May 1993
Weeks on chart: 8 weeks
Germany-based American singer-songwriter Sydney Youngblood last visited us in 1991.
“Anything” was the lead single from Sydney’s third studio album Just the Way It Is (number 211, May 1993). Internationally, “Anything” peaked at number 48 in the UK in March 1993, number 27 in the Flanders region of Belgium in April 1993, and number 51 in Germany in May 1993. Locally, “Anything” was most popular in Western Australia, where it reached number 146 on the state chart.
I didn’t know this one at the time, but digitised the video from a UK HMV in-store VHS compilation I picked up over a decade ago.
This was Sydney’s last single to chart in Australia. A second single from Just the Way It Is, “No Big Deal”, which sounds rather like Ace of Base musically, was released in Europe. Sydney released a fourth album in Europe, The Hat Won’t Fit, in 1994, containing the single “So Good So Right (All I Can Do)”, which has a lyrical and melodic nod to his earlier hit “Sit and Wait” (number 59, April 1990).
1
Number 189 “50 Ft Queenie” by PJ Harvey
Peak: number 179
Peak date: 31 May 1993
Weeks on chart: 4 weeks
PJ Harvey was originally a three-piece band formed in Bristol, England in 1988, named after front woman Polly Jean Harvey who sang and played guitar, with Rob Ellis on drums and backing vocals, and Ian Oliver on bass. The trio released their debut album Dry (number 156, July 1992) in 1992, which contained the singles “Dress” (released in Australia in April 1992, did not chart) and “Sheela-Na-Gig” (released in Australia in March 1992, did not chart).
The trio returned in 1993 with their second album and first major label release Rid of Me (number 110, June 1993), led by the single “50 Ft Queenie”. Internationally, “50 Ft Queenie” peaked at number 27 in the UK in April 1993. Domestically, the single performed strongest in Western Australia, where it reached number 148.
The trio disbanded in August 1993 after growing apart while on tour, and ‘PJ Harvey’ was relaunched as a solo act. An album of demos recorded for the Rid of Me album, 4-Track Demos (number 189, February 1994), was released later in the year, effectively launching Polly’s solo career.
I first became aware of PJ Harvey in early 1995, with the single “Down by the Water” (number 84, April 1995), preceding the album To Bring You My Love (number 38, April 1995), which I purchased. The material from the first two PJ Harvey albums is a little more guitar-heavy than I normally listen to, but I do enjoy “50 Ft Queenie”, no doubt helped by the music video in which Polly really hams it up. My favourite track from Rid of Me is the title track, “Rid of Me”.
Between 1995 and 2001, PJ Harvey placed five singles on the Australian top 100, with “Good Fortune” (number 71, April 2001) being the highest-charting of those. “A Perfect Day Elise” (number 83, September 1998) is probably my favourite single of hers.
We’ll next see PJ Harvey in July 1993.
Number 202 “Don’t Let It Go to Your Head” by The Brand New Heavies
Peak: number 195
Peak date: 28 June 1993
Weeks on chart: 2 weeks
British acid jazz band The Brand New Heavies, containing several American singers, last joined us in 1992. Since then, the band’s second album Heavy Rhyme Experience Vol. 1 (number 282, November 1992), an album of collaborations with other artists, was released.
“Don’t Let It Go to Your Head” was the second single released in Australia from The Brand New Heavies’ debut album The Brand New Heavies (number 139, August 1992). The song is a cover version of a song originally recorded by Jean Carn in 1978.
Internationally, The Brand New Heavies’ version of “Don’t Let It Go to Your Head” peaked at number 24 in the UK in August 1992.
Domestically, “Don’t Let It Go to Your Head” was most popular in Queensland, where it reached number 161 on the state chart.
The Brand New Heavies will next join us in 1994.
Number 204 “Took My Love” by Bizarre Inc featuring Angie Brown
Peak: number 190
Peak date: 3 May 1993
Weeks on chart: 5 weeks
We last saw English dance act Bizarre Inc in 1992.
“Took My Love” was Bizarre Inc’s fourth single release in Australia, and their fourth release to peak outside the top 100. The track was lifted from the band’s second album Energique (released in Australia in November 1992, did not chart). As with their previous single, Angie Brown is again featured on vocals, although this time she does not appear in the music video.
Internationally, “Took My Love” peaked at number 19 in the UK in February 1993, number 17 in Ireland in March 1993, and number 22 in the Netherlands in April 1993. “Took My Love” also peaked at number 1 on the US Billboard Dance Club Songs chart in April 1993, and number 15 on the Dance Singles Sales chart in May 1993.
In Australia, “Took My Love” performed strongest in Western Australia, where it reached number 153 on the state chart.
I didn’t hear this one until finding it on a UK promo VHS compilation about 15 years ago. It no doubt received an airing on the UK Chart Attack radio program.
This was Bizarre Inc’s last charting release in Australia. Angie Brown’s vocals would be heard again on Motiv 8’s “Rockin’ for Myself” (number 9, September 1994).
Number 208 “Out of Body” by Ground Level
Peak: number 208
Peak date: 26 April 1993
Weeks on chart: 2 weeks
The second new entry this week from Australian electronic duo Ground Level, “Out of Body” was their third single, released in Australia only on 12” vinyl in May 1992. I can’t explain its belated debut almost a year later, other than perhaps the ‘success’ of their next release, “Dreams of Heaven” (discussed above) resulted in renewed interest in this track.
On the state charts, “Out of Body” was most popular in Western Australia, where it reached number 174.
We’ll next see Ground Level in November 1993.
Number 220 “Independence” by Lulu
Peak: number 195
Peak date: 10 May 1993
Weeks on chart: 2 weeks
Scottish singer, actress and TV personality Lulu, born Marie McDonald McLaughlin Lawrie, made her Australian chart debut in the 1960s. Her biggest Australian chart hit would not come until the 2000s, though, with her duet with Ronan Keating, “We’ve Got Tonight” (number 12, February 2003). Lulu’s previous charting single in Australia was 1981’s “I Could Never Miss You (More Than I Do)” (number 71, March 1982).
“Independence” was Lulu’s first new single in the UK since 1990. Internationally, “Independence” peaked at number 11 in the UK in January 1993, number 21 in Ireland, and number 52 in Germany in April 1993. The song also reached number 3 on the US Billboard Dance Club Songs chart.
Domestically, “Independence” was most popular in Queensland, where it reached number 169 on the state chart.
We’ll see Lulu again in July 1993. She landed another top 40 hit in Australia as a featured artist on Take That’s “Relight My Fire” (number 33, February 1994).
Number 227 “One Shining Moment” by Diana Ross
Peak: number 227
Peak date: 26 April 1993
Weeks on chart: 1 week
American Motown legend Diana Ross last joined us in 1989. “One Shining Moment” was the belated second single released in Australia from Diana’s nineteenth studio album The Force Behind the Power (number 100, March 1992), following “When You Tell Me That You Love Me” (number 83, March 1992).
Internationally, “One Shining Moment” peaked at number 10 in the UK in June 1992, and number 16 in Ireland.
In Australia, “One Shining Moment” peaked at number 226 on all state charts except Western Australia, where it peaked at number 227. That suggests to me that “One Shining Moment” was very near to, if not at, the bottom of the chart this week in 1993.
Another single from The Force Behind the Power, “If We Hold on Together”, was released in Australia in June 1993, but failed to chart.
Diana will join us next in 1995.
Next week (3 May): Seven top 150 entries and two bubbling WAY down under debuts.
