Before taking a look at this week in 1993’s new entries peaking outside the Australian top 100, I wish to update you on my health situation. I wrote in early 2024 that my cancer appeared to be in remission, as the review CT, MRI and PET scans I had at that time showed no evidence of disease. Unfortunately, the scan results were not matched with reality when I underwent a minor procedure to evaluate the primary site. I continued chemotherapy throughout 2024, completing 36 cycles, and earlier this year switched to oral chemotherapy after the intravenous combinations I had been taking stopped working. Unfortunately, the oral chemo has also stopped working and I am now out of treatment options, other than clinical trials, which I am unlikely to be eligible for due to my complicated medical history. Given my current situation, I have thought of accelerating the frequency of my chart recaps (i.e. writing more than one post a week), but am not sure if I want to commit to that… watch this space. Now onto this week’s new entries.
This single was the kiss of death for Sade on the Australian chart.
Top 150 debuts:
Number 106 “If You Have to Ask” by Red Hot Chili Peppers
Peak: number 106
Peak date: 3 May 1993
Weeks in top 150: 5 weeks
Chart run: 106-121-115-136-120
Weeks on chart: 5 weeks
American band Red Hot Chili Peppers formed in Los Angeles in 1982. After several years underground, they finally made some ripples on the chart with their fourth album Mother’s Milk (number 33, May 1992 - after originally peaking at number 67 in April 1990), and the single “Higher Ground” (number 45, March 1990), which was a Stevie Wonder cover.
Red Hot Chili Peppers had their major commercial breakthrough with their fifth album, and first release on Warner Bros. Records, Blood Sugar Sex Magik (number 1 for 2 weeks in April 1992). “If You Have to Ask” was the fifth single lifted from Blood Sugar Sex Magik, following “Give It Away” (number 41 for 3 weeks in November 1991), “Under the Bridge” (number 1 for 4 weeks in April-May 1992), “Suck My Kiss” (number 8, May 1992), and “Breaking the Girl” (number 30, October 1992). It was only released as a single in Australia and Germany, and only charted in Australia.
On the state charts, “If You Have to Ask” performed strongest in Queensland, where it reached number 90.
We’ll next see Red Hot Chili Peppers in 1996.
Number 118 “How I’m Comin” by LL Cool J
Peak: number 101
Peak date: 17 May 1993
Weeks in top 150: 6 weeks
Top 150 chart run: 118-104-101-109-112-116
Weeks on chart: 8 weeks
American rapper LL Cool J last joined us in 1989.
“How I’m Comin” was the lead single from LL Cool J’s fifth studio album 14 Shots to the Dome (number 112, June 1993). Internationally, the single peaked at number 57 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in April 1993, number 37 in the UK in April 1993, and number 16 in New Zealand in May 1993. “How I’m Comin” also registered on several US Billboard genre-specific charts, peaking at number 28 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart in April 1993, number 10 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles Sales chart in April 1993, number 55 on the R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart in April 1993, number 24 on the Dance Singles Sales chart in May 1993, and number 1 on the Hot Rap Songs chart in May 1993.
In Australia, “How I’m Comin” performed strongest in Western Australia, where it reached number 71 on the state chart. The single peaked within the top 100 on all state charts except South Australia/Northern Territory. “How I’m Comin” peaked higher nationally on the Australian Music Report singles chart, where it reached number 98.
We’ll next see LL Cool J in July 1993.
Number 123 “Who Let in the Rain” by Cyndi Lauper
Peak: number 109
Peak date: 10 May 1993
Weeks in top 150: 4 weeks
Top 150 chart run: 123-109-119-129
Weeks on chart: 7 weeks
American singer-songwriter Cyndi Lauper last visited us in 1992.
“Who Let in the Rain” was the first single released from Cyndi’s fourth studio album Hat Full of Stars (number 102, July 1993). Internationally, the single peaked at number 12 in New Zealand in June 1993, number 76 in Canada in August 1993, and number 32 in the UK in January 1994. “Who Let in the Rain” also peaked at number 33 on the US Billboard Adult Contemporary chart in April 1993.
In Australia, “Who Let in the Rain” was most popular in Queensland, where it reached number 96 on the state chart. Nationally, “Who Let in the Rain” performed slightly better on the Australian Music Report singles chart, where it reached number 100.
I don’t recall hearing this one before. While it’s nice enough, it doesn’t stand out like Cyndi’s classic singles from the 80s, and doesn’t sound like lead single material to me. Cyndi’s commercial success after the 1980s waned partly because I think she was too closely associated with that decade, image wise. Taking a four year hiatus between albums also didn’t help.
We’ll next see Cyndi in 1995.
Number 144 “All About Eve” by Marxman
Peak: number 144
Peak date: 3 May 1993
Weeks in top 150: 3 weeks
Top 150 chart run: 144-146-(out for 1 week)-148
English four-piece hip-hop group Marxman formed in London in 1989. “All About Eve” was the third single lifted from their debut album 33 Revolutions per Minute, which does not appear to have been released in Australia. This single peaked at number 28 in the UK in February 1993, and was their only top 150 chart entry in Australia.
Number 145 “Dream On (Kathy’s Song)” by Jenni Forbes
Peak: number 104
Peak date: 14 June 1993
Weeks in top 150: 11 weeks
Top 150 chart run: 145-135-135-141-122-114-104-107-115-137-142
Weeks on chart: 15 weeks
“Dream On (Kathy’s Song)” was Australian singer-songwriter Jenni Forbes’ debut release. Despite the music video receiving some airplay, the single stalled outside the top 100 nationally, but was more popular in Queensland, where it reached number 45 on the state chart. “Dream On (Kathy’s Song)” peaked much higher nationally on the Australian Music Report singles chart, where it reached number 62.
Jenni, who would later change her name to Jenn Forbes, co-wrote Toni Pearen’s “I Want You” (number 10, May 1993), which was charting at the same time as this release. When Toni met Jenni to listen to some of her demo recordings, Jenni told Toni that she could have any song except for “I Want You”, which Jenni wanted to keep for herself. Obviously, Toni got her way by being permitted to record that one, and landed a hit with it.
“Dream On (Kathy’s Song)” would go on to appear on Jenni’s debut album (released as Jenn Forbes) I, No Y (number 169, October 1995). We'll see Jenni again (as Jenn) in 1995.
Number 148 “Erotic” by The Exponents
Peak: number 148
Peak date: 3 May 1993
Weeks in top 150: 2 weeks
Top 150 chart run: 148-(out for 5 weeks)-149
New Zealand band The Exponents formed in 1981, and were originally named Dance Exponents. Their biggest hit in New Zealand as Dance Exponents, was “Victoria”, which reached number 6 there in August 1982. “Sex and Agriculture” (number 11 in New Zealand in September 1984) was charting in New Zealand when my family relocated there for six months, but I have no recollection of hearing that one before.
Dance Exponents relocated to London in 1987, presumably hoping to gain international success which never came. They returned to New Zealand in 1991, and renamed themselves The Exponents. “Erotic” was lifted from the band’s fourth studio album Something Beginning with C, their first as The Exponents, which does not appear to have been released in Australia. “Erotic” peaked at number 27 in New Zealand in January 1993, where it was their fourteenth top 50 single. “Erotic” would be their only top 150 entry in Australia.
Number 149 “Slow Dance” by Mark Williams
Peak: number 139
Peak date: 10 May 1993
Weeks in top 150: 5 weeks
Top 150 chart run: 149-139-147-147-144
Weeks on chart: 9 weeks
We last saw New Zealand-but-now-Australia-based singer Mark Williams in 1991.
“Slow Dance” was the second single released from Mark’s sixth, and to date last, studio album Mind Over Matter (number 133, June 1993), following “We Can Dream” (number 95, October 1992). In between, Mark had a charting single with Tara Morice, covering Cyndi Lauper’s “Time After Time” (number 82, January 1993), from the Strictly Ballroom soundtrack (number 6 for two weeks in August-September 1992).
On the state charts, “Slow Dance” was most popular in South Australia/Northern Territory, where it reached number 120.
This was Mark’s last charting single in Australia. A third single from Mind Over Matter, “I Can’t Help You Anymore”, was released in August 1993, but failed to chart.
Bubbling WAY down under:
Number 184 “The Right Decision” by Jesus Jones
Peak: number 184
Peak date: 3 May 1993
Weeks on chart: 3 weeks
English band Jesus Jones last paid us a visit in 1992.
“The Right Decision” was the second single lifted from the band’s third studio album Perverse (number 32, February 1993), following “The Devil You Know” (number 54, February 1993). Internationally, “The Right Decision” peaked at number 36 in the UK in April 1993, and at number 88 in Canada in May 1993. The song also peaked at number 12 on the US Billboard Alternative Airplay chart.
Domestically, “The Right Decision” performed strongest in Victoria/Tasmania, where it reached number 167.
Jesus Jones will join us on one more occasion, in August 1993.
Number 186 “Kiss of Life” by Sade
Peak: number 186
Peak date: 3 May 1993
Weeks on chart: 2 weeks
English band Sade last joined us in January 1993.
“Kiss of Life” was the third single lifted from Sade’s fourth studio album Love Deluxe (number 13, March 1993). Internationally, the single peaked at number 44 in the UK in May 1993, number 78 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in May 1993, number 30 in Canada in May 1993, number 88 in Germany in May 1993, and number 33 in New Zealand in May 1993. “Kiss of Life” also registered on several US Billboard genre-specific charts, peaking at number 46 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles Sales chart in May 1993, number 65 on the Radio Songs chart in May 1993, number 10 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart in May 1993, number 9 on the R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart in May 1993, and number 20 on the Adult Contemporary chart in May 1993.
In Australia, “Kiss of Life” was most popular in Queensland, where it reached number 159 on the state chart.
“Kiss of Life” was released in Australia just before the first Love Deluxe single, “No Ordinary Love” (number 21, June 1993, after originally peaking at number 95 in November 1992), was climbing the chart.
We’ll see Sade on one more occasion, in September 1993.
Next week (10 May): Eight top 150 entries and two bubbling WAY down under debuts.
