Week commencing 15 February 1993

This week in 1993's new entries peaking outside the top 100 are an interesting bunch.  Among them, we have two live releases for which a lip syncing music video was made, a cover version featuring the artists who recorded the original song, and some underappreciated in Australia at the time R&B acts.  Before taking a look at them, I have updated the following earlier posts:

 

* 29 October 1990 - with new bubbling WAY down under entry from Archie Roach;

* 1 February 1993 - now with an audio clip for Paul Kelly and others’ "He Can't Decide".

 

Simply Red: love for sale... but was anyone buying?

 

Top 150 debuts:

 

Number 124 "Hold Back the Night" by K.W.S. featuring The Trammps

Peak: number 118

Peak date: 1 March 1993

Weeks in top 150: 5 weeks

Chart run: 124-121-118-125-135

Weeks on chart: 5 weeks

 

British band K.W.S. originate from Nottingham, England, and were named after the surnames of the group's three members, Chris King, Winston "Winnie" Williams, and Delroy St. Joseph... except singer Delroy only sang lead on their first two singles, "Please Don't Go" (number 2 for 4 non-consecutive weeks in July-August 1992; it topped 3 of the 5 state charts) and "Rock Your Baby" (number 38, November 1992).  Those tracks were cover versions of KC & The Sunshine Band and George McCrae, respectively.

All of K.W.S's singles were cover versions, and "Hold Back the Night", the third single from their debut and only album Please Don't Go (The Album) (number 148, February 1993) - released as KWS in Europe, Japan and South America - is another.  This time, however, the song was originally recorded by American band The Trammps, who perform on this version, in 1975.  The Trammps' original of this track did not chart in Australia; their only charting single here was "Disco Inferno" (number 32, June 1978).

 

Internationally, the K.W.S. version of "Hold Back the Night" peaked at number 30 in the UK in December 1992, and number 20 in Ireland during the same month.

 

In Australia, "Hold Back the Night" was most popular in Queensland, where it reached number 102 on the state chart.

 

One thing I didn't realise until researching this post is that the two guys who play the instruments in K.W.S., Chris King and Winnie Williams, passed away in 2023 and 2024, respectively.

We shall see K.W.S. once more, in 1995.

 

 

Number 130 Montreux EP by Simply Red

Peak: number 130

Peak dates: 15 February 1993 and 22 February 1993

Weeks in top 150: 4 weeks

Top 150 chart run: 130-130-138-150

Weeks on chart: 7 weeks

 

We last saw English band Simply Red in 1992.

 

As those of you familiar with the annual Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland might have guessed, the Montreux EP is a collection of songs recorded live at the aforementioned festival.  The four songs in question, recorded live on 8 July 1992, are:

* "Love for Sale" - this track was originally a B-side on Simply Red's "Ev'ry Time We Say Goodbye" single, which was released in Australia in December 1987, but did not chart.  This song is a cover version of Waring's Pennsylvanians from 1931, written by Cole Porter.

 

* "Drowning in My Own Tears" - a cover version of Sonny Thompson from 1951, exclusive to this release.

 

*  "Granma's Hands" - this track was originally a B-side on Simply Red's "Come to My Aid" single, which was released in Australia in December 1985, but did not chart.  This song is a cover version of Bill Withers from 1971.

 

* "Lady Godiva's Room" - an original track that was originally a B-side on Simply Red's "Infidelity" (number 54, June 1987) single.  This appears to have been the main track on the Montreux EP, despite being track 4, as a music video (embedded below) was filmed for it.

 

Internationally, the Montreux EP peaked at number 11 in the UK in November 1992, and number 21 in Ireland during the same month.

In Australia, the Montreux EP performed strongest in Western Australia, where it reached number 96 on the state chart.  The EP debuted nationally at number 185 on 18 January 1993, and took almost a month to crack the top 150.

We'll next see Simply Red in 1996.

 

Number 138 "From Paradise" by Archie Roach

Peak: number 107

Peak date: 22 March 1993

Weeks in top 150: 8 weeks

Top 150 chart run: 138-138-137-130-142-107-(out for 2 weeks)-139-150

Weeks on chart: 12 weeks

We last saw Indigenous Australian singer-songwriter Archie Roach in 1990.

 

"From Paradise" was Archie's third single, and first release from his second album Jamu Dreaming (number 55, April 1993).  It was, surprisingly, his only single to dent the top 150.  On the state charts, "From Paradise" performed strongest in Victoria/Tasmania, where it reached number 55.

We'll next see Archie in October 1993.

Number 140 "The Harder They Come" by Madness

Peak: number 136

Peak date: 1 March 1993

Weeks in top 150: 3 weeks

Chart run: 154-140-143-136

Weeks on chart: 4 weeks

We last saw zany English band Madness in 1992.

 

Taking a leaf out of Simply Red's book above, the "The Harder They Come" single consists of four live recordings, taken from the band's first live concerts since disbanding in 1986, on 8-9 August 1992.  Also like Simply Red, a music video was filmed for "The Harder They Come", despite it being a live recording!  The track, which is a cover version of the Jimmy Cliff song from 1971, was lifted from Madness's live album Madstock! (number 169, March 1993).  The group never made a studio recording of "The Harder They Come".

 

Internationally, "The Harder They Come" peaked at number 44 in the UK in November 1992, which was a bit surprising and must have been a disappointment for the band, given that their Divine Madness compilation album had topped the charts there for three weeks in March 1992.

 

Locally, "The Harder They Come" performed strongest in Queensland, reaching number 120 on the state chart.

Despite being a casual Madness fan, I hadn't actually heard "The Harder They Come" before.  I like it.

 

We won't see Madness again until 1999.  Before then, lead singer Suggs will bubble under with solo releases in 1996 and 1998.

Number 145 "Let This Housebeat Drop" by Ya Kid K

Peak: number 125

Peak date: 22 February 1993

Weeks in top 150: 4 weeks

Top 150 chart run: 145-125-142-143

Weeks on chart: 5 weeks

We last saw Congolese rapper Ya Kid K in 1991.

 

"Let This Housebeat Drop" was Ya Kid K's second solo single, where she was not credited as a featured artist.  The track appears on Ya Kid K's debut and only solo album One World Nation (The Kids Shall Overcome), which does not appear to have been released in Australia.  Interestingly, the album contains the Technotronic song "Move This", which peaked at number 67 in Australia in October 1993 after initially peaking at number 98 in February 1993, on it.  "Move This" originally appeared on the first Technotronic album Pump Up the Jam (number 22, April 1990), but became a belated number 6 hit in the US in September 1992 after the song was used in a Revlon TV commercial.

 

I cannot find evidence of "Let This Housebeat Drop" charting anywhere else.  On the state charts, "Let This Housebeat Drop" was most popular in Victoria/Tasmania, where it reached number 104.

 

Only the video for the extended version of "Let This Housebeat Drop", embedded below, is available online.  Although I have a copy of this video in my collection, I hadn't actually listened to the track before.  I was surprised to see Lonnie Gordon appear in the video, and as an uncredited background/additional vocalist on the song.

 

Ya Kid K would rejoin Technotronic after the commercial failure of her debut solo album.  We will see her bubble under with them again in 1994.

 

Bubbling WAY down under:

 

Number 151 "These Are Days" by 10,000 Maniacs

Peak: number 151

Peak date: 15 February 1993

Weeks on chart: 5 weeks

 

American alternative rock band 10,000 Maniacs previously paid us a visit in 1989.

 

"These Are Days" was the lead single from the band's fifth studio album One Time in Eden (number 171, November 1992).  Internationally, the single peaked at number 58 in the UK in September 1992, number 35 in Canada in December 1992, and number 66 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in December 1992.  "These Are Days" also peaked at number 1 on the US Billboard Alternative Airplay chart in November 1992, number 40 on the Pop Airplay chart in December 1992, number 34 on the Adult Contemporary chart in December 1992, and number 70 on the Radio Songs chart in December 1992.

 

In Australia, "These Are Days" performed strongest in Queensland, where it reached number 139 on the state chart.

 

I've heard "These Are Days" before, but couldn't remember how it went.  It's nice enough, but doesn’t really stand out as a lead single.

 

10,000 Maniacs will next join us in April 1993.

Number 192 "Reminisce" by Mary J. Blige

Peak: number 192

Peak date: 15 February 1993

Weeks on chart: 2 weeks

American R&B singer Mary J. Blige last joined us in 1992.

 

"Reminisce" was the second and final single released in Australia from Mary's debut album What's the 411? (not released in Australia).  Internationally, "Reminisce" peaked at number 57 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in December 1992, and number 31 in the UK in February 1993.  "Reminisce" registered on numerous US Billboard genre-specific charts, reaching number 46 on the Radio Songs chart in December 1992, number 21 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles Sales chart in January 1993, number 34 on the Rhythmic Airplay chart in January 1993, number 5 on the Dance Singles Sales chart in January 1993, number 6 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart in February 1993, and number 3 on the R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart in February 1993.

 

In Australia, "Reminise" was most popular in New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory, where it reached number 182 on the state chart.

 

I hadn't heard "Reminisce" before.  It sounds a bit too R&B to have been a big hit in Australia in 1993, but might have done better if it was released here a couple of years later.

 

We'll next see Mary J. Blige in 1995.

Number 216 "I'm Overjoyed" by Nona Gaye

Peak: number 216

Peak date: 15 February 1993

Weeks on chart: 1 week

 

As you might have guessed, Nona Gaye is the daughter of Marvin Gaye, whose biggest hit in Australia was "Sexual Healing" (number 4, March 1983).  Marvin was fatally shot by his father following an argument, a day before what would have been Marvin's 45th birthday, in 1984.  Nona was a mere 9 years old at that time.

 

"I'm Overjoyed" was Nona's debut single, lifted from her debut album Love for the Future (released in Australia in March 1993, did not chart).  Internationally, "I'm Overjoyed" peaked at number 86 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in November 1992, and at number 39 in New Zealand in December 1992.  The song also registered on several US Billboard genre-specific charts, reaching number 64 on the Radio Songs chart in October 1992, number 36 on the Rhythmic Airplay chart in November 1992, number 19 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart in November 1992, and number 46 on the R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart in December 1992.

 

Locally, "I'm Overjoyed" performed strongest in New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory, where it reached number 197.

 

"I'm Overjoyed" would be Nona's only charting release in Australia.  A promotional single dueting with (then The Artist Formerly Known As) Prince, "Love Sign", was released in 1994, but did not receive a commercial single release.  Nona released a second album, Language of Love, in 2008, and acted in several movies in the 2000s.  Nona has since retired from acting.

 

I hadn't heard "I'm Overjoyed" before listening to it to write this post.  It's quite pleasant, and reminded me a little bit of Shanice.

Next week (22 February): Six top 150 entries and three bubbling WAY down under debuts.

 

< Previous week: 8 February 1993                         Next week: 22 February 1993 >

Week commencing 7 September 1992

This week in 1992 saw the second-highest number of new top 150 entries peaking between number 101 and 150 for the year, with 11; although the only week that beats it, in November, contains a single that would later go on to peak within the top 40, and a combined re-release of two singles that also peaked within the top 40.  To be fair, this week in 1992 contains a single that peaked within the top 60 in 1984.  It also contains four singles that dented the Australian Music Report top 100 singles chart.

 

Before taking a look at this week's new entries, I wish to bring to your attention that there's a new electronic Australian singles chart book out authored by bulion from the australian-charts.com forum.  The book, which is a large Excel spreadsheet file sold on a USB stick, contains Australian chart peaks dating back to 1940, covering through to the end of 2020, including peaks from the Go-Set charts, the Australian Music Report charts (through to 1998), and the ARIA-produced charts (June 1988 onwards).  For the first time, this book contains ARIA top 100 singles chart peaks between numbers 51-100 from June 1988-December 1989 inclusive, as well as ARIA top 150 singles chart peaks from January 1989 through to December 1998.  That's right - you can skip ahead a few years on my chart recaps if you are so inclined, to find out whether some of your favourite 90s flops charted locally!  Also included are week by week chart runs for each release, as well as hyperlinks to where you can listen to each single/view the music video online.  If you are interested in purchasing this book, scroll down to the bottom of this thread on the australian-charts.com forum, and send a private message to bulion (you may need to register an account there).

I have also updated the following earlier post:

* 27 July 1992 - with new bubbling WAY down under entry from Delbert McClinton.

Now, onto this week from 1992...

 

Dannii Minogue showed us the way not to go on the ARIA charts in 1992.

 

Top 150 debuts:

 

Number 104 "Show You the Way to Go" by Dannii Minogue

Peak: number 104

Peak date: 7 September 1992

Weeks in top 150: 6 weeks

Top 150 chart run: 104-113-107-105-125-127

Weeks on chart: 8 weeks

Danielle Jane Minogue, better known as Dannii, first came to the attention of Australia when she appeared as one of the young singers on the TV program Young Talent Time between 1982 and 1988.  It seemed inevitable that she would launch a recording career, and that turned out to be the case, although older sister Kylie, who initially gained fame as an actress on The Henderson Kids and Neighbours, beat her to it by three years, with the release of "Locomotion" (number 1 for seven weeks in August-September 1987).  Due to Kylie's sustained international success, Dannii's recording career always seemed to be in the shadow of Kylie's, even though Dannii is the more-gifted vocalist of the two.

After leaving Young Talent Time, Dannii launched a range of children's clothing and landed an acting gig on Home and Away as the rebellious Emma Jackson.  Dannii launched her recording career in 1990 with "Love and Kisses" (number 4, April 1990), which would oddly be her only top 10 hit in Australia, although she scored 20 ARIA top 100 singles between 1990 and 2007.  "Love and Kisses" reached number 1 on the South Australia/Northern Territory state chart, which was the only time Dannii achieved a number 1 single anywhere in the world.

Dannii followed up "Love and Kisses" with "Success" (number 28, October 1990).  I will always remember a comment about that single in the Australian edition of Smash Hits magazine: "After not having much success with, er... Success...".  Her debut album Dannii (number 24, November 1990) achieved moderate success in Australia, but had a short chart life, spending 11 weeks on the chart, with only two of those in the top 50.  A third single from the album, "I Don't Wanna Take This Pain" (number 92, December 1990), barely scraped into the top 100.

Dannii launched her music career in the UK in 1991, with a remix of "Love and Kisses" reaching number 8 there in April of that year.  For her European releases, Dannii would regain the Minogue surname - something that did not happen with her Australian releases until 2001.  I guess she didn't want to be forever known as Kylie's little sister.  A reworked version of the Dannii album, Love and Kisses, was released in Europe, containing two new recordings - which were both covers - that were released as singles: "Jump to the Beat" (number 48, October 1991) and "Baby Love" (number 26, April 1992). A slightly different version of this album, with some 12" mixes tacked on to the end, titled Love and Kisses and... was released locally in February 1992 and reached number 98 on the ARIA albums chart in May 1992.

"Show You the Way to Go", a cover version of a song originally recorded by The Jacksons in 1977, was recorded for UK music newspaper NME's Ruby Trax (The NME's Roaring Forty) compilation, to raise funds for The Spastics Society (a somewhat politically incorrect name now).  Forty artists recorded cover versions of 40 different UK number 1 singles to contribute to the compilation.  I bought this 3-CD compilation in the late 90s from the now defunct Au Go Go bricks and mortar store (they still have an online presence) in the Melbourne CBD for Tori Amos' version of "Ring My Bell", which was exclusive to this release.  If my memory serves me correctly, the mix of "Show You the Way to Go" used on Ruby Trax is slightly different to that released on the single. Another track recorded for Ruby Trax will bubble under in November 1992.

Internationally, Dannii's version of "Show You the Way to Go" peaked at number 30 in the UK in July 1992.

Locally, "Show You the Way to Go" performed strongest in South Australia/Northern Territory, where it reached number 77.  It also made the Australian Music Report top 100 singles chart, peaking at number 87.

I would not have been aware of this song at the time if not for hearing it on the UK Chart Attack radio show.  The song went on to appear on Dannii's second album proper, Get Into You (number 53, November 1993), which was preceded by another cover version, "This Is It" (number 13, September 1993).  In between these two covers, Dannii released an original track, co-written by Cathy Dennis - whom we'll see next month - and D Mob's Danny D, "Love's on Every Corner".  That single was not released in Australia, however; probably because it bombed in the UK, peaking at number 44 there in December 1992.  Cathy would, of course, go on to co-write Kylie's biggest career hit, "Can't Get You Out of My Head" (number 1 for 4 weeks in September-October 2001).

Because I have no intention of still writing these chart posts when it gets to the 2010s, this will be the only time we see Dannii bubble under.  She had two later low-charting singles, however, with "Holding On" (number 604, August 2017) and "Galaxy" (number 692, November 2017).

 

Even though the 2000s were not really my era musically, my favourite Dannii single is "You Won't Forget About Me" (number 20, November 2004).  Another underappreciated single of hers I quite like is "Rescue Me", a collaboration with Eurogroove in 1995 that was only released in Japan.

Dannii went on to have a sucessful career as a judge on TV 'reality' contest shows, like The X Factor UK (she had the good fortune of seeing X Factor audition reject legend Rachel Lester's verbal tirade uncensored and in person, in 2007 - for which I am extremely envious), Australia's Got Talent and The Masked Singer.

 

 

Number 105 "California Here I Come" by Sophie B. Hawkins

Peak: number 104

Peak date: 14 September 1992

Weeks in top 150: 7 weeks

Top 150 chart run: 105-104-109-115-113-118-117

Weeks on chart: 9 weeks

New York singer-songwriter Sophie Ballentine Hawkins, shortened to Sophie B. Hawkins for her recording career, landed a top 10 hit in Australia with her debut single "Damn I Wish I Was Your Lover" (number 7, August 1992).  Like Dannii above with her debut release, the single reached number 1 on the South Australia/Northern Territory state chart.

"California Here I Come" was issued as the second single from Sophie's debut album Tongues and Tails (number 38, November 1992).  Internationally, the single peaked at number 39 in Canada in September 1992, number 53 in the UK in September 1992, number 43 in New Zealand in September 1992, and number 77 in Germany in November 1992.

In Australia, "California Here I Come" was most popular in South Australia/Northern Territory, where it reached number 67.  The single peaked within the top 100 on all of the state charts, other than New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory.  "California Here I Come" performed stronger nationally on the Australian Music Report top 100 singles chart, where it reached number 99.

I didn't actually hear "California Here I Come" in full until the second half of the 2000s decade, when it appeared on a German VHS compilation I bought.  I only heard a snippet of the song in 1992 as a preview on the Take 40 Australia radio show, so it presumably suffered from a lack of promotion, which seems odd given that it was the follow-up to a top 10 hit and radio staple at the time.  Sophie would have to wait until 1995 to score her second hit proper hit here.  Before then, it seemed like Sophie might end up a one-hit wonder in Australia.

We'll next see Sophie in November 1992.

 

Number 116 "This Charming Man" by The Smiths (1992 re-issue)

Peak: number 108

Peak date: 28 September 1992

Weeks in top 150: 6 weeks

Chart run: 204-116-114-119-108-112-122

Weeks on chart: 7 weeks

This single originally peaked at number 52 in Australia in April 1984, spending 12 weeks in the top 100.

 

English band The Smiths formed in Manchester in 1982.  While they accumulated 18 UK top 40 hits during their career, only two of their singles troubled the Australian top 100, with the biggest of those being the 1984 release of "This Charming Man", which peaked at number 52 in Australia in April of that year.  The Smiths had two additional singles that registered on the Australian Music Report's list of singles achieving significant sales reports beyond the top 100.  The band fared slightly better on the albums chart locally, achieving four top 40 albums, though none peaked higher than number 25 - that being The World Won't Listen (number 25, April 1987).

The Smiths split up in 1987, somewhat acrimoniously, with growing tensions between lead singer Morrissey and guitarist/pianist/keyboard and harmonica player Johnny Marr.  The band's other two members at the time of the split, Andy Rourke and Mike Joyce, later sued Morrissey and Marr for their share of the band's royalties.

Morrissey embarked on a solo career after the dissolution of The Smiths, and we last saw him in 1991.  Johnny Marr joined Pretenders in 1987, performing on a 1989 single of theirs, before leaving to join The The from 1989 until 1994.  During 1989, he also formed Electronic with New Order singer Bernard Sumner, with Pet Shop Boys' Neil Tenant occasionally collaborating with them.  We saw Electronic in 1991.

"This Charming Man", which tells the tale of a young male cyclist accepting a ride from an older man he flirts with after puncturing his bicycle tyre, was re-issued in 1992 to promote the release of The Smiths' compilation album Best ...1 (number 64, October 1992).  Internationally, the 1992 release of "This Charming Man" peaked at number 8 in the UK in August 1992, bettering its original peak of number 25 there in November 1983.  It also peaked at number 9 in Ireland in August 1992, where the original 1983 release did not chart.

In Australia, the 1992 release of "This Charming Man" performed strongest in South Australia/Northern Territory, where it reached number 88.

 

The Smiths' bassist Andy Rourke died in May 2023, aged 59, from pancreatic cancer.

We shall next see The Smiths in November 1992.

 

 

Number 127 "Your Mirror" by Simply Red

Peak: number 120

Peak date: 28 September 1992

Weeks in top 150: 7 weeks

Chart run: 127-133-123-120-127-139-144

Weeks on chart: 7 weeks

 

It was a little over two months ago that English band Simply Red graced our presence, and here they are with the second of three consecutive single releases to fall short of the top 100 in Australia.  "Your Mirror" was issued as the fifth and final single from the band's fourth studio album Stars (number 7, April 1992). Unusually, there does not appear to have been a music video filmed to promote the single, although two live performances have been uploaded to Simply Red's official YouTube channel - one of which, from Hamburg in 1992, you can view here.

Internationally, "Your Mirror" peaked at number 17 in the UK in July 1992, number 28 in Ireland in July 1992, and number 59 in Germany in September 1992.

Locally, "Your Mirror" was most popular in Western Australia, where it reached number 97 on the state chart.

 

I don't recall hearing this one before, although the chorus seemed vaguely familiar.

We will next see Simply Red in 1993.

 

 

Number 130 "Lowdown" by Adore

Peak: number 109

Peak date: 5 October 1992

Weeks in top 150: 7 weeks

Top 150 chart run: 130-110-121-113-109-133-141

Adore were Australian trio David Wilson, Jo Offe, and Susie Ahern.  David had previously been the lead singer in Go 101, whom we saw bubble under in 1990.  "Lowdown", which was the band's only release, was a cover version of the Boz Scaggs song, which surprisingly only peaked at number 94 in Australia in October 1976, before bettering its peak as the AA-side on the "We're All Alone" single, which reached number 54 in October 1977.

I remember seeing Adore perform "Lowdown" live on Hey Hey It's Saturday.  Although I was aware of the song at the time, I had completely forgotten about it until picking up the music video for it on a VHS compilation I bought on eBay about 18 months ago, to upload it to one of my YouTube channels.

"Lowdown" fared better on the Australian Music Report singles chart, where it reached number 95.

Renegade Funktrain would incorporate the chorus of "Lowdown" into their single "I Wonder...", which originally peaked at number 68 in Australia in August 1995, before being re-issued as a AA-side single with  "Renegade Funktrain", reaching number 49 in March 1996.

 

 

Number 131 "Pennies from Heaven" by Inner City

Peak: number 122

Peak date: 21 September 1992

Weeks in top 150: 6 weeks

Known chart run: 170-131-132-122-128-139-150

Weeks on chart: 8 weeks

We last saw American duo Inner City in October 1990.

 

"Pennies from Heaven" was released as the first and only single in Australia from Inner City's third studio album Praise (number 135, September 1992).   Four other singles from the album were released internationally, including "Let It Reign", "Hallelujah '92", "Praise", and "Follow Your Heart".

Internationally, "Pennies from Heaven" peaked at number 24 in the UK in June 1992, and number 51 in the Netherlands in August 1992.

Within Australia, "Pennies from Heaven" performed strongest in Western Australia, where it reached number 58.

I remember seeing this single being reviewed in the Australian edition of Smash Hits magazine, but don't think I actually heard it until getting hold of the video on a UK VHS compilation in the 2000s.  The song is quite uplifting, and should have had much more commercial success.  Again, a lack of promotion was no doubt at play, at least in Australia.

"Pennies from Heaven" would be Inner City's last single released in Australia until the 1999 version of "Good Life" (number 52, March 1989) - the duo's biggest 'hit' in Australia, re-titled "Good Life (Buena Vida)".  While I assume the 1999 single charted in Australia, based on the weeks in tally listed for "Good Life" (28 weeks, versus the 16 weeks the original spent in the top 150), I am unable to give you a chart peak for it at present, as the ARIA database unfortunately tends to combine separate releases of the 'same' title into one entry, and I do not currently possess the top 150 charts for 1999 to be able to tell you whether or not it made the top 150.

Inner City would have one further charting album in Australia, however, with Testament 93 (number 166, July 1993), which contained remixes of tracks from their first three studio albums.

 

 

Number 133 "I Believe" by Edrenalin

Peak: number 129

Peak date: 21 September 1992

Weeks in top 150: 5 weeks

Top 150 chart run: 133-137-129-148-141

I can't tell you much about Edrenalin, other than they were an Australian act containing Greg Hopping and Jamie White.  "I Believe", which I hadn't heard before, was their only release to trouble the ARIA top 150, and appeared on the album Carpe Diem.

 

 

Number 135 "Bring Me On" by K.I.C.

Peak: number 135

Peak date: 7 September 1992

Weeks in top 150: 3 weeks

Top 150 chart run: 135-139-(out for 2 weeks)-150

K.I.C. was Australian artist Cristian Saliadarre.  "Bring Me On", which I hadn't heard before, was one of two singles he released - the other being "The Right Way", which was released in July 1993 but missed the top 150.  Both videos have been uploaded to Cristian’s YouTube channel, and if he is to be believed, the latter single made the top 10 in both Hong Kong and Singapore, though I have no way of verifying that.

"Bring Me On" performed better on the Australian Music Report singles chart, where it reached number 99.

 

 

Number 137 "River of Dreams" by Glenn Frey

Peak: number 137

Peak date: 7 September

Weeks in top 150: 5 weeks

Known chart run: 215-137-142-146-145-(out for 1 week)-147

Weeks on chart: 7 weeks

 

Former Eagle Glenn Frey last joined us in July 1992.

"River of Dreams" - another one I hadn't heard before - was issued as the third single from Glenn's fourth solo studio album Strange Weather (number 120, September 1992), and matched the peak of the previous single in Australia.

Internationally, "River of Dreams" peaked at number 59 in Canada in October 1992.

Locally, "River of Dreams" was most popular in South Australia/Northern Territory, where it reached number 105.

We will next see Glenn in November 1992.

 

Number 145 "School" by The Tin Lids with The Yunupingu Kids

Peak: number 131

Peak dates: 28 September 1992 and 5 October 1992

Weeks in top 150: 7 weeks

Top 150 chart run: 145-144-145-131-131-143-143

 

Australian band The Tin Lids - which, despite having Scottish heritage, I didn't know until recently was rhyming slang for 'kids' - were the offspring of Jimmy Barnes; namely, Mahalia, Eliza-Jane, Elly-May and Jackie.  At this point in time, their ages ranged from 3 to 10.  I strongly suspect that Elly-May is the youngest 'artist' to have ever made the ARIA chart - she was a mere 2 years and 6 months old when the group's debut single "Christmas Day" (number 40, December 1991) debuted on the chart in November 1991!

The Tin Lids followed that up with the Christmas-themed album Hey Rudolph! (number 6, December 1991).  A second album Snakes & Ladders (number 54, October 1992) followed, led by the single "Walk the Dinosaur" (number 64, July 1992), which was a cover version of the Was (Not Was) track which peaked at number 9 in Australia in February 1988.  I had forgotten I uploaded the video for The Tin Lids' version on of my YouTube channels.

"School" was issued as the second single from Snakes & Ladders, and was a collaboration with The Yunupingu Kids, which I assume were the offspring of the Yothu Yindi members with that surname.  The track accordingly features some didgeridoo.  I hadn't heard this one before, but liked it more than I was expecting to.  Naturally, I think the song would be better if the vocals were performed by adults and sounded less like a school choir performance.

 

A music video for "School" was made, but has not yet found its way onto YouTube.

While The Tin Lids would not trouble the ARIA top 150 singles chart again, they had a later top 150 album with their final studio album Dinosaur Dreaming (number 128, January 1994).

 

 

Number 150 "The Idol" by W.A.S.P.

Peak: number 126

Peak date: 21 September 1992

Weeks in top 150: 2 weeks

Top 150 chart run: 150-(out for 1 week)-126

Weeks on chart: 5 weeks

 

We last saw American metal band W.A.S.P. in 1990.

"The Idol" appeared on the band's fifth studio album The Crimson Idol (number 104, September 1992).  Internationally, "The Idol" peaked at number 41 in the UK in May 1992.

 

Locally, "The Idol" performed strongest in New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory, where it reached number 74 on the state chart.

I hadn't heard this one before.  While I don't mind some metal ballads, this one didn't strike me as anything special.

 

"The Idol" would be the final W.A.S.P. release to dent the ARIA top 150, although we will see them bubble WAY down under in 1993.

 

 

Bubbling WAY down under:

 

Number 163 "Dondé Esta La Pollo" by Headless Chickens

Peak: number 161

Peak date: 14 September 1992

Weeks on chart: 7 weeks

Kiwi band Headless Chickens received a mention previously in December 1991, with the 1991 release of "Cruise Control" - a single I was unable to give a peak for, given the way the ARIA database tends to combine separate releases of the same title.  I cannot ascertain a peak for anything that peaks outside the top 150 (the lowest number a weekly chart can be extracted from their database) in such circumstances.

"Dondé Esta La Pollo", which translates from Spanish as "where's the chicken?", was the third single released from the second Headless Chickens album Body Blow (number 45, July 1993), following "Gaskrankinstation"/"Crash Hot" (released here in April 1990, did not chart) and the aforementioned "Cruise Control" (released August 1991).

 

Overseas, "Dondé Esta La Pollo" peaked at number 4 in New Zealand in July 1992.  In Australia, the single performed strongest in Western Australia, where it reached number 140.

I have seen the music video for this track a couple of times on rage over the years, but couldn't remember how it went until listening to it again to write this post.  It's not bad.

We'll next see Headless Chickens in 1993.

Number 180 "Slowly" by Stacy Earl

Peak: number 180

Peak date: 7 September 1992

Weeks on chart: 4 weeks

 

American singer Stacy Earl hails from Newton, Massachusetts.  "Slowly" was her third single, though her second in Australia, following "Romeo & Juliet" (released May 1992, did not chart), which was a duet with The Wild Pair, who performed on Paula Abdul's "Opposites Attract" (number 1 for two weeks in April 1990).  Stacy's debut single in her homeland, "Love Me All Up", did not receive a local release.  All three tracks would appear on Stacy's debut and only album Stacy Earl (released locally in June 1992, did not chart).

Internationally, "Slowly" - which is another one I had not heard before - peaked at number 52 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in July 1992.

Locally, "Slowly" performed strongest in Western Australia, where it reached number 101.

 

I had heard Stacy's debut single "Love Me All Up" (linked above) before, due to it appearing in a 'song contest' (where participants enter a song from an obscure-ish artist for others to listen to and rate, Eurovision style, where you cannot vote for your own entry) I participate in on the Pop Justice forum, and quite like that one, but "Slowly" does not grab me.  It's a shame the Australian record label didn't release "Love Me All Up", as I believe that one could have been a hit.

This would be Stacy's only release to chart in Australia.

 

 

Next week (14 September): Five top 150 entries and three bubbling WAY down under debuts.

< Previous week: 31 August 1992                        Next week: 14 September 1992 >

Week commencing 29 June 1992

Before diving into this week in 1992's new entries peaking outside the ARIA top 100, I have updated a bunch of earlier posts:

 

* 31 July 1989 - with new bubbling WAY down under entry from Spirit of the Forest;

* 16 July 1990 - with new bubbling WAY down under entry from Pop Will Eat Itself;

* 6 August 1990 - with new bubbling WAY down under entry from Revenge;

* 20 August 1990 - with new bubbling WAY down under entry from Cameo;

* 21 October 1991 - with new bubbling WAY down under entry from Shabba Ranks featuring Maxi Priest;

* 23 March 1992 - with new bubbling WAY down under entry from Shabba Ranks featuring KRS-1.

 

Londonbeat: Australia wasn't really thinking about them in 1992.

 

Top 150 debuts:

 

Number 119 "Thrill Me" by Simply Red

Peak: number 109

Peak date: 20 July 1992

Weeks in top 150: 9 weeks

Chart run: 193-119-110-114-109-119-116-120-125-149

Weeks on chart: 10 weeks

 

We last saw English band Simply Red at the end of 1989.

 

"Thrill Me" was issued as the fourth single from the band's fourth studio album Stars (number 7, April 1992), which was certified double-platinum in Australia, and was the highest-selling album of 1991 and 1992 in the UK.  It followed the singles "Something Got Me Started" (number 29, November 1991), "Stars" (number 29, March 1992) and "For Your Babies" (number 55, May 1992).

 

Internationally, "Thrill Me" peaked at number 33 in the UK in May 1992, number 30 in Ireland in May 1992, and number 58 in the Netherlands in June 1992.

 

Within Australia, "Thrill Me" was most popular in New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory, where it reached number 90 on the state chart.

 

Despite missing the ARIA top 100, "Thrill Me" spent seven consecutive weeks of its chart run in the top 120, which is not too bad for a single falling short of the top 100.

 

While I quite possibly have heard "Thrill Me" before, I don't think I have actually listened to it until writing this post.  It's not bad, though hardly a career highlight.

 

Simply Red will join us next in September 1992.

 

Number 130 "The Wild Life" by Slaughter

Peak: number 130

Peak date: 29 June 1992

Weeks in top 150: 5 weeks

Known chart run: 178-130-139-133-138-140

Weeks on chart: 8 weeks

 

We last saw American glam metal band Slaughter in 1991.  Their style of music was really on its last legs commercially around this time in 1992.

"The Wild Life" was the lead single and title track from Slaughter's second studio album The Wild Life (number 95, June 1992).  Internationally, the single peaked at number 64 in the UK in May 1992.

Domestically, "The Wild Life" was most popular in Victoria/Tasmania, where it reached number 103.

This was Slaughter's final charting release in Australia.

 

 

Number 139 Unexplained EP by EMF

Peak: number 136

Peak date: 6 July 1992

Weeks in top 150: 6 weeks

Top 150 chart run: 139-136-139-141-146-138

Weeks on chart: 10 weeks

 

English band EMF last graced our presence in 1991.

 

The Unexplained EP was the first new material EMF released following their debut album Schubert Dip (number 44, June 1991).  The EP was led by the track "Getting Through", for which the music video is embedded below.  "Getting Through" would later appear on the band's second studio album Stigma (number 143, November 1992).

Internationally, the Unexplained EP peaked at number 18 in the UK in April 1992, and number 16 in Ireland.

 

In Australia, the Unexplained EP performed strongest in South Autralia/Northern Territory, where it reached number 105.

 

I don't recall hearing "Getting Through" at the time, but remember seeing the EP reviewed in Smash Hits magazine.

 

We shall next see EMF in 1993.

 

 

Number 142 "You Bring on the Sun" by Londonbeat

Peak: number 135

Peak date: 20 July 1992

Weeks in top 150: 4 weeks

Known chart run: 153-142-137-137-135

Weeks on chart: 8 weeks

English band Londonbeat made their first appearance with a single peaking between number 101 and 150 in mid-1991.

 

"You Bring on the Sun" was issued as the lead single from Londonbeat's third studio album Harmony (number 181, November 1992).  Internationally, the single peaked at number 32 in the UK in June 1992, number 9 in Sweden in July 1992, number 9 in Norway, number 7 in the Netherlands in July 1992, number 3 in the Flanders region of Belgium in July 1992, number 10 in Austria in July 1992, number 26 in Germany in July 1992, and number 14 in Switzerland in August 1992.

In Australia, "You Bring on the Sun" performed strongest in Western Australia, where it reached number 87.

 

I caught the video for "You Bring on the Sun" as a new release on rage, and was surprised that it didn't do better on the charts here. 

It's hard to believe that Lononbeat's lead vocalist, Jimmy Helms, is now aged 82!  He was 49, not 44 as I had previously reported (I guess they knocked a few years off his age at the time), when "I've Been Thinking About You" topped the Australian singles chart in early 1991.  Maybe there's hope for me to have a successful pop career yet...

We shall next see Londonbeat in November 1992.

 

Bubbling WAY down under:

 

Number 184 "Mr. Loverman" by Shabba Ranks

Peak: number 163

Peak date: 28 June 1993

Weeks on chart: 12 weeks

We last saw Jamaican dancehall artist Shabba Ranks in March 1992.

"Mr. Loverman" started out as the 1988 single "Champion Lover", recorded by English lovers rock singer Deborahe Glasgow.  Shabba then featured vocals from the song on the original version of "Mr. Loverman", appearing on his Rappin' with the Ladies album in 1990.  Deborahe passed away in January 1994, aged 28, following a cerebral haemorrhage resulting from lymphatic cancer.  Due to Glasgow's illness, the song was re-recorded with female vocals provided by Chevelle Franklin for its single release, which was remixed by David Morales.  This version was added to the second pressing of Shabba's 1992 album X-tra Naked (number 188, February 1993).  The song also appeared on the soundtrack of the 1992 movie Deep Cover.

 

Internationally, "Mr. Loverman" peaked at number 40 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in August 1992, and it initially peaked at number 23 in the UK in August 1992, before reaching a higher peak of number 3 in March 1993 when re-released.  The single also peaked at number 31 in Sweden in August 1992, number 21 in the Netherlands in September 1992, number 33 in the Flanders region of Belgium in October 1992, number 17 in Germany in November 1992, number 22 in Austria in November 1992, number 8 in Ireland in March 1993, and number 19 in France in July 1993.

 

"Mr. Loverman" also peaked at number 2 on the meaningless US Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart in July 1992, number 4 on the Hip-Hop/R&B Airplay chart in July 1992, number 2 on the Dance Singles Sales chart in July 1992, number 7 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Single Sales chart in July 1992, and number 55 on the Radio Songs chart in August 1992.

"Mr. Loverman" had quite a protracted chart run in Australia, despite its number 163 peak, which it reached a day shy of one year after it debuted at number 184.  In its twelve weeks spent on the ARIA singles chart, "Mr. Loveman" was charting in June of 1992, and January, March, June, July and August of 1993.

 

I first heard the song when seeing the video on a special Video Hits: Adults Only episode, which aired in the middle of the night during the Easter school holidays in April 1993, and I remember watching live.  I am not sure why the video was selected for that special - perhaps because it is meant to be 'sexy'?  Many of the other videos shown were more risqué.

 

On the state charts, "Mr. Loverman" performed strongest in Western Australia, where it reached number 106 in March 1993.

 

The "Shabba!" you hear on the track during the chorus is uttered by Maxi Priest, sampled from their 1991 collaboration "Housecall".

 

The drum pattern from "Mr. Loverman" was sampled on Alanis Morissette's "You Learn" (number 20, July 1996).

We shall next see Shabba in December 1992.

 

 

Number 189 "Controlling Me" by Oceanic

Peak: number 168

Peak date: 3 August 1992

Weeks on chart: 5 weeks

 

English electronic dance act Oceanic formed in Merseyside, and landed a number 3 hit in the UK with their debut single "Insanity" in September 1991, which peaked at number 31 in Australia in April 1992, almost five months after its debut at number 155 in November 1991.  Interestingly, "Insanity" performed much stronger in Victoria/Tasmania, where it reached number 11, and Western Australia, where it reached number 14, than elsewhere.  They followed it up with "Wicked Love" (number 96, May 1992), which did not fare nearly as well.

"Controlling Me" was released as the third single from Oceanic's first, and only, album That Compact Disc by Oceanic (number 131, July 1992), which was titled That Album by Oceanic and That Cassette by Oceanic on the LP and cassette formats, respectively.  I remember seeing the CD (I was going to say album, but vinyl was pretty much dead in Australia, other than perhaps 12" singles for DJs, by this point in 1992) in a record store and thinking 'that's an interesting title'.

Internationally, "Controlling Me" peaked at number 14 in the UK in June 1992, and number 19 in Ireland in June 1992.

Domestically, "Controlling Me" performed strongest in Western Australia, where it reached number 134.

While "Controlling Me" would be Oceanic's final single released in Australia, they had one more minor chart 'hit' in the UK with "Ignorance" (UK number 72, November 1992), featuring Siobhan Maher on vocals.  I remember hearing the song on the UK Chart Attack radio show and liking it.

 

 

Next week (6 July): A bumper edition week with twelve new top 150 entries and three bubbling WAY down under debuts.

 

< Previous week: 22 June 1992                                Next week: 6 July 1992 >

Week commencing 18 December 1989

This week's chart was the last chart survey conducted by ARIA for 1989, and the final chart of the 1980s decade.  Owing to the two-week Christmas break in compiling the chart, this week's chart was repeated on 25 December 1989 and 1 December 1990, although it only reflects sales for the week of 11-17 December 1989.

 

Since 30 January 1989, we have seen 242 singles peak within the number 101 to 150 region of the chart, and a further (at the time of writing) 55 singles peak outside the top 150 - and I've now written about all of them!  Hopefully you've discovered or re-discovered some songs you liked during this nostalgic journey.

This week we have six new top 150 debuts and, for the first time since 23 October 1989, no bubbling WAY down under entries to look at.

Before delving into this week's chart, there are a couple of earlier posts from 1989 that I have recently updated, after additional bubbling WAY down under entries have been uncovered.  These posts are:

- 13 March 1989, with a new bubbling WAY down under debut from Joan Jett and The Blackhearts;

- 10 April 1989, with a new bubbling WAY down under debut from Karyn White;

- 10 July 1989, with new bubbling WAY down under debuts from Pseudo Echo and Big Country.

Finally, as no new chart was produced for the following two weeks, my next chart recap will be published in three weeks' time, on 8 January 2021.  I hope to see you then!

Michelle Shocked: what Karens looked like in 1989.

Top 150 debuts:

Number 129 "The Angels" by Melissa Etheridge

Peak: number 116

Peak date: 5 February 1990

Weeks in top 150: 8 weeks

Top 150 chart run: 129-(chart repeated for 2 week Xmas break)-120-123-121-117-116

 

Melissa's fifth single in Australia, this second release from her Brave and Crazy album (number 9, October 1989) was her first to miss the top 40.  I thought I didn't know this one, but the chorus rings a bell.  FM radio in Melbourne loved Melissa Etheridge during this period, and I no doubt heard it played on the radio several times.

 

Unfortunately, the ARIA database conflates this single with Melissa's similarly-titled "Angels Would Fall" from 1999, due to the way the database is set up - apparently, each title is assigned an eight-letter code, using the first four letters of the artist's name, and the first four characters of the song title.  This occasionally leads to errors.  In this instance, "The Angels" would have been listed as "Angels, The", and therefore would share the same code with Melissa's "Angels Come Down".  I am therefore unable to tell you exactly how this single performed on the state charts, but can report that it appeared to do much better on the South Australia/Northern Territory chart, where it debuted at number 54, than in other states.

Melissa will pay us another visit in 1990.

Number 136 "Head On" by The Jesus and Mary Chain

Peak: number 102

Peak date: 22 January 1990

Weeks in top 150: 11 weeks

Chart run: 136-(chart repeated for 2 week Xmas break)-115-108-102-112-107-112-107-107 

Weeks on chart: 11 weeks

Another one I probably heard at the time (and, I think, saw on Countdown Revolution), but had no recollection of... until I caught it on rage again in the late 2000s, is this one from The Jesus and Mary Chain.  "Head On" is quite a poppy effort from the Scottish band - still not quite 'pop', but about as catchy and anthemic as they get, and, dare I say this, not entirely unlike Transvision Vamp if they had a male singer.  I could also picture the song being used as music on Home and Away during a 'young lovers' trip to the fairground' scene.  I probably would have enjoyed the song at the time had I been a little bit older (I was 11).

The more-commercial sound connected with the record-buying public... well, relatively, giving the band their first charting single in Australia.  Lifted from the album Automatic (number 89, February 1990), "Head On" peaked at number 57 in the band's native UK in November 1989.

 

Domestically, "Head On" was most popular in South Australia/Northern Territory, where it reached number 58 on the state chart.  The single peaked within the top 100 on all five state charts.  "Head On" performed stronger nationally on the Australian Music Report singles chart, where it peaked at number 92.

We will see The Jesus and Mary Chain again in 1990.

Number 141 Very Metal Noise Pollution E.P. by Pop Will Eat Itself

Peak: Number 121

Peak date: 15 January 1990

Weeks in top 150: 5 weeks

Chart run: 141-(chart repeated for 2 week Xmas break)-122-121

Weeks on chart: 5 weeks

If any Pop Will Eat Itself single charted in Australia, I would have guessed that it would be "Wise Up! Sucker".  I caught the video for that track several times on TV, and even on a TV screen in the music department at my local K-Mart!  The English band even performed it 'live' on Countdown Revolution!  But, somehow, that single did not chart at all.  Instead, this extended play - that is, E.P. for short - which I had never heard of before, did...

I assume that the first track on the E.P., "PWEI-zation", which I have embedded below, was the one promoted as the 'single', but I could be wrong.  A music video was made for track 3 from the EP, "Def Con One", which I have also embedded below.  This latter track samples The Twilight Zone theme music, and also nicks the hook from Lipps, Inc.'s "Funkytown" (number 1, August 1980).

 

Very Metal Noise Pollution was an in-between albums release, and peaked at number 45 in the UK in September 1989.  In Australia, the EP performed strongest in Victoria/Tasmania, where it reached number 106.

Pop Will Eat Itself also registered their first charting album in Australia with This Is the Day... This Is the Hour... This Is This! (number 128, November 1989).

Pop Will Eat Itself will join us next in 1990.

Number 144 "On the Greener Side" by Michelle Shocked

Peak: number 118

Peak date: 8 January 1990

Weeks in top 150: 9 weeks

Chart run: 144-(chart repeated for 2 week Xmas break)-118-127-132-120-128-135

Weeks on chart: 9 weeks

We first saw Michelle Shocked, real name Karen Michelle Johnston, bubble down under back in April 1989, and here she was again - this time with the lead single from her second album, Captain Swing (number 58, January 1990).  "On the Greener Side" does not appear to have charted on any other 'real' (sales-based) chart, though it did peak at number 19 on the US Billboard 'Alternative Airplay' chart... whatever that means, in January 1990.  While Karen, sorry, Michelle will just scrape into the top 100 singles chart in 1992 with "Come a Long Way" (number 100, July 1992), this will be the last time we see her bubble down under.

 

Due to the apparent absence of this song on YouTube, I can only assume that Karen Michelle wants to speak to the manager whenever her videos or songs are uploaded.  But, thankfully, she doesn't seem to mind having them on Vimeo - assuming the 'Michelle Shocked' account responsible for uploading the video I have embedded below is actually her.  The music video, if I am not mistaken, loosely attempts to subvert the Robert Palmer 'pouting models' music video formula, showcasing a bunch of men in suits cavorting behind her nonchalantly while strumming guitars, before being revealed in Speedos, swimming goggles and not much else flexing their muscles.  Enjoy.

Number 145 "You've Got It" by Simply Red

Peak: number 127

Peak date: 8 January 1990

Weeks in top 150: 7 weeks

Top 150 chart run: 145-(chart repeated for 2 week Xmas break)-127-138-140-142

Weeks on chart: 9 weeks

Just a few months ago, Simply Red topped the ARIA singles chart with their rendition of "If You Don't Know Me by Now" (number 1, August 1989).  Two single releases later, they were just scraping into the top 130, with the fourth and final single release from their A New Flame album (number 2, August 1989).  If not for my dad owning the album on cassette (and being subjected to it on the car tape deck), I would not have heard this song before; so a lack of promotion was probably a factor in its poor chart showing.  The single performed better in the band's native UK, though still flopped, peaking at number 46 in November 1989.  "You've Got It" peaked at number 14 in Ireland in October 1989, but was not a hit anywhere else.  Simply Red front man Mick Hucknall co-wrote the song with Lamont Dozier, one third of Motown's songwriting and production powerhouse Holland-Dozier-Holland - not that it helped save "You've Got It" from being rather dull and unexciting.

"You've Got It" performed strongest on the South Australia/Northern Territory state chart, where it peaked at number 92.  The single also peaked higher, at number 80 nationally on the Australian Music Report singles chart.

We shall next see Simply Red in 1992.

Number 146 "Heading West" by Cyndi Lauper

Peak: number 117

Peak date: 15 January 1990

Weeks in top 150: 10 weeks

Chart run: 164-146-(chart repeated for 2 week Xmas break)-130-117-128-118-132-147-148

Weeks on chart: 11 weeks

Poor Cyndi had not had much chart success with the post-"I Drove All Night" singles from her A Night to Remember album.  On a rosier note, at least "Heading West" - the fourth and final single released from the album - peaked 28 places higher than the last one.  Like Simply Red, I never heard this one at the time - though remember seeing it in the shops, so lack of promotion probably hindered its success.

 

"Heading West" missed the top 100 on all of the state charts, though performed strongest on the Victoria/Tasmania chart, where it peaked at number 103.  Internationally, "Heading West" didn't do much better on any major chart, though peaked at number 68 in the UK in December 1989.  It seemed that, from this point onwards, Cyndi would struggle to achieve significant chart success, and would unfairly be relegated to being a relic of the 1980s.

Cyndi will join us next in 1992.

Next chart (8 January): After the Christmas/New Year's break, the ARIA chart resumes on 8 January, kicking off the 1990s with four new top 150 debuts and two bubbling WAY down under entries.  In 1990, we will see 272 singles peaking in the 101 to number 150 region of the chart, and (at the time of writing this) a further 29 singles debuting and peaking outside the top 150.  That's at least 301 songs I have to listen to and write about next year...

 

Thank you for reading my posts throughout the year, and I hope you have a safe and pleasant holiday season!  You can also follow my posts on instagram and facebook.

 

< Previous week: 11 December 1989                               Next chart: 8 January 1990 >