Week commencing 14 June 1993

This week in 1993’s new entries peaking outside the Australian top 100 singles chart are another eclectic bunch, with short-lived supergroups, metal, techno, acoustic artists and models-turned-singers.  Something for everyone.  Shall we take a look?

Nick Scotti: despite the Madonna connection, he couldn’t wake up anybody with this release.

Top 150 debuts:

Number 116 “Only” by Anthrax

Peak: number 101

Peak date: 21 June 1993

Weeks in top 150: 7 weeks

Top 150 chart run: 116-101-110-115-120-119-125

We last saw American thrash metal band Anthrax in 1990.

“Only” was the lead single from the band’s sixth studio album Sound of White Noise (number 30, May 1993).  Internationally, “Only” peaked at number 36 in the UK in May 1993, and number 48 in the Netherlands during the same month.  The song also peaked at number 26 on the US Billboard Mainstream Rock Airplay chart in June 1993.

This would be Anthrax’s last single to peak in the number 101 to 150 region of the Australian chart.

Number 131 “Baby You’re a Rich Man” by Company of Strangers

Peak: number 118

Peak dates: 21 June 1993 and 28 June 1993

Weeks in top 150: 6 weeks

Top 150 chart run: 131-118-118-120-126-133

Weeks on chart: 9 weeks

During the early 90s, there seemed to be a mini-trend of Australian artists either collaborating with each other, or forming ‘supergroups’.  Company of Strangers, a supergroup of sorts, was put together by songwriter-producer Simon Hussey, roping in James Reyne, Daryl Braithwaite and Jef Scott.  Simon had previously collaborated with James Reyne on all three of his solo albums to this point in 1993, and Daryl Braithwaite’s two solo albums at this point since his 1988 comeback.

“Baby You’re a Rich Man”, a cover of the Beatles song from 1967, was the fourth and final single released from the band’s only album Company of Strangers (number 9, March 1993).  It followed  “Motor City (I Get Lost)” (number 26, September 1992), “Sweet Love” (number 21, January 1993), and “Daddy’s Gonna Make You a Star” (number 35, March 1993).  The latter of those three is my favourite Company of Strangers single, and it’s ‘nice’ to see that the official Australian Crawl YouTube channel have stolen my upload of it (complete with rage superscript) for their channel…

On the state charts, “Baby You’re a Rich Man” performed strongest in South Australia/Northern Territory, where it reached number 93.

Number 140 “Boss Drum” by The Shamen

Peak: number 116

Peak date: 12 July 1993

Weeks in top 150: 6 weeks

Chart run: 140-(off chart for two weeks)-136-116-131-122-126

Weeks on chart: 6 weeks

Scottish electronic band The Shamen last joined us in 1991.

“Boss Drum” was issued as the fourth single in Australia from The Shamen’s fifth studio album Boss Drum (number 35, February 1993).  In Europe, however, it was the album’s third single.  It’s Australian release followed “LSI (Love Sex Intelligence)” (number 53, January 1993), “Ebeneezer Goode” (number 14, January 1993) and “Phorever People” (number 63, February 1993).

Internationally, “Boss Drum” peaked at number 4 in the UK in November 1992, number 5 in Ireland in November 1992, number 47 in the Flanders region of Belgium in December 1992, number 46 in the Netherlands in December 1992, number 22 in Switzerland in January 1993, number 20 in Sweden in January 1993, and number 20 in Austria in January 1993.  The song also reached number 8 on the US Billboard Dance Club Songs chart in April 1993.

Domestically, “Boss Drum” was most popular in Queensland, where it reached number 66 on the state chart.

I heard “Boss Drum” a couple of times on the UK Chart Attack radio program in late 1992, but was not aware of its belated local release in mid-1993.  The song didn’t really grab me until I gave it a proper listen in the early 2010s when it appeared on a music video VHS compilation I was digitising.

We’ll next see The Shamen in October 1993.

Number 142 “When Heroes Go Down” by Suzanne Vega

Peak: number 113

Peak date: 5 July 1993

Weeks in top 150: 6 weeks

Top 150 chart run: 142-134-120-113-123-134

Weeks on chart: 10 weeks

American singer-songwriter Suzanne Vega last paid us a visit in February 1993.

“When Heroes Go Down” was the third and final single released in Australia from Suzanne’s fourth studio album 99.9°F (number 56, November 1992).  The single was virtually a Greatest Hits EP, with the other tracks on it being Suzanne’s first three Australian top 40 hits: “Marlene on the Wall” (number 39, April 1986), “Luka” (number 21, August 1987), and “Left of Center” (number 35, July 1986).

Internationally, “When Heroes Goes Down” peaked at number 58 in the UK in February 1993.  Locally, the single performed strongest in Western Australia, where it reached number 100 on the state chart.

I didn’t hear this one until getting hold of Suzanne’s Tried and True: The Best of (number 96, November 1998) compilation in early 2000.  It must be one of the shorter singles to register on the Australian singles chart, clocking in at just 1 minute and 54 seconds, and is surely one of the only songs to contain the word ‘equivocate’ in its lyrics,

We’ll next see Suzanne in 1996.

Number 150 “Penthouse and Pavement” (The Tommy D Remixes) by Heaven 17

Peak: number 150

Peak date: 14 June 1993

Weeks in top 150: 1 week

Top 150 chart run: 150

Weeks on chart: 8 weeks

We last saw English electronic band Heaven 17 in in April 1993.

“Penthouse and Pavement” (The Tommy D Remixes) was the third remixed single released to promote their Higher and Higher: The Best of (number 129, May 1993) compilation album, although this time, the updated version of the track does not appear on the album.

Released as a single in 1981, the original version of “Penthouse and Pavement” peaked at number 57 in the UK in November 1981, number 37 in New Zealand in March 1982, and number 93 in Australia for two non-consecutive weeks in April 1982.  The 1993 remix peaked at number 54 in the UK in April 1993, and at number 26 on the US Billboard Dance Club Songs chart.

The 1993 release of “Penthouse and Pavement” was most popular in Queensland, where it reached number 112 on the state chart.

This was the last Heaven 17 singles chart entry in Australia.  The group had a later album release, Bigger Than America (number 155, February 1997), that narrowly missed the ARIA top 150 albums chart.

Although we shall not see Heaven 17 again, the band’s lead singer Glenn Gregory will make an appearance fronting another act in July 1993.

Bubbling WAY down under:

Number 175 “Wake Up Everybody” by Nick Scotti

Peak: number 171

Peak date: 28 June 1993

Weeks on chart: 5 weeks

Born Domenico Nicola Aniello Scotti, American Nick Scotti was primarily an actor, though also branched out into modelling and singing.  Nick played Tony Viscardi on long running US soap opera The Young and the Restless between 1996 and 1999.  He also appeared in a 1998 episode of one of my favourite shows Tracey Takes On…, and in a 2002 episode of Sex and the City.

Music-wise, Nick only recorded and released one album, Nick Scotti, which was released in Australia in April 1993 but did not chart.  “Wake Up Everybody”, the first single issued from the album, was originally recorded by Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes in 1976.  Nick ran into a pre-fame Madonna and Jellybean Benitez while out clubbing in New York underage.  At 17, he embarked on a successful modelling career in Japan, relocating to France at 19.  In 1991, Nick, crossed paths with Madonna again, at a birthday party for photographer Herb Ritts.  Nick got talking to Madonna and told her that he was writing some songs.  She suggested he send her a demo tape, which she then passed on to Warner Bros. Records (Madonna’s Maverick label did not yet exist), and they offered Nick a recording contract.  Madonna co-wrote, produced, and sang backing vocals on one of the songs on the album, which we will see bubble under in September 1993.

While all of this would seem like a promising recording career was beckoning for Nick, this wasn’t to be the case.  Nonetheless, Nick’s version of “Wake Up Everybody” reached number 9 on the US Dance Club Songs chart in May 1993.  The single also peaked at number 90 (number 84 on the truncated chart with exclusions below number 75) in the UK in May 1993.

In Australia, “Wake Up Everybody” performed strongest in Queensland, where it reached number 162 on the state chart.

I didn’t hear this one at the time.  I thought Nick’s voice was surprisingly soulful, and had I closed my eyes, I could have believed he was black.

We’ll see Nick on one more occasion, in September 1993.

Number 214 “Take Me for a Little While” by Coverdale Page

Peak: number 214

Peak date: 14 June 1993

Weeks on chart: 1 week

Another supergroup of sorts, Coverdale Page was a collaboration between Whitesnake front man David Coverdale and Jimmy Page from Led Zeppelin.  Together, the duo recorded one album, Coverdale Page (number 25, April 1993), from which “Take Me for a Little While” was the second single released, following “Pride and Joy” (number 89, April 1993).

Internationally, this single peaked at number 29 in the UK in June 1993.  The song also reached number 15 on the US Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 chart in August 1993.

Locally, “Take Me for a Little While” was most popular in South Australia/Northern Territory, where it reached number 159 on the state chart.

I wasn’t expecting to like this one, but the chorus isn’t bad.

This would be the last Coverdale Page single to chart in Australia.

Next week (21 June): Seven top 150 entries and four bubbling WAY down under debuts.

< Previous week: 7 June 1993                   Next week: 21 June 1993 >

Week commencing 8 February 1993

Among the new entries peaking outside the Australian top 100 this week in 1993, we have a re-release of a song from the late 1970s, a live version of a song originally released in the 1970s, and two singles that spent some time on the ARIA albums chart!  Shall we take a look?

 

Patty Smyth: sometimes being a one-hit wonder (twice!) just ain't enough.

 

Top 150 debuts:

 

Number 102 "Bad Boy for Love" by Rose Tattoo

Peak: number 102

Peak date: 8 February 1993

Weeks in top 150: 5 weeks

Top 150 chart run: 102-105-118-127-138

 

Australian band Rose Tattoo formed in Sydney in 1976.  "Bad Boy for Love" was their first release, and first single to chart, reaching number 19 in January 1978.  It was also the group's biggest hit on the Australian chart, although "We Can't Be Beaten" (number 28, December 1982) is the song I most associate with the band.  Between 1977 and 1987, when the band split, Rose Tattoo placed 11 singles on the Australian top 100.  Lead singer Angry Anderson (real name Gary Stephen Anderson), whom we saw bubble under in 1990, then embarked on a solo carer, and is best known for singing Scott and Charlene's wedding song from Neighours, "Suddenly" (number 2, August 1987).

Originally appearing on the band's debut album Rose Tattoo (number 40, December 1978), "Bad Boy for Love" was re-issued to promote their Nice Boys Don't Play Rock 'n' Roll (number 121, February 1993) best of compilation album.

 

Rose Tattoo reformed in 1992-1993, supporting Guns N' Roses on the Australian leg of their Use Your Illusion tour, and would again reform in 1998.  Five of the band's former members have died of various forms of cancer, between 1991 and 2009, outdoing Ramones on that grim metric.

 

Number 125 "99.5°F" by Suzanne Vega

Peak: number 125

Peak date: 8 February 1993

Weeks in top 150: 4 weeks

Chart run: 125-133-137-140

Weeks on chart: 4 weeks

We last saw American singer-songwriter Suzanne Vega in 1990.

"99.9°F" was the second single released in Australia from Suzanne's fourth studio album 99.9°F (number 56, November 1992).  It followed "Blood Makes Noise" (number 61, October 1992), which would become Suzanne's final top 100 single in Australia.  In the UK, "In Liverpool" was issued as the first single from 99.9°F, but it did not receive a single release in Australia.  "99.9°F” deals with the subject of male erectile dysfunction.  Oo-er!

Internationally, "99.9°F" peaked at number 46 in the UK in October 1992.  It also registered on the US Billboard Alternative Airplay chart, reaching number 16 in January 1993.

In Australia, "99.9°F" performed strongest in South Australia/Northern Territory, where it reached number 91 on the state chart.

I didn't know "99.9°F" at the time, but became well-acquainted with the song after picking up Suzanne's Tried and True: The Best of (number 96, November 1998) compilation album in 2000.  This led me to purchase Suzanne's previous studio albums.  The 99.9°F album is notable for it being the first time Suzanne had really incorporated electronica into her music.  Presumably, this was inspired by the success of the DNA remix of "Tom's Diner" (number 8, November 1990).  I think "99.9°F" could have charted better had it received more promotion.

We shall next see Suzanne in June 1993.

Number 127 "Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap" (live) by AC/DC

Peak: number 112

Peak date: 15 February 1993

Weeks in top 150: 5 weeks

Top 150 chart run: 127-112-128-149-146

Legendary Australian band AC/DC formed in Sydney in 1973.  Between 1974 and this point in 1993, the group had placed 26 singles on the Australian top 100, with "Thunderstruck" (number 4, October 1990) being the highest-charting of those.

The studio recording of "Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap" was released as a single in Australia in 1976 as the band's seventh single.  It reached number 29 on the Kent Music Report singles chart in December 1976.  The track was sung by then lead singer Bon Scott (real name Ronald Belford Scott), who died from acute alcohol poisoning in February 1980, aged 33.  England-born Brian Johnson was then recruited to front the band.  Joan Jett released a cover version of "Dirty Deeds" (with shortened title) in 1990, which peaked at number 59 in Australia in May 1990.

 

This live version of "Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap", recorded in Birmingham, England, on 23 April 1991, was taken from the live album AC/DC Live (number 1 for 2 weeks in November 1992).  It followed a live version of "Highway to Hell" (number 29, November 1992), recorded in Glasgow, Scotland on 20 April 1991.

 

Internationally, this live version of 'Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap" peaked at number 68 in the UK in February 1993, and number 34 in New Zealand in April 1993.

 

AC/DC will next join us in 2000.

Number 128 "It Ain't Love" by 1927

Peak: number 123

Peak date: 5 April 1993

Weeks in top 150: 9 weeks

Top 150 chart run: 128-131-131-126-142-148-131-130-123

Weeks on chart: 10 weeks

Aussie band 1927 formed in Melbourne in 1987, started by Garry Frost, previously a member of Moving Pictures, who scored a number 1 hit in Australia with "What About Me?" (number 1 for 6 weeks in March-April 1982).  Garry started writing songs for an as yet unformed band in 1986.  He recruited singer Eric Wiedeman in 1987 after catching his performance of The Police's "Roxanne" (number 34, June 1979) on the comedic 'Red Faces' segment of Hey Hey It's Saturday, and contacting the show to get hold of Eric.

1927 scored back-to-back top 10 hits in Australia with their first two singles "That's When I Think of You" (number 6, September 1988) and "If I Could" (number 4, December 1988) - both singles spent nearly six months inside the top 50.  Their debut album ...ish (number 1 for 4 weeks in April-May 1989) was the second best-selling album of 1989 in Australia.  Founding member Garry Frost quit the band before the release of their second album The Other Side (number 3, July 1990).  The singles from The Other Side were not as successful as those from their debut, with only lead single "Tell Me a Story" (number 17, June 1990) peaking within the top 40.

 

After a two-year hiatus, 1927 returned in 1992.  Their third album 1927 (number 40, November 1992) only yielded one top 50 single, "Scars" (number 46, November 1992).  "It Ain't Love" was the second and final single lifted from the album.

On the state charts, "It Ain't Love" performed strongest in South Australia/Northern Territory, where it reached number 90.

1927 disbanded in 1993, eventually reforming in 2009.  In the interim, singer Eric Weideman embarked on a solo career, with limited commercial success.  Eric's only solo single to dent the ARIA top 150 was "Nothing I Can Do", which peaked at number 73 in February 1997, after initially peaking at number 132 in October 1996 and falling out of the top 150 after three weeks.

While we won't be seeing 1927 again, they had two later charting albums: The Essential 1927 (number 94, July 2013), and Generation-i (number 100, August 2013).

Number 133 "Just Wanna Know" by Maxi Priest

Peak: number 122

Peak date: 1 March 1993

Weeks in top 150: 9 weeks

Chart run: 133-136-134-122-127-146-124-141-139

Weeks on chart: 9 weeks

Maxi Priest last joined us in 1992.

 

"Just Wanna Know" was issued as the second single from Maxi's fifth studio album Fe Real (number 130, May 1993).  Internationally, "Just Wanna Know" peaked at number 33 in the UK in November 1992.

Locally, "Just Wanna Know" was most popular in South Australia/Northern Territory, where it reached number 91 on the state chart.

We'll see Maxi again in 1997.

Number 134 Broken EP by Nine Inch Nails

Peak: number 115

Peak date: 15 February 1993

Weeks in top 150: 2 weeks

Chart run: 134-115

Weeks on chart: 2 weeks

Nine Inch Nails formed in Cleveland, Ohio in 1988.  Lead singer Trent Reznor (born Michael Trent Reznor) was the only permanent member of the band until Atticus Ross, who Trent first worked with in 2002, became an official member in 2016.

The group first dented the ARIA chart in 1992 with the single "Head Like a Hole", which debuted at number 224 on 31 August 1992.  As "Head Like a Hole" did not climb into the top 150 upon its initial release, I am unable to tell you whether it climbed higher than its debut position.  It did, however, climb to number 57 in May 1995, when re-released after the success of "Closer" (number 3, November 1994).  "Head Like a Hole" was lifted from Nine Inch Nails' 1989 debut album Pretty Hate Machine (number 190, April 1995), which debuted on the ARIA albums chart at number 217 on 5 October 1992.

 

The Broken EP consisted of newly-recorded tracks that were not on Pretty Hate Machine.  Containing eight songs and clocking in at just under 32 minutes, the EP was more like a mini-album.  A short, 20 minute horror musical film was made, containing tracks from the EP, including the music videos for "Wish", "Happiness Is Slavery" and "Gave Up" (tracks 2, 5 and 6 from the EP).

 

It seems that ARIA were undecided on whether Broken should appear on the singles or albums chart.  The EP initially registered on the singles chart for its first two weeks, before being moved over to the albums chart, debuting at number 187 on 22 February 1993.  The EP spent four weeks on the ARIA albums chart, peaking at number 156 on it in January 1994.  Based on the state chart peaks, I can determine that three of the four weeks Broken spent on the albums chart were 22 February 1993, 31 January 1994 (when it peaked), and 16 January 1995 - so its chart life, although relatively brief, was over a long period.

When Broken charted on the singles chart, it was most popular in New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory, where it reached number 101 in February 1993.  When Broken charted on the albums chart, it was most popular in Queensland, where it reached number 118 in January 1994.

Internationally, Broken charted as a single in New Zealand, where it reached number 46 in April 1993.  Broken charted as an album in the US, where it peaked at number 7 on the Billboard 200 in October 1992, and in the UK, where it reached number 18 in October 1992.

We'll next see Nine Inch Nails in 1996.

Number 137 "Washed Away" by Tom Cochrane

Peak: number 129

Peak date: 15 February 1993

Weeks in top 150: 4 weeks

Chart run: 137-129-140-143

Weeks on chart: 4 weeks

Canadian singer-songwriter Tom Cochrane began his solo career on the Australian chart in 1992 with "Life Is a Highway" (number 2, September 1992), though it took nearly four months for the single to dent the top 50.  He followed that up with "No Regrets" (number 26, November 1992), and the album Mad Mad World (number 46, October 1992), which was his second solo studio album.

 

Tom's recording career began long before his Australian breakthrough, however, with his debut album being released in 1974.  Tom was also lead singer in the Canadian band Red Rider, whom we saw bubble under in 1989, and whose debut album was released in 1979.  Red Rider landed a minor hit in Australia in 1982 with "Lunatic Fringe" (number 52. May 1982).  "Boy Inside the Man", credited to Tom Cochrane and Red Rider, bubbled under the Australian top 100 in March 1987, reaching fifth place on the Kent Music Report's list of singles with significant sales reports beyond the top 100.

"Washed Away" was issued as the third single from Mad Mad World in Australia, although it was the fifth single from the album in Tom's native Canada.  Internationally, "Washed Away" peaked at number 7 in Canada in November 1992, and number 88 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in November 1992.

In Australia, "Washed Away" was most popular in South Australia/Northern Territory, where it reached number 72 on the state chart.  The single missed the top 100 on the other four state charts.

 

Tom will join us again in March 1993.

Number 138 "I Will Be Here for You" by Michael W. Smith

Peak: number 138

Peak date: 8 February 1993

Weeks in top 150: 2 weeks

Top 150 chart run: 138-(out for 1 week)-149

Weeks on chart: 12 weeks

American contemporary Christian singer Michael W. Smith last joined us in 1991.

"I Will Be Here for You" was the lead single from Michael's sixth studio album Change Your World, which was released in Australia in November 1992 but did not chart.  The single took some time to climb into the ARIA top 150, after debuting at number 228 on 23 November 1992.

Internationally, "I Will Be Here for You" reached number 27 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in November 1992, number 8 in Canada in November 1992, and number 233 (number 141 on the compressed chart) in the UK in November 1992.  The song also reached number 1 on the US Billboard Adult Contemporary chart in October 1992, number 19 on the Pop Airplay chart in November 1992, and number 36 on the Radio Songs chart in November 1992.

Locally, "I Will Be Here for You" performed strongest in Victoria/Tasmania, where it reached number 77 on the state chart.  The single peaked higher nationally on the Australian Music Report singles chart, where it reached number 57.  It is interesting that the ARIA singles chart peak for "I Will Be Here for You" is 81 places lower than its AMR peak.

I didn’t think I knew this one, but the chorus seems vaguely familiar.  I probably heard it on the American Top 40 radio show at the time.

We'll next see Michael in 1998.

Number 141 "Cruel Little Number" by The Jeff Healey Band

Peak: number 141

Peak date: 8 February 1993

Weeks in top 150: 1 week

Top 150 chart run: 141

We last saw Canadian band The Jeff Healey Band in 1990.

 

"Cruel Little Number" was the lead single from the band's third studio album Feel This (number 37, February 1993).  Internationally, the single peaked at number 83 (number 79 on the compressed chart) in the UK in November 1992, and number 17 in Canada in December 1992.

This was The Jeff Healey Band's last single to dent the ARIA top 150.

Number 144 "Wasting Love" by Iron Maiden

Peak: number 132

Peak date: 1 March 1993

Weeks in top 150: 4 weeks

Top 150 chart run: 144-135-141-132

Weeks on chart: 5 weeks

 

English metal band Iron Maiden last joined us in 1992.

 

"Wasting Love" was issued as the third and final single from the band's ninth studio album Fear of the Dark (number 11, May 1992).  It appears that the single was only released in continental Europe, North America and Australasia - not in the band's native UK.  Interestingly, "Wasting Love" does not appear to have charted anywhere else.

In Australia, "Wasting Love" performed strongest in South Australia/Northern Territory, where it reached number 117 on the state chart.

I wasn’t expecting to like this one, but it’s not bad.

We'll next see Iron Maiden in November 1993.

Number 146 "No Mistakes" by Patty Smyth

Peak: number 127

Peak date: 22 February 1993

Weeks in top 150: 6 weeks

Chart run: 146-134-127-130-149-147

Weeks on chart: 6 weeks

American singer-songwriter Patty Smyth - not to be confused with Patti Smith - was the lead singer of the band Scandal, formed in 1981.  Scandal landed two top 100 singles in Australia, one being much bigger than the other, with "The Warrior" (number 6, November 1984) and "Hands Tied" (number 83, February 1985).  Curiously, both singles were credited to Scandal featuring Patty Smyth, rather than just Scandal, suggesting that Patty had her sights set on a solo career.  Indeed, Scandal disbanded in 1985, though would reform in 2004.

Patty launched her solo career with the album Never Enough (released in Australia in June 1987, did not chart) in 1987.  The title track, "Never Enough", was released as a single locally in March 1987, but failed to chart.  The album's second single, a cover of Tom Waits' "Downtown Train", was not released in Australia, but Rod Stewart's version of that song would go on to become a number 29 hit here in March 1990.

Patty's duet with former Eagles co-lead singer/drummer Don Henley, "Sometimes Love Just Ain't Enough" (number 5, November 1992), gave Patty a second hit, and her only solo top 100 single, in Australia, effectively making her a one-hit wonder here twice!

"No Mistakes" was the second single lifted from Patty's second solo studio album Patty Smyth (number 94, November 1992).  Internationally, the single peaked at number 149 (number 108 on the compressed chart) in the UK in November 1992, number 33 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in February 1993, and number 3 in Canada in February 1993.  The song also reached number 33 on the US Billboard Radio Songs chart in February 1993, number 15 on the Pop Airplay chart in February 1993, and number 4 on the Adult Contemporary chart in February 1993

Domestically, "No Mistakes" performed strongest in Western Australia, where it reached number 89.

We'll see Patty once more in June 1993.

Number 148 "Revolution Earth" by The B-52's

Peak: number 146

Peak date: 15 February 1993

Weeks in top 150: 5 weeks

Chart run: 206-(off chart for 1 week)-148-146-147-150-148

Weeks on chart: 6 weeks

We last saw zany American band The B-52's in 1992.

"Revolution Earth" was issued as the third single in Australia from the band's sixth studio album Good Stuff (number 36, July 1992).  I cannot find evidence of this single, which appears to have not been released in the UK, charting anywhere else.

 

Similar to the Nine Inch Nails EP discussed above, this single registered on the ARIA albums chart for one week, debuting at number 170 on 1 February 1993, one week after it debuted at number 206 on the singles chart!  This was presumably an error made by ARIA, as there are only 4 tracks on the CD single.  On the state charts, "Revolution Earth" performed strongest in Western Australia, where it reached number 110.  When the single charted for one week on the albums chart, it also performed strongest in Western Australia, reaching number 149.

 

I hadn't heard "Revolution Earth" before.  The song only contains vocals from Kate Pierson, and not the two male members of the group, in a similar fashion to "Roam" (number 11, March 1990) - although Cindy Wilson, who was not part of the group for the Good Stuff album, sang in unison with Kate on that track.

 

Two further singles from Good Stuff were released overseas, but not in Australia: "Is That You Mo-Dean?" (UK number 78, November 1992) and "Hot Pants Explosion" (UK number 81 [number 78 on the compressed chart], February 1993).  Somehow, I heard "Is That You Mo-Dean?" at the time, but not "Revolution Earth".

 

The B-52's will join us next in 1999.

 

Bubbling WAY down under:

 

Number 166 "Walk on the Ocean" by Toad the Wet Sprocket

Peak: number 152

Peak date: 8 March 1993

Weeks on chart: 9 weeks

American band Toad the Wet Sprocket formed in Santa Barbara, California, in 1986.  Their 1989 debut album Bread and Circus was released in Australia in March 1990 - oddly, no singles were released here from it - but failed to chart.  Their second album, Pale, followed swiftly in June 1990, along with the single "Come Back Down", but they also failed to chart locally.

"Walk on the Ocean" was the second single issued in Australia from the third Toad the Wet Sprocket album Fear (number 179, March 1993).  It followed "All I Want" (number 99, February 1993), which debuted on the ARIA singles chart at number 163 in late September 1992, but took more than three months to reach its peak.  "All I Want" was the only release from the band to trouble the top 100 in Australia.  The single found greater success in the band's homeland, where it reached number 15 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in September 1992.

Internationally, "Walk on the Ocean" peaked at number 18 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in January 1993, number 10 in Norway in February 1993, number 22 in Canada in February 1993, number 67 in Germany in February 1993, and number 22 in New Zealand in April 1993.  The track also reached number 27 on the US Billboard Mainstream Rock Airplay chart in November 1992, number 10 on the Pop Airplay chart in January 1993, number 21 on the Radio Songs chart in February 1993, and number 31 on the Adult Contemporary chart in February 1993.

In Australia, "Walk on the Ocean" performed strongest in Queensland, where it reached number 110 on the state chart.

I hadn't heard this one before, but liked it.  I didn't know what a 'sprocket' was, so looked up its definition: it's a chainwheel, or "a toothed wheel engaging with a conveyor or power chain."

We shall see Toad the Wet Sprocket next in 1994.

Number 205 "Slam Jam" by The WWF Superstars

Peak: number 202

Peak date: 5 April 1993

Weeks on chart: 2 weeks

 

Regular readers will know that I am a fan of English producers Stock Aitken Waterman, or Stock Waterman as they were at this point, who were effectively a 'British Motown' for the 1980s (and early 90s).  But I concede they are responsible for some dross, and "Slam Jam" here is a prime example.

 

The WWF in WWF Superstars stands for World Wrestling Federation.  As you may have guessed, I am definitely not a wrestling enthusiast; nor am I a fan of most 'sports' tie-in songs.  Mike Stock and Pete Waterman, whose chart fortunes were dwindling in the early 90s, saw an opportunity to score a hit by writing a novelty song for The WWF Superstars, and this track gave them their first UK top 10 hit that was not sung by Kylie Minogue or Jason Donovan since early 1990.

Internationally, "Slam Jam" peaked at number 4 in the UK in December 1992, and number 3 in Ireland in December 1992.

Domestically, "Slam Jam" was most popular in South Australia/Northern Territory, where it reached number 164.

Next week (15 February): Five top 150 entries and three bubbling WAY down under debuts.

< Previous week: 1 February 1993                      Next week: 15 February 1993 >

Week commencing 8 October 1990

One unusual thing all four of this week's top 150 debuts have in common is that we will see all of the artists bubble under the top 100 again - but not until 1993.  Shall we take a look?

 

Suzanne Vega: tired of flopping

 

Top 150 debuts:

 

Number 132 "Way Down Now" by World Party

Peak: number 114

Peak date: 5 November 1990

Weeks in top 150: 9 weeks 

Top 150 chart run: 132-130-127-136-114-126-123-140-130

 

For most of its existence, World Party has been Karl Wallinger's one-man band since parting ways with The Waterboys in 1986.  While Karl was with The Waterboys, they scored a hit single in Australia with "The Whole of the Moon" (number 12, May 1986).

 

World Party landed a major hit in Australia with in 1987 with "Ship of Fools" (number 4, June 1987).  Interestingly, that single performed much better locally than in Karl's native UK, where it only reached number 42 in February 1987.  In fact, "Ship of Fools" peaked higher in Australia than anywhere else in the world.

 

"Put the Message in the Box" (titled just "Message in the Box" in other countries) gave World Party a second top 100 'hit' in Australia, reaching number 86 in July 1990.

"Way Down Now" was the second single lifted from World Party's second album Goodbye Jumbo (number 70, July 1990).  The single peaked at number 66 in the UK in September 1990, number 53 in Canada in July 1990, and number 17 in the Netherlands in July 1990.

A third single from Goodbye Jumbo, "Thank You World", was issued in Australia in August 1991, but missed the top 150.

We shall see World Party again in 1993.

 

 

Number 133 "Guitar Boogie" by Tommy Emmanuel

Peak: number 111

Peak date: 22 October 1990

Weeks in top 150: 5 weeks 

Top 150 chart run: 133-120-111-118-115

 

"Guitar Boogie", an instrumental track written and originally recorded by Arthur Smith in 1945, was Australian guitar maestro Tommy Emmanuel's second single to enter the ARIA top 150.  The title of the previous one also began with the word 'guitar'.  In case you hadn't guessed, Tommy plays guitar...

 

"Guitar Boogie" was lifted from the album Dare to Be Different (number 13, August 1990).  The single was issued in Australia on 20 August 1990, and took nearly two months to reach the top 150.  "Guitar Boogie" performed stronger on the Australian Music Report singles chart, where it peaked at number 96.

A third single from Dare to Be Different, "Hearts Grow Fonder", was released in December 1990, but missed the top 150.

Tommy will next join us in 1993.

 

 

Number 145 "Tired of Sleeping" by Suzanne Vega

Peak: number 145

Peak date: 8 October 1990

Weeks in top 150: 1 week

Chart run: 145

Weeks on chart: 1 week

 

"Tired of Sleeping" was the second single issued from Suzanne Vega's third studio album Days of Open Hand (number 74, July 1990).  We saw Suzanne bubble under with the first single from the album back in July. 

Internationally, "Tired of Sleeping" peaked at number 124 (number 101 on the compressed chart) in the UK in June 1990; the only other place it appears to have charted.

 

Within Australia, "Tired of Sleeping" performed strongest in New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory, where it reached number 139.

I didn't hear this song until going on a Suzanne Vega audio binge in 2000, tracking down her albums after becoming enamored with her Tried and True: The Best of (number 96, November 1998) compilation, on which this track does not appear.  Only one song from Days of Open Hand was included on the compilation, "Book of Dreams".  It seems that this era was considered a relative flop era for Suzanne, despite the D.N.A. remix of "Tom's Diner" (number 8, November 1990) becoming her biggest worldwide hit in the latter part of 1990.

A third and final single from Days of Open Hand, "Men in a War", was released in Australia in February 1991, but failed to chart locally.  It did, however, reach number 143 (number 108 on the compressed chart) in the UK in September 1990.

Suzanne will next join us in 1993.

 

 

 

Number 146 "Kicking Against the Bricks" by Seven Stories

Peak: number 122 

Peak date: 22 October 1990

Weeks in top 150: 9 weeks

Chart run: 154-146-135-122-127-128-127-126-136-131 

Weeks on chart: 10 weeks

Seven Stories, initially named Tall Stories, formed in Adelaide in 1986.  Their first single, and first chart entry, "Sleeping Through Another War", reached number 68 on the ARIA singles chart in July 1990.

"Kicking Against the Bricks" was the second single lifted from Seven Stories' debut album Judges and Bagmen (number 76, August 1990).  On the state charts, the single performed strongest in South Australia/Northern Territory, where it reached number 80.  A third single from the album, "Walk Through Babylon", was released in February 1991, but failed to chart.

Seven Stories never placed another single within the top 100, but we will see them bubble under again in 1993.  The band split in 1994.

Bubbling WAY down under:

Number 153 "End of the World" by Sonia

Peak: number 153

Peak date: 8 October 1990

Weeks on chart: 1 week

"End of the World" was the fifth and final single lifted from Sonia's debut album Everybody Knows (number 144, September 1990).  The track was originally recorded by Skeeter Davis, as "The End of the World", in 1962.  Another Stock Aitken Waterman production, the trio had earlier produced a version of the song for Brilliant in 1986.

 

There was a trend for Stock Aitken Waterman-produced artists around this time of dusting off an old ballad to cover, and then release it as a single towards the end of an album campaign.  Other examples include Kylie Minogue's "Tears on My Pillow" (number 20, February 1990), Jason Donovan's "Sealed with a Kiss" (number 8, June 1989) and "Rhythm of the Rain" (number 44, November 1990), and Big Fun's "Hey There Lonely Girl".

 

Sonia's version of "End of the World" reached number 18 in the UK in September 1990, enabling Sonia to become the first British female artist to score five top 20 singles from one album.  Despite that, Chrysalis Records did not extend her contract for a second album, and Sonia's working relationship with Stock Aitken Waterman ended by the end of 1990.

 

Outside of the UK, "End of the World" peaked at number 18 in Ireland.  "End of the World" became Sonia's fourth single in a row, including her duet with Big Fun, to peak outside the top 100 in Australia.  On the ARIA state charts, "End of the World" performed strongest in Western Australia, where it reached number 122.

 

Sonia signed with I.Q. Records, owned by Simon Cowell, in 1991.  She achieved another five UK top 30 singles over the following two years, including "Only Fools (Never Fall in Love)" (UK number 10, June 1991) and "Better the Devil You Know" (UK number 15, May 1993) - the latter track was recorded for Eurovision and is not a cover of the Kylie Minogue song.  None of Sonia's output after her first album was issued in Australia, however, probably owing to her lack of chart success here.

My favourite post-Stock Aitken Waterman Sonia singles are both cover versions: "Boogie Nights" (UK number 30, September 1992) and "You to Me Are Everything" (UK number 13, November 1991).  Interestingly, Sonia recorded the original version of "Walk Away Lover" for her second album Sonia (UK number 33, October 1991), which was later covered by Australian soap star Toni Pearen, as "Walkaway Lover" (number 35, December 1994).

Next week (15 October): Seven top 150 debuts and one bubbling WAY down under entry.

< Previous week: 1 October 1990                                Next week: 15 October 1990 >

Week commencing 2 July 1990

Obscure artists often feature in my chart recap posts, but this week we have quite a few 'big names' debuting.  However, that doesn't necessarily mean the artists in question were big in Australia.

 

Among this week's new entries, we have a band who notched up over 40 top 40 hits in their homeland but only ever landed one major hit in Australia.  We also have the lead singer from a band name-checked on one of the biggest singles of the early 2000s, who are touted to have sold more than 100 million albums worldwide - but who only scored one top 40 single in Australia!  We also have one of the most influential recording artists of the last century, and the manager of the Sex Pistols.  Phew!  Shall we take a look?

 

Depeche Mode seemed to have a policy of flopping when it came to the Australian charts.

 

 

Top 150 debuts:

 

Number 102 "Book of Dreams" by Suzanne Vega

Peak: number 102

Peak date: 2 July 1990

Weeks in top 150: 8 weeks

Chart run: 163-102-123-129-134-143-143-144-147

Weeks on chart: 9 weeks

 

Between 1985 and 1987, American singer-songwriter Suzanne Vega placed four singles on the Australian chart: "Marlene on the Wall" (number 39, April 1986), "Left of Center" (number 35, July 1986), "Luka" (number 21, August 1987), and "Solitude Standing" (number 91, October 1987).

"Book of Dreams" was the lead single from Suzanne's third album Days of Open Hand (number 74, July 1990).  The album's title is a lyric from this song.  "Book of Dreams" peaked at number 66 in the UK in May 1990, but failed to chart in the US.  On the ARIA state charts, "Book of Dreams" performed strongest in Western Australia, where it reached number 76.

 

As a casual fan of Suzanne's singles, I picked up her Tried and True: The Best of (number 96, November 1998) compilation in early 2000, and quickly became obsessed with it.  I listened to the album all the way through about 18 times in the first three days of buying it - something I had never done with an album before, or since.  Naturally, I then tracked down her studio albums proper.  I must say, though, that while I like "Book of Dreams", I don't think it is one of her stronger singles.

Some earlier Suzanne Vega singles not released in Australia that I think are worth checking out if you've not heard them before include: "Small Blue Thing" (number 65 in the UK in January 1986), "Knight Moves" (released as a single only in Germany in 1985 or 1986) and "Gypsy" (number 77 in the UK in November 1986).

Suzanne scored her biggest hit in Australia later in 1990, credited as featured artist, with D.N.A.'s remix of her 1987 a cappella "Tom's Diner" (number 8, November 1990).  But before that, we shall see another single from Days of Open Hand bubbling under in October.

 

 

Number 107 "Deep in Vogue" by Malcolm McLaren and The House of McLaren

Peak: number 107

Peak date: 2 July 1990

Weeks in top 150: 5 weeks

Chart run: 107-108-116-124-121

Weeks on chart: 5 weeks

Before Madonna's "Vogue" (number 1, April 1990), Malcolm McLaren released a song in 1989 about the dance style incorporating modelling poses that originated in the New York LGBT African-American/Latin American house-ballroom subculture.  As I have noted previously, Jody Watley's "Friends" music video from 1989 also prominently featured voguing.

 

"Deep in Vogue", originally credited to Malcolm McLaren and The Bootzilla Orchestra, appeared as the B-side on Malcolm's "Waltz Darling" (number 65, August 1989) single.  A music video was filmed for "Deep in Vogue" to accompany this release, so it was more like a double A-side than a B-side, though not formally credited as such.  I saw the "Deep in Vogue" video on TV in 1989, and the song also received airplay - at least on Triple M's listener-voted Top 8 at 8 - which is a lot more exposure than your typical B-side gets.

Prior to its release, Malcolm asked Mark Moore from S'Express to remix "Deep in Vogue", which he did together with William Orbit.  Malcolm was so impressed with their re-working of "Deep in Vogue" that he used it in place of his original recording on the Waltz Darling (number 60, August 1989) album.  We saw Malcolm bubble under with another track from the album back in January.

Two music video edits were produced for "Deep in Vogue" - a 4 minute 7 inch version, and the full 9 minute Banjie Realness 12 inch mix, which I have embedded below.  The Banjie Realness version of the track contains audio samples from the footage recorded for Paris Is Burning, a film documentary on Harlem ball culture that was released in 1990.  Willi Ninja, credited as the godfather of voguing, appears in Paris Is Burning, and flew to London to record vocals for "Deep in Vogue".  Willi also appears prominently in the music video, as the man with long hair and dangling earrings.

 

The female vocals on "Deep in Vogue" were performed by Lourdes Morales, who is credited here as just 'Lourdes'.  She does not appear in the music video for "Deep in Vogue", but does for the second video shot for "Waltz Darling", which she also sang lead on.  Lourdes' experience working with Malcolm McLaren was not a positive one - you can read about that in her comments on this post for "Deep in Vogue" on Into the Popvoid.

Internationally, "Deep in Vogue" peaked at number 83 in the UK in May 1990.  It also topped the US Billboard Dance Club Songs chart for one week in July 1989.

In Australia, "Deep in Vogue" was most popular in Victoria/Tasmania, where it reached number 86 on the state chart.

Both Malcolm McLaren and Willi Ninja have since passed on - Malcolm in 2010 aged 64, and Willi in 2006 aged 45.

 

Number 114 "You Can Sleep While I Drive" by Melissa Etheridge

Peak: number 105 

Peak date: 16 July 1990

Weeks in top 150: 6 weeks

Chart run: 159-(off chart for 1 week)-114-135-105-130-141-146

Weeks on chart: 7 weeks

 

We saw Melissa bubble under with the second single from her second album Brave and Crazy (number 9, October 1989) in December 1989, and here she is with the album's fourth release, following "Let Me Go" (number 70, March 1990).

"You Can Sleep While I Drive" appears to have only charted in Australia and the Netherlands, where it reached number 56 in August 1990.  On the ARIA state charts, the single performed equal-strongest in New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory and South Australia/Northern Territory, where it reached number 89.  Interestingly, "You Can Sleep While I Drive" registered within the top 100 on four of the five state charts, only missing out in Victoria/Tasmania, but could not break into the top 100 nationally.

Melissa will next join us towards the end of 1992.

Number 119 "Satin Sheets" by Sharon O'Neill

Peak: number 106

Peak dates: 9 July 1990 and 23 July 1990

Weeks in top 150: 7 weeks

Chart run: 119-106-123-106-119-128-132

Weeks on chart: 7 weeks

Between 1980 and 1988, New Zealand singer-songwriter Sharon O'Neill placed 12 singles on the Australian top 100 chart, with "Maxine" (number 16, September 1983) being the biggest of those.

 

Sharon's career went on hiatus in 1984, due to a contractual dispute with her record company CBS.  After a 4 year-gap of not being able to release new material, Sharon returned in 1987, now signed to Polydor, with the album Danced in the Fire (number 45, November 1987).  Two singles released from the album charted in Australia: "Physical Favours" (number 39, November 1987) and "Danced in the Fire" (number 98, March 1988).  A third single, "We're Only Human" - released in Australia in August 1988, failed to chart.

"Satin Sheets" was the lead single from Sharon's sixth - and to date, final - studio album Edge of Winter (number 147, October 1990).  On the state charts, "Satin Sheets" performed strongest in Victoria/Tasmania, where it reached number 81.  A second single from Edge of Winter, "Poster Girl", was released in March 1991 but failed to chart.

 

"Satin Sheets" was Sharon's last single to chart in Australia.  A compilation album, The Best of Sharon O'Neill, peaked at number 366 on the ARIA albums chart in September 2005.  Before then, she shared a The Very Best of compilation album with fellow New Zealand-born recording artist Collette, but it failed to chart.

Number 131 "Better World" by Rebel MC

Peak: number 131

Peak date: 2 July 1990

Weeks in top 150: 3 weeks

Top 150 chart run: 131-132-(out of top 150 for 2 weeks)-149

Weeks on chart: 5 weeks

English toaster (as in the Jamaican rapping style - not a kitchen appliance!) Rebel MC, real name Michael West, scored a number 85 single in Australia with "Street Tuff", together with Double Trouble, in February 1990.  That single performed much better in the UK, where it reached number 3 in October 1989.  We saw Rebel MC bubble under on the ARIA chart with another collaboration with Double Trouble in March 1990.

 

"Better World", Rebel MC's third single release and first on his own, peaked at number 20 in the UK in April 1990.  Lifted from the album Rebel Music (number 98, July 1990), "Better World" reached the top 5 in New Zealand, the top 20 in the Netherlands, and the top 30 in Ireland, Switzerland, and the Flanders region of Belgium.

"Better World" peaked 43 places higher on the Australian Music Report singles chart, where it reached number 88.  On the ARIA state charts, "Better World" performed strongest in Western Australia, where it reached number 93.

This single would be Rebel MCs last to enter the top 150 in Australia, although we will see him bubble WAY down under in October 1990.

Number 139 "Pretty Pink Rose" by Adrian Belew featuring David Bowie

Peak: number 127

Peak date: 16 July 1990

Weeks in top 150: 8 weeks

Top 150 chart run: 139-142-127-133-131-139-141-144

Adrian Belew is an American songwriter, producer, and musician, most well-known as a guitarist in the formed-in-London band King Crimson.  While King Crimson did not land any charting singles in Australia, their song "Sleepless" probably sounds familiar to most Australians who follow music, through to its use in an interlude for the long-running music video TV program rage.  Five King Crimson albums also made the top 100 in Australia.

"Pretty Pink Rose" was recorded for Adrian's fifth solo studio album Young Lions (number 149, June 1990), and is a duet with David Bowie, who, of course, needs no introduction.  Up until this point in 1990, David had placed 31 singles on the Australian top 100 singles chart.  Bowie previously bubbled under on the Australian Music Report list of singles receiving significant sales reports beyond the top 100 when "Time Will Crawl" reached second place on this list in July 1987.

While we won't see Adrian in the top 150 again, David Bowie will bubble under next in 1992.

Number 143 "Policy of Truth" by Depeche Mode

Peak: number 143

Peak date: 2 July 1990

Weeks in top 150: 1 week

Top 150 chart run: 143

Weeks on chart: 2 weeks

 

English band Depeche Mode (French for 'fashion news' or 'fashion update') have, at the time of writing this, landed 43 top 40 singles in their native UK, although none of these have peaked higher than number 4.

 

In Australia, Depeche Mode have been much less successful, placing 15 singles in the top 100 between 1982 and 2001, with only 5 of these reaching the top 40.  However, their biggest hit in Australia, "Just Can't Get Enough" (number 4, April 1992), actually bettered its UK peak by 4 places, and matched their highest UK singles chart position.

 

"Just Can't Get Enough", from the album Speak & Spell (number 28, April 1982), was written by Vince Clarke, who left the band shortly after the album was released.  Vince went on to score chart success with Yazoo, who landed two top 10 singles in Australia with "Only You" (number 7, August 1982) and "Don't Go" (number 6, November 1982), and Erasure - whom we saw last week but were under-appreciated in Australia.

 

Band member Martin L. Gore assumed songwriting duties following Vince's departure, and penned the band's only other Australian top 40 hit during the 1980s, "People Are People" (number 25, August 1984).

 

It is criminal, really, the general lack of commercial success Depeche Mode achieved in Australia.  Even "Enjoy the Silence", widely regarded as their classic, only peaked at number 71 in September 1990 - six months after its release, boosted by a live show in Sydney on 31 August 1990 (their only concert performed in Oceania on the World Violation Tour).

"Policy of Truth" was the third release from the band's seventh studio album Violator (number 42, September 1990).   It followed "Personal Jesus" - which peaked later in 1990 following a re-release - and "Enjoy the Silence".  On the state charts, "Policy of Truth" performed strongest in Western Australia, where it peaked at number 131.  "Policy of Truth" had greater success in the UK, where it peaked at number 16 in May 1990, and in the US, where it reached number 15 on the Billboard Hot 100 in October 1990.

 

Although the Violator era was not so successful in Australia, the album peaked at at number 7 in the US in May 1990, shifting over 4.5 million copies there and becoming their best-selling release worldwide.

Before "Policy of Truth", Depeche Mode appeared three times on the Kent Music Report's list of singles receiving significant sales reports beyond the top 100.  "Shake the Disease" reached third place on the list in August 1985, "Stripped" reached fourth place on the list in June 1986, and "Strangelove" reached tenth place on the list in June 1987.

 

Some Depeche Mode singles released in Australia during the 1980s that did not chart at all, but which I recommend checking out if you are unfamiliar with them, include: "New Life" (released in Australia in April 1982), "See You" (June 1982), "Get the Balance Right!" (April 1983), "Everything Counts" (August 1983), and "A Question of Time" (October 1986).  "But Not Tonight", the B-side of "Stripped", was released as a single in the US in 1986 to promote the film Modern Girls, and is another favourite of mine.

Between 1990 and 2011, eight Depeche Mode singles peaked outside the top 100 on the ARIA singles chart.  We will next see Depeche Mode bubble under in December 1990.

Number 144 "Kiss My Ass" by The Booz'n Bang'n Dance Crew

Peak: number  144

Peak dates: 2 July 1990 and 9 July 1990

Weeks in top 150: 3 weeks

Top 150 chart run: 144-144-148

Occasionally I am dumbfounded by a song/artist I've never heard of, who somehow managed to scrape into the ARIA top 150 singles chart.  This is one of those moments - and that's just from the artist name and song title, before we get to the profound lyrics such as "I love you, kiss my ass."

Going by the record label credits, even on the Australian pressing, it appears that The Booz'n Bang'n Dance Crew are a Finnish act.  The "song" contains numerous samples - two I spotted are from Kraftwerk's "The Robots" and "Pocket Calculator".

While this "song" presumably charted in Finland, the Finnish charts are not archived online prior to 1995, so I am not able to verify that.  "Kiss My Ass" does not appear to have charted anywhere else.

Number 149 "Tattooed Millionaire" by Bruce Dickinson

Peak: number 149

Peak date: 2 July 1990

Weeks in top 150: 1 week

Top 150 chart run: 149

 

Iron Maiden are perhaps best known - to the masses - in Australia via being name-checked in the chorus of Wheatus's "Teenage Dirtbag" ("listen to Iron Maiden baby with me"), which reached number 1 on the ARIA singles chart for four non-consecutive weeks between November 2000 and January 2001.

 

Iron Maiden were much less successful with their own music on the Australian singles chart, with only three of their singles registering within the top 100 by this point.  Only one of those, "Run to the Hills", made the top 40, peaking at number 27 in September 1982.

 

Bruce Dickinson, the lead singer of Iron Maiden, launched a solo career in 1990 with the album Tattooed Millionaire (number 103, August 1990).  The album's title track peaked at number 18 in Bruce's native UK in May 1990.

Bruce never made the top 100 in Australia with any of his solo releases - single or album, but scored seven top 40 singles and two top 40 albums in the UK.

Aside from fronting one of the most popular heavy metal bands (just not with the record-buying public in Australia), Bruce is also a trained commercial pilot, and even flew Iron Maiden's own Boeing 747 jet on their 2016 world tour!

Bruce will join us again as part of Iron Maiden, who will bubble under in 1991.

 

Bubbling WAY down under:

 

Number 164 "Coming of Age" by Damn Yankees

Peak: number 164

Peak date: 2 July 1990

Weeks on chart: 1 week

 

Damn Yankees, as you would suspect from the name, were an American band.  What I didn't realise, until now, is that the band was a supergroup, composed of Tommy Shaw from Styx, Jack Blades from Night Ranger, and Ted Nugent from The Amboy Dukes.  The band's drummer, Michael Cartellone, was then an unknown name, but would later perform with Lynyrd Skynyrd.

"Coming of Age", the band's debut single, peaked at number 60 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in May 1990.  It topped the Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks chart, for what that is worth, during the same month.  "Coming of Age" is lifted from the album Damn Yankees (number 112, April 1991).

We will see Damn Yankees again before the end of the month!

 

Number 166 "No Alibis" by Eric Clapton

Peak: number 166

Peak date: 2 July 1990

Weeks on chart: 1 week

 

We last saw English guitar maestro Eric Clapton in February 1990.

 

 "No Alibis" was issued as the third single in Australia from Eric's eleventh studio album Journeyman album (number 27, December 1989).  Internationally, "No Alibis" peaked at number 53 in the UK in April 1990.  It also reached number 4 on the US Billboard Mainstream Rock Airplay chart in March 1990.

In Australia, "No Alibis" was most popular in South Australia/Northern Territory, where it reached number 145 on the state chart.

I hadn't heard this one before, and didn't mind it, much to my surprise.

Eric will next join us in 1994.

 

Next week (9 July): Six top 150 debuts and one bubbling WAY down under entry.

 

< Previous week: 25 June 1990                                    Next week: 9 July 1990 >