Week commencing 14 September 1992

I can't identify a common theme linking this week in 1992's new entries peaking outside the top 100, other than all but one of them have male lead vocals.  Let's take a look.

 

Right Said Fred were too sexy for the top 100 this week in 1992, and too stupid for the pandemic in the 2020s.

 

Top 150 debuts:

 

Number 112 "What God Wants, Part I" by Roger Waters

Peak: number 103

Peak dates: 21 September 1992 and 28 September 1992

Weeks in top 150: 6 weeks

Chart run: 112-103-103-108-117-133

Weeks on chart: 6 weeks

 

English musician Roger Waters was a founding member of Pink Floyd, who formed in 1965, in which he played bass guitar.  Roger left the group in 1985, although he had launched his solo career the year prior, with "5:01AM (The Pros and Cons of Hitchhiking)" (number 74, August 1984), and the album The Pros and Cons of Hitchhiking (number 30, July 1984).

I first became aware of Roger when his single "Radio Waves" (number 43, August 1987) appeared on the '87 Hots Up (number 8, October 1987) compilation, which was the first various artists compilation I purchased, aged 8.  Roger landed another minor hit on the Australian singles chart the following year, with "The Tide Is Turning (After Live Aid)" (number 49, March 1988).  Both tracks were lifted from Roger's second album Radio K.A.O.S. (number 33, September 1987).

 

"What God Wants, Part I" was the lead single from Roger's third solo studio album Amused to Death (number 14, September 1992).  Internationally, the single peaked at number 35 in the UK in September 1992, number 9 in Norway, number 26 in New Zealand in October 1992, and number 49 in the Netherlands in October 1992.  It also reached number 4 on the meaningless US Billboard Mainstream Rock Airplay chart in September 1992.

 

In Australia, "What God Wants, Part I" was most popular in New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory, where it reached number 84 on the state chart.

 

While this would be the only occasion we see Roger bubble under in Australia, he had a couple of later albums that missed the top 100, namely Flickering Flame: The Solo Years Volume I (number 139, April 2002), Igor Stravinsky's The Soldier's Tale (number 674, November 2018), and The Lockdown Sessions (number 220, June 2023).

Number 131 "Real Cool World" by David Bowie

Peak: number 131

Peak date: 14 September 1992

Weeks in top 150: 3 weeks

Top 150 chart run: 131-139-146

Weeks on chart: 6 weeks

 

We saw English singer-songwriter David Bowie as a featured artist in 1990, and fronting a band in 1991.  Here he is finally on his own!  Between 1972 and 1990, David placed 31 singles on the Australian top 100, with "Sorrow" (number 1 for 3 weeks in February-March 1974), "Ashes to Ashes" (number 3, October 1980) and "Let's Dance" (number 2, April 1983) being the biggest of those.

"Real Cool World" was recorded for the movie Cool World and appears on the Songs from the Cool World soundtrack album.  It was David's first solo charting single in Australia since "Fame 90" (number 85, May 1990).

 

Internationally, "Real Cool World" peaked at number 53 in the UK in August 1992, number 26 in Sweden in September 1992, number 27 in the Netherlands in September 1992, number 30 in the Flanders region of Belgium in September 1992, and number 83 in Germany in September 1992.  It also reached number 11 on the pointless US Billboard Alternative Airplay chart in August 1992, and number 9 on the US Billboard Dance Club Songs chart in October 1992.

In Australia, "Real Cool World" was most popular in Western Australia, where it reached number 112.

 

Of course, you'd have to be living under a rock (I sometimes do) to not be aware that we lost David Bowie in January 2016, from liver cancer, aged 69.

We shall next see David in 1995.

 

Number 134 "Machine Gun" by Warrant

Peak: number 124

Peak date: 5 October 1992

Weeks in top 150: 6 weeks

Top 150 chart run: 134-131-129-124-135-138

Weeks on chart: 7 weeks

We last saw American metal band Warrant in 1990.  Since then, Warrant had their commercial breakthrough in Australia with the single "Cherry Pie" (number 6, January 1991) - which I'm thinking was probably the last top 10 glam metal hit in Australia, and the album Cherry Pie (number 13, January 1991).  They also landed a second, minor top 40 hit in Australia with "I Saw Red" (number 36, February 1991), and another top 100 entry with "Uncle Tom's Cabin" (number 85, May 1991).  Then alternative/grunge music took off in 1991 and rendered metal bands virtually obsolete.  Nonetheless, Warrant managed to limp into the top 50 - just - with their cover of Queen's "We Will Rock You" (number 50, June 1992), which was recorded for the Gladiator soundtrack.

 

The success of "Cherry Pie" likely contributed to Warrant front man Jani Lane's demise.  He expressed his regret over writing that song, being pressured by the record label to produce another hit, in this interview, eerily stating he could shoot himself in the head for writing that song.  Jani was found dead in 2011 due to acute alcohol poisoning, aged 47.

"Machine Gun" was released as the lead single from Warrant's third studio album Dog Eat Dog (number 105, October 1992).  Internationally, the single peaked at number 36 on the meaningless US Billboard Mainstream Rock Songs chart in September 1992.

Locally, "Machine Gun" performed strongest in Victoria/Tasmania, where it reached number 105 on the state chart.

We'll see Warrant one more time, in December 1992.

Number 136 "Those Simple Things"/"(What a Day for a) Daydream" by Right Said Fred

Peak: number 121

Peak date: 28 September 1992

Weeks in top 150: 7 weeks

Chart run: 136-128-121-129-134-146-146

Weeks on chart: 7 weeks

 

English pop group Right Said Fred were brothers Richard (the singing one who also plays bass) and Fred (the guitar-playing one) Fairbass, together with guitarist Rob Manzoli.  The brothers are still together, while Rob quit the group in 1997.  The trio came to prominence with their debut single "I'm Too Sexy" (number 1 for 3 weeks in November 1991), which was essentially a novelty hit.  They avoided one-hit wonder status by following that up with the singles "Don't Talk Just Kiss" (number 18, March 1992) and "Deeply Dippy" (number 38, August 1992) - all three of these singles went top 3 in their native UK, with the latter finally giving them a number 1 there.  The group's debut album Up (number 39, July 1992) also topped the UK albums chart.

 

"Those Simple Things" was issued as the fourth single from Up, and was paired with "(What a Day for a) Daydream", a new recording and cover version of a song originally released by The Lovin' Spoonful in 1966 as just "Daydream", as a double A-side release.  Presumably, this was done to entice people to buy the single for the new track, given the album had already performed well in the UK.

The ploy did not exactly work.  "Those Simple Things"/"(What a Day for a) Daydream" under-performed in the UK, peaking at number 29 there in July 1992.  The single also peaked at number 21 in Ireland in July 1992, number 48 in Germany in September 1992, number 29 in Austria in September 1992, and number 18 in Switzerland in October 1992.

In Australia, "Those Simple Things"/"(What a Day for a) Daydream" was most popular in Western Australia, where it reached number 95.  The single fared better nationally on the Australian Music Report singles chart, where it reached number 91.

I recall hearing this single on the UK Chart Attack radio show in 1992, but could barely remember how it went.  At this point, Right Said Fred's novelty appeal was wearing off.  Nonetheless, they continued releasing material into the 2000s, and we shall see Right Said Fred bubble under (or WAY down under) on a couple of occasions over the years, with the next time we see them being in 1994.

While the Fairbrass brothers might have been been blessed with gym-fit bodies, they were clearly much further down the queue when brains were handed out.  The pair became known for downplaying the seriousness of COVID-19 during the pandemic, and expressing skepticism over the vaccines.  In 2022, the brothers were involved with distributing leaflets for anti-climate change UK activist group Not Our Future.  What a charming pair.

 

 

 

Number 150 "Full Term Love" by Monie Love

Peak: number 150

Peak date: 14 September 1992

Weeks in top 150: 1 week

Known chart run: 169-150

Weeks on chart: 12 weeks

We last saw English rapper Monie Love in 1991.

 

"Full Term Love" was recorded for the Class Act soundtrack, and would go on to appear on Monie's second studio album In a Word Or 2 (number 147, May 1993).  As seemed to be common in the early 90s with singles blending rap and dance, a different mix of this track was released in the US (which you can listen to here) to the single version in Europe and Australasia, which I have embedded below.  The US version is much more R&B in style, while the one we got in Australia sounds similar in production to my ears to the European versions of Salt 'N' Pepa's early 1990s singles.

Internationally, "Full Term Love" peaked at number 34 in the UK in July 1992, number 96 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in August 1992, and number 58 in the Netherlands in October 1992.  It also peaked at number 43 on the meaningless US Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart in July 1992, number 47 on the US Billboard Hot R&B/Hip Hop Songs chart in July 1992, number 26 on the US Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles Sales chart in August 1992, and number 7 on the US Billboard Hot Rap Songs chart in August 1992.

Locally, "Full Term Love" performed strongest in Western Australia, where it reached number 120 on the state chart.

I remember catching the video for "Full Term Love" on M.C. TeeVee on SBS on a Sunday afternoon at the time.  I think it deserved to be a bigger hit than it was.

We shall next see Monie in 1993.

Bubbling WAY down under:

Number 155 "I Love You Goodbye" by Thomas Dolby

Peak: number 155

Peak date: 14 September 1992

Weeks on chart: 4 weeks

We last saw English singer-songwriter Thomas Dolby in June 1992.

 

"I Love You Goodbye" was issued as the second single from Thomas' fourth studio album Astronauts & Heretics (number 123, August 1992).  Internationally, the single peaked at number 36 in the UK in July 1992.

In Australia, "I Love You Goodbye" performed strongest in New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory, where it reached number 146.

 

I hadn't heard this one before.  I like it, but doesn't exactly scream 'hit'.

We'll see Thomas on one more occasion, in November 1992.

 

 

Number 182 "Going Home" by The Tyrrel Corporation

Peak: number 182

Peak date: 14 September 1992

Weeks on chart: 2 weeks

 

English duo The Tyrrel Corporation last graced our presence in May 1992.

"Going Home" was issued as the third, and in Australia, final, single from The Tyrrel Corporation's debut album North East of Eden (number 273, December 1992).  The song tells the tale of the pair returning to their small seaside hometown (population 37,000 in 2021) Redcar, in North East England, after having been away for some time, and being shocked at how run-down and stagnant the place had become, during the Thatcher government years of neglect ("expect that everything has changed, strange to find things just the same").

"Going Home" peaked at number 58 in the UK in August 1992.  Domestically, the single was most popular in South Australia/Northern Territory, where it reached number 169.

I didn't know this one at the time, but quite like it, particularly that bass line.

A fourth single from North East of Eden, the double A-side "Waking with a Stranger"/"One Day", was released in the UK at the end of September 1992, peaking at number 59 there the following month.

We will see The Tyrrel Corporation on one more occasion, in 1995.

 

Number 203 "Hangin' on a String" (Frankie Knuckles Remix) by Loose Ends

Peak: number 203

Peak date: 14 September 1992

Weeks on chart: 2 weeks

 

British R&B band Loose Ends formed in London in the early 1980s.  While they never landed a charting release in Australia - until now - they amassed six UK top 40 singles between 1985 and 1992.  The original 1985 release of "Hangin' on a String (Contemplating)" was the equal-best charting of those, reaching number 13 in the UK in March 1985.  The single also peaked at number 26 in Ireland in March 1985, number 33 in the Netherlands in April 1985, number 40 in the Flanders region of Belgium in June 1985, number 12 in New Zealand in June 1985, and number 43 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in August 1985.

This Frankie Knuckles remix of "Hangin' on a String", minus the subtitle, was released to promote Loose Ends' Tighten Up Vol. 1 compilation, which contained remixed versions of their hits.  The 1992 remixed single peaked at number 25 in the UK in June 1992.

In Australia, the 1992 mix of "Hangin' on a String" performed strongest in South Australia/Northern Territory, where it reached number 153 on the state singles chart.

 

While we won't see Loose Ends again, we will see Frankie Knuckles in 1995.

 

 

Next week (21 September): Four top 150 entries and two bubbling WAY down under debuts.

 

< Previous week: 7 September 1992                   Next week: 21 September 1992 >

Week commencing 11 May 1992

One thing this week in 1992's new entries on the Australian singles chart that peaked outside the top 100 have in common is that I do not recall hearing any of them at the time.

 

Boyz II Men: uhhing and aahing in the lower region of the ARIA top 200.

 

 

Top 150 debuts:

 

Number 136 "Born Free" by Vic Reeves and The Roman Numerals

Peak: number 130

Peak dates: 18 May 1992 and 25 May 1992

Weeks in top 150: 4 weeks

Top 150 chart run: 136-130-130-143

 

English comedian Vic Reeves, born Jim Moir, came to fame in in the UK in late 1986, when he first appeared in comedy game show segment on the TV program The Tube.  Prior to becoming known as Vic the comedian, Jim performed in several bands, and sold cassette recordings of his music through the British music newspaper NME.

Vic first came to attention in Australia through his musical collaboration with The Wonder Stuff, whom we shall see in 1993, with a cover version of "Dizzy" (number 3, March 1992), originally recorded by Tommy Roe (number 2 in Australia in 1969).  Vic & The Wonder Stuff's cover of "Dizzy" went all the way to number 1 in the UK in November 1991.

"Born Free", another cover - this time originally performed by Matt Monro in 1966, was released prior to "Dizzy" in the UK, peaking at number 6 there in April 1991, and at number 11 in Ireland in May 1991.  The track appears on Vic's only studio album I Will Cure You (number 142, April 1992).

"Born Free" was Vic's last single released in Australia. One later charting single, credited to just Vic Reeves, was issued in the UK - "Abide with Me", reaching number 47 there in December 1991.  Musically, it is quite different to "Born Free" and "Dizzy", having more of a dance-pop sound.

 

 

Number 142 "In the Ghetto" by Beats International

Peak: number 142

Peak date: 11 May 1992

Weeks in top 150: 1 week

Top 150 chart run: 142

Weeks on chart: 9 weeks

 

We last saw Beats International in December 1991.  "In the Ghetto" was the third single lifted from the collective's second album Excursion on the Version, which was released in Australia in November 1991, but failed to chart.

Internationally, "In the Ghetto" peaked at number 44 in the UK in November 1991, number 89 in Germany in January 1992, and number 7 in New Zealand in March 1992.

Within Australia, "In the Ghetto" performed equally-strongest in New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory and Queensland, peaking at number 132 on both state charts.  This was the act's final release to chart in Australia.

Beats International mastermind, Norman Cook, however, would find more success in Australia towards the end of the 1990s as Fatboy Slim, returning with the single "The Rockefella Skank" (number 32, July 1998) - a song that reminds me vividly of my 'clubbing' days, and the album You've Come a Long Way, Baby (number 2, February 1999).

 

 

Number 144 "O Fortuna" by Apotheosis

Peak: number 104

Peak date: 24 August 1992

Weeks in top 150: 15 weeks

Top 150 chart run: 144-(out for 1 week)-135-107-116-(out for 1 week)-119-134-143-143-136-115-122-126-106-104-111

O Fortuna was originally a medieval Latin Goliardic poem, written in the early 1200s CE.  It was first set to music by German composer Carl Orff in the mid-1930s.  I think I first became aware of the song when it was used in my high school's 1992 Rock Eisteddfod performance (skip to the 5 minute mark), centered around the assassination of US president John F. Kennedy.  My school actually won the national competition that year, despite finishing second in the state.  And no, I wasn't in it.

 

A Belgian act, Apotheosis were Patrick Samoy and Luc Rigaux, also known as Steve Humby & Andy Sykes.  Internationally, their version of "O Fortuna" peaked at number 3 in the Netherlands in February 1992, and at number 29 in the Flanders region of Belgium during the same month.

In Australia, "O Fortuna" ties for the most weeks spent in the ARIA top 150 for a single peaking between numbers 101 and 150 that debuted in the top 150 during 1992, spending 15 weeks in this region of the chart.  We shall see the single it ties with for chart longevity in June 1992.  Interestingly, "O Fortuna" climbed to number 107 on the national chart on 1 June 1992, but did not reach its peak, 3 places higher, until its second last week in the top 150, in late August 1992.

 

On the state charts, "O Fortuna" performed much stronger in Western Australia that elsewhere, reaching number 28 there in June 1992.   The single peaked higher on the Australian Music Report singles chart, where it reached number 81.

F.C.B. scored a much bigger hit in Australia with "Excalibur" (number 2, August 1995), which was another dance track based on "O Fortuna".

 

"O Fortuna" would be Apotheosis' only top 150 charting entry in Australia.

 

Number 145 "It's Over Now" by L.A. Guns

Peak: Number 133

Peak date: 18 May 1992

Weeks in top 150: 2 weeks

Chart run: 159-145-133 

Weeks on chart: 3 weeks

 

American glam metal band L.A. Guns formed in 1983 in Los Angeles.  Their first taste of chart success in Australia came with their second studio album, Cocked & Loaded (number 119, October 1989).  "It's Over Now" was lifted from the band's third album Hollywood Vampires (number 91, August 1991).

 

Internationally, "It's Over Now" peaked at number 62 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in May 1992.  Domestically, the single performed strongest in Queensland, where it reached number 106.

 

I don't normally listen to this kind of music, but the rock ballad is not bad.

 

"It's Over Now" was the only L.A. Guns single to chart in Australia, although the band had several later albums that registered a chart placing, namely Vicious Circle (number 158, April 1995), The Missing Peace (number 688, October 2017), The Devil You Know (number 757, April 2019), Renegades (number 754, November 2020), Cocked & Loaded Live (number 1245, January 2022), and Checkered Past (number 1046, April 2022).

 

 

Bubbling WAY down under:

 

Number 176 "Who Wants to Live Forever"/"Friends Will Be Friends" by Queen

Peak: number 165

Peak date: 25 May 1992

Weeks on chart: 3 weeks

We last saw Queen in May 1991.  Both "Who Wants to Live Forever" and "Friends Will Be Friends" originally appeared on Queen's twelfth studio album A Kind of Magic (number 12, August 1986), and more-recently, the compilation Greatest Hits II (number 4, December 1991), which was released shortly before front man Freddie Mercury's untimely death in November 1991.

 

"Who Wants to Live Forever" is unusual for a Queen single in that guitarist Brian May, whom we saw bubble under solo in March 1992, shares the lead vocal with Freddie.

"Friends Will Be Friends" was originally released as the third single from the album in Australia in November 1986, though it missed the Kent Music Report top 100, ranking ninth on the list of singles with significant sales reports beyond the top 100 in December 1986.

 

The 1986 issue of "Friends Will Be Friends" peaked at number 14 in the UK in June 1986, number 4 in Ireland in June 1986, number 16 in the Netherlands in July 1986, number 18 in the Flanders region of Belgium in July 1986, number 19 in Switzerland in August 1986, number 50 in New Zealand in August 1986, and number 20 in West Germany in August 1986.

The 1986 release of "Who Wants to Live Forever" peaked at number 24 in the UK in September 1986, number 15 in Ireland in September 1986, number 29 in the Netherlands in October 1986, and number 52 in West Germany in November 1986.

The 1992 double A-side single appears to have only been released in a limited number of countries.  It peaked at number 6 in the Netherlands in May 1992, and at number 44 in the Flanders region of Belgium during the same month.

 

In Australia, the 1992 release of "Who Wants to Live Forever"/"Friends Will Be Friends" performed strongest on the South Australia/Northern Territory state chart, where it reached number 128.

We shall next see Queen in 1996.

Number 183 "Uhh Ahh" by Boyz II Men

Peak: number 180

Peak date: 25 May 1992

Weeks on chart: 3 weeks

 

American vocal harmony quartet Boyz II Men formed in 1985, when they were still in high school in Philadelphia, under the name of Unique Attraction.  Boyz II Men's first single, "Motownphilly" (number 32, October 1991), which I quite enjoyed, dented the lower region of the top 40 in Australia, while climbing to number 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 in September 1991.  Within Australia, "Motownphilly" had quite varied fortunes on the state charts, reaching number 18 in New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory, but only peaking at number 104 in South Australia/Northern Territory!

 

The band's second single, "It's So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday", reached number 2 in the US in December 1991, but was not released locally until 1993, when it reached number 100 in July 1993.

Both tracks were lifted from Boyz II Men's debut album Cooleyhighharmony, which initially peaked at number 140 in Australia October 1991, before climbing to number 4 in January 1993 after the success of "End of the Road" (number 1 for four weeks in November-December 1992), taken from the Boomerang: Original Soundtrack Album (number 29, October 1992) and being tacked onto Cooleyhighharmony.

 

Internationally, "Uhh Ahh" peaked at number 16 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in March 1992.  Domestically, the single performed strongest in New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory, where it reached number 156.

 

We will next see Boyz II Men in July 1992.

 

 

Number 199 "The Bottle" by The Tyrrel Corporation

Peak: number 199

Peak date: 11 May 1992

Weeks on chart: 1 week

 

We previously saw English duo The Tyrrel Corporation in February 1992.  "The Bottle" was the second single lifted from the pair's debut album North East of Eden (number 273, December 1992).

"The Bottle", which I am guessing is about alcohol addiction, peaked at number 71 in the UK in March 1992.  Within Australia, "The Bottle" performed strongest in Western Australia, where it reached number 168.

A heavily-edited version of "The Bottle" is used in the music video embedded below.  You can hear the full-length album version here.

We shall next see The Tyrrel Corporation in September 1992.

Next week (18 May): A bumper week with ten new top 150 debuts and four bubbling WAY down under entries.

< Previous week: 4 May 1992                                        Next week: 18 May 1992 >

 

Week commencing 3 February 1992

There isn't a common thread I can identify linking this week in 1992's new entries peaking outside the top 100 I can identify, other than there are several (for me, anyway) unexpected entries among them.  Shall we take a look? 

 

Donna Summer's hair stylist tried to work some magic on that hair.

 

Top 150 debuts:

 

Number 121 "Sisters Keep on Doin' It" by Dimples D & Lady Spice

Peak: number 116

Peak date: 10 February 1992

Weeks in top 150: 4 weeks 

Top 150 chart run: 121-116-129-131

Weeks on chart: 6 weeks

 

Crystal Smith, better known by her stage name Dimples D, burst onto the chart in early 1991 with "Sucker DJ", which topped the chart for two weeks in March.  The I Dream of Jeannie theme-sampling track would become Dimples' only release to trouble the top 100 in Australia.

"Sisters Keep on Doin' It" was lifted from Dimples' only album Dimples & Spice, which was released in Australia in December 1991 but failed to chart.  This time, the "Peter Gunn Theme" forms the basis of the track, and Dimples D teamed up with Lady Spice, whose real name is Tawana Ramsey.

 

I hadn't heard this one before.  Vocally, it sounds quite different to me than "Sucker DJ" - I can't even really identify Dimples D's voice on it; though maybe that's because the vocals for "Sucker DJ" were recorded in 1983 for the track's original release "Sucker D.J.'s (I Will Survive)", and she was younger then.

I cannot find evidence of "Sisters Keep on Doin' It" charting elsewhere.  On the state charts, "Sisters Keep on Doin' It" performed equally-strongest in New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory and Queensland, where it reached number 105 on both state charts.

 

 

Number 131 "Just Another Girlfriend" by Hi-Five

Peak: number 107

Peak date: 10 February 1992

Weeks in top 150: 5 weeks 

Top 150 chart run: 131-107-120-127-119

We last saw American R&B vocal quintet Hi-Five in 1991.

"Just Another Girlfriend" was issued as the third (in Australia) and final single from the group's debut album Hi-Five (number 102, July 1991).

 

Internationally, "Just Another Girlfriend" peaked at number 88 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in November 1991.

I don't normally care much for this sort of music, but found this track OK.

 

Hi-Five will next join us in 1993.

Number 141 "Rockwell Street" by Colour Blue

Peak: number 102

Peak dates: 24 February 1992 and 2 March 1992

Weeks in top 150: 8 weeks 

Top 150 chart run: 141-133-107-102-102-127-129-(out for 1 week)-150

Colour Blue were an Australian group who only released two singles.  Their debut release "Peace" (number 82, July 1991) dented the lower region of the ARIA top 100.

It sounds to me like Colour Blue were a couple of years ahead of their time.  This track could have done better on the Australian chart had it been released in 1994-5, when R&B was gaining popularity locally.

Number 147 "Work That Magic" by Donna Summer

Peak: number 147

Peak date: 3 February 1992

Weeks in top 150: 1 week

Top 150 chart run: 147

Weeks on chart: 2 weeks

Donna Summer, born LaDonna Gaines, commenced her chart career in Australia in 1976 with "Love to Love You Baby" (number 4, April 1976).  Between then and 1992, she placed a further 19 singles on the Australian chart, with "I Feel Love" (number 1, October 1977) and "Hot Stuff" (number 1, July 1979) topping the chart.

Donna's last real hit in Australia was the Stock Aitken Waterman-produced "This Time I Know It's for Real" (number 40, October 1989), which took seven months to reach its eventual modest peak, after debuting at number 150 in March 1989.  She followed that up with "Love's About to Change My Heart" (number 71, November 1989), also from the Stock Aitken Waterman-produced album Another Place and Time (number 93, September 1989).

 

In the interim, Donna placed a compilation album outside the top 100 in Australia with The Best of Donna Summer (number 124, February 1991).  A remixed version of "Breakaway", from Another Place and Time, was released as a single to promote the compilation in Europe, but not in Australia.  It's a pity, because I really like the single version of that song!

 

"Work That Magic" was the second single lifted from Donna's fifteenth studio album Mistaken Identity, which was released in Australia in November 1991 but failed to chart.  It followed "When Love Cries" (released in Australia in October 1991, did not chart), which was released with no accompanying music video, owing to Donna's sister Andrea dying around this time.

Internationally, "Work That Magic" peaked at number 74 in the UK in November 1991.

Domestically, "Work That Magic" performed strongest in Victoria/Tasmania, where it reached number 136.

I didn't hear this one until a couple of years ago, but really like it.  I think it could have become a hit if Donna was able to promote it effectively.

As you probably know, we lost Donna in 2012 aged 63, from lung cancer - an illness that also claimed the lives of her mother and sister.

We shall next see Donna in 1997.  Before then, Donna had another compilation peak outside the top 100 in Australia, with The Donna Summer Anthology (number 144, January 1994).

 

 

Bubbling WAY down under:

 

Number 152 "Places That Belong to You" by Barbra Streisand

Peak: number 152

Peak date: 3 February 1992

Weeks on chart: 3 weeks

 

We last saw Barbra Streisand in 1989. 

"Places That You Belong To" was a track recorded for the soundtrack to the movie The Prince of Tides, which Babs directed herself as well as starred in.

While that soundtrack missed the ARIA top 150, Babs had a recent compilation album that peaked outside the top 100: Just for the Record (number 126, November 1991).

 

Internationally, "Places That You Belong To" peaked at number 17 in the UK in March 1992, and at number 29 in Ireland during the same month.

 

Locally, "Places That You Belong To" 'belonged' most in Victoria/Tasmania, where it reached number 141.

 

Barbra will next join us in 1993.

 

 

Number 161 "Six O'Clock" by The Tyrrel Corporation

Peak: number 161

Peak date: 3 February 1992

Weeks on chart: 1 week

English duo The Tyrrel Corporation were made up of Joe Watson and Tony Barry.  "Six O'Clock" was the pair's debut release, lifted from their album North East of Eden (number 273, December 1992).

 

Internationally, "Six O'Clock" peaked at number 101 (number 90 on the compressed chart) in the UK in November 1991.

 

In Australia, "Six O'Clock" performed strongest in Western Australia, where it reached number 137 on the state chart.

 

The Tyrrel Corporation would go on to have a couple of other charting singles in Australia, though none would dent the top 150.  I wasn't aware of the group until about a decade ago, when one of their songs turned up on a music video compilation I'd bought.  I like the combination of soulful vocals and dance music on this track.

 

We'll next see The Tyrrel Corporation in May 1992.

Number 162 "The Air You Breathe" by Bomb the Bass

Peak: number 162

Peak date: 3 February 1992

Weeks on chart: 3 weeks

 

Bomb the Bass last graced our presence in 1991.

"The Air You Breathe" was issued as the third single from the second Bomb the Bass album Unknown Territory (number 172, September 1991).  Internationally, the single peaked at number 52 in the UK in November 1991, and number 54 in the Netherlands in December 1991.

 

Within Australia, "The Air You Breathe" was most popular in Western Australia, where it reached number 138.

 

This would be the final Bomb the Bass single to peak outside the top 100 in Australia, although their third album Clear peaked at number 122 in May 1995.   Two later Bomb the Bass singles released locally that failed to chart were "Keep Giving Me Love" (September 1992) and "1 to 1 Religion" (June 1995).

 

 

Number 164 "Keep It Together" by Madonna

Peak: number 158

Peak date: 6 December 1993

Weeks on chart: 6 weeks

 

We last saw Madonna in 1991. 

"Keep It Together" was one of six singles (five in Australia) lifted from Madonna's fourth studio album Like a Prayer (number 4, March 1989).  The track was given a Soul II Soul-esque remix from the album version for single release, and issued as a single in North America and Japan.  "Keep It Together" was not originally released in Europe or Australasia, other than as the double A-side of "Vogue" (number 1, April 1990).

 

Despite not having a music video (the one embedded below is fan-made), "Keep It Together" peaked at number 8 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in March 1990, and at number 8 in Canada in April 1990.

"Keep It Together" was one among a bunch of earlier Madonna singles released on CD single format in Australia in July 1991.  I am not sure what spurred it to eventually chart almost seven months later, but here we are...

"Keep It Together" in its own right did not peak in Australia until December 1993, amid the frenzy accompanying Madonna's first tour of Australia, with The Girlie Show.  Spoiler alert: a couple of earlier Madonna singles will also re-chart (lowly) in the last few months of 1993.

 

On the ARIA state charts, "Keep It Together" performed strongest in Victoria/Tasmania, where it reached number 105.  The single peaked in 1992 in New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory and Queensland, and in 1993 on the remaining state charts.

 

Madonna will next join us in 1993.

Next week (10 February): Seven top 150 debuts and two bubbling WAY down under entries.

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