Four of this week in 1991's six new entries debuting and peaking outside the ARIA top 100 are from artists we have seen before. Let's take a look at them.
Lisette Melendez: a few weeks in the top 150.
Top 150 debuts:
Number 125 "When a Man Loves a Woman" by Michael Bolton (1991 release)
Peak: number 122 (1991 release); number 100 (1996 release)
Peak dates: 25 November 1991 and 2 December 1991
Weeks in top 150: 13 weeks (in 1991); 21 weeks (1991-2 and 1996 chart runs combined)
Top 150 chart run: 125-123-122-122-124-123-(chart repeated for 2 week Xmas break)-124-124-123-145-146
Re-entered 18 March 1996: 123-123-119-135-100-106-113-123
Weeks on chart: 27 weeks (1991-2 and 1996 chart runs combined)
This single peaked at number 100 in Australia on 15 April 1996, when re-issued, spending another 8 weeks in the top 150.
"When a Man Loves a Woman", a song originally recorded by Percy Sledge in 1966, was a number 3 hit in Australia in November 1988 when Jimmy Barnes released a live version as a single. I suspect that this relatively recent hit is one reason why Michael Bolton's rendition of the song did not take off in Australia.
"When a Man Love a Woman" was released as the third single from Michael's seventh studio album Time, Love & Tenderness (number 11, August 1992).
Internationally, Michael's version of the song peaked at number 1 on the US Billboard Hot 100 for one week in November 1991, number 12 in Ireland in November 1991, number 8 in the UK in November 1991, number 21 in New Zealand in December 1991, number 4 in Canada in December 1991, number 52 in Germany in December 1991, number 34 in Sweden in January 1992, number 17 in the Netherlands in January 1991, number 21 in the Flanders region of Belgium in February 1992, and number 34 in France in May 1992.
In Australia, "When a Man Loves a Woman" had an interesting chart run, spending the first 11 weeks of its top 150 chart run hovering between numbers 122 and 125. Given that the single was not a hit the first time around, it was re-issued in Australia in 1996 following the release of Michael's Greatest Hits 1985-1995 (number 6, September 1995) compilation. The 1996 release of "When a Man Loves a Woman" just scraped into the ARIA top 100, peaking at number 100 in April 1996.
On the ARIA state charts, "When a Man Loves a Woman" performed strongest in Victoria/Tasmania, where it reached number 69 in 1996. The single peaked in early 1992 in Queensland and Western Australia, and in 1996 in all other states.
"Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me " was originally recorded by Elton John, and reached number 13 in Australia in September 1974. Oleta's version was recorded for the various artists tribute album Two Rooms: Celebrating the Songs of Elton John & Bernie Taupin (number 15, November 1991).
Internationally, Oleta's version of the track peaked at number 33 in the UK in October 1991, and number 32 in the Netherlands in November 1991.
Within Australia, "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" was most popular in South Australia/Northern Territory, where it reached number 86.
Chart run: 155-139-134-140-145-137-138-(chart repeated for 2 week Xmas break)-133-134-136
Weeks on chart: 12 weeks
Canadian musician Robbie Robertson was born Jaime Royal Robertson. He was the lead guitarist and a songwriter for The Band before launching his solo career in 1987.
Robbie's only Australian singles chart entries to date had been "Showdown at Big Sky" (number 95, February 1988) and "Somewhere Down the Crazy River", which peaked at number 100 on the Australian Music Report in June 1988, during the week before ARIA commenced producing the chart in-house (it otherwise went on to peak at number 83 on the AMR chart).
"What About Now" was the lead single in Australia from Robbie's second solo album Storyville (number 113, November 1991).
While I cannot find evidence of "What About Now" charting on any other sales-based chart, it registered on two meaningless subsidiary US Billboard charts. "What About Now" peaked at number 15 on the Mainstream Rock Airplay chart, and number 28 on the Alternative Airplay chart in November 1991.
Domestically, "What About Now" performed strongest in Western Australia, where it reached number 87.
This was Robbie's last single to chart in Australia. A second Storyville single, "Go Back to Your Woods", was released in Australia in March 1992.
Robbie had a couple of later albums that peaked outside the top 100 in Australia: Contact from the Underworld of Redboy (number 189, April 1998), and How to Become Clairvoyant (number 129, April 2011).
Number 147 "A Day in My Life (Without You)" by Lisette Melendez
Peak: number 135
Peak date: 18 November 1991
Weeks in top 150: 5 weeks
Chart run: 185-(out for 2 weeks)-147-135-139-140-144
"A Day in My Life (Without You)" was issued as the second single from Lisette's debut album Together Forever (number 199, December 1991).
Internationally, "A Day in My Life..." peaked at number 49 in the US in November 1991.
Within Australia, "A Day in My Life..." was most popular in New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory, where it reached number 125.
Listening to this track, the first thing that strikes me is that the backing music is almost identical to Corina's "Temptation" (number 57, October 1991), which was an observation I made with the last Lisette track we saw.
English duo Curve are made up of singer Toni Halliday and instrumentalist/programmer Dean Garcia. The pair were signed to Dave Stewart's, whom we saw last week, label Anxious Records.
"Coast Is Clear", which does not appear on Curve's debut album Doppelgänger (number 136, May 1992), was Curve's debut release in Australia. The single became the pair's first top 40 entry in the UK, where it reached number 34 in May 1991.
In Australia, "Coast Is Clear" performed strongest in Western Australia, where it reached number 145.
Curve never had a top 100 entry in Australia, but we will see them bubble under on five more occasions on the singles chart, between now and 1998. We shall next see Curve in 1992.
There seems to be something for everyone among this week in 1991's debuts outside the ARIA top 100, with everything from middle-of-the-road ballads your mum would like, to rave anthems, ragga, guitar-based songs your dad would enjoy, to ABBA pastiches. Let's take a look.
The Shamen (no, that's not Slugworth on the left) were not quite moving mountains on the Australian chart in 1991.
Top 150 debuts:
Number 114 "Time, Love and Tenderness" by Michael Bolton
"Time, Love and Tenderness" was the second single and almost-title track (note the use of 'and' vs. '&') from Michael's seventh studio albumTime, Love & Tenderness (number 11, August 1991). It followed "Love Is a Wonderful Thing" (number 25, June 1991).
Internationally, "Time, Love and Tenderness" peaked at number 27 in Sweden in July 1991, number 28 in the UK in August 1991, number 7 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in September 1991, number 4 in Canada in September 1991, and number 74 in Germany in October 1991.
Within Australia, "Time, Love and Tenderness" was most popular in Western Australia, where it reached number 52.
I remember hearing this one numerous times on the American Top 40 radio show, and - a couple of years later - on easy-listening Melbourne FM radio station TT FM (as it was then known). I am surprised it couldn't even dent the ARIA top 100, but I guess people bought the album instead.
"It Hit Me Like a Hammer" was the second single from the band's sixth studio album Hard at Play (number 61, July 1991). It followed "Couple Days Off" (number 40, July 1991), which would be Huey Lewis & The News' final top 40 hit in Australia.
Overseas, "It Hit Me Like a Hammer" peaked at number 51 in Germany in August 1991, number 21 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in September 1991, and number 9 in Canada in September 1991.
Domestically, "It Hit Me Like a Hammer" performed strongest in South Australia/Northern Territory, where it reached number 86.
I am not sure whether I heard this one at the time. While it's pleasant enough, there's nothing particularly memorable about it. The song sounds like it belongs in the 80s more than the early 90s.
We'll see Huey Lewis & The News again in 1994 for one final appearance.
Number 120 "Take Me in Your Arms and Love Me" by Scritti Politti featuring Sweet Irie
Peak: number 113
Peak date: 2 September 1991
Weeks in top 150: 4 weeks
Top 150 chart run: 120-113-139-130
British band Scritti Politti formed in Leeds in 1977. During the band's tenure, Welsh front man Green Gartside (born Paul Strohmeyer) has been the only constant member.
Between 1984 and 1986, Scritti Politti placed four singles on the Australian chart, although only one of those, "Wood Beez (Pray Like Aretha Franklin)" (number 25, July 1984), peaked higher than number 70. Their most-recent single to chart in Australia was "She's a Woman" (number 82, June 1991), on which Jamaican artist Shabba Ranks was featured. The band's last album to chart locally was Provision (number 97, June 1988).
"Take Me in Your Arms and Love Me" peaked at number 47 in the UK in August 1991. The song is a cover version of a song originally released by Gladys Knight & The Pips in 1967. A studio album did not follow, and the band went on hiatus soon after, eventually reforming in 1999.
I heard this one for the first time in the early 2010s when it showed up on a UK VHS compilation I was digitising.
Number 130 "Move Any Mountain - Progen 91" by The Shamen
Peak: number 104
Peak date: 24 February 1992
Weeks in top 150: 18 weeks
Known chart run: 160-130-144-(out of top 150 for 4 weeks)-146-149-(out of top 150 for 6 weeks)-139-139-137-(chart repeated for 2 week Xmas break)-(out of top 150 for 1 week)-150-146-133-123-113-116-104-118-119
Weeks on chart: 30 weeks
Scottish band The Shamen formed in Aberdeen in 1985. Initially, the band's music was guitar-driven and inspired by 1960s psychedelic music. In 1987, however, founding member Colin Angus was inspired to experiment with electronic sounds, and the band evolved into a rave party act.
"Pro>gen", the first release of the song later re-titled "Move Any Mountain", was The Shamen's first UK singles chart entry, peaking at number 55 in April 1990.
Two further singles made ripples on the UK chart: "Make It Real" (UK number 42, September 1990) and "Hyperreal" (UK number 29, April 1991). The latter was The Shamen's first single released in Australia, in July 1991, but it failed to chart. "Hyperreal" also featured the voice of Plavka, who went on to later chart success with Jam & Spoon, notably on "Right in the Night (Fall in Love with Music)" (number 2, May 1994).
The 1991 re-release of "Move Any Mountain" peaked at number 4 in the UK in August 1991, number 17 in Ireland in August 1991, number 21 in Sweden in September 1991, number 17 in the Netherlands in September 1991, number 8 in the Flanders region of Belgium in October 1991, number 4 in Switzerland in October 1991, and number 38 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in February 1992. "Move Any Mountain" would be The Shamen's only single to register on the Hot 100.
In Australia, "Move Any Mountain"'s top 150 chart run was split into four separate runs, and the single did not reach its peak until six months after its debut. The single peaked in New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory in August 1991, and in February 1992 on all other state charts. "Move Any Mountain" performed strongest in South Australia/Northern Territory, where it reached number 85. The single peaked within the top 100 on all state charts except Queensland. Despite never breaking into the top 100 nationally, "Move Any Mountain" spent a mammoth 30 weeks on the ARIA singles chart, straddling the occasionally blurred line between 'hit' and 'flop'.
"Move Any Mountain" was lifted from The Shamen's fourth studio album En-Tact, which was released in Australia in January 1992, but did not chart.
A new music video, shot in Tenerife, was filmed for the 1991 release of "Move Any Mountain". Tragically, band member Will Sin (real name William Sinnott) drowned on 23 May 1991, aged 30, while swimming off the coast of La Gomera, while on location to shoot the video. Will's scenes were included in the video, but his death resulted in the surviving members of the band contemplating whether or not they should continue.
The Shamen did go on, and would achieve their commercial breakthrough - if only fleeting - in Australia towards the end of 1992 with "Ebeneezer Goode" (number 14, January 1993), which was certified gold. Interestingly, that single only spent 25 weeks on the chart in comparison to "Move Any Mountain"'s 30. "L.S.I. (Love, Sex, Intelligence)" (number 53, January 1993) went one better, though, racking up a tally of 31 weeks on the ARIA chart.
I was not aware of "Move Any Mountain" until late 1995, when the rage
top 50 chart went on hiatus for three months, due to a dispute over
paying the major record companies royalties to play their videos.
During those months, rage aired (and re-aired!) music videos on minor
labels, including those distributed though Liberation Records in
Australia, which The Shamen were. "Move Any Mountain" received several
spins during this period.
We last saw English singer-songwriter Elvis Costello (born Declan MacManus) in July 1989.
"So Like Candy" was the second single lifted from Elvis' thirteenth studio album - and third where he receives sole credit - Mighty Like a Rose (number 37, June 1991). It followed "The Other Side of Summer" (number 96, June 1991).
Internationally, "So Like Candy" peaked at number 66 in the Netherlands in August 1991, and number 115 (number 102 on the compressed chart) in the UK in October 1991.
Domestically, "So Like Candy" was most successful in South Australia/Northern Territory, where it reached number 115 on the state chart.
I first heard/saw this one on rage in the late 2000s or early 2010s, when the music video was chosen by a guest programmer.
We'll next see Elvis in 1994.
Number 143 "Hero" by Steeltown
Peak: number 143
Peak dates: 26 August 1991 and 2 September 1991
Weeks in top 150: 3 weeks
Top 150 chart run: 143-143-144
I had assumed that Steeltown must be an Australian band, given that the music video (embedded below) has fewer than 1000 views in the ten years it has been on YouTube, and I could find no evidence of this charting elsewhere. That assumption is only partially true, however. While based in Australia, Steeltown formed from members of the Scottish group The Technicians, who relocated to Australia in the 1980s, and had two minor 'hits' here with "Hot for Love" (number 90, July 1987) and "Clockwork Clown" (number 96, April 1988).
Listening to "Hero" for the first time as I write this, the track sounds more like Frankie Goes to Hollywood - to my ears - than the typical pub rock sound Australian bands were churning out in the early 90s.
Number 145 "I Write You a Love Song" by Izabella
Peak: number 140
Peak date: 2 September 1991
Weeks in top 150: 3 weeks
Top 150 chart run: 145-140-(out for 2 weeks)-145
Here's one I didn't hear until a few years ago, but remember reading the single review in the Australian edition of Smash Hits magazine, and seeing the cassette single in the shops.
Izabella, full name Izabella Skorupko, is a Polish-born model, actress and singer who was based in Sweden for her career.
"I Write You a Love Song" peaked at number 10 in Sweden in March 1991, and at number 93 in Germany in September 1992 - somewhat belatedly.
"I Write You a Love Song" sounds rather ABBA-ish, and I think it could have been a decent-sized hit if it received more exposure. It was Izabella's only release in Australia.
"Brando Moves" is another Izabella song I have heard, and is well worth checking out if you enjoy this one.
Number 149 "Daddy Freddy's in Town" by Daddy Freddy
Peak: number 121
Peak date: 2 September 1991
Weeks in top 150: 7 weeks
Top 150 chart run: 149-121-130-133-132-140-138
Daddy Freddy, born S. Frederick Small (we don't know what the S. stands for) is a Jamaican ragga artist. The chorus of "Daddy Freddy's in Town" is taken from Led Zeppelin's "Black Dog".
"Daddy Freddy's in Town" peaked at number 33 in New Zealand in October 1991. The single performed better on the Australian Music Report singles chart, where it reached number 94.
I hadn't heard this one before.
Bubbling WAY down under:
Number 177 "Runaround" by Van Halen
Peak: number 169
Peak date: 2 September 1991
Weeks on chart: 3 weeks
American rock band Van Halen last paid us a visit in January 1989. At this point in 1991, Van Halen had placed ten singles on the Australian chart, with "Jump" (number 2, March 1984) being their biggest hit. The band's most successful track locally with Sammy Hagar leading the group was "Why Can't This Be Love" (number 8, June 1986). My favourite Van Halen track is "Dreams" (number 51, September 1986).
"Runaround" was the second single released from Van Halen's ninth studio album For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge (number 5, July 1991). It followed "Poundcake" (number 55, July 1991).
Internationally, "Runaround" peaked at number 50 in Canada in September 1991. The song also topped the essentially meaningless US Billboard Mainstream Rock Airplay chart for four weeks in August 1991.
Within Australia, "Runaround" was most popular in South Australia/Northern Territory, where it reached number 138.
I hadn't heard this one before, though I don't seek out heavy rock music.
English band 808 State last visited us in June 1991. "Lift"/"Open Your Mind" was the band's fourth single in a row to peak outside the ARIA top 100 singles chart, and their second double A-side single to do so.
"Lift" was... lifted from the band's ex:el (number 109, April 1991) album, but "Open Your Mind" was a new track.
"Lift"/"Open Your Mind" peaked at number 38 in the band's native UK in August 1991.
Domestically, "Lift"/"Open Your Mind" was most successful in Western Australia, where it reached number 134.
I hadn't heard either track before. Both are notable for making use of samples that would appear on later hits for other artists. "Lift" samples a string rift from Love Unlimited Orchestra's "Love's Theme", which was used on Dannii Minogue's "Baby Love" (number 26, April 1992). "Open Your Mind" samples dialogue from the 1990 movie Total Recall, which was later used on Usura's "Open Your Mind" (number 29, May 1993).
Here's one I did hear at the time, through seeing the music video on the SBS music video TV show M.C. TeeVee.
Nigerian-born Dr. Alban, born Alban Uzoma Nwapa, relocated to Sweden in the early 1980s to study dentisty. Dr. Alban supported himself through his studies by working as a DJ. After qualifying as a dentist and starting his own practice, Dr. Alban continued to work as a DJ on the side.
In 1990, Dr. Alban met Swedish DJ, songwriter and producer Denniz Pop (real name Dag Volle), who went on to produce many internationally-successful acts such as Ace of Base, *NSync and Backstreet Boys. Denniz co-wrote and produced "Hello Afrika" with Dr. Alban, and Swedish rapper Leila K, who scored a couple of minor hits in Australia in 1990 with Rob 'n' Raz, including "Got to Get" (number 57, July 1990). Denniz sadly died in 1998, aged 35, after being diagnosed with stomach cancer. Backstreet Boys dedicated "Show Me the Meaning of Being Lonely" (number 19, February 2000) to him.
Internationally, "Hello Afrika" peaked at number 7 in Sweden in October 1990, number 2 in Germany in February 1991, number 1 in Austria in March 1991, number 3 in Switzerland in March 1991, and number 25 in the Netherlands in May 1991.
Domestically, "Hello Africa" performed strongest in New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory, where it reached number 161.
Dr. Alban would eventually score his breakthrough hit in Australia in 1994 with "Sing Hallelujah!" (number 5, March 1994), which went platinum. Before then, "It's My Life" crept into the top 100, initially peaking at number 97 in November 1992, before reaching a higher peak of number 43 in May 1994, after being re-released following the success of "Sing Hallelujah!"
"Hello Afrika" appeared on Dr. Alban's debut album Hello Afrika, which was issued in Australia in November 1991 but did not chart. A second single from the album, "No Coke", was also released locally in November 1991, but failed to chart.
Welcome to the first weekly post recapping the new entries on the Australian singles chart that peaked between numbers 101 and 150. Occasionally, I will also be listing some singles with known peaks outside the top 150.
As this was the first singles chart that extended beyond number 100, there are quite a few new entries. Because it's such a long post, I shall be splitting it into two parts.
Despite it now being late January in 1989, many of the singles below had been released months earlier - some as early as July 1988 - without ever denting the lofty heights of the top 100.
Eighth Wonder: Ah Patsy... never mind the rock star husbands, she could have been a pop icon herself!
Top 150 debuts:
Number 113 "Love Is All That Matters" by The Human League
Peak: number 113
Peak date: 30 January 1989
Weeks in top 150: 2 weeks
Chart run: 113-125
Weeks on chart: 2 weeks
Released in Australia in mid-November 1988 to promote their Greatest Hits (number 76, January 1989) album, The Human League's first 'charting' single since 1986's "Human" (number 26, October 1986), this one stalled at number 113. Given that the single had been out for over two months by this point, you have to wonder if it might have peaked nearer to 100 in the interim... but we'll never know. Interestingly, the song was lifted from their 1986 studio album Crash (number 32, October 1986), rather than being a new recording. I remember seeing this release reviewed in (the Australian edition of) Smash Hits, and even spotting the cassingle in my local Myer, but never actually hearing the song until 2008.
Internationally, "Love Is All That Matters" peaked at number 41 in the UK in October 1988, and number 27 in Ireland in October 1988.
Domestically, "Love Is All That Matters" performed strongest in South Australia/Northern Territory, where it reached number 66 on the state chart in October 1988. "Love Is All That Matters" peaked within the top 100 on all five state charts.
Bill Medley was one half of The Righteous Brothers, who are best known for "Unchained Melody" (number 1 for 5 weeks in November-December 1990; originally peaking at number 3 in Australia in September 1965). As a solo artist, Bill's sole Australian top 100 singles chart entry was his duet with Jennifer Warnes, "(I've Had) The Time of My Life" (number 1 for 6 weeks in January-February 1988), from the Dirty Dancing soundtrack album (number 1 for 8 weeks in February-March 1988), which was the highest-selling single of 1988 in Australia. "I'm Gonna Be Strong" was released in Australia in November 1988.
I've never actually heard this one before. It's a cover version of a
1963 song recorded by Frankie Laine, which was later covered by Gene Pitney (his version peaked at number 5 in Australia in December 1964), and Cyndi Lauper's band Blue Angel in 1980. Cyndi also covered the song solo, and we'll see her version bubble under in 1995.
Internationally, Bill's version of "I'm Gonna Be Strong" peaked at number 171 (number 132 on the compressed chart) in the UK in November 1988.
While we won't see Bill again as a solo artist, The Righteous Brothers will bubble under in 1991.
Number 116 "Cross My Heart" by Eighth Wonder
Peak: number 116
Peak date: 30 January 1989
Weeks in top 150: 1 week
Chart run: 116
Weeks on chart: 1 week
After a string of flop releases, child actor-turned-adult actor-turned pop star (for a short while, anyway) Patsy Kensit and her band Eighth Wonder scored two UK top 15 hits in 1988, with the Pet Shop Boys-penned "I'm Not Scared", and this... a Michael Jay (the man behind Martika's debut album, among other things) written track produced by Phil Harding of PWL (the label owned by Pete Waterman of Stock Aitken Waterman). With that pedigree, something was bound to give Eighth Wonder a hit eventually - just not in Australia, sadly.
"Cross My Heart" appears to have first been recorded by Tracie Spencer, for her 1988 self-titled debut album. Tracie's version received a single release in Japan. Martika also recorded her own version of this track for her aforementioned debut album. Although both Tracie and Martika have a technically stronger voice than Patsy, I find something about Patsy's paper-thin vocals really endearing.
This single was released in Australia back in September 1988. It fared better on the state charts, where it peaked as high as number 56 in New South Wales/ACT in November, and number 58 in South Australia/Northern Territory in December. That makes me think that "Cross My Heart" probably would have peaked higher than number 116 on the national chart had it extended beyond number 100 earlier.
Internationally, "Cross My Heart" peaked at number 13 in the UK in July 1988, number 16 in Ireland, number 6 in Switzerland in August 1988, number 17 in Germany in August 1988, number 6 in Norway, and number 13 in France in February 1989.
I actually read Patsy's autobiography a while back, as I thought she was someone who'd likely had an interesting life (and that's before we get to the numerous rock-star husbands). In it, she seems a little embarrassed of her pop star phase, never feeling too confident in her singing ability. It's a shame, as she made a great pop star, I thought.
But this song wasn't all for Patsy and... er, the others on the Australian charts. They will be back soon enough with another top 150 smash!
Number 117 "Rubber Love" by Bigstorm
Peak: number 117
Peak date: 30 January 1989
Weeks in top 150: 5 weeks
Top 150 chart run: 117-126-129-128-132
I haven't actually heard this one before. Vocally, it reminds me of Alice Cooper in parts. The group don't currently have a Wikipedia page, so I can't tell you much about them. Their discogs.com page does not reveal much either... although only an Australian pressing is listed for this single, so I assume Bigstorm were an Australian band. This track is lifted from the album Living in Exile (number 110, March 1989).
Number 120 "High on You" by Iggy Pop
Peak: number 114
Peak date: 6 February 1989
Weeks in top 150: 6 weeks
Chart run: 120-114-118-121-125-132
Weeks on chart: 6 weeks
American punk rocker Iggy Pop, real name James Newell Osterberg Jr., is best known in Australia for his duet with The B-52's Kate Pierson, "Candy" (number 9, January 1991)... and his infamous Countdown performance of "I'm Bored" (number 68, August 1979). Before launching his solo career in 1977, Iggy was the lead singer in The Stooges.
"High on You" was the second single lifted from Iggy's eighth solo studio album Instinct (number 82, August 1988), following "Cold Metal" (released in Australia in September 1988), which did not chart nationally, but registered on the South Australia/Northern Territory and Western Australia state charts, where it peaked at numbers 77 and 85, respectively. “High on You” was released in Australia in November 1988.
Internationally, "High on You" peaked at number 230 (number 148 on the compressed chart) in the UK in December 1988.
Locally, “High on You” performed strongest on the South Australia/Northern Territory state chart, where it reached number 78.
Before now, you might have gotten the impression that singles peaking outside the top 100 always peaked where they debuted, but this one actually rose another 6 places to reach its eventual peak of number 114.
American band Van Halen formed in 1973. Their first single to chart in Australia was their debut release, a cover of The Kinks' "You Really Got Me" (number 12, June 1978). Their biggest hit locally was "Jump" (number 2, March 1984). The band underwent a line-up change in 1985, with lead singer David Lee Roth being replaced by Sammy Hagar. My favourite Van Halen single would be "Dreams" (number 51, September 1986), which was surprisingly a flop here.
"Finish What Ya Started" was the second single released in Australia from Van Halen's eighth studio album OU812 (number 9, July 1988). It followed "When It's Love" (number 23, August 1988).
Internationally, "Finish What Ya Started" peaked at number 13 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in December 1988.
In Australia, "Finish What Ya Started" was equally most-popular in Queensland and Western Australia, where it reached number 77 on the state charts. The singled peaked within the top 100 on four of the five state charts, with New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory being the only exception.
I was not familiar with "Finish What Ya Started". It sounds a bit more easy-listening to me than their earlier hits.
Number 124 "Long and Lasting Love (Once in a Lifetime)" by Glenn Medeiros
Peak: number 113
Peak date: 20 February 1989
Weeks in top 150: 7 weeks
Top 150 chart run: 124-122-125-113-114-118-125
Hawaiian Glenn Medeiros made his debut on the Australian charts in 1987, with his first single "Nothing's Gonna Change My Love for You" (number 10, February 1988), which took over six months to reach its peak from its mid-August 1987 release in Australia. He would score a second hit in 1990 with his duet with Bobby Brown, "She Ain't Worth It" (number 8, August 1990), essentially becoming a two-hit wonder in Australia.
Glenn also scored a couple of more-minor 'hits'... such as this one, from his curiously-titled Not Me (number 124, March 1989) album, which I hadn't heard before either. Before Glenn's "harder" makeover in 1990, this is more of the same lovey-dovey stuff as you might expect. The music video is just about the most 80s thing ever.
Internationally, "Long and Lasting Love..." peaked at number 68 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in September 1988, number 42 in the UK in September 1988, number 26 in Ireland in September 1988, number 14 in the Netherlands in October 1988, number 4 in the Flanders region of Belgium in October 1988, and number 54 in Germany in October 1988.
Glenn went on to become a school principal in Honolulu.
Number 125 "A Little Further North" by Graeme Connors
Peak: number 125
Peak date: 30 January 1989
Weeks in top 150: 1 week
Top 150 chart run: 125
Weeks on chart: 21 weeks
Not being well-versed in country music, particularly of the Australian variety, I had never heard of Graeme Connors before. Graeme has had several top 100-charting albums in Australia, but only one single, 1975's "Dakota" (number 78, May 1975), made a dent on the top 100 singles chart. I don't actually mind "A Little Further North". The track is lifted from the album North (number 73, February 1989).
On the state charts, "A Little Further North" was most popular in Queensland, where it reached number 79.
Number 126 "Spanish Eyes" by Willie Nelson with Julio Iglesias
Peak: number 121
Peak date: 6 February 1989
Weeks in top 150: 2 weeks
Top 150 chart run: 126-121
American Country music star Willie Nelson began his recording career in 1957. In Australia, his biggest hit was "To All the Girls I've Loved Before" (number 4, May 1984), another duet with Julio Iglesias. Country music is not really my thing.
Internationally, "Spanish Eyes" peaked at number 8 on the US Billboard Hot Country Songs chart in December 1988, and number 38 in the Flanders region of Belgium in March 1989.
We'll next see Willie, with another collaboration, in 1991.
Number 128 "Shake for the Sheik" by The Escape Club
Peak: number 114
Peak date: 6 March 1989
Weeks in top 150: 8 weeks
Chart run: 128-123-124-129-126-114-128-135
Weeks on chart: 8 weeks
Although they hailed from England, The Escape Club never landed a hit in the UK, with "Wild, Wild West" being their best-charting single there, peaking at number 122 (number 102 on the compressed chart) in November 1988. "Wild, Wild West" was the band's only real hit in Australia, peaking at number 6 in November 1988. "I'll Be There" (number 43, October 1991) was The Escape Club's only other ARIA top 50 single.
"Shake for the Sheik" was the second single lifted from the band's second album Wild Wild West (no comma this time) (number 42, November 1988). Internationally, the single peaked at number 28 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in January 1989, and number 46 in New Zealand in February 1989.
I thought I had seen the music video for "Shake for the Sheik" once at the time, on either Video Hits or The Factory, but had no recollection of how the song went, which kind of says it all.
Number 129 "This Is Me" by Climie Fisher
Peak: number 128
Peak date: 6 February 1989
Weeks in top 150: 2 weeks
Chart run: 129-128
Weeks on chart: 2 weeks
English band Climie Fisher were named after the band's two members, Simon Climie and Rob Fisher. Simon had previously achieved success as a songwriter for other artists, co-writing Pat Benatar's "Invincible" (number 23, October 1985) and Aretha Franklin & George Michael's "I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)" (number 1 for 4 weeks in March-April 1987). Rob was one half of Naked Eyes, who landed a top 10 hit in Australia with their rendition of "Always Something There to Remind Me" (number 7, June 1983) - their only top 100 singles chart entry here.
Climie Fisher's only ARIA top 100 entry, "Love Changes (Everything)" (number 23, October 1988), was the duo's third single in their native UK, originally peaking at number 67 in August 1987, before being re-released in 1988, when it climbed to number 2 in April 1988.
In Australia, "Love Changes (Everything)" was first released in October 1987, and was followed up by "Rise to the Occasion" in April 1988. Both releases failed to chart, and "Love Changes (Everything)" was re-released in August 1988. Both tracks and "This Is Me" are lifted from the duo's debut album Everything, which failed to chart nationally in Australia, but spent a solitary week at number 100 on the Western Australian state chart in December 1988, before the national chart extended beyond number 100.
"This Is Me" was the first Climie Fisher single in the UK, peaking at number 134 (number 106 on the compressed chart) in September 1986. After the success of "Love Changes (Everything)", "This Is Me" was re-released in the UK, climbing to a new peak of number 22 in May 1988. Elsewhere, the 1988 release of "This Is Me" peaked at number 12 in Ireland in May 1988, number 26 in the Flanders region of Belgium in June 1988, number 60 in Germany in June 1988, number 34 in the Netherlands in July 1988, and number 43 in New Zealand in July 1988.
In Australia, "This Is Me" was released in November 1988. On the state charts, "This Is Me" performed strongest in Western Australia, where it reached number 94 in December 1988.
Rob Fisher died in 1999, aged 42, during surgery for cancer.
Top 150 chart run: 131-147-143-149-143-120-123-114-103-115-106-124-134-137
Weeks on chart: 15 weeks
English group When In Rome formed in 1987. "The Promise" was their debut single, originally released in the UK in 1987, where it stalled at number 230 (number 166 on the compressed chart) in September 1987.
When is a flop a sort-of hit? Despite peaking at only number 103 in Australia, "The Promise" spent 14 weeks in the top 150. In fact, only one single peaking within the 101-150 range in 1989 spent more weeks on the chart - we'll get to that in July. This song was particularly popular in Western Australia, reaching number 20 on the state chart, despite not entering any of the other state top 100 charts. It's funny how tastes could vary so significantly in various regions of Australia at the time.
Internationally, "The Promise" peaked at number 11 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in December 1988, and number 58 in the UK in January 1989.
I probably heard this song on American Top 40, but had no recollection of it when rediscovering it in 2008. Although the group appear to be a duo, it seems that there is some focus-on-the-more-conventionally-attractive*-band-member-who-isn't-actually-singing going on during the chorus (*though give me a shaved/bald head over Fabio-style locks any day), though he does seem to sing the verses, as I can hear two distinct voices on the track.
Quite a pleasant-sounding track, with a relaxing garden/looking through windows music video to boot. This would be When In Rome's only charting release in Australia.
Number 132 "Birth of the Beat" by Masters Apprentices
Peak: number 132
Peak date: 30 January 1989
Weeks in top 150: 4 weeks
Top 150 chart run: 132-134-137-145
Australian band Masters Apprentices formed in 1964 in Adelaide. Their highest-charting single in Australia was "Turn Up Your Radio" (number 7, June 1970 on the Go Set chart), although they are probably best known for "Because I Love You" (number 12, March 1971 on the Go Set chart); the "do what you wanna do, be what you wanna be yeah" song. The band split in 1972, and reformed in 1987. A 1988 re-recording of "Because I Love You" peaked at number 30 in Australia in November 1988.
Released as the follow-up to that track in December 1988, "Birth of the Beat" was a newly-recorded song, lifted from the band's fifth studio album Do What You Wanna Do (number 97, December 1988). The reduced price of $1.99 for the single (as evident from the video below) didn't seem to help its chart fortunes much.
Masters Apprentices' lead singer Jim Keays passed away in 2014, aged 67, following an illness with multiple myeloma.
We will see Masters Apprentices again in 1995.
Number 133 "Reason to Try" by Eric Carmen
Peak: number 133
Peak dates: 30 January 1989, 6 February 1989 and 13 February 1989
Weeks in top 150: 5 weeks
Top 150 chart run: 133-133-133-142-139
Weeks on chart: 5 weeks
American singer-songwriter Eric Carmen landed a top 10 hit in Australia with his debut single, "All by Myself" (number 7, May 1976), in 1976. He landed another four Australian top 100 singles between then and 1981, although none peaked higher than number 30, with "She Did It" (number 30, November 1977).
After a hiatus, Eric returned to the Australian chart in 1985 with "I Wanna Hear It from Your Lips" (number 27, May 1985). He finally scored another top 10 hit in early 1988 with "Hungry Eyes" (number 4, March 1988), from the Dirty Dancing soundtrack album (number 1 for 8 weeks in February-March 1988). Eric followed that up with another top 10 hit, "Make Me Lose Control" (number 8, September 1988), which would be his final ARIA top 100 single.
"Reason to Try", released as a single in Australia in December 1988, was recorded for the 1988 Summer Olympics Album: One Moment in Time album. Internationally, "Reason to Try" peaked at number 87 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in October 1988.
Perhaps of interest to avid chart-watchers, this single spent three consecutive weeks at number 133, which is surely an unusual feat.
This would be Eric's last single to chart in Australia.
Next post:Stay tuned for part 2 later this week, which will include entries from a rather famous blonde singer, a cover version of an Aussie 'classic', and a younger artist known for one 'serious'-sounding hit scores with an uncharacteristically upbeat number.
