Week commencing 23 March 1992

Another week with no common thread among this week's new entries, other than they all missed the top 100.  Let's take a look at them.

 

Kym Sims: Australia was too deaf to appreciate this track.

 

Top 150 debuts:

 

Number 139 "Ghost Train" by Marc Cohn

Peak: number 121

Peak date: 6 April 1992

Weeks in top 150: 5 weeks

Top 150 chart run: 139-128-121-139-148

 

We last saw Marc Cohn in January.

 

"Ghost Train" was issued as the fourth single in Australia from Marc's debut album Marc Cohn (number 31, September 1991).  Internationally, "Ghost Train" peaked at number 74 in Germany in December 1991.

I hadn't heard this one before.  It's nice.

Marc will join us again in 1993.

 

 

Number 142 "Jesus Built My Hotrod" by Ministry

Peak: number 134

Peak date: 30 March 1992

Weeks in top 150: 6 weeks

Top 150 chart run: 142-134-140-135-(out for 3 weeks)-149-(out for 1 week)-146

 

American industrial metal band Ministry formed in 1981. 

 

"Jesus Built My Hotrod" was the lead single from the band's fifth studio album ΚΕΦΑΛΗΞΘ (number 54, August 1992), which is also known as Psalm 69: The Way to Succeed and the Way to Suck Eggs.  It was Ministry's first single to chart in Australia.

"Jesus Built My Hotrod" peaked at number 19 on the US Billboard Alternative Airplay (known as Modern Rock Tracks at the time) chart in January 1992.

 

To say I do not enjoy this kind of music is an understatement.

 

We will next see Ministry in August.

 

Number 149 "I'm Doing Fine Now" by The Pasadenas

Peak: number 143

Peak date: 13 April 1992

Weeks in top 150: 5 weeks 

Top 150 chart run: 149-(out for 1 week)-146-143-147-146

Weeks on chart: 6 weeks

 

English vocal group The Pasadenas formed in 1988.  "I'm Doing Fine Now" is a cover version of a song originally recorded by New York City in 1973.

The Pasadenas' version of the track was the lead single from their third studio album Yours Sincerely, which was also a covers album.  While "I'm Doing Fine Now" was the group's first ARIA top 150 single, they previously charted with the album To Whom It May Concern (number 149, March 1989).

 

Internationally, "I'm Doing Fine Now" now peaked at number 4 in the UK in January 1992, number 6 in Ireland in February 1992, number 38 in Germany in March 1992, number 6 in the Flanders region of Belgium in April 1992, and number 46 in France in June 1992.

 

In Australia, "I'm Doing Fine Now" performed strongest in Western Australia, where it reached number 112.

I don't recall hearing this one before, but liked it.

We'll see The Pasadenas again in August 1992.

 

 

Bubbling WAY down under:

 

Number 155 "The Statue Got Me High" by They Might Be Giants

Peak: number 155

Peak date: 23 March 1992

Weeks on chart: 2 weeks

 

We last saw They Might Be Giants in 1990.

 

"The Statue Got Me High" was the lead single from They Might Be Giants' fourth studio album Apollo 18 (number 59, April 1992).  Internationally, the single peaked at number 24 on the US Billboard Alternative Airplay chart.

Domestically, "The Statue Got Me High" performed strongest in Western Australia, where it reached number 135.

I don't recall hearing this one before, but enjoyed it.

They Might Be Giants will next join us in May.

 

 

Number 180 "Keep It in Your Pants" by Young MC

Peak: number 157

Peak date: 4 May 1992

Weeks on chart: 11 weeks

 

We last saw Marvin Young, aka Young MC, in 1991.

"Keep It in Your Pants" was the second and final single lifted from Young MC's second album Brainstorm (number 141, October 1991).  It followed "That's the Way Love Goes" (number 63, September 1991).

Internationally, "Keep It in Your Pants" peaked at number 18 in New Zealand in February 1992.

 

Within Australia, "Keep It in Your Pants" was most successful in Western Australia, where it reached number 131.

I have a vague memory of hearing this one at the time, but am not certain.  One memorable thing I recall about the song is Australian comedian John Safran wanting to include this song, as the anti-"Bust a Move" (in contrast to that song, this one is about how you shouldn't just sleep with someone you met), in his 2010 rage guest programming playlist - but as the video was unavailable, he went with "Bust a Move 2002" (number 96, March 2002) instead, which was Young MC's only later single to chart in Australia.

Number 187 "Don't Let It Show on Your Face" by Adeva

Peak: number 187

Peak date: 23 March 1992

Weeks on chart: 4 weeks

We last saw Patricia Daniels, aka Adeva, in 1990.

"Don't Let It Show on Your Face" was issued as the second single from Adeva's second album Love Or Lust? (number 114, January 1992).  It followed "It Should've Been Me" (number 83, January 1992).  The track underwent a radical reworking by Perfecto for single release, and I much prefer this single mix to the LP version.

 

Internationally, "Don't Let It Show on Your Face" peaked at number 34 in the UK in February 1992.

 

Within Australia, "Don't Let It Show on Your Face" performed strongest in Western Australia, where it reached number 171.

Despite being a casual Adeva fan (I bought several of the singles from her debut album), I didn't hear this one until picking up a VHS compilation of hers in 2006.  It's a pity, as it's probably my favourite Adeva track, with a sensational video to boot.  The song deserved to do much better on the charts.

One thing I wasn't aware of until researching this post is that Adeva underwent treatment for breast cancer in 2021.

A third single from Love Or Lust?, "Until You Come Back to Me", was released in Australia in June 1992, but failed to chart.

While this would be the last occasion Adeva had a charting single in Australia in her own right, she will grace our presence again in 1995, when she collaborates with another artist.  Adeva also charted with the compilation album Hits! (number 251, November 1992).

Number 198 "Too Blind to See It" by Kym Sims

Peak: number 161

Peak date: 27 April 1992

Weeks on chart: 7 weeks

 

American singer-songwriter - although she did not write this track - Kym Sims started out as a jingle writer, before making her foray into dance music.  "Too Blind to See It" was her debut release, and I first became aware of her after hearing the song on the American Top 40 radio show, with the single reaching number 38 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in February 1992.

 

Kym's greatest success came in Europe, however.  "Too Blind to See It" reached number 20 in Ireland in December 1991, number 5 in the UK in January 1992, number 21 in Sweden in February 1992, number 28 in the Netherlands in February 1992, and number 14 in the Flanders region of Belgium in March 1992.  The single also peaked at number 45 in New Zealand in March 1992.

Domestically, "Too Blind to See It" performed strongest in Victoria/Tasmania, where it reached number 127.

The single was lifted from Kym's debut and only album Too Blind to See It, which was released locally in April 1992 but failed to chart.

We will see Kym again in June.  A song she wrote for another artist will also bubble under in July.

 

 

Number 206 "The Jam" by Shabba Ranks featuring KRS-1

Peak: number 206

Peak date: 23 March 1992

Weeks on chart: 1 week

 

We last saw Shabba Ranks in 1991.

 

"The Jam" was the second single released in Australia from Shabba's album As Raw As Ever.  This time, the featured artist in question was New York Rapper KRS-1, also known as KRS-One, real name Lawrence "Kris" Parker... who is also known as Teacha!  KRS-1 stands for 'knowledge reigns supreme over nearly everyone'.

Internationally, "The One" peaked at number 98 (number 88 on the compressed chart) in the UK in December 1991, and number 1 on the meaningless US Billboard Hot Rap Songs chart in April 1992.  It also peaked at number 18 on the US Billboard Dance Singles Sales chart in January 1992, number 52 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart in April 1992, and number 74 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles Sales chart in July 1992.

In Australia, "The Jam" peaked at number 206 on all five of the state charts, as well as nationally, making me think it could actually be at the bottom of the singles chart this week in 1992, as I rarely see a single peak at the same number on every state chart, matching its national peak, unless it is number 1.

Shabba will join us next in June 1992.

 

 

Next week (30 March): Four top 150 debuts and five bubbling WAY down under entries.

 

< Previous week: 16 March 1992                                Next week: 30 March 1992 >

Week commencing 15 April 1991

One thing all of this week in 1991's debuts that peaked outside the top 100 have in common is that I didn't hear any of them at the time.  Did you?

Before we take a look at this week's debuts, I have updated the following earlier post:

• 11 March 1991 - a new bubbling WAY down under entry from Hard-Ons.
  

 

Vanilla Ice showing us how many hits he had with his fingers.

 

Top 150 debuts:

 

Number 107 "I Love You"/"Stop That Train" by Vanilla Ice

Peak: number 103

Peak date: 22 April 1991

Weeks in top 150: 5 weeks

Chart run: 107-103-113-127-124

Weeks on chart: 5 weeks

 

Robert Van Winkle, better known as Vanilla Ice, burst onto the scene in late 1990 with  "Ice Ice Baby" (number 1, January 1991), a song that is still fairly well-known today, with over 400 million views on YouTube.

Nothing else 'Vanilla' released performed nearly as well, however, and he is largely thought of as (inaccurately) being a one-hit wonder.  He had a second top 20 hit in Australia with "Play That Funky Music" (number 13, March 1991).

 

The album housing both of the above hits, To the Extreme (number 9, March 1991), is reported to have sold 15 million copies worldwide.  Vanilla's second studio album, 1994's Mind Blowin', in contrast, failed to chart anywhere in the world.  That is some fall from grace!

 

Vanilla was already in trouble by the time of his third single, the double A-side "I Love You"/"Stop That Train".  I didn't hear either track at the time.  The imaginatively-titled "I Love You" was a rather basic 'lurve' ballad, with chorus lyrics "I love you... 'cause I love you."

 

Why the sudden sharp decline in Vanilla's popularity?  I think there were a several factors: Vanilla came across as cocky in interviews, his record label created a false biography of Vanilla's upbringing without his knowledge, and Vanilla made some stupid statements - like denying that he had ever heard Queen and David Bowie's "Under Pressure" (number 6, December 1981), which "Ice Ice Baby" heavily sampled.  Vanilla was also not perceived as being an authentic hip-hop artist, being white, not from 'the hood', and due to the commercial nature of his music.  A backlash ensued.

 

Furthermore, some curious career decisions were made for Vanilla, releasing a live rap album (whoever bought one of those?) in 1991, and taking a lead acting role in Cool As Ice.  The movie was critically panned and recouped only 20% of its production costs at the box office.  It seemed like there was a scattergun approach trying to replicate and cash-in on the success of "Ice Ice Baby" and To the Extreme, without much forethought.  Nothing Vanilla tried worked.

"I Love You"/"Stop That Train" also under-performed internationally, peaking at number 52 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in March 1991, number 27 in Ireland in March 1991, number 45 in the UK in April 1991, number 65 in Germany in April 1991, number 39 in the Netherlands in May 1991, and number 30 in New Zealand in May 1991.

Within Australia, "I Love You"/"Stop That Train" performed strongest in Queensland, where it reached number 70.  The single peaked at number 93 on the Australian Music Report top 100 singles chart.

Vanilla will join us next in December 1991.

 

 

 

Number 125 "Headlong" by Queen

Peak: number 119

Peak date: 22 April 1991

Weeks in top 150: 4 weeks

Top 150 chart run: 125-119-125-135

Weeks on chart: 5 weeks

We last saw veteran English band Queen in April 1990.  Three of the five singles from their 1989 album The Miracle (number 4, June 1989) peaked outside the ARIA top 100, and two of the four singles lifted from Queen's fourteenth studio album Innuendo (number 6, February 1991) would do the same.

"Headlong" was the lead single from Innuendo in the US, released in January 1991.  In the band's native UK, "Headlong" was issued as the album's third release.  In Australia, "Headlong" was the second single from the album, following "Innuendo" (number 28, February 1991).

Internationally, "Headlong" peaked at number 25 in Ireland in May 1991, number 14 in the UK in June 1991, and number 43 in the Netherlands in June 1991.

Locally, "Headlong" performed strongest in Western Australia, where it reached number 78.

I hadn't heard or seen the video for "Headlong" until now.  My thoughts are that, again, Freddie looks rather gaunt in it, though he still had enough stamina to give an energetic performance.

 

We shall next see Queen in a mere six weeks' time.

 

 

Number 137 "Wilbury Twist" by Traveling Wilburys

Peak: number 137

Peak date: 15 April 1991

Weeks in top 150: 6 weeks

Top 150 chart run: 137-138-144-140-143-144

Weeks on chart: 7 weeks

Traveling Wilburys last graced our presence in February 1991.

"Wilbury Twist" was issued as the third single from the band's second album, the misleadingly-titled Vol. 3 (number 14, November 1990).

 

Internationally, "Wilbury Twist" peaked at number 168 (number 116 on the compressed chart) in the UK in April 1991, and number 86 in Canada.

 

Locally, "Wilbury Twist" was most popular in Western Australia, where it reached number 77 on the state chart.

 

Actor John Candy makes an appearance in the music video.

"Wilbury Twist" was Traveling Wilburys' final single.

Number 146 "Over Rising" by The Charlatans

Peak: number 146

Peak date: 15 April 1991

Weeks in top 150: 1 week

Known chart run: 164-146

Weeks on chart: 5 weeks

 

We saw The Charlatans back in November 1990.  "Over Rising" was the first of two in-between-album singles issued by the band between their debut album Some Friendly (number 79, January 1991) and its follow-up Between 10th and 11th.

 

"Over Rising" peaked at number 15 in the band's native UK in March 1991, and at number 7 in Ireland during the same month.

 

In Australia, "Over Rising" performed strongest in Western Australia, where it reached number 120 on the state chart.

I hadn't heard this one before, and don't mind it.

Number 147 "Pick Up the Pace 1990" by Young MC

Peak: number 147

Peak dates: 15 April 1991, 22 April 1991 and 29 April 1991

Weeks in top 150: 4 weeks

Top 150 chart run: 147-147-147-148

Weeks on chart: 6 weeks

Like Vanilla Ice this week in 1991, Young MC was struggling to have hits following his belated Australian number one single "Bust a Move" (number 1, October 1990).  Young's other 'hits' in Australia, "Principal's Office" (number 50, May 1990), and "I Come Off" (number 43, January 1991) missed the top 40.

 

"Pick Up the Pace" was released as the final single from Young MC's debut album Stone Cold Rhymin' (number 38, October 1990), although it had a major overhaul from the original album version - hence the addition of '1990' to the title.

The music video for "Pick Up the Pace 1990" was made up of outtakes from Young's earlier videos.  The only other country the single charted in was New Zealand, where it reached number 38 in May 1991.

On the ARIA state charts, "Pick Up the Pace 1990" peaked highest in Queensland, where it reached number 123.

We will next see Young MC in 1992.

Number 148 "I'll Give All My Love to You" by Keith Sweat

Peak: number 148

Peak date: 15 April 1991

Weeks in top 150: 1 week

Top 150 chart run: 148

Weeks on chart: 3 weeks

Five years before landing his first top 100 entry on the Australian singles chart with "Twisted" (number 9, January 1997), American r&b/soul singer Keith Sweat bubbled under with "I'll Give All My Love to You", the second single and title track from the album I'll Give All My Love to You, which did not chart in Australia.  Interestingly, Keith's next album Keep It Comin' (number 147, February 1992) did chart in Australia, but no singles released from it did.

"I'll Give All My Love to You" peaked at number 7 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in February 1991.  I probably heard the song on the American Top 40 radio program at the time, but have no recollection of it.  I don't normally listen to this sort of music, but rather enjoyed this track, to my surprise.

On the ARIA state charts, "I'll Give All My Love to You" peaked highest in New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory, where it reached number 134.

Keith will next join us in 1994.

Number 150 "Together Forever" by Lisette Melendez

Peak: number 106

Peak date: 3 June 1991

Weeks in top 150: 14 weeks

Top 150 chart run: 150-145-127-115-110-108-123-106-139-111-108-124-119-140

Weeks on chart: 15 weeks

Another song I probably heard on American Top 40 but have no recollection of (what was I doing in early 1991?!) is "Together Forever" by American freestyle singer Lisette Melendez.  The single peaked at number 35 on the US Billboard Hot 100, and was the title track from Lisette's debut album Together Forever (number 199, December 1991).

 

Within Australia, "Together Forever" performed much stronger on the New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory state chart, where it reached number 56, than in any other state.  In contrast, the single peaked no higher than number 107, in South Australia/Northern Territory, on any of the other four state charts.

 

"Together Forever" also peaked much higher on the Australian Music Report singles chart, where it reached number 55.

The production on "Together Forever" sounds rather similar to Corina's "Temptation" (number 57, October 1991) from later in 1991.  Both tracks were produced by Carlos "After Dark" Berrios, which explains the similarity.

Lisette never landed a top 100 single or album in Australia, but we will see her bubble under on two further occasions, with the next one being in November 1991.

Bubbling WAY down under:

Number 153 "Sensible Shoes" by David Lee Roth

Peak: number 153

Peak dates: 15 April 1991 and 27 May 1991

Weeks on chart: 4 weeks (probably - see below for explanation)

David Lee Roth rose to fame as the lead singer in Van Halen, who landed a major hit in Australia with "Jump" (number 2, March 1984).  David quit the group to embark on a solo career in August 1985, following a dispute over the direction of the band's music.

While still part of Van Halen, David launched his solo career with a cover version of The Beach Boys' "California Girls" (number 6, March 1985).  David's post-Van Halen solo career was launched in 1986, with the single "Yankee Rose" (number 33, August 1986) and album Eat 'em and Smile (number 26, August 1986).

 

David's third solo album A Little Ain't Enough (number 26, February 1991) appeared in early 1991, led by the almost-title track "A Lil' Ain't Enough" (number 42, February 1991).  David's brand of 'hair metal', with expensive, over-the-top music videos, was definitely on the way out, commercially, in early 1991, leading to the rise of alternative and grunge music.  Perhaps the music video for "Sensible Shoes", the second single from A Little Ain't Enough, was tapping into the changing styles, being shot in black and white and toning down most of David's theatrics.  The song also has a bluesier, gritter sound than typical of David's earlier singles.

Internationally, "Sensible Shoes" peaked at number 48 in Canada, and number 81 in the UK in March 1991.

Domestically, "Sensible Shoes" performed strongest in Queensland, where it reached number 125.

You may be wondering why I've noted "probably" beside number of weeks this single spent on the Australian chart.  The reason for this is that ARIA have (erroneously, I believe) listed David's 1988 single "Stand Up" as charting for one week at number 153 (the same position "Sensible Shoes" had reached) at the end of May 1991.  As that 1988 single, which did not chart in Australia, was not re-issued in 1991, it has to be a mistake.  So, I have added one week to the 3 week tally for this single on the ARIA database.

We shall next see David in 1994.

Number 166 "My Head's in Mississippi" by ZZ Top

Peak: number 166

Peak date: 15 April 1991

Weeks on chart: 1 week

We last saw ZZ Top in November 1990.  "My Head's in Mississippi" was issued as the third single from the band's tenth studio album Recycler (number 27, November 1990).

"My Head's in Mississippi" peaked at number 37 in the UK in April 1991.  I cannot find evidence of it charting elsewhere.

On the ARIA state charts, "My Head's in Mississippi" performed strongest in Queensland, where it reached number 144.

We will next see ZZ Top in 1992.

Number 180 "Seven Little Girls (Sitting in the Back Seat)" by Bombalurina featuring Timmy Mallett

Peak: number 180

Peak date: 15 April 1991

Weeks on chart: 2 weeks

And now for the silliest new entry of the week... but silly can be good, right?

Bombalurina was a joint project between Andrew Lloyd Webber (!) and Nigel Wright.  They roped in female singers and dancers Dawn Andrews and Annie Dunkley (you might recognise the latter from Sinitta's "Right Back Where We Started From" music video), as well as UK children's TV presenter Timmy Mallett (he's the guy driving the car in the video embedded below).  The group's name was taken from a character in Lloyd Webber's stage musical Cats.

The group released a version of "Itsy Bitsy Teeny Weeny Yellow Polka Dot Bikini" (number 66, January 1991), which topped the UK singles chart for three weeks in August/September 1990.  It also reached number 1 in Ireland, and was a top 10 hit in Germany, Austria, Norway and New Zealand.

"Seven Little Girls...", the follow-up release, was another cover version, this time telling the story of seven "little girls" who are busy "having fun in the back seat" with a guy called Fred, while the song's narrator is relegated to driving.  Just the sort of novelty record to aim at a young TV audience...  The song was originally recorded by Paul Evans in 1959.

While "Seven Little Girls..." did not perform as well as its predecessor, it was, of course, another hit in the UK, reaching number 18 there in December 1990.  The single also peaked at number 26 in Ireland during the same month.

An album, Huggin' an'a Kissin', with its title taken from "Seven Little Girls...", was released in Australia in March 1991, with 'Non Stop Party' and 'Singalong Karaoke' versions issued the following month.  None of these charted in Australia.

I didn't know this song at the time, but think it's quite an earworm, despite obviously being disposable (or perhaps because of that).  One thing I am shocked to learn, when I researched for my post this week, is that Timmy Mallett was only 35 when this was released.  He seems much older to me in the music video.

Next week (22 April): Six new top 150 debuts and six bubbling WAY down under entries.

< Previous week: 8 April 1991                                     Next week: 22 April 1991 >

Week commencing 18 September 1989

This week in 1989 there were nine new entries peaking between number 101 and number 150.  This would hold the record for the largest number of debuts for any week of 1989, if not for the first top 150 singles chart ever produced, on 30 January 1989, which saw 23 new entries.

A loose lyrical theme running through this week's debuts is being free with your 'love'.  Whether that's busting moves at your best friend's wedding, being flippant about the name of the person you're writing a love song about, or stating explicitly (in quite a literal sense!) what you want to do to your 'lover', it's all here this week.  Let's take a look...

Young MC was not quite 'bustin'' on the ARIA chart in 1989.

Top 150 debuts:

Number 119 "This Feeling" by Sam Brown 

Peak: number 115

Peak date: 25 September 1989

Weeks in top 150: 6 weeks

Chart run: 119-115-125-124-138-136

Weeks on chart: 6 weeks

Released as the third single from Sam's debut album Stop! in Europe, "This Feeling" stalled at number 91 in the UK in August 1988. The single had greater, albeit moderate, success in the Dutch-speaking Flanders region of Belgium, and the Netherlands, where it peaked at numbers 23 and 32, respectively, in November 1988. Sam then scored her biggest hit with the re-issue issue of "Stop!" in early 1989.

In Australia, "This Feeling" was Sam's fourth single, following "Walking Back to Me" (released April 1988, failed to chart), "Stop!" (number 4, May 1989) and "Can I Get a Witness?" (number 17, August 1989).  The track features a guitar solo from David Gilmour of Pink Floyd.

I remember seeing the "This Feeling" single in the shops, but never heard the song or caught the video anywhere at the time; so, presumably, its success was hindered by a lack of promotion. It's a shame, as "This Feeling" is actually my favourite Sam Brown song, and I think it deserved a lot better. "This Feeling" performed strongest on the South Australia/Northern Territory state chart, where it peaked at number 86. Sam will pay us another visit in 1990.

 

 

Number 127 "Be Free with Your Love" by Spandau Ballet 

Peak: number 110

Peak date: 25 September 1989

Weeks in top 150: 7 weeks 

Chart run: 152-127-110-115-115-124-122-124

Weeks on chart: 8 weeks

 

In Australia, Spandau Ballet's greatest success came in 1983, where they scored back-to-back top 10 hits with "True" (number 4, September 1983) and "Gold" (number 9, November 1983).  In total, the group amassed ten top 40 hits in Australia between 1981 and 1986, with their final top 100 chart entry being "Raw" (number 79, October 1988). "Be Free with Your Love" was the belated follow-up to "Raw", and was the second single lifted from their Heart Like a Sky album (number 115, October 1989). The single had greater, albeit modest, success in their native UK, where it peaked at number 42 in September 1989.

 

In Australia, "Be Free with Your Love" was most popular in Western Australia, where it reached number 91 on the state chart.  The single peaked within the top 100 on all of the state charts other than New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory, where it peaked at number 106.

 

I don't recall hearing this one before, but I like it.

 

Spandau Ballet will join us again in 1991.

Number 139 "Bust a Move" by Young MC 

Peak: number 139 (in 1989); number 1 (in 1990)

Peak dates: 18 September 1989 (1989 chart run); 22 October 1990 (1990 chart run)

Weeks in top 150: 2 weeks (in 1989); 29 weeks (1989 and 1990-1991 chart runs combined)

Top 150 chart run: 139-(out for 6 weeks)-149

Re-entered 16 July 1990: 143-95-47-46-40-30-22-25-15-12-7-4-4-2-1-2-3-4-6-18-36-50-66-(chart repeated for 2 week Xmas break)-68-75

Weeks on chart: 33 weeks (1989 and 1990-1991 chart runs combined)

I know some of you reading this might be thinking, "Isn't this blog supposed to be about flops that missed the top 100?" Well, yes, that is its raison d'être, but I will also write about singles that flopped upon their initial release (or later re-release, after once being a hit), such as this one from Young MC.

"Bust a Move" was the second release for Young MC (real name Marvin Young) in Australia, following the 12" vinyl-only release of "Know How" in May 1989. Issued locally in early July 1989, "Bust a Move" took just over two months to dent the top 150. Despite the initial lack of success, Young MC had co-written both of Tone Lōc's 1989 hits, "Wild Thing" (number 15, May 1989) and "Funky Cold Medina" (number 8, August 1989). "Bust a Move" had greater success in the US, where it peaked at number 7 on the Billboard Hot 100 in October 1989.

I caught the "Bust a Move" music video at least twice on Countdown Revolution in 1989, and even recall someone at school reciting the "she's dressed in yellow, she says hello" couplet at the time, so I am not sure why "Bust a Move" flopped the first time around - other than because, as I have previously written, rap generally didn't do that well on the Australian singles chart during its 1980s heyday.  Of course, "Bust a Move" would go on to top the ARIA singles chart in October 1990, after being re-released. Young MC will join us again in 1991.

Number 141 "Regina" by The Sugarcubes 

Peak: number 141

Peak date: 18 September 1989

Weeks in top 150: 1 week

Top 150 chart run: 141

Weeks on chart: 6 weeks

The Sugarcubes were a group I remember hearing and reading about at the time, but wasn't aware of them until taking note of lead singer Björk's solo career in 1993. Somehow, the group's non-charting single "Birthday" (released in Australia in September 1988) had filtered its way through to me, but I never knew what the song was called or who it was by at the time. The lead single from their Here Today, Tomorrow Next Week! album (number 105, October 1989), "Regina", conversely, completely passed me by. Listening to it now, "Regina" doesn't seem particularly chart-friendly, and indeed, the only other major chart it registered on was in the UK, where it peaked at number 55 in September 1989.

 

In Australia, "Regina" performed strongest in South Australia/Northern Territory, where it reached number 106 on the state chart.

 

The only other charting single The Sugarcubes had in Australia was "Hit" (number 76, March 1992).

Number 142 "Hump Music" by No Face 

Peak: number 132 (in 1989); number 64 (in 1990)

Peak dates: 2 October 1989 (1989 chart run); 30 April 1990 (1990 chart run)

Weeks in top 150: 4 weeks (in 1989); 13 weeks (1989 and 1990 chart runs combined)

Top 150 chart run: 142-(out for 1 week)-132-(out of chart for 3 weeks)-147-145

Re-entered 12 March 1990: 142-147-138-122-68-73-74-64-72

Another rap track that didn't crossover into the mainstream in 1989, but did a little bit better in 1990, was "Hump Music" by No Face. Although, in this instance, it's understandable why this didn't become a major chart hit (or is it?), given the more... overtly sexual nature of the lyrics, with lines such as "Girl, I'll f**k you, give me p*ssy now", "suck my d*ck all night long" and "I'll f*ck you, I'll dump you, I'll suck you". Ooh er Missus!  Nevertheless, "Hump Music" got a second lease of life on the ARIA chart, where it re-entered in March 1990, and peaked at number 64 at the end of April 1990.

Number 143 "Kid Ego" by Extreme 

Peak: number 138

Peak date: 25 September 1989

Weeks in top 150: 3 weeks

Top 150 chart run: 143-138-148

Weeks on chart: 7 weeks

Like most Australians, I'd never heard of Extreme until their breakthrough hit, "More Than Words" (number 2, August 1991); an acoustic ballad that was nothing like their typical sound. Released as the band's second single in the US, but their first in Australia, the glam metal "Kid Ego" peaked at number 39 on the US Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks chart (which doesn't count as a real chart in my book), and appears to have not charted anywhere else other than New Zealand, where it peaked at number 13 in August 1989. Lifted from the album Extreme (number 97, August 1989), "Kid Ego" performed better on the Australian Music Report chart, where it peaked at number 93. On the state charts, "Kid Ego" performed strongest in South Australia/Northern Territory, where it peaked at number 79. We will next see Extreme in 1993.

Number 145 "Song for Whoever" by The Beautiful South 

Peak: number 145

Peak date: 18 September 1989

Weeks in top 150: 1 week

Top 150 chart run: 145

Weeks on chart: 3 weeks

The Beautiful South were a band I remember reading about in UK Smash Hits-rival magazine Number One, which I read regularly in 1989 and 1990 (before my local newsagent stopped stocking it). I never heard any of their music though until "A Little Time" became a minor hit locally (number 72, May 1991) - and, in fact, their only top 100 single in Australia. Formed from the remnants of The Housemartins, whose biggest and only real hit in Australia was their version of "Caravan of Love" (number 24, June 1987), "Song for Whoever" was The Beautiful South's debut single. The track, lifted from their Welcome to the Beautiful South album, peaked at number 2 in the group's native UK in July 1989.

 

I didn't hear this track until 2007, when it became one of my favourite 'new' music discoveries that year. Known as the "music man" with a stash of music at the ready at a former job, someone once asked me to put some music on when a 'colleague' announced that she eloped on an overseas holiday during a staff meeting. The nearest thing I could grab was a CD-R (how quaint) with this on it as track 1. I'm not sure how well lines like "I love you from the bottom of my pencil case" fit the occasion, but it's not like anyone was really listening. Still, I think it was a more-fitting song than the one the requester had suggested - Billy Idol's "White Wedding" (do people not listen to the lyrics?!).

On the state charts, "Song for Whoever" performed strongest in Western Australia, where it
peaked at number 114. We shall see The Beautiful South again in 1990.

Number 147 "I'm Every Woman (Remix)" by Chaka Khan 

Peak: number 147

Peak date: 18 September 1989

Weeks in top 150: 1 week

Chart run: 147

Weeks on chart: 1 week

Despite having name recognition, Chaka Khan only had two solo top 100-charting singles in Australia - those being the original version of "I'm Every Woman" (number 27, March 1979), and "I Feel for You" (number 4, December 1984). Even with her group Rufus, they only managed to score one Australian top 100 'hit' - "Tell Me Something Good" (number 64, November 1974). Despite Chaka's relative lack of success, this 1989 remix of "I'm Every Woman", lifted from the remix album Life Is a Dance - The Remix Album (number 143, July 1989), managed to register on our chart - albeit in the lower reaches of the top 150. This version of "I'm Every Woman" performed much better in the UK, where it peaked at number 8
for two weeks in May 1989.

We will next see Chaka as a featured artist in 1990, and on her own in 1992.

Number 150 "Some Hearts" by Marshall Crenshaw 

Peak: number 140

Peak date: 16 October 1989

Weeks in top 150: 5 weeks

Top 150 chart run: 150-144-(out for 1 week)-150-140-148

Before getting hold of these charts, I had never heard of Marshall Crenshaw, who hails from the US. Marshall had previously placed one single in the Australian top 100, "Someday, Someway" (number 57, December 1982). "Some Hearts" was written by Diane Warren, and was originally offered to Belinda Carlisle, who recorded a demo for her 1987 Heaven on Earth album, but it did not evolve beyond the demo stage. Interestingly, this song did not chart anywhere else.

Bubbling WAY down under:

Number 152 "Some People" by E.G. Daily 

Peak: number 152

Peak date: 18 September 1989

Weeks on chart: 3 weeks

Now here's someone I had heard of before... unknowingly, as the voice of Tommy Pickles on the Nickelodeon cartoon Rugrats - a show I used to sometimes watch in 1996 to wind down from a day of my final year of high school. But long before then, E.G. (real name: Elizabeth Ann Guttman) had a brush with fame playing 'Patti', the 17 year-old teenage runaway who later gave birth to a 10 lb. baby boy, in Rod Stewart's "Young Turks" (number 3, March 1982) music video. In between being a dancer in music videos and a voiceover actress, E.G. tried her hand at being a pop star. While she never achieved massive success in her recording career, E.G. did score a top 20 hit in Belgium, the Netherlands and New Zealand, with "Say It, Say It" in 1986.

Elizabeth also recorded a track with Stock Aitken Waterman, "Mind Over Matter", released overseas in 1987 to promote the film Summer School.  In Australia, "Mind Over Matter" had a belated release in July 1988, and whilst it peaked at number 44 on the South Australia/Northern Territory state chart in September 1988, it did not chart nationally on the ARIA chart (probably because the chart ended at number 100 in 1988).  "Mind Over Matter" did, however, reach number 84 on the Australian Music Report chart.  Interestingly, Stock Aitken Waterman originally recorded "Mind Over Matter" with Deborah Harry, but it was shelved, and remains unreleased to this day.

After that long introduction, let's take a look at the track at hand. "Some People" was released as the lead single from the album Lace Around the World. While it reached number 33 on the US Dance chart (not a real chart, according to me), the single failed to chart anywhere else.

In Australia, "Some People" performed strongest in Western Australia, where it reached number 104.

 

 

Number 153 "Thing Called Love" by Bonnie Raitt

Peak: number 153

Peak date: 18 September 1989

Weeks on chart: 2 weeks

 

American Bonnie Raitt had been releasing albums since 1971, but "Thing Called Love", from her tenth studio album Nick of Time (number 58, April 1990), was her first single to register on the Australian chart.

 

The Nick of Time album was also Bonnie's major commercial breakthrough in the US, where it topped the chart and was certified quintuple platinum.  That being said, "Thing Called Love" did not chart on the Billboard Hot 100, despite later singles from the album doing so.

Elsewhere, "Thing Called Love" peaked at number 86 in the UK in June 1990, and number 66 in the Netherlands in September 1990.

 

On the ARIA state charts, "Thing Called Love" performed strongest in Western Australia, where it peaked at number 125.

Listening to "Thing Called Love" as I write this, I can't help but think that it might have been a much bigger hit if it had've been released a couple of years later, when the popularity of blues-twinged music seemed to take off in Australia.  The song is certainly catchy.

 

Bonnie will break into the ARIA top 150 single chart in May 1990, twice!

 

 

Next week (25 September): Another six new top 150 entries, and two bubbling WAY down under debuts. Among them, we have the first charting song about the drug ecstasy, and the last chart entry from a duo who were nudging the top of the charts earlier in the year. You can also follow my posts on facebook and instagram.

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