You have to admire the faith Australian record companies had in the late 1980s. Despite numerous flops, the labels down under still (usually) gave flopping artists chance after chance, releasing their product here despite the unlikeliness of it becoming a hit. But hey, without that blind faith, this blog probably wouldn't exist. Among this week's new entries, we have an act who would have seven singles released in Australia in between their 1989 and 1991 hits, despite none of these in-between releases peaking higher than number 52; an artist who never peaked higher than number 45 on the singles chart; and a new artist who couldn't even score a top 50 hit in his own country. Let's take a look at this week's new entries:
Morrissey: nice quiff, shame about the lack of Oz hits!
Top 150 debuts:
Number 121 "I Would Do For You" by UB40
Peak: number 121
Peak date: 10 July 1989
Weeks in top 150: 6 weeks
Chart run: 164-121-125-123-125-135-133
Weeks on chart: 7 weeks
The fourth and final single from their UB40 album, "I Would Do For You" was the lowest-peaking of the lot in Australia, missing the top 100. It fared better in the UK, where it peaked at number 45 in June 1989. The group would release no fewer than seven consecutive flop singles in Australia, in between their hits "Where Did I Go Wrong" and the 1991 re-issue of "Here I Am (Come and Take Me)", following its belated US chart success. None of the group's in-between releases peaked higher than number 52 on our chart. UB40 will join us twice more in 1990.
Number 123 "This Town" by Elvis Costello
Peak: number 123
Peak date: 10 July 1989
Weeks in top 150: 7 weeks
Top 150 chart run: 123-134-136-136-125-135-144
Weeks on chart: 8 weeks
Since 1978, Elvis Costello, together with his former band The Attractions, had placed five singles in the Australian top 40; the biggest of those being 1979's "Oliver's Army", which peaked at number 24. The follow-up to his recent number 27 hit "Veronica", "This Town" appears to have only charted in Australia (Billboard's Modern Rock and Mainstream Rock charts do not count in my book).
On the state charts, "This Town" was most popular in South Australia/Northern Territory, where it reached number 82. "This Town" had greater success nationally on the Australian Music Report singles chart, where it peaked at number 86. We will see Elvis again in 1991.
Morrissey certainly had some interesting song titles, and "Interesting Drug" is another. Interesting lyrics also abound on this one, with lines like "There are some bad people on the right / They're saving their own skins by ruining people's lives" and "a government scheme designed to kill your dreams". Moz never had much success on the Australian singles chart - either as a solo artist, or as part of his former band The Smiths - with his highest-peaking single being 1988's "Suedehead", at number 45 (May 1988). He had much greater success in his native UK, where this single peaked at number 9 in April 1989. Morrissey will pay us several visits over the coming years, with the next occasion being in October 1990.
Number 147 "Deep Water (live)" by Richard Clapton
Peak: number 147
Peak date: 10 July 1989
Weeks in top 150: 1 week
Chart run: 147
Weeks on chart: 1 week
The studio version of "Deep Water" peaked at number 43 in December 1977. Recorded as part of a live show in April 1989, this rendition of "Deep Water" was released to promote Richard's The Best Years of Our Lives live album, which peaked at number 23 on the ARIA albums chart.
On the state charts, "Deeper Water" (live) performed strongest in Western Australia, where it reached number 79.
Richard will join us again later in the year.
Bubbling WAY down under:
Number 152 "Eye of the Storm" by Pseudo Echo
Peak: number 152
Peak date: 10 July 1989
Weeks on chart: 1 week
Pseudo Echo's third studio album, Race (number 32, March 1989), was less commercially-successful than their first two albums, and ultimately led to the band's demise. "Eye of the Storm", in a similar fashion, performed significantly worse on the charts than the first two singles from the album, "Fooled Again" (number 33, November 1988) and "Over Tomorrow" (number 40, April 1989). If you ask me, the main reason for the downturn in Pseudo Echo's success was their transition from being Australia's premiere synth-pop band to becoming something perhaps best described as... Bon Jovi-lite. Blame the failed change in direction on the success of their 'rawk' cover of "Funky Town" (number 1, December 1986), which was the band's biggest hit in Australia, and their only real international hit.
"Eye of the Storm" would be the band's final release before splitting. Singer Brian Canham transitioned into producing records, including Chocolate Starfish's self-titled album (number 2, 1994); although the group reformed (with a different line-up) in the late 90s, once the 80s revival became a thing, and still perform to this day - though I believe Brian Canham is the only original band member.
We will see Pseudo Echo bubble under again in 1999.
Number 154 "Sister Rosa" by The Neville Brothers
Peak: number 154
Peak date: 10 July 1989
Weeks on chart: 1 week
American R&B/soul/funk group The Neville Brothers formed in New Orleans, Louisana in 1976. As you might have guessed from the band's name, the band were brothers, Aaron, Art, Charles, Cyril and Ivan. While they had some lower top 200 US Billboard albums chart success earlier in the 1980s, it wasn't until their fourth album Yellow Moon (number 52, September 1989) that they landed their first charting single, which was this one, "Sister Rosa".
The 'Sister Rosa' in question, who is the subject of this song, was Rosa Parks, the American civil rights activist known for her refusal to sit at the back of the bus, as African Americans were expected to do so in the 1950s, in accordance with the racial segregation policies of the time.
Internationally, "Sister Rosa" peaked at number 23 in New Zealand in August 1989. The song also peaked at number 75 on the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.
In Australia, "Sister Rosa" performed strongest in Western Australia, where it reached number 100 on the state chart.
The Neville Brothers would score their first ARIA top 100 single with their next release, "Yellow Moon" (number 89, September 1989). Their biggest Australian hit would come in 1992, with their version of Steve Miller's "Fly Like an Eagle" (number 44, July 1992).
We saw Cinderella back in May, with their previous single, a rock ballad. "The Last Mile" was slightly heavier on the guitars, but not that much. "The Last Mile" reached number 36 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in April 1989. Cinderella will join us again in 1991.
Number 163 "Be There" by Clive Griffin
Peak: number 163
Peak date: 10 July 1989
Weeks on chart: 1 week
On paper, Clive Griffin should have been big. He had the voice, the looks, and even recorded a duet with Céline Dion in 1993, which was featured in the movie Sleepless in Seattle. The same year, Clive also released an album containing songs written by Diane Warren, who had penned many big chart hits. Despite all of this, the best Clive could achieve in his native UK, as a solo artist, was number 56, with a track remixed by David Morales, no less. Unfortunately for Clive, after his solo career faltered, he was relegated to becoming a backing singer for the likes of Kylie Minogue and Take That. Things had come full circle for Clive, however, as he once provided the vocals for 'Rick Astley' on a Spitting Image parody of Kylie Minogue's "I Should Be So Lucky"! There were rumours at the time that Kylie's voice was actually Rick's, sped up.
Now, onto the song in question, "Be There" was the third release from Clive's debut album Step by Step, which was released in Australia in August 1989, but did not chart. It followed "The Way We Touch" (August 1988, did not chart) and "Don't Make Me Wait" (October 1988, did not chart). "Be There" peaked at number 76 in the UK in March 1989, and number 36 in the Netherlands in May 1989. In Australia, this was Clive's only solo charting 'hit'.
A fourth and final single from Step by Step, "Head Above Water", was issued in Australia in July 1989, but failed to chart. None of Clive's singles after 1989 were even released in Australia, aside from the Céline duet, "When I Fall in Love", which peaked at number 93 in September 1993.
Number 164 "Broken Heart (Thirteen Valleys)" by Big Country
Peak: number 164
Peak date: 10 July 1989
Weeks on chart: 1 week
Up until now, Big Country had placed six singles within the Australian top 100 singles chart, with the biggest of those being 1983's "In a Big Country" (number 7, January 1984). "Broken Heart (Thirteen Valleys)" was the second single lifted from the Scottish band's fourth studio album, Peace in Our Time (number 150, December 1988), and followed up "King of Emotion" (number 79, December 1988). Curiously, "Broken Heart..." was released in Australia on 23 January 1989, and took almost six months to (barely) register on the chart! The single fared a little bit better in the UK, peaking at number 47 in November 1988. Big Country's lead singer, Stuart Adamson, sadly took his own life in December 2001, aged 43.
Next week (17 July): Six new top 150 entries, including a duet chart entry for an artist who went on to score a big hit five years later with... another duet. Also, there is one bubbling WAY down under entry, from an artist we met a few months ago. You can also follow my posts on facebook.
Think you can name Warrant's, Natalie Merchant's and Adeva's first chart 'hits' in Australia? Depending on your definition of what counts as a charting hit, you could be wrong, as we'll see this week, with these acts bubbling under with earlier releases before they went on to bigger things on the Australian chart. Also among this week's debuts we have a band releasing their first new material after re-uniting earlier in the decade, and a remix of a number 52 'hit' from 1986. Let's take a look at this week's batch of new entries.
Adeva: No, that's not one of the Village People.
Top 150 debuts:
Number 109 "Paranoimia '89" by The Art of Noise
Peak: number 103
Peak date: 17 July 1989
Weeks in top 150: 6 weeks
Top 150 chart run: 109-120-103-119-130-132
Weeks on chart: 8 weeks
The Art of Noise scored a top 10 hit in early 1989 with their collaboration with Tom Jones. Their original version of this track, featuring the animated robot character Max Headroom on 'vocals', peaked at number 52 on the Australian singles chart in September 1986. This remixed version, sans Max, peaked 51 places lower, and also flopped in the group's native UK, where it peaked at number 88.
On the state charts, "Paranoimia '89" performed strongest in South Australia/Northern Territory, where it reached number 54. We will next see The Art of Noise in 1992.
Number 113 "Bring It Back Again" by Stray Cats
Peak: number 109
Peak date: 10 July 1989
Weeks in top 150: 5 weeks
Top 150 chart run: 113-109-118-124-123
Weeks on chart: 9 weeks
Peaking at number 95 on the Australian Music Report singles chart, "Bring It Back Again" fell slightly short of the ARIA top 100. Between 1981 and 1983, Stray Cats placed four singles within the Kent Music Report top 100, before splitting up in 1984. The most-successful of their singles on our charts was 1981's "Runaway Boys", peaking at number 15. The group re-formed in 1986, and this was the lead single from their first post-reunion album, BlastOff, which peaked at number 90 in June 1989.
Internationally, "Bring It Back Again" peaked at number 64 in the UK in February 1989.
In Australia, the single performed strongest in Western Australia, where it reached number 76. "Bring It Back Again" peaked within the top 100 on all state charts except New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory.
10,000 Maniacs were a band I had heard of - by the early-mid 90s - but never gave their music the time of day, after rather incorrectly assuming they would be some kind of thrash metal act, given the band's name. How wrong I was! Accordingly, this excellent song passed me - and most of the Australian record-buying public too, it seems, going by its peak - by at the time. But, just like the band name, sometimes appearances (and chart peaks) can be deceiving. Despite only peaking at number 102 - on three separate, non-consecutive weeks, no less - "Trouble Me" spent a whopping 17 weeks hovering in the number 101-150 region of the chart! Yes, this single was still charting in late October. This gives "Trouble Me" the accolade (?) of being the single peaking outside the top 100 that spent the most weeks on the chart in 1989, beating its nearest rival, When in Rome's "The Promise", by three whole weeks. I've raised the question before: when is a flop almost a hit? The line between 'hit' and 'flop' can sometimes be blurred, indeed. As impressive as "Trouble Me"'s longevity in the 101-150 region of the chart is, it will be surpassed in later years.
Internationally, "Trouble Me" peaked at number 77 in the UK, number 21 in Canada in July 1989, and number 44 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in August 1989.
"Trouble Me", lifted from the album Blind Man's Zoo (number 84, August 1989) is another single that had greater success on the Australian Music Report chart, where it peaked at number 85. It also reached number 37 on the South Australian/Northern Territory ARIA state chart. The group eventually scored an Australian top 100 hit, in 1997, with their cover version of Roxy Music's "More Than This" (number 94). Lead singer Natalie Merchant, of course, would have greater success as a solo artist, placing her debut solo single "Carnival" at number 24 in October 1995. 10,000 Maniacs will join us again in 1993.
Number 131 "Cathedral Song" by Tanita Tikaram
Peak: number 120
Peak date: 31 July 1989
Weeks in top 150: 7 weeks
Chart run: 162-(off chart for 1 week)-131-132-138-121-120-138-136
Weeks on chart: 8 weeks
Tanita's top 30 hit "Twist in My Sobriety" would unfortunately be a one-off for her on the Australian charts; no other single she released troubled the top 100. We've already seen one of Tanita's bubbling under 'hits' in January. "Cathedral Song" also under-performed in the UK, relative to Tanita's earlier singles, peaking at number 48 back in January 1989. The single also peaked at number 36 in the Netherlands in February 1989, and number 71 in Germany in June 1989.
In Australia, "Cathedral Song" was most popular in Victoria/Tasmania, reaching number 84 on the state chart. The single peaked within the top 100 on all state charts except New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory.
A fourth single from the Ancient Heart album, "World Outside Your Window", was released locally in late July 1989, but failed to chart
Hipsway were a Scottish band, formed in 1984, and contained Johnny McElhone from Altered Images on bass. In 1986, they scored a number 91 'hit' on the Australian singles chart with "The Honeythief". This track peaked at number 66 in the UK in April 1989.
"Your Love" had a somewhat unusual chart run in Australia. All but one of its seven weeks in the ARIA top 150 were spent at number 137 or lower, but then it randomly shot up to number 103 for a solitary week in its second-last week, before dropping to number 148 and then out.
Number 150 "Respect" by Adeva
Peak: number 150
Peak date: 3 July 1989
Weeks in top 150: 1 week
Chart run: 158-(off chart for 13 weeks)-150
Weeks on chart: 2 weeks
You'd never guess upon first listen, but this track is a completely re-worked cover version of the song made famous by Aretha Franklin. I first heard Adeva's rendition of "Respect" when it was used as the B-side to her "Warning!" single - my first musical purchase of the 1990s! "Respect" has a somewhat interesting chart run in Australia. Spending just two weeks on the chart, "Respect"'s first charting week was at number 158 back in early April; it took three months to re-enter at its peak of number 150. Adeva would have greater chart success with later singles from her debut album Adeva!, which, coincidentally, has recently been remastered and re-issued as a 4-CD set (also available to stream on Spotify). Another thing worth checking out, if Adeva is to your liking, is a recent YouTube interview, where Adeva talks about her career, why she quit the business, and some tragic events that have happened in her life.
Internationally, "Respect" peaked at number 17 in the UK in January 1989, number 17 in Ireland, number 21 in the Netherlands in March 1989, and number 34 in the Flanders region of Belgium in March 1989.
In Australia, "Respect" was most popular in New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory, where it reached number 131 on the state chart.
Before Warrant made it big with "Cherry Pie" in 1990, and before they even had moderate success with their Australian number 54 smash "Heaven" later in 1989, they bubbled WAY down under with "Down Boys", their debut release. "Down Boys", taken from the album Dirty Rotten Filthy Stinking Rich (number 72, November 1989) had greater success on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, where it peaked at number 27 in July 1989. It also peaked at number 50 in New Zealand in July 1989.
In Australia, "Down Boys" performed strongest in Victoria/Tasmania, where it reached number 123 on the state chart.
Next week(10 July): Four new entries, including a live rendition of a song that peaked just outside the top 40 in 1977; plus another five bubbling WAY down under entries. Remember, you can also follow my posts on facebook.
Using a marketing gimmick to sell your product can help to break a single on the chart. At other times, it spectacularly backfires. Among this week's new entries, we have: a track that sounds like it was a contender for a Bond movie, a song based on a sample of a fantasy sitcom theme, and a song that was used in a Coca-Cola ad (overseas, anyway). None of these gimmicks helped the songs in question to become hits in the land of sweeping plains. Do the songs stack up on their own merits without the associated gimmicks? Let's take a look at this week's new entries, and see what you think...
Swing Out Sister: Wig-out, sister! How Corinne Drewery from Swing Out Sister reacted when she saw the peak for her band's new single.
Top 150 debuts:
Number 114 "You on my Mind" by Swing Out Sister
Peak: number 114
Peak date: 26 June 1989
Weeks in top 150: 7 weeks
Chart run: 114-128-138-121-116-124-130
Weeks on chart: 7 weeks
In 1987, Swing Out Sister belatedly burst onto the Australian chart with their breakout hit, "Breakout". I say 'belatedly', because the single did not reach its peak of number 12 in Australia until late July 1987, despite being released locally in mid-February 1987, and peaking in the UK in November 1986. Seeming like they might become the next big thing, Swing Out Sister only placed one other single in the top 100 down under - that being follow-up release "Surrender", which peaked at number 78. Roll on to 1989, and this track, the lead single from the album Kaleidoscope World (number 106, July 1989), sounding and looking a little bit like a Bond theme, stalled outside the top 100.
"You on my Mind" fared better in the UK, where it peaked at number 28 in May 1989; though its chart performance must have still been a disappointment for the group, given that it was the lead single from a new album. The single also peaked at number 26 in Ireland, number 51 in Germany in June 1989, number 28 in the Netherlands in June 1989, number 26 in the Flanders region of Belgium in July 1989, number 32 in New Zealand in July 1989, and number 44 in France in October 1989.
In Australia, "You on my Mind" was most popular in New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory, where it reached number 84 on the state chart.
We first met The Celibate Rifles back in March, and here they are, bubbling down under again in June, with another track from their Blind Ear (number 85, July 1989) album. The group never scored a top 100 single, but this was the second of five singles that peaked within the 101-150 region of the charts between 1989 and 1992, which must count for something.
On the state charts, "O Salvation" performed strongest in Queensland, where it reached number 94.
The Celibate Rifles will next join us in May 1990.
Number 142 "Girls Ain't Nothing but Trouble" by DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince
Peak: number 142
Peak date: 26 June 1989
Weeks in top 150: 1 week
Top 150 chart run: 142
Weeks on chart: 2 weeks
When it comes to rap crossing over to the charts, Australia was very behind the times. This track peaked at number 21 in the UK in October 1986, and must have had a late or re-issued release in the US, where it peaked at number 57 on the Hot 100 in December 1988. Skip ahead to July 1989, and Australia was finally ready for this track. Well, kind of. Following up "Parents Just Don't Understand", their number 48 minor 'hit' from November 1988, "Girls Ain't Nothing but Trouble" barely registered on the chart, spending one week inside the top 150. I remember seeing this one on Countdown Revolution, and thinking what a novel idea it was to sample the theme from I Dream of Jeannie (I was 10, OK?). Dimples D, of course, would have much greater success on our chart when trying the same thing in 1991.
"Girls Ain't Nothing but Trouble" appeared on the debut DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince album Rock the House. However, their second album, He's the DJ, I'm the Rapper, crept into the ARIA top 150 albums chart around the time of this single, initially peaking at number 140 in May 1989 before reaching its eventual peak of number 131 in February 1990.
On the state charts, "Girls Ain't Nothing but Trouble" performed strongest in South Australia/Northern Territory, where it reached number 117.
DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince will pay the 101-150 region of the chart another visit in 1992.
Number 148 "First Time" by Robin Beck
Peak: number 148
Peak date: 26 June 1989
Weeks in top 150: 2 weeks
Top 150 chart run: 148-(out for 1 week)-149
Weeks on chart: 4 weeks
Another song we got late in Australia was this one, which spent three weeks at number one in the UK in November 1988. Despite being released locally in February 1989 and debuting at number 157 on the 27th of that month, it took four months for this to nudge the lower end of the top 150. An American artist, Robin Beck's UK chart success was largely due to the song being featured in a TV commercial for Coca-Cola. "First Time" also topped the charts in Germany, the Netherlands, Austria, Switzerland, the Flanders region of Belgium, and Norway. Had the song had the same level of exposure in Australia, no doubt it would have charted better. Locally, the single performed best on the Victoria/Tasmania state chart, where it reached number 121.
Between 1984 and 1987, Wang Chung notched up four top 100 singles in Australia, with the biggest two of those, "Dance Hall Days" and "Everybody Have Fun Tonight", reaching numbers 7 and 8, respectively. Failing to chart in their native UK, where they had never placed a single higher than number 21, "Praying to a New God" peaked at number 63 on the US Billboard Hot 100. Owing to the band's greater success in the US, it looks like they tried to change their sound and image to a rockier one for this release, which backfired (as it often seems to). Despite only peaking at number 127 in Australia, "Praying to a New God" spent 10 weeks in the top 150 region of the chart. The single performed much better in Western Australia, where it reached number 52 on the state chart. "Praying to a New God" peaked outside the top 100 on the other four state charts.
This won't actually be the last we see of Wang Chung - they will bubble WAY down under in 1997!
Bubbling WAY down under:
Number 154 "What Does It Take?" by Then Jerico
Peak: number 154
Peak date: 26 June 1989
Weeks on chart: 1 week
Then Jerico's previous single, "Big Area", peaked at number 99 in early June 1989. "What Does It Take?" peaked at number 33 in the UK in April 1989. Belinda Carlisle, whom we will see in 1990, makes a guest appearance on this track and also appears in the music video. This would be the group's last single to register on the Australian charts. The single performed strongest on the New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory state chart, where it reached number 148.
Number 165 "Avenue D" by Etta James featuring David A. Stewart
Peak: number 155
Peak date: 4 September 1989
Weeks on chart: 4 weeks
The first of two new bubbling WAY down under entries this week from American singer-songwriter Etta James, born Jamesetta Hawkins, is a collaboration with Eurythmics member David A. Steweart (also known as just Dave Stewart), recorded for the soundtrack album Rooftops. Etta released her first album way back in 1960.
Internationally, "Avenue D" peaked at number 296 (number 197 on the compressed chart) in the UK in May 1989. Within Australia, "Avenue D" was most popular in Western Australia, where it peaked at number 118.
I've heard/seen this one a couple of times on rage in the last few years, though I didn't know it at the time.
Etta passed away, aged 73, in January 2012, after being diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in 2008 and leukaemia in 2011. We will see David A. Stewart with his band Spiritual Cowboys in 1991.
Number 167 "Damn Your Eyes" by Etta James
Peak: number 157
Peak date: 3 July 1989
Weeks on chart: 2 weeks
The second entry from Etta this week, I hadn't heard "Damn Your Eyes" before. The track was lifted from Etta's first studio album since 1980, Seven Year Itch (number 115, June 1989), so-named because Etta had not had a recording contract in seven years when the album was released.
I cannot find evidence of "Damn Your Eyes" charting anywhere else, not even on Billboard's meaningless genre-specific charts! Within Australia, "Damn Your Eyes" performed strongest in South Australia/Northern Territory, where it reached number 120.
Etta would eventually land a top 100 single in Australia with "At Last" (number 72, January 2012), following her death. Before that, she had another low-charting single in Australia, with "Fire" (number 420, March 2008).
Etta had further charting albums in Australia with Stickin' to My Guns (number 155, August 1990), The Essential Etta James (number 285, September 2010), The Dreamer (number 336, February 2012), Her Best (number 65, January 2012), and At Last: The Best of Etta James (number 743, May 2012).
Next week (3 July): Six new entries, including a single that spent more weeks on the chart than any other peaking within the 101-150 region in 1989. We also see the arrival of a new diva, and the return of an artist who only ever bubbled under following their top 30 hit from earlier in the year. Also, there is another bubbling WAY down under entry. Remember, you can also follow my posts on facebook.
A common thread among this week's three new entries - not counting the five bubbling WAY down under debuts - is that they're all twinged with country music. Or so I think. Who knew that a mini country music 'trend' was happening in Australia in 1989? I sure didn't.
Before Billy Ray Cyrus and Shania Twain conquered the charts, there was... Hank Williams, Jr.
Top 150 debuts:
Number 131 "Angel Eyes" by The Jeff Healey Band
Peak: number 115
Peak date: 23 October 1989
Weeks in top 150: 12 weeks
Top 150 chart run: 131-127-125-136-120-122-(out for 8 weeks)-147-133-133-136-115-144
Fifteen years later, Australian Idol first season also-ran Paulini would take her cover of this song to number one, but in 1989, the original version by Canada's The Jeff Healey Band had to settle for bubbling outside the top 100 with "Angel Eyes". The single performed better on the Australian Music Report chart, where it peaked at number 79. Lead singer, Jeff Healey, died in 2007, aged 41. We will see The Jeff Healey Band again later in the year, and again in 1990.
Number 143 "Raindance" by Steve Hoy
Peak: number 107
Peak date: 14 August 1989
Weeks in top 150: 11 weeks
Top 150 chart run: 143-134-143-128-122=129-118-114-107-119-121
Another single that performed better on the Australian Music Report chart (number 92) is this one from Australia's Steve Hoy. We will see Steve again in 1990.
Number 146 "There's a Tear in My Beer" by Hank Williams, Jr.
Peak: number 118
Peak date: 3 July 1989
Weeks in top 150: 6 weeks
Top 150 chart run: 146-138-118-139-137-131
Oh dear. I don't know what to say about this one (which I'd never heard of before), other than I assume it must have some sort of cult appeal, as it has over 5 million views on YouTube, since 2014. Wikipedia informs me that this track peaked at number 7 on the US Billboard Hot Country Songs chart.
Bubbling WAY down under:
Number 159 "Nothin (That Compares 2 U)" by The Jacksons
Peak: number 153
Peak date: 3 July 1989
Weeks on chart: 3 weeks
Almost a year before Sinéad O'Connor's mega-hit "Nothing Compares 2 U", The Jacksons bubbled under with this, similarly-titled ditty. Again, this one charted better on the Australian Music Report chart, where it peaked at number 89. The Jacksons last scored a (number 32) hit down under with "Torture", in 1984. This would turn out to be the last charting single in Australia for the group. Parent album 2300 Jackson Street peaked at number 99 on the ARIA Albums Chart in July 1989.
Internationally, "Nothin..." peaked at number 18 in the Netherlands in May 1989, number 24 in Switzerland in May 1989, number 33 in the UK in May 1989, number 24 in the Flanders region of Belgium in June 1989, number 26 in Germany in June 1989, number 77 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in June 1989, and number 16 in New Zealand in July 1989.
Number 161 "And More" by X
Peak: number 161
Peak date: 19 June 1989
Weeks on chart: 1 week
X were an Australian band. This was their only charting release. It is awful. The single peaked highest in Western Australia, reaching number 129. Moving on...
Number 166 "Honky Tonk Women (Nomen Est Woman)" by Z'Zi Labor
Peak: number 166
Peak date: 19 June 1989
Weeks on chart: 1 week
Z'Zi Labor were a Hungarian band. This is a cover version of The Rolling Stones' "Honky Tonk Women" from 1969, and the subtitle "Nomen Est Woman" says, according to Google Translate, "I am woman" in Latin. The publishing date on this single says 1986. That's all I know. Why a three year-old song from a Hungarian band I've never heard of charted in Australia in 1989 - your guess is as good as mine. This one performed strongest in Western Australia, where it reached number 143 on the state chart.
Number 169 "When Will I Be Loved" by Little River Band
Peak: number 169
Peak date: 19 June 1989
Weeks on chart: 1 week
Little River Band managed a career resurgence in 1988, when "Love Is a Bridge" reached the top 10; their first top 40 hit since 1983's "The Other Guy". The comeback chart success wasn't to last, however, with no subsequent single peaking higher than number 70. This one performed strongest in Queensland, where it reached number 149. We will see LRB again in 1990.
Number 171 "Giving You the Best That I Got" by Anita Baker
Peak: number 171
Peak date: 19 June 1989
Weeks on chart: 1 week
American singer Anita Baker had much greater success in her homeland that in Australia, where she only notched up one top 100 single.
"Giving You the Best That I Got" was Anita's second chart entry in Australia, and curiously debuted on the chart eight months after its release in October 1988.
In the US, "Giving You the Best That I Got" peaked at number 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 in December 1988, becoming her biggest hit there. The album it is lifted from, Giving You the Best That I Got (number 47, December 1988), also topped the US Billboard 200 albums chart.
Elsewhere, "Giving You the Best That I Got" peaked at number 55 in the UK in October 1988, and number 25 in New Zealand in January 1989.
Next week (26 June): Five new entries, including the return of two groups we haven't seen on the chart since 1987, and the first charting song (that I am aware of) to sample the I Dream of Jeannie theme. Plus, there are three bubbling WAY down under entries. You can also follow my posts on facebook.
Last week, I mentioned that four of that week's six new entries were singles that did not chart in any other country, and this week, it is four of out eight! Granted, two of those exclusive chart 'hits' are by Australian artists, this time. It is always interesting, to me, to uncover a chart position for something that didn't chart anywhere else... even if that peak happens to be outside the top 100.
Living Colour: Mishap with hair clippers during lockdown? Just shave half of it off, like Corey Glover from Living Colour.
Top 150 debuts:
Number 125 "Birthday Suit" by Johnny Kemp
Peak: number 117
Peak date: 19 June 1989
Weeks in top 150: 7 weeks
Top 150 chart run: 125-117-122-132-137-132-134
Johnny was a Bahamian-American singer; I say 'was', because he tragically died in a drowning accident in 2015, aged 55. "Birthday Suit" reached number 36 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in April 1989, but failed to chart anywhere else, from what I can see. Johnny scored a number 79 'hit' here in early October 1988 with "Just Got Paid", which was a number 10 hit for him in America.
Number 137 "Who's in the House" by The Beatmasters with Merlin
Peak: number 137
Peak date: 12 June 1989
Weeks in top 150: 2 weeks
Chart run: 137-(off chart for 1 week)-143
Weeks on chart: 2 weeks
The Beatmasters, who seemed to feature a different vocalist with every release, scored a number 37 hit in Australia with "Rok Da House" in May 1988, with Cookie Crew on vocals. We also saw them bubble WAY down under, with P.P. Arnold, in February 1989.
Merlin, real name Justin Mark Boreland, was the nephew of UK reggae singer Smiley Culture. "Who's In the House" peaked at number 8 in the UK in April 1989.
On the ARIA state charts, "Who's in the House" performed strongest in Victoria/Tasmania, where it reached number 102.
Top 150 chart run: 144-115-123-105-124-107-118-115
Australian group Sunnyboys scored five top 50 hits between 1981 and 1984, with "Happy Man" being the highest-peaking of those, reaching number 26 in 1981. Earlier in 1989, the group had a number 87 'hit' with "Too Young to Despair". Both tracks were lifted from their Wildcat album, which reached number 63 in August 1989.
Number 148 "Open Letter (To a Landlord)" by Living Colour
Peak: number 116
Peak date: 26 June 1989
Weeks in top 150: 9 weeks
Chart run: 148-127-116-126-129-124-125-129-121
Weeks on chart: 9 weeks
Living Colour had a slow start on the Australian charts, with "Cult of Personality" peaking at number 54 in April 1989. Issued as the second single from their debut album Vivid (number 52, April 1989) in Australia, "Open Letter (To a Landlord)" stalled outside the top 100.
Internationally, "Open Letter..." peaked at number 131 (number 102 on the compressed chart) in the UK in March 1989, number 11 in New Zealand in July 1989, and number 82 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in July 1989.
Locally, "Open Letter..." performed strongest in South Australia/Northern Territory, where it reached number 77.
It wouldn't be until 1991 that the group would achieve their breakthrough hit down under. Before that hit, Living Colour will bubble down under again in 1990. "Open Letter (To a Landlord)" performed strongest on the South Australia/Northern Territory state chart, where it reached number 77.
Number 149 "Western World" by Scary Bill
Peak: number 106
Peak date: 10 July 1989
Weeks in top 150: 8 weeks
Known chart run: 154-149-129-130-117-106-108-112-122
Weeks on chart: 10 weeks
Australian band Scary Bill formed in St. Kilda in 1987, although half of the band's members were from Adelaide. "Western World" was their only single to dent the ARIA top 150. Their self-titled debut album, from which this track is taken, peaked at number 107 in August 1989. This single performed much better on the Australian Music Report chart, where it peaked at number 74. "Western World" was most popular in South Australia/Northern Territory, where it reached number 40 on the ARIA state chart.
Tiff's time as a chart star was pretty much over by this point. The third single lifted from the album of the same name, "Hold an Old Friend's Hand" failed to chart anywhere else, other than on the US Adult Contemporary chart (which, as I've mentioned before, doesn't really count in my book). In Australia, "Hold an Old Friend's Hand" was most popular in Western Australia, where it reached number 135. Tiffany will join us again in 1990 and 1993!
Number 165 "Cry Little Sister" by Charlie Sexton
Peak: number 165
Peak date: 12 June 1989
Weeks on chart: 1 week
Charlie scored two top 40 hits in Australia in 1986, and a further two top 100 entries; the most-recent of which was "Don't Look Back", peaking at number 82 in February 1989. Both "Don't Look Back" and "Cry Little Sister" were taken from Charlie's self-titled album, which peaked at number 84 in Australia in March 1989. "Cry Little Sister" did not chart anywhere else. Charlie will bubble down under again in 1990.
Number 167 "All the Myths on Sunday" by Diesel Park West
Peak: number 167
Peak date: 12 June 1989
Weeks on chart: 1 week
British band Diesel Park West formed in Leicester in 1980, although their first recorded work was not released until 1987.
Despite never landing a top 40 single in their home country, Diesel Park West landed seven top 75 singles in the UK between 1989 and 1992. "All the Myths on Sunday" was the first of these, reaching number 66 in the UK in February 1989, the only other place it charted.
"All the Myths on Sunday" was the only Diesel Park West release to chart in Australia. The single was most popular in Western Australia, where it reached number 125.
Next week (19 June): A mere three new top 150 debuts, including the original version of a song that would go on to top the ARIA singles chart in 2004. Also, five more singles bubbling WAY down under debut. Remember, you can follow my posts on facebook too.
Four of this week's ten new entries are songs that did not register on any other 'real', sales-based chart, to my knowledge. That's quite a feat, considering that only one of those four acts is Australian. The other theme rippling through this week's entries is 'veteran' (as in, they'd been around for at least five years, which is a long time in chart years) acts giving it another go, or a new go as a solo act. Let's take a look at what was bubbling down under this week in 1989:
Dusty Springfield: Having no hits for almost two decades does not always "prove" your career is over.
Top 150 debuts:
Number 144 "Tears Run Rings" by Marc Almond
Peak: number 128
Peak date: 19 June 1989
Weeks in top 150: 5 weeks
Chart run: 158-144-134-128-133-133
Weeks on chart: 6 weeks
Hot off the heels of his recent number 24 duet with Gene Pitney, "Tears Run Rings" became Marc's first truly solo chart 'hit' in Australia. He had, of course, had a major hit in 1981-2 as one half of Soft Cell - and a newly-recorded version of that would give Marc a number 93 'hit' in 1991, though credited to Soft Cell/Marc Almond. Marc also scored a number 34 hit with Bronski Beat in 1985, on a cover version medley of "I Feel Love", which has been dubbed "the gayest record ever made". But this was as good as it got for Marc in his own right down under. He had more success with this track in the UK, where it peaked at number 26 in September 1988.
"Tears Run Rings" was lifted from the album The Stars We Are (number 123, May 1989). Another single from the album, "Only the Moment", was released in Australia in August 1989, but failed to chart.
In Australia, "Tears Run Rings" performed strongest in Western Australia, where it reached number 105.
Number 145 "Nothing Has Been Proved" by Dusty Springfield
Peak: number 145
Peak date: 5 June 1989
Weeks in top 150: 1 week
Top 150 chart run: 145
Weeks on chart: 5 weeks
Dusty, real name Mary Isobel Catherine Bernadette O'Brien (phew!), had major chart success in the 1960s, including in Australia. Her chart fortunes had all but dried up by the early 70s, though, and her last solo top 40 hit in Australia was 1970's "What Good Is I Love You?" That all changed in 1987, however, when Pet Shop Boys rescued her from obscurity, with an unlikely pairing on the number 22 hit (number 2 in both the UK and US) "What Have I Done To Deserve This?" Continuing the partnership, Pet Shop Boys produced half of Dusty's 1990 album Reputation, from which this track was eventually lifted. While generally not a movie fan, to my ears, "Nothing Has Been Proved" sounds like it could have been a Bond theme; and my impression wasn't too far off the mark, as the song was recorded for and played over the closing credits of the 1989 British film Scandal, about a political scandal involving the Conservative Party in 1963. The single had more success in the UK, where it peaked at number 16, and gave Dusty her first solo top 40 single since 1970. "Nothing Has Been Proved" also peaked at number 10 in Ireland, number 52 in Germany in April 1989, number 26 in the Netherlands in April 1989, number 24 in the Flanders region of Belgium in April 1989, and number 33 in New Zealand in May 1989.
In Australia, "Nothing Has Been Proved" was most popular in Western Australia, where it reached number 106.
We will see Dusty bubbling down under again in 1990. Of course, Dusty sadly passed away from breast cancer in 1999, aged 59.
Number 148 "I'm On To You" by Hurricane
Peak: number 148
Peak date: 5 June 1989
Weeks in top 150: 1 week
Top 150 chart run: 148
Perhaps one factor leading to heavy metal's decline in the early 1990s was that the market was fairly saturated with similar acts by this point. Enter Hurricane into the fray, with their first Australian chart 'hit', with a song that failed to register on any other chart (real chart, I mean) as far as I can tell, including the Billboard Hot 100 in the group's homeland. Parent album, Over the Edge, fared slightly better on the Billboard 200, reaching number 92. It's not something I would normally listen to, but I have to admit that the "na na na na na na" hook is catchy. Hurricane will visit us again in 1991.
Number 149 "No Matter What" by Swingshift
Peak: number 126
Peak dates: 26 June 1989 and 24 July 1989
Weeks in top 150: 11 weeks
Top 150 chart run: 149-145-139-126-136-144-139-126-128-139-143
Swingshift were an Australian band, and this single - their only release listed on discogs.com - appears to have been issued on a small independent record label, Top Shelf Recordings. Only one other title, from another band, is currently listed on the Top Shelf Recordings record label page on the site.
Despite being issued on an independent label, "No Matter What" was promoted though a TV advertising campaign, as evident on the embedded video below.
Unfortunately, nobody has uploaded the music video for the song, or the full audio for the track, so the snippet in the ad below is all you can hear of the song. I have no recollection of hearing "No Matter What" before.
Swingshift started out as a Cold Chisel covers band, and Dave Leslie from the group went on to later join the group Baby Animals.
Number 150 "Everything That Comes Around" by Mick Jones
Peak: number 150
Peak date: 5 June 1989
Weeks in top 150: 1 week
Top 150 chart run: 150
Mick is (not was!) the guitarist in Foreigner, and remains the band's only remaining founding member. Oddly, this track didn't chart (at least, not within the top 100) in his native UK, or anywhere else, for that matter, as far as I am aware. To date, this song's parent album, the imaginatively-titled Mick Jones, remains his only solo release.
Bubbling WAY down under:
Number 152 "Move Closer" by Tom Jones
Peak: number 152
Peak date: 5 June 1989
Weeks on chart: 2 weeks
Veteran Welsh singer Tom Jones burst onto the charts in the mid-1960s, with hits such as "It's Not Unusual". Tom made a surprise comeback with "Kiss" (number 8, February 1989), teaming up with The Art of Noise, earlier in the year.
"Move Closer" was a cover version of a song written and originally performed by Phyllis Nelson that peaked at number 15 in Australia in November 1985. Phyllis sadly passed away in 1998, aged 47, from breast cancer. Tom's version of "Move Closer" was lifted from his At This Moment (number 92, November 1990) album. Internationally, the single peaked at number 49 in the UK in April 1989.
Within Australia, "Move Closer" performed strongest in Western Australia, where it reached number 99.
Number 158 "Romance (Love Theme From Sing)" by Paul Carrack & Terri Nunn
Peak: number 158
Peak date: 5 June 1989
Weeks on chart: 1 week
Another track that didn't chart anywhere else on a 'real' chart (no, the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart does not count in this instance!) is this 'love theme' (doncha love how 80s that expression is?) duet between Paul Carrack and Terri Nunn. Paul had been somewhat of a chameleon on the Australian charts, with his first taste of chart success coming as lead vocalist of Ace with 1975's "How Long" (number 63), a song that went on to be covered by many artists. Paul then went on to have four of his own solo hits during the 1980s, with 1987's "When You Walk in the Room" reaching number seven. More-recently, Paul had just scored a number one single in Australia singing lead on Mike + The Mechanics' "The Living Years". Phew! Terri Nunn was the lead singer in synth-pop band Berlin, who had scored four top 40 hits in Australia between 1984 and 1987, with Top Gun soundtrack hit "Take My Breath Away" easily being the biggest of those, peaking at number two.
On the state charts, "Romance..." performed strongest in New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory, where it reached number 149.
We will see Paul bubble under again a couple of times over the next year, but this would be Terri's only solo Australian chart 'hit' as far as I am aware.
Number 164 "That's the Way Love Is" by Ten City
Peak: number 164
Peak date: 5 June 1989
Weeks on chart: 1 week
American r&b/house act Ten City hail from Chicago. "That's the Way Love Is", lifted from their debut album Foundation (released in Australia in May 1989, did not chart), was their debut Australian release, and their only single to chart locally.
"That's the Way Love Is" found greater success internationally, reaching number 8 in the UK in January 1989, number 11 in Ireland, number 23 in the Netherlands in April 1989, number 18 in West Germany in April 1989, number 21 in the Flanders region of Belgium in April 1989, and number 24 in New Zealand in May 1989. Within Australia, "That's the Way Love Is" performed strongest in New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory, where it reached number 153.
Number 166 "You Make Me Work" by Cameo
Peak: number 166
Peak date: 5 June 1989
Weeks on chart: 1 week
American funk band Cameo formed in 1974. Their first, and only, taste of chart success in Australia came with "Word Up" (number 6, March 1987), and the album Word Up (number 75, April 1987).
"You Make Me Work" was the lead single from Cameo's thirteenth studio album Machismo (number 148, February 1989). The single was released locally in January 1989, but took almost four months to register its solitary week on the chart.
Internationally, "You Make Me Work" peaked at number 74 in the UK in October 1988, and number 85 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in November 1988. Within Australia, the single performed strongest in Queensland, where it reached number 147.
Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards released his first solo album Talk Is Cheap (number 15, October 1988) in 1988, led by the single "Take It So Hard" (number 95, December 1988).
"Make No Mistake" was Keith's second solo single in Australia. Internationally, "Make No Mistake" peaked at number 213 (number 142 on the compressed chart) in the UK in May 1989. Domestically, "Make No Mistake" performed strongest in South Australia/Northern Territory, where it reached number 139.
