Week commencing 9 March 1992

This week in 1992's new entries peaking outside the top 100 are an eclectic bunch, with everything from a 60's rocker your parents might have been fans of to a young big band crooner and pioneering electronic acts.  Shall we take a look?

 

Blue Pearl: passion for playing with knives.

 

Top 150 debuts:

 

Number 103 "You Didn't Know Me When" by Harry Connick, Jr.

Peak: number 103

Peak date: 9 March 1992

Weeks in top 150: 5 weeks

Chart run: 103-105-116-117-125 

Weeks on chart: 5 weeks

 

American singer Harry Connick, Jr. made his Australian chart debut with the album We Are in Love (number 120, July 1991).  We saw Harry bubble under in 1991.  His ARIA top 150 singles debut came with "It Had to Be You" (number 70, June 1992), which was first released locally in November 1989, and initially peaked at number 76 in October 1991.  That song was the title track to an Australian-only compilation of some of Harry's earlier recordings, It Had to Be You (number 4, March 1992), which became his commercial breakthrough in Australia.

"You Didn't Know Me When" was lifted from Harry's third studio album Blue Light, Red Light (number 10, March 1992).  I cannot find evidence of the single charting elsewhere.  In Australia, "You Didn't Know Me When" performed strongest in Victoria/Tasmania, where it reached number 77 on the state chart.

Harry's biggest hit in Australia came with "(I Could Only) Whisper Your Name" (number 15, December 1994), which I always associate with the Hey Hey It's Saturday band playing before heading to an ad break.

Last I was aware, Harry was currently a judge on the reboot of Australian Idol - I would not encourage any readers to watch that rubbish.

Number 130 "Don't Turn Around" by Neil Diamond

Peak: number 117

Peak date: 13 April 1992

Weeks in top 150: 6 weeks

Top 150 chart run: 130-124-132-120-124-117

Weeks on chart: 7 weeks

American singer-songwriter Neil Diamond is someone I'd never heard of until his albums started appearing in the ARIA top 50 in the early 90s, but he landed 28 charting singles in Australia between 1969 and 1982.  If I remember correctly (I can't really be bothered looking it up), Neil's renewed popularity in the early 90s was due to him touring Australia - I recall seeing TV commercials for his shows.  In particular, I remember hearing Neil's 1966 song "Cherry, Cherry", with its "she got the way to move me" chorus, in the adverts.  We have seen Neil previously in 1981.

As I suspected from the title, "Don't Turn Around" is a cover version of the song written by Albert Hammond and Diane Warren that was originally recorded by Tina Turner, as the B-side to "Typical Male" (number 20, November 1986), in 1986.  Aswad's version of "Don't Turn Around" peaked at number 34 in June 1988, and it would go on to become a number 19 hit for Ace of Base in August 1994.

"Don't Turn Around" was lifted from Neil's Lovescape (number 15, March 1992) album.  Internationally, the single peaked at number 79 in Canada in March 1992.

Neil's rendition of "Don't Turn Around" took six weeks to climb to its peak of number 117 in Australia, before falling out of the top 150 the following week.  On the state charts, "Don't Turn Around" was most popular in South Australia/Northern Territory, where it reached number 85.

We will next see Neil in April.

Number 146 "Never Stop" by The Brand New Heavies featuring N'Dea Davenport

Peak: number 140

Peak date: 13 April 1992

Weeks in top 150: 6 weeks

Top 150 chart run: 146-(out for 1 week)-141-145-145-140-(out for 1 week)-149

Weeks on chart: 8 weeks

British acid jazz and funk band The Brand New Heavies formed in 1985.  American singer N'Dea Davenport, who receives a featuring credit on this release, was the band's lead singer between 1990 and 1995, before rejoining them in 2005.  "Never Stop", lifted from the brand's debut album The Brand New Heavies (number 139, August 1992), was their first Australian release.

Internationally, "Never Stop" peaked at number 43 in the UK in October 1991, and number 54 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in October 1991.

 

Locally, "Never Stop" was most popular in New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory, where it reached number 101.

The Brand New Heavies never landed an ARIA top 100 single, but we shall see them bubble under on several occasions in the coming years, with the next instance being in 1993.

Number 148 "When I First Met Your Ma" by Paul Kelly and The Messengers

Peak: number 131

Peak date: 6 April 1992

Weeks in top 150: 6 weeks

Top 150 chart run: 148-145-145-142-131-144

Weeks on chart: 10 weeks

 

We last saw Paul Kelly and The Messengers in 1991.

 

"When I First Met Your Ma" was the only single released from the Hidden Things (number 29, April 1992) compilation album, which collated non-album tracks recorded by Paul Kelly and The Messengers (formerly Paul Kelly and The Coloured Girls) between 1986 and 1991.

On the state charts, "When I First Met Your Ma" performed strongest in Western Australia, where it reached number 89.

We shall next see Paul Kelly and The Messengers in 1994, but before then, Paul will appear on his own as part of a collaboration with other artists in 1993.

 

 

Bubbling WAY down under:

 

Number 176 "Instruments of Darkness (All of Us Are One People)" by The Art of Noise

Peak: number 170

Peak date: 16 March 1992

Weeks on chart: 6 weeks

 

We last saw English syth-pop act The Art of Noise in 1989.

 

"Instruments of Darkness..." originally appeared as a largely instrumental track on the 1986 album In Visible Silence (number 55, July 1986).  This remixed version was lifted from the compilation The FON Mixes (number 180, March 1992).  Internationally, the single peaked at number 45 in the UK in January 1992.

Domestically, "Instruments of Darkness..." was most popular in Western Australia, where it reached number 121.

Listening to this track for the first time, my initial impression was that it sounds very much like The Prodigy.  Then I discovered that The Prodigy's Liam Howlett co-produced this version of the track.

 

We shall next see The Art of Noise in 1995.

 

 

Number 180 "(Can You) Feel the Passion" by Blue Pearl

Peak: number 166

Peak date: 16 March 1992

Weeks on chart: 4 weeks

Blue Pearl were English producer Youth (real name Martin Glover) and American singer Durga McBroom, who had been a long term backing singer for Pink Floyd - both on their studio recordings and their live concerts.

The pair released their debut single "Naked in the Rain" in 1990, which reached number 4 in the UK, but failed to chart in Australia upon its local release in September of that year.  A second single, "Little Brother", was issued in Australia in June 1991, but similarly failed to chart, as did the album both singles were lifted from, Naked, which was released locally in June 1991.

The duo's third single, "(Can You) Feel the Passion", finally registered Blue Pearl a placing on the ARIA singles chart, albeit a rather low one.  The single fared better internationally, where it reached number 14 in the UK in January 1992, number 24 in Ireland, number 32 in Sweden in February 1992, number 34 in the Flanders region of Belgium in March 1992, and number 49 in the Netherlands in March 1992.  "(Can You) Feel the Passion" also topped the US Billboard Dance Club Songs chart in May 1992.

Locally, "(Can You) Feel the Passion" performed strongest in South Australia/Northern Territory, where it reached number 134.

 

"(Can You) Feel the Passion" lyrically references Bizarre Inc's "Playing with Knives", which we saw bubble WAY down under in 1991.

 

We will see Blue Pearl again in 1998.

Number 189 "In My Dreams" by The Party

Peak: number 186

Peak date: 23 March 1992

Weeks on chart: 2 weeks

We last saw The Party in 1991.

 

While "In My Dreams" was the lead single from the band's second album In the Meantime, In Between Time, curiously their debut album The Party (number 189, June 1992) peaked a few months after this in 1992 - although it is possible that this track was added to the Australian pressing.

 

Internationally, "In My Dreams" peaked at number 34 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in January 1992.

 

Within Australia, "In My Dreams" performed strongest in New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory, where it reached number 172.

 

I don't recall hearing this one before.  I wasn't expecting to like it, but it's actually quite decent.

 

This was The Party's final single to chart in Australia.

 

 

Next week (16 March): Five top 150 debuts, and five bubbling WAY down under entries.

< Previous week: 2 March 1992                                      Next week: 16 March 1992 >

Kent Music Report beyond the top 100: 7 March 1983

Two of the three singles bubbling under the top 100 this week in 1983 are follow-ups to the artists in question's biggest hits in Australia.  The other is a song that doesn't appear to have charted anywhere else.  Let's take a look at them.

 

Supertramp: when I was young it seemed this band was always on the radio.

 

Beyond the top 100:

 

 

Position 3 "My Kind of Lady" by Supertramp

Highest rank: 3rd

Peak date: 7 March 1983

Weeks on below list: 2 weeks

English rock band Supertramp formed in 1969.  At this point in 1983, they had placed five singles on the Australian top 100, with "It's Raining Again" (number 11, December 1982) being the highest-peaking of those.  I recall Supertramp's "Dreamer" (number 47, November 1975) and "The Logical Song" (number 16, June 1979) still being radio staples in the early 1980s.

"My Kind of Lady" was the second single lifted from Supertramp's seventh studio album ...Famous Last Words (number 2, November 1982).  Internationally, the single peaked at number 74 in Germany in March 1983.

Position 5 "Last Night (I Didn't Get to Sleep at All)" by The Reels

Highest rank: 4th

Peak date: 14 March 1983

Weeks on below list: 3 weeks

 

Australian band The Reels formed in 1976.  At this point in 1983, they had placed seven singles on the Australian top 100, with "This Guy's in Love (With You...)" (number 7, December 1982) being their biggest hit.

"Last Night...", a cover version of a song originally recorded by The 5th Dimension, was the second and final single lifted from The Reels' third studio album Beautiful (number 32, January 1983).

We shall see The Reels next in 1985.  I have written about them previously in 1989 and 1991.

 

 

Position 9 "Give Me the Good News" by Crocodile Harris

Highest rank: 9th

Peak date: 7 March 1983

Weeks on below list: 1 week

 

Crocodile Harris was the stage name of South African singer Robin Graham.  Crocodile Harris never landed a top 100 charting single or album in Australia.  "Give Me the Good News" was lifted from the album of the same name.

 

I cannot find evidence of this single charting elsewhere, even in South Africa!

Robin Graham passed away in 2015.

 

 

Next post (18 April): One new entry bubbling under the top 100.

< Previous week: 28 February 1983                                 Next post: 18 April 1983 >

Week commencing 2 March 1992

This week in 1992's new entries peaking outside the top 100 are an eclectic bunch.  Let's take a look at them.

 

Tori Amos: what's so amazing about really low chart positions?

 

Top 150 debuts:

 

Number 135 "After the Watershed (Early Learning the Hard Way)" by Carter the Unstoppable Sex Machine

Peak: number 124

Peak date: 23 March 1992

Weeks in top 150: 8 weeks

Top 150 chart run: 135-140-137-124-132-137-125-141

English indie punk band Carter the Unstoppable Sex Machine formed in 1987.  While "After the Watershed..." was their first single to dent the ARIA top 150, an earlier album 30 Something (number 138, April 1991), had charted in Australia.

"After the Watershed..." was a non-album track, and peaked at number 11 in the UK in November 1991, and number 21 in Ireland.

The single fared better on the Australian Music Report singles chart where it reached number 97.

The Rolling Stones did not approve of the use of the "goodbye Ruby Tuesday" chorus lyrics or bassline resembling "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction", and successfully sued the band... because they didn't already have enough money, right?  They now receive a co-writing credit on this track.

 

We'll next see Carter the Unstoppable Sex Machine in August.

Number 139 "Silent All These Years" by Tori Amos

Peak: number 128

Peak date: 23 March 1992

Weeks in top 150: 6 weeks

Top 150 chart run: 139-135-132-128-135-139

Weeks on chart: 8 weeks

 

Occasionally, though not very often, I write about an artist I almost need to do no research for... because I know all about them already.  Here's one such example.

 

I was an obsessive fan of Tori Amos, born Myra Ellen Amos, between 1994 and about 2002.  I first became aware of her in early 1992 through her appearance on the cover of one of those free monthly Brashs magazines that were available in-store.  I skimmed the article, saw her mention God a few times, and assumed she was a God botherer (i.e. I wouldn't have liked her music).

When Tori's second Australian single, "Winter" (number 49, June 1992), crept into the lower region of the rage top 60 chart, it fell on a week that I had set my VCR to record the chart, rather than watch it live.  Going through the tape, I didn't bother listening to the song, and remember thinking, "Oh, her."

Fast forward a couple of weeks later, I eventually heard "Winter" in full on one of its weeks in the top 60, and realised that I liked it.  I decided that I was going to record it onto a tape where I kept music videos for songs I liked, the following week... except it fell out of the top 60.  I remember sometimes getting the chorus for "Winter" stuck in my head while walking my dog, but other than that, I pretty much forgot about Tori until "Cornflake Girl" (number 19, March 1994) was released.

Taking a chance with a Brashs gift voucher I had, I bought Tori's second album Under the Pink (number 5, March 1994) soon after hearing "Cornflake Girl", and was blown away by the album.  Less than a week later, I decided to buy Tori's debut album Little Earthquakes (number 14, June 1992), from which "Silent All These Years" is lifted, and liked it even more (at the time... Under the Pink nudges it out slightly for me now).

 

Well, strictly speaking, Little Earthquakes was not Tori's debut.  Her band Y Kant Tori Read (pronounced "why can't Tori read?"), containing future Guns N' Roses drummer Matt Sorum, released a self-titled album in the US in 1988 which was a commercial failure, selling only 7000 copies.  Tori's image for this project was rather different to her later solo work - she looks like a metal chick, complete with big hair, pouty lips and skin-tight spandex pants, and she is wielding a sword.  But Y Kant Tori Read is well worth checking out if you like Tori and have not heard it before, with my personal faves from the album being "Fire on the Side" and "Etienne Trilogy".

My mum bought the sheet music book for Under the Pink for me later in 1994, and it contained an illustrated discography of Tori Amos' releases up until March 1994.  My mission in life then became to track down all of her earlier singles with umpteen non-album track B-sides on them, with interesting titles like "Flying Dutchman" and "Ode to the Banana King (Part One)".  It took almost a year, discovering Record Collector magazine, and having my mum telephone the UK at night to buy out of print limited edition CD singles using her credit card, but I succeeded with that quest.

The first concert I ever went to was Tori's first show in Melbourne on the Under the Pink tour in December 1994.  In fact, the only concerts I have been to have been Tori Amos ones - the others being her two Melbourne shows in May 2005.  I'm not really one for live music, but Tori's live shows are something else, with the setlist varying wildly each night.

As for "Silent All These Years"... it originally appeared as the lead track on the Me and a Gun EP, which was Tori's debut release in the UK, where her solo career was launched, in October 1991.  The single artwork was altered later with the title changed to "Silent All These Years", and the re-issued single peaked at number 51 in the UK in November 1991.

 

Domestically, on the state charts, "Silent All These Years" performed strongest in Victoria/Tasmania, where it reached number 108.

Following further singles "China" (not released in Australia), "Winter" and "Crucify" (number 83, August 1992), "Silent All These Years" was re-issued as a single in the UK (but not Australia), with new artwork and B-sides, in August 1992.  The re-released single reached a new peak of number 26 in the UK in August 1992.

 

"Silent All These Years" was Tori's debut solo single in her native US, and did not dent the Billboard Hot 100 upon its original release, but reached number 27 on the Alternative Airplay chart in May 1992.  The single was re-issued in 1997, to raise funds for RAINN - the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network anti sexual-assault organisation Tori was involved in setting up.  The 1997 release of "Silent All These Years" peaked at number 65 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in May 1997.

While I like "Silent All These Years", particularly the "years go by, will I still be waiting for somebody else to understand..." middle-8 section, it's not among my top-tier Tori tracks.  The partly animated video, though, is quite striking.

We shall next see Tori in 1994.

 

 

Number 141 "My Girl" by The Temptations (re-issue)

Peak: number 104

Peak date: 13 April 1992

Weeks in top 150: 12 weeks

Top 150 chart run: 141-137-136-136-124-115-104-121-126-110-130-115

 

Originally released in 1964, The Temptations' "My Girl" was re-released as a single as the title track of the late 1991 movie My Girl, starring Macaulay Culkin.  The accompanying soundtrack album peaked at number 4 in Australia in July 1992.  I assume, therefore, that the film had a later cinematic release here.

The 1992 release of "My Girl" peaked at number 2 in the UK in February 1992, number 2 in Ireland, and number 66 in Germany in March 1992.

 

 

Number 147 "Sweetheart" by Died Pretty

Peak: number 129

Peak date: 6 April 1992

Weeks in top 150: 7 weeks 

Top 150 chart run: 147-150-146-(out for 1 week)-130-129-141-140

Weeks on chart: 11 weeks

 

We last saw Australian band Died Pretty in 1991.

 

"Sweetheart" was the third and final single lifted from the band's fourth studio album Doughboy Hollow (number 24, September 1991).

 

On the state charts, "Sweetheart" performed strongest in South Australia/Northern Territory, where it reached number 99.

 

We'll next see Died Pretty in 1994.

  

 

Bubbling WAY down under:

Number 161 “Shut ’em Down” by Public Enemy

Peak: number 161

Peak date: 2 March 1992

Weeks on chart: 3 weeks 

American hip-hop group Public Enemy formed in New York in 1985.  Between 1990 and 1998, they placed nine singles on the ARIA top 100, although only two of those peaked within the top 50; namely, "Give It Up" (number 16, September 1994) and "He Got Game" (number 25, June 1998).  Despite the lack of hits in Australia, a boy two years below me at my small primary school wore a Public Enemy t-shirt to school on a couple of occasions in 1990!

“Shut ’em Down” was issued as the second single from Public Enemy’s fourth studio album, Apocalypse 91… The Enemy Strikes Black (number 11, October 1991), following “Can’t Truss It” (number 55, November 1991).  Internationally, the single peaked at number 21 in the UK in January 1992, and number 30 in New Zealand in March 1992.  The song registered on several of the US Billboard genre-specific charts, reaching number 33 on the Dance Singles Sales chart in February 1992, number 26 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart in March 1992, number 1 on the Hot Rap Songs chart in March 1992, and number 16 on the Dance Club Songs chart in April 1992.

Locally, “ Shut ’em Down” was most popular in Western Australia, where it reached number 155.

We will next see Public Enemy in May 1992.

Number 165 "Driven by You" by Brian May

Peak: number 162

Peak date: 9 March 1992

Weeks on chart: 7 weeks

 

Queen's guitarist Brian May launched his solo career in 1983 with the Brian May + Friends mini-album, though only one single, "Star Fleet", which was released in Australia in February 1984 but did not chart, was issued from it.

 

"Driven by You" was the first single from Brian's first solo album proper, Back to the Light (number 94, December 1992).  Coincidentally, the single was released in the UK the day after Queen frontman Freddie Mercury's death.

Internationally, "Driven by You" peaked at number 6 in the UK in December 1991, number 14 in Ireland in December 1991, number 10 in the Netherlands in February 1992, number 35 in the Flanders region of Belgium in May 1992, and number 70 in Canada in April 1993.

Within Australia, "Driven by You" was most popular in Western Australia, where it reached number 122.

Brian would score a hit in Australia - his only solo one - with his next release, "Too Much Love Will Kill You" (number 18, November 1992); a song he co-wrote but was originally recorded by Queen in 1988 for possible inclusion on The Miracle (number 4, June 1989).

We shall next see Brian in 1993.

 

 

Number 178 "Sex with Love" by Lee Aaron

Peak: number 164

Peak date: 6 April 1992

Weeks on chart: 7 weeks

 

Canadian rock chick Lee Aaron last paid us a visit in 1991.  "Sex with Love" was the lead single from her sixth studio album Some Girls Do (number 189, April 1992).

 

Internationally, "Sex with Love" peaked at number 55 in Canada in October 1991.

 

In Australia, "Sex with Love" was most popular in South Australia/Northern Territory, where it reached number 137 on the state chart.

 

This would be Lee's final single to chart in Australia.

 

 

Number 184 "Groove On" by Yo Yo Honey

Peak: number 184

Peak date: 2 March 1992

Weeks on chart: 2 weeks

 

Yo Yo Honey were a UK R&B/Soul band, containing Anna Ross, Mani Shoniwa, and Anita Jarrett on vocals.  "Groove On" was their debut single, lifted from their only album Voodoo Soul (number 173, October 1992).

 

Internationally, "Groove On" peaked at number 108 (number 83 on the compressed chart) in the UK in November 1991, and number 51 in the Netherlands in February 1992.

 

Locally, "Groove On" performed strongest in New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory, where it reached number 168 on the state chart.

 

This was Yo Yo Honey's only charting single in Australia.  I cannot find any details about it, but vocalist Anita Jarrett has apparently since passed away.

 

"Groove On" received a second lease of life in 1997, where a remixed version peaked at number 81 (number 77 on the compressed chart) in the UK in July 1997.

 

 

Next week (9 March): Another four top 150 debuts, plus three bubbling WAY down under entries.

 

< Previous week: 24 February 1992                                     Next week: 9 March 1992 >

Kent Music Report beyond the top 100: 28 February 1983

The two new entries bubbling under the top 100 this week in 1983 are, in some ways, from a different time, with one being a single originally released in 1980, and the other portraying the singer with a prominent 70s moustache in the music video.  Shall we take a look?

 

Joan Jett: she don't give a damn about her bad chart positions.

 

Beyond the top 100:

 

 

Position 9 "Be My Lady" by Jefferson Starship

Highest rank: 2nd

Peak date: 14 March 1983

Weeks on below list: 3 weeks

I have written about Starship and Jefferson Airplane previously.  Under the Jefferson Starship name, the group only scored one Australian top 100 single, with "Jane" (number 72, March 1980).

"Be My Lady" was the lead single from Jefferson Starship's seventh studio album Winds of Change.  Internationally, the single peaked at number 28 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in December 1982.

I hadn't heard this one before.  Singer Mickey Thomas is sporting a striking moustache in the video.

Position 11 "Bad Reputation" by Joan Jett & The Blackhearts

Highest rank: 11th

Peak date: 28 February 1983

Weeks on below list: 1 week

American rock singer Joan Jett and her band The Blackhearts burst onto the Australian chart in 1982 with their version of "I Love Rock 'n' Roll" (number 1, May 1982).  They followed it up with further hits "Crimson and Clover" (number 6, August 1982) and "Do You Wanna Touch Me (Oh Yeah)" (number 18, November 1982).

"Bad Reputation" was the title track of Joan's 1980 debut album Bad Reputation (number 45, December 1982), which was released under the name of just Joan Jett.  Previous single "Do You Wanna Touch Me..." was also lifted from this album - I assume the record company decided to promote this earlier release to cash in on Joan's newfound success.

"Bad Reputation" does not appear to have charted anywhere else.

Joan would join us next in 1989.

 

Next week (7 March): Three new singles bubbling under the top 100.

< Previous post: 14 February 1983                                       Next week: 7 March 1983 >

Week commencing 24 February 1992

Once again I cannot identify a common theme among this week in 1992's new entries peaking outside the top 100, other than they're all a bit 'strange' in some way.  Have a listen and see what you think.

 

Kylie Minogue: 1 Unlimited

 

Top 150 debuts:

 

Number 113 "Everyday Sunshine" by Fishbone

Peak: number 112

Peak date: 9 March 1992

Weeks in top 150: 5 weeks

Top 150 chart run: 113-124-112-138-135

 

We saw Fishbone last week, and here they are again with their second and final ARIA top 150 single, from the band's third studio album The Reality of My Surroundings (number 136, July 1991).

 

Internationally, "Everyday Sunshine" peaked at number 60 in the UK in August 1992.  It also reached number 14 on the US Billboard Alternative Airplay chart in July 1991.

 

 

Number 139 "Boys Will Be Boys" by Osmond Boys

Peak: number 132

Peak date: 9 March 1992

Weeks in top 150: 6 weeks

Top 150 chart run: 139-133-132-142-148-143

 

Osmond Boys were the vocal quartet Michael, Douglas, Nathan and David Osmond, who were all sons of Alan Osmond from the band The Osmonds.  To my surprise, they do not currently have a Wikipedia page.

"Boys Will Be Boys" was lifted from the group's second album Boysterous, which was issued locally in February 1992, but missed the ARIA top 150 albums chart.

Internationally, "Boys Will Be Boys" peaked at number 65 in the UK in November 1991.

Another single from Boysterous, "Second Generation", was released in Australia in July 1992 but missed the top 150.

 

 

Number 147 "A Midlife's Tale (Get It Back Now)" by My Friend the Chocolate Cake

Peak: number 134

Peak date: 2 March 1992

Weeks in top 150: 7 weeks

Chart run: 147-134-136-143-147-141-150 

Weeks on chart: 7 weeks

 

Formed in Melbourne in 1989, Australian band My Friend the Chocolate Cake never landed a top 100 single in Australia, though placed three albums in the top 100.

 

"A Midlife's Tale (Get It Back Now)", the band's debut single, was lifted from their first album My Friend the Chocolate Cake (number 109, April 1992).

 

On the state charts, "A Midlife's Tale..." was most popular in Victoria/Tasmania, where it reached number 106.

 

Listening to this track for the first time as I write this, there's something distinctly 'Melbourne'-sounding about the instrumentation.  It reminds me a little bit of acoustic band Things of Stone & Wood, musically.  I don't mind the song.

While My Friend the Chocolate Cake would not be troubling the ARIA top 100 with their single releases, we will see them bubble under a number of times over the coming years, with the next occasion being in 1994.

 

 

Number 148 "The Marrickville Mauler" by Leon K and The Knockouts

Peak: number 148

Peak date: 24 February 1992

Weeks in top 150: 1 week

Top 150 chart run: 148

 

Before I look up any information about this release, I must tell you that I really do not know what to expect, given the artist name and song title...

 

As I half-suspected, this track is by an Australian artist, was a one-off release, and is not available to listen to anywhere online.  Drat!

 

The "Marrickville mauler" in question is Australian boxer Jeff Fenech.

 

One person on discogs owns the CD single, but their collection is not listed publicly, so I am unable to message them to request a rip of this track.  There is a copy of the CD single listed for sale on eBay for $12.50, but to be honest, I'm not sure that it's worth that just to hear this 'song'.  But maybe I will relent...

 

Here's the single sleeve.

 

 

Bubbling WAY down under:

Number 168 "I'll Get By" by Eddie Money

Peak: number 168

Peak date: 24 February 1992

Weeks on chart: 1 week

We last saw Eddie Money in 1990.

"I'll Get By" was issued as the second single from Eddie's eighth studio album Right Here (number 160, September 1991).  It followed "Heaven in the Back Seat", which was released locally in September 1991 but failed to chart.

Internationally, "I'll Get By" peaked at number 21 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in March 1992, and at number 15 in Canada.

Despite listening to American Top 40 in early 1992, I do not recall hearing this one before.  Of note is that Eddie's locks have been trimmed for the music video.

 

Within Australia, "I'll Get By" performed strongest in New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory, where it reached number 159.

 

This was Eddie's last single to chart in Australia.

Number 174 "I Guess I Like It Like That" by Kylie Minogue

Peak: number 174

Peak date: 24 February 1992

Weeks on chart: 1 week

Australian pop princess Kylie Minogue needs no introduction.  At this point in 1992, four and a half years into her recording career, Kylie had notched up 15 hits on the Australian singles chart, with all of those making the top 25.

Kylie was signed to Pete Waterman's PWL label in the UK, who were at this point licensing dance tracks from continental Europe for release in the UK; Dutch techno act 2 Unlimited's "Get Ready for This" (number 2, April 1992) being one of those.  "I Guess I Like It Like That", an album track from Kylie's fourth album Let's Get To It (number 13, December 1991), blatantly plagiarises "Get Ready for This".  I assume that a deal was made whereby Pete could rip off their song for a Kylie track in exchange for a UK distribution deal.  Of course, Kylie's take on the track is inferior to the 2 Unlimited original.

"I Guess I Like It Like That" was listed as the double A-side on Kylie's "If You Were with Me Now" (number 23, March 1992) single on the ARIA chart, despite not being actually listed as such on the single sleeve.  Perhaps the decision to list the single as a double A-side was because a 12" vinyl single with "I Guess I Like It Like That" as the A-side, and "If You Were with Me Now" on side B, was released commercially in Australia.  But it is this vinyl single, I assume, that is responsible for "I Guess I Like It Like That" charting in its own right.  A little confusing, hey?

In my mind, vinyl was pretty much dead in Australia as a commercial format by early 1991, with The Simpsons' "Do the Bartman" (number 1, March 1991) being the first number one single in Australia that was not available on 7" vinyl.  The exception being that vinyl was still a format used by DJ's.  Given vinyl's waning popularity in Australia at the time, I guess it's not bad that "I Guess I Like It Like That", which was available only on the 12" format, registered a chart placing.

On the state charts, "I Guess I Like It Like That" performed strongest in Western Australia, where it reached number 150.  As the single was not issued commercially anywhere else, it only charted in Australia.

Kylie's next single to miss the ARIA top 100 would not come until 2011; but, given that my interest in chart music falls off a cliff by the start of the 2000s, I probably won't be recapping those charts in 2042 (!).

I shouldn't miss this opportunity to mention one of my favourite Kylie songs, "Finer Feelings" (number 60, June 1992), was her first proper-single flop in Australia, undeservedly.  But hey, it's the underappreciated gems that are manna for the true music fans, right?

Next week (2 March): Owing to 1992 being a leap year, my 1992 chart recaps will be posted on a Thursday from now on.  Next week, there are four top 150 debuts, and four bubbling WAY down under entries.

< Previous week: 17 February 1992                                      Next week: 2 March 1992 >

Week commencing 17 February 1992

There is no common thread linking this week in 1992's debuts peaking outside the top 100, so let's just dive straight in.

 

Dire Straits really were in 'dire straits' with their chart position for their latest single.

 

Top 150 debuts:

 

Number 118 "On Every Street" by Dire Straits

Peak: number 109

Peak date: 24 February 1992

Weeks in top 150: 4 weeks 

Top 150 chart run: 118-109-113-123

 

Between 1978 and 1991, English rock band Dire Straits placed 13 singles on the Australian chart, with the Twisting by the Pool EP (number 2, February 1983) being their highest-peaking hit. 

"On Every Street" was the title track from the band's sixth and final studio album On Every Street (number 1, September 1991).  It followed "Calling Elvis" (number 8, September 1991) and "Heavy Fuel" (number 26, December 1991).

 

Internationally, "On Every Street" peaked at number 42 in the UK in February 1992, number 42 in the Netherlands in March 1992, and number 23 in France in April 1992.

 

The single performed stronger on the Australian Music Report singles chart, where it reached number 80.

This would be Dire Straits' only single to peak in the 101-150 region of the ARIA singles chart, although (spoiler alert) they had a 1986 single that made the Kent Music Report beyond the top 100 list.

I don't recall hearing this one before.  It takes over three minutes to reach its crescendo, which probably isn't a great thing for a commercial single.

 

 

Number 122 "In My Life" by Bette Midler

Peak: number 107

Peak date: 2 March 1992

Weeks in top 150: 6 weeks

Chart run: 122-115-107-109-120-117

Weeks on chart: 6 weeks

 

We last saw American singer and actress Bette Midler in 1991. 

"In My Life" was the second and final single lifted from the For the Boys soundtrack (number 44, February 1992); the movie for which Bette also played a starring role in.  The song is a cover version of a track originally recorded by The Beatles in 1965.  It followed "Every Road Leads Back to You" (number 74, February 1992).

 

While I cannot find evidence of "In My Life" charting on any other sales-based chart, it did reach number 20 on the US Billboard Adult Contemporary chart in May 1992.

 

Within Australia, "In My Life" was most popular in Queensland, where it reached number 68.

We'll next see Bette in 1995.

 

 

Number 125 "So Real" by Love Decade

Peak: number 121

Peak date: 9 March 1992

Weeks in top 150: 7 weeks 

Top 150 chart run: 125-122-126-121-126-131-123

English electronic dance group Love Decade formed in 1991, and "So Real" was their second single, though their first Australian release.  It was the group's only release to trouble the ARIA top 150.

Internationally, "Love Decade" peaked at number 14 in the UK in November 1991, becoming their biggest hit there.  It also reached number 25 in Ireland in December 1991.

 

I have heard this one before, though wouldn't have known it at the time.

 

 

Number 135 "Sunless Saturday" by Fishbone

Peak: number 135

Peak date: 17 February 1992

Weeks in top 150: 1 week

Top 150 chart run: 135

 

American rock band Fishbone formed in 1979.  "Sunless Saturday" was issued as a single locally at the start of July 1991, though somehow took seven and a half months to register a place in the top 150 - for one week only, at that.  It was the band's first release to chart in Australia.

 

"Sunless Saturday" is lifted from the band's third studio album The Reality of My Surroundings (number 136, July 1991).

 

I cannot find evidence of this single charting elsewhere, other than on the US Billboard Alternative Airplay chart, where it reached number 7 in May 1991.

 

We shall see Fishbone again next week!

Number 140 "Runaway Bay" by Ghostwriters

Peak: number 117

Peak date: 9 March 1992

Weeks in top 150: 7 weeks

Top 150 chart run: 140-120-131-117-141-140-144

 

Australian band Ghostwriters formed in 1990, as essentially a side project between Midnight Oil's drummer Rob Hirst and Hoodoo Gurus' bassist Richard Grossman.  Neither artist was credited on the liner notes for their debut album Ghostwriters (number 96, January 1992), however, given they wished to initially remain anonymous.  Session musicians on the album were credited by their first name and surname initial.

Ghostwriters' debut single "...Someone's Singing New York New York" (number 29, December 1991) dented the ARIA top 30.  It would become their only single to enter the top 100.

 

We shall next see Ghostwriters in June.

 

 

Number 147 "Cruelest Plague" by Helvelln

Peak: number 118

Peak date: 9 March 1992

Weeks in top 150: 8 weeks 

Top 150 chart run: 147-143-130-118-125-125-138-142

Sometimes, the timing of my posts is quite lucky.  The (audio only) video embedded below for this track was uploaded to YouTube just a month ago - without this, I wouldn't be able to hear this track or share it with you.

Helvelln were an Australian band, composed of members Andy Papadopoulos, Jeremy Gronow, and Nick Green.  They released just one album Helvelln (number 136, September 1991), from which this track is lifted.  While it's not the sort of music I'd normally listen to, I didn't mind this one.  It would be the band's only ARIA top 150 single.

A reader has kindly informed me that Helvelln won the national Australian University band competition in 1991, and the prize was a recording session, from which "Cruelest Plague" resulted.

 

 

Number 150 "The Way I Feel About You" by Karyn White

Peak: number 150

Peak date: 17 February 1992

Weeks in top 150: 1 week

Top 150 chart run: 150

Weeks on chart: 5 weeks

 

We last saw American singer Karyn White in her own right in 1989, and as a featured artist in 1991.

"The Way I Feel About You" was the second single lifted from Karyn's second album Ritual of Love (number 152, October 1991).  It followed "Romantic" (number 68, October 1991), which topped the US Billboard Hot 100 in November 1991, and was Karyn's only ARIA top 100 entry.

 

Internationally, "The Way I Feel About You" peaked at number 65 in the UK in January 1992, number 12 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in February 1992, and number 47 in New Zealand in March 1992.

 

Within Australia, "The Way I Feel About You" was most successful in New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory, where it reached number 136.

Karyn will join us for one last visit in 1994.

  

Bubbling WAY down under:

 

Number 162 "Sweet Soul Music" by London Boys

Peak: number 152

Peak date: 2 March 1992

Weeks on chart: 5 weeks

We last saw London Boys in 1989.

 

"Sweet Soul Music", credited to Soul Kitchen featuring London Boys in some markets, was the title track from London Boys' second album Sweet Soul Music, which was released in Australia in February 1992 but did not chart.

 

Internationally, "Sweet Soul Music" peaked at number 11 in Austria in September 1991, and number 81 in Germany in October 1991.

 

Domestically, "Sweet Soul Music" was most successful in Victoria/Tasmania, where it reached number 141.

This was London Boys' last release to chart in Australia.

Number 182 "I Can't Wait" by Stevie Nicks (1992 release)

Peak: number 182

Peak date: 17 February 1992

Weeks on chart: 1 week

This single originally peaked at number 20 in February 1986 and spent 18 weeks in the top 100.

 

We last saw American singer-songwriter Stevie Nicks in 1981.

 

"I Can't Wait" was originally released in Australia in December 1985, as the lead single from Stevie's third solo album Rock a Little (number 5, June 1986).  The single appears to have been issued in Australia before other countries, and we even received an exclusive, earlier edit of the music video, which I have embedded as the second video below, as it is blocked on YouTube.   In other markets, "Talk to Me" (number 22, April 1986) was released as the first Rock a Little single.

"I Can't Wait" was re-issued in Europe in late 1991 as the second single from Stevie's first compilation album Timespace - The Best of Stevie Nicks (number 13, December 1991) - an album I toyed with buying at the time, but did not.  The re-issue of "I Can't Wait" peaked at number 47 in the UK in November 1991, bettering its original peak there of number 54 in February 1986.

 

"I Can't Wait" received a re-release in Australia in January 1992, as the follow-up to "Sometimes It's a Bitch" (number 18, November 1991).  The 1992 issue of the single performed strongest in New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory, where it reached number 163.

One of my favourite Stevie quotes is regarding the "I Can't Wait" music video.  Posting it here in full for you: "I look at that video, I look at my eyes, and I say to myself, 'Could you have laid off the pot, the coke and the tequila for three days, so you could have looked a little better?  It just makes me want to go back into that video and stab myself."

We shall next see Stevie on her own in 1994, but before then, she'll appear as a featured artist in July 1992.

The Australian edit of the "I Can't Wait" music video:

Number 184 "My Town" by Glass Tiger featuring Rod Stewart

Peak: number 184

Peak date: 17 February 1992

Weeks on chart: 2 weeks

We last saw Canadian band Glass Tiger in 1989.

"My Town" was the second single issued in Australia from Glass Tiger's third, and final, studio album Simple Mission, which was released in Australia in August 1991 but failed to chart.  It followed the single "Animal Heart", released locally in July 1991, which also did not chart.  On this track, the band teamed up with Rod Stewart - although he does not appear in the music video, and does not perform on the version of the track used in the video!  You can hear the version of "My Town" featuring Rod here.

 

Internationally, "My Town" peaked at number 8 in Canada in November 1991, number 33 in the UK in November 1991, and number 51 in Germany in January 1992.

In Australia, "My Town" performed strongest in Western Australia, where it reached number 153.

 

This would be Glass Tiger's last charting release in Australia.  Rod will join us again in August 1992.

Next week (24 February): Four top 150 debuts, and two bubbling WAY down under entries.

< Previous week: 10 February 1992                                   Next week: 24 February 1992 >

Kent Music Report beyond the top 100: 14 February 1983

One thing this week in 1983's new entries bubbling under the top 100 have in common is that it would be the last time we see the artists in question in this region of the chart.  Shall we take a look?

 

Roxy Music: there wouldn't be more after this one on the Australian chart.

 

 

Beyond the top 100:

 

 

Position 6 "Take a Chance with Me" by Roxy Music

Highest rank: 6th

Peak date: 14 February 1983

Weeks on below list: 1 week

Between 1972 and 1982, English band Roxy Music placed ten singles on the Australian top 100 chart, with their version of John Lennon's "Jealous Guy" going all the way to number one for four weeks in May-June 1981.

"Take a Chance with Me" was the third and final single lifted from the band's eighth and last studio album Avalon (number 1, July 1982).  It followed "More Than This" (number 6, July 1982) and "Avalon" (number 22, October 1982).

Internationally, "Take a Chance with Me" peaked at number 5 in Ireland in September 1982, number 26 in the UK in October 1982, number 20 in the Netherlands in October 1982, number 12 in the Flanders region of Belgium in October 1982, and number 68 in Germany in November 1982.

 

Roxy Music split in 1983.  We will see Roxy Music front man Bryan Ferry bubble under in 1986, and have seen him do so in 1989.

Position 11 "Angry Words" by Glenn Shorrock

Highest rank: 11th

Peak date: 14 February 1983

Weeks on below list: 1 week

 

Australian singer Glenn Shorrock is best known for fronting Little River Band during their most commercially-successful period, singing lead on their biggest hit "Help Is on the Way" (number 1, June 1977).  While still part of the band, Glenn landed a solo hit in 1979 with "Dream Lover" (number 8, June 1979).  He quit Little River Band in February 1982, though returned in 1988.

"Angry Words" was the second and final single from Glenn's solo debut album Villain of the Peace (number 32, November 1982).  It followed "Rock 'N' Roll Soldier" (number 39, November 1982).

Glenn would land another solo top 10 hit later in 1983 with the Australia's Cup-inspired "We're Coming to Get You" (number 6, October 1983).

 

Next post (28 February): Two new singles bubbling under the top 100.

< Previous post: 17 January 1983                                       Next post: 28 February 1983 >