This week forty years ago, there was only one single bubbling under the Australian top 100 chart. Let's take a look at it.
The Belle Stars: seven members, and two Australian hits seven years apart.
Beyond the top 100:
Position 7 "Iko Iko" by The Belle Stars
Highest rank: 5th
Peak date: 20 September 1982
Weeks on below list: 2 weeks
This single peaked at number 7 in Australia in June 1989 when re-released, spending 25 weeks on the chart.
British all-female band The Belle Stars formed from the remnants of The Bodysnatchers in 1980. The seven-piece band were signed to Stiff Records, who had Madness, Kirsty MacColl and Elvis Costello on their roster, among others. The band's debut single "Hiawatha" was released in 1981, but The Belle Stars did not receive their first taste of chart success until their version of James "Sugar Boy" Crawford and His Cane Cutters' "Jock-A-Mo" from 1953, re-titled "Iko Iko", crept into the UK top 40 in June 1982, peaking at number 35 during the same month. The 1982 release of "Iko Iko" also peaked at number 35 in New Zealand in August 1982.
The Belle Stars' real commercial breakthrough came, however, with their next single - another cover version - "The Clapping Song", which peaked at number 11 in the UK in August 1982. "The Clapping Song" did even better in Australia, reaching number 4 in February 1983.
Another cover, "Mockingbird", followed, before the group finally landed a hit with an original composition, "Sign of the Times". "Sign of the Times" became The Belle Stars' biggest hit in their homeland, peaking at number 3 in the UK in February 1983. In Australia, "Sign of the Times" was only a minor hit, reaching number 45 in June 1983.
Seeming to always prefer the flops, my favourite Belle Stars tracks are two singles that did just that: "The Entertainer" (not released in Australia, but peaked at number 95 in the UK in November 1983) and "World Domination" (released locally in September 1986, did not chart). The group had been pared back to a trio by the time of "World Domination", which was their final release of new material. The Belle Stars split soon afterwards.
During their tenure, The Belle Stars only released one album The Belle Stars (number 76, April 1983). Although somewhat 'iconic', Stiff Records are now kind of known for... stiffing their artists, and it looks like that happened with The Belle Stars career.
"Iko Iko" found a second lease of life when it was used in the opening scene for the 1988 movie Rain Man, starring Tom Cruise and Dustin Hoffman. The track appeared on the soundtrack for the movie, and was given a single release. A music video was also filmed to promote the re-issue; something that had not happened for the 1982 release of the single. However, only the band's lead singer Jennie Matthias appears in the 1989 video for "Iko Iko" (embedded below), alongside four female backing dancers.
Interestingly, the few TV performances of "Iko Iko" I could find on YouTube for the 1982 release were all actually live. The one I've linked here is my favourite.
The 1989 release of "Iko Iko" was a smash hit in Australia, peaking at number 7 in June 1989. On the state charts, "Iko Iko" was most popular in Western Australia, where it reached number 4. Interestingly, the single peaked within the top 10 on all of the ARIA state charts, other than South Australia/Northern Territory, where it only reached number 32. I wonder what happened there.
Internationally, "Iko Iko" peaked at number 14 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in May 1989, number 6 in Switzerland in May 1989, number 13 in Austria in June 1989, number 30 in Germany in June 1989, number 98 in the UK in June 1989, and number 5 in New Zealand in June 1989.
I may have mentioned before in my posts that, despite being a music video aficionado, I am really not a movie buff at all. I hadn't seen Rain Man until quite recently, catching a repeat of it on TV.
While I like The Belle Stars' rendition of "Iko Iko", one thing that bugs me slightly about it is that they sing (at least, to my ears) "check-a-mo fee-na-nay", rather than "jock-a-mo", which is what all of the online lyrics have. I cannot, for the life of me, hear "jock"!
Next post (11 October): Due to all of the bubbling under singles eventually making their way into the top 100 over the next four weeks, there will not be another 1982 post until 11 October, when there are two new entries. See you then.
Two of the four new top 150 entries from this week in 1991 had recurring top 150 chart runs, and all five new songs debuting this week are from artists we have not encountered before. Shall we take a look?
Blur: there was no way into the ARIA top 100 for them until 1994.
Top 150 debuts:
Number 115 "7 Ways to Love" by Cola Boy
Peak: number 115
Peak date: 2 September 1991
Weeks in top 150: 5 weeks
Top 150 chart run: 115-127-136-136-132
Cola Boy were English duo Janey Lee Grace and Andrew Midgley. Andrew had worked with the two male members of Saint Etienne in the late 1980s, and "7 Ways to Love" was originally recorded with Saint Etienne vocalist Sarah Cracknell singing lead on its white label release. However, as Sarah's contract with another label stipulated that she was not to sing on non-Saint Etienne releases, the track was re-recorded with her friend Janey for its commercial release. Continuing the Saint Etienne connection, Cola Boy were managed by Sarah's mother.
Internationally, "7 Ways to Love" peaked at number 8 in the UK in July 1991, number 7 in Ireland in July 1991, number 40 in the Netherlands in August 1991, number 16 in Switzerland in September 1991, and number 31 in the Flanders region of Belgium in September 1991.
I don't recall hearing "7 Ways to Love" at the time, although it has a riff which is very similar to a song we'll see in 1995.
Cola Boy released a second single in Europe, "He Is Cola", but it missed the UK top 75. "He Is Cola" was not issued in Australia.
While we won't see Cola Boy again, Saint Etienne will make their debut on the ARIA singles chart in October 1991.
Number 123 "Pandora's Box" by Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (1st pressing)
Peak: number 123 (original release)
Peak date: 2 September 1991 (original release)
Weeks in top 150: 8 weeks (September-October 1991 chart run); 22 weeks (September-October 1991 and December 1991-March 1992 chart runs combined)
Top 150 chart run: 123-135-126-133-129-137-135-126
Re-entered 16 December 1991: 115-(chart repeated for 2 week Xmas break)-81-53-67-74-63-60-57-63-70-88-97
Weeks on chart: 24 weeks
This single peaked at number 53 on 13 January 1992 following its second release.
English electronic band Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark - OMD for short - formed in Wirral in 1978. Prior to this point in 1991, the band had placed 11 singles on the Australian chart, dating back to "Enola Gay" (number 47, May 1981) in 1981. OMD's biggest hit in Australia was "If You Leave" (number 15, August 1986).
By 1991, OMD's lead singer and front man Andy McCluskey was the only original member left in the band, and the only one from their most commercially-successful period in the mid-1980s who remained.
OMD's eighth studio album Sugar Tax (number 96, July 1991) was the band's first studio release since The Pacific Age (number 36, February 1987) in 1986. In the interim, the compilation album The Best of OMD (number 42, April 1988) was released. "Pandora's Box" was the second single from Sugar Tax, following "Sailing on the Seven Seas" (number 77, June 1991).
Interestingly, "Sailing on the Seven Seas" was much bigger in Western Australia than elsewhere in Australia, peaking at number 5 on the Western Australia state chart. In contrast, the highest "Sailing on the Seven Seas" reached on any of the other state charts was number 70 in New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory. It was similar for the Sugar Tax album, which peaked at number 28 in Western Australia, but missed the top 100 on the remaining four state charts.
"Pandora's Box" was initially issued in Australia as a CD single with three remixes of the title track, and the B-side "All She Wants Is Everything". It is this release that charted in September-October 1991, spending 8 weeks in the top 150. A second pressing of the single, containing three previous hits - "If You Leave", "We Love You" (number 18, February 1987), and "Locomotion" (number 30, September 1984) - effectively a mini-Greatest Hits, was released in Australia in December 1991.
The second pressing of the "Pandora's Box" single was marketed with 'includes bonus hits' and 'over 23 minutes of music' on the front cover. This marketing tactic seemed to work, and the single re-entered the top 150 in December 1991, climbing to a peak of number 53 the following month. Whether people bought the re-packaged single for "Pandora's Box" or the three older hits... we just don't know.
On the ARIA state charts, "Pandora's Box" performed strongest in New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory, where it reached number 33. The single peaked in 1992 in all states except Western Australia, where it reached number 48 in September 1991 upon the single's original release.
Internationally, "Pandora's Box" peaked at number 7 in the UK in July 1991, number 19 in Ireland in August 1991, number 11 in Germany in September 1991, number 7 in Sweden in September 1991, number 17 in the Flanders region of Belgium in October 1991, number 7 in Austria in November 1991, and number 49 in France in February 1992.
OMD will next join us in 1993.
Number 133 "How Can I Ease the Pain" by Lisa Fischer
Peak: number 117
Peak date: 7 October 1991
Weeks in top 150: 7 weeks
Top 150 chart run: 133-132-125-121-128-117-145
American singer-songwriter Lisa Fischer started her recording career as a backing singer, working with artists such as Billy Ocean, Luther Vandross, and Chaka Khan. She also released the single "On the Upside", under the stage name of Xēna, in 1984.
"How Can I Ease the Pain" was the lead single from Lisa's debut - and only, to date - album So Intense, which was released in Australia in July 1991, but missed the top 150. "How Can I Ease the Pain" was released in Australia on 8 July 1991, taking almost two months to dent the top 150.
In Lisa's native US, "How Can I Ease the Pain" peaked at number 11 on the Billboard Hot 100 in July 1991. The single also topped the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart for two weeks, in June 1991, for what that is worth.
I must have heard "How Can I Ease the Pain" on American Top 40 in 1991, but have no recollection of it. I'm not a huge fan of slow R&B jams such as this - they generally tend to bore me.
Lisa released a second single in Australia, "Save Me", in October 1991, but it missed the top 150.
Number 146 "There's No Other Way" by Blur
Peak: number 113
Peak date: 9 September 1991
Weeks in top 150: 16 weeks
Top 150 chart run: 146-113-127-127-135-(out for 2 weeks)-147-150
Re-entered 24 February 1992: 136-129-120-135-134-(out for 3 weeks)-135-143-150-141
Weeks on chart: 25 weeks
The first thing that springs to mind when I think of Blur's "There's No Other Way" is lead singer Damon Albarn's bowl haircut in the music video. The song was the English band's first release in Australia, although it was the second in their homeland, following "She's So High"/"I Know" in 1990. Both singles were lifted from Blur's debut album Leisure (number 142, April 1992).
Blur would have to wait until 1994 for their commercial breakthrough in Australia, when "Girls & Boys" peaked at number 19 in June 1994. In the interim, the band placed four singles on the Australian chart that peaked outside the top 100, and we shall see those over the next few years.
"There's No Other Way" had an interesting chart run in Australia, with its top 150 run split into four separate parts - none lasting longer than 5 weeks consecutively - over the span of eight months. The single was still charting in May 1992, almost a year after its Australian release date on 1 July 1991.
On the state charts, "There's No Other Way" performed strongest in South Australia/Northern Territory, where it reached number 85. The single peaked in September 1991 on all state charts except Victoria/Tasmania, where it did not peak until March 1992, reaching number 88. The late Victoria/Tasmania peak resulted in the single re-entering the national top 150 in February 1992, climbing back up to number 120.
In an interesting discrepancy between ARIA and the Australian Music Report, "There's No Other Way" peaked at number 55 on the latter's single chart - 58 places higher than ARIA, although did not enter the AMR top 100 until April 1992.
Internationally, "There's No Other Way" peaked at number 8 in the UK in May 1991, number 19 in Ireland in May 1991, and number 82 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in January 1992.
I've got a feeling I caught the "There's No Other Way" music video on rage in 1991, but was not consciously aware of Blur until 1994.
Number 168 "Don't Fight It, Feel It" by Primal Scream featuring Denise Johnson
Peak: number 158
Peak date: 30 September 1991
Weeks on chart: 2 weeks
Scottish band Primal Scream formed in Glasgow in 1982. Their debut Australian release, the "Loaded" single backed with "Come Together", which did not chart, would not happen until 1991, however. That single was released on EMI, while another single, "Higher Than the Sun", was released in Australia at the same time on Shock Records, as was their third release, the "Don't Fight It, Feel It" single. To confuse matters further, the band's next Australian single, the Dixie-Narco EP (number 91, May 1992), containing "Movin' on Up", was initially issued on Shock Records in February 1992, before a Sony pressing came out two months later! Their later releases would be distributed in Australia through Sony Records.
"Don't Fight It, Feel It" features Denise Johnson, who frequently worked with the band in the 90s, on vocals. Internationally, the single peaked at number 41 in the UK in August 1991.
In Australia, "Don't Fight It, Feel It" was most popular in Western Australia, where it reached number 119.
Sadly, Denise Johnson passed away in July 2020, aged 56.
This week in 1981, there was only one new single bubbling under the top 100 that did not eventually break through into the top 100. Let's take a look at it.
Serious Young Insects did not 'bug' the top 100 with this track.
Beyond the top 100:
Position 13 "Trouble Understanding Words" by Serious Young Insects
Highest rank: 1st
Peak date: 7 September 1981
Weeks on below list: 6 weeks
Melbourne band Serious Young Insects formed in 1980. The group consisted of Peter Farnan - who went on to form Boom Crash Opera - on vocals and guitar, Michael Vallance on vocals and bass guitar, and Mark White on vocals and drums.
The trio released three singles and an album Housebreaking. Only one of the band's releases, the single "Be Patient" (number 63, July 1982), entered the Australian top 100.
Another future member of Boom Crash Opera, Richard Pleasance, joined the group briefly before it dissolved in 1983.
Next week (7 September):The final 1981 chart recap (before I catch up to where I started last September) goes out with a bang, with seven new singles bubbling under the top 100.
As I wrote on my last Kent Music Report beyond the top 100 chart recap for 1981, the 'singles receiving significant sales reports beyond the top 100' list did not re-commence as a list ordered by sales rank in 1982 until August. This week, 40 years ago, there was just one title on this list that did not end up making its way into the top 100. Let's take a look at it.
Joel Diamond and 'friends': the music is not nearly as interesting as this picture would suggest.
Beyond the top 100:
Position 7 "Super-Strauss" by Joel Diamond
Highest rank: 7th
Peak date: 30 August 1982
Weeks on below list: 3 weeks
If I am being brutally honest, as good as the 1980s were, musically and culturally, there was also a lot of... crap music around. And while this instrumental medley of several classical music pieces from American producer Joel Diamond is technically musically proficient, what on earth is it doing (almost) troubling the Australian singles charts in 1982?! Joel otherwise never landed a chart entry in Australia under his own name.
Next week (6 September): Another week with only one new entry bubbling under the top 100; this time, with a song that would (very) belatedly go on to become a hit.
There seems to be something for everyone among this week in 1991's debuts outside the ARIA top 100, with everything from middle-of-the-road ballads your mum would like, to rave anthems, ragga, guitar-based songs your dad would enjoy, to ABBA pastiches. Let's take a look.
The Shamen (no, that's not Slugworth on the left) were not quite moving mountains on the Australian chart in 1991.
Top 150 debuts:
Number 114 "Time, Love and Tenderness" by Michael Bolton
"Time, Love and Tenderness" was the second single and almost-title track (note the use of 'and' vs. '&') from Michael's seventh studio albumTime, Love & Tenderness (number 11, August 1991). It followed "Love Is a Wonderful Thing" (number 25, June 1991).
Internationally, "Time, Love and Tenderness" peaked at number 27 in Sweden in July 1991, number 28 in the UK in August 1991, number 7 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in September 1991, number 4 in Canada in September 1991, and number 74 in Germany in October 1991.
Within Australia, "Time, Love and Tenderness" was most popular in Western Australia, where it reached number 52.
I remember hearing this one numerous times on the American Top 40 radio show, and - a couple of years later - on easy-listening Melbourne FM radio station TT FM (as it was then known). I am surprised it couldn't even dent the ARIA top 100, but I guess people bought the album instead.
"It Hit Me Like a Hammer" was the second single from the band's sixth studio album Hard at Play (number 61, July 1991). It followed "Couple Days Off" (number 40, July 1991), which would be Huey Lewis & The News' final top 40 hit in Australia.
Overseas, "It Hit Me Like a Hammer" peaked at number 51 in Germany in August 1991, number 21 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in September 1991, and number 9 in Canada in September 1991.
Domestically, "It Hit Me Like a Hammer" performed strongest in South Australia/Northern Territory, where it reached number 86.
I am not sure whether I heard this one at the time. While it's pleasant enough, there's nothing particularly memorable about it. The song sounds like it belongs in the 80s more than the early 90s.
We'll see Huey Lewis & The News again in 1994 for one final appearance.
Number 120 "Take Me in Your Arms and Love Me" by Scritti Politti featuring Sweet Irie
Peak: number 113
Peak date: 2 September 1991
Weeks in top 150: 4 weeks
Top 150 chart run: 120-113-139-130
British band Scritti Politti formed in Leeds in 1977. During the band's tenure, Welsh front man Green Gartside (born Paul Strohmeyer) has been the only constant member.
Between 1984 and 1986, Scritti Politti placed four singles on the Australian chart, although only one of those, "Wood Beez (Pray Like Aretha Franklin)" (number 25, July 1984), peaked higher than number 70. Their most-recent single to chart in Australia was "She's a Woman" (number 82, June 1991), on which Jamaican artist Shabba Ranks was featured. The band's last album to chart locally was Provision (number 97, June 1988).
"Take Me in Your Arms and Love Me" peaked at number 47 in the UK in August 1991. The song is a cover version of a song originally released by Gladys Knight & The Pips in 1967. A studio album did not follow, and the band went on hiatus soon after, eventually reforming in 1999.
I heard this one for the first time in the early 2010s when it showed up on a UK VHS compilation I was digitising.
Number 130 "Move Any Mountain - Progen 91" by The Shamen
Peak: number 104
Peak date: 24 February 1992
Weeks in top 150: 18 weeks
Known chart run: 160-130-144-(out of top 150 for 4 weeks)-146-149-(out of top 150 for 6 weeks)-139-139-137-(chart repeated for 2 week Xmas break)-(out of top 150 for 1 week)-150-146-133-123-113-116-104-118-119
Weeks on chart: 30 weeks
Scottish band The Shamen formed in Aberdeen in 1985. Initially, the band's music was guitar-driven and inspired by 1960s psychedelic music. In 1987, however, founding member Colin Angus was inspired to experiment with electronic sounds, and the band evolved into a rave party act.
"Pro>gen", the first release of the song later re-titled "Move Any Mountain", was The Shamen's first UK singles chart entry, peaking at number 55 in April 1990.
Two further singles made ripples on the UK chart: "Make It Real" (UK number 42, September 1990) and "Hyperreal" (UK number 29, April 1991). The latter was The Shamen's first single released in Australia, in July 1991, but it failed to chart. "Hyperreal" also featured the voice of Plavka, who went on to later chart success with Jam & Spoon, notably on "Right in the Night (Fall in Love with Music)" (number 2, May 1994).
The 1991 re-release of "Move Any Mountain" peaked at number 4 in the UK in August 1991, number 17 in Ireland in August 1991, number 21 in Sweden in September 1991, number 17 in the Netherlands in September 1991, number 8 in the Flanders region of Belgium in October 1991, number 4 in Switzerland in October 1991, and number 38 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in February 1992. "Move Any Mountain" would be The Shamen's only single to register on the Hot 100.
In Australia, "Move Any Mountain"'s top 150 chart run was split into four separate runs, and the single did not reach its peak until six months after its debut. The single peaked in New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory in August 1991, and in February 1992 on all other state charts. "Move Any Mountain" performed strongest in South Australia/Northern Territory, where it reached number 85. The single peaked within the top 100 on all state charts except Queensland. Despite never breaking into the top 100 nationally, "Move Any Mountain" spent a mammoth 30 weeks on the ARIA singles chart, straddling the occasionally blurred line between 'hit' and 'flop'.
"Move Any Mountain" was lifted from The Shamen's fourth studio album En-Tact, which was released in Australia in January 1992, but did not chart.
A new music video, shot in Tenerife, was filmed for the 1991 release of "Move Any Mountain". Tragically, band member Will Sin (real name William Sinnott) drowned on 23 May 1991, aged 30, while swimming off the coast of La Gomera, while on location to shoot the video. Will's scenes were included in the video, but his death resulted in the surviving members of the band contemplating whether or not they should continue.
The Shamen did go on, and would achieve their commercial breakthrough - if only fleeting - in Australia towards the end of 1992 with "Ebeneezer Goode" (number 14, January 1993), which was certified gold. Interestingly, that single only spent 25 weeks on the chart in comparison to "Move Any Mountain"'s 30. "L.S.I. (Love, Sex, Intelligence)" (number 53, January 1993) went one better, though, racking up a tally of 31 weeks on the ARIA chart.
I was not aware of "Move Any Mountain" until late 1995, when the rage
top 50 chart went on hiatus for three months, due to a dispute over
paying the major record companies royalties to play their videos.
During those months, rage aired (and re-aired!) music videos on minor
labels, including those distributed though Liberation Records in
Australia, which The Shamen were. "Move Any Mountain" received several
spins during this period.
We last saw English singer-songwriter Elvis Costello (born Declan MacManus) in July 1989.
"So Like Candy" was the second single lifted from Elvis' thirteenth studio album - and third where he receives sole credit - Mighty Like a Rose (number 37, June 1991). It followed "The Other Side of Summer" (number 96, June 1991).
Internationally, "So Like Candy" peaked at number 66 in the Netherlands in August 1991, and number 115 (number 102 on the compressed chart) in the UK in October 1991.
Domestically, "So Like Candy" was most successful in South Australia/Northern Territory, where it reached number 115 on the state chart.
I first heard/saw this one on rage in the late 2000s or early 2010s, when the music video was chosen by a guest programmer.
We'll next see Elvis in 1994.
Number 143 "Hero" by Steeltown
Peak: number 143
Peak dates: 26 August 1991 and 2 September 1991
Weeks in top 150: 3 weeks
Top 150 chart run: 143-143-144
I had assumed that Steeltown must be an Australian band, given that the music video (embedded below) has fewer than 1000 views in the ten years it has been on YouTube, and I could find no evidence of this charting elsewhere. That assumption is only partially true, however. While based in Australia, Steeltown formed from members of the Scottish group The Technicians, who relocated to Australia in the 1980s, and had two minor 'hits' here with "Hot for Love" (number 90, July 1987) and "Clockwork Clown" (number 96, April 1988).
Listening to "Hero" for the first time as I write this, the track sounds more like Frankie Goes to Hollywood - to my ears - than the typical pub rock sound Australian bands were churning out in the early 90s.
Number 145 "I Write You a Love Song" by Izabella
Peak: number 140
Peak date: 2 September 1991
Weeks in top 150: 3 weeks
Top 150 chart run: 145-140-(out for 2 weeks)-145
Here's one I didn't hear until a few years ago, but remember reading the single review in the Australian edition of Smash Hits magazine, and seeing the cassette single in the shops.
Izabella, full name Izabella Skorupko, is a Polish-born model, actress and singer who was based in Sweden for her career.
"I Write You a Love Song" peaked at number 10 in Sweden in March 1991, and at number 93 in Germany in September 1992 - somewhat belatedly.
"I Write You a Love Song" sounds rather ABBA-ish, and I think it could have been a decent-sized hit if it received more exposure. It was Izabella's only release in Australia.
"Brando Moves" is another Izabella song I have heard, and is well worth checking out if you enjoy this one.
Number 149 "Daddy Freddy's in Town" by Daddy Freddy
Peak: number 121
Peak date: 2 September 1991
Weeks in top 150: 7 weeks
Top 150 chart run: 149-121-130-133-132-140-138
Daddy Freddy, born S. Frederick Small (we don't know what the S. stands for) is a Jamaican ragga artist. The chorus of "Daddy Freddy's in Town" is taken from Led Zeppelin's "Black Dog".
"Daddy Freddy's in Town" peaked at number 33 in New Zealand in October 1991. The single performed better on the Australian Music Report singles chart, where it reached number 94.
I hadn't heard this one before.
Bubbling WAY down under:
Number 177 "Runaround" by Van Halen
Peak: number 169
Peak date: 2 September 1991
Weeks on chart: 3 weeks
American rock band Van Halen last paid us a visit in January 1989. At this point in 1991, Van Halen had placed ten singles on the Australian chart, with "Jump" (number 2, March 1984) being their biggest hit. The band's most successful track locally with Sammy Hagar leading the group was "Why Can't This Be Love" (number 8, June 1986). My favourite Van Halen track is "Dreams" (number 51, September 1986).
"Runaround" was the second single released from Van Halen's ninth studio album For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge (number 5, July 1991). It followed "Poundcake" (number 55, July 1991).
Internationally, "Runaround" peaked at number 50 in Canada in September 1991. The song also topped the essentially meaningless US Billboard Mainstream Rock Airplay chart for four weeks in August 1991.
Within Australia, "Runaround" was most popular in South Australia/Northern Territory, where it reached number 138.
I hadn't heard this one before, though I don't seek out heavy rock music.
English band 808 State last visited us in June 1991. "Lift"/"Open Your Mind" was the band's fourth single in a row to peak outside the ARIA top 100 singles chart, and their second double A-side single to do so.
"Lift" was... lifted from the band's ex:el (number 109, April 1991) album, but "Open Your Mind" was a new track.
"Lift"/"Open Your Mind" peaked at number 38 in the band's native UK in August 1991.
Domestically, "Lift"/"Open Your Mind" was most successful in Western Australia, where it reached number 134.
I hadn't heard either track before. Both are notable for making use of samples that would appear on later hits for other artists. "Lift" samples a string rift from Love Unlimited Orchestra's "Love's Theme", which was used on Dannii Minogue's "Baby Love" (number 26, April 1992). "Open Your Mind" samples dialogue from the 1990 movie Total Recall, which was later used on Usura's "Open Your Mind" (number 29, May 1993).
Here's one I did hear at the time, through seeing the music video on the SBS music video TV show M.C. TeeVee.
Nigerian-born Dr. Alban, born Alban Uzoma Nwapa, relocated to Sweden in the early 1980s to study dentisty. Dr. Alban supported himself through his studies by working as a DJ. After qualifying as a dentist and starting his own practice, Dr. Alban continued to work as a DJ on the side.
In 1990, Dr. Alban met Swedish DJ, songwriter and producer Denniz Pop (real name Dag Volle), who went on to produce many internationally-successful acts such as Ace of Base, *NSync and Backstreet Boys. Denniz co-wrote and produced "Hello Afrika" with Dr. Alban, and Swedish rapper Leila K, who scored a couple of minor hits in Australia in 1990 with Rob 'n' Raz, including "Got to Get" (number 57, July 1990). Denniz sadly died in 1998, aged 35, after being diagnosed with stomach cancer. Backstreet Boys dedicated "Show Me the Meaning of Being Lonely" (number 19, February 2000) to him.
Internationally, "Hello Afrika" peaked at number 7 in Sweden in October 1990, number 2 in Germany in February 1991, number 1 in Austria in March 1991, number 3 in Switzerland in March 1991, and number 25 in the Netherlands in May 1991.
Domestically, "Hello Africa" performed strongest in New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory, where it reached number 161.
Dr. Alban would eventually score his breakthrough hit in Australia in 1994 with "Sing Hallelujah!" (number 5, March 1994), which went platinum. Before then, "It's My Life" crept into the top 100, initially peaking at number 97 in November 1992, before reaching a higher peak of number 43 in May 1994, after being re-released following the success of "Sing Hallelujah!"
"Hello Afrika" appeared on Dr. Alban's debut album Hello Afrika, which was issued in Australia in November 1991 but did not chart. A second single from the album, "No Coke", was also released locally in November 1991, but failed to chart.
The absence of new entries bubbling under the top 100 last week is certainly made up for this week in 1981, with seven new ones. Shall we take a look?
Janis Ian flew too low on the Australian chart this week in 1981.
Beyond the top 100:
Position 14 "The Cube" by Mike Brady and The Cubettes
Highest rank: 3rd
Peak date: 14 September 1981
Weeks on below list: 6 weeks
English-born Australian singer-songwriter Mike Brady is most famous for writing the Australian (or Victorian, as it was then known) Football League anthem "Up There Cazaly" (number 1, August 1979), which he recorded with Peter Sullivan as one half of the imaginatively-titled The Two-Man Band.
When it came to Mike's own solo career, his biggest 'hit' was "You're Here to Win", which peaked at number 49 in October 1982 and was another sporting song, written for the 1982 Commonwealth Games.
Unlike those two songs, "The Cube" is not a sporting song, but is instead a song about... the Rubik's Cube. Originally known as the Magic Cube, Rubik's Cube was invented in 1974 by Hungarian sculptor and architect Ernő Rubik. The 'cube' was a popular child's toy in the early 1980s, and I had one, though never learnt how to solve it.
Position 16 "Me No Pop I" by Kid Creole & The Coconuts present Coati Mundi
Highest rank: 15th
Peak date: 31 August 1981
Weeks on below list: 2 weeks
We saw American band Kid Creole and The Coconuts bubble under in 1990.
"Me No Pop I" was a non-album track. Internationally, the single peaked at number 32 in the UK in July 1981, number 48 in the Netherlands in August 1981, and number 37 in the Flanders region of Belgium in September 1981.
Position 25 "Under the Covers" by Janis Ian
Highest rank: 4th
Peak dates: 5 October 1981 and 12 October 1981
Weeks on below list: 9 weeks
Between 1975 and 1980, American singer-songwriter Janis Ian placed four singles on the Australian top 100 chart, with "Fly Too High" (number 7, April 1980) being the biggest of those. Curiously, the disco-tinged "Fly Too High" was a bigger hit in Australia than most other countries, and did not even chart in Janis' homeland. Janis' second-biggest hit in Australia, "At Seventeen" (number 23, September 1975) had more of an acoustic sound, in contrast to "Fly Too High".
"Under the Covers" was the lead single from Janis' twelfth studio album Restless Eyes (number 57, August 1981), and on it, she returned to a more easy-listening sound.
"Under the Covers" peaked at number 71 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in July 1981. The single would be Janis' last to (almost) chart in Australia.
Position 30 "Just Like Belgium" by Elton John
Highest rank: 15th
Peak dates: 14 September 1981 and 21 September 1981
Weeks on below list: 5 weeks
At this point in 1981, English singer-songwriter Elton John had placed 31 singles on the Australian top 100, in the space of just ten years. Elton's duet with Kiki Dee, "Don't Go Breaking My Heart", was the biggest of the lot, going all the way to number one, for one week, in August 1976.
"Just Like Belgium" was the second single lifted from Elton's fifteenth studio album The Fox (number 2, July 1981), following "Nobody Wins" (number 46, July 1981).
Despite peaking at number two in Australia, The Fox was a relative flop era in Elton's career, with none of the album's singles making the top 40 in the UK. "Just Like Belgium" did not even chart in the UK, or anywhere else that I can ascertain.
Growing up in the 80s, Elton John's music was all over the radio - at least in Australia, where it was literally inescapable. It is quite surprising to me, then, that he had such a massive flop.
We will next see Elton in 1993.
Position 32 "Jericho" by The Numbers
Highest rank: 9th
Peak dates: 7 September 1981, 21 September 1981 and 28 September 1981
Weeks on below list: 8 weeks
Australian band The Numbers were formed by siblings Annalisse and Chris Morrow in Sydney in 1978. The group placed two singles on the Australian top 100 chart in 1980, "The Modern Song" (number 47, June 1980) and "A Five Letter Word" (number 40, November 1980). Their debut album The Numbers peaked at number 29 in October 1980.
Credited as just 'Numbers' on the single sleeve, "Jericho" was the lead single from the band's second - and final - studio album 39-51 (number 94, June 1982), on which they were also credited as just 'Numbers'.
Annalise and Chris would go on to form the band Maybe Dolls, who landed a couple of moderate hits in the early 90s. We will see Maybe Dolls bubble under in 1992.
Position 34 "I Can't Sing Very Well" by Mother Goose
Highest rank: 21st
Peak date: 14 September 1981
Weeks on below list: 4 weeks
New Zealand band Mother Goose formed in Dunedin in 1975. During their tenure, the band placed two singles on the Australian top 100, with "Baked Beans" (number 29, October 1977) being their biggest hit.
The aptly-titled "I Can't Sing Very Well" was a non-album single. It failed to chart elsewhere.
Position 37 "Julia" by The Rick Wakeman Band
Highest rank: 17th
Peak date: 14 September 1981
Weeks on below list: 4 weeks
Rick Wakeman is best known as the keyboard player in English progressive rock band Yes, who landed a top 20 hit in Australia with "Owner of a Lonely Heart" (number 14, February 1984) - though Rick had temporarily left the band before that track was released.
"Julia", co-written with Tim Rice, is lifted from Rick's concept album 1984 (number 10, August 1981), which was inspired by George Orwell's dystopian novel Nineteen Eighty-Four. Vocals on the track are performed by Chaka Khan.
I cannot find evidence of "Julia" charting elsewhere. This was Rick's only single to (almost) chart in Australia.
Of the ten debuting artists this week in 1991, only two of them have graced our presence before. Let's take a look.
Susanna Hoffs: Australia was the only country that gave this single some 'love', but not much.
Top 150 debuts:
Number 111 "Principles of Lust" by Enigma
Peak: number 111
Peak date: 19 August 1991
Weeks in top 150: 4 weeks
Top 150 chart run: 111-124-131-129
Weeks on chart: 5 weeks
Enigma was the brainchild of Romanian-German singer, musician and producer Michael Cretu (born Mihal Cretu). Their debut single "Sadeness Part 1" (number 2, March 1991) went to number one across Europe, and featured the uncredited vocal contributions of Michael's then-wife Sandra, whom we shall see in her own right in 1995, and... Gregorian chants.
Enigma's second single "Mea Culpa Part II" (number 55, May 1991) did not exactly set the charts alight, but it mattered little, as the album MCMXC a.D. (number 2, March 1991) performed quite well.
The third single, "Principles of Lust", fared even worse on the chart. Internationally, the single peaked at number 90 in Germany in July 1991, number 43 in the Flanders region of Belgium in July 1991, number 59 in the UK in August 1991, and number 29 in France in August 1991.
Within Australia, "Principles of Lust" performed strongest in South Australia/Northern Territory, where it reached number 89.
As with the previous two singles, "Principles of Lust" featured Sandra's breathy spoken vocals.
Australian Ollie Olsen, who is behind Third Eye, was the other half of the Michael Hutchence side-project Max Q, whom we saw in March 1990. Coincidentally, the Max Q (number 13, October 1989) album has recently - finally - been added to streaming platforms, in a 2022 remaster.
"Pray" was the second Third Eye single, following "The Real Thing" (number 76, October 1990), which was a radical remake of the Russell Morris song from 1969. In another coincidence, Russell appears among this week's debuts. Both "Pray" and "The Real Thing" appear on the debut Third Eye album Third Eye (number 163, February 1992).
On the state charts, "Pray" performed strongest in New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory, where it reached number 87.
I vaguely recall hearing "Pray" at the time. Its sound is quite avant garde for Australia in 1991, proving that we could produce cutting-edge electronic music as good as that coming out of Europe - only, it wasn't often commercially successful.
Number 134 "We Want the Funk" by Gerardo
Peak: number 128
Peak date: 26 August 1991
Weeks in top 150: 5 weeks
Top 150 chart run: 134-128-136-143-138
Ecuadorian-American rapper Gerardo, born Gerardo Mejía, landed a US Billboard Hot 100 number 7 hit with "Rico Suave" in April 1991. That single limped to number 87 in Australia in May 1991.
"We Want the Funk" was the second single form Gerardo's debut album Mo' Ritmo, which was released in Australia in April 1991, but missed the top 150. The track was produced by Michael Sembello, who scored a number 2 hit in Australia with "Maniac" in August 1983.
"We Want the Funk" became Gerardo's second, and final, US Billboard Hot 100 hit, peaking at number 16 in June 1991.
Number 139 "Only Love" by Susanna Hoffs
Peak: number 135
Peak date: 2 September 1991
Weeks in top 150: 3 weeks
Chart run: 139-142-135
Weeks on chart: 3 weeks
Susanna Hoffs was one quarter of the group Bangles, who usually did not have a 'The' in front of the band's name on their releases (at least, not during their most commercially-successful period), but everyone seems to refer to them as 'The Bangles', regardless.
Bangles scored four top 10 singles in Australia, one for each of the years 1986, 1987, 1988 and 1989. Two of their singles went all the way to number one - "Walk Like an Egyptian" (number one for two non-consecutive weeks in February 1987) and "Eternal Flame" (number one for three non-consecutive weeks in May and June 1989). Oddly, neither number one Bangles single spent more than one week at the summit at a time.
While Bangles had no official 'lead singer', with all four members contributing lead vocals to different tracks, the songs that Susanna sang lead on were often chosen as singles, which led to tensions within the group. Bangles disbanded in 1989, although they would eventually reform in 1998.
Following the demise of the band, Susanna launched a solo career, to a surprisingly (for me, anyway) lukewarm response. Her debut solo single "My Side of the Bed" (number 54, March 1991) peaked outside the top 50 in Australia, and only reached number 30 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in March 1991. "My Side of the Bed" did not peak higher than number 20 (in Austria) anywhere in the world.
Susanna's second single "Unconditional Love" (number 100, May 1991) fared even worse, with its highest peak being number 65 in the UK in May 1991. Not even a promotional trip to Australia helped matters, and Susanna's first solo album When You're a Boy peaked at number 67 here in April 1991.
"Only Love" was issued as the third, and final, single from When You're a Boy. Susanna co-wrote the track with beige songwriter extraordinaire Diane Warren - not that this collaboration helped the song become a hit.
"Only Love" did not chart anywhere else in the world. On the ARIA state charts, the single was most popular in Queensland, where it reached number 117.
I did not hear "Only Love" at the time, and was not aware of its release as a single. I can only guess that Susanna's solo career was not a success because she was too strongly-associated with the 1980s, as many 80s acts seemed to struggle on the charts once 1990 clocked over. If Bangles had stayed together, it would have been interesting to see how they fared on the chart during the 1990s.
Susanna will next join us in 1996.
Number 145 "She Needs to Get Some" by Ray Parker Jr.
Peak: number 145
Peak date: 19 August 1991
Weeks in top 150: 1 week
Top 150 chart run: 145
American singer, songwriter and producer Ray Parker Jr. started out his chart career as a member of the band Raydio, who landed top 10 hits in Australia with "Jack and Jill" (number 4, July 1978) and "You Can't Change That" (number 6, September 1979).
Ray embarked on a solo career following Raydio's demise in 1981. His debut solo single, "The Other Woman", topped the Australian singles chart for one week in August 1982. Ray landed another major hit in Australia with "Ghostbusters" (number 2, September 1984), which spent 17 weeks in the top 10, and has retained its cultural currency (my nephews born in the 2010s know it).
Aside from those two big hits, the only other solo Ray Parker Jr. single that troubled the Australian top 50 was "Bad Boy" (number 37, March 1983).
"She Needs to Get Some" was Ray's first single to chart in Australia since "Ghostbusters", although he produced Glenn Medeiros' "All I'm Missing Is You", which we saw in October 1990.
"She Needs to Get Some" did not register a place on any other sales-based singles chart that I can ascertain, but reached number 34 on the meaningless US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart in July 1991.
Number 146 "A Thousand Suns" by Russell Morris
Peak: number 118
Peak date: 9 September 1991
Weeks in top 150: 12 weeks
Top 150 chart run: 146-(out for 2 weeks)-118-124-128-123-124-123-122-125-124-128-124
We last saw Australian Russell Morris in December 1990. "A Thousand Suns" was the third single and title track from Russell's first solo studio album since 1976, A Thousand Suns (number 98, November 1991).
"A Thousand Suns" had an interesting chart run, spending 11 of its 12 weeks in the top 150 hovering between numbers 118 and 128. The single fared better on the Australian Music Report singles chart, where it reached number 84.
Number 147 "Jealousy" by Pet Shop Boys
Peak: number 147
Peak dates: 19 August 1991 and 2 September 1991
Weeks in top 150: 3 weeks
Top 150 chart run: 147-(out for 1 week)-147-150
Weeks on chart: 8 weeks
At this point in 1991, English electronic pop duo Pet Shop Boys had placed 14 singles on the Australian top 100, with only "Suburbia" (which bubbled under in November 1986) falling short. Four of their singles had peaked within the top 10 in Australia, so far, with "West End Girls" (number 5, June 1986) being the biggest of those. Always stanning for the flops, "It's Alright" (number 70, August 1989) and "Left to My Own Devices" (number 48, February 1989) are probably my favourite Pet Shop Boys singles.
"Jealousy" was the third single lifted from Pet Shop Boys' fourth studio album Behaviour (number 27, November 1990). It followed "So Hard" (number 27, December 1990) and "Being Boring" (number 82, February 1991).
"Jealousy" also received next to no promotion in Australia. As a casual fan, I didn't hear the song until buying Pet Shop Boys' Discography: The Complete Singles Collection (number 6, December 1991) compilation towards the end of 1991. "Jealousy" was a song I always skipped on the album, and didn't give it a proper listen until possibly the early 2000s, when I discovered that I liked it. "Jealousy" is definitely not an immediate song, like most of the duo's singles.
Internationally, "Jealousy" peaked at number 12 in the UK in June 1991, number 8 in Ireland in June 1991, number 20 in Germany in July 1991, and number 14 in Switzerland in July 1991.
Domestically, "Jealousy" performed strongest in Victoria/Tasmania, where it reached number 123.
Number 148 "Love Thang" by Redhead Kingpin and The F.B.I.
Peak: number 148
Peak date: 19 August 1991
Weeks in top 150: 1 week
Top 150 chart run: 148
We last saw American hip-hop/new jack swing group Redhead Kingpin and The F.B.I. in June 1991. "Love Thang", titled "It's a Love Thang (Word)" in North America, was issued as the second single from The Album with No Name (number 141, June 1991).
While a music video exists for the track, it uses a different mix than the single version we received in Europe/Australasia, which I have embedded below.
I cannot find evidence of "Love Thang" charting on any other sales-based chart.
Number 150 "Get Up" by Mike & The Mechanics
Peak: number 150
Peak date: 19 August 1991
Weeks in top 150: 1 week
Top 150 chart run: 150
Weeks on chart: 2 weeks
English supergroup Mike & The Mechanics had placed six singles on the Australian chart at this point in 1991, with "The Living Years" being the highest peaking of those, spending one week at number one in May 1989. That track, and this one, feature Paul Carrack - whom we've seen bubble under a couple of times as a solo artist, most-recently in April 1990 - on lead vocals.
"Get Up" was the second single released in Australia from Mike & The Mechanics' third studio album Word of Mouth (number 55, June 1991). It followed the title track, "Word of Mouth" (number 33, June 1991), which was sung by Paul Young - not to be confused with the English solo artist sharing the same name.
In the band's homeland, "A Time and Place" was issued as the second single from Word of Mouth. That single was not released in Australia.
I cannot find evidence of "Get Up" charting elsewhere. Within Australia, the single was most-popular in New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory, where it reached number 147.
We'll next see Mike & The Mechanics in 1995.
Bubbling WAY down under:
Number 151 "She's Dope!" by Bell Biv DeVoe
Peak: number 151
Peak date: 19 August 1991
Weeks on chart: 3 weeks
The American trio of Ricky Bell, Michael Bivins and Ronnie DeVoe - better known as Bell Biv DeVoe - started out as part of teen pop group New Edition, who landed a number 10 hit in Australia in August 1983 with "Candy Girl".
Striking out on their own in 1990, the trio placed three singles in the lower half of the ARIA top 100, with "Poison" (number 64, August 1990), "Do Me!" (number 60, October 1990), and "B.B.D. (I Thought It Was Me)" (number 100, March 1991).
"She's Dope!" was the fourth single lifted from the trio's debut album Poison (number 83, October 1990) in Australia.
"She's Dope!" did not register on any other sales-based chart, but peaked at number 9 on the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart in May 1991.
Domestically, "She's Dope!" performed strongest in Victoria/Tasmania, where it reached number 141.
The group did not achieve their major commercial breakthrough in Australia until 1993, when "Gangsta" peaked at number 17 in February of that year.
