26 October 2024

Week commencing 26 October 1992

One thing all of this week in 1992’s new entries peaking between number 101 and 150 have in common is that they are from artists we have not seen peaking in this region of the chart before.  Before we take a look at them, I have updated the following previous posts:

* 2 March 1992 - with new bubbling WAY down under entry from Public Enemy;
* 18 May 1992 - with new bubbling WAY down under entry from Public Enemy.

Cathy Dennis ended her top 100 streak in Australia this week in 1992.

Top 150 debuts:

Number 112 “You Lied to Me” by Cathy Dennis
Peak: number 112
Peak date: 26 October 1992
Weeks in top 150: 4 weeks
Top 150 chart run: 112-129-131-135
Weeks on chart: 6 weeks 
 
Hailing from Norwich, Norfolk, English singer-songwriter Cathy Dennis made her debut appearance on the Australian chart as a chorus member of Band Aid II, with the Stock Aitken Waterman-produced version of "Do They Know It's Christmas?" (number 30, January 1990).  While Cathy would go on to co-write Kylie Minogue's biggest hit "Can't Get You Out of My Head" (number 1 for four weeks in September-October 2001), Kylie amusingly forgot her name, after having met Cathy on the set of the Band Aid II video, when introducing D Mob's “C’mon and Get My Love” (number 35, May 1990), on which Cathy sang lead, on Countdown Revolution, despite it being Kylie's favourite track at the time.  D Mob, who was essentially Daniel Poku, featured Cathy again on their fourth single released in Australia, “That’s the Way of the World” (number 98, July 1990), with both tracks appearing on their debut album A Little Bit of This, A Little Bit of That (number 72, June 1990).
 
Cathy struck it out on her own with “Just Another Dream” (number 14, April 1991), and her debut album Move to This (number 32, August 1991), both of which I bought.  I also bought Cathy's second and third solo singles “Touch Me (All Night Long)” (number 16, July 1991) and “Too Many Walls” (number 57, October 1991) on cassette.  I did not buy the fourth and final single lifted from Move to This, “Everybody Move” (number 85, February 1992).
 
Striking while the iron was hot, Cathy returned with a new single, "You Lied to Me", which I first heard on the UK Chart Attack radio program in August 1992.  While I liked the song, it didn't seem like a significant departure from the sound of the Move to This singles, with Cathy teaming up with Shep Pettibone again.
 
Internationally, "You Lied to Me" under-performed on the chart, peaking at number 34 in the UK in August 1992, number 32 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in October 1992, and at number 46 in Canada in October 1992.  In contrast, "C'mon and Get My Love" and the first three singles from Move to This gave Cathy a string of four US Billboard Hot 100 top 10 hits, which was quite a feat for a British female pop artist at that point in time.
 
"You Lied to Me" registered on several US Billboard genre-specific charts, reaching number 25 on the Radio Songs chart in September 1992, number 28 on the Pop Airplay chart in October 1992, number 32 on the Rhythmic Airplay chart in October 1992, number 6 on the Dance Singles Sales chart in October 1992, and number 12 on the Dance Club Songs chart in November 1992.

In Australia, "You Lied to Me" was most successful in New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory, where it reached number 94 on the state chart.

"You Lied to Me" would go on to appear on Cathy's second album Into the Skyline (number 135, February 1993).  A brief promotional tour to Australia in early 1993 did not do much to boost the album's sales locally.  Cathy would not trouble the ARIA top 100 again, though we will see her bubble under several times over the coming years.
 
We shall next see Cathy in 1993.
 


Number 116 “Hazy Shade of Criminal” by Public Enemy
Peak: number 116
Peak date: 26 October 1992
Weeks in top 150: 4 weeks 
Top 150 chart run: 116-128-143-141
Weeks on chart: 6 weeks 

We last saw American hip-hop group Public Enemy in May 1992.

"Hazy Shade of Criminal" was a new track recorded for the compilation album Greatest Misses (number 57, October 1992), which contained six new songs, six remixes of previous singles, and a track recorded live for British TV series The Word.

Internationally, "Hazy Shade of Criminal" peaked at number 179 in the UK in September 1992 as an import, and at number 27 in New Zealand in November 1992.  The track also registered on several US Billboard genre-specific charts, reaching number 58 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart in November 1992, number 12 on the Hot Rap Songs chart in November 1992, and number 31 on the Dance Singles Sales chart in November 1992.

Locally, “Hazy Shade of Criminal” performed strongest in New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory, reaching number 103 on the state chart.  The single performed better nationally on the Australian Music Report singles chart, where it reached number 98.
 
We shall next see Public Enemy in 1994.
 


Number 123 “Temple of Dreams” by Messiah
Peak: number 105
Peak date: 9 November 1992
Weeks in top 150: 10 weeks
Top 150 chart run: 123-122-105-107-111-111-150-(out for 4 weeks)-142-148-148

English duo Messiah formed in London in 1988.  "Temple of Dreams" was their first charting release, peaking at number 20 in the UK in June 1992.

Locally, "Temple of Dreams" was much more successful in South Australia/Northern Territory than elsewhere, where it reached number 26 on the state chart.  The single also performed better nationally on the Australian Music Report singles chart, where it reached number 73.

Messiah would go on to score one ARIA top 100 single, with the follow up, "I Feel Love" (number 66, January 1993), featuring former Eruption singer Precious Wilson on vocals.  Both that track and "Temple of Dreams" appear on Messiah's debut album 21st Century Jesus, which missed the top 150 locally.
 


Number 129 “How Does It Feel?” by Ren
Peak: number 112
Peak date: 2 November 1992
Weeks in top 150: 5 weeks
Top 150 chart run: 129-112-129-133-134
Weeks on chart: 9 weeks 
 
Every now and then, we encounter an artist I have never heard of before bubbling under the ARIA top 100; this is one such example.  From the limited information I can find, 'Ren' was Ren Warmuž, who was also known as Ren & Darkness.  "How Does It Feel?" was an unusual CD single, with the first track on it being a 30-second interlude titled "The Things You Do", followed by four mixes of the title track and a 1:19 minute "Outro".  The track appeared on the album Prophecy, which only has Australian and Czech Republic pressings listed on Discogs.  I assume, therefore, that Ren was an Australian artist, possibly of a Czech background.  I say 'was' because if what I read on his Discogs profile is correct, Ren died from cancer in October 2013, aged 45.
 
The other piece of information I can tell you, thanks to the ARIA database conflating Ren's chart history with that of Ren & Stimpy (!), is that "How Does It Feel?" was much more popular in Victoria/Tasmania than elsewhere, where it reached number 56 on the state chart.  The single missed the top 100 on the remaining four state charts, and its next-highest state chart peak was number 122.  Despite being from Victoria, I was not aware of this track previously, however.  The song is decent, and could have been a hit had it received better promotion.



Number 144 “Talking to a Stranger” by Filthy Lucre featuring Hunters & Collectors
Peak: number 141
Peak date: 9 November 1992
Weeks in top 150: 3 weeks
Top 150 chart run: 144-150-141
Weeks on chart: 5 weeks 

Australian band Hunters & Collectors formed in Melbourne in 1981.  Originally released as their second single in June 1982, "Talking to a Stranger" peaked at number 59 in August of that year.  The track appeared on the band's debut album Hunters & Collectors (number 21, September 1982).  Despite the modest chart peak, the music video directed by Richard Lowenstein received attention due to his elaborate filming/post-production techniques.
 
By this point in 1992, Hunters & Collectors had placed 15 singles on the Australian top 100, with "When the River Runs Dry" (number 23, December 1989) being the best-charting of those... so far!  The Hunters would actually score their highest-peaking single early in 1993 with "True Tears of Joy" (number 14, February 1993), though they are probably best known for its follow-up, "Holy Grail" (number 20, July 1993) and "Throw Your Arms Around Me" (number 49, June 1986; a later, re-recorded version peaked at number 34 in February 1991).

Gavin Campbell, Paul Main and Robert Goodge, aka Filthy Lucre, came to prominence after remixing Yothu Yindi's "Treaty" (number 11, September 1991) for the version that became a hit.  I assume they were approached to remix "Talking to a Stranger" with the hope of turning another Australian 'classic' into a hit - only, this time, it wasn't to be.

On the state charts, this version of “Talking to a Stranger” was most popular in Queensland and South Australia/Northern Territory, where it reached number 115 on both charts.

We shall see another older track remixed by Filthy Lucre bubble under in November 1992.  We will see Hunters & Collectors on their own in 1994.
 


Number 145 “My Girl” by Madness (1992 re-issue)
Peak: number 145
Peak date: 26 October 1992
Weeks in top 150: 1 week
Top 150 chart run: 145
Weeks on chart: 4 weeks 

English ska/pop group Madness formed in Camden Town, London in 1976.  Their first chart entry in Australia was their debut album One Step Beyond... in  January 1980, which peaked at number 29 in April of that year.  The group would not land a charting single in Australia until December 1980, with "Baggy Trousers" (number 30, March 1981), the lead single from their second album Absolutely (number 56, May 1981).  Between 1980 and 1985, Madness placed nine singles on the Australian top 100, with "It Must Be Love" (number 6, June 1982) and "House of Fun" (number 5, August 1982) being the biggest of those.  The band split up in 1986, before reforming in 1992.

"My Girl" was issued as Madness's third single, appearing on One Step Beyond..., and was originally released in Australia in February 1980, failing to chart.  The original release peaked at number 3 in the UK in January 1980, number 3 in Ireland, and at number 46 in New Zealand in May 1980.

A best-of compilation album, Divine Madness (number 37, June 1992), was released in early 1992, topping the UK albums chart for three weeks in March 1992.   The popularity of this release led to the band reforming for a series of live shows titled Madstock! in August 1992.  The compilation was preceded by re-issues of the singles “It Must Be Love” (number 48, June 1992) and “House of Fun” (number 73, July 1992), the former of which went to number 6 in the UK.

"My Girl" was issued as the third re-release from Divine Madness, and this time managed to chart in Australia... albeit outside the top 100.  The 1992 re-issue of "My Girl" peaked at number 27 in the UK in August 1992.  Locally, the single performed strongest in Queensland, where it reached number 118 on the state chart.

I first heard/saw the video for "My Girl" on a Madness special rage aired on a Saturday night in July 1992.  I wasn't overly familiar with their work at that point, but enjoyed the quirkiness and silliness of the songs/videos.  The music video embedded below is the 1992 re-edit, containing clips from other Madness videos.  You can view the original 1979 music video for "My Girl" here.  Madness performed the song live on Top of the Pops in July 1992, ahead of the Madstock! gigs.  You can view that performance here.

We will see Madness next in 1993.
 


Bubbling WAY down under:

Number 160 “Just Right” by Soul II Soul
Peak: number 160
Peak date: 26 October 1992
Weeks on chart: 4 weeks

We last saw English musical collective Soul II Soul at the end of 1990.  Since then, they released another album Volume III Just Right (number 17, May 1992), and landed another two Australian top 100 singles from it: “Joy” (number 41, June 1992) and “Move Me No Mountain” (number 96, July 1992).  That run was broken with the release of the album's third and final single, "Just Right", which featured Rick Clarke on vocal duties.
 
Internationally, "Just Right" peaked at number 38 in the UK in September 1992.  In Australia, the single performed strongest in New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory, where it reached number 150 on the state chart.
 
I recall catching the music video for "Just Right" as a new release on SBS music video TV program M.C. TeeVee.  It seems like a missed opportunity that they didn't use this song to promote the breakfast cereal...
 
We shall next see Soul II Soul in 1993.
 


Number 162 “Lip Service” by Wet Wet Wet
Peak: number 154
Peak date: 16 November 1992
Weeks on chart: 4 weeks 

Scottish band Wet Wet Wet last graced our presence in June 1992.
 
"Lip Service" was issued as the fifth and final single from Wet Wet Wet's third studio album High on the Happy Side (number 19, May 1992).  In Australia, it was released as the third and final single from the album.

Internationally, "Lip Service" peaked at number 15 in the UK in July 1992, and at number 24 in Ireland during the same month.

Domestically, "Lip Service" was most popular in South Australia/Northern Territory, where it reached number 142 on the state chart.

I don’t recall hearing this one before.  It was more uptempo/poppy than I was expecting for Wet Wet Wet, and probably could have crept into the top 50 here if it had received better promotion.

Wet Wet Wet will join us next in 1994.



Number 181 “Six Blocks Away” by Lucinda Williams
Peak: number 170
Peak date: 9 November 1992
Weeks on chart: 4 weeks 

We last saw American singer-songwriter Lucinda Williams in 1989.
 
"Six Blocks Away" was issued as the lead single from Lucinda's fourth studio album Sweet Old World (number 134, July 1993), which she later re-issued as This Sweet Old World (number 297, October 2017).

I cannot find evidence of 'Six Blocks Away" charting elsewhere.  On the state charts, the single performed strongest in Queensland, where it reached number 146.

We'll next see Lucinda in 1993.
 


Number 190 “Hey Love (Can I Have a Word)” by Mr. Lee featuring R. Kelly
Peak: number 183
Peak date: 9 November 1992
Weeks on chart: 9 weeks 

We last saw American hip-house rapper Mr. Lee in late 1990.  For “Hey Love (Can I Have a Word)”, which is a cover version of Stevie Wonder’s “Hey Love” from 1966, Mr. Lee teamed up with now-disgraced R&B singer Robert “R.” Kelly.  The track is lifted from Mr. Lee’s second and final album I Wanna Rock Right Now.

Internationally, “Hey Love…” peaked at number 23 in New Zealand in March 1993.

Locally, “Hey Love…” was most popular in Victoria/Tasmania, where it reached number 172.

This would be Mr. Lee’s final chart entry in Australia.



Number 191 “Face to Face” by Siouxsie & The Banshees
Peak: number 184
Peak date: 18 January 1993
Weeks on chart: 11 weeks 

We last saw English band Siouxsie & The Banshees in late 1991.

“Face to Face” was recorded for the movie Batman Returns, in which Catwoman made her debut in the movie series, played by Michelle Pfeiffer.  The track was included on the Siouxsie & The Banshees compilation album Twice Upon a Time - The Singles (number 133, October 1992).

“Face to Face” peaked at number 21 in the UK in July 1992, and at number 32 in Sweden in August 1992.

Within Australia, “Face to Face” performed strongest in Western Australia, reaching number 151 on the state chart.

I recall seeing the video for “Face to Face” on TV a couple of times, in which Siouxsie appears in a Catwoman-esque outfit, as a new release.  I am surprised it flopped so badly, given the Batman movie connection.

We’ll see Siouxsie & The Banshees again in 1995.



Number 197 “I’ve Been Watchin’” by Joe Public
Peak: number 167
Peak date: 2 November 1992
Weeks on chart: 6 weeks 

American new jack swing group Joe Public landed a top 50 hit in Australia with their debut single “Live and Learn” (number 45, August 1992).  “I’ve Been Watchin’” was issued as the second single in Australia from their debut album Joe Public (number 137, July 1992).  Their homeland went with “I Miss You” instead.

Internationally, “I’ve Been Watchin’” peaked at number 75 in the UK in November 1992.  Locally, the single performed strongest in Victoria/Tasmania, reaching number 156.

The Eastside Mix, embedded below, was the single version in Australia, the US, and continental Europe.  The UK went with the Dance 7” mix instead.

This would be Joe Public’s final charting release in Australia.



Number 200 Gastanked EP by Custard
Peak: number 200
Peak date: 26 October 1992
Weeks on chart: 2 weeks 

Australian band Custard formed in Brisbane in 1989.  The six-track Gastanked EP, led by the track “Edie” (embedded below), was their first charting release, scraping into the ARIA top 200.  The band would not land an ARIA top 100 single until their fourteenth singles chart entry, “Music Is Crap” (number 73, April 1998), landing a string of top 200 ‘hits’ before then.  Their biggest hit in Australia was “Girls Like That (Don’t Go for Guys Like Us)” (number 52, January 1999), which spent 24 weeks in the top 100 despite its modest peak.

The Gastanked EP performed strongest in Western Australia, where it reached number 173 on the state chart.

Custard will next join us in 1993.



Number 212 “Someone to Hold” by Trey Lorenz
Peak: number 177
Peak date: 2 November 1992
Weeks on chart: 8 weeks 

American R&B singer-songwriter Trey Lorenz, born Lloyd Lorenz Smith, first came to mainstream attention as the featured male vocalist on Mariah Carey’s MTV Unplugged live rendition of  “I’ll Be There” (number 9, August 1992).

“Someone to Hold” was Trey’s debut solo release, and was co-written and co-produced by Mariah Carey.  It appeared on his debut album Trey Lorenz.  Internationally, the single peaked at number 19 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in November 1992, number 29 in Canada in November 1992, number 65 in the UK in November 1992, number 47 in the Netherlands in December 1992, and number 11 in New Zealand in December 1992.  The song also reached number 27 on the US Billboard Radio songs chart in October 1992, number 21 on the Rhythmic Airplay chart in October 1992, number 21 on the Pop Airplay chart in November 1992, number 5 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart in November 1992, number 18 on the Adult Contemporary chart in November 1992, number 29 on the R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart in November 1992, and number 14 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles Sales chart in December 1992.  Phew!

Locally, “Someone to Hold” was most popular in Victoria/Tasmania, where it reached number 164 on the state chart.

I no doubt heard this one on the American Top 40 radio show, but had no recollection of it.  Elements of the production, which sound like they came from a late 80s New Kids on the Block ballad, sound rather dated for late 1992.

We shall see Trey again in 1993.



Next week (2 November): Four top 150 entries and five bubbling WAY down under debuts.

< Previous week: 19 October 1992               Next week: 2 November 1992 >

19 October 2024

Week commencing 19 October 1992

I cannot identify a common theme among this week's 13 new entries debuting and peaking outside the ARIA top 100, so let's just jump straight in...

Maxi Priest scored a 'mini' hit on the ARIA singles chart this week in 1992.

Top 150 debuts:

Number 106 “So Dangerous” by Lisa Edwards
Peak: number 106
Peak date: 19 October 1992
Weeks in top 150: 6 weeks 
Top 150 chart run: 106-107-121-127-132-124
Weeks on chart: 6 weeks 

Australian songstress Lisa Edwards first came to attention (at least, in my world) as one of John Farnham's live backing singers, following his hugely successful Jack's Back tour in 1987-1988,  Prior to that, she released a couple of singles, both solo and with Short Circuit, in the 1980s that did nothing chart-wise.  Lisa can be spotted as one of John Farnham's backing singers in the music video for “Two Strong Hearts” (number 6, October 1988) - that's her with the blonde crimped hair.

Lisa finally tasted chart success with the release of her single “Cry” (number 5, July 1992), which was originally recorded by Godley & Creme, with their version peaking at number 43 in Australia in August 1985. 
 
"So Dangerous", which I do not recall hearing before, was released as the follow-up to "Cry". and did not perform nearly as well, peaking 101 places lower on the ARIA singles chart than its predecessor.  On the state charts, "So Dangerous" performed equally-strongest in Victoria/Tasmania and South Australia/Northern Territory, where it reached number 92.  The single fared better nationally on the Australian Music Report singles chart, where it reached number 70.
 
"So Dangerous" had a rockier edge than I was expecting, reminding me musically a little bit of Janet Jackson's "Black Cat" (number 6, November 1990).  I also was not expecting to see Lisa writhing about in a sequinned catsuit in the music video.  Skip to 1:35 in the video embedded below if you want to get straight to the song and skip the overly-long dialogue introduction.
 
"So Dangerous" would go on to appear on the album Thru the Hoop (number 120, June 1993).
 
We shall see Lisa again in 1993.



Number 115 “Helpless” by Sugar
Peak: number 111
Peak date: 26 October 1992
Weeks in top 150: 5 weeks 
Top 150 chart run: 115-111-119-123-128

American indie rock band Sugar formed in Austin, Texas in the early 1990s, fronted by singer and guitarist Bob Mould, who previously led the band Hüsker Dü.  "Helpless" was Sugar's debut Australian release, lifted from the band's debut album Copper Blue (number 92, November 1992).

Internationally, "Helpless" peaked at number 5 on the US Billboard Alternative Songs chart in October 1992, and at number 37 in New Zealand in November 1992.
 
I don't recall hearing this one before, but the chorus seems vaguely familiar.  It's not the sort of thing I would normally listen to, but it's not bad.
 
We will next see Sugar in December 1992.
 


Number 127 “Groovin’ in the Midnight” by Maxi Priest
Peak: number 120
Peak date: 26 October 1992
Weeks in top 150: 4 weeks
Top 150 chart run: 127-120-127-132
Weeks on chart: 7 weeks 

We last saw British reggae singer Maxi Priest as a featured artist in October 1991, and on his own a week prior to that.
 
"Groovin' in the Midnight" was issued as the lead single from Maxi's fifth studio album Fe Real (number 130, May 1993).  Internationally, the single peaked at number 50 in the UK in September 1992, number 63 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in November 1992, number 64 in Canada in December 1992, and number 31 in New Zealand in December 1992.

Domestically, "Groovin' in the Midnight" was most popular in Western Australia, where it reached number 94.
 
I don't recall hearing this one before, but quite enjoyed it.  It should have been a much bigger hit.

We shall next see Maxi in 1993.



Number 134 “What Are You Under” by Definition of Sound
Peak: number 116
Peak date: 23 November 1992
Weeks in top 150: 6 weeks 
Top 150 chart run: 134-121-124-122-126-116
Weeks on chart: 10 weeks 

We last saw English dance/rap duo Definition of Sound in April 1992.
 
"What Are You Under" was issued as the lead single from the pair's second album The Lick (number 176, November 1992).  Overseas, the single peaked at number 68 in the UK in September 1992, and number 41 in New Zealand in October 1992.
 
Locally, "What Are You Under" performed strongest in Queensland, where it reached number 92 on the state chart.
 
I did actually hear this one at the time, and caught the music video on M.C. TeeVee.  I like the song and think it should have done much better chart-wise.
 
We'll see Definition of Sound next in 1993.
 


Number 136 “Deeper Than a River” by Olivia Newton-John
Peak: number 136
Peak date: 19 October 1992
Weeks in top 150: 3 weeks
Top 150 chart run: 136-142-(out for 1 week)-149
Weeks on chart: 4 weeks

We last saw Australian/English/American (take your pick!) singer Olivia Newton-John in July 1992.

"Deeper Than a River" was released as the second new single from Olivia's Back to Basics: The Essential Collection 1971-1992 (number 15, September 1992) compilation.  The single only received a commercial release in Australia, but peaked at number 20 on the US Billboard Adult Contemporary chart in September 1992.  As Olivia was undergoing chemotherapy treatment for breast cancer at the time, she was unable to film a music video or promote the release.  The song was penned by beige songwriter extraordinaire, Diane Warren.

On the state charts, "Deeper Than a River" performed strongest in Queensland, where it reached number 120.
 
We'll next see Olivia in 1995.



Number 142 “Countdown” by Lindsey Buckingham 
Peak: number 131
Peak date: 26 October 1992
Weeks in top 150: 5 weeks 
Top 150 chart run: 142-131-135-135-136
Weeks on chart: 10 weeks 

American singer-songwriter Lindsey Buckingham came to fame when he joined Fleetwood Mac alongside his then-partner Stevie Nicks in 1975.  He sang lead on their singles "Go Your Own Way" (number 20, April 1977) and "Big Love" (number 16, May 1987).  Lindsey struck out on his own in 1981 with the single "Trouble" topping the Australian singles chart for three weeks in February 1982.  Lindsey was also responsible for the theme song for the movie National Lampoon's Vacation, "Holiday Road", which was released locally in September 1983 but somehow failed to chart in Australia until the streaming era, where it reached number 701 in January 2016.

"Countdown" was issued as the lead single in Australia from Lindsey's third solo studio album Out of the Cradle (number 135, October 1992).  Internationally, the single peaked at number 98 in the UK in July 1992, number 64 in the Netherlands in September 1992, number 66 in Germany in September 1992, and number 29 in Canada in October 1992.  It also registered on a couple of US Billboard genre-specific charts, reaching number 38 on the Mainstream Rock Airplay chart in October 1992, and number 32 on the Adult Contemporary chart in October 1992.

Domestically, “Countdown” was most popular in South Australia/Northern Territory, where it reached number 86 on the state chart.
 
I hadn't heard this one before, but like it.

Lindsey will not 'trouble' the ARIA top 150 again as a solo artist.



Number 147 “Night Calls” by Joe Cocker
Peak: number 133
Peak date: 9 November 1992
Weeks in top 150: 5 weeks 
Top 150 chart run: 147-137-137-133-146

Gravel-voiced English singer Joe Cocker last joined us in July 1992.

"Night Calls" was issued as the third single and title track from Joe's thirteenth studio album Night Calls (number 23, September 1992) in Australia.  Internationally, the single peaked at number 44 in the Netherlands in November 1991, number 37 in Germany in December 1991, and number 11 in France in May 1992.

I don’t recall hearing this one before, and while it’s not something I would seek out, it wasn’t bad.

We will see Joe next in 1994.



Bubbling WAY down under:

Number 180 “Johnny Have You Seen Her?” by The Rembrandts
Peak: number 172
Peak date: 23 November 1992
Weeks on chart: 9 weeks 

American duo The Rembrandts last graced our presence in 1991.
 
"Johnny Have You Seen Her?" was issued as the lead single from the band's second album Untitled (number 158, October 1992).  Overseas, the single peaked at number 53 in Germany in November 1992.

Locally, "Johnny Have You Seen Her?" was most popular in Western Australia, where it reached number 120 on the state chart.

I don’t recall hearing this one before.  I enjoyed it more than I was expecting to, and think it’s better than The Rembrandts’ two Australian hits.

The Rembrandts will join us again in 1997.
 


Number 193 “Double Summer” by The Chills
Peak: number 180
Peak date: 9 November 1992
Weeks on chart: 5 weeks

Kiwi band The Chills last bubbled WAY down under in July 1992.
 
"Double Summer" was issued as the second and final single from The Chills' third studio album Soft Bomb (number 99, August 1992).  The single did not chart in New Zealand.

Locally, "Double Summer" performed strongest in South Australia/Northern Territory, where it reached number 117 on the state chart.

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

One thing I was unaware of until researching this post is that The Chills' lead singer,  Martin Phillipps, passed away unexpectedly in July 2024, aged 61.

While we will not see The Chills again, they had another very low-charting single in Australia with “When the Poor Can Reach the Moon” (number 1229, January 2016).  They also had later charting albums in Australia that peaked outside the top 100: Heavenly Pop Hits: The Best of (number 122, March 1995), Silver Bullets (number 501, November 2015), and Kaleidoscope World (number 1339, September 2016).



Number 195 “A Trip to Trumpton” by Urban Hype
Peak: number 187
Peak date: 26 October 1992
Weeks on chart: 5 weeks

English techno duo Urban Hype formed in Chandler's Ford, Hampshire, in 1988.  "A Trip to Trumpton" was their breakthrough release, and only real hit, in the UK, peaking at number 6 in July 1992.  The single also reached number 21 in Ireland in July 1992.

Domestically, "A Trip to Trumpton" performed strongest in Western Australia, where it reached number 144.  This is another example of Western Australia embracing early rave/breakbeat songs, more than other regions of Australia.

I became familiar with "A Trip to Trumpton" via the UK Chart Attack radio program, where it spent a couple of weeks in their top 5, consisting of songs that had not yet crossed over into international markets.  I also caught the video once on rage as a new release before the top 60 chart aired.
 
Along with tracks like The Prodigy's "Charly" and Smart E's "Sesame's Treet" (number 6, September 1992), "A Trip to Trumpton" belongs to the 'toytown techno' sub-genre, sampling its "Pugh, Pugh, Barney McGrew, Cuthbert, Dibble, Grub" lines from the BBC Trumpton children's television series from the 1960s.
 
Urban Hype would go on to have two further minor 'hits' in the UK with “The Feeling” (number 67 in the UK in October 1992) and “Living in a Fantasy” (number 57 in the UK in January 1993).   They also released an album Conspiracy to Dance, which does not appear to have been released in Australia.  "A Trip to Trumpton" would be the only Urban Hype release to chart locally.



Number 196 “Don’t You Worry ‘bout a Thing” by Incognito 
Peak: number 196
Peak date: 19 October 1992
Weeks on chart: 1 week 

British acid jazz band Incognito formed in London in 1979.  They would have to wait until the early 1990s, however, for major chart success in their homeland.

"Don't You Worry 'bout a Thing", originally recorded by Stevie Wonder in 1973 and released as a single the following year, was the lead single from Incognito's third album Tribes, Vibes and Scribes (number 194, October 1992).  Internationally, Incognito's version peaked at number 19 in the UK in June 1992, number 40 in Sweden in July 1992, number 6 in the Netherlands in August 1992, number 46 in Germany in August 1992, and number 30 in the Flanders region of Belgium in August 1992.

In Australia, "Don't You Worry 'bout a Thing" performed strongest in Western Australia, where it reached number 147.

Incognito would not land a top 100 single in Australia, but two of their albums dented the ARIA top 100:  100° and Rising (number 79, August 1995) and No Time Like the Future (number 84, May 1999).
 
We shall next see Incognito in 1994.



Number 221 “Bulletproof!” by Pop Will Eat Itself
Peak: number 221
Peak date: 19 October 1992
Weeks on chart: 1 week 

English band Pop Will Eat Itself last paid us a visit in July 1992.

"Bulletproof!" was issued as the single from Pop Will Eat Itself's fourth studio album The Looks Or the Lifestyle? (number 165, October 1992).  The single peaked at number 24 in the UK in August 1992.

Within Australia, "Bulletproof!" was most popular in Western Australia, where it reached number 190 on the state chart.

I wasn't aware of this one at the time, but have since caught the music video on rage a few times over the years.  I couldn't remember how the song went though until pressing play on the video embedded below.
 
We shall next see Pop Will Eat Itself in 1993.



Number 223 “Soul Cat Girl” by Grayson Hugh
Peak: number 209
Peak date: 26 October 1992
Weeks on chart: 3 weeks 

American singer-songwriter Grayson Hugh previously visited us in June 1990.

"Soul Cat Girl" was issued as the only commercial single from Grayson's third studio album, and second major label release, Road to Freedom, which was released in Australia in November 1992, but missed the top 150.  "Soul Cat Girl" appears to have only received a commercial release as a single in Australia.

On the state charts, "Soul Cat Girl" performed strongest in Western Australia, where it reached number 165.  This would be Grayson's last charting single in Australia.
 


Next week (26 October): Six top 150 entries and eight bubbling WAY down under debuts.

12 October 2024

Week commencing 12 October 1992

Of this week in 1992’s new entries peaking outside the top 100: I only knew one of them at the time. Perhaps these songs are new to you, too?  Let’s take a look.

Indecent Obsession could not achieve a ‘decent’ chart position with this release in 1992.

Top 150 debuts:

Number 116 “Domino” by Kiss
Peak: number 110
Peak date: 26 October 1992
Weeks in top 150: 5 weeks
Top 150 chart run: 116-116-110-116-130
Weeks on chart: 6 weeks 

We last saw American glam rock band Kiss in 1990.

“Domino” was the second single issued from the band’s sixteenth studio album Revenge (number 5, July 1992), following “God Gave Rock & Roll to You II” (number 18, August 1992). Unlike most Kiss tracks, “Domino” has lead vocals sung by the band’s bassist, Gene Simmons.

Internationally, “Domino” peaked at number 26 on the US Billboard Mainstream Rock Airplay chart in October 1992.

Domestically, the single performed strongest in South Australia/Northern Territory, where it reached number 83.

The song and music video seem very out of touch with what was happening in 1992 - i.e. this kind of rock/metal had been largely replaced with grunge and alternative music. My initial thought upon watching the music video for the first time was… this is bad.

Kiss will not bubble under again on the singles chart, other than with “Hell Or Hallelujah” (number 584, July 2012). I will definitely not be writing these chart recaps for 2012.  Several later albums peaked outside the top 100, some of which are older albums listed as though they are new entries on the ARIA database, including Double Platinum (number 175, February 1995), Dynasty (number 186, February 1995), Animalize (number 224, February 1995), Unmasked (number 189, February 1995), Playlist Plus (number 258, March 2009), Love Gun (number 216, November 2014), and Rocks Vegas (number 401, September 2016).



Number 136 “Rebel with a Cause” by Indecent Obsession 
Peak: number 122
Peak date: 19 October 1992
Weeks in top 150: 5 weeks
Top 150 chart run: 136-122-125-133-138
Weeks on chart: 6 weeks 

Aussie band Indecent Obsession formed in Brisbane in 1987, although one of the band members, guitarist Andrew Coyne (the one with long hair), was from my hometown, Geelong.  The group signed with former Countdown host Ian “Molly” Meldrum’s Melodian label, which he set up to promote local, young talent.  The group burst onto the scene in mid-1989 with their debut single “Say Goodbye” (number 6, August 1989), which I first became aware of when my sister bought the cassingle for this track.  Looking at the single sleeve, they seemed like Australia’s answer to Bros (who my then 15 year-old sister was also a fan of). The trouble with having ‘pin up’ looks (well, the aforementioned Andrew excepted) and appealing to/being marketed as an act that appeals to teenage girls, is that it’s then difficult for other demographics to take your work seriously, even if you’re also a ‘real’ band who write their own songs and play instruments, and that was definitely the case for Indecent Obsession.  It didn’t help that the initial pressing of the band’s debut album Spoken Words (number 28, December 1989) depicted them standing on the beach wearing wetsuits.  The album’s artwork was later changed, due to them copping so much flack over it.

Indecent Obsession’s second single “Tell Me Something” (number 17, October 1989) gave them some minor international success, reaching number 31 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in September 1990, which is not bad at all for a new pop act from down under.

They received diminishing returns with the third and fourth singles issued from Spoken Words, “Come Back to Me” (number 40, January 1990) and “Never Gonna Stop” (number 72, February 1990).  The band were the support act on the Australian leg of Kylie Minogue’s Enjoy Yourself tour in early 1990.  I remember a girl from my class went to that show just to see Indecent Obsession.

The band returned in 1992 with their second album Indio (number 39, August 1992), led by the single “Kiss Me” (number 27, May 1992), which topped the singles chart in South Africa.  “Rebel with a Cause” was the third release from the album, following “Indio” (number 41, August 1992).  I remember seeing “Rebel with a Cause” being reviewed in Smash Hits magazine, but did not hear it until obtaining the VHS compilation I ripped the music video (embedded below) from about ten years ago.  I think all of the Indio singles deserved to do much better on the charts.

On the state charts, “Rebel with a Cause” was most popular in Queensland, where it reached number 99.

We shall next see Indecent Obsession in 1993.



Number 146 “Shame Shame Shame” by Sinitta
Peak: number 135
Peak date: 26 October 1992
Weeks in top 150: 146-139-135
Top 150 chart run: 3 weeks
Weeks on chart: 7 weeks 

We last saw British-American songstress Sinitta in 1990.

“Shame Shame Shame”, co-produced by Phil Harding and Ian Curnow from PWL, was issued as the lead single of what would eventually become Sinitta’s third album in 1995, Naughty Naughty, released only in Spain and several East Asian countries.  It was an album of cover versions, and “Shame Shame Shame” was originally recorded by Shirley & Company, with their version peaking at number 16 in Australia in August 1975.

Sinitta’s version of “Shame Shame Shame” peaked at number 28 in the UK in July 1992, and number 30 in Ireland during the same month.

Locally, the single was most successful in South Australia/Northern Territory, where it reached number 103.

I remember catching the video for this one on M.C. TeeVee.

This would be Sinitta’s final release in Australia.  She would go on to land a few more low-charting singles, all cover versions, in the UK in 1993, including an EP of Supremes covers.  While Sinitta may have landed in cover version hell after parting ways with Stock Aitken Waterman in 1989, her relationship with Simon Cowell continued to pay dividends, providing Snit (as I remember Number One magazine referring to her) with work in the reality TV karaoke contest world this century.



Bubbling WAY down under:

Number 177 “High” by Hyper Go Go
Peak: number 177
Peak date: 12 October 1992
Weeks on chart: 8 weeks

The two founding members of English house act Hyper Go Go met at school in Colchester.  “High” was their first release on trendy dance label Deconstruction, giving the band their first taste of commercial success.  “High” peaked at number 30 in the UK in August 1992, and number 45 in the Netherlands in November 1992.

Domestically, “High” performed strongest in Western Australia, where it reached number 139.  I have noticed before that these early rave/breakbeat tracks seemed to often do best in Western Australia.

“High” would eventually appear on the act’s only album National Anthems, which failed to chart in Australia.  A 1996 remix of the single peaked at number 32 in the UK in October 1996.

Although I do not recall hearing this one before, the piano riff sounds very familiar.  Update: a reader has kindly informed me that the riff is sampled from Rhythm Is Rhythm’s “Strings of Life”, from 1989.



Number 180 “Come with Me (Tonite)” by Astral Project
Peak: number 179
Peak date: 23 November 1992
Weeks on chart: 7 weeks 

Australian house act Astral Project were Arden Godrey and Andy Van Dorsselaer; the latter being better known as Andy Van, who was one half of Madison Avenue. Madison Avenue scored four out of four top 10 hits in Australia with their singles, including “Don’t Call Me Baby” (number 2, November 1999) and “Who the Hell Are You?” (number 1 for two weeks in June 2000).

“Come with Me (Tonite)” was the first of two singles released by the band, and the only one to chart.  The single was most popular in Victoria/Tasmania, where it reached number 155.

I first heard this one on the free Australian Music Day 1992 promotional CD compilation, which a friend from school gifted me about a year later.  It’s quite ahead of its time for Australian dance music back then.

The pair’s second single, “Feel It”, was released as a double A-side with a new mix of “Come with Me”, in 1994.



Number 199 “Generations” by Inspiral Carpets
Peak: number 199
Peak date: 12 October 1992
Weeks on chart: 4 weeks

English band Inspiral Carpets last graced our presence in July 1992.

“Generations” was the fourth single released from the band’s third album Revenge of the Goldfish (number 123, June 1993), and the fourth consecutive release by the band to peak between number 177 and 199 in Australia.  “Generations” performed much better In the band’s homeland, peaking at number 28 in the UK in September 1992.

In Australia, “Generations” performed strongest in Western Australia, where it reached number 157.

While I don’t recall hearing this one before, it’s on a DVD of Inspiral Carpets music videos I own that I haven’t fully watched yet.  I quite enjoyed “Generations” and would listen to it again.

We’ll next see Inspiral Carpets in 1993.



Number 220 “Low Life in High Places” by Thunder
Peak: number 220
Peak date: 12 October 1992
Weeks on chart: 1 week

English hard rock band Thunder formed in London in 1989.  “Low Life in High Places”, their first and only single to chart in Australia, was the first single issued from the band’s second studio album Laughing on Judgement Day.

Internationally, “Low Life in High Places” peaked at number 22 in the UK in August 1992, number 47 in the Netherlands in October 1992, and number 44 in New Zealand in February 1993.

Locally, “Low Life in High Places” was most popular in Western Australia, where it reached number 193.

I have this peak as it’s an artist late blog reader Brad asked for.  He often liked rock/metal acts more than I do, but I quite enjoyed listening to this one, which I otherwise would probably have never heard.

Thunder had five low-charting albums in Australia between 2016 and 2021, with Rip It Up (number 237, March 2017) being the highest-charting of those.

Although we won’t see Thunder again on their own, a cover version they recorded for a charity single, on which multiple artists perform versions of the same track, will bubble under in early 1994.



Next week (19 October): Seven top 150 entries and six bubbling WAY down under debuts.

05 October 2024

Week commencing 5 October 1992

One thing all this week's new entries peaking outside the top 100 have in common is that they all peaked within the month of October 1992.  Let’s take a look.
 
Bananarama: movin' on and out of the ARIA top 100.
 
Top 150 debuts:
 
Number 132 "The Ballad of Peter Pumpkinhead" by XTC
Peak: number 132
Peak date: 5 October 1992
Weeks in top 150: 1 week
Top 150 chart run: 132
Weeks on chart: 7 weeks

English band XTC formed in Swindon in 1972.  Between 1979 and 1992, they placed nine singles on the Australian top 100, with "Senses Working Overtime" (number 12, May 1982) being the biggest of those.  Their only other single to dent the top 40 during the 1980s was "Generals and Majors" (number 24, November 1980).

"The Ballad of Peter Pumpkinhead" was the second single issued from the band's twelfth studio album Nonsuch (number 75, July 1992).  It followed "The Disappointed" (number 32, July 1992), which was the band's third and final top 40 hit in Australia.

Internationally, "The Ballad of Peter Pumpkinhead" peaked at number 71 in the UK in June 1992, and number 48 in Canada in July 1992.  The single also registered on the meaningless US Billboard Mainstream Rock Airplay chart, peaking at number 46 in May 1992, and on the Modern Rock Tracks chart, where it reached number 1 in May 1992.

Locally, "The Ballad of Peter Pumpkinhead" performed strongest in Queensland, where it reached number 91 on the state chart.

I don't recall hearing this one at the time.  My favourite XTC single is probably "Mayor of Simpleton" (number 89, April 1989).

We'll next see XTC in 2000 (if I'm still writing these posts for that year).  Before then, they had two albums bubble under in Australia: Fossil Fuel - The XTC Singles Collection (number 105, November 1996), and Homespun (number 308, November 1999).  We shall also see a cover version of "The Ballad of Peter Pumpkinhead" bubble under in 1995!



Number 144 "Chain of Fools" by Girl Overboard
Peak: number 138
Peak date: 12 October 1992
Weeks in top 150: 4 weeks
Top 150 chart run: 144-138-145-149
Weeks on chart: 13 weeks

We last saw Melbourne band Girl Overboard in 1990.

"Chain of Fools" was the second single released from the band's second - and final - studio album Go (number 91, March 1993), following "Your Love" (number 70, August 1992).
 
On the state charts, "Chain of Fools" performed strongest in New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory, where it reached number 121.
 
I didn't know "Chain of Fools" at the time, but it is my favourite Girl Overboard single.  A fan of theirs sent me the music video on a DVD in the mid-2000s.  I have mentioned before that I participate in a 'song contest' on the Pop Justice music forum, where participants enter a pre-2000 song by an obscure-ish artist that was not a major chart hit in the US or UK, and come up with a list of their ten favourite tracks from the songs submitted, which are assigned points in Eurovision style (you cannot vote for your own submission).  I entered "Chain of Fools" a couple of years ago, not expecting it to do that well, and it came second out of about 30 songs, only missing the top spot by one or two points, so obviously other people liked it!  I think the single would have done better had it been promoted properly.
 
We shall see Girl Overboard on one more occasion, in 1993.



Number 145 "My Destiny" by Lionel Richie
Peak: number 125
Peak date: 12 October 1992
Weeks in top 150: 4 weeks
Top 150 chart run: 145-125-135-133
Weeks on chart: 5 weeks

American singer-songwriter Lionel Richie was the lead singer in The Commodores, who placed nine singles on the Australian top 100 between 1974 and 1982, with "Three Times a Lady" (number 1 for five weeks in October-November 1978) being the biggest one of those.  "Three Times a Lady" was actually number one when I was born!

Lionel left The Commodores in 1982 and embarked on a solo career, although he had already tasted success as a solo artist, dueting with Diana Ross on "Endless Love" (number 1 for four weeks in October 1981).  Between 1981 and 1992, Lionel landed 14 solo top 100 singles in Australia, with the aforementioned "Endless Love", "All Night Long (All Night)" (number 1 for six weeks in December 1983-January 1984), and "Hello" (number 1 for three weeks in June 1984) topping the chart.

Lionel's previous major hit, and last one to make the top 40, in Australia was "Dancing on the Ceiling" (number 2, September 1986).  "My Destiny" was the second new track released as a single to promote Lionel's Back to Front (number 1, June 1992) compilation album.  It followed "Do It to Me" (number 45, June 1992).

Internationally, "My Destiny" peaked at number 1 in the Netherlands in September 1992, number 7 in the UK in September 1992, number 10 in Ireland, number 23 in Canada in October 1992, number 6 in the Flanders region of Belgium in October 1992, number 38 in New Zealand in October 1992, number 18 in France in November 1992, number 23 in Germany in November 1992, number 19 in Switzerland in November 1992, and number 22 in Austria in December 1992.  It also registered on three meaningless US Billboard genre-specific charts, peaking at number 56 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart in September 1992, number 7 on the Adult Contemporary chart in October 1992, and number 75 on the Radio Songs chart in January 1993.

"My Destiny" was a much more-modest 'hit' in Australia, being most popular in Victoria/Tasmania, where it reached number 94 on the state chart.

We'll next see Lionel in December 1992.



Bubbling WAY down under:

Number 175 "Love Hates Stares" by Scarlet
Peak: number 164
Peak date: 19 October 1992
Weeks on chart: 6 weeks

Scarlet were an Australian band, based in Sydney.  I didn't think I had heard this one before, but I may have heard part of it, as it appeared on the free Coca-Cola Australian Music Day 1992 CD compilation, which someone gave me about a year after its release.

"Love Hates Stares" was the band's debut release.  The single performed strongest on the South Australia/Northern Territory state chart, where it reached number 159.  Given that the music video, embedded below, has garnered less than 1200 views in 14 years, I figure that not many people were aware of the band or this release.  Scarlet never landed a top 100 single or album in Australia.

"Love Hates Stares" does not appear on Scarlet's debut, and only, album Magnolia (number 144, October 1995).

We shall next see Scarlet in 1993.
 

 
Number 177 "Movin' On" by Bananarama
Peak: number 177
Peak date: 5 October 1992
Weeks on chart: 4 weeks

We last saw English vocal trio Bananarama in 1991.  Since then, the group had pared down to a duo, with Jacquie O'Sullivan, who joined the group in 1988 following Siobhan Fahey's departure, leaving - or rather, being told her services were no longer required - in the later months of 1991.  Founding members Keren Woodward and Sara Dallin intended to continue as a duo after Siobhan quit the group, but everyone around them insisted they needed a replacement, in keeping with the image of Bananarama as three girls.  Jacquie was essentially treated as an employee/the hired help during her tenure with the band, never having much of a say in the group's decisions or direction.  It didn't help that interviewers continued to refer to her as "the new girl", three years after she had joined the group.

"Movin' On" was the lead single from Bananarama's sixth studio album Please Yourself (number 222, June 1993).  The group had returned to producers Mike Stock and Pete Waterman (of Stock Aitken Waterman - Matt Aitken left the partnership in mid-1991) for the recording of Please Yourself, after largely parting ways with them for their previous album Pop Life (number 146, August 1991), although that album contained two Stock Aitken Waterman compositions.  Bananarama's previous Stock Aitken Waterman-produced album, WOW! (number 1, June 1988), was their most successful in Australia.
 
The sound Stock Waterman were going for with Please Yourself was described as "ABBA Banana", inspired by the Swedish super-group.  It sounded somewhat dated, though, for 1992, even though the ABBA revival was on the cusp of happening.  After the experimental sounds (well, for Bananarama) on Pop Life, the Please Yourself era seemed a step backwards for Bananarama, and the album's lack of commercial success would ultimately cost the duo their 11-year contract with London Records.  Although the pair continued to record, they would not release music again in the UK until an attempted comeback in 2005 with the Drama album (number 334, April 2006).

Internationally, "Movin' On" peaked at number 24 in the UK in August 1992, number 52 in Germany in October 1992, number 34 in the Netherlands in October 1992, and number 33 in the Flanders region of Belgium in November 1992.

In Australia, "Movin' On" was most popular in Victoria/Tasmania, where it reached number 170 on the state chart.

I heard "Movin' On" on the UK Chart Attack radio program; I otherwise would not have been aware of its release at the time, though saw the single in the shops here during the term 3 school holidays (though I was looking for it).
 
"Movin' On" was the only single released from Please Yourself in Australia.  Two further singles were issued from the album in the UK/Europe - "Last Thing on My Mind" (number 71 in the UK in November 1992), and a cover version of Andrea True Connection's "More, More, More" (number 24 in the UK in March 1993).  "Last Thing on My Mind" would go on to become a much bigger hit when Steps released their version of the track in 1998, which peaked at number 5 in Australia in August 1998.  Steps also covered "Movin' On" as an album track for their Steptacular (number 25, November 1999) album.

I recall Keren and Sara bagging former band mate Siobhan Fahey's contribution to Shakespears Sister's "Stay" (number 3, May 1992), presumably feeling slighted after Siobhan's admission that she "hated" the music Bananarama were making (with Stock Aitken Waterman) when she left the group, on UK Chart Attack, following the release of "Last Thing on My Mind".  They described Siobhan's part in the song as "a real low point", while expressing fondness for Marcella Detroit's part.  Ooh er!  They made up with Siobhan in 1996, however, and the original line up of Bananarama finally toured in 2017.

We'll next see Bananarama in 1996.



Number 201 "I Was Right" by Underground Lovers
Peak: number 174
Peak date: 19 October 1992
Weeks on chart: 5 weeks

Melbourne band Underground Lovers formed in 1988 as GBVG, changing the band's name in 1990.

"I Was Right" was the band's first major label single, and appears on their second studio album Leaves Me Blind (number 133, March 1993).  The single was most popular in Victoria/Tasmania, where it reached number 142 on the state chart.

I hadn't heard this one before.  The Underground Lovers tracks I was familiar with all have a male lead vocal, while this one doesn't.
 
Underground Lovers only managed to place one single on the ARIA top 100, "Losin' It" (number 93, September 1994).

We'll next see Underground Lovers in 1993.



Number 206 "Give It Up" by Wilson Phillips
Peak: number 206
Peak date: 5 October 1992
Weeks on chart: 3 weeks

We last saw American vocal trio Wilson Phillips in 1991.

"Give It Up" was issued as the second single from the group's second album Shadows and Light (number 30, August 1992), following "You Won't See Me Cry" (number 31, July 1992).
 
Internationally, "Give It Up" peaked at number 36 in the UK in August 1992, number 30 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in September 1992, number 54 in Germany in October 1992, and number 16 in Canada in October 1992.  It also registered on two US Billboard genre-specific charts, peaking at number 40 on the Radio Songs chart in September 1992, and number 12 on the Adult Contemporary chart in October 1992.
 
Domestically, "Give It Up" performed strongest in South Australia/Northern Territory, where it reached number 166 on the state chart.
 
I remember hearing this one on the American Top 40 radio show.  The production sounds quite similar to the album version of Amy Grant's "Every Heartbeat" (number 17, September 1991) to my ears.  I hadn't seen the video before, and forgot that Wendy sang lead vocal on this one instead of Chynna.
 
This would be Wilson Phillips' final single to chart in Australia, although a third single from Shadows and Light, "Flesh & Blood", was released locally in February 1993, with Carnie singing lead on the verses.

Wilson Phillips would split in 1993.  Chynna Phillips would go on to have some solo success in Australia, although, oddly, not much in the rest of the world.  Chynna landed two notable solo hits locally, with "Naked and Sacred" (number 15, June 1996) and "I Live for You" (number 9, November 1996).  She also had a minor 'hit' with "Just to Hear You Say That You Love Me" (number 64, February 1997).  All three singles appear on Chynna's only solo album Naked and Sacred (number 35, November 1996).

Wilson Phillips would reform for a one-off performance in 2001, then again from 2004 to 2006, before reuniting properly in 2010.  They had three later low-charting albums in Australia, with Greatest Hits (number 414, November 2000), California (number 281, November 2004), and Dedicated (number 509, May 2012).



Number 214 "Bell Bottomed Tear" by The Beautiful South
Peak: number 214
Peak date: 5 October 1992
Weeks on chart: 1 week

English band The Beautiful South last visited us in 1991.
 
"Bell Bottomed Tear" was released as the second single in Australia from the band's third studio album 0898 Beautiful South (number 145, June 1992).  It followed "Old Red Eyes Is Back", which was released locally in March 1992 but did not chart.  In the band's homeland, "Bell Bottomed Tear" was the third single form the album, with "We Are Each Other" (not released in Australia) issued in between.

"Bell Bottomed Tear" peaked at number 16 in the UK in June 1992.  In Australia, the single was most successful in Western Australia, where it reached number 185 on the state chart.
 
I hadn't heard this one before.  It's nice enough, but not terribly exciting.

We'll next see The Beautiful South in 1994.



Next week (12 October): Three top 150 entries and four bubbling WAY down under debuts.