Week commencing 16 November 1992

One thing connecting all of this week in 1992's new entries peaking outside the top 100 is that they all peaked during the month of November 1992.  Before we take a look at them, I wish to alert you that I have added top 150 chart runs to my April and May 1992 posts.

Melissa: not many took up the invitation to come to her house with this single.

Top 150 debuts:

Number 129 “Youth Against Fascism” by Sonic Youth

Peak: number 123

Peak date: 23 November 1992

Weeks in top 150: 4 weeks 

Chart run: 129-123-133-136

Weeks on chart: 4 weeks 

We last saw American band Sonic Youth in 1991.

 

"Youth Against Fascism" was issued as the second single from the band's seventh studio album Dirty (number 22, August 1992), following  “100%” (number 67, August 1992), which was their first ARIA top 100 single.

Internationally, "Youth Against Fascism" peaked at number 52 in the UK in November 1992, and at number 39 in New Zealand in February 1993.

In Australia, "Youth Against Fascism" was most popular in South Australia/Northern Territory, where it reached number 111 on the state chart.

We'll next see Sonic Youth in 1993.

 

Number 131 “My House” by Melissa

Peak: number 119

Peak date: 23 November 1992

Weeks in top 150: 7 weeks 

Chart run: 131-119-132-146-145-(chart repeated for 2 week Xmas break)

Weeks on chart: 7 weeks 

Melissa Tkautz (pronounced "cowts"), known mononymously as just 'Melissa' for her pop career at this point, came to fame playing the role of Nikki Spencer on the Australian soap opera E Street, which she joined in 1990.  Melissa was the first actor from E Street to launch a pop career, releasing her debut single “Read My Lips” (number 1 for two weeks in July 1991) in May 1991, which topped the ARIA singles chart.  She swiftly followed it up with “Sexy (Is the Word)” (number 3, September 1991), followed by a long delay before her third single “Skin to Skin” (number 16, May 1992).  All three tracks were lifted from Melissa's debut album Fresh (number 15, June 1992), which spent a mere 7 weeks on the ARIA top 100 albums chart despite its top 20 peak.  Like several Australian pop acts of the time, releasing an album long after the artist's initial/peak success hampered Melissa's career.  You need to strike while the iron is hot!

"My House" was originally intended to be released as a single in August 1992, even appearing as a 'single of the week' on the printed ARIA top 50 charts available freely in record stores that month.  Why it took another three months to eventually hit the shops, I do not know, but much of the momentum had been lost, and the single faltered outside the ARIA top 100.

"My House" performed strongest on the Queensland state chart, where it reached number 107.

Interestingly, Vika Bull from Vika & Linda released a pop/dance version of  “My House” on dance label Colossal Records in 1987, with different verse lyrics.  It feels odd hearing Vika's voice on a dance track, but it works.

 

Melissa released another single, not from the Fresh album, “Is It…?” (number 39, July 1993), which just scraped into the top 40.  Subsequent plans for a second album were abandoned.

Melissa finally returned to recording in 2005, this time using her surname on her releases, with a cover version of Sheila E's “The Glamorous Life” (number 31, September 2005).  Her second album Lost & Found (number 380, December 2005) barely registered a blip on the chart.  My favourite single from Melissa's attempted 'comeback' era would be  “Easily Affected” (number 86, November 2006).

 

Given that I will not be recapping charts into the 2010s, I will reveal here that Melissa Tkautz had later low-charting singles with "Gotta Let You Go" (number 357, May 2015) and "The Key" (number 736, June 2017).   She also had another low-charting album with the compilation The Hits & More (number 481, August 2012).

Number 134 “Sentinel” by Mike Oldfield

Peak: number 134

Peak date: 16 November 1992

Weeks in top 150: 3 weeks 

Top 150 chart run: 134-139-144

English musician, songwriter and producer Mike Oldfield first came to prominence with the Tubular Bells (number 1, May 1974) album, the title track of which (number 12, June 1974) was used as the theme music for the horror film The Exorcist.  Between 1974 and 1984, Mike Oldfield placed six singles on the Australian top 100, with "Moonlight Shadow" (number 6, September 1983) featuring Maggie Reilly being the biggest of those.  "Moonlight Shadow" was an early favourite song of mine; my mum bought the 7" vinyl single for me.

"Sentinel" was issued as the lead single from Mike's fifteenth studio album Tubular Bells II (number 12, September 1992).  Internationally, the single peaked at number 10 in the UK in October 1992, and at number 14 in Ireland during the same month.

 

I remember reading an article on Tubular Bells II in the free Brashs Music magazine, but did not hear this song at the time.

Number 140 “Taillights Fade”/“Velvet Roof” by Buffalo Tom

Peak: number 140

Peak date: 16 November 1992

Weeks in top 150: 2 weeks

Top 150 chart run: 140-148

American band Buffalo Tom formed in Boston, Massachusetts in 1986.  "Taillights Fade" and "Velvet Roof" are lifted from the band's third studio album Let Me Come Over (number 81, October 1992).  The singles were issued as separate releases in Europe and North America; it appears that they were paired together as a double A-side release only in Australia.  I hadn't heard either track before, but liked "Taillights Fade" more.

Internationally, "Taillights Fade" peaked at number 51 in the Netherlands in May 1992, and at number 87 in the UK in June 1992.

Buffalo Tom would eventually land a top 100 single in Australia, their only one, with "Rachael" (number 99, October 1998).

Number 148 “Teen Angst (What the World Needs Now)” by Cracker

Peak: number 148

Peak date: 16 November 1992

Weeks in top 150: 2 weeks 

Top 150 chart run: 148-149

Weeks on chart: 12 weeks 

American band Cracker formed in Richmond, Virginia in 1990.  "Teen Angst (What the World Needs Now)" was issued as the band's debut single, lifted from their debut album Cracker (number 178, November 1992).

 

Overseas, "Teen Angst..." peaked at number 150 in the UK in April 1992, and at number 65 in Canada in July 1992.  It also registered on the US Billboard Alternative Airplay chart, reaching number 1 on it in May 1992, and at number 27 on the Mainstream Rock Airplay chart in June 1992.

 

In Australia, "Teen Angst..." performed strongest in Western Australia, reaching number 121 on the state chart.

 

I don't recall where I first heard "Teen Angst...", but I definitely knew the song at the time.  I suspect I probably heard it aired on Triple M.  I think it could have been a bigger hit with more promotion.

 

Cracker would eventually score a top 100 hit in Australia, their only one, with “Low” (number 63, September 1994).

We shall next see Cracker in 1993.

Number 149 “Leap of Faith” by Bruce Springsteen

Peak: number 133

Peak date: 23 November 1992

Weeks in top 150: 2 weeks 

Chart run: 211-149-133

Weeks on chart: 3 weeks

'The Boss' last paid us a visit in July 1992.

 

"Leap of Faith" was the second single issued from one of Bruce's two 1992 albums, Lucky Town (number 6, April 1992), and the fourth released from the combined set.

Internationally, "Leap of Faith" peaked at number 48 in Canada in August 1992, number 46 in the UK in October 1992, number 23 in Sweden in November 1992, and number 38 in the Netherlands in November 1992.  The song also peaked at number 28 on the US Billboard Mainstream Rock Airplay chart in September 1992.

Locally, "Leap of Faith" was most popular in Queensland, where it reached number 108 on the state chart.

A live performance was used for the music video, embedded below.  You can listen to the studio version of "Leap of Faith" here.  I hadn't heard this one before, but didn't mind it.

We'll next see Bruce in 1993.

Bubbling WAY down under:

Number 157 “Lover You Send Me Colours” by Londonbeat

Peak: number 157

Peak date: 16 November 1992

Weeks on chart: 3 weeks 

English band Londonbeat last graced our presence in June 1992.

 

"Lover You Send Me Colours" was issued as the second single in Australia from the band's third studio album Harmony (number 181, November 1992).

 

Internationally, "Lover You Send Me Colours" peaked at number 40 in Sweden in August 1992, number 26 in the Netherlands in September 1992, number 18 in the Flanders region of Belgium in October 1992, and at number 33 in Germany in October 1992.

 

Domestically, "Lover You Send Me Colours" performed strongest in Western Australia, reaching number 132 on the state chart.

"Lover You Send Me Colours" does not appear to have been released as a single in the UK.  They instead seem to have gone with “That’s How I Feel About You” (UK number 69, October 1992), which was released in Australia in February 1993 but failed to chart.

 

I hadn't heard "Lover You Send Me Colours" until writing this post.  I quite enjoyed it, particularly the bridge leading into the chorus, and think it deserved to be a much bigger hit.

 

We shall see Londonbeat on one more occasion, in 1995.

Number 188 Daze of Our Lives EP by Dazy Chains

Peak: number 188

Peak date: 16 November 1992

Weeks on chart: 1 week

Dazy Chains were an Australian trio, formed in Sydney in 1988.  The Daze of Our Lives EP, led by the track "Hatred" (the music video for which is embedded below), was their only charting release.  The EP performed strongest in New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory, where it reached number 181.

I discovered this one a few years ago when the video appeared on an Australian promo music video VHS compilation I picked up.

 

Dazy Chains split in 1993.

Number 200 “I Want You” by Sophie B. Hawkins

Peak: number 200

Peak date: 16 November 1992

Weeks on chart: 3 weeks 

American singer-songwriter Sophie B. Hawkins last paid us a visit in September 1992.  "I Want You", a cover version of a song originally recorded by Bob Dylan (number 72, August 1966), was issued as the third and final single from Sophie's debut album Tongues and Tails (number 38, November 1992).

 

Internationally, "I Want You" peaked at number 49 in the UK in January 1993.  In Australia, the single was most popular in Queensland, where it reached number 173 on the state chart.

 

Sophie will next pay us a visit in 1994.

Next week (23 November): A mammoth week with 14 top 150 entries and three bubbling WAY down under debuts.

< Previous week: 9 November 1992                     Next week: 23 November 1992 >

Week commencing 9 November 1992

Before writing this post, I had only heard one of this week in 1992’s new entries peaking in the 101-150 region of the chart.  Perhaps they are new to you, too?  Let’s take a look.

The Cure could only ‘wish’ their latest single made the ARIA top 100 in 1992.

Top 150 debuts:

Number 120 “Always Tomorrow” by Gloria Estefan

Peak: number 107

Peak date: 23 November 1992

Weeks in top 150: 8 weeks 

Chart run: 174-120-117-107-113-121-131-(chart repeated for 2 week Xmas break)

Weeks on chart: 9 weeks

Gloria Estefan last graced our presence in 1991.

“Always Tomorrow” was issued as a new track to promote Gloria Estefan’s Greatest Hits (number 21, November 1992) compilation album, which also contained singles released as Miami Sound Machine or Gloria Estefan and Miami Sound Machine.  The track is somewhat different from Gloria’s other singles that I am familiar with, in that it is acoustic guitar-based, and Gloria is shown playing the guitar (I was not aware that she played an instrument) in the music video.

Internationally, “Always Tomorrow” peaked at number 24 in the UK in October 1992, number 27 in Ireland in October 1992, number 15 in the Netherlands in November 1992, and number 81 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in November 1992.  The song also reached number 5 on the US Billboard Adult Contemporary chart in November 1992.

Locally, “Always Tomorrow” was most popular in Victoria/Tasmania, where it reached number 90 on the state chart.

I remember seeing this single reviewed in Smash Hits magazine at the time, but did not hear it until writing this post.

We will next see Gloria in 1993.

Number 128 “A Letter to Elise” by The Cure

Peak: number 103

Peak date: 30 November 1992

Weeks in top 150: 8 weeks 

Known chart run: 161-128-138-105-103-112-117-(chart repeated for 2 week Xmas break)

Weeks on chart: 11 weeks

English band The Cure formed in 1976.  Up until this point in 1992, they had placed 19 singles on the Australian top 100, including two different versions of "Boys Don't Cry" (number 26, August 1986).  Their highest-charting single in Australia was "High" (number 5, March 1992), although "The Lovecats" (number 6, March 1984) and "Close to Me" (number 7, February 1986) are probably better-known.  My favourite Cure singles are probably "Lovesong" (number 82, October 1989), "Just Like Heaven" (number 89, November 1987) and "Never Enough" (number 22, October 1990).

"A Letter to Elise" was issued as the third single from The Cure's ninth studio album Wish (number 1, May 1992), following the aforementioned "High" and "Friday I'm in Love" (number 39, June 1992), which surprisingly only scraped into the top 40 here.

Internationally, "A Letter to Elise" peaked at number 28 in the UK in October 1992, number 23 in Ireland in October 1992, number 39 in Sweden in October 1992, and number 13 in New Zealand in November 1992.  The song also registered on the US Billboard Alternative Airplay chart, where it reached number 2 in August 1992.

Within Australia, "A Letter to Elise" performed strongest on the New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory state chart, where it reached number 76.  The single also peaked 36 places higher nationally on the Australian Music Report singles chart, where it reached number 67.

I don't think I heard this one until buying The Cure's Galore: The Singles 1987-1997 (number 45, November 1997) compilation album.  I don't mind it, but it's not one of their best.

We'll next see The Cure in 1996.

Number 134 “Shuffle It All” by Izzy Stradlin and The Ju Ju Hounds

Peak: number 117

Peak date: 23 November 1992

Weeks in top 150: 5 weeks 

Top 150 chart run: 134-123-117-139-141

 

Born Jeffrey Dean Isbell, Izzy Stradlin came to fame as Guns N' Roses' rhythm guitarist.  Izzy quit the group in November 1991 at the height of their fame, forming Izzy Stradlin and The Ju Ju Hounds.  Their debut single "Pressure Drop" (number 47, October 1992), crept into the lower region of the ARIA top 50.  I hadn't actually heard that song until writing this post - it did not air during the rage top 60 chart, as no music video was filmed for the track.

 

"Shuffle It All" was released as the second single from the Izzy Stradlin and The Ju Ju Hounds (number 42, November 1992) album.  Internationally, the single peaked at number 54 in Canada in December 1992, and at number 85 in the UK during the same month.

This would be the last Izzy Stradlin release to trouble the ARIA top 150.

Number 140 “She’ll Be Right, Mate” by Slim Dusty

Peak: number 129

Peak date: 23 November 1992

Weeks in top 150: 3 weeks 

Top 150 chart run: 140-142-129

Aussie country music legend Slim Dusty has previously paid us a visit in 1981.

"She'll Be Right Mate" was lifted from Slim's 83rd (!) album - according to a chronological list on Wikipedia - That's the Song We're Singing (number 123, November 1992).  No music video is available for this track on YouTube, but you can view a live performance of it here.

 

Slim will join us next in 1994.

Number 144 “Sliding” by Living Daylights

Peak: number 144

Peak date: 9 November 1992

Weeks in top 150: 1 week

Top 150 chart run: 144

From what I can gather, Living Daylights were an Australian band, containing members Boyd Wilson and Denise Di Marchi,  They released an album Living Daylights  in Japan in 1994, but this does not appear to have been released in Australia.  I hadn’t heard, or even heard of, this one before.

 

We will see Living Daylights again in 1993.

Number 146 The Mark Curry EP by Mark Curry

Peak: number 146

Peak date: 9 November 1992

Weeks in top 150: 2 weeks 

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

American singer-songwriter Mark Curry started out in the band Crystal Sphere before going solo in 1992.  "Sorry About the Weather", the lead track from The Mark Curry EP, reached number 20 on the US Billboard Alternative Songs chart in October 1992.  I cannot find evidence of it charting elsewhere.

I had never heard of Mark Curry before writing this post.  "Sorry About the Weather" isn't bad, although I find it annoying that the music video (embedded below) plays in the background while a couple talk in front of the television.  You can hear the track more clearly here.

 

Mark's debut solo album It's Only Time was released in Australia in November 1992, but missed the top 150.  This EP would be Mark's only ARIA top 150 entry.

Number 150 “Whatcha’ Need” by Bootsauce

Peak: number 150

Peak date: 9 November 1992

Weeks in top 150: 1 week

Top 150 chart run: 150

It seems quite a week for obscure artists I've never heard of before, and here's yet another.  Bootsauce were a Canadian band, formed in Montreal in 1989.  "Whatcha' Need" was lifted from their second album Bull, which does not appear to have been released in Australia.

Internationally, "Whatcha' Need" peaked at number 50 in Canada in July 1992.

I didn't mind this one.  Bootsauce split in 1996, and this would be their only Australian top 150 entry.

Bubbling WAY down under:

Number 189 “Lovin’ You” by Shanice

Peak: number 189

Peak date: 9 November 1992

Weeks on chart: 6 weeks 

We last saw American songstress Shanice in July 1992.

"Lovin' You" was issued as the third single from Inner Child (number 111, May 1992) in Australia.  The song is a cover version of Minnie Riperton's "Lovin' You" (number 5, May 1975).  We saw another cover version of this song bubble under in 1990. Shanice's version updates the song for the early 90s, with an R&B sound.

 

Internationally, Shanice's version of "Lovin' You" peaked at number 54 in the UK in November 1992.  The song also reached number 59 on the US Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.

 

Domestically, "Lovin' You" was most popular in Queensland, where it reached number 164 on the state chart.

 

I hadn't heard Shanice's version of "Lovin' You" before, but liked it.  It translates into an early 90s R&B track better than I was expecting it to.

 

We shall next see Shanice in 1993.

Number 190 “How Soon Is Now?” by The Smiths

Peak: number 190

Peak date: 9 November 1992

Weeks on chart: 3 weeks 

The Smiths last graced our presence in September 1992.

 

Continuing the re-release campaign to promote their Best ...1 (number 64, October 1992) compilation, "How Soon Is Now?" was originally released in Australia in March 1985, but failed to chart.  The 1985 release of the single peaked at number 24 in the UK in February 1985, number 5 in Ireland in February 1985, and number 39 in New Zealand in June 1985.  It also reached number 36 on the US Billboard Dance Singles Sales chart in March 1985.

The 1992 release of "How Soon Is Now?" peaked at number 16 in the UK in September 1992, and at number 16 in Ireland during the same month.  Domestically, the single performed strongest in Queensland, reaching number 174 on the state chart.

I first heard "How Soon Is Now?" when catching the music video on rage among the new releases airing before the top 60 chart began, in late 1992.  My first encounter with the song was via it being sampled prominently on Soho's "Hippychick" (number 21, January 1991).

 

I concur with the comments on YouTube, where people state that the "I am human and I need to be loved, just like everybody else does" chorus lyrics on this song hit hard.  I also like to think I can do a quite reasonable impression of Morrissey's voice on the chorus of this track. 

It's a testament to "How Soon Is Now?"'s enduring popularity that the track reached number 4 on the US Billboard Alternative Digital Song Sales chart in November 2023.

We shall see The Smiths with another re-release in early 1993.

Number 206 “Soul Inspiration” by Simon Climie

Peak: number 206

Peak date: 9 November 1992

Weeks on chart: 1 week 

Simon Climie came to fame as one half of English duo Climie Fisher, whom we last saw in February 1989; although they were essentially one-hit wonders in Australia, with "Love Changes (Everything)" (number 23, October 1988).  Before that, Simon had some success as a songwriter for other artists, co-writing Pat Benatar's "Invincible" (number 23, October 1985) and Aretha Franklin & George Michael's "I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)" (number 1 for 4 weeks in March-April 1987).

"Soul Inspiration" was Simon's debut solo single, lifted from the Soul Inspiration album, which does not appear to have been released in Australia.  Internationally, the single peaked at number 60 in the UK in September 1992, number 44 in the Netherlands in November 1992, and number 60 in Germany in December 1992.  The track was later remixed by Phil Harding and Ian Curnow, formerly of PWL, and re-released as "Shine a Light (Soul Inspiration)", peaking at number 87 in the UK in July 1993.

 

Locally, "Soul Inspiration" performed strongest in New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory, where it reached number 188 on the state chart.

 

I wasn't familiar with this track until ripping the music video from a German VHS compilation about 15 year ago.  It could have become a hit with better promotion, I think.

 

This would be Simon's only solo charting release in Australia.

Number 207 “Only Love” by Maybe Dolls

Peak: number 207

Peak date: 9 November 1992

Weeks on chart: 1 week

We last saw Aussie band Maybe Dolls in May 1992.

"Only Love" was issued as the fourth and final single from the band's debut - and only - album Propaganda (number 25, March 1992).  The single was most popular in New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory, where it reached number 189 on the state chart.

I hadn't heard this one before, but like it.  If a music video exists, it has not yet made its way onto YouTube.

This would be Maybe Dolls' final chart entry.  They released another single, "Goodbye", in August 1993, but it seems to have disappeared without a trace, and cannot be found anywhere to listen to online.

Number 210 “Strange Weather” by Glenn Frey

Peak: number 210

Peak date: 9 November 1992

Weeks on chart: 1 week

We last saw Glenn Frey in September 1992.

"Strange Weather" was issued as the fourth and final single in Australia from Glenn's fourth solo album Strange Weather (number 120. September 1992).  I cannot find evidence of the single charting elsewhere.  In Australia, "Strange Weather" was most popular in Western Australia, where it reached number 179 on the state chart.

No music video appears for this track on YouTube, but you can view a live TV performance of the song here.

 

This would be Glenn's last charting single in Australia.  He had later low-charting albums with Live (number 224, August 1993), After Hours (number 180, October 2012), and Above the Clouds: The Very Best of (number 769, June 2018).

Next week (16 November): Six top 150 entries and three bubbling WAY down under debuts.

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

Week commencing 2 November 1992

Three of this week in 1992's four new top 150 entries are cover versions, and one of the bubbling WAY down under debuts is an EP of four cover versions.  Before taking a look at them, I wish to alert you that I have added top 150 chart runs for all of my June 1992 chart recaps (a work in progress).

Alannah Myles scored a flop instead of a hit this week in 1992.

Top 150 debuts:

Number 131 “Highway to Hell (Ballad of Jed Clampett)” by The Fargone Beauties

Peak: number 106

Peak date: 23 November 1992

Weeks in top 150: 6 weeks 

Top 150 chart run: 131-119-112-106-125-133

 

We last saw Aussie band The Fargone Beauties in 1991.

 

"Highway to Hell (Ballad of Jed Clampett)" was issued as the lead single from the band's second album It's Hard When You're Ugly (number 147, November 1992).  As you might suspect from the title. it's a cover version of the AC/DC song "Highway to Hell" (number 24, October 1979)... re-worked in country style, complete with banjos.  Jed Clampett was the patriarch of the American TV sitcom The Beverly Hillbillies.  Funnily enough, I commented last time that The Fargone Beauties' music sounded to me like it could have featured in that series.

I recall catching the video for "Highway to Hell..." on rage as a new release, airing before the top 60 chart commenced.

We'll see The Fargone Beauties once more, in 1993.

Number 140 “Theme from M.A.S.H. (Suicide Is Painless)” by Manic Street Preachers

Peak: number 139

Peak date: 9 November 1992

Weeks in top 150: 3 weeks 

Known chart run: 163-140-139-144

Weeks on chart: 8 weeks 

Welsh band Manic Street Preachers last paid us a visit in August 1992.

 

"Theme from M.A.S.H. (Suicide Is Painless)" was recorded for the NME's charity album Ruby Trax (The NME's Roaring Forty), which I discussed in an earlier post from September 1992.  Forty different artists recorded forty cover versions of UK number 1 singles for this album.  "Suicide Is Painless", the theme song from the TV series M*A*S*H*, was originally recorded in 1970 by The Mash, peaking at number 1 in the UK for three weeks in May-June 1980.  In Australia, the single peaked at number 52 in September 1980.

 

Internationally, Manic Street Preachers' version of "Theme from M.A.S.H. (Suicide Is Painless)" peaked at number 7 in the UK in September 1992, number 12 in Ireland, number 21 in Sweden in November 1992, and number 40 in New Zealand in February 1993.

Locally, "Theme from M.A.S.H. (Suicide Is Painless)" performed strongest in Western Australia, where it reached number 116 on the state chart.

 

The subtitle of the song is slightly ironic, given that the band's rhythm guitarist, Richey Edwards, went missing on 1 February 1995, and is presumed dead, possibly by suicide.  His car was abandoned at a service station near the Severn Bridge, which is a known suicide site.

 

I first heard the Manics' version of this track when picking up the 3-CD Ruby Trax in the now-defunct Melbourne alternative music store Au Go Go Records, in their upstairs second-hand/collectables section in 1999.  It was one of the better cover versions on Ruby Trax, in my opinion, and I have enjoyed rocking out to this song on my car CD player (how quaint) when no-one is watching…

 

We shall next see Manic Street Preachers in 1993.

Number 142 “Dancing Queen” by Abbacadabra

Peak: number 104

Peak date: 9 November 1992

Weeks in top 150: 6 weeks 

Top 150 chart run: 142-104-121-109-109-134

 

Abbacadabra were, as you might suspect from the name, an ABBA covers act, formed in the UK in 1991, and known for their dance reworkings of ABBA songs.  The original ABBA version of "Dancing Queen" spent eight weeks at number 1 in Australia in September-October 1976, and the 1992 re-issue to promote the ABBA Gold compilation (number 1 for 4 weeks in December 1992) peaked at number 37 in November 1992.

The Abbacadabra version of "Dancing Queen" was mixed by Dave Ford and Pete Waterman (of Stock Aitken Waterman) for PWL.  Vocals were performed by Linda Taylor and Karen Boddington, who sang the female vocal part on the original Home and Away TV theme.

Overseas, Abbacadabra's version of "Dancing Queen" peaked at number 57 in the UK in August 1992, and at number 29 in Ireland in September 1992.

The track appears on Abbacadabra's debut album Abbasalute, which does not appear to have been released in Australia.

We will see another, home-grown ABBA-tribute act in December 1992, and another ABBA covers release further below this week!

Number 147 “Everybody” by Paul Begaud

Peak: number 130

Peak date: 23 November 1992

Weeks in top 150: 6 weeks

Top 150 chart run: 147-137-147-130-134-144

 

"Everybody" was Australian singer/songwriter/producer Paul Begaud's (pronounced 'buh-GO') only release.  The song was written by Andrew Klippel, from Euphoria, and Ean Sugarman, who was also involved with Euphoria.  Andrew Klippel performs backing vocals on the chorus.

A music video exists for this track - I remember seeing it on TV a couple of times, but has not yet made its way onto YouTube.  While "Everybody" was not a commercial success, Paul went on to become a successful songwriter/producer for other artists, including Human Nature, Leah Haywood, Selwyn, Tina Arena, and Honeyz.  He wrote "End of the Line" for Honeyz, which peaked at number 5 in the UK in December 1998, and number 24 in Australia in April 1999.

Bubbling WAY down under:

Number 152 “Song Instead of a Kiss” by Alannah Myles

Peak: number 152

Peak date: 2 November 1992

Weeks on chart: 6 weeks 

 

Canadian singer-songwriter Alannah Myles (real name Alannah Byles) burst onto the chart in Australia in early 1990 with "Black Velvet" (number 3, February 1990), though it made its understated debut at number 163 in October 1989.  Preceding "Black Velvet" was "Love Is", Alannah's debut single, which was released in Australia in June 1989 and crept into the top 150 in August of that year, initially climbing to number 128 in September 1989.  The success of "Black Velvet" renewed interest in "Love Is", and it eventually climbed to its peak of number 12 in April 1990, spending 48 weeks on the chart in total.  Both tracks appeared on her triple-platinum debut album Alannah Myles (number 2, May 1990), and were followed up with two minor hits, "Still Got This Thing" (number 64, May 1990) and "Lover of Mine" (number 47, October 1990), the latter of which was my favourite single from the album.  "Lover of Mine" was a much bigger hit on the South Australia/Northern Territory state chart than elsewhere, where it reached number 4. No-one seems to do rock ballads quite as well as the Canadians, it seems.

"Song Instead of a Kiss" was the lead single from Alannah's second album Rockinghorse (number 65, October 1992).  I was not aware that Alannah had new material out until Rockinghorse appeared as album of the week on the printed ARIA top 50 charts that were available for free in record stores at the time.  I didn't hear "Song Instead of a Kiss" until January 1993, catching the second half of the song while channel surfing on AM radio.  I had a cassette tape ready to record, and recorded it onto that.  The single no doubt suffered from a lack of promotion.  It's my favourite Alannah Myles song, and I think it deserved to do much better on the chart.  You can hear the full-length version of the track, with its extended luscious strings intro, here.

Fortunately for Alannah, "Song Instead of a Kiss" was a big hit in her homeland, spending four weeks at number 1 in Canada in Novermber-December 1992.  The song was not a huge success elsewhere, however, peaking at number 89 in the UK in November 1992, and at number 35 in the Netherlands in February 1993.

 

In keeping with all four of Alannah's previous charting singles in Australia, "Song Instead of a Kiss" was most successful in South Australia/Northern Territory, where it reached number 121 on the state chart.  "Black Velvet" topped the South Australia/Northern Territory state chart, "Love Is" reached number 5 on it, and "Still Got This Thing" peaked at number 38 - all peaks being higher than any of the other state charts.

 

Like many recording artists, Alannah was unfortunately screwed over royally by her record company, Atlantic Records, making virtually no money from her recording career in the early 1990s.  She still owed the company millions of dollars earlier this century, and received her first royalty cheque, of a measly US$5000, in 2008.  It’s quite shocking that artists can be so exploited and left in debt despite having major international success.

The 'wrap' Alannah wears in the music video for "Song Instead of a Kiss" reminds me of fellow Canadian Shania Twain's leopard print outfit she wears in the "That Don't Impress Me Much" (number 2, March 1999) video.

 

We will not see Alannah again, although she released another single from Rockinghorse in Australia, "Living on a Memory", in July 1993, which failed to chart.

Number 196 “Instant Karma!” by John Lennon (1992 re-issue)

Peak: number 196

Peak date: 2 November 1992

Weeks on chart: 3 weeks 

 

Ex-Beatle John Lennon's "Instant Karma!" was originally released as a single in early 1970, credited to the Plastic Ono Band.  It peaked at number 5 in the UK in February 1970, number 3 in Ireland, number 7 in the Netherlands in March 1970, number 3 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in March 1970, number 2 in Canada in March 1970, number 9 in Switzerland in April 1970, number 4 in Austria in April 1970, number 4 in the Flanders region of Belgium in April 1970, number 1 in the Wallonia region of Belgium in April 1970, number 5 in Australia on the Go Set charts in May 1970, and number 9 in Norway.   Somewhat fitting the song's title, "Instant Karma!" was written, recorded and released within a period of ten days, rendering it one of the fastest-released songs in pop history!  It was a non-album single.

"Instant Karma!" was re-released as a single in continental Europe (oddly not in the UK) in 1992, initially given away with early editions of The John Lennon Video Collection.  The 1992 release peaked at number 7 in Germany in August 1992, number 10 in the Netherlands in August 1992, number 31 in Switzerland in August 1992, and number 29 in the Flanders region of Belgium in August 1992.

 

Domestically, the 1992 release of "Instant Karma!" was most successful in Western Australia, where it reached number 158 on the state chart.

 

John would bubble WAY down under again in 2018 with his 1971 track "Jealous Guy" (number 1477, October 2018), which, to my surprise, was not released as a single during his lifetime, but was listed as an AA-side on the 1988 re-issue of the "Imagine" (number 21, December 1988) single.

Number 208 “Silk Pyjamas” by Thomas Dolby

Peak: number 208

Peak date: 2 November 1992

Weeks on chart: 1 week 

We last saw English singer-songwriter Thomas Dolby in September 1992.

 

"Silk Pyjamas" was released as the third single from Thomas' fourth studio album Astronauts & Heretics (number 123, August 1992).  Internationally, the single peaked at number 62 in the UK in September 1992.

Locally, "Silk Pyjamas" performed strongest in New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory, where it peaked at number 189 on the state chart.

I hadn't heard this one before, but liked it.  This would be Thomas' last singles chart entry in Australia.  He had a later low-charting album, though, with Original Album Series (number 892, March 2017).

Number 218 “The Further in We Go” by Suzanne Rhatigan

Peak: number 218

Peak date: 2 November 1992

Weeks on chart: 1 week 

I first became aware of Irish singer-songwriter Suzanne Rhatigan when seeing her name appear in the backing vocal credits in the liner notes on Sonia's Everybody Knows album.  Suzanne worked with several Stock Aitken Waterman-produced artists, although her vocal contributions were not limited to back-up.  As revealed in the Chart Beats podcast series on Stock Aitken Waterman-produced singles (check out episode 29), Suzanne's voice was "ghosted" on Mandy Smith's records.  This normally means that the voice is mixed together with the (supposed) singer's vocals, but in this instance, Suzanne basically was "the voice of Mandy Smith".  In case you are wondering who Mandy Smith is, she was Rolling Stones' bass guitarist Bill Wyman’s much younger girlfriend, and later wife.  Mandy was a mere 13 and Bill was in his late 40s when they began "dating" (ick); the pair married in 1989 when Mandy was 18.  Not surprisingly, the marriage ended in divorce a mere two years later.

As the voice of Mandy Smith, Suzanne scored three top 100 singles in Australia, with "I Just Can't Wait" (number 91, May 1987), "Victim of Pleasure" (number 78, December 1988), and "Don't You Want Me Baby" (number 90, July 1989).  "Mandy" also had two singles that narrowly missed the top 100: "Positive Reaction" (number 7 on the Australian Music Report 'significant sales reports beyond the top 100' list in March 1988), and "Boys and Girls" registered on two ARIA state charts (number 81 in Victoria/Tasmania, and number 73 in Western Australia - both in July 1988) but not the national chart.  The Mandy album (number 144, December 1988) also registered on the ARIA albums chart.

Suzanne told her mother that her voice was used on Mandy's "I Just Can't Wait" single, and her mother revealed this information to the Irish press, which understandably severed her relationship with Stock Aitken Waterman, and she was effectively fired... temporarily.  The trio invited her back, however, to record a follow-up after "I Just Can't Wait" became a hit across continental Europe.  Despite not being given credit for Mandy's vocals, Suzanne does not seem bitter about the experience in her interview for the Chart Beats podcast.

Now onto Suzanne's recording career under her own name... "The Further in We Go" was issued as the lead single from Suzanne's debut, and only, album To Hell with Love, which was released in Australia in February 1993 but failed to chart.  "The Further in We Go" missed the UK top 200 singles chart, and I cannot find evidence of it charting elsewhere.  The single was released in Australia at the end of September 1992, but took just over a month to chart.

Locally, "The Further in We Go" was most popular in South Australia/Northern Territory, where it reached number 161.

I hadn't heard this track before, but did hear the follow-up, which we will see next month.  I remember reading an interview with Suzanne in the free Brashs in-store magazine, where she spoke about being "a bitch".

If playing the video embedded below to hear the song, note that it's the whole album - skip to 10:14 minutes in to hear "The Further in We Go".

Number 224 Abba-esque (The Remixes) EP by Erasure

Peak: number 224

Peak date: 2 November 1992

Weeks on chart: 1 week

We last saw English synth-pop duo Erasure in March 1992.

 

Erasure scored their second, of only two, Australian top 40 hits - both peaking at number 13, with the Abba-esque EP (number 13, August 1992), containing covers of 4 songs originally recorded by Swedish supergroup ABBA.  "Take a Chance on Me" (the ABBA version peaked at number 12 in March 1978) was promoted as the lead track on the EP, but my favourite song from the EP is "Lay All Your Love on Me" (ABBA's original does not appear to have been released as a single in Australia).  The EP also contained covers of "S.O.S." (ABBA's version peaked at number 1 for one week in January 1976) and "Voulez Vous" (ABBA's version peaked at number 79 in September 1979).  Only "Take a Chance on Me" would appear on the Erasure compilation album Pop! The First 20 Hits (number 122, November 1992).

As I have mentioned previously, ARIA did not appear to know what to do with multi-part CD singles in 1992, with several remix singles charting in their own right as a separate release, rather than their sales being combined with the original/main release.  Here is another example, where the remixes version of Abba-esque charting separately.  This remix EP was released locally on the last Monday of September 1992, more than three months after the release of the original version.

The Abba-esque (The Remixes) EP did not chart separately elsewhere.  The Abba-esque EP peaked at number 1 in the UK for 5 weeks in June-July 1992, number 1 in Ireland, number 1 in Sweden in June 1992, number 3 in Switzerland in July 1992, number 85 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in July 1992, number 52 in Canada in July 1992, number 1 in Austria for 8 non-consecutive weeks between July and September 1992, number 4 in the Netherlands in August 1992, number 4 in the Flanders region of Belgium in August 1992, number 2 in Germany in August 1992, and number 42 in New Zealand in August 1992.

 

Locally, the Abba-esque (The Remixes) EP peaked highest in Western Australia, where it reached number 188 on the state chart. 

At the time of writing, number 224 is the lowest peak I have for the singles chart in 1992.

The four tracks on the Abba-esque (The Remixes) EP, all of which I have embedded below, are: "Voulez Vous" (Brain Stem Death Test Mix), "Lay All Your Love On Me" (No Panties Mix), "Take a Chance on Me" (Take a Trance On Me Mix), and "S.O.S." (Perimeter Mix).  Listening to each of these for the first time as I write this post, I can say that I didn't really like any of the mixes.  I am generally not a huge remix fan, except for extended versions of the original track.

 

We shall see Erasure again before the month is out! 

Next week (9 November): Seven top 150 entries and five bubbling WAY down under debuts.

< Previous week: 26 October 1992                    Next week: 9 November 1992 >

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 

Known chart run: 166-116-128-143-141

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 the UK.  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.

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