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.

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

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 

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 

Known chart run: 165-134-121-124-122-126-116

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.

< Previous week: 12 October 1992                  Next week: 26 October 1992 >

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.

< Previous week: 5 October 1992                      Next week: 19 October 1992 >