Week commencing 19 April 1993

Before we take a look at this week in 1993’s new entries peaking outside the top 100, I wish to inform you that I have resumed my series of posts on singles that made the Kent Music Report’s list of singles receiving significant sales reports beyond the top 100, here.  Now, back to 1993…

Billy Ray Cyrus: those locks were made for snippin’.

Top 150 debuts:

Number 135 “De-Emphasize” by Blazing Salads

Peak: number 135

Peak date: 19 April 1993

Weeks in top 150: 1 week

Top 150 chart run: 135

We last saw Australian duo Blazing Salads in March 1993.  “De-Emphasize” (note the American spelling) was the second single issued from their only album Blazing Salads (number 130, May 1993).

Two further singles were released by the duo, “A Little Ray of Sunshine” and “Out of Time” - neither of which made the top 150.

Number 137 “These Boots Are Made for Walkin’” by Billy Ray Cyrus

Peak: number 115

Peak date: 3 May 1993

Weeks in top 150: 5 weeks

Top 150 chart run: 137-118-115-125-131

Weeks on chart: 6 weeks

Hailing from Kentucky, American country singer Billy Ray Cyrus burst onto the chart in 1992 with his debut single “Achy Breaky Heart”, which was number 1 for seven weeks in September-November 1992, becoming the highest-selling single of the year in Australia.  One thing I didn’t realise until writing this post is that “Achy Breaky Heart” was originally recorded by The Marcy Brothers as “Don’t Tell My Heart” in 1991, with the slightly different chorus lyric, “my achy breakin’ heart”.  Like most artists who come out of nowhere with a novelty number one hit, Billy never landed a second top 40 single in Australia, with follow-up “Could’ve Been Me” (number 43, February 1993) falling just a few places short.

“These Boots Are Made for Walkin’”, a cover version of the 1966 number one Nancy Sinatra single, was issued as the third single from Billy’s debut album Some Gave All (number 1 for two weeks October 1992) in Australasia and Europe, while the US went with “She’s Not Cryin’ Anymore”.

Internationally, Billy Ray’s version of “These Boots Are Made for Walkin’” peaked at number 63 in the UK in November 1992, number 27 in the Netherlands in February 1993, number 32 in the Flanders region of Belgium in February 1993, and number 42 in New Zealand in April 1993.

In Australia, “These Boots…” was most popular in Queensland, where it reached number 90 on the state chart.

We’ll next see Billy Ray in November 1993.

Number 143 “Hate It When You Leave” by Keith Richards

Peak: number 143

Peak date: 19 April 1993

Weeks in top 150: 1 week

Top 150 chart run: 143

Weeks on chart: 5 weeks

Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards last paid us a visit in 1992.

“Hate It When You Leave” was issued as the second single from Keith’s second solo album Main Offender (number 96, November 1992).  While I cannot find evidence of this single charting anywhere else at the time of its release, interestingly, it registered on several UK format-specific charts (which I didn’t know existed until now) in 2020, following a special Record Store Day release.  The re-release of “Hate It When You Leave” peaked at number 81 on the Offical Singles Sales Chart (so excluding streaming), number 10 on the Official Physical Singles Chart, and number 8 on the Official Vinyl Singles Chart - all in October 2020.  I am thinking that the music video embedded below, although set to the audio of the original 1992 recording, may have been put together for the 2020 re-release, given the ’(2020)’ alongside the title.

In Australia, the 1993 release of “Hate It When You Leave” performed strongest in South Australia/Northern Territory, where it reached number 107.

Keith had six low-charting singles in Australia between 2015 and 2019, with “Amnesia” (number 871, September 2015) being the ‘biggest’ of those.

Number 147 “Sweet Harmony” by The Beloved

Peak: number 147

Peak date: 19 April 1993

Weeks in top 150: 2 weeks

Top 150 chart run: 147-148

Weeks on chart: 8 weeks

We last saw English electronic band The Beloved in 1991.  Since then, the group’s lineup had pared back to singer Jon Marsh and his wife Helena.

“Sweet Harmony” was the lead single from the second Beloved studio album Conscience (number 144, April 1993).  Internationally, the single peaked at number 8 in the UK in January 1993, number 14 in Ireland, number 3 in Austria in March 1993, number 14 in Sweden in March 1993, number 40 in the Flanders region of Belgium in April 1993, number 6 in Germany in May 1993, number 6 in Switzerland in May 1993, number 21 in the Netherlands in July 1993, and number 16 in France in November 1993.  “Sweet Harmony” also peaked at number 14 on the US Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 in May 1993, number 23 on the Alternative Airplay chart in May 1993, and number 23 on the Dance Club Songs chart in June 1993.  As you might have surmised from all of these stats, “Sweet Harmony” was The Beloved’s biggest international hit, as well as their highest-charting single in their native UK.

In Australia, where The Beloved were criminally underrated, “Sweet Harmony” would be their third biggest ‘hit’.  On the state charts, the single performed strongest in Western Australia, where it reached number 122.

Owing to the UK Chart Attack radio show wrapping up in Melbourne in early January 1993, I did not hear “Sweet Harmony” until early 1996, when flipping between radio stations.  Triple M, of all stations, were playing it, when they had a brief period of adding dance/pop to their playlist.  I thought it was a new release, liked it, and recorded it onto cassette (how quaint).  I am thinking that the ‘nude’ (though very well covered up) music video may have not helped “Sweet Harmony” receive exposure on TV.  It’s a shame that this song didn’t receive proper promotion in Australia.  It’s easily my favourite new entry this week.

We’ll next see The Beloved in June 1993.

Bubbling WAY down under:

Number 166 “Happy Birthday to Me” by Cracker

Peak: number 157

Peak date: 3 May 1993

Weeks on chart: 6 weeks

American rock band Cracker last paid us a visit in 1992.

“Happy Birthday to Me” was the second single released from the band’s debut album Cracker (number 178, November 1992).  The only other chart this single registered on was the US Billboard Alternative Airplay chart, where it reached number 13 in July 1992.

Domestically, “Happy Birthday to Me” was most popular in Western Australia, reaching number 130 on the state chart.

I hadn’t heard this one before; it’s quite good.

Cracker will next join us in 1994.

Number 177 “Never Saw a Miracle” by Curtis Stigers

Peak: number 177

Peak date: 19 April 1993

Weeks on chart: 1 week

American jazz singer Curtis Stigers last joined us in 1992.

“Never Saw a Miracle” was issued as the third single in Australia from Curtis’ debut album Curtis Stigers (number 84, October 1992), in late January 1993.  I’ve got a sneaking suspicion that ARIA have made a boo-boo on their database, as the follow-up single, “You’re All That Matters to Me”, was released in Australia one week prior to this chart survey, on 12 April 1993, and it would make much more sense for that release to be debuting at number 177 one week later than a single that came out twelve weeks’ prior.

Overseas, “Never Saw a Miracle” peaked at number 34 in the UK in October 1992, and number 39 in Canada in November 1992.  The single also peaked at number 7 on the US Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 chart in December 1992, and number 5 on the Adult Contemporary chart in November 1992

Locally, “Never Saw a Miracle” performed strongest in Victoria/Tasmania, reaching number 169 on the state chart.

If this listing should actually be “You’re All That Matters to Me”, that release peaked at number 98 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in March 1992, number 6 in the UK in April 1992, number 11 in Ireland in April 1992, number 38 in Canada in April 1992, number 83 in the Netherlands in May 1992, number 32 in the Flanders region of Belgium in June 1992, and number 54 in Germany in July 1992.  The track also reached number 17 on the US Billboard Adult Contemporary chart in April 1992.

I recall hearing “Never Saw a Miracle” at the time, but not “You’re All That Matters to Me”.  Of the two, I prefer “Never Saw a Miracle”.

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

Number 196 “If I Should Fall Behind” by Bruce Springsteen

Peak: number 196

Peak date: 19 April 1993

Weeks on chart: 2 weeks

American singer-songwriter Bruce Springsteen last paid us a visit in 1992.

“If I Should Fall Behind” was the third single released in Australia from Bruce’s tenth studio album Lucky Town (number 6, April 1992).  It appears that this track was only released as a single in Australia and select continental European countries.  I cannot find evidence of “If I Should Fall Behind” charting elsewhere.  On the state charts, “If I Should Fall Behind” performed strongest in Queensland, where it reached number 173.

No music video appears to have been filmed for this track, although an official live recording (which sounds completely different to the studio version embedded below) has been uploaded to YouTube here.

I hadn’t heard this one before; it’s quite nice.

We’ll next see Bruce in 1995.

Number 203 “Fall from Grace” by Eskimos & Egypt

Peak: number 186

Peak date: 24 May 1993

Weeks on chart: 5 weeks

Hailing from Manchester, UK band Eskimos & Egypt would be best known by Australians for their remix of Headless Chickens’ “Cruise Control” (number 26, November 1994), which was the version that became a hit here.

“Fall from Grace”, lifted from the band’s debut album Perfect Disease (released in Australia in January 1994, did not chart), peaked at number 51 in the UK in February 1993.  Locally, “Fall from Grace” was most popular in Western Australia, where it reached number 167.  The track features vocals from Diane Charlemagne, who went on to front Urban Cookie Collective, who had top 10 hits in Australia with “The Key: The Secret” (number 4 for 5 weeks in November-December 1993) and “Feels Like Heaven” (number 10, January 1994).  Sadly, Diane passed away in 2015, aged 51, from kidney cancer.  We’ll see Urban Cookie Collective bubble under in 1994.

Eskimos & Egypt will join us again in August 1993.

Number 204 “Many Rivers to Cross” by Cher

Peak: number 204

Peak date: 19 April 1993

Weeks on chart: 1 week

American singer/actress Cher last visited us in January 1993.

“Many Rivers to Cross”, a cover of the Jimmy Cliff song from 1969, was the second new single released from Cher’s Greatest Hits 1965-1992 (number 48, December 1992).  To my surprise, it is a live recording, ‘live from The Mirage’.  The song had been performed live by Cher since at least 1975, with a live rendition performed for The Cher Sow in 1975.  The lyric, “’cause I’ve been licked, washed up for years” sounds particularly poignant, coming from Cher.

Internationally, Cher’s version of this track peaked at number 37 in the UK in March 1993.  In Australia, “Many Rivers to Cross” performed strongest in Western Australia, where it reached number 168 on the state chart.

A third new single from Cher’s Greatest Hits 1965-1992, “Whenever You’re Near”, was released in Australia in June 1993, but failed to chart.

Cher will next join us in 1996.

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

< Previous week: 12 April 1993                    Next week: 26 April 1993 >

Kent Music Report beyond the top 100: 18 April 1983

After a two year break, welcome back to my series of posts on singles that made the Kent Music Report’s list of singles receiving significant sales reports beyond the top 100, which never actually made the top 100.  Accordingly, there will not be a post for every week for this series of posts - I will only make a post when at least one of the listed titles missed the national top 100.

A honeymoon never came on the charts for Aussie band The Honeymoon.

Beyond the top 100:

Position 11 “Love Wakes Up” by The Honeymoon

Highest rank: 11th

Peak date: 18 April 1983

Weeks on below list: 1 week

The Honeymoon were an Australian band, originating in Sydney.  “Love Wakes Up” was the lead single from The Honeymoon’s debut and only album Promise, although they had an earlier, non-album single, “Break Your Heart”, which made the Kent Music Report singles receiving significant sales reports beyond the top 100 list in October 1982.  The Honeymoon never landed a top 100 entry in Australia.

Next post (2 May): one new entry peaking outside the top 100.

< Previous post: 7 March 1983               Next post: 2 May 1983 >

Week commencing 12 April 1993

This was a quieter week on the Australian chart in 1993, with only three known new entries debuting and peaking outside of the top 100.  The three entries are all new to me; perhaps they are new to you too?  Let’s take a look at them.

Martha Wash: big in every way except on the charts (in her own right).

Top 150 debuts:

Number 132 “Green Machine” by Kyuss

Peak: number 114

Peak date: 26 April 1993

Weeks in top 150: 5 weeks

Top 150 chart run: 132-118-114-129-141

American band Kyuss (rhymes with ‘bias’) formed in Palm Desert, California in 1988.  “Green Machine” was lifted from their second album Blues for the Red Sun (number 104, April 1993).

I could not find evidence of this one charting elsewhere, and was surprised to see that the music video embedded below is sourced from the long-running Australian music video TV program rage.  I don’t normally care much for metal on the heavier side, but as one of the YouTube commenters writes, “do not listen to this song while driving if you enjoy your driver’s licence”.

This would be the only top 150 single in Australia for Kyuss.

Bubbling WAY down under:

Number 173 “(We Don’t Need This) Fascist Groove Thang” (The Rapino Brothers Remixes) by Heaven 17

Peak: number 173

Peak date: 12 April 1993

Weeks on chart: 5 weeks

English band Heaven 17 formed in Sheffield in 1980.  Martyn Ware and Ian Craig Marsh were founding members of The Human League, but split from that group in late 1980, following personal and creative tensions.  Together, they formed the production duo British Electric Foundation (B.E.F.), and recruited singer Glenn Gregory to front Heaven 17.

“(We Don’t Need This) Fascist Groove Thang” was issued as the band’s first single in 1981, peaking at number 45 in the UK in March 1981, and number 72 in Australia in August 1981.  Between 1981 and 1993, Heaven 17 placed seven singles on the Australian top 100, with “Temptation” (number 38, September 1983) being the biggest of those, and the only one to make the top 50.

In late 1992, a Brothers in Rhythm remix of “Temptation” gave Heaven 17 their first UK top 10 single in nine years, and was also a minor hit in Australia, reaching number 64 in March 1993.  A compilation album Higher and Higher: The Best of (number 129, May 1993) was subsequently released, containing new mixes of a couple of the band’s early singles.  A Rapino Brothers remix of “(We Don’t Need This) Fascist Groove Thang” was issued as the second single from the album.

Internationally, the Rapino Brothers remix of “(We Don’t Need This) Fascist Groove Thang” peaked at number 40 in the UK in February 1993.  In Australia, the single performed strongest in Victoria/Tasmania, where it reached number 162 on the state chart.

I hadn’t heard this remix before, but liked it.

We shall see Heaven 17 again in June 1993.

Number 179 “Give It to You” by Martha Wash

Peak: number 179

Peak date: 12 April 1993

Weeks on chart: 2 weeks

We last saw American powerhouse vocalist Martha Wash in February 1993.

“Give It to You” was released as the second single from Martha’s debut solo album Martha Wash (released in Australia in April 1993, did not chart).  Internationally, “Give It to You” peaked at number 37 in the UK in February 1993, and at number 90 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in March 1993.  The song also registered on several US Billboard genre-specific charts, peaking at number 75 on the Radio Songs chart in March 1993, number 48 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart in March 1993, and number 1 on the Dance Club Songs chart for one week in April 1993.

Domestically, “Give It to You” was most popular in Western Australia, where it reached number 167.

I hadn’t heard this one before; it’s quite decent.

Martha will next bubble under in 1999.  Before then, she’ll score her only Australian top 100 single (where she is credited as Martha Wash), duetting with RuPaul on “It’s Raining Men - The Sequel” (number 64, March 1998).

Next week (19 April): Four top 150 entries and five bubbling WAY down under debuts.

< Previous week: 5 April 1993                          Next week: 19 April 1993 >

Week commencing 5 April 1993

Before taking a look at this week in 1993’s new entries peaking outside the top 100, earlier this week I completed the series of posts outlining the ARIA state chart number one singles that did not top the national chart between June 1988 and December 1989.  You can read Part 3, covering July 1989 to December 1989.

 

Billy Ocean barely made a ripple on the Australian chart in 1993 with this release.

 

Top 150 debuts:

 

Number 112 "Oceans" by Pearl Jam

Peak: number 110

Peak date: 19 April 1993

Weeks in top 150: 6 weeks (5 weeks in 1993; 1 week in 1995)

Top 150 chart run: 112-111-110-125-121

Re-entered 20 March 1995: 148

 

Seattle band Pearl Jam are, at least in my mind, synonymous with the early 90s grunge scene.  Formed in 1990, the group hit the Australian top 10 with their debut single "Alive" (number 9, April 1992), lifted from their debut album Ten (number 11, April 2009, after originally peaking at number 14 in April 1992).  "Oceans" was the fourth single released from Ten, following "Even Flow" (number 22, June 1992) and "Jeremy" (number 68, October 1992).

Internationally, "Oceans" peaked at number 30 in the Netherlands in February 1993, number 35 in the Flanders region of Belgium in February 1993, and number 16 in New Zealand in May 1993.

I am definitely not a fan of Pearl Jam, though don’t mind "Go" (number 22, October 1993).  I don’t recall hearing "Oceans" before.  I am surprised that a music video was produced for the song, given how few videos the band did, although they do not appear in this one.

"Oceans" re-entered the ARIA top 150 in March 1995, as one of four Pearl Jam singles re-issued and peaking between numbers 101 and 150.

   

 

Number 125 "Ruby Tuesday" by Rod Stewart

Peak: number 118

Peak date: 12 April 1993

Weeks in top 150: 5 weeks

Top 150 chart run: 125-118-123-135-146

Weeks on chart: 9 weeks

 

Raspy-voiced English veteran singer Rod Stewart last joined us in 1992.

"Ruby Tuesday", a cover version of the Rolling Stones song from 1966, was the second single released from Rod's covers album Lead Vocalist (number 96, April 1993).  It followed his rendition of  "Tom Traubert's Blues (Waltzing Matilda)" (number 82, January 1993).

Internationally, "Ruby Tuesday" peaked at number 11 in the UK in February 1993, number 19 in Ireland in February 1993, number 21 in the Netherlands in March 1993, number 39 in the Flanders region of Belgium in March 1993, and number 57 in Germany in April 1993.

In Australia, "Ruby Tuesday" performed strongest in Queensland, reaching number 81 on the state chart.

We’ll next see Rod in October 1993.

Number 140 "Promenade" by Underground Lovers

Peak: number 140

Peak date: 5 April 1993

Weeks in top 150: 4 weeks

Known chart run: 153-140-141-149-141

Weeks on chart: 7 weeks

Melbourne band Underground Lovers last bubbled under in 1992.

"Promenade" was the second single from the band's second album Leaves Me Blind (number 133, March 1993).  The single was most popular in New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory, where it reached number 118 on the state chart.

I hadn’t heard this one before.  It’s more guitar-heavy than the other Underground Lovers tracks I know.

We’ll next see Underground Lovers in August 1993.

 

Number 141 "I Was a King" by Eddie Murphy featuring Shabba Ranks

Peak: number 141

Peak date: 5 April 1993

Weeks in top 150: 1 week

Top 150 chart run: 141

American comedian, actor and sometime singer Eddie Murphy last joined us in 1990.

"I Was a King" was the lead single from Eddie’s third musical studio album Love’s Alright.  Eddie appears to have had the knack of duetting with problematic artists, teaming up with Jamaican dancehall artist Shabba Ranks, whom we last saw in 1992, for this release, and Michael Jackson for the next single "Whatzupwitu" (number 88, July 1993), which was Eddie’s last top 150 chart entry in Australia.

Internationally, "I Was a King" peaked at number 64 in the UK in February 1993, number 35 in Sweden in February 1993, and number 98 in Germany in March 1993.  "I Was a King" also registered on the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, reaching number 61.

While we won’t see Eddie again, Shabba will join us next in 1994.

Number 145 "Pressure" by Billy Ocean

Peak: number 145

Peak date: 5 April 1993

Weeks in top 150: 1 week

Known chart run: 171-145

Weeks on chart: 5 weeks

Billy Ocean, born Leslie Sebastian Charles in Trinidad and Tobago, then part of the British West Indies, was based in the UK for his recording career.  His first single "Nashville Rain" was released under the name Les Charles, in 1971.  "Love Really Hurts without You" (number 3 for two weeks in June-July 1976) was Billy’s first single released as Billy Ocean, and his first Australian hit.  Billy waited over eight years to land his second Australian hit, with "Caribbean Queen (No More Love on the Run)" (number 2, December 1984).  Between 1976 and 1989, Billy placed 11 singles on the Australian top 100, with "When the Going Gets Tough, The Tough Get Going" (number 1 for six weeks in March-April 1986), and "Get Outta My Dreams, Get Into My Car" (number 1 for five weeks in April-May 1988) being the biggest of those, reaching number one.

Billy was last on the Australian chart with "Licence to Chill" (number 76, November 1989), from his Greatest Hits (number 14, January 1990) compilation.  A second new single from Greatest Hits, "I Sleep Much Better (In Someone Else's Bed)", was released locally on 12" vinyl in March 1990, but did not chart.

"Pressure" was the lead single from Billy’s eighth studio album Time to Move On (released in Australia in June 1993, did not chart).  Internationally, the single peaked at number 55 in the UK in January 1993, number 44 in the Netherlands in March 1993, and number 39 in the Flanders region of Belgium in April 1993.

Locally, "Pressure" performed strongest in South Australia/Northern Territory, where it reached number 118 on the state chart.

Billy had one further, low charting, single in Australia, with "One World" (number 2650, January 2020).  He had later, low-charting albums with L.I.F.E. (number 123, August 1997), Let’s Get Back Together (number 584, March 2003), The Best of Billy Ocean (number 384, June 2009), Here You Are: The Best of Billy Ocean (number 242, May 2016), The Very Best of (number 695, May 2020), and One World (number 978, September 2020).

Bubbling WAY down under:

Number 165 "Photograph of Mary" by Trey Lorenz

Peak: number 155

Peak date: 3 May 1993

Weeks on chart: 6 weeks

We last saw American R&B singer Trey Lorenz in 1992.

"Photograph of Mary" was the second single released from Trey’s debut album Trey Lorenz.  Internationally, the single peaked at number 38 in the UK in January 1993, and number 31 in New Zealand in March 1993.  "Photograph of Mary" also peaked at number 18 on the US Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 chart in February 1993.  The song registered on several US Billboard genre-specific charts, reaching number 46 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart in March 1993, number 46 on the R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart in March 1993, number 11 on the Dance Club Songs chart in March 1993, and number 6 on the Dance Singles Sales chart in March 1993.

In Australia, "Photograph of Mary" performed strongest in Western Australia, where it reached number 125 on the state chart.

I hadn’t heard this one before.  I don’t mind it.

This was Trey’s last charting release in Australia.

Number 204 "Open Up" by Suzanne Rhatigan

Peak: number 204

Peak date: 5 April 1993

Weeks on chart: 1 week

 

Irish singer Suzanne Rhatigan last paid us a visit in 1992.

"Open Up" was Suzanne’s third and final single to chart in Australia, from her debut and only album To Hell with Love (released in Australia in February 1993, did not chart).  The single was most popular in Western Australia, where it reached number 169 on the state chart.

Skip to 4:39 in the video embedded below to hear "Open Up".

 

Next week (12 April): Just one new top 150 entry and two bubbling WAY down under debuts.

< Previous week: 29 March 1993                             Next week: 12 April 1993 >

Special post: State chart-only number 1 singles July-December 1989

Here is the third and final instalment of a series of special posts taking a look at singles that topped one or more of the ARIA state charts, but not the national chart, between June 1988 (when ARIA began producing the chart in-house) and December 1989 (before this information was available via subscription to The ARIA Report).  This post takes a look at singles that topped the state charts only, between July 1989 and December 1989.  You can read Part 1, covering June 1988-December 1988, and Part 2, covering January 1989-June 1989, on the hyperlinks embedded here.

 

Jive Bunny was what Western Australians liked in late 1989.

 

State chart-only number one singles - July 1989 to December 1989:

1. "Telephone Booth" by Ian Moss

State(s) that it went to number one in: South Australia/Northern Territory

Known dates it was number one: 7 August 1989

National chart peak: number 7

National chart debut: 19 June 1989

National chart run: 40-20-17-19-22-17-14-12-7-11-17-21-34-51-58-71-98-108

 

We saw 'Mossy' in part 2 of this series of posts, with "Tucker's Daughter", which also topped the South Australia/Northern Territory state chart.  I liked this one more than "Tucker's Daughter" at the time, but now I'd say they're neck and neck.  One thing probably few people would have predicted at the time, though, was that this would be Ian's final top 10 solo single in Australia, after kicking off his solo career with back-to-back top 10 hits and a number one album Matchbook (number 1 for three weeks in August 1989), which actually debuted at number 148 on the national albums chart before climbing to the top spot the following week.

 

Another interesting statistic about "Telephone Booth" is that it peaked outside the top 10 on the two most-populous state charts (NSW/ACT and VIC/TAS), but still went top 10 nationally on the strength of its sales in QLD, SA/NT and WA.

 

 

2. "Right Back Where We Started From" by Sinitta

State(s) that it went to number one in: Victoria/Tasmania

Known dates it was number one: 21 August 1989

National chart peak: number 7

National chart debut: 10 July 1989

National chart run: 130-48-35-24-15-13-10-7-9-7-7-11-13-15-24-34-50-46-52-93-94

 

Despite being thought of as a Stock Aitken Waterman-produced artist, none of Sinitta's singles produced by them peaked higher than number 49 in Australia, that being "Toy Boy" (number 49, December 1987). Instead, her two biggest hits in Australia, "So Macho" (number 14, October 1986) and "Right Back Where We Started From" (number 7 for three non-consecutive weeks in August-September 1989) were produced by others.  Although this one was produced by Pete Hammond, who was part of the Stock Aitken Waterman 'Hit Factory' team.  Almost conversely to "Telephone Booth" above, "Right Back..." peaked within the top 5 in the three most-populous states, and in the teens in SA/NT and WA.

 

3. "Baby I Don't Care" by Transvision Vamp

State(s) that it went to number one in: Western Australia

Known dates it was number one: 21 August 1989

National chart peak: number 3

National chart debut: 29 May 1989

National chart run: 137-54-40-29-24-13-14-8-10-6-5-5-3-4-7-9-17-20-24-42-43-50-68-74-98-98

 

Despite liking Transvision Vamp, and this one being their biggest hit in Australia, "Baby I Don't Care" would not rank among my favourite songs of theirs, though I do like it.  Released in Australia a mere three weeks after the final single from their debut album, "Sister Moon" (number 95, June 1989), "Baby I Don't Care" led the band's second album Velveteen (number 2, July 1989), ripping off the chord structure of The Troggs' "Wild Thing" (number 1 for two weeks in 1966).  Roxette had also recently used the same chord structure with "Dressed for Success" (number 3 for four weeks in September 1989).  It seemed like Transvision Vamp were going to be huge and stick around for some time when this was out - or so I thought - but that was not to be, with the band achieving only one further top 20 single in Australia after this point, before splitting in 1992.

 

 

4. "All I Want Is You" by U2

State(s) that it went to number one in: Victoria/Tasmania and Queensland

Known dates it was number one: 28 August 1989 (VIC/TAS); 9 October 1989 (QLD)

National chart peak: number 2

National chart debut: 21 August 1989

National chart run: 17-12-11-6-2-2-2-4-6-9-9-11-17-22-30-35-48-59-(2 week Xmas break)-47-70-89-78

 

"All I Want Is You" was issued as the fourth and final single from U2's hybrid/live studio album Rattle and Hum (number 1 for five weeks in October-November 1988).  While lead single "Desire" (number 1 for three weeks in October 1988) topped the chart, the second and third singles stalled in the low teens/20s.  The success of "All I Want Is You" was probably helped by the striking video, and also the new B-side, "Everlasting Love", which received so much airplay in Melbourne that I assumed it was their 'new' single.  "All I Want Is You" peaked at number two on the state charts it was not number one on (NSW/ACT, SA/NT, WA).

 

 

5. "I'll Be Loving You (Forever)" by New Kids on the Block

State(s) that it went to number one in: Western Australia

Known dates it was number one: 4 September 1989

National chart peak: number 4

National chart debut: 31 July 1989

National chart run: 131-23-19-7-8-4-5-4-6-12-12-12-22-19-25-27-31-40-43-51-57-(2 week Xmas break)-61-68-83-82-87

 

American boy band New Kids on the Block burst onto the Australian chart earlier in 1989 with the second single from their second album Hangin' Tough (number 7 for four non-consecutive weeks in November 1989 and December 1989-January 1990), "You Got It (The Right Stuff)" (number 1 for three weeks in August 1989).  They almost seemed 'cool' or slightly 'street' to me with that release - that image would be shattered permanently with the incredibly sappy "I'll Be Loving You (Forever)".  Sounding more like a follow-up to Glenn Medeiros' "Nothing's Gonna Change My Love for You" (number 10, February 1988), "I'll Be Loving You (Forever)" was schmaltz in the extreme.

 

It was around this point I realised that I didn't actually like New Kids on the Block.  They would redeem themselves somewhat with the lead single from their next album, "Step by Step" (number 8 for two weeks in June 1990), but the damage had been done.  Any 'cool' factor the group had was further diminished by their hyper-commercialism, with bubblegum cards and an animated TV series - a model that Spice Girls would look to for inspiration later in the 90s.

 

 

6. "I Don't Want a Lover" by Texas

State(s) that it went to number one in: Western Australia

Known dates it was number one: 11 September 1989

National chart peak: number 4

National chart debut: 5 June 1989

National chart run: 121-104-86-58-61-42-38-28-17-14-6-9-5-8-4-8-13-14-24-23-27-32-36-45-54-54-65-83-95-(2 week Xmas break)

 

'Texas' is not the name you expect of a band hailing from Glasgow, Scotland.  My dad, who was born in Scotland, was quite the fan of this one, and I'm pretty sure got the Southside (number 14, November 1989) album it's taken from.  Interestingly, "I Don't Want a Lover" peaked at number 5 or lower on the non-Western Australia state charts, but peaked at number 4 nationally.  Texas wouldn't land another decent-sized hit single in Australia for nearly another eight years, with "Say What You Want" (number 11 for two weeks in June 1997), which sounds quite different to "I Don't Want a Lover"... so much so that I was not certain it was the same 'Texas' when I first heard it!

 

 

 

7. "That's What I Like" by Jive Bunny and The Mastermixers

State(s) that it went to number one in: Western Australia

Known dates it was number one: 27 November 1989

National chart peak: number 4

National chart debut: 20 November 1989

National chart run: 62-4-4-4-5-(2 week Xmas break)-7-12-23-33-44-93-92

 

Jive Bunny and The Mastermixers were father and son duo John and Andrew Pickles, fronted by a... cartoon bunny named Jive.  A novelty phenomenon you kind of had to be there at the time to understand.  Their medleys of 'golden oldies', mainly from the 1950s and 1960s - some tracks were re-recorded with the original vocalists, or with soundalikes - were briefly popular in Australia towards the end of 1989.  Their debut single "Swing the Mood" (number 1 for three weeks in October 1989) topped the Australian chart, as did their album The Album (number 1 for four weeks in December 1989-January 1990).  "That's What I Like", their second release, wasn't quite as popular, but a top 5 hit nonetheless.  It would be their last top 50 single in Australia.

 

One interesting piece of trivia about this single's chart run is that it debuted at number 101 on the Western Australia state chart, before climbing to number 1 the following week!  Also, while researching this post, I found an article where the DJ behind Jive Bunny's first hit, "Swing the Mood", who was also involved with several of their later releases, claims he has only ever made £100 from their hits!

 

I lost my first music videos YouTube channel in 2009 after receiving three unexpired (I don't they ever expired back then) copyright strikes, the third of which was from Music Factory, the record label Jive Bunny's releases were on, for uploading one of their videos!  I thought that was a bit rich, coming from an act whose entire body of work was based on sampling other people's songs.

 

 

8. "We Didn't Start the Fire" by Billy Joel

State(s) that it went to number one in: Queensland and Western Australia

Known dates it was number one: 4 December 1989 (QLD and WA)

National chart peak: number 2

National chart debut: 23 October 1989

National chart run: 20-10-5-3-3-2-2-2-2-(2 week Xmas break)-4-6-11-15-25-32-42-44-57-67-86-100

 

"We Didn't Start the Fire" was Billy Joel's first Australian single release since January 1988, preceding his Storm Front (number 1 for two weeks in November 1989) album.  Similar to Ian Moss's Matchbook above, the Storm Front album debuted at number 136 in Australia, before climbing to number 2 the following week.  I was not a fan of this one at all at the time, though I don't mind it now.  It was a weird period, looking back, where artists your parents liked could score major hit singles.  I can't see that happening now.

 

 

You can read part 1 and part 2 of this series of posts on the hyperlinks embedded here.

Week commencing 29 March 1993

Before taking a look at this week in 1993's new entries peaking outside the Australian top 100 singles chart, I have made two special posts looking at singles that topped at least one of the state charts, but not the national chart, between June 1988 and December 1988, and January 1989 and June 1989.  State chart information covering the period where ARIA commenced producing the chart in-house (6 June 1988) through to the last chart survey of 1989 has not previously been published.  Stay tuned for a third instalment in the series, covering July 1989 to December 1989.

RuPaul: this didn’t exactly ‘work’ on the Australian charts.

Top 150 debuts:

Number 106 “The Nameless One” by Wendy James

Peak: number 106

Peak date: 29 March 1993

Weeks in top 150: 3 weeks

Top 150 chart run: 106-118-(out for 1 week)-125

Weeks on chart: 7 weeks

London-born Wendy James fronted the band Transvision Vamp, whom we saw in 1990, from their inception in 1986 through to their demise in 1991.  During that time, the band notched up nine top 100 singles in Australia, with "Baby I Don't Care" (number 3, August 1989) being the biggest of those.

 

Following Transvision Vamp's split, Wendy wrote to Elvis Costello for advice on what to do next.  Elvis responded by writing an album's worth of material for her, with his then wife Cate O'Riordan co-authoring five of the ten songs.  "The Nameless One" was the lead single from Wendy's debut solo album Now Ain’t the Time for Your Tears (number 132, May 1993).

 

Internationally, "The Nameless One" peaked at number 34 in the UK in February 1993.  In Australia, the single was most popular in Victoria/Tasmania, where it reached number 79.

 

Despite being a fan of Transvision Vamp's, Wendy's solo material has never interested me that much, and I hadn't actually heard "The Nameless One" until listening to it while writing this post.  The track is decent, but lacks the hooks/instant catchiness and fun of Transvision Vamp at their best.

 

We shall see solo Wendy once more, in July 1993.

Number 115 “Broken English” by Sunscreem

Peak: number 101

Peak date: 3 May 1993

Weeks in top 150: 9 weeks

Chart run: 211-115-105-104-104-107-101-116-139-134

Weeks on chart: 10 weeks

English band Sunscreem last graced our presence in January 1993.  "Broken English", the fifth single from their debut album O₃ (number 73, March 1993), was a cover version of a song originally performed by the recently-departed Marianne Faithfull that peaked at number 75 in Australia in August 1980.

 

Internationally, Sunscreem's version of "Broken English" peaked at number 13 in the UK in January 1993, becoming their highest-charting single there.

 

Locally, "Broken English" performed strongest in Queensland, where it reached number 84 on the state chart.  "Broken English" peaked within the top 100 on all five of the state charts.

 

I first heard this one on the radio show UK Chart Attack, back in January 1993, in what must have been one of the last episodes of it to air in Melbourne.  I like the song, but it's not my favourite one from Sunscreem.

 

Sunscreem would release a (sort of) sixth single from O₃, "Pressure Us" (number 64, July 1993), which was a remixed and slightly re-titled version of their first Australian chart entry.

 

We will see Sunscreem on one more occasion, in 1995.

Number 126 “Losin’ Myself” by Debbie Gibson

Peak: number 126

Peak date: 29 March 1993

Weeks in top 150: 4 weeks 

Known chart run: 166-126-129-142-144

Weeks on chart: 8 weeks

Deborah Ann Gibson, better known as Debbie Gibson for most of her career, burst onto the Australian chart in 1988 with her second single “Shake Your Love” (number 27, May 1988).  She became the then-youngest artist to write, perform and produce a US Billboard Hot 100 number one with her fourth single, "Foolish Beat" (number 60, August 1988), which topped the US chart for one week in June 1988, when Debbie was just over two months off turning 18.

 

Although Debbie didn't quite match her US-level of chart success in Australia, she nonetheless placed eight singles within the ARIA top 100 between 1988 and early 1991, with "Anything Is Possible" (number 60, January 1991) being the last of those.  Unfortunately for Debbie, five of her eight Australian top 100 singles peaked between numbers 57 and 68; she was indeed the queen of the Breakers section (which listed the five highest-charting singles moving up the chart outside of the top 50) of the ARIA printed top 50 charts!

 

Debbie's biggest hit in Australia was the sappy "Lost in Your Eyes" (number 7, May 1989), although I would guess she is better-remembered for its follow up, "Electric Youth" (number 21, July 1989), the title track of her second album Electric Youth (number 10, August 1989).

 

Teen pop stardom doesn't always translate into career longevity, and sadly for Debbie, in spite of her musical talent, she struggled with commercial success once her 20s clocked over.  "Losin' Myself" was the lead single from Debbie's fourth studio album Body Mind Soul (number 180, March 1993).  For this project, Debbie tried to take on a more 'mature', 'sexy' image.  It didn't quite work.

 

Internationally, "Losin' Myself" peaked at number 86 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in February 1993, and number 73 in Canada in February 1993.  The song also registered on the US Billboard Adult Contemporary chart, reaching number 49 in February 1993, and number 46 on the Dance Singles Sales chart in March 1993.

 

In Australia, "Losin' Myself" performed strongest in New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory, where it reached number 109 on the state chart.

 

I hadn't heard "Losin' Myself" before.  It's OK, but lacks the pop charm of her earlier releases.

 

We shall see Debbie once more, in July 1993.

Number 133 “What You Won’t Do for Love” by Go West

Peak: number 122

Peak date: 5 April 1993

Weeks in top 150: 5 weeks

Chart run: 133-122-127-131-131

Weeks on chart: 5 weeks

English duo Go West formed in London in 1982, with Peter Cox on vocals and Richard Drummie on rhythm guitar and backing vocals.  Between 1985 and 1992, the pair placed seven singles on the Australian top 100, with "We Close Our Eyes" (number 8, June 1985) and “King of Wishful Thinking” (number 6, October 1990) - the latter from the Pretty Woman (number 1 for four weeks in July 1990) soundtrack - hitting the top ten, and "Call Me" (number 12, August 1985) coming close.

 

"What You Won't Do for Love" was the second single lifted from the third Go West studio album Indian Summer (number 112, March 1993), more than five years since their second album.  It followed "Faithful" (number 42, February 1993).  "What You Won't Do for Love" is a cover of the Bobby Caldwell single from 1978, which did not chart in Australia, but peaked at number 9 on the US Billboard Hot 100.

 

Internationally, Go West's version of "What You Won't Do for Love" peaked at number 15 in the UK in January 1993, number 55 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in April 1993, number 52 in Germany in April 1993, and number 12 in Canada in May 1993.

 

Domestically, "What You Won't Do for Love" was equally most popular in Queensland and South Australia/Northern Territory, reaching number 111 on both state charts.

 

This is another track that I first heard on one of the final UK Chart Attack episodes to air in Victoria.  You can view a second video filmed for the song, for the US market, here.

 

A third single from Indian Summer, "Still in Love", was released in the UK, but not in Australia, in March 1993.

 

We'll see Go West on one more occasion, in November 1993.

Number 140 “Supermodel (You Better Work)” by RuPaul

Peak: number 115

Peak date: 10 May 1993

Weeks in top 150: 11 weeks

Top 150 chart run: 140-144-145-139-124-116-115-125-119-133-131

Weeks on chart: 23 weeks

RuPaul (his actual real name) Andre Charles was born in San Diego, California.  The concept of the 'supermodel' seemed to be new (at least to me) in the early 1990s, perhaps best illustrated by George Michael's music videos for "Freedom!" (number 18, February 1991), and later "Too Funky" (number 3, August 1992).  It seems (again, at least to me) that RuPaul was trying to capture some of this attention by becoming the first drag 'supermodel'.  "Supermodel (You Better Work)" was his (I'm not sure whether that's the right pronoun for him in drag, though Wikipedia tells me he doesn't mind being called 'he' or 'she') first single, from his debut album Supermodel of the World (number 150, August 1993).

 

Even though the song wasn't a big commercial success, I do remember seeing RuPaul on TV around this time and being spoken about.  Of course, he is now better known for his RuPaul's Drag Race reality TV series than his recording career.  Prior to coming to fame, RuPaul appeared in the music video for The B-52's "Love Shack" (number 1 for eight weeks in December 1989-February 1990).

 

Internationally, "Supermodel (You Better Work)" peaked at number 45 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in April 1993, number 100 in Germany in April 1993, number 16 in Austria in June 1993, number 39 in the UK in June 1993, and number 38 in the Netherlands in August 1993.  The song also peaked at number 2 on the US Billboard Dance Club Songs chart in February 1993, and number 55 on the Radio Songs chart in March 1993.

 

In Australia, "Supermodel..." 'worked' best in Western Australia, where it reached number 73 on the state chart.

 

"Supermodel (You Better Work)" makes extensive use of RuPaul's catchphrase "sashay shantay", which he uses in RuPaul's Drag Race.  "Shantay... you stay" if you're still in the competition, and "sashay away" if you aren’t.

 

We'll next see RuPaul in December 1993.  Before then, he landed his first ARIA top 100 single with "Back to My Roots" (number 90, August 1993).

Number 146 “Trapped Inside Your Heart” by Kings of the Sun

Peak: number 131

Peak date: 3 May 1993

Weeks in top 150: 5 weeks

Top 150 chart run: 146-(out for 1 week)-144-142-149-131

Australian band Kings of the Sun formed in Sydney in 1986.  Their debut single "Bottom of My Heart" (number 47, December 1986) crept into the national top 50.  It would be almost two more years until its follow-up, "Serpentine" (number 48, September 1988), and the release of their debut album Kings of the Sun (number 88, January 1989), which gave them a third charting single "Black Leather" (number 53, January 1989).  They returned in 1990 with their second album Full Frontal Attack (number 93, September 1990), and their final ARIA top 100 single "Drop the Gun" (number 82, August 1990).

 

"Trapped Inside Your Heart" was the lead single from the third Kings of the Sun album Resurrection, which was released in Australia in April 1993 but missed the top 150.  Another single from the album, "Road to Nowhere", was released in June 1993 but also missed the top 150.

Number 150 “How Can I Love You More” (Mixes) by M People

Peak: number 138

Peak date: 12 April 1993

Weeks in top 150: 3 weeks 

Top 150 chart run: 150-(out for 1 week)-138-(out for 2 weeks)-147

Weeks on chart: 12 weeks (including 1992 release)

We last saw English band M People in 1992.

 

"How Can I Love You More" (no question mark) was issued as the band's debut single in the UK in late 1991, where it peaked at number 29 in November that year.  The single received an Australian release on 3 February 1992, and debuted at number 174 the following week.  Unfortunately, owing to how the ARIA database is set up, I am unable to determine whether number 174 was the peak for the original release (which missed the top 150), or whether it climbed higher than its entry position, outside the top 150.  The 1991 release of the track used a different mix than the 1993 version embedded below, and you can hear/see it here.  The Official Heather Small (M People's vocalist) YouTube channel stole my 480p upload of this video, which was blocked on my channel but not theirs, and replaced it with their inferior 360p copy.  Yes, I am still bitter about it...

 

The 1993 remix of "How Can I Love You More" was the third (counting both releases of the track) and final single released in Australia from M People's debut album Northern Soul (number 150, April 1993).  In the band's native UK, it was the fifth single from the album.  We missed both "Someday" and "Excited".  I think both could have been hits here with some promotion had they been released.

 

Internationally, the 1993 version of "How Can I Love You More" peaked at number 8 in the UK in February 1993, and number 10 in Ireland during the same month.

 

In Australia, the 1993 release of "How Can I Love You More" was most popular in Western Australia, where it reached number 104 on the state chart.

 

I first heard this one in early 1994 after picking up a copy of the UK 2-CD compilation The Greatest Hits of 1993.  I like it, but prefer the original 1991 mix.

 

M People would, of course, eventually break through commercially in Australia later in 1993 with "Movin' on Up" (number 4, January 1994).  Before then, "One Night in Heaven" (number 23, March 1994) was issued as the lead single from their second album Elegantly Slumming (number 7, February 1994), and debuted outside the ARIA top 150 at number 192 on 19 July 1993.  As with "How Can I Love You More", because "One Night in Heaven" missed the top 150 upon its initial release, I am unable to determine what its original peak was.

 

We'll next see M People in 1995.

Bubbling WAY down under:

Number 206 “Sinking Like a Sunset” by Tom Cochrane

Peak: number 206

Peak date: 29 March 1993

Weeks on chart: 1 week

We last saw Canadian soft rocker Tom Cochrane in February 1993.

 

"Sinking Like a Sunset" was issued as the fourth and final single in Australia from his second solo album Mad Mad World (number 46, October 1992).  In Canada, it was the third release from the album.

 

Internationally, "Sinking Like a Sunset" peaked at number 2 in Canada for two weeks, in May-June 1992.

 

"Sinking Like a Sunset"... sank like a sunset on the Australian chart, in contrast, but performed strongest in Queensland, where it reached number 183 on the state chart.

 

I hadn't heard this one before.  I probably like it more than the other two non-"Life Is a Highway" (number 2, September 1992) singles I've heard by Tom.

 

Tom will next join us in 1995.

Number 208 “Keep a Dream in Your Pocket” by Judith Durham/The Seekers

Peak: number 178

Peak date: 26 April 1993

Weeks on chart: 2 weeks

We last saw Australian band The Seekers in 1989.  This time, original lead singer Judith Durham was part of the group, for the first time since 1968.  Accordingly, she received a billing on the artist credit.

 

"Keep a Dream in Your Pocket" was recorded/released to promote the band's The Silver Jubilee Album (number 3, May 1993) compilation album.  On the state charts, the single performed strongest in Queensland, where it reached number 149.

 

We'll next see Judith/The Seekers in 1997.

Number 209 “I’ve Got a Lot of Faith in You” by Stephen Cummings

Peak: number 171

Peak date: 19 April 1993

Weeks on chart: 6 weeks

Aussie singer-songwriter and jingle writer Stephen Cummings last paid us a visit in 1992.

 

"I've Got a Lot of Faith in You" was released as the second single from Stephen's sixth studio album Unguided Tour (number 76, August 1992).

 

On the state charts, "I've Got a Lot of Faith in You" was most popular in Victoria/Tasmania, where it reached number 153.

 

Stephen will join us again in June 1993.

Next week (5 April): Five top 150 entries and two bubbling WAY down under debuts.

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