Australian singles chart peaks beyond the top 100: A journey through flop.
29 January 2020
Week commencing 30 January 1989 - part 1
Welcome to the first weekly post recapping the new entries on the Australian singles chart that peaked between numbers 101 and 150. Occasionally, I will also be listing some singles with known peaks outside the top 150.
As this was the first singles chart that extended beyond number 100, there are quite a few new entries. Because it's such a long post, I shall be splitting it into two parts.
Despite it now being late January in 1989, many of the singles below had been released months earlier - some as early as July 1988 - without ever denting the lofty heights of the top 100.
Eighth Wonder: Ah Patsy... never mind the rock star husbands, she could have been a pop icon herself!
Top 150 debuts:
Number 113 "Love Is All That Matters" by The Human League
Peak: number 113
Peak date: 30 January 1989
Weeks in top 150: 2 weeks
Chart run: 113-125
Weeks on chart: 2 weeks
Released in Australia in mid-November 1988 to promote their Greatest Hits (number 76, January 1989) album, The Human League's first 'charting' single since 1986's "Human" (number 26, October 1986), this one stalled at number 113. Given that the single had been out for over two months by this point, you have to wonder if it might have peaked nearer to 100 in the interim... but we'll never know. Interestingly, the song was lifted from their 1986 studio album Crash (number 32, October 1986), rather than being a new recording. I remember seeing this release reviewed in (the Australian edition of) Smash Hits, and even spotting the cassingle in my local Myer, but never actually hearing the song until 2008.
Internationally, "Love Is All That Matters" peaked at number 41 in the UK in October 1988, and number 27 in Ireland in October 1988.
Domestically, "Love Is All That Matters" performed strongest in South Australia/Northern Territory, where it reached number 66 on the state chart in October 1988. "Love Is All That Matters" peaked within the top 100 on all five state charts.
Bill Medley was one half of The Righteous Brothers, who are best known for "Unchained Melody" (number 1 for 5 weeks in November-December 1990; originally peaking at number 3 in Australia in September 1965). As a solo artist, Bill's sole Australian top 100 singles chart entry was his duet with Jennifer Warnes, "(I've Had) The Time of My Life" (number 1 for 6 weeks in January-February 1988), from the Dirty Dancing soundtrack album (number 1 for 8 weeks in February-March 1988), which was the highest-selling single of 1988 in Australia. "I'm Gonna Be Strong" was released in Australia in November 1988.
I've never actually heard this one before. It's a cover version of a
1963 song recorded by Frankie Laine, which was later covered by Gene Pitney (his version peaked at number 5 in Australia in December 1964), and Cyndi Lauper's band Blue Angel in 1980. Cyndi also covered the song solo, and we'll see her version bubble under in 1995.
Internationally, Bill's version of "I'm Gonna Be Strong" peaked at number 171 (number 132 on the compressed chart) in the UK in November 1988.
While we won't see Bill again as a solo artist, The Righteous Brothers will bubble under in 1991.
Number 116 "Cross My Heart" by Eighth Wonder
Peak: number 116
Peak date: 30 January 1989
Weeks in top 150: 1 week
Chart run: 116
Weeks on chart: 1 week
After a string of flop releases, child actor-turned-adult actor-turned pop star (for a short while, anyway) Patsy Kensit and her band Eighth Wonder scored two UK top 15 hits in 1988, with the Pet Shop Boys-penned "I'm Not Scared", and this... a Michael Jay (the man behind Martika's debut album, among other things) written track produced by Phil Harding of PWL (the label owned by Pete Waterman of Stock Aitken Waterman). With that pedigree, something was bound to give Eighth Wonder a hit eventually - just not in Australia, sadly.
"Cross My Heart" appears to have first been recorded by Tracie Spencer, for her 1988 self-titled debut album. Tracie's version received a single release in Japan. Martika also recorded her own version of this track for her aforementioned debut album. Although both Tracie and Martika have a technically stronger voice than Patsy, I find something about Patsy's paper-thin vocals really endearing.
This single was released in Australia back in September 1988. It fared better on the state charts, where it peaked as high as number 56 in New South Wales/ACT in November, and number 58 in South Australia/Northern Territory in December. That makes me think that "Cross My Heart" probably would have peaked higher than number 116 on the national chart had it extended beyond number 100 earlier.
Internationally, "Cross My Heart" peaked at number 13 in the UK in July 1988, number 16 in Ireland, number 6 in Switzerland in August 1988, number 17 in Germany in August 1988, number 6 in Norway, and number 13 in France in February 1989.
I actually read Patsy's autobiography a while back, as I thought she was someone who'd likely had an interesting life (and that's before we get to the numerous rock-star husbands). In it, she seems a little embarrassed of her pop star phase, never feeling too confident in her singing ability. It's a shame, as she made a great pop star, I thought.
But this song wasn't all for Patsy and... er, the others on the Australian charts. They will be back soon enough with another top 150 smash!
Number 117 "Rubber Love" by Bigstorm
Peak: number 117
Peak date: 30 January 1989
Weeks in top 150: 5 weeks
Top 150 chart run: 117-126-129-128-132
I haven't actually heard this one before. Vocally, it reminds me of Alice Cooper in parts. The group don't currently have a Wikipedia page, so I can't tell you much about them. Their discogs.com page does not reveal much either... although only an Australian pressing is listed for this single, so I assume Bigstorm were an Australian band. This track is lifted from the album Living in Exile (number 110, March 1989).
Number 120 "High on You" by Iggy Pop
Peak: number 114
Peak date: 6 February 1989
Weeks in top 150: 6 weeks
Chart run: 120-114-118-121-125-132
Weeks on chart: 6 weeks
American punk rocker Iggy Pop, real name James Newell Osterberg Jr., is best known in Australia for his duet with The B-52's Kate Pierson, "Candy" (number 9, January 1991)... and his infamous Countdown performance of "I'm Bored" (number 68, August 1979). Before launching his solo career in 1977, Iggy was the lead singer in The Stooges.
"High on You" was the second single lifted from Iggy's eighth solo studio album Instinct (number 82, August 1988), following "Cold Metal" (released in Australia in September 1988), which did not chart nationally, but registered on the South Australia/Northern Territory and Western Australia state charts, where it peaked at numbers 77 and 85, respectively. “High on You” was released in Australia in November 1988.
Internationally, "High on You" peaked at number 230 (number 148 on the compressed chart) in the UK in December 1988.
Locally, “High on You” performed strongest on the South Australia/Northern Territory state chart, where it reached number 78.
Before now, you might have gotten the impression that singles peaking outside the top 100 always peaked where they debuted, but this one actually rose another 6 places to reach its eventual peak of number 114.
American band Van Halen formed in 1973. Their first single to chart in Australia was their debut release, a cover of The Kinks' "You Really Got Me" (number 12, June 1978). Their biggest hit locally was "Jump" (number 2, March 1984). The band underwent a line-up change in 1985, with lead singer David Lee Roth being replaced by Sammy Hagar. My favourite Van Halen single would be "Dreams" (number 51, September 1986), which was surprisingly a flop here.
"Finish What Ya Started" was the second single released in Australia from Van Halen's eighth studio album OU812 (number 9, July 1988). It followed "When It's Love" (number 23, August 1988).
Internationally, "Finish What Ya Started" peaked at number 13 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in December 1988.
In Australia, "Finish What Ya Started" was equally most-popular in Queensland and Western Australia, where it reached number 77 on the state charts. The singled peaked within the top 100 on four of the five state charts, with New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory being the only exception.
I was not familiar with "Finish What Ya Started". It sounds a bit more easy-listening to me than their earlier hits.
Number 124 "Long and Lasting Love (Once in a Lifetime)" by Glenn Medeiros
Peak: number 113
Peak date: 20 February 1989
Weeks in top 150: 7 weeks
Top 150 chart run: 124-122-125-113-114-118-125
Hawaiian Glenn Medeiros made his debut on the Australian charts in 1987, with his first single "Nothing's Gonna Change My Love for You" (number 10, February 1988), which took over six months to reach its peak from its mid-August 1987 release in Australia. He would score a second hit in 1990 with his duet with Bobby Brown, "She Ain't Worth It" (number 8, August 1990), essentially becoming a two-hit wonder in Australia.
Glenn also scored a couple of more-minor 'hits'... such as this one, from his curiously-titled Not Me (number 124, March 1989) album, which I hadn't heard before either. Before Glenn's "harder" makeover in 1990, this is more of the same lovey-dovey stuff as you might expect. The music video is just about the most 80s thing ever.
Internationally, "Long and Lasting Love..." peaked at number 68 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in September 1988, number 42 in the UK in September 1988, number 26 in Ireland in September 1988, number 14 in the Netherlands in October 1988, number 4 in the Flanders region of Belgium in October 1988, and number 54 in Germany in October 1988.
Glenn went on to become a school principal in Honolulu.
Number 125 "A Little Further North" by Graeme Connors
Peak: number 125
Peak date: 30 January 1989
Weeks in top 150: 1 week
Top 150 chart run: 125
Weeks on chart: 21 weeks
Not being well-versed in country music, particularly of the Australian variety, I had never heard of Graeme Connors before. Graeme has had several top 100-charting albums in Australia, but only one single, 1975's "Dakota" (number 78, May 1975), made a dent on the top 100 singles chart. I don't actually mind "A Little Further North". The track is lifted from the album North (number 73, February 1989).
On the state charts, "A Little Further North" was most popular in Queensland, where it reached number 79.
Number 126 "Spanish Eyes" by Willie Nelson with Julio Iglesias
Peak: number 121
Peak date: 6 February 1989
Weeks in top 150: 2 weeks
Top 150 chart run: 126-121
American Country music star Willie Nelson began his recording career in 1957. In Australia, his biggest hit was "To All the Girls I've Loved Before" (number 4, May 1984), another duet with Julio Iglesias. Country music is not really my thing.
Internationally, "Spanish Eyes" peaked at number 8 on the US Billboard Hot Country Songs chart in December 1988, and number 38 in the Flanders region of Belgium in March 1989.
We'll next see Willie, with another collaboration, in 1991.
Number 128 "Shake for the Sheik" by The Escape Club
Peak: number 114
Peak date: 6 March 1989
Weeks in top 150: 8 weeks
Chart run: 128-123-124-129-126-114-128-135
Weeks on chart: 8 weeks
Although they hailed from England, The Escape Club never landed a hit in the UK, with "Wild, Wild West" being their best-charting single there, peaking at number 122 (number 102 on the compressed chart) in November 1988. "Wild, Wild West" was the band's only real hit in Australia, peaking at number 6 in November 1988. "I'll Be There" (number 43, October 1991) was The Escape Club's only other ARIA top 50 single.
"Shake for the Sheik" was the second single lifted from the band's second album Wild Wild West (no comma this time) (number 42, November 1988). Internationally, the single peaked at number 28 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in January 1989, and number 46 in New Zealand in February 1989.
I thought I had seen the music video for "Shake for the Sheik" once at the time, on either Video Hits or The Factory, but had no recollection of how the song went, which kind of says it all.
Number 129 "This Is Me" by Climie Fisher
Peak: number 128
Peak date: 6 February 1989
Weeks in top 150: 2 weeks
Chart run: 129-128
Weeks on chart: 2 weeks
English band Climie Fisher were named after the band's two members, Simon Climie and Rob Fisher. Simon had previously achieved success as a songwriter for other artists, co-writing Pat Benatar's "Invincible" (number 23, October 1985) and Aretha Franklin & George Michael's "I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)" (number 1 for 4 weeks in March-April 1987). Rob was one half of Naked Eyes, who landed a top 10 hit in Australia with their rendition of "Always Something There to Remind Me" (number 7, June 1983) - their only top 100 singles chart entry here.
Climie Fisher's only ARIA top 100 entry, "Love Changes (Everything)" (number 23, October 1988), was the duo's third single in their native UK, originally peaking at number 67 in August 1987, before being re-released in 1988, when it climbed to number 2 in April 1988.
In Australia, "Love Changes (Everything)" was first released in October 1987, and was followed up by "Rise to the Occasion" in April 1988. Both releases failed to chart, and "Love Changes (Everything)" was re-released in August 1988. Both tracks and "This Is Me" are lifted from the duo's debut album Everything, which failed to chart nationally in Australia, but spent a solitary week at number 100 on the Western Australian state chart in December 1988, before the national chart extended beyond number 100.
"This Is Me" was the first Climie Fisher single in the UK, peaking at number 134 (number 106 on the compressed chart) in September 1986. After the success of "Love Changes (Everything)", "This Is Me" was re-released in the UK, climbing to a new peak of number 22 in May 1988. Elsewhere, the 1988 release of "This Is Me" peaked at number 12 in Ireland in May 1988, number 26 in the Flanders region of Belgium in June 1988, number 60 in Germany in June 1988, number 34 in the Netherlands in July 1988, and number 43 in New Zealand in July 1988.
In Australia, "This Is Me" was released in November 1988. On the state charts, "This Is Me" performed strongest in Western Australia, where it reached number 94 in December 1988.
Rob Fisher died in 1999, aged 42, during surgery for cancer.
Top 150 chart run: 131-147-143-149-143-120-123-114-103-115-106-124-134-137
Weeks on chart: 15 weeks
English group When In Rome formed in 1987. "The Promise" was their debut single, originally released in the UK in 1987, where it stalled at number 230 (number 166 on the compressed chart) in September 1987.
When is a flop a sort-of hit? Despite peaking at only number 103 in Australia, "The Promise" spent 14 weeks in the top 150. In fact, only one single peaking within the 101-150 range in 1989 spent more weeks on the chart - we'll get to that in July. This song was particularly popular in Western Australia, reaching number 20 on the state chart, despite not entering any of the other state top 100 charts. It's funny how tastes could vary so significantly in various regions of Australia at the time.
Internationally, "The Promise" peaked at number 11 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in December 1988, and number 58 in the UK in January 1989.
I probably heard this song on American Top 40, but had no recollection of it when rediscovering it in 2008. Although the group appear to be a duo, it seems that there is some focus-on-the-more-conventionally-attractive*-band-member-who-isn't-actually-singing going on during the chorus (*though give me a shaved/bald head over Fabio-style locks any day), though he does seem to sing the verses, as I can hear two distinct voices on the track.
Quite a pleasant-sounding track, with a relaxing garden/looking through windows music video to boot. This would be When In Rome's only charting release in Australia.
Number 132 "Birth of the Beat" by Masters Apprentices
Peak: number 132
Peak date: 30 January 1989
Weeks in top 150: 4 weeks
Top 150 chart run: 132-134-137-145
Australian band Masters Apprentices formed in 1964 in Adelaide. Their highest-charting single in Australia was "Turn Up Your Radio" (number 7, June 1970 on the Go Set chart), although they are probably best known for "Because I Love You" (number 12, March 1971 on the Go Set chart); the "do what you wanna do, be what you wanna be yeah" song. The band split in 1972, and reformed in 1987. A 1988 re-recording of "Because I Love You" peaked at number 30 in Australia in November 1988.
Released as the follow-up to that track in December 1988, "Birth of the Beat" was a newly-recorded song, lifted from the band's fifth studio album Do What You Wanna Do (number 97, December 1988). The reduced price of $1.99 for the single (as evident from the video below) didn't seem to help its chart fortunes much.
Masters Apprentices' lead singer Jim Keays passed away in 2014, aged 67, following an illness with multiple myeloma.
We will see Masters Apprentices again in 1995.
Number 133 "Reason to Try" by Eric Carmen
Peak: number 133
Peak dates: 30 January 1989, 6 February 1989 and 13 February 1989
Weeks in top 150: 5 weeks
Top 150 chart run: 133-133-133-142-139
Weeks on chart: 5 weeks
American singer-songwriter Eric Carmen landed a top 10 hit in Australia with his debut single, "All by Myself" (number 7, May 1976), in 1976. He landed another four Australian top 100 singles between then and 1981, although none peaked higher than number 30, with "She Did It" (number 30, November 1977).
After a hiatus, Eric returned to the Australian chart in 1985 with "I Wanna Hear It from Your Lips" (number 27, May 1985). He finally scored another top 10 hit in early 1988 with "Hungry Eyes" (number 4, March 1988), from the Dirty Dancing soundtrack album (number 1 for 8 weeks in February-March 1988). Eric followed that up with another top 10 hit, "Make Me Lose Control" (number 8, September 1988), which would be his final ARIA top 100 single.
"Reason to Try", released as a single in Australia in December 1988, was recorded for the 1988 Summer Olympics Album: One Moment in Time album. Internationally, "Reason to Try" peaked at number 87 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in October 1988.
Perhaps of interest to avid chart-watchers, this single spent three consecutive weeks at number 133, which is surely an unusual feat.
This would be Eric's last single to chart in Australia.
Next post:Stay tuned for part 2 later this week, which will include entries from a rather famous blonde singer, a cover version of an Aussie 'classic', and a younger artist known for one 'serious'-sounding hit scores with an uncharacteristically upbeat number.
"A little further north" was later on a Songwriters Speak collaboration in the early 2000s and that's how I know it.
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