Week commencing 26 November 1990

All of this week in 1990's top 150-peaking debuts spent at least 7 weeks on the chart, so it's another week where all of the new entries had above average chart longevity for singles peaking outside the top 100.  Let's take a look at them.

 

Billy Idol: sitting idly outside the top 100

 

Top 150 debuts:

 

Number 106 "Give It Up" by ZZ Top

Peak: number 106

Peak date: 26 November 1990

Weeks in top 150: 9 weeks

Weeks on chart: 9 weeks

 

Formed in Texas in 1969, up until this point in 1990, ZZ Top had placed ten singles on the Australian chart since 1974.  Their biggest hit in Australia was "Legs" (number 6, October 1984), the only one to make the top ten.

"Give It Up" was issued as the second single in Australia from ZZ Top's tenth studio album Recycler (number 27, November 1990).  It followed "Doubleback" (number 41, July 1990), which was also featured in the film Back to the Future Part III.

Internationally, "Give It Up" peaked at number 69 in Germany in December 1990, and number 79 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in February 1991.

 

On the ARIA state charts, "Give It Up" performed strongest in Western Australia, where it reached number 65.

 

"Give It Up" peaked higher on the Australian Music Report singles chart, reaching number 94.

 

We shall next see ZZ top in April 1991.

 

Number 108 "Three Babies" by Sinéad O'Connor

Peak: number 108

Peak date: 26 November 1990

Weeks in top 150: 7 weeks

Weeks on chart: 7 weeks

 

Sinéad O'Connor first paid us a visit in February 1989, with her second single to register on the Australian chart.  Since then, she scored a massive hit with "Nothing Compares 2 U" (number 1, February 1990), which was the highest-selling single of 1990 in Australia.

"Three Babies" was issued as the fourth and final single from Sinéad's second album I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got (number 1, March 1990), counting the earlier release of "Jump in the River" (number 134, April 1989).  It followed "The Emperor's New Clothes" (number 20, September 1990).

 

Internationally, "Three Babies" peaked at number 19 in Sinéad's native Ireland in October 1990, number 42 in the UK in October 1990, and reached the top 30 in the Netherlands and Switzerland, and the top 40 in the Flanders region of Belgium.

On the ARIA state charts, "Three Babies" performed strongest in South Australia/Northern Territory, where it reached number 65.

 

On the Australian Music Report singles chart, "Three Babies" peaked at number 89.

 

I've heard "Three Babies" a couple of times before, but can never remember how it goes.  I think it's a nice song, but it just doesn't stand out as hit single material.

We shall next see Sinéad in 1992.

 

 

 

Number 114 "Can't Help Falling in Love" by Julio Iglesias

Peak: number 106

Peak date: 17 December 1990 (chart repeated 24 December 1990 and 31 December 1990)

Weeks in top 150: 9 weeks

 

Julio Iglesias made an appearance as a featured artist on my first chart recap, in January 1989.  Up until this point in 1990, Julio had placed seven singles on the Australian chart, with four of those being duets.  Julio's biggest single in Australia was "To All the Girls I've Loved Before" (number 4, May 1984), a duet with Willie Nelson.

"Can't Help Falling in Love", as you might have guessed from the title, is a cover version of the Elvis Presley song that UB40 took to number 1 in Australia in July 1993.  It was the first single released from Julio's covers album Starry Night (number 13, February 1991).

Julio's rendition of "Can't Help Falling in Love" does not appear to have charted anywhere else, rather interestingly.

 

The video embedded below is taken from a live show from 1991, where you can see Julio performing the song.  You can listen to the studio recording of "Can't Help Falling in Love", which doesn't sound a whole lot different, here.

Julio will join us again, with another duet, in 1994.

 

 

Number 129 "Heaven" by The Chimes (re-release)

Peak: number 103 (original release: number 62)

Peak date: 10 December 1990 (original release: 19 March 1990 and 2 April 1990)

Weeks in top 150: 7 weeks (original release: 14 weeks); 21 weeks total

Weeks on chart: 21 weeks

We first saw The Chimes bubble under back in September 1990.  "Heaven", issued as the second single from The Chimes (number 16, August 1990), originally peaked at number 62 in Australia in March 1990, bettering its peak of number 66 in the band's native UK in December 1989.

"Heaven" was re-released in the UK in September 1990, reaching a new peak of number 24 the following month.  It seems the Australian record company followed suit in giving the single another go; but, sadly, this time "Heaven" stalled just outside the top 100, peaking 41 places lower than it did initially.

One country "Heaven" was a hit in was New Zealand, where it reached number 5 in May 1990.

The late 1990 re-issue of "Heaven" peaked at number 25 in Ireland in October 1990, and number 40 in the Netherlands in November 1990 (after originally peaking at number 34 there in February 1990).

"Heaven" peaked on all five ARIA state charts with its January 1990 release, performing strongest in New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory, where it reached number 39.

The Chimes will join us for one last time in January 1991.

Number 144 "The Blue Heeler" by James Blundell

Peak: number 127

Peak date: 3 December 1990

Weeks in top 150: 7 weeks

Australian country singer James Blundell's debut album James Blundell (number 68, April 1989) made an appearance in the ARIA top 100, but "The Blue Heeler", the second single issued from his second album Hand It Down (number 50, September 1990), was James' first single to register in the top 150.  It followed "Age of Grace", released in July 1990.

A third single from Hand It Down, "Time on His Hands", was belatedly released in September 1991, but missed the top 150.

James would eventually land a major hit in Australia with "Way Out West" (number 2, April 1992), a duet with James Reyne.

James will join us again in 1995.

Number 148 "Prodigal Blues" by Billy Idol

Peak: number 109

Peak date: 7 January 1991

Weeks in top 150: 8 weeks

Weeks on chart: 8 weeks

 

Up until this point in 1990, English singer Billy Idol had placed 15 singles on the Australian top 100, with six of those reaching the top 10.  His biggest hit in Australia, surprisingly, was "To Be a Lover" (number 3, December 1986).  Interestingly, Billy landed a top 40 hit in Australia (and the US), with "Hot in the City" (number 18, December 1982), nearly two years before his first UK top 40 hit.

"Prodigal Blues" was the third and final single from Billy's fourth studio album Charmed Life (number 11, May 1990).  It followed "Cradle of Love" (number 10, May 1990) and "L.A. Woman" (number 34, September 1990).

 

Elsewhere, "Prodigal Blues" peaked at number 47 in the UK in December 1990.

 

Within Australia, "Prodigal Blues" was most successful in South Australia/Northern Territory, where it reached number 71 on the state charts.  On the Australian Music Report singles chart, "Prodigal Blues" peaked at number 92.

 

Billy survived a major motorcycle accident in February 1990, which temporarily rendered him unable to walk.  All scenes of him in the "Cradle of Love" music video, subsequently, were shot from the waist up.

I remember seeing the "Prodigal Blues" single in the shops, but don't think I heard the song until catching the video on rage in October 1991.

 

While we won't see Billy again, he scored another (very) low-charting single in Australia with The Roadside EP (number 2566, September 2021).  Billy also had albums peaking outside the top 100 in Australia with Greatest Hits (number 237, June 2001), Classic Albums: Billy Idol/Rebel Yell (number 401, August 2011), and Happy Holidays (number 931, December 2021).

 

Bubbling WAY down under:

 

Number 156 "Lies" by En Vogue

Peak: number 156

Peak date: 26 November 1990

Weeks on chart: 2 weeks

 

American vocal quartet En Vogue landed a top 5 hit in the US, the UK and New Zealand with their debut single "Hold On".  In contrast, "Hold On" only reached number 64 in Australia in October 1990.  Interestingly, "Hold On" performed much better on the New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory state chart than in other states, where it reached number 31 (vs. no higher than 78 on any of the other four state charts).

"Lies" was the second single lifted from En Vogue's debut album Born to Sing (number 146, November 1990).  Surprisingly, "Lies" was a relative flop in the US, reaching a peak of number 38 there in October 1990.  "Lies" also underperformed in the UK, peaking at number 44 in July 1990, and in the Netherlands, where it reached number 42 in November 1990.

On the ARIA state charts, "Lies" performed strongest in New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory, where it reached number 146.

 

A third and final single from Born to Sing, "Don't Go", was released in Australia in April 1991, but failed to chart.  The group's third single in the US and UK, "You Don't Have to Worry", was not released in Australia.

En Vogue would score a couple of minor top 40 hits in Australia with "My Lovin' (You're Never Gonna Get It)" (number 36, August 1992) and "Free Your Mind" (number 39, January 1993), from their second album Funky Divas (number 66, March 1993).

 

Ignoring Salt 'N' Pepa's "Whatta Man" (number 2, March 1994), on which they sing the chorus, En Vogue would have to wait until 1997 to land their first, and only, major hit in Australia in their own right, with "Don't Let Go (Love)" (number 3, March 1997).

We will next see En Vogue in 1997.

 

 

Number 157 "Dig for Fire" by Pixies

Peak: number 157

Peak date: 26 November 1990

Weeks on chart: 1 week 

 

Pixes have joined us on two prior occasions to date, in October 1989 and August 1990.

"Dig for Fire" was the second and final single released from Pixies' third studio album Bossanova (number 68, September 1990).

"Dig for Fire" peaked at number 62 in the UK in November 1990, number 27 in Ireland in November 1990, and at number 11 on the US Billboard Alternative Songs chart.

On the ARIA state charts, "Dig for Fire" performed equal-strongest in New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory and Victoria/Tasmania, where it reached number 150.

The music video for "Dig for Fire", embedded below, segues into another track from Bossanova, "Allison".

Pixies will next grace our presence in August 1991.

 

Next week (3 December): Six new top 150 debuts and two bubbling WAY down under entries.

 

< Previous week: 19 November 1990                             Next week: 3 December 1990 >

Kent Music Report beyond the top 100: 23 November 1981

All of this week in 1981's new entries are from bands with male lead singers.  All three bands formed in the 1970s, and all three will bubble under again.  Let's take a look, on what will be the last post for 1981.

 

Models: this song was not a hit locally &/or generally.

 

 

Beyond the top 100:

 

Position 20: Models "Local &/Or General"

Highest rank: 4th

Peak date: 30 November 1981

Weeks on below list: 2 weeks

 

Forming in Melbourne in 1978, Australian band Models (no 'The') had to wait until 1981 to land their first charting single, the Cut Lunch EP (number 38, September 1981), from which "Two Cabs to the Toucan" was the most-played track.

 

Between 1981 and 1987, Models placed 12 singles on the Australian top 100, of which "Out of Mind Out of Sight" (number 1, 1985) and "Barbados" (number 2, 1985) were the biggest.  Models would land their second top 40 hit in 1983, with "I Hear Motion" (number 16, November 1983).

"Local &/Or General" was the title track from Models' second studio album, which peaked at number 30 in November 1981.

Models split in 1988, although they later reformed in 2000.

Models will bubble under again in 1984.  James Freud, who sang lead on the band's two biggest hits, bubbled WAY down under in 1989.

 

 

 

Position 21: "Talk to Ya Later" by The Tubes

Highest rank: 9th

Peak date: 30 November 1981

Weeks on below list: 2 weeks 

I hadn't heard this track before.  My first thought was that this is obviously an American production, and that hunch proved correct.  The Tubes formed in San Francisco in 1972, and released their first album three years later.

In Australia, The Tubes scored three top 100 singles, all of which peaked within the top 50.  Their biggest hit locally was "Don't Touch Me There" (number 26, January 1977), which spent 35 weeks on the chart despite its moderate peak - though it took 24 weeks to hit the top 40.

The band's third and final single to chart in Australia, "Don't Want to Wait Anymore", reached number 36 in October 1981.  Both that song and "Talk to Ya Later" were lifted from The Tubes' fifth studio album The Completion Backward Principle (number 74, September 1981).

 

"Talk to Ya Later" also bubbled under in the band's native US, reaching first position on the Billboard Bubbling Under chart.

 

Although The Tubes will not land another top 100 hit in Australia, they will bubble under again in 1983.

 

 

Position 22: "Up for Grabs" by The Radiators

Highest rank: 1st

Peak date: 30 November 1981

Weeks on below list: 2 weeks

 

Formed in Sydney 1978, Australian band The Radiators placed 10 singles on the Australian top 100 chart between 1979 and 1987.  However, only two of the band's singles made the top 40: "Comin' Home" (number 33, December 1979) and "No Tragedy" (number 27, June 1983).

"Up for Grabs" was the second single from The Radiators' second album Up for Grabs (number 29, November 1981).

The Radiators will bubble under again in 1985.

 

 

 

Next post (22 March 1982): All of the debuts bubbling under the Kent Music Report singles chart next week eventually made the top 100.  There are no further 'below' lists published again for almost four months after that, with the next one being 22 March 1982.  However, when the below lists return, the titles are listed in alphabetical order rather than by sales rank.  The ranked positions do not return until 30 August 1982.  Stay tuned for my first 1982 post in just over nine months' time...

 

< Previous post: 2 November 1981                              Next post: 30 August 1982 >

Week commencing 19 November 1990

This week's chart in 1990 is notable for being the only occasion since the chart was extended beyond number 100 in January 1989 that the ARIA singles chart did not go until at least number 150.  Instead, the chart ended at number 140 this week in 1990.

Why this occurred, I do not know.  The albums chart, in contrast, often ended before number 150 in 1989-90, after various artists compilation albums were removed from the chart on the survey dated 26 June 1989.  The albums chart ended as high as number 138 on three occasions in 1989.

 

I am only speculating here, but it is possible that ARIA had a minimum sales threshold for a title to obtain a chart placing - and, potentially, this threshold was not reached this week in November 1990.  After a period of going to at least number 150, the ARIA albums chart ended before number 140 for the first 19 weeks of 1990; finishing as high as number 138 on another three occasions.

In case you were wondering, the lowest-ranked single on the chart this week in 1990, at number 140, was Junior Tucker's "16 (Into the Night)", which would eventually peak at number 46 in Australia in April 1991.

Before we take a look at this week's chart from 1990, I have updated one of my earlier posts:

* 13 February 1989 - with a new bubbling WAY down under entry from The Beatmasters with P.P. Arnold added.

 

The Charlatans debut, but not with the only one of their songs you know.

 

Top 140 debuts:

 

Number 133 "Then" by The Charlatans

Peak: number 104

Peak date: 21 January 1991

Weeks in top 150: 13 weeks 

Weeks on chart: 13 weeks

 

English band The Charlatans formed in 1988.  Their second single, and first to be released in Australia, "The Only One I Know" (number 75, September 1990), was their only single to dent the ARIA top 100.  In contrast, "The Only One I Know" peaked at number 9 in the UK in June 1990.  The indie 'Madchester' scene, which The Charlatans are associated with, never really took off in Australia, with The Stone Roses' "Fools Gold" (number 13, May 1990) being its only sizable hit.

"Then", the second single released in Australia from The Charlatans' debut album Some Friendly (number 79, January 1991), faltered just short of the ARIA top 100.  "Then" peaked at number 12 in the UK in September 1990, and number 11 in Ireland during the same month.

On the state charts, "Then" performed strongest in New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory, where it reached number 79.

 

The Charlatans will join us again in April 1991.

 

 

 

Number 134 "Walking on a Wire" by Lowen & Navarro

Peak: number 131

Peak date: 7 January 1991

Weeks in top 150: 20 weeks

 

Until now, the single peaking outside the top 100 that spent the most weeks in the top 150 has been 10,000 Maniacs' "Trouble Me", which notched up 17 weeks in 1989.   American duo David Eric Lowan (who went by his middle name of Eric) and Dan Navarro (cousin of Dave Navarro, who has played guitar for Jane's Addiction and Red Hot Chili Peppers) better that record by three weeks with the title track from their Walking on a Wire (number 130, April 1991) album.  What makes this feat even more impressive is that "Walking on a Wire" spent all 20 of its weeks in the top 150 hovering between numbers 131 and 149, and its chart run was unbroken.

Lowen & Navarro had previously enjoyed success on the Australian chart as the songwriters of Pat Benatar's "We Belong" (number 7, February 1985).  The pair also share song co-writing credits on Bangles' "I'll Set You Free" (number 81, July 1990), "Everything I Wanted" (released in Australia in September 1990, did not chart), and "Something That You Said" (number 102, April 2003); and The Triplets' "You Don't Have to Go Home Tonight" (number 45, June 1991).

 

At the time of writing this, I cannot find evidence of "Walking on a Wire" charting anywhere else.  I say that, as the Billboard website seems to have changed its URLs for artist chart histories, as it seems to do every 6 months or so, annoyingly, and I cannot find a method of searching for this song's chart history.  I'm guessing that this track might have made one of the Billboard subsidiary (meaningless) charts if not the Hot 100.

 

I don't recall hearing this song before, despite its long chart run.  I like it.

 

Sadly, Eric Lowan died in 2012, aged 60, from complications of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or motor neuron disease as it is better-known in Australia.

A second Lowen & Navarro single, "The Spell You're Under", was released in Australia in March 1991, but missed the top 150.

"Walking on a Wire"'s record of 20 weeks in the top 150 for a single that missed the top 100 will be equalled in 1993, and bettered by a single that debuts on the final chart of 1990.

 

Number 138 "Christmas Photo" by John Williamson

Peak: number 113

Peak date: 10 December 1990

Weeks in top 150: 8 weeks

Weeks on chart: 8 weeks

 

John has been releasing music since 1970.  While the singles charts were not really his main market, John had placed seven singles in the top 100 at this point in time, with "Old Man Emu" (number 4, 1970), "The Vasectomy Song" (number 28, December 1983) and "Rip Rip Woodchip" (number 39, July 1989) making the top 40.  Surprisingly, "True Blue" (number 43, March 1987), which seems to me like it would be his signature song, missed the top 40.  We saw John just a few weeks ago.

 

"Christmas Photo" was the second single lifted from JW's Family Album (number 21, December 1990), and tells a tale of Christmas in Australia, which lands in the middle of summer, in contrast to the winter/snow imagery from the Northern hemisphere we are bombarded with around Christmas time.

 

On the state charts, "Christmas Photo" performed strongest in Queensland, where it reached number 89.

We shall next see John Williamson bubble under in August 1991.

 

 

Number 139 "Don't Ask Me" by PiL

Peak: number 139

Peak date: 19 November 1990

Weeks in top 150: 2 weeks

PiL, P.I.L., Public Image Ltd, or Public Image Limited - whatever you choose to call them - bubbled under previously in 1989.  "Don't Ask Me" was recorded for their The Greatest Hits, So Far (number 102, November 1990) compilation.  The single peaked at number 22 in the UK in October 1990.

 

Public Image Limited singer John Lydon would next appear on the Australian chart as the featured vocalist on Leftfield's "Open Up" (number 39, February 1994).

Next week (26 November): Normal top 150 service resumes, with six new top 150 entries and two bubbling WAY down under debuts.

< Previous week: 12 November 1990                                 Next week: 26 November 1990 >

Coming up in 1991...

As we near the end of 1990, here's a preview of what's coming up in my 1991 chart recaps next year...

Week commencing 12 November 1990

This week in 1990's new batch of top 150-peaking debuts is unusual, in that all but one of the singles spent at least 7 weeks on the chart.  As I have posted before, the average single peaking in the 101-150 region of the chart in 1990 spent between 5 and 6 weeks in the top 150, which means 7 of this week's 8 top 150 debuts had more chart longevity than normal.  You may be thinking that this could be because of the upcoming two-week Christmas break, where ARIA repeated the final chart of the year, artificially adding to the weeks in tally - but only one of this week's longer-charting debuts does not extend its chart run in 1991.

Before we take a look at this week's new entries, I have updated the following posts with newly-uncovered bubbling WAY down under singles:

* 2 July 1990 - with a new entry from Damn Yankees

* 30 July 1990 - with a new entry from Damn Yankees

* 13 August 1990 - with a new entry from Kate Ceberano and Her Sextet

 

Sting didn't generate much 'buzz' with his latest release.

 

Top 150 debuts:

 

Number 131 "Never Felt This Way Before" by Alston

Peak: number 131

Peak date: 12 November 1990

Weeks in top 150: 1 week

 

Alston Koch, known at this point in time as just Alston, was born in Sri Lanka, but emigrated to Sydney.  His recording career started in the mid-1970s, as part of the group Dark Tan.  Dark Tan placed three singles on the Australian top 100 between 1976 and 1979, with the biggest of those being "Disco Lady" (number 70, May 1978).

Alston then embarked on a solo career, releasing two non-charting singles during the 1980s, "20 Miles" (October 1983) and "Try Again" (November 1984).  Alston recorded Australia's theme song for the 1987 America's Cup, "Kookaburra", which was credited to Alston and The Fremantle Doctor, but it too did not chart, surprisingly.

 

"Never Felt This Way Before" was Alston's latest attempt at landing a solo hit.  While it charted, thanks to the ARIA chart now extending beyond number 100, it also did not achieve major success.  The track was remixed by Robert Racic, who was instrumental in shaping the sound of Australian electronic/dance music in the 1990s.

Alston reportedly achieved greater success with his music in Asia, although it is difficult to verify this claim, owing to Asian charts from the 1980s (if they were published) not being archived online to my knowledge.  Nonetheless, here is a video of Alston performing "Try Again" on Singaporean TV.

Alston had more success as a producer on the Australian charts, co-producing Melissa Tkautz's three biggest hits, "Read My Lips" (number 1, July 1991), "Sexy (Is the Word)" (number 3, September 1991) and "Skin to Skin" (number 16, May 1992).

Sporting a hairstyle and shades look not dissimilar to that of Eurythmics' Dave Stewart at this point in time, the record company seem to have felt that Alston might land a hit if they paired him with a 'hot' woman with model looks, and did just that, with Alston essentially being re-branded as S-Witch, who will see bubble under in 1991.

Alston eventually scored top 50 success in Australia with his Don't Funk with Me album, peaking at number 16 in June 2012.

 

 

Number 133 "Birthday" by Paul McCartney

Peak: number 102

Peak date: 26 November 1990

Weeks in top 150: 11 weeks

Weeks on chart: 11 weeks

As one of The Beatles, Paul McCartney needs no introduction.  We saw Paul bubbling under in August 1989, and here he is again, with the lead single from his Tripping the Live Fantastic (number 86, November 1990) album.  As you might have guessed from the album's title, this song is a live performance.  It is a solo rendition of a track from The Beatles' 1968 The Beatles (White Album).

Internationally, "Birthday" reached number 29 in the UK in October 1990, number 22 in Ireland in October 1990, and number 68 in the Netherlands in November 1990.

On the ARIA state charts, "Birthday" performed strongest in Queensland, where it reached number 79.  "Birthday" entered the top 100 on four of the five state charts, only missing out in Western Australia, where it peaked at number 101.  The single performed stronger on the Australian Music Report singles chart, where it reached number 100.

We shall next see Paul in 1993.

 

 

Number 134 "Sense of Purpose" by Pretenders

Peak: number 129

Peak date: 3 December 1990

Weeks in top 150: 5 weeks

Weeks on chart: 10 weeks

 

Pretenders are quickly becoming Bubbling Down Under royalty - this is the fourth time I have written about a song of theirs in under two years since starting these chart recaps.  To date, we have seen Pretenders in October 1981, March 1989, and June 1990.

"Sense of Purpose" was the second single lifted from Pretenders' fifth studio album Packed! (number 55, June 1990).  The single did not even chart in the UK, and appears to have only otherwise charted in Canada, reaching number 72.

 

On the state charts, "Sense of Purpose" performed strongest in Western Australia, where it reached number 113.

I hadn't heard this song before, but enjoyed it.  To me, although Chrissie Hynde maintained name recognition, it seemed like Pretenders disappeared off the face of the earth between 1988 and 1993.

Pretenders will join us again in 1994.  Before then, we'll see Chrissie as a featured artist in 1991.

 

Number 137 "Billy Billy" by Paul Norton

Peak: number 114

Peak date: 19 November 1990

Weeks in top 150: 9 weeks 

Weeks on chart: 9 weeks

Before launching a solo career, Australian singer-songwriter Paul Norton played bass in the band The Runners, who scored a minor hit with "Sure Fire Thing" (number 43, June 1982) in 1982.

Paul burst onto the charts in 1989 with his debut solo single "Stuck on You", which went all the way to number 3 in May 1989.  Unfortunately for Paul, it was all downhill for him, chart-wise, after that release.  Paul's second and third singles, "I Got You" (number 31, November 1989) and "Southern Sky" (number 37, August 1990), languished in the 30's on the chart, and he would never land another top 50 hit again.

"Billy Billy" was the fourth release from Paul's debut album Under a Southern Sky (number 44, September 1990).  I probably heard this at the time, given radio's penchant for playing his music back then, but have no recollection of it.

 

On the state charts, "Billy Billy" performed strongest in Victoria/Tasmania, where it reached number 103.

If a music video for "Billy Billy" exists, it has not been uploaded to YouTube.  Australian record company indifference to their archive strikes again...

Paul released a fifth single from Under a Southern Sky, "Shake That Devil", in February 1991, but it failed to chart.

We shall next see Paul in 1993.

Number 139 "Carry Me" by Ray Lyell and The Storm

Peak: number 117

Peak dates: 21 January 1991 and 28 January 1991

Weeks in top 150: 7 weeks

 

Canadian band Ray Lyell and The Storm landed a hit, of sorts, on the Australian charts with the double A-side single "(Running from) Another Man's Gun"/"Colour of Money" (number 57, August 1990).  Despite its low peak, the single spent 18 weeks in the top 150, and "Colour of Money" received decent radio airplay - at least in Melbourne, and made its way onto the U Can't Touch This various artists compilation album.

"Carry Me" was the second, or third depending on how you count them, single from the band's only album, Ray Lyell and The Storm (number 44, August 1990).  Oddly, the single to seems to have only been commercially released in Australia, despite a music video being filmed to promote it.

"Carry Me" spent just one of its 7-week top 150 chart-run on the chart in 1990.  It re-entered in January 1991, reaching its peak of 117 later that month.

On the Australian Music Report singles chart, "Carry Me" peaked at number 91.

The band presumably split soon after this release, as Ray launched a solo career in 1992.  Ray will bubble under with his solo material on the Australian chart in 1993.

 

Number 146 "Rhythm of the Rain" by Dan Fogelberg

Peak: number 129

Peak date: 17 December 1990 (chart repeated 24 December 1990 and 31 December 1990)

Weeks in top 150: 7 weeks

 

Between 1975 and 1983, American Dan Fogelberg placed four singles on the Australian top 100, with the biggest of those, "Longer", peaking at number 41 in March 1980.  Dan had more success on the Australian albums chart, with seven top 100 albums, and Phoenix peaking at number 27 in April 1980.  Dan was much bigger in the US, where he scored four Billboart Hot 100 top 10 hits between 1979 and 1981.

 

"Rhythm of the Rain" was a cover of a song recorded in 1962 by The Cascades.  "Rhythm of the Rain" had also recently been covered by Jason Donovan (number 44, November 1990).  Dan's version of the track also charted in Canada, where it peaked at number 39.  For what it's worth (not much, if you ask me), Dan's rendition of "Rhythm of the Rain" reached number 3 on the US Billboard Adult Contemporary chart in November 1990.

 

Sadly, Dan died in December 2007, aged 56, following a three and a half year illness with prostate cancer.

Number 147 "Nature Boy" by Kate Ceberano

Peak: number 121

Peak date: 26 November 1990

Weeks in top 150: 10 weeks

Weeks on chart: 10 weeks

Kate Ceberano shared lead vocal duties - although she sang lead on all but one of their singles - with Zan Abeyratne in Australian band I'm Talking between 1983 and 1987.  I'm Talking landed five top 40 singles in Australia, with three of those reaching the top 10.  "Do You Wanna Be" (number 8, June 1986) was their highest-peaking single.  I'm Talking bubbled under with their final single in November 1986.

 

If you're a fan of I'm Talking and have not seen it before, check out the UK video for "Do You Wanna Be" which... I discovered on a VHS tape I'd bought, but which sat in an unopened parcel in my wardrobe for 4 and a half years (don't ask), back in June this year.  No-one in the band had a copy in their possession!

After I'm Talking split, Kate Ceberano released a jazz album, Kate Ceberano & Her Septet Live (number 29, April 1987), and a soundtrack album with Wendy Matthews, You've Always Got the Blues (number 7, June 1988).

 

Kate's solo 'pop' debut album Brave (number 2, August 1989) was released in 1989.  Brave was certified triple platinum and spawned four top 30 singles, one of which was a double A-side.  "Bedroom Eyes" (number 2, May 1989) was the biggest of those, spending seven non-consecutive weeks at number 2, despite topping the New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory and Victoria/Tasmania state charts.  "Bedroom Eyes" was the seventh highest-selling single of 1989 in Australia.

Following Brave, Kate released another jazz album Like Now (number 18, August 1990), this time with her Sextet.  We saw Kate Ceberano and Her Sextet bubble WAY down under in August 1990.

"Nature Boy", a cover version of a song originally released by Nat King Cole in 1948, appears on the soundtrack album for The Crossing (number 100, November 1990).

On the state charts, "Nature Boy" performed strongest in Western Australia, where it reached number 99.

Kate would return to pop in 1991, but will still explore other genres in between her pop album releases.  We shall see Kate bubble under next in 1994.

Number 148 "Tick Tock" by The Vaughan Brothers

Peak: number 117

Peak date: 17 December 1990 (chart repeated 24 December 1990 and 31 December 1990)

Weeks in top 150: 11 weeks

 

Brothers Stevie Ray Vaughan and Jimmy Vaughan united to record the album Family Style (number 17, November 1990).  This was the pair's only collaboration, as Stevie perished in a helicopter crash on 27 August 1990, aged 35.

At this point in time, Stevie had landed five charting albums in Australia, with Couldn't Stand the Weather (number 20, October 1984) being the most successful of those.  Stevie had only manged to score one top 100 single on the Australian chart, with "Cold Shot" (number 98, October 1984).  Both the single and album were credited to Stevie Ray Vaughan & Double Trouble, his backing band - though (obviously) not the same Double Trouble we saw a few weeks back.  "Tick Tock" was Jimmie's first foray onto the Australian singles chart.

Elsewhere, "Tick Tock" charted at number 65 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in November 1990, and number 44 in the Netherlands in December 1990.

"Tick Tock" performed stronger on the Australian Music Report singles chart, where it reached number 96.

 

Bubbling WAY down under:

 

Number 156 "Englishman in New York" (The Ben Liebrand Mix) by Sting

Peak: number 156

Peak date: 12 November 1990

Weeks on chart: 1 week

 

As the lead singer of The Police, Sting landed 14 charting singles in Australia between 1979 and 1986, with six of those reaching the top 10.  "Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic" (number 2, December 1981) and "Every Breath You Take" (number 2, July 1983) were their equal-biggest hits here.

Sting, real name Gordon Sumner, released his first solo single in 1982, with "Spread a Little Happiness" (number 80, October 1982), from the Brimstone & Treacle soundtrack.  While it was not a big success locally, the single reached the top 20 in the UK and Ireland.

Sting's first solo single from a studio album, "If You Love Somebody Set Them Free", peaked at number 18 in Australia in July 1985.  Its parent album The Dream of the Blue Turtles reached number 1 on the Australian albums chart in April 1986, nine months after debuting at number 5.

 

At this point in time, Sting had placed seven singles on the Australian top 100, with "Russians" (number 11, May 1986) being the highest-peaking of those.

"Englishman in New York" was originally issued as a single in Australia in March 1988, as the third release from Sting's second solo album ...Nothing Like the Sun (number 5, November 1987).  Somehow, it failed to chart, despite (I think) being one of Sting's most recognisable solo tracks now.  Its YouTube view count of (at the time of writing this) almost 237 million views would support my opinion.

"Englishman..."'s international chart stats also do not befit the song's enduring popularity, languishing at number 51 in the UK in February 1988, and peaking no higher than number 13 anywhere in the world (in the Netherlands).  The single peaked at just number 84 on the US Billboart Hot 100 in April 1988.

Perhaps it is because it seemed like the song deserved greater success that this remix of "Englishman in New York" was issued as a single.  The track was re-worked by Ben Liebrand, whom we have seen a couple of times in his own right this year, in February and September.

Listening to this version of "Englishman in New York", I can't help but notice the similarity to the 1988 Ben Liebrand remix of The Four Seasons featuring Frankie Valli's "December 1963 (Oh What a Night)", which became a belated hit in Australia, peaking at number 3 in February 1993.

 

Internationally, the Ben Liebrand remix of "Englishman in New York" peaked at number 15 in the UK in August 1990 (beating its original peak of number 51 in February 1988), number 20 in Germany in September 1990 (the original did not chart there), and number 60 in the Netherlands in October 1990.

 

On the ARIA state charts, the "Englishman in New York" remix performed strongest in Western Australia, where it reached number 125.

 

Although the remix was a greater commercial success, surely it is the original version of "Englishman in New York" that is remembered now.  I can't, however, determine why the song seems like it was a much bigger hit than it was.  The song's Wikipedia page does not give any clues.  Does anyone know why?

  

We shall next see Sting in April 1991.

 

 

 

Next week (19 November): Four new entries, and for the only time since the ARIA chart extended beyond number 100, the singles chart ends before number 150.

 

< Previous week: 12 November 1990                               Next week: 19 November 1990 >

Week commencing 5 November 1990

The top 150-peaking debuts this week in 1990 were another diverse lot, with metal, rock ballads, country, and... children's television puppets among them.  But before diving in, let me bring to your attention that I have updated last week's post with a newly uncovered bubbling WAY down under entry from Carly Simon.  Let's take a look at this week's debuts.

 

Agro's... chart connection?

 

Top 150 debuts:

 

Number 138 "Holy Wars... The Punishment Due" by Megadeth

Peak: number 138

Peak date: 5 November 1990

Weeks in top 150: 1 week

 

For some reason, I had thought until now that Megadeth were British, but they actually formed in Los Angeles in 1983.  The band had to wait until 1990 to land their first Australian chart entry, when their version of Alice Cooper's "No More Mr. Nice Guy" reached number 48 in March 1990.

"Holy Wars... The Punishment Due" was the lead single from Megadeth's fourth studio album Rust in Peace (number 47, November 1990).  Internationally, the single peaked at number 24 in the UK in September 1990, and number 12 in Ireland.  "Holy Wars..." did not chart in the band's native US.

 

Clocking in at over 6 and a half minutes, "Holy Wars..." doesn't exactly scream 'single' to my ears.

Despite forming devil horns above his head in the "No More Mr. Nice Guy" music video, Megadeth lead singer Dave Mustaine is now a born-again Christian, and refuses to perform at festivals where there are bands who may be perceived as being satanic.

 

 

 

Number 140 "I Found Out" by The Christians

Peak: number 140

Peak date: 5 November 1990

Weeks in top 150: 1 week

Weeks on chart: 1 week

From born-again Christians, we now go to a band named The Christians; although it is due to the founding members of the band being brothers, with the surname Christian.  We last saw the British band in April 1990.

"I Found Out" was the second single issued from The Christians' second album Colour (number 138, May 1990).  The single peaked at number 56 in the UK in April 1990, number 69 in the Netherlands in May 1990, number 42 in the Flanders region of Belgium in May 1990, and number 22 in France in August 1990.

 

On the ARIA state charts, "I Found Out" performed strongest in Western Australia, where it reached number 115.

 

"I Found Out" was The Christians' highest-peaking single on the Australian chart, if we ignore their contribution to the Hillsborough disaster charity single "Ferry Cross the Mersey" (number 45, June 1989).  I remember seeing the band in the UK pop magazine Number One, but never heard any of their music at the time; so, presumably, their Australian success was hindered by a lack of promotion.

We shall next see The Christians in 1993.

 

 

Number 142 "Got the Time" by Anthrax

Peak: number 142

Peak date: 5 November 1990

Weeks in top 150: 1 week

Anthrax formed in New York City in 1981.  Their fourth studio album State of Euphoria peaked at number 82 on the ARIA albums chart in late 1988.  "Got the Time", the first release from the band's fifth album Persistence of Time (number 30, September 1990), was their first single to land within the Australian top 150.

Elsewhere, "Got the Time" peaked at number 16 in the UK in January 1991.

To my surprise, "Got the Time" is a cover version of a song written and originally recorded by Joe Jackson for his 1979 album Look Sharp! (number 20, July 1979).  Joe doesn't seem like the kind of artist a metal band would cover.

Anthrax will join us again in 1993.

Number 143 "I'll See You in My Dreams" by Giant

Peak: number 115

Peak date: 8 April 1991

Weeks in top 150: 15 weeks

Weeks on chart: 18 weeks

American band Giant formed in 1987.  "I'll See You in My Dreams" was their second single released in Australia, following "I'm a Believer" (June 1990, did not chart).  Both tracks are lifted from the band's debut album Last of the Runaways.

 

"I'll See You in My Dreams" was released in Australia in mid-August 1990, and took two and a half months to break into the top 150.  The single had two separate chart runs in Australia, initially peaking at number 121 in November 1990 and spending 5 weeks in the top 150, before re-entering in March 1991, climbing to a new peak of number 115 the following month, and spending another 10 weeks in the top 150.  A reader has informed me that the second chart-run coincided with the song featuring in a scene in the TV series Twin Peaks.

In the band's native US, "I'll See You in My Dreams" reached number 20 in June 1990.  The single also peaked at number 96 in the UK during the same month.

 

In Australia, "I'll See You in My Dreams" performed much stronger in Victoria/Tasmania than elsewhere, where it reached number 56 in April 1991.  Its next-highest state chart peak was number 100 in South Australia/Northern Territory in November 1990.  The single peaked on the remaining three state charts in November 1990, indicating the higher peak reached in 1991 was largely led by sales in Victoria/Tasmania.  On the Australian Music Report singles chart, "I'll See You in My Dreams" peaked at number 82.

 

"I'll See You in My Dreams" was Giant's only charting release in Australia.

 

Number 145 "Love Is Strange" by Kenny Rogers Duet with Dolly Parton

Peak: number 145

Peak date: 5 November 1990

Weeks in top 150: 1 week

Weeks on chart: 1 week

Country music legends Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton teamed up for a Bee Gees-penned duet, "Islands in the Stream", which went all the way to number 1 on the Australian chart in December 1983.  Kenny and Dolly paired up again on "Real Love" (number 45, December 1985), with much less success.

 

"Love Is Strange" was the third Kenny and Dolly duet single, and was a cover version of the Mickey & Sylvia song from 1956.  The song was the title track from Kenny's Love Is Strange (number 155, November 1990) album.  While the single was not a commercial success anywhere, it did reach number 21 on the US Billboard Hot Country Songs chart in September 1990 - if that counts for anything.

 

On the ARIA state charts, "Love Is Strange" peaked highest in Queensland, where it reached number 124.

 

We last saw Kenny in July 1989, and he will join us next in 1995.  Dolly will join us before then, in 1992.

 

 

 

Number 146 "Crying in the Rain" by a-ha

Peak: number 131

Peak dates: 19 November 1990 and 26 November 1990

Weeks in top 150: 6 weeks

Weeks on chart: 6 weeks

Norwegian band a-ha burst onto the scene with the international smash hit "Take on Me" (number 1, November) in 1985.  What you may not know, though, is that "Take on Me" had an earlier release, with a different mix and video, in 1984 (though not in Australia).

While a-ha maintained a reasonable level of commercial success in Europe for the better part of a decade, in Australia, they are largely (and inaccurately) considered to be one-hit wonders, with none of their other singles peaking higher than number 19, which "The Sun Always Shines on T.V." reached in February 1986.  A-ha amassed five top 40 singles in Australia, with the last one of those being the Bond theme "The Living Daylights" (number 29, August 1987).  A-ha's last top 100 single in Australia was "Stay on These Roads" (number 56, June 1988).

"Crying in the Rain" was the first single released from a-ha's fourth studio album East of the Sun, West of the Moon (number 122, November 1990).  The song is - unusually, for a lead single from an established act - a cover version, of a song originally recorded by The Everly Brothers.

 

Internationally, "Crying in the Rain" topped the Norwegian singles chart, and peaked within the top 10 in Germany, the Netherlands, and Ireland.  The song was also a top 20 hit in the UK, Austria, France and Belgium.

 

Locally, "Crying in the Rain" performed strongest on the Western Australia state chart, where it reached number 110.

 

I admit that I didn't actually know any of a-ha's songs, other than "Take on Me", until I started following music, and the charts, intently in 1988.  "Touchy!" (released in Australia in October 1988, did not chart) was the second song of theirs I was aware of, after seeing the music video on The Factory.  I didn't hear any of their other music until catching "The Living Daylights" on a repeated episode of Countdown on rage in January 2005.  While I am surprised the band did not enjoy more success in Australia, "Crying in the Rain" is not my favourite song of theirs.

We will next see a-ha in January 1991.

 

 

Number 150 "Living in a Child's Dream" by Agro

Peak: number 150 

Peak date: 5 November 1990

Weeks in top 150: 1 week

For anyone who doesn't know, Agro is/was a puppet, voiced by Jamie Dunn, on Australian children's television during the 1980s and 1990s, on programs such as Wombat and Agro's Cartoon Connection.

 

While sometimes referred to as a talking bathmat, Agro was actually crafted from a puppet of the Muppets character Animal.  Agro's brand of humour was typically more 'adult' than usual for a children's TV show character, as evident in this compilation.  I could not imagine a character like Agro being on children's TV now.

"Living in a Child's Dream" was lifted from the imaginatively-titled The Agro Album (number 44, November 1990).  The song was written by Mick Bower, who was the original guitarist in the Australian band The Masters Apprentices.

My impression is that anyone who bought this single - or the album, for that matter - wasn't getting it for the music itself, but rather, they liked Agro or the single/album sleeve, or thought it might make a nice Christmas present.  I had never heard this song before, or any of Agro's other 'music'.

Despite The Agro Album's modest success, a second Agro album, Agro Too (number 100, December 1990), was released to cash-in on the Christmas market in 1991.

 

Bubbling WAY down under:

 

Number 152 "Feel That Beat" by 2 Static featuring Nasty Cat

Peak: number 152

Peak date: 5 November 1990

Weeks on chart: 1 week

We last saw 2 Static in June 1990.

"Feel That Beat" was the second and final 2 Static single released in Australia, this time featuring Nasty Cat.  This one does not appear to have charted anywhere else.  On the state charts, "Feel That Beat" performed strongest in Western Australia, where it reached number 127.

 

I hadn't heard this one until writing this post.  Interestingly, it appears to be where the "dum, dum da da da dum, that's the way you got to go, now put your hands in the air when I say so" lines from Melodie MC's "Dum Da Dum" (number 5, April 1994) and "yo DJ, let's move those feet!" from DJ Darren Briais vs DJ Peewee Ferris' "I Feel It" (number 20, May 1996) were sampled from.

While we will not see 2 Static again, we shall see Martin Boer, who was behind 2 Static, behind another Dutch act, 2 Brothers on the 4th Floor, in 1994.

 

Number 156 "Reckless" by Weddings, Parties, Anything

Peak: number 151

Peak date: 3 December 1990

Weeks on chart: 3 weeks

 

As I write this post, I am slightly confused.  While "Reckless" was issued as a single in its own right, it was also the lead track on Weddings, Parties, Anything's The Weddings Play Sports (And Falcons) EP, which reached number 93 on the ARIA singles chart in November 1990.  My guess is that, perhaps, the six-track EP was more of a mini-album, from which "Reckless" (with a B-side not on the EP) was the single, and ARIA should have placed the EP on the albums chart instead.  But it's certainly strange to have an EP and a single with the same lead track charting simultaneously on the singles chart.

 

We last saw Weddings, Parties, Anything in April 1990, and will next see them in 1994.

 

 

Next week (12 November): The new entries keep coming, with another eight top 150 debuts and one bubbling WAY down under entry.

 

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