The two new entries bubbling under the top 100 this week in 1983 are, in some ways, from a different time, with one being a single originally released in 1980, and the other portraying the singer with a prominent 70s moustache in the music video. Shall we take a look?
Joan Jett: she don't give a damn about her bad chart positions.
Beyond the top 100:
Position 9 "Be My Lady" by Jefferson Starship
Highest rank: 2nd
Peak date: 14 March 1983
Weeks on below list: 3 weeks
I have written about Starship and Jefferson Airplane previously. Under the Jefferson Starship name, the group only scored one Australian top 100 single, with "Jane" (number 72, March 1980).
"Be My Lady" was the lead single from Jefferson Starship's seventh studio album Winds of Change. Internationally, the single peaked at number 28 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in December 1982.
I hadn't heard this one before. Singer Mickey Thomas is sporting a striking moustache in the video.
Position 11 "Bad Reputation" by Joan Jett & The Blackhearts
Highest rank: 11th
Peak date: 28 February 1983
Weeks on below list: 1 week
American rock singer Joan Jett and her band The Blackhearts burst onto the Australian chart in 1982 with their version of "I Love Rock 'n' Roll" (number 1, May 1982). They followed it up with further hits "Crimson and Clover" (number 6, August 1982) and "Do You Wanna Touch Me (Oh Yeah)" (number 18, November 1982).
"Bad Reputation" was the title track of Joan's 1980 debut album Bad Reputation (number 45, December 1982), which was released under the name of just Joan Jett. Previous single "Do You Wanna Touch Me..." was also lifted from this album - I assume the record company decided to promote this earlier release to cash in on Joan's newfound success.
"Bad Reputation" does not appear to have charted anywhere else.
Once again I cannot identify a common theme among this week in 1992's new entries peaking outside the top 100, other than they're all a bit 'strange' in some way. Have a listen and see what you think.
Kylie Minogue: 1 Unlimited
Top 150 debuts:
Number 113 "Everyday Sunshine" by Fishbone
Peak: number 112
Peak date: 9 March 1992
Weeks in top 150: 5 weeks
Top 150 chart run: 113-124-112-138-135
We saw Fishbone last week, and here they are again with their second and final ARIA top 150 single, from the band's third studio album The Reality of My Surroundings (number 136, July 1991).
Internationally, "Everyday Sunshine" peaked at number 60 in the UK in August 1992. It also reached number 14 on the US Billboard Alternative Airplay chart in July 1991.
Number 139 "Boys Will Be Boys" by Osmond Boys
Peak: number 132
Peak date: 9 March 1992
Weeks in top 150: 6 weeks
Top 150 chart run: 139-133-132-142-148-143
Osmond Boys were the vocal quartet Michael, Douglas, Nathan and David Osmond, who were all sons of Alan Osmond from the band The Osmonds. To my surprise, they do not currently have a Wikipedia page.
"Boys Will Be Boys" was lifted from the group's second album Boysterous, which was issued locally in February 1992, but missed the ARIA top 150 albums chart.
Internationally, "Boys Will Be Boys" peaked at number 65 in the UK in November 1991.
Another single from Boysterous, "Second Generation", was released in Australia in July 1992 but missed the top 150.
Number 147 "A Midlife's Tale (Get It Back Now)" by My Friend the Chocolate Cake
Peak: number 134
Peak date: 2 March 1992
Weeks in top 150: 7 weeks
Chart run: 147-134-136-143-147-141-150
Weeks on chart: 7 weeks
Formed in Melbourne in 1989, Australian band My Friend the Chocolate Cake never landed a top 100 single in Australia, though placed three albums in the top 100.
"A Midlife's Tale (Get It Back Now)", the band's debut single, was lifted from their first album My Friend the Chocolate Cake (number 109, April 1992).
On the state charts, "A Midlife's Tale..." was most popular in Victoria/Tasmania, where it reached number 106.
Listening to this track for the first time as I write this, there's something distinctly 'Melbourne'-sounding about the instrumentation. It reminds me a little bit of acoustic band Things of Stone & Wood, musically. I don't mind the song.
While My Friend the Chocolate Cake would not be troubling the ARIA top 100 with their single releases, we will see them bubble under a number of times over the coming years, with the next occasion being in 1994.
Number 148 "The Marrickville Mauler" by Leon K and The Knockouts
Peak: number 148
Peak date: 24 February 1992
Weeks in top 150: 1 week
Top 150 chart run: 148
Before I look up any information about this release, I must tell you that I really do not know what to expect, given the artist name and song title...
As I half-suspected, this track is by an Australian artist, was a one-off release, and is not available to listen to anywhere online. Drat!
The "Marrickville mauler" in question is Australian boxer Jeff Fenech.
One person on discogs owns the CD single, but their collection is not listed publicly, so I am unable to message them to request a rip of this track. There is a copy of the CD single listed for sale on eBay for $12.50, but to be honest, I'm not sure that it's worth that just to hear this 'song'. But maybe I will relent...
"I'll Get By" was issued as the second single from Eddie's eighth studio album Right Here (number 160, September 1991). It followed "Heaven in the Back Seat", which was released locally in September 1991 but failed to chart.
Internationally, "I'll Get By" peaked at number 21 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in March 1992, and at number 15 in Canada.
Despite listening to American Top 40 in early 1992, I do not recall hearing this one before. Of note is that Eddie's locks have been trimmed for the music video.
Within Australia, "I'll Get By" performed strongest in New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory, where it reached number 159.
This was Eddie's last single to chart in Australia.
Number 174 "I Guess I Like It Like That" by Kylie Minogue
Peak: number 174
Peak date: 24 February 1992
Weeks on chart: 1 week
Australian pop princess Kylie Minogue needs no introduction. At this point in 1992, four and a half years into her recording career, Kylie had notched up 15 hits on the Australian singles chart, with all of those making the top 25.
Kylie was signed to Pete Waterman's PWL label in the UK, who were at this point licensing dance tracks from continental Europe for release in the UK; Dutch techno act 2 Unlimited's "Get Ready for This" (number 2, April 1992) being one of those. "I Guess I Like It Like That", an album track from Kylie's fourth album Let's Get To It (number 13, December 1991), blatantly plagiarises "Get Ready for This". I assume that a deal was made whereby Pete could rip off their song for a Kylie track in exchange for a UK distribution deal. Of course, Kylie's take on the track is inferior to the 2 Unlimited original.
In my mind, vinyl was pretty much dead in Australia as a commercial format by early 1991, with The Simpsons' "Do the Bartman" (number 1, March 1991) being the first number one single in Australia that was not available on 7" vinyl. The exception being that vinyl was still a format used by DJ's. Given vinyl's waning popularity in Australia at the time, I guess it's not bad that "I Guess I Like It Like That", which was available only on the 12" format, registered a chart placing.
On the state charts, "I Guess I Like It Like That" performed strongest in Western Australia, where it reached number 150. As the single was not issued commercially anywhere else, it only charted in Australia.
Kylie's next single to miss the ARIA top 100 would not come until 2011; but, given that my interest in chart music falls off a cliff by the start of the 2000s, I probably won't be recapping those charts in 2042 (!).
I shouldn't miss this opportunity to mention one of my favourite Kylie songs, "Finer Feelings" (number 60, June 1992), was her first proper-single flop in Australia, undeservedly. But hey, it's the underappreciated gems that are manna for the true music fans, right?
Next week (2 March): Owing to 1992 being a leap year, my 1992 chart recaps will be posted on a Thursday from now on. Next week, there are four top 150 debuts, and two bubbling WAY down under entries.
There is no common thread linking this week in 1992's debuts peaking outside the top 100, so let's just dive straight in.
Dire Straits really were in 'dire straits' with their chart position for their latest single.
Top 150 debuts:
Number 118 "On Every Street" by Dire Straits
Peak: number 109
Peak date: 24 February 1992
Weeks in top 150: 4 weeks
Top 150 chart run: 118-109-113-123
Between 1978 and 1991, English rock band Dire Straits placed 13 singles on the Australian chart, with the Twisting by the Pool EP (number 2, February 1983) being their highest-peaking hit.
"On Every Street" was the title track from the band's sixth and final studio album On Every Street (number 1, September 1991). It followed "Calling Elvis" (number 8, September 1991) and "Heavy Fuel" (number 26, December 1991).
Internationally, "On Every Street" peaked at number 42 in the UK in February 1992, number 42 in the Netherlands in March 1992, and number 23 in France in April 1992.
The single performed stronger on the Australian Music Report singles chart, where it reached number 80.
This would be Dire Straits' only single to peak in the 101-150 region of the ARIA singles chart, although (spoiler alert) they had a 1986 single that made the Kent Music Report beyond the top 100 list.
I don't recall hearing this one before. It takes over three minutes to reach its crescendo, which probably isn't a great thing for a commercial single.
Number 122 "In My Life" by Bette Midler
Peak: number 107
Peak date: 2 March 1992
Weeks in top 150: 6 weeks
Chart run: 122-115-107-109-120-117
Weeks on chart: 6 weeks
We last saw American singer and actress Bette Midler in 1991.
"In My Life" was the second and final single lifted from the For the Boys soundtrack (number 44, February 1992); the movie for which Bette also played a starring role in. The song is a cover version of a track originally recorded by The Beatles in 1965. It followed "Every Road Leads Back to You" (number 74, February 1992).
While I cannot find evidence of "In My Life" charting on any other sales-based chart, it did reach number 20 on the US Billboard Adult Contemporary chart in May 1992.
Within Australia, "In My Life" was most popular in Queensland, where it reached number 68.
We'll next see Bette in 1995.
Number 125 "So Real" by Love Decade
Peak: number 121
Peak date: 9 March 1992
Weeks in top 150: 7 weeks
Top 150 chart run: 125-122-126-121-126-131-123
English electronic dance group Love Decade formed in 1991, and "So Real" was their second single, though their first Australian release. It was the group's only release to trouble the ARIA top 150.
Internationally, "Love Decade" peaked at number 14 in the UK in November 1991, becoming their biggest hit there. It also reached number 25 in Ireland in December 1991.
I have heard this one before, though wouldn't have known it at the time.
Number 135 "Sunless Saturday" by Fishbone
Peak: number 135
Peak date: 17 February 1992
Weeks in top 150: 1 week
Top 150 chart run: 135
American rock band Fishbone formed in 1979. "Sunless Saturday" was issued as a single locally at the start of July 1991, though somehow took seven and a half months to register a place in the top 150 - for one week only, at that. It was the band's first release to chart in Australia.
"Sunless Saturday" is lifted from the band's third studio album The Reality of My Surroundings (number 136, July 1991).
I cannot find evidence of this single charting elsewhere, other than on the US Billboard Alternative Airplay chart, where it reached number 7 in May 1991.
Australian band Ghostwriters formed in 1990, as essentially a side project between Midnight Oil's drummer Rob Hirst and Hoodoo Gurus' bassist Richard Grossman. Neither artist was credited on the liner notes for their debut album Ghostwriters (number 96, January 1992), however, given they wished to initially remain anonymous. Session musicians on the album were credited by their first name and surname initial.
Ghostwriters' debut single "...Someone's Singing New York New York" (number 29, December 1991) dented the ARIA top 30. It would become their only single to enter the top 100.
Top 150 chart run: 147-143-130-118-125-125-138-142
Sometimes, the timing of my posts is quite lucky. The (audio only) video embedded below for this track was uploaded to YouTube just a month ago - without this, I wouldn't be able to hear this track or share it with you.
Helvelln were an Australian band, composed of members Andy Papadopoulos, Jeremy Gronow, and Nick Green. They released just one album Helvelln (number 136, September 1991), from which this track is lifted. While it's not the sort of music I'd normally listen to, I didn't mind this one. It would be the band's only ARIA top 150 single.
A reader has kindly informed me that Helvelln won the national Australian University band competition in 1991, and the prize was a recording session, from which "Cruelest Plague" resulted.
Number 150 "The Way I Feel About You" by Karyn White
Peak: number 150
Peak date: 17 February 1992
Weeks in top 150: 1 week
Top 150 chart run: 150
Weeks on chart: 5 weeks
We last saw American singer Karyn White in her own right in 1989, and as a featured artist in 1991.
"The Way I Feel About You" was the second single lifted from Karyn's second album Ritual of Love (number 152, October 1991). It followed "Romantic" (number 68, October 1991), which topped the US Billboard Hot 100 in November 1991, and was Karyn's only ARIA top 100 entry.
Internationally, "The Way I Feel About You" peaked at number 65 in the UK in January 1992, number 12 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in February 1992, and number 47 in New Zealand in March 1992.
Within Australia, "The Way I Feel About You" was most successful in New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory, where it reached number 136.
"Sweet Soul Music", credited to Soul Kitchen featuring London Boys in some markets, was the title track from London Boys' second album Sweet Soul Music, which was released in Australia in February 1992 but did not chart.
Internationally, "Sweet Soul Music" peaked at number 11 in Austria in September 1991, and number 81 in Germany in October 1991.
Domestically, "Sweet Soul Music" was most successful in Victoria/Tasmania, where it reached number 141.
This was London Boys' last release to chart in Australia.
Number 182 "I Can't Wait" by Stevie Nicks (1992 release)
Peak: number 182
Peak date: 17 February 1992
Weeks on chart: 1 week
This single originally peaked at number 20 in February 1986 and spent 18 weeks in the top 100.
We last saw American singer-songwriter Stevie Nicks in 1981.
"I Can't Wait" was originally released in Australia in December 1985, as the lead single from Stevie's third solo album Rock a Little (number 5, June 1986). The single appears to have been issued in Australia before other countries, and we even received an exclusive, earlier edit of the music video, which I have embedded as the second video below, as it is blocked on YouTube. In other markets, "Talk to Me" (number 22, April 1986) was released as the first Rock a Little single.
"I Can't Wait" was re-issued in Europe in late 1991 as the second single from Stevie's first compilation album Timespace - The Best of Stevie Nicks (number 13, December 1991) - an album I toyed with buying at the time, but did not. The re-issue of "I Can't Wait" peaked at number 47 in the UK in November 1991, bettering its original peak there of number 54 in February 1986.
"I Can't Wait" received a re-release in Australia in January 1992, as the follow-up to "Sometimes It's a Bitch" (number 18, November 1991). The 1992 issue of the single performed strongest in New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory, where it reached number 163.
One of my favourite Stevie quotes is regarding the "I Can't Wait" music video. Posting it here in full for you: "I look at that video, I look at my eyes, and I say to myself, 'Could you have laid off the pot, the coke
and the tequila for three days, so you could have looked a little
better? It just makes me want to go back into that video and stab
myself."
We shall next see Stevie on her own in 1994, but before then, she'll appear as a featured artist in July 1992.
The Australian edit of the "I Can't Wait" music video:
Number 184 "My Town" by Glass Tiger featuring Rod Stewart
"My Town" was the second single issued in Australia from Glass Tiger's third, and final, studio album Simple Mission, which was released in Australia in August 1991 but failed to chart. It followed the single "Animal Heart", released locally in July 1991, which also did not chart. On this track, the band teamed up with Rod Stewart - although he does not appear in the music video, and does not perform on the version of the track used in the video! You can hear the version of "My Town" featuring Rod here.
Internationally, "My Town" peaked at number 8 in Canada in November 1991, number 33 in the UK in November 1991, and number 51 in Germany in January 1992.
In Australia, "My Town" performed strongest in Western Australia, where it reached number 153.
This would be Glass Tiger's last charting release in Australia. Rod will join us again in August 1992.
Next week (24 February): Four top 150 debuts, and two bubbling WAY down under entries.
One thing this week in 1983's new entries bubbling under the top 100 have in common is that it would be the last time we see the artists in question in this region of the chart. Shall we take a look?
Roxy Music: there wouldn't be more after this one on the Australian chart.
Beyond the top 100:
Position 6 "Take a Chance with Me" by Roxy Music
Highest rank: 6th
Peak date: 14 February 1983
Weeks on below list: 1 week
Between 1972 and 1982, English band Roxy Music placed ten singles on the Australian top 100 chart, with their version of John Lennon's "Jealous Guy" going all the way to number one for four weeks in May-June 1981.
"Take a Chance with Me" was the third and final single lifted from the band's eighth and last studio album Avalon (number 1, July 1982). It followed "More Than This" (number 6, July 1982) and "Avalon" (number 22, October 1982).
Internationally, "Take a Chance with Me" peaked at number 5 in Ireland in September 1982, number 26 in the UK in October 1982, number 20 in the Netherlands in October 1982, number 12 in the Flanders region of Belgium in October 1982, and number 68 in Germany in November 1982.
Roxy Music split in 1983. We will see Roxy Music front man Bryan Ferry bubble under in 1986, and have seen him do so in 1989.
Position 11 "Angry Words" by Glenn Shorrock
Highest rank: 11th
Peak date: 14 February 1983
Weeks on below list: 1 week
Australian singer Glenn Shorrock is best known for fronting Little River Band during their most commercially-successful period, singing lead on their biggest hit "Help Is on the Way" (number 1, June 1977). While still part of the band, Glenn landed a solo hit in 1979 with "Dream Lover" (number 8, June 1979). He quit Little River Band in February 1982, though returned in 1988.
"Angry Words" was the second and final single from Glenn's solo debut album Villain of the Peace (number 32, November 1982). It followed "Rock 'N' Roll Soldier" (number 39, November 1982).
Glenn would land another solo top 10 hit later in 1983 with the Australia's Cup-inspired "We're Coming to Get You" (number 6, October 1983).
Next post (28 February): Two new singles bubbling under the top 100.
One thing this week in 1992's debuts peaking outside the top 100 have in common is that I did not hear any of them at the time. Perhaps they are new to you, too? Let's take a look/listen together.
Toni Childs: 'big in Australia', though not so much with this single.
Top 150 debuts:
Number 106 "Hearts Don't Think (They Feel)!" by Natural Selection
Peak: number 106
Peak dates: 10 February 1992 and 2 March 1992
Weeks in top 150: 7 weeks
Top 150 chart run: 106-112-117-106-107-134-129
American group Natural Selection formed in Minneapolis in 1988. Their debut single "Do Anything" (number 10, December 1991), which featured Madonna backing singer Niki Harris on the spoken female vocal bits, crept into the Australian top 10 towards the end of 1991.
"Hearts Don't Think (They Feel)!", with it's Shania Twain-esque title - some years before her time - complete with brackets and an exclamation mark, was the second single lifted from the group's only album Natural Selection (number 120, January 1992). It was also the group's final release in Australia.
Internationally, "Hearts Don't Think..." peaked at number 28 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in February 1992, and at number 47 in New Zealand during the same month.
"Hearts Don't Think..." managed to just scrape into the Australian Music Report singles chart, peaking at number 100 on it.
I don't recall hearing or being aware of this release at the time. To me, the group disappeared off the face of the earth after "Do Anything".
A third Natural Selection single, "It's Sweet" was released in the US in 1992, but not in Australia.
Number 110 "I Want to Walk with You" by Toni Childs
Peak: number 110
Peak date: 10 February 1992
Weeks in top 150: 6 weeks
Top 150 chart run: 110-119-129-120-131-123
Weeks on chart: 7 weeks
"I Want to Walk with You" was American singer Toni Childs', now based in Australia, eighth single to register on the Australian chart, and the first to miss the top 100. It was the third single lifted from her second album House of Hope (number 4, September 1991), following "I've Got to Go Now" (number 5, September 1991) and "House of Hope" (number 39, December 1991). Toni's chart career started in Australia with a pair of number seventeen hits, "Stop Your Fussin'" (number 17, October 1988) and "Don't Walk Away" (number 17, December 1988).
Throughout her career, Toni had more commercial success in Australia than in other countries. "I Want to Walk with You" did not register on any other countries' national charts that I can find, though it also does not appear to have been commercially released as a single anywhere else. Locally, the single was most successful in Queensland, where it reached number 74 on the state chart.
I don't recall hearing this one before, which is odd, given that Australian radio generally played Toni's singles at the time.
A fourth single from House of Hope, "Heaven's Gate", was released in Europe, but not Australia.
We shall next see Toni in 1994.
Number 119 "Money Makes the World Go Round" by Technotronic featuring Reggie
Peak: number 117
Peak date: 17 February 1992
Weeks in top 150: 5 weeks
Top 150 chart run: 119-117-125-128-124
Weeks on chart: 6 weeks
"Money Makes the World Go Round" was Belgian dance music act Technotronic's ninth single to chart in Australia, and the first to miss the top 100. The group burst onto the scene in late 1989 with "Pump Up the Jam" (number 4, February 1990), featuring model Felly lip syncing to Ya Kid K's vocals.
"Money Makes the World Go Round" did not chart anywhere else. Within Australia, it was most popular in Victoria/Tasmania, where it reached number 96.
Technotronic will next join us, with Ya Kid K back in the fold, in 1994.
Number 124 "Australia Land of Today" by Judith Durham
Peak: number 124
Peak date: 10 February 1992
Weeks in top 150: 5 weeks
Top 150 chart run: 124-131-134-149-138
Judith Durham came to fame as the lead singer of Australian band The Seekers, who scored several hits in the 1960s, such as "A World of Our Own" and "Georgy Girl". The group disbanded in 1968, and although they reformed in 1975, Judith did not re-join them until 1992. We saw The Seekers in 1989, though Judith was not part of the group then.
"Australia Land of Today" sounds like it was recorded for the soundtrack of a sporting event, such as the Olympics, but it charted about six months before the 1992 Olympics.
Judith passed away in August 2022, aged 79.
Number 138 "Never Give Up" by Ian Moss
Peak: number 128
Peak date: 24 February 1992
Weeks in top 150: 5 weeks
Top 150 chart run: 138-133-128-146-141
Weeks on chart: 6 weeks
Ian Moss came to fame as the guitarist and occasional singer of the Australian band Cold Chisel in the late 1970s. Cold Chisel split in 1983, and Ian took some time to launch his solo career in 1989, with back-to-back top 10 singles "Tucker's Daughter" (number 2, March 1989) and "Telephone Booth" (number 7, August 1989), and the number one album Matchbook (number 1, August 1989).
Unfortunately for Ian, his commercial success dwindled after those initial few releases, and his second solo album Worlds Away (number 42, November 1991) peaked outside the top 40.
"Never Give Up" was issued as the third and final single from Worlds Away, following "Slip Away" (number 56, July 1991) and "She's a Star" (number 74, October 1991). While it would become Ian's final ARIA top 150 single, his 1996 album Petrolhead (number 101, August 1996) just missed the top 100.
On the state charts, "Never Give Up" performed strongest in South Australia/Northern Territory, where it reached number 66.
We shall next see Ian in 1996.
Number 139 Just Right (EP) by Beasts of Bourbon
Peak: number 121
Peak date: 2 March 1992
Weeks in top 150: 11 weeks
Top 150 chart run: 139-137-142-121-139-140-143-140-133-(out for 1 week)-150-150
Weeks on chart: 13 weeks
Australian band Beasts of Bourbon formed in 1983. Frontman Tex Perkins also sang lead vocals in The Cruel Sea, whom we saw in 1991.
The Just Right EP, led by the title track "Just Right" (embedded below), was the only Beasts of Bourbon single to register on the Australian charts. The title track appeared on the band's fourth studio album The Low Road (number 85, April 1992).
On the state charts, the Just Right EP was most successful in New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory, where it reached number 83.
Although Just Right was the only Beasts of Bourbon single to chart, the group placed several albums outside the ARIA top 100, including Black Milk (number 142, July 1990), Beyond Good & Evil (number 254, October 1999), and Box Set: The Axeman's Jazz + Sour Milk + Black Milk (number 431, August 2009).
Number 142 "Obsession" by Army of Lovers
Peak: number 108
Peak date: 9 March 1992
Weeks in top 150: 7 weeks
Chart run: 142-136-141-112-108-118-121
Weeks on chart: 7 weeks
I first became aware of Swedish group Army of Lovers in late 1991, after catching the music video for "Crucified" (number 56, January 1992) on Coca-Cola Power Cuts. It was certainly an experience! My first thought was that group member Jean-Pierre Barda (the one who speaks the verses) was Pete Burns from Dead or Alive's doppelganger.
"Crucified" was actually the band's second single released in Australia, however. "My Army of Lovers" was issued locally in May 1991, but failed to chart. "Obsession" was the band's third release from the Australian pressing (which added some tracks from their debut album Disco Extravaganza) of their Massive Luxury Overdose (number 126, March 1992) album, which was otherwise their second studio album.
Internationally, "Obsession" peaked at number 2 in Sweden in October 1991, number 8 in the Netherlands in December 1991, number 67 in the UK in December 1991, number 4 in the Flanders region of Belgium in December 1991, number 7 in Switzerland in February 1992, number 7 in Germany in February 1992, and number 7 in Austria in March 1992.
Domestically, Queensland was the state most 'obsessed' with "Obsession", with the single peaking at number 91 on their state chart.
I first heard "Obsession" some time in the mid 2010s, when the music video appeared on a VHS tape I was digitising. Watching Jean-Pierre mime the repetitive 'ah ah ah ah..." vocal throughout is certainly amusing.
Number 161 "Word to the Mutha!" by Bell Biv DeVoe featuring Bobby Brown, Ralph Tresvant, Johnny Gill
Peak: number 151
Peak date: 24 February 1992
Weeks on chart: 7 weeks
We last saw Bell Biv DeVoe in 1991. "Word to the Mutha!" was their fifth single to chart in Australia, and on it, they teamed up with their former New Edition bandmates Bobby Brown, Ralph Tresvant and Johnny Gill as featured artists. The track was recorded for their remix album WBBD-Bootcity!: The Remix Album (number 126, October 1991).
"Word to the Mutha!" was not released commercially as a single in the US, so was ineligible to chart on the Billboard Hot 100 as per the rules at the time. The single peaked at number 37 on the US Billboard Radio Songs chart in September 1991, and at number 11 in New Zealand in May 1992.
Domestically, "Word to the Mutha!" performed strongest in New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory, where it reached number 146.
"Word to the Mutha!" was the last Bell Biv DeVoe single to peak outside the top 100 in Australia, but a later album, BBD (number 253, April 2002), landed in the lower region of the chart.
Number 168 "Never Say Never" by Lisette Melendez
Peak: number 168
Peak date: 10 February 1992
Weeks on chart: 1 week
Lisette Melendez last graced our presence in 1991. "Never Say Never" was the third single from her debut album Together Forever (number 199, December 1991) to peak outside the ARIA top 100.
I cannot find evidence of "Never Say Never" charting elsewhere. The single was most popular in New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory, where it reached number 153.
This was Lisette's final single to chart in Australia.
Next week (17 February): Seven top 150 debuts and three bubbling WAY down under entries.
There isn't a common thread I can identify linking this week in 1992's new entries peaking outside the top 100 I can identify, other than there are several (for me, anyway) unexpected entries among them. Shall we take a look?
Donna Summer's hair stylist tried to work some magic on that hair.
Top 150 debuts:
Number 121 "Sisters Keep on Doin' It" by Dimples D & Lady Spice
Peak: number 116
Peak date: 10 February 1992
Weeks in top 150: 4 weeks
Top 150 chart run: 121-116-129-131
Crystal Smith, better known by her stage name Dimples D, burst onto the chart in early 1991 with "Sucker DJ", which topped the chart for two weeks in March. The I Dream of Jeannie theme-sampling track would become Dimples' only release to trouble the top 100 in Australia.
"Sisters Keep on Doin' It" was lifted from Dimples' only album Dimples & Spice, which was released in Australia in December 1991 but missed the top 150. This time, the "Peter Gunn Theme" forms the basis of the track, and Dimples D teamed up with Lady Spice, whose real name is Tawana Ramsey.
I hadn't heard this one before. Vocally, it sounds quite different to me than "Sucker DJ" - I can't even really identify Dimples D's voice on it; though maybe that's because the vocals for "Sucker DJ" were recorded in 1983 for the track's original release "Sucker D.J.'s (I Will Survive)", and she was younger then.
I cannot find evidence of "Sisters Keep on Doin' It" charting elsewhere.
Number 131 "Just Another Girlfriend" by Hi-Five
Peak: number 107
Peak date: 10 February 1992
Weeks in top 150: 5 weeks
Top 150 chart run: 131-107-120-127-119
We last saw American R&B vocal quintet Hi-Five in 1991.
"Just Another Girlfriend" was issued as the third (in Australia) and final single from the group's debut album Hi-Five (number 102, July 1991).
Internationally, "Just Another Girlfriend" peaked at number 88 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in November 1991.
I don't normally care much for this sort of music, but found this track OK.
Hi-Five will next join us in 1993.
Number 141 "Rockwell Street" by Colour Blue
Peak: number 102
Peak dates: 24 February 1992 and 2 March 1992
Weeks in top 150: 8 weeks
Top 150 chart run: 141-133-107-102-102-127-129-(out for 1 week)-150
Colour Blue were an Australian group who only released two singles. Their debut release "Peace" (number 82, July 1991) dented the lower region of the ARIA top 100.
It sounds to me like Colour Blue were a couple of years ahead of their time. This track could have done better on the Australian chart had it been released in 1994-5, when R&B was gaining popularity locally.
Number 147 "Work That Magic" by Donna Summer
Peak: number 147
Peak date: 3 February 1992
Weeks in top 150: 1 week
Top 150 chart run: 147
Weeks on chart: 2 weeks
Donna Summer, born LaDonna Gaines, commenced her chart career in Australia in 1976 with "Love to Love You Baby" (number 4, April 1976). Between then and 1992, she placed a further 19 singles on the Australian chart, with "I Feel Love" (number 1, October 1977) and "Hot Stuff" (number 1, July 1979) topping the chart.
Donna's last real hit in Australia was the Stock Aitken Waterman-produced "This Time I Know It's for Real" (number 40, October 1989), which took seven months to reach its eventual modest peak, after debuting at number 150 in March 1989. She followed that up with "Love's About to Change My Heart" (number 71, November 1989), also from the Stock Aitken Waterman-produced album Another Place and Time (number 93, September 1989).
In the interim, Donna placed a compilation album outside the top 100 in Australia with The Best of Donna Summer (number 124, February 1991). A remixed version of "Breakaway", from Another Place and Time, was released as a single to promote the compilation in Europe, but not in Australia. It's a pity, because I really like the single version of that song!
"Work That Magic" was the second single lifted from Donna's fifteenth studio album Mistaken Identity, which was released in Australia in November 1991 but failed to chart. It followed "When Love Cries", which was released with no accompanying music video, owing to Donna's sister Andrea dying around this time.
Internationally, "Work That Magic" peaked at number 74 in the UK in November 1991.
Domestically, "Work That Magic" performed strongest in Victoria/Tasmania, where it reached number 136.
I didn't hear this one until a couple of years ago, but really like it. I think it could have become a hit if Donna was able to promote it effectively.
As you probably know, we lost Donna in 2012 aged 63, from lung cancer - an illness that also claimed the lives of her mother and sister.
We shall next see Donna in 1997. Before then, Donna had another compilation peak outside the top 100 in Australia, with The Donna Summer Anthology (number 144, January 1994).
Bubbling WAY down under:
Number 152 "Places That Belong to You" by Barbra Streisand
"Places That You Belong To" was a track recorded for the soundtrack to the movie The Prince of Tides, which Babs directed herself as well as starred in.
While that soundtrack missed the ARIA top 150, Babs had a recent compilation album that peaked outside the top 100: Just for the Record (number 126, November 1991).
Internationally, "Places That You Belong To" peaked at number 17 in the UK in March 1992, and at number 29 in Ireland during the same month.
Locally, "Places That You Belong To" 'belonged' most in Victoria/Tasmania, where it reached number 141.
Barbra will next join us in 1993.
Number 161 "Six O'Clock" by The Tyrrel Corporation
Peak: number 161
Peak date: 3 February 1992
Weeks on chart: 1 week
English duo The Tyrrel Corporation were made up of Joe Watson and Tony Barry. "Six O'Clock" was the pair's debut release, lifted from their album North East of Eden (number 273, December 1992).
"Six O'Clock" missed the top 75 in the UK and did not chart anywhere else. On the ARIA state charts, the single performed strongest in Western Australia, where it reached number 137.
The Tyrrel Corporation would go on to have a couple of other charting singles in Australia, though none would dent the top 150. I wasn't aware of the group until about a decade ago, when one of their songs turned up on a music video compilation I'd bought. I like the combination of soulful vocals and dance music on this track.
We'll next see The Tyrrel Corporation in May 1992.
"The Air You Breathe" was issued as the third single from the second Bomb the Bass album Unknown Territory (number 172, September 1991). Internationally, the single peaked at number 52 in the UK in November 1991, and number 54 in the Netherlands in December 1991.
Within Australia, "The Air You Breathe" was most popular in Western Australia, where it reached number 138.
This would be the final Bomb the Bass single to peak outside the top 100 in Australia, although their third album Clear peaked at number 122 in May 1995. Two later Bomb the Bass singles released locally that failed to chart were "Keep Giving Me Love" (September 1992) and "1 to 1 Religion" (June 1995).
"Keep It Together" was one of six singles (five in Australia) lifted from Madonna's fourth studio album Like a Prayer (number 4, March 1989). The track was given a Soul II Soul-esque remix from the album version for single release, and issued as a single in North America and Japan. "Keep It Together" was not originally released in Europe or Australasia, other than as the double A-side of "Vogue" (number 1, April 1990).
Despite not having a music video (the one embedded below is fan-made), "Keep It Together" peaked at number 8 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in March 1990, and at number 8 in Canada in April 1990.
"Keep It Together" was one among a bunch of earlier Madonna singles released on CD single format in Australia in July 1991. I am not sure what spurred it to eventually chart almost seven months later, but here we are...
"Keep It Together" in its own right did not peak in Australia until December 1993, amid the frenzy accompanying Madonna's first tour of Australia, with The Girlie Show. Spoiler alert: a couple of earlier Madonna singles will also re-chart (lowly) in the last few months of 1993.
On the ARIA state charts, "Keep It Together" performed strongest in Victoria/Tasmania, where it reached number 105. The single peaked in 1992 in New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory and Queensland, and in 1993 on the remaining state charts.
Madonna will next join us in 1993.
Next week (10 February): Seven top 150 debuts and two bubbling WAY down under entries.
