Week commencing 29 June 1992

Before diving into this week in 1992's new entries peaking outside the ARIA top 100, I have updated a bunch of earlier posts:

 

* 31 July 1989 - with new bubbling WAY down under entry from Spirit of the Forest;

* 16 July 1990 - with new bubbling WAY down under entry from Pop Will Eat Itself;

* 6 August 1990 - with new bubbling WAY down under entry from Revenge;

* 20 August 1990 - with new bubbling WAY down under entry from Cameo;

* 21 October 1991 - with new bubbling WAY down under entry from Shabba Ranks featuring Maxi Priest;

* 23 March 1992 - with new bubbling WAY down under entry from Shabba Ranks featuring KRS-1.

 

Londonbeat: Australia wasn't really thinking about them in 1992.

 

Top 150 debuts:

 

Number 119 "Thrill Me" by Simply Red

Peak: number 109

Peak date: 20 July 1992

Weeks in top 150: 9 weeks

Weeks on chart: 10 weeks

 

We last saw English band Simply Red at the end of 1989.

 

"Thrill Me" was issued as the fourth single from the band's fourth studio album Stars (number 7, April 1992), which was certified double-platinum in Australia, and was the highest-selling album of 1991 and 1992 in the UK.  It followed the singles "Something Got Me Started" (number 29, November 1991), "Stars" (number 29, March 1992) and "For Your Babies" (number 55, May 1992).

 

Internationally, "Thrill Me" peaked at number 33 in the UK in May 1992, number 30 in Ireland in May 1992, and number 58 in the Netherlands in June 1992.

 

Within Australia, "Thrill Me" was most popular in New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory, where it reached number 90 on the state chart.

 

Despite missing the ARIA top 100, "Thrill Me" spent seven consecutive weeks of its chart run in the top 120, which is not too bad for a single falling short of the top 100.

 

While I quite possibly have heard "Thrill Me" before, I don't think I have actually listened to it until writing this post.  It's not bad, though hardly a career highlight.

 

Simply Red will join us next in September 1992.

 

Number 130 "The Wild Life" by Slaughter

Peak: number 130

Peak date: 29 June 1992

Weeks in top 150: 5 weeks

Weeks on chart: 8 weeks

 

We last saw American glam metal band Slaughter in 1991.  Their style of music was really on its last legs commercially around this time in 1992.

"The Wild Life" was the lead single and title track from Slaughter's second studio album The Wild Life (number 95, June 1992).  Internationally, the single peaked at number 64 in the UK in May 1992.

Domestically, "The Wild Life" was most popular in Victoria/Tasmania, where it reached number 103.

This was Slaughter's final charting release in Australia.

 

 

Number 139 Unexplained EP by EMF

Peak: number 136

Peak date: 6 July 1992

Weeks in top 150: 6 weeks

Weeks on chart: 10 weeks

 

English band EMF last graced our presence in 1991.

 

The Unexplained EP was the first new material EMF released following their debut album Schubert Dip (number 44, June 1991).  The EP was led by the track "Getting Through", for which the music video is embedded below.  "Getting Through" would later appear on the band's second studio album Stigma (number 143, November 1992).

Internationally, the Unexplained EP peaked at number 18 in the UK in April 1992, and number 16 in Ireland.

 

In Australia, the Unexplained EP performed strongest in South Autralia/Northern Territory, where it reached number 105.

 

I don't recall hearing "Getting Through" at the time, but remember seeing the EP reviewed in Smash Hits magazine.

 

We shall next see EMF in 1993.

 

 

Number 142 "You Bring on the Sun" by Londonbeat

Peak: number 135

Peak date: 20 July 1992

Weeks in top 150: 4 weeks

Weeks on chart: 8 weeks

English band Londonbeat made their first appearance with a single peaking between number 101 and 150 in mid-1991.

 

"You Bring on the Sun" was issued as the lead single from Londonbeat's third studio album Harmony (number 181, November 1992).  Internationally, the single peaked at number 32 in the UK in June 1992, number 9 in Sweden in July 1992, number 9 in Norway, number 7 in the Netherlands in July 1992, number 3 in the Flanders region of Belgium in July 1992, number 10 in Austria in July 1992, number 26 in Germany in July 1992, and number 14 in Switzerland in August 1992.

In Australia, "You Bring on the Sun" performed strongest in Western Australia, where it reached number 87.

 

I caught the video for "You Bring on the Sun" as a new release on rage, and was surprised that it didn't do better on the charts here. 

It's hard to believe that Lononbeat's lead vocalist, Jimmy Helms, is now aged 82!  He was 49, not 44 as I had previously reported (I guess they knocked a few years off his age at the time), when "I've Been Thinking About You" topped the Australian singles chart in early 1991.  Maybe there's hope for me to have a successful pop career yet...

We shall next see Londonbeat in November 1992.

 

Bubbling WAY down under:

 

Number 184 "Mr. Loverman" by Shabba Ranks

Peak: number 163

Peak date: 28 June 1993

Weeks on chart: 12 weeks

We last saw Jamaican dancehall artist Shabba Ranks in March 1992.

"Mr. Loverman" started out as the 1988 single "Champion Lover", recorded by English lovers rock singer Deborahe Glasgow.  Shabba then featured vocals from the song on the original version of "Mr. Loverman", appearing on his Rappin' with the Ladies album in 1990.  Deborahe passed away in January 1994, aged 28, following a cerebral haemorrhage resulting from lymphatic cancer.  Due to Glasgow's illness, the song was re-recorded with female vocals provided by Chevelle Franklin for its single release, which was remixed by David Morales.  This version was added to the second pressing of Shabba's 1992 album X-tra Naked (number 188, February 1993).  The song also appeared on the soundtrack of the 1992 movie Deep Cover.

 

Internationally, "Mr. Loverman" peaked at number 40 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in August 1992, and it initially peaked at number 23 in the UK in August 1992, before reaching a higher peak of number 3 in March 1993 when re-released.  The single also peaked at number 31 in Sweden in August 1992, number 21 in the Netherlands in September 1992, number 33 in the Flanders region of Belgium in October 1992, number 17 in Germany in November 1992, number 22 in Austria in November 1992, number 8 in Ireland in March 1993, and number 19 in France in July 1993.

 

"Mr. Loverman" also peaked at number 2 on the meaningless US Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart in July 1992, number 4 on the Hip-Hop/R&B Airplay chart in July 1992, number 2 on the Dance Singles Sales chart in July 1992, number 7 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Single Sales chart in July 1992, and number 55 on the Radio Songs chart in August 1992.

"Mr. Loverman" had quite a protracted chart run in Australia, despite its number 163 peak, which it reached a day shy of one year after it debuted at number 184.  In its twelve weeks spent on the ARIA singles chart, "Mr. Loveman" was charting in June of 1992, and January, March, June, July and August of 1993.

 

I first heard the song when seeing the video on a special Video Hits: Adults Only episode, which aired in the middle of the night during the Easter school holidays in April 1993, and I remember watching live.  I am not sure why the video was selected for that special - perhaps because it is meant to be 'sexy'?  Many of the other videos shown were more risqué.

 

On the state charts, "Mr. Loverman" performed strongest in Western Australia, where it reached number 106 in March 1993.

 

The "Shabba!" you hear on the track during the chorus is uttered by Maxi Priest, sampled from their 1991 collaboration "Housecall".

 

The drum pattern from "Mr. Loverman" was sampled on Alanis Morissette's "You Learn" (number 20, July 1996).

We shall next see Shabba in December 1992.

 

 

Number 189 "Controlling Me" by Oceanic

Peak: number 168

Peak date: 3 August 1992

Weeks on chart: 5 weeks

 

English electronic dance act Oceanic formed in Merseyside, and landed a number 3 hit in the UK with their debut single "Insanity" in September 1991, which peaked at number 31 in Australia in April 1992, almost five months after its debut at number 155 in November 1991.  Interestingly, "Insanity" performed much stronger in Victoria/Tasmania, where it reached number 11, and Western Australia, where it reached number 14, than elsewhere.  They followed it up with "Wicked Love" (number 96, May 1992), which did not fare nearly as well.

"Controlling Me" was released as the third single from Oceanic's first, and only, album That Compact Disc by Oceanic (number 131, July 1992), which was titled That Album by Oceanic and That Cassette by Oceanic on the LP and cassette formats, respectively.  I remember seeing the CD (I was going to say album, but vinyl was pretty much dead in Australia, other than perhaps 12" singles for DJs, by this point in 1992) in a record store and thinking 'that's an interesting title'.

Internationally, "Controlling Me" peaked at number 14 in the UK in June 1992, and number 19 in Ireland in June 1992.

Domestically, "Controlling Me" performed strongest in Western Australia, where it reached number 134.

While "Controlling Me" would be Oceanic's final single released in Australia, they had one more minor chart 'hit' in the UK with "Ignorance" (UK number 72, November 1992), featuring Siobhan Maher on vocals.  I remember hearing the song on the UK Chart Attack radio show and liking it.

 

 

Next week (6 July): A bumper edition week with twelve new top 150 entries and three bubbling WAY down under debuts.

 

< Previous week: 22 June 1992                                Next week: 6 July 1992 >

Week commencing 22 June 1992

This week in 1992's new entries peaking outside the top 100 in Australia is a real mixed bag, with everything from a cover of an old 60s hit, a remix of an early 70's 'classic', some indie dance, house music, and... Enya.  Shall we take a look?

 

James: another frustratingly low Australian chart position.

 

Top 150 debuts:

 

Number 104 The 1992 Mixes EP by Daddy Cool

Peak: number 104

Peak date: 22 June 1992

Weeks in top 150: 15 weeks

 

The original release of "Eagle Rock" by Australian band Daddy Cool spent ten weeks at number 1 in Australia between June and August 1971, becoming the biggest hit of that year.  Even though I was born seven years after that song was released, I was quite familiar with it from an early age, such was Australian radio's penchant for playing "classic rock" until the mid-1990s.  A quite memorable clip of the band performing the song in 1975, complete with 'sharpie' bogan dancing in the audience, can be viewed here.

The 1992 Mixes EP contained a 'Dance Mix' of "Eagle Rock" as its lead track, a video for which is embedded below.  The other two tracks on the "EP" (so, really it was just a 3-track CD single) were the "Daddy Cool Megamix" and "Eagle Rock, 1992."  While I can't find either of those tracks on YouTube, I can link a 'news' report on this single/EP's release from 1992 here.

According to The ARIA Report, these mixes were released to commemorate the 21st anniversary of the release of "Eagle Rock".  This lead to the CD release of the Daddy Cool compilation album Daddy's Coolest (Volume 1), which peaked at number 35 in October 1992, after originally peaking at number 5 in September 1982 when it was just titled Daddy's Coolest.  The 1992 updated versions of the tracks do not appear on this compilation, however.  A volume 2 of Daddy's Coolest was released in November 1984, but did not chart.

The chart run for The 1992 Mixes was split in two, initially spending six weeks in the top 150, before exiting for four weeks and then returning to the top 150 for another nine week-run, climbing back up to number 108 in October 1992.  The EP ties with a track we saw in May by Apotheosis for the most weeks spent in the top 150 for a single debuting in 1992 that peaked between numbers 101 and 150, registering a tally of 15 weeks.

 

 

Number 125 "Book of Days" by Enya

Peak: number 111

Peak date: 29 June 1992

Weeks in top 150: 5 weeks

Weeks on chart: 7 weeks

 

We last saw Irish songstress Enya in 1989.

"Book of Days" was the third single issued from Enya's third studio album Shepherd Moons (number 8, December 1991), following "Caribbean Blue" (number 74, November 1991) and "How Can I Keep from Singing?" (number 47, January 1992).

 

The original album version of "Book of Days" was sung in Gaelic, but it was re-recorded with English lyrics for its inclusion on the Far and Away soundtrack album (number 124, June 1992), and for its single release.  I am surprised that this single appears to have been released in Australia at least a month before its release in Enya's home country and Europe.

 

Internationally, "Book of Days" peaked at number 12 in Ireland, number 10 in the UK in August 1992, and number 34 in Sweden in November 1992.

 

Within Australia, "Book of Days" performed strongest in Victoria/Tasmania, where it reached number 84 on the state chart.

 

I remember hearing this song at the time, and feel it may have done better on the chart had it been re-titled "Far and Away".  While Enya's albums generally sold well in Australia, she had to wait nearly seven years after her first top 40 single "Orinoco Flow" (number 6, February 1989) to land her second, with "Anywhere Is" (number 34, December 1995).

 

We shall next see Enya in 1996.

Number 139 "Mix It Up" by Dan Reed Network

Peak: number 139

Peak date: 22 June 1992

Weeks in top 150: 4 weeks

American funk rock band Dan Reed Network formed in Portland, Oregon in 1984.  The group had the most, although still modest, success in the UK, landing six top 75 singles there between 1990 and 1991, although none peaked higher than number 39.

 

"Mix It Up" was the only Dan Reed Network single to dent the top 150 in Australia, although an earlier album Slam peaked at number 140 in June 1990.  "Mix It Up" was lifted from the band's third studio album The Heat, which was released in Australia in June 1992 but missed the top 150 locally.

Internationally, "Mix It Up" peaked at number 49 in the UK in July 1991.

 

I don't recall hearing this one before, but it's not bad.

 

Number 141 "Divine Thing" by The Soup Dragons

Peak: number 133

Peak date: 29 June 1992

Weeks in top 150: 6 weeks

Weeks on chart: 11 weeks 

Scottish band The Soup Dragons formed in 1985.  Their debut album This Is Our Art was released in Australia in June 1988, but did not chart locally.  Oddly, no singles from that album appear to have been released in Australia.

The Soup Dragons finally made a dent on the Australian chart in November 1990, when "I'm Free", the first single from their second album Lovegod (number 54, February 1991), debuted and climbed to number 9 in February 1991.  That song was originally recorded by The Rolling Stones in 1965, and would become the only Soup Dragons single to trouble the top 50 in Australia.

The Soup Dragons followed up that track with the equally-good but far less-successful "Mother Universe" (number 67, April 1991), and a non-album single "Electric Blues", which was released in Australia in November 1991 but failed to chart.

"Divine Thing" was the lead single from The Soup Dragons' third album Hotwired (number 177, July 1992).  Internationally, "Divine Thing" peaked at number 53 in the UK in April 1992.

 

In Australia, "Divine Thing" performed strongest in South Australia/Northern Territory, where it reached number 96.

 

I recall catching the video for "Divine Thing" on rage as a new release, but could barely remember it when I came to write this post.

 

The Soup Dragons will join us once more, in 1993.

Number 142 "Constant Craving" by k.d. lang

Peak: number 138 (in 1992); number 38 (in 1993)

Peak dates: 29 June 1992 and 6 July 1992 (1992 chart run); 5 April 1993 (overall)

Weeks in top 150: 33 weeks (5 weeks in 1992, 17 weeks in 1993, 11 weeks in 1994)

Weeks on chart: 59 weeks (all chart runs combined)

We first saw k.d. lang dueting with Roy Orbison in 1989.

"Constant Craving" was issued as the lead single from k.d.'s second studio album Ingénue (number 3, April 1994), which reached its eventual peak on the Australian chart almost two years after initially peaking at number 56 in June 1992.

"Constant Craving" experienced a similar fate on the Australian chart, released locally on 11 May 1992 and debuting at number 196 on 8 June 1992, climbing to number 138 for two consecutive weeks in June/July 1992.  The single was then re-issued in March 1993, re-entering at number 116 on 8 March 1993 before climbing to its highest peak of number 38 on 5 April 1993.  The renewed interest in the track came after Ingénue was nominated for a Grammy for the best album of the year, and "Constant Craving" won the Grammy for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance at the 35th Annual Grammy Awards, held on 24 February 1993.

 

"Constant Craving" re-entered the ARIA top 150 again at number 149 on 14 March 1994, rebounding back to number 51 on 11 April 1994, following a promotional visit from k.d. down under, and her guest-hosting at the 1994 ARIA Awards on 30 March 1994.  Somehow, I was not aware of "Constant Craving"'s resurgence on the chart in 1994 at the time; I guess partly because rage ceased airing the top 60 chart, reverting back to a top 50, in March 1994.

Internationally, "Constant Craving" peaked at number 8 in Canada in May 1992, number 38 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in October 1992, number 15 in the UK in March 1993 - after originally peaking at number 52 there in May 1992, number 15 in Ireland in March 1993, and number 61 in Germany in May 1993.

For what it's worth (not much in my book - as regular readers will know), "Constant Craving" also peaked at number 33 on the US Billboard Radio Songs chart in September 1992, number 22 on the Pop Airplay chart in October 1992, and number 2 on the Adult Contemporary chart in October 1992.

Within Australia, "Constant Craving" performed strongest in New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory, where it reached number 28 in April 1993.  The single peaked on all state charts in 1993, other than in Western Australia, where it reached its highest position of number 40 in April 1994.

One memory of "Constant Craving" I have is singing it randomly with a female student in my form while playing basketball (which I hated) in year 9 P.E. class.

We'll next see k.d. in 1993.

 

 

Number 143 "Everybody in the Place" by The Prodigy

Peak: number 125

Peak date: 6 July 1992

Weeks in top 150: 9 weeks

Weeks on chart: 13 weeks

We last saw English electronic group The Prodigy in 1991.

 

I first became aware of The Prodigy through the UK Chart Attack radio show, which would air new releases and new entries from the UK singles chart that had not yet crossed over internationally (particularly in the US).  Through that show, I would hear many tracks months before they made a dent on the Australian chart.  I didn't cotton on to the program though until April 1992, so missed hearing "Everybody in the Place" on the program.  The track was the band's second single, lifted from their debut album Experience (number 163, January 1997).  I do recall catching the video for "Everybody in the Place" on rage in 1996, though.  I would have enjoyed the track in 1992 if I had heard it then.

 

Internationally, "Everybody in the Place" peaked at number 2 in the UK in January 1992, number 2 in Ireland in January 1992, and number 65 in the Netherlands in April 1992.

In Australia, "Everybody in the Place" was most popular in Western Australia, where it reached number 54.  Oddly, the first three Prodigy singles were more popular in Western Australia than anywhere else in the country - who knew they were such trend-setters?  The next-highest state chart peak "Everybody in the Place" achieved was number 88 in South Australia/Northern Territory.  It missed the top 100 in the remaining states.

 

An earlier, different version of "Everybody in the Place" appeared on The Prodigy's 12" single, limited to 7,000 copies, What Evil Lurks, which peaked at number 168 (number 118 on the compressed chart) in the UK in March 1991.

We will next see The Prodigy in 1993.

 

Number 146 "Born of Frustration" by James

Peak: number 134

Peak date: 6 July 1992

Weeks in top 150: 5 weeks

Weeks on chart: 7 weeks

 

We last saw English band James in 1989.

 

"Born of Frustration" was released as the second single from the band's fourth studio album Seven (number 123, May 1992).  It followed "Sound" (number 28, May 1992), which was the band's highest-peaking single in Australia.

Internationally, "Born of Frustration" peaked at number 13 in the UK in February 1992, and number 69 in the Netherlands in February 1992.  The track also peaked at number 5 on the US Billboard Alternative Airplay chart in April 1992.

Locally, "Born of Frustration" performed strongest on the New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory state chart, where it reached number 112.

I don't think I was aware of this track at the time, but have since caught the video a couple of times on rage.

We shall next see James in 1993.

 

 

Number 149 "Your Love Is Lifting Me" by Nomad

Peak: number 149

Peak date: 22 June 1992

Weeks in top 150: 1 week

Weeks on chart: 5 weeks

 

We last saw British house duo Nomad in 1991. 

 

"Your Love Is Lifting Me" was presumably intended to be the lead single from Nomad's second album, which never eventuated.  Internationally, the single peaked at number 60 in the UK in April 1992, number 31 in the Netherlands in June 1992, and number 39 in the Flanders region of Belgium in July 1992.

Domestically, "Your Love Is Lifting Me" performed strongest on the South Australia/Northern Territory state chart, where it reached number 118.

I don't recall hearing this one at the time.  Presumably, its success was hampered by a lack of promotion.  It deserved to do much better.

We shall see Nomad once more in November 1992.

 

Bubbling WAY down under:

 

Number 184 "So Right" by K-Klass

Peak: number 184

Peak date: 22 June 1992

Weeks on chart: 3 weeks

We last saw British dance act K-Klass in January 1992.

 

"So Right" was K-Klass's second single released in Australia, though it did not appear on their debut album Universal (number 140, May 1994).

 

Internationally, "So Right" peaked at number 20 in the UK in April 1992, and number 19 in Ireland.

 

Locally, "So Right" performed strongest in Western Australia (was dance music bigger there than elsewhere in Australia in 1992?), where it reached number 160.

I don't recall hearing this one before, but quite enjoyed it.  It's a shame that this more club-orientated dance music wasn't more commercially-successful in Australia in the early 1990s.

We shall next see K-Klass in 1993.

Number 198 "The Days of Pearly Spencer" by Marc Almond

Peak: number 193

Peak date: 29 June 1992

Weeks on chart: 2 weeks

 

We last saw English singer Marc Almond in 1991.

 

"The Days of Pearly Spencer" was the third and final single issued from Marc's seventh solo studio album Tenement Symphony, which was released in Australia in November 1991 but failed to chart.  The song is a cover version of a song originally released by David McWilliams in 1967, which peaked at number 32 in Australia on the Go-Set singles chart (Australia's official chart at the time) in July 1968.

 

Internationally, "The Days of Pearly Spencer" peaked at number 4 in the UK in April 1992, number 8 in Ireland, number 44 in the Netherlands in May 1992, number 32 in the Flanders region of Belgium in May 1992, number 16 in Austria in June 1992, number 31 in Sweden in June 1992, and number 21 in Germany in July 1992.

Locally, "The Days of Pearly Spencer" was most popular in Western Australia, where it reached number 173.

 

I hadn't heard this one before, but enjoyed it.

"The Days of Pearly Spencer" was Marc's final single to chart in Australia, although he had later low-charting albums with Stardom Road (number 425, July 2007), The Velvet Trail (number 1053, March 2015), Shadows and Reflections (number 1000, October 2017) and Chaos and a Dancing Star (number 1061, February 2020).

 

 

Next week (29 June): Four top 150 debuts and two bubbling WAY down under entries.

< Previous week: 15 June 1992                             Next week: 29 June 1992 >

Week commencing 15 June 1992

All five of this week in 1992's new top 150-peaking debuts enter between number 142 and number 150, which is an unusual occurrence.  Shall we take a look?

Before doing so, I have updated the following earlier posts:

* 21 May 1990 - with new bubbling WAY down under debut from The Smithereens featuring Belinda Carlisle;

* 11 June 1990 - with new bubbling WAY down under entry from 2 Static;

* 25 June 1990 - with new bubbling WAY down under entry from Romi & Jazz.

 

Wet Wet Wet didn't exactly make a big 'splash' with this single in 1992.

 

Top 150 debuts:

 

Number 142 "This Time Tomorrow" by Alex Smith

Peak: number 121

Peak date: 6 July 1992

Weeks in top 150: 11 weeks

 

I had no recollection of this track, and didn't realise until researching it that Alex was the lead singer of Australian band Moving Pictures, who scored a massive hit with "What About Me?" (number 1 for six weeks in March-April 1982).  Moving Pictures disbanded in 1987, after landing seven top 100 singles in Australia between 1981 and 1984.  Alex then went solo - although "This Time Tomorrow" appears to be his only solo single released.

"This Time Tomorrow" performed much stronger in South Australia/Northern Territory than elsewhere, reaching number 29 on the state chart.  The single also fared better on the Australian Music Report singles chart, where it reached number 87.

Listening to "This Time Tomorrow" for the first time, it sounds a bit Meat Loaf-ish (well, like it could have been written by Jim Steinman) in parts, to my ears; perhaps minus some of the more melodramatic/operatic moments.

A solo album from Alex, The Thread, is listed as having been released in 2019 on discogs.com, but "This Time Tomorrow" would be Alex's only solo top 150 entry.

 

 

Number 143 "Make It Tonight" by Wet Wet Wet

Peak: number 110

Peak date: 22 June 1992

Weeks in top 150: 5 weeks

Weeks on chart: 5 weeks

Scottish band Wet Wet Wet formed in 1982, although their first studio recordings were not released until 1987.  Their debut single "Wishing I Was Lucky" was initially released in Australia in August 1987, but failed to chart until it was re-issued, eventually spending one week at number 100 in August 1988.  Wet Wet Wet's first charting single in Australia, "Sweet Little Mystery" (number 33, May 1988) made minor ripples, as did their debut album Popped In Souled Out (number 60, June 1988).

 

Wet Wet Wet returned with the single "Sweet Surrender" (number 7, May 1990), which took six months to peak after its Australian release in November 1989.  One top 40 single per album in Australia seemed to be a pattern forming for the band, with "Goodnight Girl" (number 21, April 1992) being the only top 100 entry from their third album High on the Happy Side (number 19, May 1992).  "Make It Tonight", issued as the album's first single in the UK, where it reached number 37 in September 1991, was released as the second single from High on the Happy Side in Australia.

 

Within Australia, "Make It Tonight" performed strongest in South Australia/Northern Territory, where it reached number 87.  I recall catching the video for this track once on rage as a new release before the top 60 chart countdown commenced, in June 1992.

 

Of course, Wet Wet Wet would go on to score their biggest hit with "Love Is All Around", which was number 1 for six weeks in June-July 1994, going on to become the highest-selling single of the year in Australia.

One childhood memory I have of Wet Wet Wet is when my paternal grandmother and great uncle returned to Australia from living in Scotland for a couple of years in 1990, and asked if I knew of Wet Wet Wet when they discovered I had gotten into music in a big way since they had been away.

We shall next see Wet Wet Wet in October 1992.

 

Number 145 "Close but No Cigar" by Thomas Dolby

Peak: number 107

Peak date: 13 July 1992

Weeks in top 150: 7 weeks

Weeks on chart: 12 weeks

English singer-songwriter and producer Thomas Dolby, born Thomas Morgan Robertson, made his chart debut in Australia with the single "She Blinded Me with Science" (number 19, June 1983).  However, before that release, Thomas wrote Lene Lovich's "New Toy" (number 29, August 1981) - also appearing in the video and performing on the track, and playing the synthesizer riffs on Foreigner's "Urgent" (number 24, November 1981) and "Waiting for a Girl Like You" (number 3, February 1982).

 

Thomas also performed as a session musician on Def Leppard's Pyromania (number 70, February 1984) and Joni Mitchell's Dog Eat Dog (number 86, January 1986) albums.

Thomas landed two further top 100 singles in Australia, with "Hyperactive!" (number 26, April 1984) and "Airhead" (number 69, June 1988).  He also scored charting albums with The Golden Age of Wireless (number 72, July 1983), The Flat Earth (number 71, May 1984) and Aliens Ate My Buick (number 76, June 1988).

"Close but No Cigar" was the lead single from Thomas' fourth studio album Astronauts & Heretics (number 123, August 1992).  Internationally, the single peaked at number 22 in the UK in May 1992, number 88 in Germany in July 1992, and number 14 in New Zealand in September 1992.

 

Within Australia, "Close but No Cigar" was much more popular in Western Australia, where it reached number 41, than in any other state.  The next-highest state chart peak "Close but No Cigar" reached was number 94 in New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory.

 

"Close but No Cigar" entered the Australian Music Report top 100 singles chart, where it peaked at number 80.

We will next see Thomas in September 1992.

 

Number 147 "Big Love" by BB Steal

Peak: number 145

Peak date: 22 June 1992

Weeks in top 150: 2 weeks

We last saw Australian band BB Steal back in 1989.  "Big Love" was the band's second, and final, top 150 single.  The track was lifted from their debut album On the Edge (number 144, July 1992). To my ears, this track sounds a bit Def Leppard/Mutt Lange in the chorus and the bridge leading into it.

Number 150 "Shameless" by Garth Brooks

Peak: number 103

Peak date: 6 July 1992

Weeks in top 150: 6 weeks

 

American country singer Garth Brooks released his first album Garth Brooks in 1989.  However, his first album to dent the ARIA top 150 was his third studio release, Ropin' the Wind (number 21, July 1992), from which the single "Shameless" was lifted.  A previous single, "The Thunder Rolls", from Garth's second album No Fences (number 11, August 1994), was issued locally in November 1991, but missed the top 150.

"Shameless" is a cover version of a song written and originally recorded by Billy Joel, which we saw bubble under in January 1992.

Garth's version of "Shameless" peaked at number 1 for two weeks on the meaningless US Billboard Hot Country Songs and Country Airplay charts in November 1991, number 71 in the UK in January 1992, and number 43 in the Netherlands in March 1992.

Garth would land his first top 100 single in Australia with "Standing Outside the Fire" (number 45, September 1994), which was quickly followed by his highest-charting single here with "One Night a Day" (number 35, September 1994).  Both tracks were lifted from Garth's sixth studio album In Pieces (number 1, August 1994), which was his major commercial breakthrough in Australia.

We will next see Garth in 1994.

Bubbling WAY down under:

 

Number 163 "Dunno What It Is (About You)" by The Beatmasters featuring Elaine Vassell

Peak: number 162

Peak date: 6 July 1992

Weeks on chart: 4 weeks

We last saw English dance act The Beatmasters in 1990.

 

"Dunno What It Is (About You)" was released as the first single from their second album Life & Soul (number 162, August 1992) in the UK in early 1991, when it originally peaked at number 82 in February 1991.  Following "Boulevard of Broken Dreams" (number 93, February 1992), the single was remixed and re-released, achieving a higher peak of number 43 in the UK in May 1992.

 

Within Australia, "Dunno What It Is (About You)" performed strongest in Western Australia, where it reached number 140.

You can view the original 1991 video for "Dunno What It Is (About You)" here, and the video for the 1992 remixed version is embedded below.

 

In keeping with each of The Beatmasters' previous singles, this one features a different vocalist, Elaine Vassell, who would later go on to be part of UK soul act FreeSpirit, with the single "No More Rainy Days" peaking at number 68 in the UK in May 1995.

"Dunno What It Is (About You)" would be The Beatmasters' final charting single.

Number 182 "Grow Or Pay" by D.A.D.

Peak: number 182

Peak date: 15 June 1992

Weeks on chart: 1 week

 

D.A.D, short for Disneyland After Dark, are a Danish rock/metal band who burst onto the Australian chart in October 1989 with "Sleeping My Day Away" (number 63, March 1990), which I like, despite generally not being a huge metal fan.  They followed it up with "Girl Nation" (number 52, March 1990), "Jihad" (number 89, July 1990), and the album No Fuel Left for the Pilgrims (number 29, April 1990), which was actually the band's third studio album.

The band returned with their fourth album Riskin' It All (number 80, June 1992), led by the single "Bad Craziness" (number 86, March 1992). "Grow Or Pay" was the second single lifted from the album.  I cannot find evidence of the single charting anywhere else.

In Australia, "Grow Or Pay" performed strongest in Victoria/Tasmania, where it reached number 162.

 

A funny memory of D.A.D. I have is when they appeared on Countdown Revolution in 1990, and co-hosted some segments.  One of the band members erroneously announced Nick Barker and The Reptiles' "Resurrection Time" (number 86, February 1990) as "Erection Time".  Oh dear.

We shall see D.A.D. one more time, in 1995.

Number 191 "Ride the Bullet" by Army of Lovers

Peak: number 191

Peak date: 15 June 1992

Weeks on chart: 1 week

Still in Scandinavia, we last saw Swedish group Army of Lovers in February 1992.

 

"Ride the Bullet" originally appeared on the band's debut album Disco Extravaganza, which was not released in Australia.  A remixed version of the track appeared on the band's second album, which contained a couple of tracks from their debut, Massive Luxury Overdose (number 126, March 1992). 

 

Internationally, "Ride the Bullet" peaked at number 32 in Sweden in April 1992, number 67 in the UK in April 1992, number 40 in Switzerland in April 1992, number 22 in Germany in May 1992, number 34 in the Netherlands in May 1992, number 12 in the Flanders region of Belgium in May 1992, and number 4 in Austria in June 1992.

 

In Australia, "Ride the Bullet" performed strongest in Victoria/Tasmania, where it reached number 176.

 

Two different videos were filmed for "Ride the Bullet".  The original version, which you can view here, features original band member La Camilla, who left Army of Lovers in late 1991 and was replaced by Michaela de la Cour, who appears in the second video, embedded below, despite 'her' vocals not being re-recorded.  You can view an amusing TV interview here, where La Camilla is a 'surprise' guest on the show featuring the band's new line-up.  La Camilla enters the screen at 2 minutes 30 seconds in.  Turn on the subtitles.

 

This would be Army of Lover's final charting release in Australia.  We would see band member Alexander Bard appear as the video director (and speaking a few lines) in Alcazar's "Crying at the Discotheque" (number 14, March 2002), which he co-produced.

Number 200 "Sleeping with the Lights On" by Curtis Stigers

Peak: number 200

Peak date: 15 June 1992

Weeks on chart: 2 weeks

 

American jazz singer Curtis Stigers made small ripples on the Australian chart in early 1992 with his debut single "I Wonder Why" (number 92, March 1992), which would go on to greater success when re-issued as the I Wonder Why EP (number 43, November 1992) to coincide with his Australian tour later in the year.

 

"Sleeping with the Lights On" was issued as the second single from Curtis' debut album Curtis Stigers (number 84, October 1992) in Australia.  The track peaked at number 96 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in June 1992, and number 53 in the UK in July 1992.

Domestically, "Sleeping with the Lights On" was most-popular in South Australia/Northern Territory, where it reached number 182.

We shall next see Curtis in 1993.

Next week (22 June): Eight top 150 debuts, including the first appearance of a single that would chart again in 1993 and 1994; plus two bubbling WAY down under entries.

< Previous week: 8 June 1992                                      Next week: 22 June 1992 >

Week commencing 8 June 1992

This week in 1992 saw a meager three new entries peaking in the 101-150 region of the Australian singles chart.  Before taking a look at them, I have updated the following previous posts:

* 11 February 1991 - with a new bubbling WAY down under entry from Adamski;

* 13 January 1992 - with a new bubbling WAY down under entry from Adamski.

 

Nina Hagen got her body, but not really a 'hit' with this track.

 

Top 150 debuts:

 

Number 132 "Hang on in There Baby" by Curiosity

Peak: number 127

Peak date: 15 June 1992

Weeks in top 150: 5 weeks

Weeks on chart: 8 weeks

We last saw British band Curiosity Killed the Cat in 1989.  Since then, bass player Nick Thorpe had quit the group, and the remaining members shortened the band's name to just Curiosity.

"Hang on in There Baby", a cover version of a song originally written and recorded by Johnny Bristol (number 37, December 1974), was issued as the first single from the band's third album Back to Front, which does not appear to have been released in Australia.

Internationally, "Hang on in There Baby" peaked at number 3 in the UK in May 1992, number 10 in Ireland in May 1992, number 26 in Austria in June 1992, number 42 in Germany in June 1992, number 31 in Sweden in July 1992, number 38 in the Flanders region of Belgium in July 1992, and number 32 in New Zealand in July 1992.

Within Australia, "Hang on in There Baby" performed strongest in Western Australia, where it reached number 81.

 

Curiosity would release one further single in Australia, "I Need Your Lovin'", in October 1992, but it failed to chart.  "Hang on in There Baby" would be the band's final release to chart within Australia.

 

Number 134 "Feel So Real" by Dream Frequency featuring Debbie Sharp

Peak: number 113

Peak date: 29 June 1992

Weeks in top 150: 7 weeks

Weeks on chart: 10 weeks

 

Dream Frequency were English musician Ian Bland and American singer Debbie Sharp, although the latter was credited as a featured artist on this release.  "Feel So Real" was the act's third single release in the UK, but their first in Australia, following two minor UK top 100 singles with "Live the Dream" (UK number 99, May 1990) and "Love, Peace and Harmony" (UK number 71, January 1991).

 

Internationally, "Feel So Real" peaked at number 23 in the UK in February 1992, and number 26 in Ireland in February 1992.

In Australia, "Feel So Real" was most popular in Western Australia, where it reached number 70 on the state chart.

The track was lifted from Dream Frequency's debut album One Nation (number 160, January 1993).  Dream Frequency would land their biggest 'hit' in Australia with their next single, "Take Me", which reached number 62 in September 1992.  We shall see a remixed version of that track bubble under in August 1992.

Number 135 "Get Your Body!" by Adamski featuring Nina Hagen

Peak: number 114

Peak date: 22 June 1992

Weeks in top 150: 5 weeks

Weeks on chart: 8 weeks

 

We last saw English artist Adamski in January 1992.  "Get Your Body!" was the second single lifted from Adamski's second album Naughty (number 186, July 1992).

For this track, Adamski collaborated with German singer-songwriter Nina Hagen, who had been releasing material since 1978, but had never landed a charting release in Australia until now.  If you're unfamiliar with Nina (real name Catharina Hagen), I recommend checking out the crazy video for her 1982 single "Smack Jack", which is one of the videos I chose when I won a competition to program an hour of the Australian music video program rage in 2010.

Internationally, "Get Your Body" peaked at number 68 in the UK in March 1992.  Within Australia, the single performed strongest in Queensland, where it reached number 92.

 

This would be Adamski's final single to chart in Australia.

Next week (15 June): Five top 150 entries and four bubbling WAY down under debuts.

< Previous week: 1 June 1992                                     Next week: 15 June 1992 >

Week commencing 1 June 1992

Five of this week in 1992's six new entries peaking between numbers 101 and 150 climbed no higher than their entry position, which is an unusual occurrence.  Shall we take a look?

Before doing so, I have updated the following post:

* 28 August 1989 - newly-uncovered bubbling WAY down under entry for Eartha Kitt and Bronski Beat.

 

M People: not quite moving on up into the ARIA top 200 yet.

 

Top 150 debuts:

 

Number 123 "Take My Advice" by Kym Sims

Peak: number 123

Peak date: 1 June 1992

Weeks in top 150: 4 weeks

Weeks on chart: 4 weeks

We last saw American songstress Kym Sims in March 1992.

 

"Take My Advice" was the second single lifted from Kym's only album Too Blind to See It, which was released in Australia in April 1992 but did not chart.  I wasn't aware of this track until it appeared on a UK VHS compilation I was digitising in the late 2000s.  I am surprised that it was the bigger of Kym's two 'hits' in Australia, given that I knew the other one quite well at the time, thanks to hearing it on the American Top 40 radio show.

Internationally, "Take My Advice" peaked at number 13 in the UK in April 1992, number 18 in Ireland in April 1992, and number 86 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in May 1992.  For what it's worth (not much in my book), "Take My Advice" fared much better on the US Billboard Dance Club Songs chart, matching the number 5 peak of its predecessor in June 1992.

Within Australia, "Take My Advice" was most popular in New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory, where it reached number 99.

"Take My Advice", which has producer Steve "Silk" Hurley's trademark sound, would be Kym's final charting release in Australia.  Another single, "We Gotta Love", was issued locally in July 1996, but did not chart.  Meanwhile, Kym enjoyed middling success with a third single from her Too Blind to See It album, "A Little Bit More", which reached number 30 in the UK in June 1992.

I had wondered whether the male dancer in the "Take My Advice" video was LL Cool J, but apparently it's just a lookalike!

 

While we won't see Kym again, a song she wrote performed by another artist will appear in July 1992.

 

 

Number 124 "Story of the Blues" by Gary Moore

Peak: number 124

Peak date: 1 June 1992

Weeks in top 150: 13 weeks

Weeks on chart: 14 weeks

 

We last saw Northern Irish guitar maestro Gary Moore in 1991.

"Story of the Blues" was the second single lifted from Gary's ninth solo studio album After Hours (number 8, April 1992). It followed "Cold Day in Hell" (number 42, March 1992).

 

Internationally, "Story of the Blues" peaked at number 40 in the UK in May 1992, number 99 in Germany in June 1992, and number 50 in the Netherlands in June 1992.  The track also reached number 37 on the meaningless US Billboard Mainstream Rock Airplay chart in July 1992.

Domestically, "Story of the Blues" performed strongest in South Australia/Northern Territory, where it reached number 106.

In Australia, the chart run for "Story of the Blues" was split in two, falling out of the top 150 after its initial six-week run for two weeks, before returning for another seven weeks and climbing back to number 132.  "Story of the Blues" was still charting in early September 1992.

I don't recall hearing this one before.  It's very reminiscent of Gary's "Still Got the Blues (For You)"; almost as though he was trying to record a sequel to that track.

 

A third single released from After Hours, "Separate Ways", came out in Australia in October 1992 but failed to chart.

 

We will next see Gary in 1993.

 

Number 135 "Word Is Almost At Peace" by Ghostwriters

Peak: number 135

Peak date: 1 June 1992

Weeks in top 150: 3 weeks

Australian band Ghostwriters last graced our presence in February 1992.

 

"World Almost At Peace" was the third and final single lifted from the group's debut album Ghostwriters (number 96, January 1992).

 

I don't recall hearing this one before.  I quite liked it, and enjoyed it more than their actual one hit in Australia, "...Someone's Singing New York New York" (number 29, December 1991).

We shall next see Ghostwriters in 1996.

 

 

Number 138 "Cold Wind" by The Celibate Rifles

Peak: number 138

Peak date: 1 June 1992

Weeks in top 150: 3 weeks

 

We last saw Australian band The Celibate Rifles in 1991.

 

"Cold Wind" was the second single lifted from the band's seventh studio album Heaven on a Stick (number 51, March 1992), not counting their contribution of two tracks on a shared EP with Hard-Ons, Where the Wild Things Are (number 51, March 1992).

This would be the last top 150 single for The Celibate Rifles.  They had later top 150-charting albums with Yizgarnnoff (number 103, May 1993), and Spaceman in a Satin Suit (number 124, May 1994).

 

Number 139 "Separate Tables" by Chris de Burgh

Peak: number 139

Peak date: 1 June 1992

Weeks in top 150: 1 week

We last saw Chris de Burgh in 1991.

 

"Separate Tables" was the lead single from Chris' tenth studio album Power of Ten (number 81, June 1992).

 

Internationally, "Separate Tables" peaked at number 30 in the UK in April 1992, number 14 in Ireland in April 1992, number 39 in Germany in April 1992, and number 25 in Switzerland in May 1992.

 

"Separate Tables" would be Chris' final ARIA top 150 single, although he would have later albums denting the top 150, with This Way Up (number 149, August 1994), and Very Best of (number 75, April 1997).

 

 

 

Number 144 "Twisterella" by Ride

Peak: number 105

Peak dates: 8 June 1992 and 15 June 1992

Weeks in top 150: 10 weeks

 

English band Ride formed in Oxford in 1988.  Their debut album Nowhere peaked at number 104 in Australia in July 1990, despite yielding no top 150 singles.  It was quickly followed by the compilation album Smile (number 135, July 1990), which combined the band's first two EP's Ride and Play.

 

"Twisterella" was the band's second single to dent the top 150 in Australia, following "Leave Them All Behind" (number 89, April 1992), which I have seen the video for on rage a couple of times in recent years.  Both tracks were lifted from Ride's second album Going Blank Again (number 56, April 1992).

 

Internationally, "Twisterella" peaked at number 36 in the UK in April 1992, and number 15 in Ireland in April 1992.

 

"Twisterella" fared better on the Australian Music Report singles chart, where it reached number 100.

 

We will next see ride in 1994.

 

 

Bubbling WAY down under:

 

Number 166 "Slash 'N' Burn" by Manic Street Preachers

Peak: number 158

Peak date: 6 July 1992

Weeks on chart: 7 weeks

We last saw Welsh band Manic Street Preachers in 1991.

 

"Slash 'N' Burn" was issued as the third single from the Manics' debut album Generation Terrorists (number 182, April 1992) in Australia, although it was only the second to chart.  "Love's Sweet Exile", released locally in March 1992, failed to chart.  Another single, "You Love Us", was released in the UK, but not Australia, before this one.

Internationally, "Slash 'N' Burn" peaked at number 20 in the UK in March 1992.  Within Australia, the single was most popular in Victoria/Tasmania, where it reached number 140.

We'll next see Manic Street Preachers in August 1992.

 

Number 205 "Colour My Life" by M People

Peak: number 205

Peak date: 1 June 1992

Weeks on chart: 1 week

 

English band M People formed in Manchester in 1990.  Although "Colour My Life" is their first single I have written about, their debut single "How Can I Love You More?" entered the ARIA singles chart at number 174 in February 1992 - but it will not reach its peak until a remixed version of it was released in 1993 (the peak for its original chart run, outside the top 150, is unknown).  Both tracks appear on M People's debut album Northern Soul (number 150, April 1993).

 

"Colour My Life" peaked at number 35 in the UK in March 1992.  In Australia, the single performed strongest in New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory, where it reached number 186.

 

"Colour My Life" was released in Australia in April 1992 and took nearly two months to spend a solitary week on the chart just outside the top 200.

 

M People's commercial breakthrough in Australia would not come until late 1993, with "Moving on Up" (number 4, January 1994), the second single from the band's second album Elegant Slumming (number 7, February 1994).

 

We shall next see M People in 1993.

 

 

Number 206 "Memories" by Beverley Craven

Peak: number 195

Peak date: 15 June 1992

Weeks on chart: 2 weeks 

Beverley Craven last graced our presence in 1991.  "Memories" was released as the second single in Australia from her debut album Beverley Craven (number 141, July 1991).

 

Internationally, "Memories" peaked at number 68 in the UK in December 1991.  In Australia, "Memories" performed strongest in New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory, where it reached number 181.

A live performance was used to promote "Memories" as a single, rather than a music video.  The video embedded below is the studio recording of the song.

"Memories" would be Beverley's final charting single in Australia.  She would, however, have one further low-charting charting album with Promise Me: The Best of (number 1062, April 2011).  A third single from Beverley Craven, "Holding On", was released locally in August 1992 but did not chart.

Next week (8 June): Just three new entries, all of which peak within the top 150.

< Previous week: 25 May 1992                                     Next week: 8 June 1992 >