Week Commencing 31 August 1992

I can't identify a theme linking this week in 1992's new entries peaking outside the top 100, other than they all missed the top 100.  Let's take a look...

 

Curve might have been 'horrified' by the chart peak of this single in Australia in 1992.

 

Top 150 debuts:

 

Number 123 "Eyes on Fire" by John Schumann

Peak: number 123

Peak date: 31 August 1992

Weeks in top 150: 6 weeks

Top 150 chart run: 123-132-126-132-142-134

 

Hailing from Adelaide, Australian singer-songwriter and guitarist John Schumann was the front man in Redgum, who landed five Australian top 100 singles between 1983 and 1987.  Their biggest hit was the Vietnam War-inspired  "I Was Only 19 (A Walk in the Light Green)" (number 1 for 2 weeks in May 1983).  Although I probably knew that song at the time, when I was in kindergarten, I was not aware of Redgum until I had to listen to "I've Been to Bali Too" (number 16, May 1984) in Indonesian class in year 10.  In 1994, anything from 1984 sounded practically ancient to my ears.

John launched his solo career in 1987, with the single "Borrowed Ground" (number 91, August 1987) and the album Etched in Blue (number 63, November 1987).  John landed a second charting solo album with John Schuman Goes Looby Loo - A Collection of Songs for Little Kids (number 116, January 1989), but "Eyes on Fire" was his only other single to trouble the ARIA top 150.

 

"Eyes on Fire" would eventually appear on John's third solo studio album True Believers, which was released October 1993, but missed the top 150.

John later tried his hand at politics, becoming chief of staff for Australian Democrats' then-leader Meg Lees in 1998, before running for the Division of Mayo in the 1998 Federal election, coming a close second behind then-Foreign Minister Alexander Downer.  John decided not to contest the seat at the 2001 Federal election, however, and stepped away from politics.

 

 

Number 130 "This Is Not the Way Home" by The Cruel Sea

Peak: number 130

Peak date: 31 August 1992

Weeks in top 150: 8 weeks

Known chart run: 174-130-138-141-142-135-146-149-148

Weeks on chart: 10 weeks

We last saw Sydney band The Cruel Sea in 1991.  Since then, the band scored their first top 100 single with "4 x 4" (number 82, May 1992).  "This Is Not the Way Home" was issued as the third and final single from the band's second album This Is Not the Way Home (number 62, October 1992).

 

On the state charts, "This Is Not the Way Home" performed strongest in Victoria/Tasmania, where it reached number 93.

 

The Cruel Sea would have their commercial breakthrough in 1993 with the single "Black Stick" (number 25, May 1993) and album The Honeymoon Is Over (number 4, June 1993).

We shall next see The Cruel Sea in 1995.

 

Number 133 "Little Black Book" by Belinda Carlisle

Peak: number 106

Peak date: 28 September 1992

Weeks in top 150: 9 weeks

Top 150 chart run: 133-107-108-115-106-121-141-(out for 5 weeks)-120-142

Weeks on chart: 10 weeks

We last saw Belinda Carlisle in April 1992.

 

"Little Black Book" was issued as the fourth and final single from Belinda's fourth solo studio album Live Your Life Be Free (number 27, November 1991).  While I wasn't aware of this one being released at the time, I did hear it on her first greatest hits compilation album The Best of Belinda Volume 1 (number 14, November 1992) a few months later, which oddly did not contain any new tracks to promote it.  Belinda co-wrote this track with Marcella Detroit (real name Marcy Levy) from Shakespears Sister, and Marcy's songwriting partner at the time, Richard Feldman.  This was the first Belinda Carlisle single on which she receives a writing credit.

Internationally, "Little Black Book" peaked at number 28 in the UK in September 1992, and number 69 in Germany in October 1992.

Locally, "Little Black Book" performed strongest in Western Australia, where it reached number 80.  The single peaked within the top 100 on four of the five state charts, with South Australia/Northern Territory being the only exception.

I hadn't seen the music video for "Little Black Book" until viewing it while writing this post.

We shall next see Belinda in 1994.

Number 148 "Church of Logic, Sin, & Love" by The Men

Peak: number 143

Peak date: 7 September 1992

Weeks in top 150: 3 weeks

Top 150 chart run: 148-143-148

 

Here's one I hadn't heard until writing this post.  The Men, who contain two female members, hail from Santa Monica, California.

"Church of Logic, Sin, & Love" (yes, the oxford comma followed by the ampersand is part of the title) was lifted from the band's only album The Men, which was released locally in August 1992 but missed the ARIA top 150 albums chart.  The single reached number 8 on the meaningless US Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart.  I cannot find evidence of the single charting elsewhere.

This was The Men's only single to trouble the ARIA top 150.  The group disbanded shortly afterwards.

 

While "Church of Logic..." is not something I would actively seek out, I didn't mind this one.

 

 

Bubbling WAY down under:

 

Number 182 "Who Do You Think You Are?" by Kim Wilde

Peak: number 159

Peak date: 14 September 1992

Weeks on chart: 5 weeks

Kim Wilde last graced our presence in 1990.

 

Despite Kim having her most-consistent career success in her native UK with her 1988 album Close (number 82, November 1988), the follow-up album Love Moves (number 126, August 1990) and its associated singles pretty much flopped worldwide.  As record companies weren't as gung ho with dropping artists after a flop release back in those days, Kim was given a chance to redeem herself commercially, and she experienced greater, although still somewhat middling, success with her eighth studio album Love Is (number 92, July 1992).  The album's lead single, "Love Is Holy" (number 29, July 1992), gave Kim her first Australian top 40 hit since "You Came" (number 34, November 1988).

 

As good as I think "Love Is Holy" - on which Kim sounds more like Belinda Carlisle than herself - is, I suspect the single's chart performance benefited from heavy discounting in Australia, as I was not even aware of its existence until it crept into the lower region of the top 60 on rage, and I am a casual Kim Wilde fan.  If I remember correctly, I think I saw the cassingle for sale in Brashs for $0.99, when the standard price at the time was $5.99.

While "Who Do You Think You Are?" was released as the second single from Love Is in Australia, it was the third release from the album in the UK, with "Heart Over Mind" (which I prefer) being the second single there.  I am not sure why the Australian record company skipped "Heart Over Mind", considering it performed better than "Who Do You Think You Are?" in the UK.

Internationally, "Who Do You Think You Are?" peaked at number 66 in the Netherlands in August 1992, number 49 in the UK in September 1992, and number 58 in Germany in September 1992.

Domestically, "Who Do You Think You Are?" was most popular in Queensland, where it reached number 139.

While I heard "Heart Over Mind" at the time on the UK Chart Attack radio show, I didn't hear "Who Do You Think You Are?" until the mid-2000s, though was aware of its release as it was reviewed in the Australian edition of Smash Hits magazine.  It has never been my favourite Kim Wilde song - I can barely remember how it goes most of the time.

We'll see Kim next in November 1992 with what I think is a much better single of hers.

 

 

Number 196 "Horror Head" by Curve

Peak: number 195

Peak date: 26 October 1992

Weeks on chart: 3 weeks

English band Curve last joined us in May 1992.

 

"Horror Head" was the second and final single from the band's debut album Doppelgänger (number 136, May 1992).  Internationally, "Horror Head" peaked at number 31 in the UK in July 1992.  It also reached number 23 on the meaningless US Billboard Alternative Airplay chart.

In Australia, "Horror Head" performed strongest in South Australia/Northern Territory, where it reached number 151.

I think I caught the music video for "Horror Head" on rage some months after its release.  Interestingly, the graphic pattern at the start of the video was used as the backdrop for the US and UK top 5 charts displayed on Video Smash Hits.

We'll next see Curve in 1996.

 

Number 212 "Elvis on Velvet" by Stray Cats

Peak: number 197

Peak date: 7 September 1992

Weeks on chart: 2 weeks

We last saw Stray Cats in 1991.

 

"Elvis on Velvet" was the lead single from Stray Cats' seventh studio album Choo Choo Hot Fish, which was released locally in September 1992 but missed the ARIA top 150 albums chart.  Internationally, the single peaked at number 66 in the Netherlands in July 1992.

Domestically, "Elvis on Velvet" was most popular in Queensland, where it reached number 155 on the state chart.

 

I hadn't heard this one before.  The drum pattern during the intro reminded me of The Cure's "Close to Me" (number 7, February 1986).

This was Stray Cats' final charting single in Australia.

 

Next week (7 September): A mammoth week, with 11 new top 150 entries and two bubbling WAY down under debuts.

< Previous week: 24 August 1992                         Next week: 7 September 1992 >

Week commencing 24 August 1992

This week in 1992 was the quietest week for new top 150 entries peaking outside the top 100 for the whole year, with just one.  Fortunately, there are also two bubbling WAY down under entries to beef up this week's post a little bit.  Before taking a look, I have updated the following post:

* 17 February 1992 - with a new bubbling WAY down under entry from Glass Tiger featuring Rod Stewart.

 

 

Severed Heads had to wait 13 years for their first top 200 'hit' in Australia.

 

Top 150 debut:

 

Number 138 Weedseed EP by Tumbleweed

Peak: number 111

Peak date: 14 September 1992

Weeks in top 150: 9 weeks

Top 150 chart run: 138-137-114-111-133-127-143-145-149

We last saw Australian band Tumbleweed in April 1992, making their debut top 150 appearance with an EP, and here they are again with another EP!

The 5-track Weedseed EP was led by the track "Fish out of Water"; the music video for which is embedded below.

 

Tumbleweed would break into the ARIA top 100 with their next single, "Acid Rain" (number 88, November 1992).  The band would land their biggest hit, and only top 40 single, with their next release after that, "Sundial" (number 35, April 1993).

We'll next see Tumbleweed in 1995.

 

 

Bubbling WAY down under:

 

Number 186 "Twister" by Severed Heads

Peak: number 186

Peak date: 24 August 1992

Weeks on chart: 4 weeks

Australian band Severed Heads formed in 1979 as Mr and Mrs No Smoking Sign.  Tom Ellard, who would remain the band's only constant member after the founding duo left the group in 1981, joined by the end of that year.  The first charting Severed Heads release (ignoring the meaningless US Billboard Dance Club Songs chart and the UK indie chart) would not happen until November 1991, when their ninth studio album Cuisine (With Piscatorial) (number 171, January 1992) crept into the ARIA top 200.

"Twister", the band's first charting single, was the only single to receive a commercial release from the Cuisine (With Piscatorial) album.  A music video was made for another track for another track from the album, "Pilot in Hell", however - although it is probably blocked on YouTube (another video of theirs I uploaded received a take-down notice from Tom Ellard some years ago).  The music video for "Twister", embedded below, uses the Act of God edit, which appears on the CD single.  You can listen to the rather different, and better in my opinion (if you ignore the mispronunciation of nuclear as "nukular"), original version of the track here.

 

On the state charts, "Twister" performed strongest in Western Australia, where it reached number 143.

 

I wasn't aware of this track until catching the video randomly played on rage in January 1994 (from which the recording below is sourced). 

Severed Heads would go on to land a commercial hit (their only top 100 entry) in Australia with the 1994 remix of "Dead Eyes Opened" (number 16, January 1995).

We shall next see Severed Heads in 1995.

Number 206 "You Are Everything"/"Your Song" by Rod Stewart

Peak: number 197

Peak date: 5 October 1992

Weeks on chart: 6 weeks

We last saw English singer Rod Stewart on his own in 1989, and as a featured artist in February 1992.

 

To my surprise, "You Are Everything" was the fifth and final single released in Australia from Rod's sixteenth studio album Vagabond Heart (number 1, July 1991).  Given that the song is a cover version of a song originally recorded by The Stylistics (their version peaked at number 20 on the Go-Set chart in May 1972), I assumed it would have been taken from Rod's 1992 covers album Lead Vocalist (number 96, April 1993).  Its release followed Rod's duet with Tina Turner "It Takes Two" (number 16, February 1991), "Rhythm of My Heart" (number 2, June 1991), "The Motown Song" (number 26, August 1991), and "Broken Arrow" (number 63, January 1992).

Only an Australian pressing of this single is listed on discogs.com, where it was a double A-side of Rod's version of Elton John's "Your Song" (number 10 on the Go-Set chart, April 1971), lifted from the Two Rooms: Celebrating the Songs of Elton John & Bernie Taupin tribute album (number 15, November 1991).

 

Rod's Wikipedia discography page states that his version of "You Are Everything" peaked at number 56 in Canada, but no source is provided to verify this.  Rod's version of "Your Song" peaked at number 60 in the Netherlands in May 1992, number 48 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in June 1992, and number 38 in France in September 1992.  A number 25 peak in Canada is listed on Wikipedia, but no source was provided to verify this.

In Australia, the "You Are Everything"/"Your Song" single performed strongest in Western Australia, where it reached number 170.

 

We shall next see Rod in 1993.

 

Next week (31 August): Four top 150 entries and three bubbling WAY down under debuts.

< Previous week: 17 August 1992                              Next week: 31 August 1992 >

Week commencing 17 August 1992

One thing this week in 1992's new entries peaking outside the top 100 have in common is that I hadn't heard any of them before.  Perhaps they are new for you, too?  Before taking a look at them, I have updated the following earlier post:

 

* 8 April 1991 - audio added for a single by No Justice.

I have also added top 150 chart runs for posts going back to 6 July 1992.

 

Stephen Cummings kept his tally of top 150 'hits' rolling with this release in 1992.

 

Top 150 debuts:

 

Number 139 "Incinerator" by Falling Joys

Peak: number 131

Peak date: 24 August 1992

Weeks in top 150: 6 weeks

Top 150 chart run: 139-131-142-140-145-(out for 1 week)-143

Weeks on chart: 7 weeks

 

Australian alternative rock band Falling Joys formed in Canberra in 1985.  While they released a couple of singles in the late 1980s, their first taste of commercial success would come in late 1990, with the single "Lock It" (number 55, February 1991).  They followed that up with the single "Jennifer", which initially peaked at number 104 in April 1991, before being reissued as the Jennifer live EP, with new live recordings, which peaked at number 60 in August 1991.  Both tracks were lifted from the band's debut album Wish List (number 51, February 1991).

"Incinerator" was the second single issued from the band's second album Psychohum (number 35, May 1992), following "Black Bandages" (number 100, June 1992). On the state charts, “Incinerator” performed strongest in Victoria/Tasmania, where it reached number 116.

We'll next see Falling Joys in 1993.

 

Number 140 "Keep the Ball Rolling" by Stephen Cummings

Peak: number 125

Peak date: 24 August 1992

Weeks in top 150: 5 weeks

Known chart run: 172-140-125-149-144-147

Weeks on chart: 8 weeks

We last saw Australian singer-songwriter and jingle-writer Stephen Cummings in 1991.

 

"Keep the Ball Rolling" was the lead single from Stephen's sixth studio album Unguided Tour (number 76, August 1992).  The single performed strongest in Victoria/Tasmania, where it reached number 93.

This track was a lot more guitar-heavy than I was expecting.

We'll next see Stephen in 1993.

 

 

Number 141 "The New Message" by Nikolaj Steen featuring Melle Mel and Scorpio

Peak: number 134

Peak dates: 31 August 1992 and 7 September 1992

Weeks in top 150: 5 weeks

Top 150 chart run: 141-(out)-134-134-138-(out)-150

 

Before listening to this track for the first time, I assumed it was a 'new' version of Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five's "The Message" (number 21, April 1983), given the title and that Melle Mel, who was the lead vocalist in the aforementioned group, was one of the featured artists.  Well, I was right...

I can't find evidence of this one charting elsewhere.  It was the only top 150 entry for Nikolaj Steen.

 

 

Number 147 "Do Re Me, So Far So Good" by Carter the Unstoppable Sex Machine

Peak: number 136

Peak date: 24 August 1992

Weeks in top 150: 2 weeks

Top 150 chart run: 147-136

 

We last saw English indie band Carter the Unstoppable Sex Machine in March 1992.

 

"Do Re Me, So Far So Good" was the second single lifted from the band's third studio album 1992 The Love Album (number 89, May 1992).  It followed "The Only Living Boy in New Cross" (number 70, June 1992), which was the band's biggest 'hit' in Australia, and only single to dent the ARIA top 100.

 

Internationally, "Do Re Me..." peaked at number 22 in the UK in June 1992.

This would be the band's final top 150 single in Australia; however, they had a later album denting the top 150, with Post Historic Monsters (number 128, September 1993).

 

Next week (24 August): An even quieter week, with just one top 150 entry and two bubbling WAY down under debuts.

< Previous week: 10 August 1992                              Next week: 24 August 1992 >

Week commencing 10 August 1992

This week in 1992's new entries peaking outside the top 100 are a mixed bunch.  Before taking a look at them, I have updated the following earlier post:

 

* 15 July 1991 - with a new bubbling WAY down under entry from The Farm.

 

Opus III's Kirsty Hawkshaw certainly felt the wind with that hairstyle in 1992.

 

Top 150 debuts:

 

Number 129 "N.W.O" by Ministry

Peak: number 118

Peak date: 24 August 1992

Weeks in top 150: 7 weeks

Top 150 chart run: 129-119-118-131-124-129-135

 

We last saw American industrial metal band Ministry in March 1992.

 

"N.W.O", which of course stands for New World Order, is considered a protest song against American president at the time, George H.W. Bush.  The song contains numerous samples of his political speeches.  The track was the second single lifted from the band's fifth studio album ΚΕΦΑΛΗΞΘ (number 54, August 1992), which is also known as Psalm 69: The Way to Succeed and the Way to Suck Eggs.

 

Internationally, "N.W.O" peaked at number 49 in the UK in August 1992.  It also reached number 11 on the meaningless US Billboard Alternative Airplay chart during the same month.

 

I am slightly amused to see that an extended dance mix exists for this track.

 

This would be Ministry's final single to peak within the ARIA top 150.

Number 142 "Pain Lies on the Riverside" by Live

Peak: number 142

Peak date: 10 August 1992

Weeks in top 150: 1 week

Top 150 chart run: 142

Weeks on chart: 8 weeks

American band Live formed in York, Pennsylvania in 1984.  "Pain Lies on the Riverside" was the band's second single released in Australia, lifted from their second studio album and first major label release Mental Jewelry (number 137, July 1992).  It followed "Operation Spirit", which was released in Australia in May 1992 but failed to chart.

I was not aware of Live until "Selling the Drama" (number 49, September 1994), from their third album and commercial breakthrough Throwing Copper (number 1 for 7 non-consecutive weeks in August 1995 and January 1996), crept into the top 50 in 1994.  The band's biggest hit in Australia would be "Lightning Crashes" (number 13, September 1995), the following year.

 

Overseas, "Pain Lies on the Riverside" charted on the US Billboard Alternative Songs chart, where it reached number 24.  It does not appear to have dented any other national chart.

 

Domestically, "Pain Lies on the Riverside" was most successful in South Australia/Northern Territory, where it reached number 120.

 

We will next see Live in 1995.

 

Bubbling WAY down under:

 

Number 168 "Rising Sun" by The Farm

Peak: number 168

Peak date: 10 August 1992

Weeks on chart: 4 weeks

 

We last saw English band The Farm in July 1991.

 

"Rising Sun" was issued as the lead single from The Farm's second studio album Love See No Colour (number 242, November 1992) in Australia.  The album oddly missed the top 75 in the UK, despite their debut album topping the albums chart there in 1991!  The album's title track was issued as the first single from the album in the UK, but stalled at number 58 there in December 1991.  Fickle poms, eh?

Internationally, "Rising Sun" peaked at number 48 in the UK in June 1992.  Locally, it was equally most-popular in New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory and South Australia/Northern Territory, where it peaked at number 159 on both state charts.

We'll see The Farm once more, in November 1992.

 

 

Number 174 "I'll Be There" by Innocence

Peak: number 174

Peak date: 10 August 1992

Weeks on chart: 5 weeks

 

We last saw English band Innocence in 1991.

 

"I'll Be There" was the first single lifted from the group's second album Build (number 217, December 1992).

 

Internationally, "I'll Be There" peaked at number 26 in the UK in June 1992.  Locally, the single found greatest success in Victoria/Tasmania, where it reached number 156.

 

We'll next see Innocence in 1993.

 

 

Number 178 "Burning Up the Night" by Flash and the Pan

Peak: number 178

Peak date: 10 August 1992

Weeks on chart: 2 weeks

Australian duo Harry Vanda and George Young were, respectively, the lead guitarist and rhythm guitarist in The Easybeats, who scored two number one singles in Australia with "Sorry" (number 1, November 1966) and "Friday on My Mind" (number 1, December 1966).  During the 1970s, they produced AC/DC's first few albums, and wrote and produced numerous hits for John Paul Young, including "Love Is in the Air" (number 3, June 1978).

 

The duo began releasing material in 1976 as Flash and the Pan, which was essentially a side-project.  The pair landed back-to-back top 5 hits in Australia with "Hey, St. Peter" (number 5, February 1977) and "Down Among the Dead Men" (number 4, September 1978).  Flash and the Pan last charted in Australia with "Midnight Man" (number 66, February 1985).  During the 1990s, the pair wrote and produced Mark Williams' "Show No Mercy" (number 8, July 1990).

 

"Burning Up the Night" was the lead single and title track of Flash and the Pan's sixth and final studio album Burning Up the Night, which was released locally in September 1992 but failed to chart.

 

On the state charts, "Burning Up the Night" performed strongest in Queensland, where it reached number 155.

 

George Young passed away in 2017, aged 70.

 

We shall next see Flash and the Pan in 1993.

  

 

Number 179 Find 'em, Fool 'em E.P. by S'Express

Peak: number 179

Peak date: 10 August 1992

Weeks on chart: 4 weeks

 

We last saw S'Express in 1989.  A track that Mark Moore, who essentially was S'Express, remixed bubbled under in 1990.

 

Since then, S'Express had gained a new lead singer, Sonique (real name Sonia Clarke), who would go on to score two solo hits in Australia with "It Feels So Good" (number 21, July 2000) - more than a year after it debuted at number 236 in March 1999 - and "Sky" (number 18, February 2001).

"Find 'em, Fool 'em, Forget 'em" appeared on S'Express's second album Intercourse, which was released in Australia in August 1992 but failed to chart.  The track was originally released as a single in its own right in the UK in early 1991, peaking at number 83 there in March of that year.  For the Find 'em, Fool 'em E.P., the track was paired with "Let It All Out", which did not appear on the album.

The 1992 release of the single peaked at number 43 in the UK in May 1992.  In Australia, the E.P. was most successful in South Australia/Northern Territory, where it reached number 141.

While we won't see S'Express bubbling under again, they landed another minor hit in Australia with "Theme from S-Xpress (The Return Trip)" (number 42, July 1996).

 

We will see Sonique on her own in 1998.

 

 

Number 184 "I Talk to the Wind" by Opus III

Peak: number 162

Peak date: 7 September 1992

Weeks on chart: 5 weeks

 

English electronic band Opus III were Kevin Dodds, Ian Munro and Nigel Walton, with Kirsty Hawkshaw providing vocals.  They landed a minor hit in Australia with their debut single "It's a Fine Day" (number 54, May 1992), which was a cover version of an a cappella track recorded by Jane in 1983.  Listening to the original, Kirsty provides almost an exact replica of Jane's vocals - at least to my ears.

"I Talk to the Wind" was the second and final single lifted from Opus III's debut album Mind Fruit (number 173, August 1992).  Like its predecessor, this track was another cover version, this time quite a radical reworking of a song originally recorded by King Crimson in 1969.

Internationally, Opus III's rendition of "I Talk to the Wind" peaked at number 52 in the UK in June 1992.

Locally, "I Talk to the Wind" was most successful in New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory, where it reached number 145.

We'll next see Opus III in 1994.

 

 

 

Number 192 "Dr. Bombay" by Del Tha Funkee Homosapien

Peak: number 160

Peak date: 17 August 1992

Weeks on chart: 4 weeks

 

Born Teren Delvon Jones, Del Tha Funkee Homosapien became a one-hit wonder in Australia earlier in 1992 with "Mistadobalina" (number 11, June 1992).  Mistadobalina would be name-checked in the opening line of "Dr. Bombay", which I had not heard before, as well as in the second verse.

 

"Dr. Bombay" was issued as Del's second single from his debut album I Wish My Brother George Was Here (number 151, July 1992) in Australia.

Internationally, "Dr. Bombay" peaked at number 26 in New Zealand in August 1992.  Locally, the single performed best in Western Australia, where it reached number 147 on the state chart.

"Dr. Bombay" would be Del's last single to chart in Australia.  To my surprise, however, he landed a second charting album, in 2008, with his fifth studio album Eleventh Hour (number 538, March 2008).

 

Number 202 "Make It with You" by The Pasadenas

Peak: number 182

Peak date: 17 August 1992

Weeks on chart: 4 weeks

 

We last saw English group The Pasadenas in March 1992.

 

"Make It with You" was lifted from their covers album Yours Sincerely, and is a cover version of a song originally recorded by Bread in 1970.  Bread's version peaked at number 8 in Australia on the Go-Set chart in October 1970.

Internationally, The Pasadenas' version of "Make It with You" peaked at number 20 in the UK in April 1992, number 28 in Ireland in April 1992, and number 54 in Germany in June 1992.

Domestically, "Make It with You" performed strongest in Queensland, where it reached number 148.

This would be The Pasadenas' final charting release in Australia.

 

Next week (17 August): A quieter week, with only four top 150 debuts.

 

< Previous week: 3 August 1992                               Next week: 17 August 1992 >

Week commencing 3 August 1992

I had a request from a reader to include chart runs, so I have added them for this week for the top 150 entries, and will continue to do so.  However, given how time consuming it would be, I may not get around to the daunting task of adding them to each of my previous posts.  Anyway, here are this week in 1992's new entries peaking outside the ARIA top 100...

 

Massive Attack weren't exactly "massive" on the Australian charts in 1992.

 

Top 150 debuts:

 

Number 115 "I Wanna Sing" by Sabrina Johnston

Peak: number 115

Peak date: 3 August 1992

Weeks in top 150: 6 weeks

Chart run: 210-115-136-130-133-146-142

Weeks on chart: 7 weeks

 

American singer Sabrina Johnston scored her first, and biggest, Australian hit with her debut single "Peace" (number 24, March 1992). She followed it up with the equally-good but not as successful "Friendship" (number 64, April 1992).  "I Wanna Sing" was released as the third single from her debut album Peace (number 143, September 1992).

 

Internationally, "I Wanna Sing" peaked at number 46 in the UK in July 1992.

 

In Australia, "I Wanna Sing" performed strongest in Victoria/Tasmania, where it reached number 98 on the state chart.  The single crept into the lower region of the Australian Music Report top 100, where it peaked at number 93.

I first heard this one on the UK Chart Attack radio show.  I remember catching the video on SBS's MC Tee Vee, which was a great source at the time for dance-orientated music videos, with its clifftop scenes.  The chorus backing vocals on "let me sing someone" sounds a little bit like Annie Lennox to my ears, though I know it couldn't be her.

We will see Sabrina again in November 1992, where she shares a single with another artist.

 

 

Number 139 "What Are We Fightin' For" by Candy Harlots

Peak: number 132

Peak date: 10 August 1992

Weeks in top 150: 5 weeks

Chart run: 139-132-137-145-147

Weeks on chart: 5 weeks

 

We last saw Sydney band Candy Harlots in 1991.  Since then, they landed two top 40 hits, with the Foreplay EP (number 17, February 1992) and "Sister's Crazy" (number 37, May 1992).  "What Are We Fightin' For" was issued as the third and final single from the band's only studio album Five Wicked Ways (number 31, May 1992).

 

On the state charts, "What Are We Fightin' For" performed equally-strongest in New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory and Queensland, where it reached number 117.

 

I don't recall hearing this one before.  This would be Candy Harlots' last release.  Their lineup changed and they re-named the band Helter Skelter in 1993, and then The Harlots the following year, before disbanding in 1995.

 

 

Number 143 "Walk On" by Sunscreem

Peak: number 143

Peak date: 3 August 1992

Weeks in top 150: 2 weeks

Top 150 chart run: 143-149

Weeks on chart: 4 weeks

 

We last saw English band Sunscreem in April 1992.

 

While "Walk On" was Sunscreem's debut release in their homeland, it was issued as their second single in Australia, from their debut album O₃ (number 73, March 1993).

 

Internationally, "Walk On" peaked at number 94 (number 86 on the compressed chart) in the UK in November 1991.

 

Domestically, "Walk On" was most popular in Queensland, where it reached number 126.

 

I wasn't aware of this one at the time, though I wasn't familiar with Sunscreem until their next single, "Love U More" (number 30, March 1993), which initially debuted at number 166 on 14 September 1992 and crept into the top 150 for one week at number 141 the following week, before dropping out and re-entering at number 144 on the last chart of 1992, eventually making its way up to number 30 three months later.

We shall next see Sunscreem in January 1993.

 

 

Number 144 "Safe from Harm" by Massive Attack

Peak: number 132

Peak date: 17 August 1992

Weeks in top 150: 5 weeks

Top 150 chart run: 144-140-132-148-141

Weeks on chart: 8 weeks

English band Massive Attack formed in Bristol in 1988.  While they would not chart until March 1991 in Australia, with the single "Unfinished Sympathy" (number 95, June 1991), on which the band's name was temporarily changed to just Massive due to the Gulf War conflict, their signature sound of dissonant chords can be heard on Neneh Cherry's "Manchild" (number 58, July 1989), which was co-written by Massive Attack's Robert Del Naja, better known as 3D.

"Safe from Harm" was originally released in Australia in July 1991, as the second single from Massive Attack's debut album Blue Lines (number 69, July 1991).  It entered the chart at number 166 on 26 August 1991, but did not climb into the top 150 until its re-release locally in late July 1992.  In the interim, Massive Attack (just) placed a single within the ARIA top 50, with "Be Thankful for What You Got" (number 49, June 1992), accompanied by a rather risqué music video.

 

As with "Unfinished Sympathy", which is arguably one of the best records of all time, "Safe from Harm" (just as good, in my opinion) features the vocal talents of Shara Nelson, whose voice is not dissimilar from Aretha Franklin's.  The music video portrays Shara climbing a staircase in a tall apartment block at night, encountering several dodgy characters... with one eerily waiting outside her apartment at the end.

 

Internationally, "Safe from Harm" peaked at number 25 in the UK in June 1991, number 33 in Germany in July 1991, number 18 in the Netherlands in July 1991, number 23 in Austria in July 1991, and number 15 in Switzerland in August 1991.  It also registered on several meaningless US Billboard charts, reaching number 28 on the Alternative Airplay chart in September 1991, number 35 on the Dance Club Songs chart in September 1991, and number 32 on the Dance Singles Sales chart in October 1991.

 

In Australia, "Safe from Harm" performed strongest in New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory, where it reached number 109.

 

We will next see Massive Attack in 1995, but, before then, Shara Nelson will appear on her own several times, starting in 1993.

 

 

Number 145 "Sensual Motion" by S-Witch

Peak: number 135

Peak date: 31 August 1992

Weeks in top 150: 7 weeks

Top 150 chart run: 145-143-142-139-135-139-149

We last saw Australian act S-Witch in 1991.

 

As I write this post, I am waiting on someone to (hopefully) send me an audio rip of this track.  I have not as yet heard the song, so cannot say much about it.  I will hopefully be able to update this post with the audio soon...  This would be S-Witch's final top 150 chart entry.

 

 

 

Number 149 "Spanish Horses" by Aztec Camera

Peak: number 143

Peak date: 24 August 1992

Weeks in top 150: 3 weeks

Known chart run: 173-149-148-(out)-143

Weeks on chart: 8 weeks

We last saw Scottish band Aztec Camera in 1990.

 

"Spanish Horses" was the lead single from the band's fifth studio album Dreamland (number 146, June 1993).  Internationally, "Spanish Horses" peaked at number 52 in the UK in July 1992.

Within Australia, "Spanish Horses" performed strongest in Western Australia, where it reached number 107.

 

I hadn't heard this one before.  This would be the final Aztec Camera single to chart in Australia, although they had later charting albums with Frestonia (number 187, April 1996) and Original Album Series (number 956, September 2011).

 

 

 

Bubbling WAY down under:

 

Number 154 "Motorcycle Emptiness" by Manic Street Preachers

Peak: number 151

Peak date: 24 August 1992

Weeks on chart: 4 weeks

 

Welsh band Manic Street Preachers last joined us in June 1992.

 

"Motorcycle Emptiness" was issued as the final single from the band's debut album Generation Terrorists (number 182, April 1992).  Overseas, the single peaked at number 17 in the UK in June 1992, number 21 in the Netherlands in September 1992, number 35 in the Flanders region of Belgium in September 1992, and number 35 in New Zealand in October 1992.

Domestically, "Motorcycle Emptiness" was most popular in Queensland, where it reached number 127.

While I think I have heard/seen the music video for this one before, I couldn't recall how the song went, but enjoyed it.  It has that signature 'Manics' sound I am familiar with.

The Manics will next join us in November 1992.

 

Number 159 "Get Together" by Beatfish

Peak: number 159

Peak date: 3 August 1992

Weeks on chart: 7 weeks

 

Australian duo Beatfish last graced our presence in March 1992.

 

"Get Together", issued as the band's fourth single, was not lifted from their debut, and only, album Beatfish (number 79, November 1991); but, rather, was a new track - presumably recorded for a second album that never eventuated.

This time, vocal duties were handled by Mentals As Anything member Martin Plaza.

Listening to this track as I write this post, musically it sounds not dissimilar to The Style Council, to my ears.  It's much more laid back than Beatfish's earlier singles.  It's not bad, but doesn't exactly scream commercial success in 1992... hence the number 159 peak.

On the state charts, "Get Together" performed strongest in Western Australia, where it reached number 129.

Presumably, James and Martin disbanded Beatfish soon after this release, as it would be their last one together.  We shall see Martin Plaza solo in 1994, and with Mental As Anything in 1995.

 

 

Number 171 "Take Me" (The Prodigy Mix) by Dream Frequency featuring Debbie Sharp

Peak: number 162

Peak date: 14 December 1992 (chart repeated 21 December 1992 and 28 December 1992)

Weeks on chart: 8 weeks

 

English-American duo Dream Frequency/Debbie Sharp last joined us in June 1992.

 

I have a feeling that ARIA didn't yet quite know what to do with multi-part releases on the chart, as e.g. we had separate listings for a certain artist I don’t wish to promote on this blog with a single that topped the chart in late 1991, and the Clivillés & Cole Remixes single of the same track charted separately a few months later. This time, we have The Prodigy Mix of Dream Frequency's "Take Me" charting separately from the regular release of "Take Me" (number 62, September 1992), which debuted at number 165 the following week, on 10 August 1992.  To confuse matters, the Prodigy Mix of "Take Me" appears as track 2 on both the CD and cassette single formats.  Presumably, this release is the 12" vinyl single, on which this mix is the lead track.  We last saw The Prodigy in June 1992.

 

"Take Me" was the second single released from Dream Frequency's debut album One Nation (number 160, January 1993).  Internationally, the single peaked at number 39 in the UK in April 1992, and at number 22 in Ireland during the same month.

In Australia, "Take Me" (The Prodigy Mix) performed strongest in South Australia/Northern Territory, where it reached number 118.  The regular version of the single was much more popular in South Australia/Northern Territory than elsewhere, reaching number 13 on the state chart.  Its next-highest state chart peak was number 37 in Western Australia.

We shall see Dream Frequency on one more occasion, in 1994.

 

 

Number 194 "Straight Talk" by Dolly Parton

Peak: number 194

Peak date: 3 August 1992

Weeks on chart: 2 weeks

 

Country legend Dolly Parton last joined us as part of a duet in 1990.  Dolly's biggest chart hit in Australia was her duet with Kenny Rogers, "Islands in the Stream" (number 1 for one week in December 1983).  Surprisingly, one of Dolly's best-known songs, "Jolene", stalled at number 99 on the Australian Kent Music Report singles chart in July 1974.

 

"Straight Talk" was lifted from the soundtrack album to the movie of the same name, in which Dolly starred.  She also wrote and performed all of the tracks on the album.

 

Internationally, "Straight Talk" peaked at number 81 in the Netherlands in August 1992.  It also peaked at number 64 on the meaningless US Billboard Hot Country Songs chart in April 1992.

 

In Australia, "Straight Talk" was most popular in Queensland, where it reached number 158.

 

We shall next see Dolly in 1994.

 

 

Number 206 "Wishing on a Star" by The Cover Girls

Peak: number 181

Peak date: 14 September 1992

Weeks on chart: 7 weeks

 

We last saw The Cover Girls in 1991.

"Wishing on a Star" is a cover version of a Rose Royce single from 1977, which surprisingly does not appear to have been released in Australia, but was in New Zealand.  In more-recent years, part of the song's chorus was interpolated in Soul II Soul's "A Dreams a Dream" (number 27, June 1990).

The Cover Girls released their version of "Wishing on a Star" as the second single from their third studio album Here It Is (number 236, September 1992), more than a year after the first single from the album, "Funk Boutique".  Internationally, the single peaked at number 9 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in July 1992, number 38 in the UK in July 1992, number 6 in the Netherlands in September 1992, number 76 in Germany in September 1992, and number 26 in the Flanders region of Belgium in October 1992.

Locally, "Wishing on a Star" performed strongest in Queensland, where it reached number 156 on the state chart.

 

Embedded below is the video for the single version of "Wishing on a Star".  You can view the video for the extended version here.

This would be The Cover Girls' final single to chart in Australia.

 

 

Next week (10 August): Two top 150 entries and seven bubbling WAY down under debuts.

 

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