Among the new entries peaking outside the Australian top 100 this week in 1993, we have a re-release of a song from the late 1970s, a live version of a song originally released in the 1970s, and two singles that spent some time on the ARIA albums chart! Shall we take a look?
Patty Smyth: sometimes being a one-hit wonder (twice!) just ain't enough.
Top 150 debuts:
Number 102 "Bad Boy for Love" by Rose Tattoo
Peak: number 102
Peak date: 8 February 1993
Weeks in top 150: 5 weeks
Top 150 chart run: 102-105-118-127-138
Australian band Rose Tattoo formed in Sydney in 1976. "Bad Boy for Love" was their first release, and first single to chart, reaching number 19 in January 1978. It was also the group's biggest hit on the Australian chart, although "We Can't Be Beaten" (number 28, December 1982) is the song I most associate with the band. Between 1977 and 1987, when the band split, Rose Tattoo placed 11 singles on the Australian top 100. Lead singer Angry Anderson (real name Gary Stephen Anderson), whom we saw bubble under in 1990, then embarked on a solo carer, and is best known for singing Scott and Charlene's wedding song from Neighours, "Suddenly" (number 2, August 1987).
Originally appearing on the band's debut album Rose Tattoo (number 40, December 1978), "Bad Boy for Love" was re-issued to promote their Nice Boys Don't Play Rock 'n' Roll (number 121, February 1993) best of compilation album.
Rose Tattoo reformed in 1992-1993, supporting Guns N' Roses on the Australian leg of their Use Your Illusion tour, and would again reform in 1998. Five of the band's former members have died of various forms of cancer, between 1991 and 2009, outdoing Ramones on that grim metric.
Number 125 "99.5°F" by Suzanne Vega
Peak: number 125
Peak date: 8 February 1993
Weeks in top 150: 4 weeks
Chart run: 125-133-137-140
Weeks on chart: 4 weeks
We last saw American singer-songwriter Suzanne Vega in 1990.
"99.9°F" was the second single released in Australia from Suzanne's fourth studio album 99.9°F (number 56, November 1992). It followed "Blood Makes Noise" (number 61, October 1992), which would become Suzanne's final top 100 single in Australia. In the UK, "In Liverpool" was issued as the first single from 99.9°F, but it did not receive a single release in Australia. "99.9°F” deals with the subject of male erectile dysfunction. Oo-er!
Internationally, "99.9°F" peaked at number 46 in the UK in October 1992. It also registered on the US Billboard Alternative Airplay chart, reaching number 16 in January 1993.
In Australia, "99.9°F" performed strongest in South Australia/Northern Territory, where it reached number 91 on the state chart.
I didn't know "99.9°F" at the time, but became well-acquainted with the song after picking up Suzanne's Tried and True: The Best of (number 96, November 1998) compilation album in 2000. This led me to purchase Suzanne's previous studio albums. The 99.9°F album is notable for it being the first time Suzanne had really incorporated electronica into her music. Presumably, this was inspired by the success of the DNA remix of "Tom's Diner" (number 8, November 1990). I think "99.9°F" could have charted better had it received more promotion.
We shall next see Suzanne in June 1993.
Number 127 "Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap" (live) by AC/DC
Peak: number 112
Peak date: 15 February 1993
Weeks in top 150: 5 weeks
Top 150 chart run: 127-112-128-149-146
Legendary Australian band AC/DC formed in Sydney in 1973. Between 1974 and this point in 1993, the group had placed 26 singles on the Australian top 100, with "Thunderstruck" (number 4, October 1990) being the highest-charting of those.
The studio recording of "Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap" was released as a single in Australia in 1976 as the band's seventh single. It reached number 29 on the Kent Music Report singles chart in December 1976. The track was sung by then lead singer Bon Scott (real name Ronald Belford Scott), who died from acute alcohol poisoning in February 1980, aged 33. England-born Brian Johnson was then recruited to front the band. Joan Jett released a cover version of "Dirty Deeds" (with shortened title) in 1990, which peaked at number 59 in Australia in May 1990.
This live version of "Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap", recorded in Birmingham, England, on 23 April 1991, was taken from the live album AC/DC Live (number 1 for 2 weeks in November 1992). It followed a live version of "Highway to Hell" (number 29, November 1992), recorded in Glasgow, Scotland on 20 April 1991.
Internationally, this live version of 'Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap" peaked at number 68 in the UK in February 1993, and number 34 in New Zealand in April 1993.
AC/DC will next join us in 2000.
Number 128 "It Ain't Love" by 1927
Peak: number 123
Peak date: 5 April 1993
Weeks in top 150: 9 weeks
Top 150 chart run: 128-131-131-126-142-148-131-130-123
Weeks on chart: 10 weeks
Aussie band 1927 formed in Melbourne in 1987, started by Garry Frost, previously a member of Moving Pictures, who scored a number 1 hit in Australia with "What About Me?" (number 1 for 6 weeks in March-April 1982). Garry started writing songs for an as yet unformed band in 1986. He recruited singer Eric Wiedeman in 1987 after catching his performance of The Police's "Roxanne" (number 34, June 1979) on the comedic 'Red Faces' segment of Hey Hey It's Saturday, and contacting the show to get hold of Eric.
1927 scored back-to-back top 10 hits in Australia with their first two singles "That's When I Think of You" (number 6, September 1988) and "If I Could" (number 4, December 1988) - both singles spent nearly six months inside the top 50. Their debut album ...ish (number 1 for 4 weeks in April-May 1989) was the second best-selling album of 1989 in Australia. Founding member Garry Frost quit the band before the release of their second album The Other Side (number 3, July 1990). The singles from The Other Side were not as successful as those from their debut, with only lead single "Tell Me a Story" (number 17, June 1990) peaking within the top 40.
After a two-year hiatus, 1927 returned in 1992. Their third album 1927 (number 40, November 1992) only yielded one top 50 single, "Scars" (number 46, November 1992). "It Ain't Love" was the second and final single lifted from the album.
On the state charts, "It Ain't Love" performed strongest in South Australia/Northern Territory, where it reached number 90.
1927 disbanded in 1993, eventually reforming in 2009. In the interim, singer Eric Weideman embarked on a solo career, with limited commercial success. Eric's only solo single to dent the ARIA top 150 was "Nothing I Can Do", which peaked at number 73 in February 1997, after initially peaking at number 132 in October 1996 and falling out of the top 150 after three weeks.
While we won't be seeing 1927 again, they had two later charting albums: The Essential 1927 (number 94, July 2013), and Generation-i (number 100, August 2013).
Number 133 "Just Wanna Know" by Maxi Priest
Peak: number 122
Peak date: 1 March 1993
Weeks in top 150: 9 weeks
Chart run: 133-136-134-122-127-146-124-141-139
Weeks on chart: 9 weeks
Maxi Priest last joined us in 1992.
"Just Wanna Know" was issued as the second single from Maxi's fifth studio album Fe Real (number 130, May 1993). Internationally, "Just Wanna Know" peaked at number 33 in the UK in November 1992.
Locally, "Just Wanna Know" was most popular in South Australia/Northern Territory, where it reached number 91 on the state chart.
We'll see Maxi again in 1997.
Number 134 Broken EP by Nine Inch Nails
Peak: number 115
Peak date: 15 February 1993
Weeks in top 150: 2 weeks
Chart run: 134-115
Weeks on chart: 2 weeks
Nine Inch Nails formed in Cleveland, Ohio in 1988. Lead singer Trent Reznor (born Michael Trent Reznor) was the only permanent member of the band until Atticus Ross, who Trent first worked with in 2002, became an official member in 2016.
The group first dented the ARIA chart in 1992 with the single "Head Like a Hole", which debuted at number 224 on 31 August 1992. As "Head Like a Hole" did not climb into the top 150 upon its initial release, I am unable to tell you whether it climbed higher than its debut position. It did, however, climb to number 57 in May 1995, when re-released after the success of "Closer" (number 3, November 1994). "Head Like a Hole" was lifted from Nine Inch Nails' 1989 debut album Pretty Hate Machine (number 190, April 1995), which debuted on the ARIA albums chart at number 217 on 5 October 1992.
The Broken EP consisted of newly-recorded tracks that were not on Pretty Hate Machine. Containing eight songs and clocking in at just under 32 minutes, the EP was more like a mini-album. A short, 20 minute horror musical film was made, containing tracks from the EP, including the music videos for "Wish", "Happiness Is Slavery" and "Gave Up" (tracks 2, 5 and 6 from the EP).
It seems that ARIA were undecided on whether Broken should appear on the singles or albums chart. The EP initially registered on the singles chart for its first two weeks, before being moved over to the albums chart, debuting at number 187 on 22 February 1993. The EP spent four weeks on the ARIA albums chart, peaking at number 156 on it in January 1994. Based on the state chart peaks, I can determine that three of the four weeks Broken spent on the albums chart were 22 February 1993, 31 January 1994 (when it peaked), and 16 January 1995 - so its chart life, although relatively brief, was over a long period.
When Broken charted on the singles chart, it was most popular in New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory, where it reached number 101 in February 1993. When Broken charted on the albums chart, it was most popular in Queensland, where it reached number 118 in January 1994.
Internationally, Broken charted as a single in New Zealand, where it reached number 46 in April 1993. Broken charted as an album in the US, where it peaked at number 7 on the Billboard 200 in October 1992, and in the UK, where it reached number 18 in October 1992.
We'll next see Nine Inch Nails in 1996.
Number 137 "Washed Away" by Tom Cochrane
Peak: number 129
Peak date: 15 February 1993
Weeks in top 150: 4 weeks
Top 150 chart run: 137-129-140-143
Canadian singer-songwriter Tom Cochrane began his solo career on the Australian chart in 1992 with "Life Is a Highway" (number 2, September 1992), though it took nearly four months for the single to dent the top 50. He followed that up with "No Regrets" (number 26, November 1992), and the album Mad Mad World (number 46, October 1992), which was his second solo studio album.
Tom's recording career began long before his Australian breakthrough, however, with his debut album being released in 1974. Tom was also lead singer in the Canadian band Red Rider, whose debut album was released in 1979. Red Rider landed a minor hit in Australia in 1982 with "Lunatic Fringe" (number 52. May 1982). "Boy Inside the Man", credited to Tom Cochrane and Red Rider, bubbled under the Australian top 100 in March 1987, reaching fifth place on the Kent Music Report's list of singles with significant sales reports beyond the top 100.
"Washed Away" was issued as the third single from Mad Mad World in Australia, although it was the fifth single from the album in Tom's native Canada. Internationally, "Washed Away" peaked at number 7 in Canada in November 1992, and number 88 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in November 1992.
Tom will join us again in 1995.
Number 138 "I Will Be Here for You" by Michael W. Smith
Peak: number 138
Peak date: 8 February 1993
Weeks in top 150: 2 weeks
Top 150 chart run: 138-(out for 1 week)-149
Weeks on chart: 12 weeks
American contemporary Christian singer Michael W. Smith last joined us in 1991.
"I Will Be Here for You" was the lead single from Michael's sixth studio album Change Your World, which was released in Australia in November 1992 but did not chart. The single took some time to climb into the ARIA top 150, after debuting at number 228 on 23 November 1992.
Internationally, "I Will Be Here for You" reached number 27 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in November 1992, number 8 in Canada in November 1992, and number 233 (number 141 on the compressed chart) in the UK in November 1992. The song also reached number 1 on the US Billboard Adult Contemporary chart in October 1992, number 19 on the Pop Airplay chart in November 1992, and number 36 on the Radio Songs chart in November 1992.
Locally, "I Will Be Here for You" performed strongest in Victoria/Tasmania, where it reached number 77 on the state chart. The single peaked higher nationally on the Australian Music Report singles chart, where it reached number 57. It is interesting that the ARIA singles chart peak for "I Will Be Here for You" is 81 places lower than its AMR peak.
I didn’t think I knew this one, but the chorus seems vaguely familiar. I probably heard it on the American Top 40 radio show at the time.
We'll next see Michael in 1998.
Number 141 "Cruel Little Number" by The Jeff Healey Band
Peak: number 141
Peak date: 8 February 1993
Weeks in top 150: 1 week
Top 150 chart run: 141
We last saw Canadian band The Jeff Healey Band in 1990.
"Cruel Little Number" was the lead single from the band's third studio album Feel This (number 37, February 1993). Internationally, the single peaked at number 83 (number 79 on the compressed chart) in the UK in November 1992, and number 17 in Canada in December 1992.
This was The Jeff Healey Band's last single to dent the ARIA top 150.
Number 144 "Wasting Love" by Iron Maiden
Peak: number 132
Peak date: 1 March 1993
Weeks in top 150: 4 weeks
Top 150 chart run: 144-135-141-132
Weeks on chart: 5 weeks
English metal band Iron Maiden last joined us in 1992.
"Wasting Love" was issued as the third and final single from the band's ninth studio album Fear of the Dark (number 11, May 1992). It appears that the single was only released in continental Europe, North America and Australasia - not in the band's native UK. Interestingly, "Wasting Love" does not appear to have charted anywhere else.
In Australia, "Wasting Love" performed strongest in South Australia/Northern Territory, where it reached number 117 on the state chart.
I wasn’t expecting to like this one, but it’s not bad.
We'll next see Iron Maiden in November 1993.
Number 146 "No Mistakes" by Patty Smyth
Peak: number 127
Peak date: 22 February 1993
Weeks in top 150: 6 weeks
Chart run: 146-134-127-130-149-147
Weeks on chart: 6 weeks
American singer-songwriter Patty Smyth - not to be confused with Patti Smith - was the lead singer of the band Scandal, formed in 1981. Scandal landed two top 100 singles in Australia, one being much bigger than the other, with "The Warrior" (number 6, November 1984) and "Hands Tied" (number 83, February 1985). Curiously, both singles were credited to Scandal featuring Patty Smyth, rather than just Scandal, suggesting that Patty had her sights set on a solo career. Indeed, Scandal disbanded in 1985, though would reform in 2004.
Patty launched her solo career with the album Never Enough (released in Australia in June 1987, did not chart) in 1987. The title track, "Never Enough", was released as a single locally in March 1987, but failed to chart. The album's second single, a cover of Tom Waits' "Downtown Train", was not released in Australia, but Rod Stewart's version of that song would go on to become a number 29 hit here in March 1990.
Patty's duet with former Eagles co-lead singer/drummer Don Henley, "Sometimes Love Just Ain't Enough" (number 5, November 1992), gave Patty a second hit, and her only solo top 100 single, in Australia, effectively making her a one-hit wonder here twice!
"No Mistakes" was the second single lifted from Patty's second solo studio album Patty Smyth (number 94, November 1992). Internationally, the single peaked at number 149 (number 108 on the compressed chart) in the UK in November 1992, number 33 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in February 1993, and number 3 in Canada in February 1993. The song also reached number 33 on the US Billboard Radio Songs chart in February 1993, number 15 on the Pop Airplay chart in February 1993, and number 4 on the Adult Contemporary chart in February 1993
Domestically, "No Mistakes" performed strongest in Western Australia, where it reached number 89.
We'll see Patty once more in June 1993.
Number 148 "Revolution Earth" by The B-52's
Peak: number 146
Peak date: 15 February 1993
Weeks in top 150: 5 weeks
Chart run: 206-(off chart for 1 week)-148-146-147-150-148
Weeks on chart: 6 weeks
We last saw zany American band The B-52's in 1992.
"Revolution Earth" was issued as the third single in Australia from the band's sixth studio album Good Stuff (number 36, July 1992). I cannot find evidence of this single, which appears to have not been released in the UK, charting anywhere else.
Similar to the Nine Inch Nails EP discussed above, this single registered on the ARIA albums chart for one week, debuting at number 170 on 1 February 1993, one week after it debuted at number 206 on the singles chart! This was presumably an error made by ARIA, as there are only 4 tracks on the CD single. On the state charts, "Revolution Earth" performed strongest in Western Australia, where it reached number 110. When the single charted for one week on the albums chart, it also performed strongest in Western Australia, reaching number 149.
I hadn't heard "Revolution Earth" before. The song only contains vocals from Kate Pierson, and not the two male members of the group, in a similar fashion to "Roam" (number 11, March 1990) - although Cindy Wilson, who was not part of the group for the Good Stuff album, sang in unison with Kate on that track.
Two further singles from Good Stuff were released overseas, but not in Australia: "Is That You Mo-Dean?" (UK number 78, November 1992) and "Hot Pants Explosion" (UK number 81 [number 78 on the compressed chart], February 1993). Somehow, I heard "Is That You Mo-Dean?" at the time, but not "Revolution Earth".
The B-52's will join us next in 1999.
Bubbling WAY down under:
Number 166 "Walk on the Ocean" by Toad the Wet Sprocket
Peak: number 152
Peak date: 8 March 1993
Weeks on chart: 9 weeks
American band Toad the Wet Sprocket formed in Santa Barbara, California, in 1986. Their 1989 debut album Bread and Circus was released in Australia in March 1990 - oddly, no singles were released here from it - but failed to chart. Their second album, Pale, followed swiftly in June 1990, along with the single "Come Back Down", but they also failed to chart locally.
"Walk on the Ocean" was the second single issued in Australia from the third Toad the Wet Sprocket album Fear (number 179, March 1993). It followed "All I Want" (number 99, February 1993), which debuted on the ARIA singles chart at number 163 in late September 1992, but took more than three months to reach its peak. "All I Want" was the only release from the band to trouble the top 100 in Australia. The single found greater success in the band's homeland, where it reached number 15 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in September 1992.
Internationally, "Walk on the Ocean" peaked at number 18 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in January 1993, number 10 in Norway in February 1993, number 22 in Canada in February 1993, number 67 in Germany in February 1993, and number 22 in New Zealand in April 1993. The track also reached number 27 on the US Billboard Mainstream Rock Airplay chart in November 1992, number 10 on the Pop Airplay chart in January 1993, number 21 on the Radio Songs chart in February 1993, and number 31 on the Adult Contemporary chart in February 1993.
In Australia, "Walk on the Ocean" performed strongest in Queensland, where it reached number 110 on the state chart.
I hadn't heard this one before, but liked it. I didn't know what a 'sprocket' was, so looked up its definition: it's a chainwheel, or "a toothed wheel engaging with a conveyor or power chain."
We shall see Toad the Wet Sprocket next in 1994.
Number 205 "Slam Jam" by The WWF Superstars
Peak: number 202
Peak date: 5 April 1993
Weeks on chart: 2 weeksRegular readers will know that I am a fan of English producers Stock Aitken Waterman, or Stock Waterman as they were at this point, who were effectively a 'British Motown' for the 1980s (and early 90s). But I concede they are responsible for some dross, and "Slam Jam" here is a prime example.
The WWF in WWF Superstars stands for World Wrestling Federation. As you may have guessed, I am definitely not a wrestling enthusiast; nor am I a fan of most 'sports' tie-in songs. Mike Stock and Pete Waterman, whose chart fortunes were dwindling in the early 90s, saw an opportunity to score a hit by writing a novelty song for The WWF Superstars, and this track gave them their first UK top 10 hit that was not sung by Kylie Minogue or Jason Donovan since early 1990.
Internationally, "Slam Jam" peaked at number 4 in the UK in December 1992, and number 3 in Ireland in December 1992.
Domestically, "Slam Jam" was most popular in South Australia/Northern Territory, where it reached number 164.
Next week (15 February): Five top 150 entries and three bubbling WAY down under debuts.
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