I don’t know how to categorise this week in 1993’s new entries peaking outside the top 100, other than to say they are an eclectic bunch. Let’s take a look at them.
Swing Out Sister: is this the same girl you’d remember from “Breakout” about 6 years ago?
Top 150 debuts:
Number 143 “Am I the Same Girl” by Swing Out Sister
Peak: number 123
Peak dates: 18 January 1993 and 1 February 1993
Weeks in top 150: 5 weeks
Top 150 chart run: 143-123-132-123-124
Weeks on chart: 20 weeks
We last saw English sophistipop group, now pared down to a duo, Swing Out Sister in 1989.
“Am I the Same Girl”, a cover originally recorded by Barbara Acklin in 1968 and later covered by Dusty Springfield (her version peaked ay number 75 in Australia in November 1969), was the lead single from Swing Out Sister’s third studio album Get in Touch with Yourself (number 141, January 1993). The single was originally released in Australia in early July 1992, debuting at number 189, and was re-released in January 1993. Despite peaking at number 123, the single spent a decent 20 weeks on the ARIA chart.
Internationally, Swing Out Sister’s version of “Am I the Same Girl” peaked at number 21 in the UK in April 1992, number 15 in the Netherlands in May 1992, number 53 in Germany in June 1992, number 18 in the Flanders region of Belgium in June 1992, number 45 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in October 1992, and number 5 in Canada in November 1992. The track also topped the US Billboard Adult Contemporary chart in October 1992.
Domestically, “Am I the Same Girl” performed strongest in Victoria/Tasmania, where it reached number 75 on the state chart.
I don’t think I heard this one at the time, but like it. The main riff seems vaguely familiar,
A second single from Get in Touch with Yourself, “Notgonnachange”, peaked at number 49 in the UK in June 1992, but was not released as a single in Australia.
We shall see Swing Out Sister once again, towards the end of 1994.
Number 147 “Nightmare (Thrill Me)” by Twilight
Peak: number 143
Peak dates: 18 January 1993 and 25 January 1993
Weeks in top 150: 3 weeks
Top 150 chart run: 147-143-143
Twilight were an Australian act, and this single was their only release. The song is based on the video board game Nightmare, and E Street-affiliated Boys in Black are credited among the backing vocalists. That’s about all I can tell you about this release, other than I hadn’t heard the track until writing this post.
Number 148 “Boom Boom” by John Lee Hooker
Peak: number 145
Peak date: 18 January 1993
Weeks in top 150: 2 weeks
Top 150 chart run: 148-145
We last saw American blues musician John Lee Hooker in 1992.
“Boom Boom” was originally recorded in 1961 and released as a single in 1962. Renewed interest in the song came after it was featured in a Lee Jeans commercial in the UK in 1992.
The 1992 release of “Boom Boom” peaked at number 16 in the UK in October 1992, number 24 in New Zealand in November 1992, and number 45 in France in March 1993.
I remember catching the video for this one on rage at the time.
John’s greatest singles chart success in Australian would come in 1993, with his collaboration with Van Morrison on "Gloria" (number 22, July 1993).
Number 149 “A Winter’s Tale” by Falling Joys
Peak: number 147
Peak date: 18 January 1993
Weeks in top 150: 3 weeks
Top 150 chart run: 149-147-(out for 1 week)-150
Weeks on chart: 15 weeks
Aussie band Falling Joys last graced our presence in 1992.
“A Winter’s Tale”, the third and final single from the band’s second studio album proper, Psychohum (number 35, May 1992), debuted on the ARIA singles chart at number 168 on 14 December 1992, the final chart survey of the year. On the state charts, “A Winter’s Tale” performed strongest in South Australia/Northen Territory, where it reached number 119.
I don’t recall hearing this one before, but like it.
We will next see Falling Joys in August 1993.
Number 150 “Drowning in Your Eyes” by Ephraim Lewis
Peak: number 145
Peak date: 25 January 1993
Weeks in top 150: 2 weeks
Top 150 chart run: 150-(out for 1 week)-145
Weeks on chart: 17 weeks
“Drowning in Your Eyes” was the second single issued from English soul/R&B singer Ephraim Lewis’ only album Skin (number 185, July 1992). It followed the single "It Can't Be Forever", which was issued locally in June 1992, but did not chart in Australia.
Internationally, “Drowning in Your Eyes” peaked at number 136 (number 102 on the compressed chart) in the UK in August 1992.
Locally, “Drowning in Your Eyes” was most popular in Victoria/Tasmania, where it reached number 92 on the state chart. The single took almost four months to dent the national top 150, after debuting at number 175 in September 1992.
Sadly, Ephraim died in March 1994, aged 26, in Los Angeles after falling from a balcony during an altercation with police, after being tasered three times, following a report of a “naked black man acting crazy”. Ephraim’s brother, who is a barrister, believes that Ephraim was murdered by the police, as his fall from the balcony, resulting in extensive head injuries, he believes happened as a result of Ephraim being tasered.
This track, which I had not heard before, but enjoyed, would be Ephraim’s only charting single in Australia.
Bubbling WAY down under:
Number 179 Young Disciples EP by Young Disciples
Peak: number 179
Peak date: 11 January 1993
Weeks on chart: 1 week
Last saw British/American acid jazz band Young Disciples in 1991.
The Young Disciples EP was led by the track “Move On", which appears on their only album Road to Freedom (number 117, March 1992).
Internationally, the Young Disciples EP peaked at number 48 in the UK in August 1992. Locally, the EP was most popular in New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory, where it reached number 166. The EP peaked at number 210 on the remaining four state charts, which makes me wonder if that was the lowest placing on this week’s chart from 1993.
This EP would be the group’s final charting entry, although we will see Young Disciples’ lead singer, Carleen Anderson, bubble under on her own in 1994.
Number 183 “Sunshine & Love” by Happy Mondays
Peak: number 183
Peak date: 11 January 1993
Weeks on chart: 2 weeks
We last saw English ‘Madchester’ band Happy Mondays in 1992.
“Sunshine & Love” was the second and final single issued from the group’s fourth studio album …Yes Please! (number 99, October 1992). The single peaked at number 62 in the UK in November 1992. In Australia, “Sunshine & Love” performed strongest in New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory, where it reached number 171 on the state chart.
I don’t recall hearing this one before, but it’s another one that I liked.
Happy Mondays went on hiatus in 1993, though would reform in 1999, which is when we will see them next, with their final single to chart in Australia. In the interim, we shall see Happy Mondays singer Shaun Ryder leading a new band that will bubble under on a few occasions, with the first occasion being in 1995.
Next week (18 January): A quieter week, with three top 150 entries and one bubbling WAY down under debut.
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