Bubbling Down Under

2025-09-22T13:06:00.007+10:00

Bubbling Down Under

Dear Bubbling Down Under friends,

It is with a heavy heart that we share the news of Nathan's passing. Sadly he lost his battle with cancer and passed away peacefully in August.

It was Nathan's wish that we keep Bubbling Down Under online for others to enjoy.

His love of music will live on in our hearts 💗

Take care,

Nathan's family xx

Slight delay

2025-07-19T13:42:00.005+10:00

My 19th July 1993 post, which is a big one, will be delayed a few days, while I prioritise self-care (feeling a bit tired and run down). Watch this space.

Kent Music Report beyond the top 100: 18 July 1983

2025-07-19T00:16:00.003+10:00

Ooops... I missed the deadline for making this post in keeping with its 32nd year anniversary by 16 minutes. Oh well. This week in 1983 sees just one new entry bubbling outside the top 100. Let's take a look at it.

Avion didn't quite reach 'diamond' sales with this release.

Beyond the top 100:

Position 8 "Diamond Eyes" by Avion

Highest rank: 8th

Peak date: 18 July 1983

Weeks on below chart: 1 week

Australian band Avion formed in Sydney in 1981. They landed one top 100 single in Australia during their tenure, "I Need You" (number 61, April 1983), lifted from their debut album Avion (number 48 for two weeks in October 1983), which was also their only charting album. "Diamond Eyes" was the second single issued from Avion, but failed to dent the top 100.

Avion continued to release singles up until 1987, when they also released their second and final album White Noise. The band split in 1987 after their second album failed to chart and keyboardist Evan Murray died in a car accident.

Next post (8 August): Three new entries bubbling under the top 100.

< Previous week: 11 July 1983 Next post: 8 August 1983 >

Week commencing 12 July 1993

2025-07-12T19:14:00.008+10:00

Before taking a look at this week in 1993's new entries peaking outside the top 100, I have updated an earlier post:

* 8 January 1990 - new bubbling WAY down under entry from Ed Kuepper and The Yard Goes On Forever.

Gary Clail: these low chart positions are worth fighting for.

Top 150 debuts:

Number 125 “U R the Best Thing” by D:Ream (1993 release)

Peak: number 117 (1993 release); number 9 (1994 release)

Peak dates: 26 July 1993 and 2 August 1993 (1993 release); 27 June 1994 (1994 release)

Weeks in top 150: 25 weeks (6 weeks 1993 chart run; 19 weeks 1994 chart run)

Top 150 chart run: 125-124-117-117-130-134

Re-entry 2 May 1994: 39-25-29-28-26-19-17-13-9-12-17-27-35-37-50-74-49-93-91

Weeks on chart: 29 weeks (1993 and 1994 chart runs combined)

Mancunian band D:Ream previously visited us in May 1993.

“U R the Best Thing” has a convoluted release history. First released in mid-1992, including a July 1992 Australian release on 12” vinyl, “U R the Best Thing” - promoted by the first of three different music videos filmed for the song - was D:Ream’s debut release, peaking at number 72 in the UK in June 1992.

The single was re-released in 1993, with a new music video to boot (embedded below). This time, “U R the Best Thing” peaked at number 19 in the UK for two non-consecutive weeks in April-May 1993, number 6 in Ireland, number 50 in the Flanders region of Belgium in July 1993, and number 1 on the US Billboard Dance Club Songs chart in July 1993.

After the success of the remixed and re-released “Things Can Only Get Better” (number 9 in Australia, March 1994), “U R the Best Thing” was remixed by Perfecto (Paul Oakenfold and Steve Osborne) and given a third release, and another music video. The 1994 release of “U R the Best Thing” peaked at number 4 in the UK in April 1994, number 6 in Ireland, number 25 in the Netherlands in May 1994, number 35 in Switzerland in June 1994, number 65 in Germany for two non-consecutive weeks in June-July 1994, number 46 in the Flanders region of Belgium in June 1994, and number 9 in Australia in June 1994.

On the state charts, “U R the Best Thing” performed equally strongest in New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory and Victoria/Tasmania, where the 1994 release reached number 8.

Before D:Ream hit it big with “Things Can Only Get Better”, another single, “Unforgiven”, was released in Australia in September 1993, but failed to chart.

I like both the original and Perfecto-remixed versions of “U R the Best Thing”, but like the Perfecto version slightly more.

We’ll next see D:Ream in 1995.

Number 133 “With One Look” by Barbra Streisand

Peak: number 129

Peak date: 2 August 1993

Weeks in top 150: 6 weeks

Top 150 chart run: 133-130-131-129-133-138

Weeks on chart: 7 weeks

Babs last paid us a visit in 1992.

“With One Look” was the lead single from Babs’ twenty-sixth studio album Back to Broadway (number 3, July 1993), consisting of songs from Broadway musicals. “With One Look” originally appeared in the Andrew Lloyd-Webber musical Sunset Boulevard.

Internationally, “With One Look” peaked at number 30 in the UK in May 1993. Domestically, the single was most popular in South Australia/Northern Territory, where it reached number 113 on the state chart.

We’ll next see Babs in 1999.

Number 140 “Make You a Believer” by Sass Jordan

Peak: number 140

Peak date: 12 July 1993

Weeks in top 150: 2 weeks

Top 150 chart run: 140-(out of the top 150 for one week)-141

Quebec-based singer Sass Jordan was born Sarah Jordan in England, with her family emigrating to Canada when she was 3 years old. She launched her recording career in 1988, releasing her debut album Tell Somebody that year.

“Make You a Believer” was the lead single from her second album Racine (released in Australia in August 1993, missed the top 150). Internationally, "Make You a Believer" peaked at number 12 in Canada in April 1992, and number 51 in the Netherlands in October 1992. The song also reached number 11 on the US Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks chart.

This was Sass's only top 150 appearance on the Australian charts.

Number 146 “In All the Right Places” by Lisa Stansfield

Peak: number 132

Peak date: 19 July 1993

Weeks in top 150: 5 weeks

Chart run: 146-132-135-134-138

Weeks on chart: 5 weeks

English songstress Lisa Stansfield last paid us a visit in February 1993.

“In All the Right Places” was recorded for the soundtrack album of the movie Indecent Propsal (number 67, May 1993). The Soul Mix of “In the Right Places” would later appear on Lisa’s third solo studio album So Natural (number 67, November 1993).

Internationally, “In All the Right Places” peaked at number 8 in the UK in June 1993, number 8 in Ireland, number 63 in Germany in July 1993, and number 24 in the Netherlands in August 1993.

Locally, “In All the Right Places” was most popular in Victoria/Tasmania, where it reached number 113 on the state chart.

I first heard/saw the music video for this one on rage as a new release. During the July 1993 school holidays, I sat up to watch the Friday night new releases segment of rage from around midnight until 5 a.m. Saturday morning, in real time. Yes, I was a bit crazy, but this meant that I would get first generation VHS recordings of some music videos I wanted to keep that missed the rage top 60 chart rundown.

We shall next see Lisa in 1994.

Number 149 “Sweet Inspiration” by The Black Sorrows

Peak: number 136

Peak date: 26 July 1993

Weeks in top 150: 6 weeks

Top 150 chart run: 149-144-136-146-145-145

Weeks on chart: 7 weeks

Aussie band The Black Sorrows formed in 1983. Their first charting single was "Daughters of Glory" (number 48, July 1987), and their biggest hit was "Chained to the Wheel" (number 9, May 1989). "Sweet Inspiration", The Black Sorrows' fourteenth charting single, was issued as the fourth and final single from the band's seventh studio album Better Times (number 13, September 1992). It followed "Ain't Love the Strangest Thing" (number 46, September 1992), "Better Times" (number 74, November 1992), and "Come On, Come On" (number 70, April 1993).

On the state charts, "Sweet Inspiration" performed strongest in South Australia/Northern Territory, where it reached number 114.

We will next see The Black Sorrows in 1995.

Bubbling WAY down under:

Number 181 “Sleepy Head (Serene Machine)” by Ed Kuepper

Peak: number 181

Peak date: 12 July 1993

Weeks on chart: 2 weeks

Australian singer-songwriter Ed Kuepper last visited us in 1992.

"Sleepy Head (Serene Machine)" was the lead single from Ed's seventh studio album Serene Machine (number 45, May 1993). On the state charts, "Sleepy Head..." was equally most popular in New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory and Victoria/Tasmania, where it reached number 176.

Listening to this track for the first time as I write this post, I liked this more than I was expecting to.

We shall next see Ed in 1995.

Number 206 “In a Word Or 2”/“The Power” by Monie Love

Peak: number 201

Peak date: 19 July 1993

Weeks on chart: 5 weeks

English rapper Monie Love last joined us in 1992.

“In a Word Or 2”/“The Power” was the third single issued from Monie’s second, and to date last, studio album In a Word Or 2 (number 147, May 1993). It followed “Full Term Love” (number 150, September 1992) and “Born 2 B.R.E.E.D.” (number 98, May 1993). “In a Word Or 2” was produced and co-written by Prince. The single version of “The Power”, the Junior Style Edit, is the first track in the second video embedded below, which plays three mixes of the track.

Internationally, “In a Word Or 2”/“The Power” peaked at number 33 in the UK in June 1993. In Australia, “In a Word Or 2”/“The Power” performed strongest in South Australia/Northern Territory, reaching number 159 on the state chart.

We shall see Monie one more time, in September 1993.

Number 216 “Boom the Future” by Ugly

Peak: number 216

Peak date: 12 July 1993

Weeks on chart: 1 week

Ugly were British trio Glenn Gregory, Ian Martin Wright and John Uriel. Glenn, who fronted the band, was the front man in Heaven 17, whom we last saw in June 1993.

The “Boom the Future” single was the only Ugly release. Internationally, the single peaked at number 89 (number 81 on the truncated chart with exclusions below number 75) in the UK in May 1993. Domestically, “Boom the Future” was most popular in New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory, reaching number 189 on the state chart.

I first heard this one in the early 2010s, while digitising a UK VHS compilation it appeared on. I think this could have been a hit with better promotion.

Number 226 “These Things Are Worth Fighting For” by Gary Clail On-U Sound System

Peak: number 157

Peak date: 26 July 1993

Weeks on chart: 7 weeks

We last saw English Gary Clail On-U Sound System in 1992. “These Things Are Worth Fighting For” was the second single lifted from their third album Dreamstealers (number 180, August 1993). Again, the song deals with social issues, this time “one law for the rich and another for the poor”.

Internationally, “These Things Are Worth Fighting For” peaked at number 45 in the UK in May 1993. Locally, the single performed strongest in New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory, reaching number 139 on the state chart.

This was the final Gary Clail On-U Sound System single to chart in Australia. Gary returned solo in 1996 with the single “Another Hard Man” and the album Keep the Faith, but neither charted in Australia.

Number 228 Shortsharpshock E.P. by Therapy?

Peak: number 228

Peak date: 12 July 1993

Weeks on chart: 2 weeks

Northern Irish alternative rock/metal band Therapy? formed in 1989. Their first Australian release was the Caucasian Psychosis album (released locally in May 1992, did not chart), which was a compilation of their first two mini-album indie label releases.

The Shortsharpshock EP, led by the track “Screamager”, was Therapy?’s first Australian single/EP release. The song’s title, which does not appear in the lyrics, came into being when singer Andy Cairns and bass player Michael McKeegan were viewing the Smash Hits awards show on TV in a hotel room, noticing the audience of largely teenage girls who went wild screaming at the celebrities on stage. The pair commented that the audience were “screamagers” rather than teenagers, and that this would make a good song title. “Screamager” would go on to appear on the band’s second full-length album Troublegum (number 145, March 1994). It does not appear on their first album-proper Nurse (number 194, August 1993). A double pack Nurse/Shortsharpshock was released in Australia in 1995, reaching number 163 on the albums chart in May 1995.

Internationally, the Shortsharpshock EP charted at number 9 in the UK in March 1993, number 2 in Ireland, and number 22 in Sweden in June 1993. “Screamager” peaked at number 16 on the US Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart in October 1993.

Domestically, the Shortsharpshock EP was most popular in Western Australia, reaching number 188 on the state chart.

I first heard “Screamager” in the early 2010s when it appeared on a UK VHS compilation I was digitising. While I am generally not a metal/heavy rock fan, I like this one.

We’ll next see Therapy? in August 1993.

Number 231 “Dirty Money” by Dee Fredrix

Peak: number 219

Peak date: 19 July 1993

Weeks on chart: 2 weeks

English singer Dee Fredrix, real name Dee Fredericks, is a name that you are probably not familiar with. However, you have likely heard her voice before.

As Dee Lewis, she sang the “when will I, will I be famous” and “when will I see my picture in the paper” chorus lines, among others, in Bros’ “When Will I Be Famous?” (number 5 for three weeks in May-June 1988) - even though Matt Goss lip syncs those lines in the music video. Coincidentally, Luke Goss from Bros was dating Dee’s sister, Shirley Lewis, at the time, and they later married, splitting in 2020. Dee has also performed backing vocals for many artists, appearing on Peter Gabriel’s “Sledgehammer” (number 3, June 1986), and many Stock Aitken Waterman-productions, including Rick Astley’s “Whenever You Need Somebody” (number 3 for two weeks in March 1988) (I think she’s the dark curly-haired back-up singer in the video); Laura Branigan’s “Shattered Glass” (number 60, September 1987); Kylie Minogue’s “The Loco-Motion”, “Je Ne Sais Pas Pourquoi” (number 11, December 1988), “It’s No Secret”; Jason Donovan’s “Nothing Can Divide Us” (number 3, November 1988); and Donna Summer’s “This Time I Know It’s for Real” (number 40, October 1989), to name but a few.

As a solo artist, Dee released a handful of singles in the late 1980s, under the name of Dee Lewis. None achieved major commercial success, with Dee’s version of The Emotions’ “The Best of My Love” charting highest in the UK, at number 47 in July 1988. My favourite of Dee’s singles as Dee Lewis is “Stuck on Love”.

”Dirty Money” was Dee’s second release as Dee Fredrix, following the single “And So I Will Wait for You” (released in Australia in May 1993, did not chart). Internationally, “Dirty Money” peaked at number 74 in the UK in June 1993.

In Australia, “Dirty Money” performed strongest in New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory, reaching number 197 on the state chart. The single debuted at number 231 on all five state charts, as well as nationally, which makes me think that it may have been at the bottom of the national chart this week.

This was Dee’s only charting release in Australia.

Next week (19 July): Seven top 150 entries and seven bubbling WAY down under entries.

< Previous week: 5 July 1993 Next week: 19 July 1993 >

Kent Music Report beyond the top 100: 11 July 1983

2025-07-11T21:47:00.006+10:00

This week in 1983 saw four new singles bubbling under the Australian top 100. Two are by artists we won't see again, and the other two are by artists we will not see bubble under again until the 1990s. Shall we take a look?

Marcia Hines: heart like a radio... with a chart position like radio never played it.

Beyond the top 100:

Position 4 "Heart Like a Radio" by Marcia Hines

Highest rank: 4th

Peak date: 11 July 1983

Weeks on below list: 1 week

American ex-pat Marcia Hines relocated to Australia in 1970, aged 16, after landing a role in the Australian stage production of Hair. She released her debut single, and first Australian chart entry, "Fire and Rain" (number 17 for two weeks in July 1975) in 1975. Between 1975 and 1982, Marcia placed 14 singles on the Australian top 100, with six of those reaching the top 10. "You" (number 2 for six non-consecutive weeks in December 1977-January 1978) was Marcia's biggest hit.

"Heart Like a Radio" was lifted from Marcia's seventh studio album Love Sides, which missed the Australian top 100. Is that Marcia hitting those whistle register notes in the instrumental intro to this song? If so, I didn’t know she had that range.

Marcia took a break from her recording career in 1983, focusing instead on stage productions and raising her daughter Deni, who would go on to have her own recording career. Marcia would return to recording in 1994 with the album Right Here and Now (number 21, October 1994).

We'll see Marcia next in 1995.

Position 6 "The Sound of Breaking Hearts" by Espionage

Highest rank: 6th

Peak date: 11 July 1983

Weeks on below list: 3 weeks

Oddly, I cannot ascertain which country the band Espionage originate from, though it may be the UK. "The Sound of Breaking Hearts" was the lead single from their debut album Espionage, which did not chart in Australia. "The Sound of Breaking Hearts" was the band's only release to (almost) chart in Australia.

Internationally, "The Sound of Breaking Hearts" peaked at number 125 in the UK in April 1983. Unusually, its peak on the truncated chart, with exclusions below number 75, was number 102, on non-consecutive weeks (one in April 1983, one in May) where the single was ranked lower than number 125 after adding back the excluded titles.

After releasing their second album E S P in 1985, the band split.

Position 8 "So Much in Love" by Timothy B. Schmidt

Highest rank: 5th

Peak date: 18 July 1983

Weeks on below list: 3 weeks

Timothy Bruce Schmidt, shortening his middle name to an initial for his stage name, is an American singer-songwriter. He has performed bass and vocals in Poco, whom we have seen in 1990, and Eagles, replacing Randy Meisner in both groups.

"So Much in Love", Timothy's debut solo single, is a cover version of a song released by The Thymes in 1963. Internationally, Timothy's version of the song peaked at number 59 on the US Billboard Hot 100 for two consecutive weeks in October-November 1982. The track appears on Timothy's debut album Playin' It Cool, which did not chart in Australia. This single would be Timothy's only release to (almost) chart in Australia.

Position 9 "What Kinda Boy You're Looking For (Girl)" by Hot Chocolate

Highest rank: 7th

Peak dates: 18 July 1983 and 1 August 1983

Weeks on below list: 4 weeks

British soul band Hot Chocolate placed 14 singles on the Australian top 100 between 1973 and 1982, with "You Sexy Thing" (number 4 for two consecutive weeks in April-May 1976) being the highest-charting of those.

"What Kinda Boy You're Looking For (Girl)" was a non-album single released in between the band's sixth and seventh studio albums, Mystery (number 92, November 1982) and Love Shot (did not chart in Australia). Internationally, the single peaked at number 10 in the UK in May 1983, number 4 in Ireland in May 1983, number 17 in the Netherlands in May 1983, number 12 in the Flanders region of Belgium in June 1983, and number 23 in West Germany for two non-consecutive weeks in June-July 1983.

We'll next see Hot Chocolate in 1998.

Next week (18 July): One new entry peaking outside the top 100.

< Previous post: 27 June 1983 Next week: 18 July 1983 >

Week commencing 5 July 1993

2025-07-05T00:22:00.004+10:00

Once again, I cannot find a common theme among this week in 1993’s new entries peaking outside the top 100, so let’s jump straight in.

Vince Neil was invited to the top 100, but this single couldn’t come.

Top 150 debuts:

Number 135 “Sister of Pain” by Vince Neil

Peak: number 135

Peak date: 5 July 1993

Weeks in top 150: 5 weeks

Top 150 chart run: 135-136-140-140-137

Vince Neil came to fame as the lead singer of American heavy metal band Mötley Crüe, whose biggest hit in Australia was “Dr. Feelgood” (number 26 for two weeks in October-November 1989).

In 1992, Vince quit, or was fired from Mötley Crüe - the story varies according to who is asked (Vince insists that he was fired), after the other band members felt that Vince’s race car driving was increasingly his focus over the band. Vince’s first solo release was “You’re Invited (But Your Friend Can’t Come)” (number 74, September 1992), recorded for the soundtrack album of Encino Man (number 139, October 1992).

“Sister of Pain” was the second single issued from Vince’s debut solo album Exposed (number 84, June 1993). Internationally, the song peaked at number 12 on the US Billboard Mainstream Rock Airplay chart in May 1993.

While we won’t see solo Vince again, we will see Mötley Crüe bubble under in 1997. Vince rejoined the band that year.

Number 142 “She Wants Love” by Wrecking Crew

Peak: number 125

Peak date: 2 August 1993

Weeks in top 150: 7 weeks

Top 150 chart run: 142-129-138-137-125-140-142

Australian band Wrecking Crew previously graced our presence in March 1993.

“She Wants Love” was issued as the third single from the band’s debut and only album Fun in the Doghouse (number 115, June 1993). Unfortunately, the song is not available to listen to online. As I have no recollection of hearing this song before, I cannot tell you what it is like.

This was the band’s final single and last charting release.

Bubbling WAY down under:

Number 192 “Out of Space” by The Prodigy

Peak: number 167

Peak date: 2 August 1993

Weeks on chart: 10 weeks

English electronic group The Prodigy last joined us in January 1993.

“Out of Space” was the fourth single released from The Prodigy’s debut album Experience (number 163, January 1997). The song prominently samples Max Romeo’s “Chase the Devil” from 1976 for its chorus.

Internationally, “Out of Space” peaked at number 5 in the UK in November 1992, number 6 in Ireland, number 3 in the Netherlands in February 1993, number 24 in Sweden in February 1993, number 32 in the Flanders region of Belgium for two non-consecutive weeks in March 1993, number 15 in Germany for two weeks in March 1993, and number 30 in Switzerland in March 1993.

In Australia, “Out of Space” performed strongest in South Australia/Northern Territory, reaching number 104 on the state chart. At least one of the weeks “Out of Space” spent on the chart is from January 1997, when The Prodigy’s early singles were re-issued in Australia, as “Out of Space” reached its state chart peak of number 125 in Queensland on 27 January 1997.

I first heard “Out of Space” on the UK Chart Attack radio program in November 1992. I caught the music video on rage as a new release in late June 1993, and remember being surprised that the single was receiving such a belated release here. “Out of Space” would probably be my favourite single from Experience.

A fifth single from Experience, “Wind It Up (Rewound)”, was released in Europe in 1993, but not in Australia.

We shall next see The Prodigy in December 1993.

Number 193 Inside My Kitchen EP by Tiddas

Peak: number 193

Peak date: 5 July 1993

Weeks on chart: 1 week

Australian female trio Tiddas, which is Koori for the sisters, formed in 1990. The Inside My Kitchen EP was their debut release, containing six tracks, with title track “Inside My Kitchen”, track 4 on the EP, being the lead track.

As we have seen before, ARIA seemed to be in two minds over whether this EP should chart as a single or an album. The EP initially registered on the albums chart, debuting on 23 November 1992 and reaching its peak of number 145 on 8 February 1993, spending 20 weeks on the albums chart in total. Then, for reasons only ARIA staff at the time know, the EP entered the singles chart for a solitary week in July 1993.

On the state charts, Inside My Kitchen performed strongest in Victoria/Tasmania for both its albums and singles chart runs, peaking at number 130 during its album chart run, and number 170 during its singles chart run on the state chart.

“In My Kitchen” would go on to appear on Tiddas’ debut album Sing About Life (number 36, November 1993). The trio would land their first top 100 single with “Waiting” (number 88, November 1993), which would be their biggest hit.

Tiddas will join us next in 1994.

Number 208 “Ships (Where Were You)” by Big Country

Peak: number 208

Peak date: 5 July 1993

Weeks on chart: 2 weeks

Scottish band Big Country last visited us in May 1993.

“Ships (Where Were You)” was the second single from the band’s sixth studio album The Buffalo Skinners (number 193, July 1993). Internationally, “Ships…” peaked at number 29 in the UK for two weeks in April-May 1993, and number 54 in Canada in June 1993.

Domestically, the single was most popular in Queensland, where it reached number 176 on the state chart.

I hadn’t heard this one before. Being somewhat partial to piano-led ballads, I enjoyed this one, though would have liked it more if it was just piano and vocal throughout.

This was the final Big Country release to chart in Australia. Lead singer Stuart Adamson was found dead in hotel room in Hawaii, due to suicide, in December 2001, aged 43.

Next week (12 July): Five top 150 entries and six bubbling WAY down under debuts.

< Previous week: 28 June 1993 Next week: 12 July 1993 >

Week commencing 28 June 1993

2025-06-28T00:22:00.001+10:00

One thing this week in 1993’s new entries peaking outside the top 100 have in common is that I had never heard them until writing this post. Perhaps they are new to you too? Let’s take a look.

Marc Cohn walked the earth but couldn’t land a hit with this one.

Top 150 debuts:

Number 116 Spin One EP by Icehouse

Peak: number 112

Peak date: 5 July 1993

Weeks in top 150: 4 weeks

Known chart run: 166-116-112-130-128

Weeks on chart: 8 weeks

We last saw Australian band Icehouse in 1991.

The Spin One EP was released to promote the remix album Full Circle, although that was not released until 1994. The EP was led by the track “Shakin’ the Cage”, which was recorded during sessions for their fifth studio album Man of Colours (number 1 for 11 weeks in October-December 1987), but only appeared on Japanese pressings of the album until its 2002 Australian expanded release-issue.

On the state charts, the Spin One EP performed strongest in Western Australia, where it reached number 84.

Listening to this for the first time, the mix reminds me a little bit of Seal’s “Crazy” (number 9, April 1991).

Before Full Circle appeared, Icehouse would release their seventh studio album Big Wheel (number 44, November 1993). We shall next see them bubble under in December 1993.

Number 134 “(I Can Just) Lose Myself in You” by Lisa Edwards

Peak: number 106

Peak date: 9 August 1993

Weeks in top 150: 7 weeks

Top 150 chart run: 134-131-132-142-132-136-106

Weeks on chart: 9 weeks

Australian singer Lisa Edwards, best known for being one of John Farnham’s backing singers, last joined us in 1992. “(I Can Just) Lose Myself in You” was recorded for the movie The Heartbreak Kid, and we saw another track from the soundtrack album (number 70, July 1993) debut last week. The song does not appear on Lisa’s solo album released earlier in 1993, Thru the Hoop (number 120, June 1993).

On the state charts, “(I Can Just) Lose Myself in You” performed strongest in Western Australia, where it reached number 81.

While the song is pleasant enough, it doesn’t sound particularly memorable to me.

This would be Lisa’s last single to chart in Australia. She had later, low-charting albums with State of the Heart (number 204, August 2005) and I’m Still the Woman (number 637, June 2021).

Number 142 “Lay Down My Life” by Carole King

Peak: number 133

Peak date: 26 July 1993

Weeks in top 150: 6 weeks

Chart run: 142-150-138-149-133-144

Weeks on chart: 6 weeks

American singer-songwriter extraordinaire Carole King last joined us in 1989.

“Lay Down My Life” was the lead single in Australia from Carole’s fifteenth studio album Colour of Your Dreams (number 72, September 1993). I cannot find evidence of the single charting elsewhere. On the state charts, “Lay Down My Life” was most popular in South Australia/Northern Territory, where it reached number 111.

Unfortunately, the music video embedded below has poor quality audio. You can listen to the longer LP version of the track, with better audio, here.

We shall next see Carole in October 1993.

Number 145 “Walk Through the World” by Marc Cohn

Peak: number 129

Peak date: 26 July 1993

Weeks in top 150: 6 weeks

Top 150 chart run: 145-144-(out of top 150 for one week)-147-129-141-142

American singer-songwriter Marc Cohn last graced our presence in 1992.

“Walk Through the World” was the first single issued from Marc’s second studio album The Rainy Season (number 121, July 1993). Internationally, the single peaked at number 37 in the UK in May 1993, number 51 in Germany for four non-consecutive weeks in July-August 1993, and number 26 in Canada for two weeks in July 1993. The song also peaked at number 21 on the US Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 singles chart, and number 28 on the Adult Contemporary chart.

I thought this one was quite decent. I imagine that a lack of promotion/airplay hampered its success.

This would be Marc’s final top 150 single in Australia.

Number 146 “Lines Around Your Eyes” by Lucinda Williams

Peak: number 146

Peak date: 28 June 1993

Weeks in top 150: 1 week

Known chart run: 151-146

Weeks on chart: 3 weeks

Lucinda Williams, another American singer-songwriter, last paid us a visit in 1992.

“Lines Around Your Eyes” was the second single released in Australia from Lucinda’s fourth studio album Sweet Old World (number 134, July 1993). I cannot find evidence of this single charting elsewhere. In Australia, “Lines Around Your Eyes” performed strongest in Victoria/Tasmania, reaching number 133 on the state chart.

While we won’t see Lucinda again, she had later low-charting singles in Australia with "Real Love" (number 297, November 2008) and "Buttercup" (number 777, March 2011).

Number 150 “Hell’s Party” by Glam

Peak: number 150

Peak date: 28 June 1993

Weeks in top 150: 1 week

Top 150 chart run: 150

Glam were a quartet of Italian DJ’s and producers.

Internationally, “Hell’s Party” peaked at number 42 in the UK in April 1993.

Listening to the song as I write this post, it appears that “Hell’s Party” is sampled on the post-chorus music on Urban Cookie Collective’s “The Key: The Secret” (number 4 for five weeks in November-December 1993).

A cheap video for this song, consisting of footage of nightclub patrons, was presumably thrown together by the Australian record label, as was done for a number of dance tracks lacking a proper music video released around this time. You can view that video here.

We will next see Glam with a notable featured artist in 1994.

Next week (5 July): Two top 150 entries and three bubbling WAY down under debuts.

< Previous week: 21 June 1993 Next week: 5 July 1993 >

Kent Music Report beyond the top 100: 27 June 1983

2025-06-27T00:00:00.001+10:00

This week in 1983 sees two singles bubbling under the top 100 on the Kent Music Report singles chart, and, for once, I am actually familiar with both of them! But perhaps they are new to you? Let's take a look.

Orange Juice: looking fresh-faced and freshly-squeezed in 1983.

Beyond the top 100:

Position 6 "Rip It Up" by Orange Juice

Highest rank: 6th

Peak date: 27 June 1983

Weeks on below list: 1 week

Scottish jangle pop band Orange Juice formed in Glasgow in 1976, initially calling themselves Nu-Sonics. The band, fronted by Edwin Collins - whom we shall see bubble under solo in 1995, changed their name to Orange Juice in 1979.

"Rip It Up" was released as the second single and title track from the band's second album Rip It Up in Europe, following "I Can't Help Myself", which does not appear to have been issued as a single in Australia.

Internationally, "Rip It Up" peaked at number 8 in the UK in March 1983, number 23 in Ireland in April 1983, and number 42 in New Zealand in June 1983.

I know this one quite well, as the music video has aired numerous times on rage over the years. I am surprised this one didn't do better in Australia. "Rip It Up" would be Orange Juice's only release to (almost) trouble the top 100 in Australia. Singer Edwyn Collins would, of course, land a major hit single in Australia with "A Girl Like You" (number 6, March 1995) in 1995.

Position 8 "Cattle and Cane" by The Go-Betweens

Highest rank: 8th

Peak date: 27 June 1983

Weeks on below list: 1 week

I have written about Aussie band The Go-Betweens previously in a 1989 post.

"Cattle and Cane" was The Go-Betweens' sixth single, and the only single issued from their second album Before Hollywood, which did not chart in Australia upon its original 1983 release, but peaked at number 397 in August 2006 when re-issued.

Commercial success eluded the band for most of their career, though "Cattle and Cane" peaked at number 4 on the UK Independent Singles chart. Despite the lack of chart interest in this single, "Cattle and Cane" has gone on to become an Australian classic, and was voted one of the 30 best Australian songs of all-time on the Australian Performing Rights Association (APRA) poll of 100 music industry types. The song was also ranked number 11 on the first Triple J Hottest 100 of all time, in 1989, and receives regular airings on rage.

Next post (11 July 1983): Four singles peaking outside the top 100.

< Previous post: 13 June 1983 Next post: 11 July 1983 >

Week commencing 21 June 1993

2025-06-21T00:22:00.002+10:00

This week in 1993 we have 11 new entries peaking outside the top 100. Let’s take a look at them.

A-ha didn’t exactly light up the charts with this release.

Top 150 debuts:

Number 112 “How It Should Be” by Inspiral Carpets

Peak: number 112

Peak date: 21 June 1993

Weeks in top 150: 3 weeks

Known chart run: 162-112-122-123

Weeks on chart: 5 weeks

English indie rock band Inspiral Carpets last paid us a visit in 1992.

“How It Should Be” was an in-between albums single that eventually appeared on their compilation album The Singles (released in Australia in February 1995, did not chart). Despite not appearing on their previous album Revenge of the Goldfish (number 123, June 1993), that album reached its Australian peak coinciding with this release. I am thinking that the band may have toured Australia around this time in 1993. "How It Should Be" would be Inspiral Carpets' highest-charting single in Australia, falling 12 places short of the top 100.

Internationally, “How It Should Be” peaked at number 49 in the UK in May 1993.

Domestically, the single performed strongest on the South Australia/Northern Territory state chart, where it reached number 88.

We will next see Inspiral Carpets in 1994.

Number 128 “Hero” by David Crosby & Phil Collins

Peak: number 128

Peak date: 21 June 1993

Weeks in top 150: 7 weeks

Top 150 chart run: 128-138-140-147-(out of top 150 for 6 weeks)-130-140-142

We last saw American singer-songwriter David Crosby in 1989, as both a solo artist and as part of Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young. Since writing those posts, David passed away in 2023, aged 81.

“Hero”, a duet with Phil Collins - whom we last saw on another collaboration in 1991, was the lead single from David’s third solo studio album Thousand Roads (released in Australia in June 1993, missed the top 150). Internationally, “Hero” peaked at number 56 in the UK in May 1993, number 5 in Canada in June 1993, number 51 in Germany in June 1993, number 44 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in July 1993, and number 32 in New Zealand in July 1993. The song also reached number 3 on the US Billboard Adult Contemporary chart in June 1993, and number 31 on the Radio Songs chart in July 1993.

I don’t recall hearing this one before. The musical backing is very Phil Collins.

None of the uploads of the music video I saw on YouTube are great quality, so here is an audio clip of the song with clearer audio.

We won't see David again, but we shall next see Phil Collins in October 1993.

Number 137 “Parisienne Walkways ‘93” by Gary Moore

Peak: number 137

Peak date: 21 June 1993

Weeks in top 150: 3 weeks

Top 150 chart run: 137-139-149

Weeks on chart: 8 weeks

Northern Irish guitar guru Gary Moore last graced our presence in February 1993.

“Parisienne Walkways” originally appeared on Gary’s debut album Back on the Streets. As a single, it peaked at number 8 in the UK in May 1979, and number 5 in Ireland.

“Parisienne Walkways ‘93” is a live recording, lifted from the album Blues Alive (number 73, July 1993). It was recorded live at The Royal Albert Hall in London, in October 1992, rendering the title slightly misleading. This version peaked at number 32 in the UK in May 1993, and number 9 in France for three non-consecutive weeks in July 1993.

Locally, “Parisienne ‘93” was most popular in Queensland, reaching number 108 on the state chart.

This would be Gary’s last charting single in Australia. He had later, low-charting albums in Australia, including Ballads & Blues 1982-1994 (number 142, February 1995), Dark Days in Paradise (number 161, August 1997), and Out in the Fields - The Very Best of (number 216, March 1999).

Number 144 “Play That Country Music (Rawhide)” by The Fargone Beauties

Peak: number 137

Peak date: 28 June 1993

Weeks in top 150: 4 weeks

Top 150 chart run: 144-137-143-139

We last saw Australian band The Fargone Beauties in 1992.

“Play That Country Music (Rawhide)” was the second single lifted from the band’s second album It’s Hard When You’re Ugly (number 147, November 1992). As you might have guessed from the title, the song is a reworked version of Wild Cherry’s “Play That Funky Music” (number 5, January 1977).

This was the band’s last single release to dent the top 150, although a later album Dark Side of the Moo (number 147, March 1995) entered the top 150 albums chart in 1995.

Number 146 “Teacher I Need You” by Stephen Cummings

Peak: number 102

Peak dates: 28 June 1993 and 12 July 1993

Weeks in top 150: 7 weeks

Top 150 chart run: 146-102-105-102-108-118-123

Weeks on chart: 10 weeks

Aussie singer-songwriter and TV ad jingle writer Stephen Cummings last joined us in March 1993.

“Teacher I Need You”, a cover version of the Elton John song from 1972, was recorded for the movie The Heartbreak Kid, and appears on its soundtrack album, which peaked at number 70 in July 1993. On the state charts, “Teacher I Need You” performed strongest in Queensland, where it reached number 73.

Unfortunately, no-one has uploaded this one to YouTube at the time of writing.

We’ll next see Stephen in November 1993.

Number 147 “War Baby” by Tom Robinson

Peak: number 133

Peak date: 28 June 1993

Weeks in top 150: 3 weeks

Top 150 chart run: 147-133-141

English singer-songwriter Tom Robinson first released “War Baby” in 1983. He wrote the song after visiting a gay sauna. The 1983 version of “War Baby” peaked at number 6 in the UK in July 1983, number 16 in Ireland in July 1983, and, belatedly, number 73 in Australia in November 1984.

This live acoustic version of “War Baby” appears on Tom’s 1992 album Living in a Boom Time (released in Australia in April 1993, missed the top 150). The Australian pressing of the single states that $1 from each sale will be donated to Austcare, and there is also a logo with Austcare/Triple J The Big Day In 20 June 1993 on it.

Number 150 “Waiting for the Sun” by The Jayhawks

Peak: number 150

Peak date: 21 June 1993

Weeks in top 150: 1 week

Top 150 chart run: 150

American band The Jayhawks formed in Minneapolis in 1984. “Waiting for the Sun” is lifted from their third studio album Hollywood Town Hall (released in Australia in April 1993, missed the top 150).

Internationally, “Waiting for the Sun” peaked at number 116 (number 93 on the truncated chart with exclusions below number 75) in the UK in April 1993. The song also reached number 20 on the US Billboard Mainstream Rock Airplay chart, and number 29 on the Modern Rock Tracks chart.

It’s not what I would normally listen to, but I didn’t mind this one, which I hadn’t heard before.

“Blue” (number 49, June 1995) would be The Jayhawks’ biggest single in Australia, and their only other single to crack the top 150.

Bubbling WAY down under:

Number 154 “I Should Be Laughing” by Patty Smyth

Peak: number 153

Peak date: 28 June 1993

Weeks on chart: 3 weeks

We last saw American singer-songwriter Patty Smyth in February 1993.

“I Should Be Laughing” was the third and final single issued in Australia from Patty’s second solo studio album Patty Smyth (number 94, November 1992). Internationally, the single peaked at number 86 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in July 1993, and number 64 in Canada for two consecutive weeks in July-August 1993.

In Australia, “I Should Be Laughing” was most popular in Queensland, where it reached number 131 on the state chart.

I hadn’t heard this one before. I thought it was OK, but nothing special.

This was Patty’s last charting release in Australia.

Number 165 “Dark Is the Night” by a-ha

Peak: number 165

Peak date: 21 June 1993

Weeks on chart: 6 weeks

Norwegian band a-ha last joined us in 1992.

“Dark Is the Night” was released as the lead single from their fifth studio album Memorial Beach (number 132, July 1993). Elsewhere, the single peaked at number 4 in Norway, number 19 in the UK in June 1993, number 28 in Ireland in June 1993, number 46 in Germany in July 1993, number 45 in the Flanders region of Belgium for two consecutive weeks in July 1993, and number 70 in Canada in August 1993. The song also peaked at number 11 on the US Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 in July 1993.

Domestically, “Dark Is the Night” performed strongest in Western Australia, where it reached number 157 on the state chart.

As with all post-1988 a-ha singles, I didn’t hear this one at the time. Watching the video, it seems they’ve given singer Morten Harket a Ken doll makeover, wearing a vest to show off his chest and abs. The song itself is alright, but didn’t grab me after one listen.

One thing I didn’t know until researching for this post is that Morten Harket, 65, announced that he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease earlier this month.

Interestingly, “Dark Is the Night” is titled “Dark Is the Night for All” on the Memorial Beach album artwork.

A-ha would have one further, very low-charting single in Australia with “You Are the One” (Dub Mix Edit) (number 1669, April 2016), during the streaming era; a remix of a 1988 single. They has one further top 200 album in Australia with Minor Earth Major Sky (number 169, June 2000).

Number 200 “Little Miracles (Happen Everyday)” by Luther Vandross

Peak: number 200

Peak date: 21 June 1993

Weeks on chart: 3 weeks

American soul/R&B singer-songwriter Luther Vandross last visited us in 1991. Since then, Luther finally scored his breakthrough hit in Australia, with “The Best Things in Life Are Free” (number 2 for five weeks in October-November 1992), a duet with Janet Jackson.

“Little Miracles (Happen Everyday)” was the first single lifted from Luther’s eighth studio album Never Let Me Go (number 107, July 1993). Internationally, the single peaked at number 28 for two weeks in the UK in May 1993, and number 62 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in June 1993. The song also registered on several US Billboard genre-specific charts, reaching number 10 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart in June 1993, number 8 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart in June 1993, number 27 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles Sales chart in June 1993, number 68 on the Radio Songs chart in June 1993, number 30 on the Adult Contemporary chart in June 1993, and number 30 on the Adult R&B Airplay chart in September 1993.

In Australia, “Little Miracles (Happen Everyday)” was most popular in Western Australia, reaching number 162 on the state chart.

We shall next see Luther in October 1993.

Number 207 “Heartbeat” by Nick Berry

Peak: number 207

Peak date: 21 June 1993

Weeks on chart: 1 week

English man Nick Berry is primarily known for being an actor, although he released two albums, both titled Nick Berry, in 1986 and 1992. Nick landed a minor ‘hit’ in Australia with “Every Loser Wins” (number 93, October 1987), which was played in British soap opera EastEnders, which Nick starred in at the time.

Nick played the role of Constable Nick Rowan on the long running British series Heartbeat, which first aired in the UK in 1992, and premiered on Australian TV on 13 June 1993. “Heartbeat”, as you might have guessed, is the theme song from the show, and is a cover of the Buddy Holly song from 1958.

Internationally, “Heartbeat” peaked at number 2 in the UK for two weeks in June 1992, and number 18 in Ireland in June 1992.

In Australia, Nick’s version of “Heartbeat” performed strongest in Western Australia, where it reached number 174 on the state chart.

Next week (28 June): Six top 150 entries.

< Previous week: 14 June 1993 Next week: 28 June 1993 >

Week commencing 14 June 1993

2025-06-14T01:02:00.003+10:00

This week in 1993’s new entries peaking outside the Australian top 100 singles chart are another eclectic bunch, with short-lived supergroups, metal, techno, acoustic artists and models-turned-singers. Something for everyone. Shall we take a look?

Nick Scotti: despite the Madonna connection, he couldn’t wake up anybody with this release.

Top 150 debuts:

Number 116 “Only” by Anthrax

Peak: number 101

Peak date: 21 June 1993

Weeks in top 150: 7 weeks

Top 150 chart run: 116-101-110-115-120-119-125

We last saw American thrash metal band Anthrax in 1990.

“Only” was the lead single from the band’s sixth studio album Sound of White Noise (number 30, May 1993). Internationally, “Only” peaked at number 36 in the UK in May 1993, and number 48 in the Netherlands during the same month. The song also peaked at number 26 on the US Billboard Mainstream Rock Airplay chart in June 1993.

This would be Anthrax’s last single to peak in the number 101 to 150 region of the Australian chart.

Number 131 “Baby You’re a Rich Man” by Company of Strangers

Peak: number 118

Peak dates: 21 June 1993 and 28 June 1993

Weeks in top 150: 6 weeks

Top 150 chart run: 131-118-118-120-126-133

Weeks on chart: 9 weeks

During the early 90s, there seemed to be a mini-trend of Australian artists either collaborating with each other, or forming ‘supergroups’. Company of Strangers, a supergroup of sorts, was put together by songwriter-producer Simon Hussey, roping in James Reyne, Daryl Braithwaite and Jef Scott. Simon had previously collaborated with James Reyne on all three of his solo albums to this point in 1993, and Daryl Braithwaite’s two solo albums at this point since his 1988 comeback.

“Baby You’re a Rich Man”, a cover of the Beatles song from 1967, was the fourth and final single released from the band’s only album Company of Strangers (number 9, March 1993). It followed “Motor City (I Get Lost)” (number 26, September 1992), “Sweet Love” (number 21, January 1993), and “Daddy’s Gonna Make You a Star” (number 35, March 1993). The latter of those three is my favourite Company of Strangers single, and it’s ‘nice’ to see that the official Australian Crawl YouTube channel have stolen my upload of it (complete with rage superscript) for their channel…

On the state charts, “Baby You’re a Rich Man” performed strongest in South Australia/Northern Territory, where it reached number 93.

Number 140 “Boss Drum” by The Shamen

Peak: number 116

Peak date: 12 July 1993

Weeks in top 150: 6 weeks

Chart run: 140-(off chart for two weeks)-136-116-131-122-126

Weeks on chart: 6 weeks

Scottish electronic band The Shamen last joined us in 1991.

“Boss Drum” was issued as the fourth single in Australia from The Shamen’s fifth studio album Boss Drum (number 35, February 1993). In Europe, however, it was the album’s third single. It’s Australian release followed “LSI (Love Sex Intelligence)” (number 53, January 1993), “Ebeneezer Goode” (number 14, January 1993) and “Phorever People” (number 63, February 1993).

Internationally, “Boss Drum” peaked at number 4 in the UK in November 1992, number 5 in Ireland in November 1992, number 47 in the Flanders region of Belgium in December 1992, number 46 in the Netherlands in December 1992, number 22 in Switzerland in January 1993, number 20 in Sweden in January 1993, and number 20 in Austria in January 1993. The song also reached number 8 on the US Billboard Dance Club Songs chart in April 1993.

Domestically, “Boss Drum” was most popular in Queensland, where it reached number 66 on the state chart.

I heard “Boss Drum” a couple of times on the UK Chart Attack radio program in late 1992, but was not aware of its belated local release in mid-1993. The song didn’t really grab me until I gave it a proper listen in the early 2010s when it appeared on a music video VHS compilation I was digitising.

We’ll next see The Shamen in October 1993.

Number 142 “When Heroes Go Down” by Suzanne Vega

Peak: number 113

Peak date: 5 July 1993

Weeks in top 150: 6 weeks

Top 150 chart run: 142-134-120-113-123-134

Weeks on chart: 10 weeks

American singer-songwriter Suzanne Vega last paid us a visit in February 1993.

“When Heroes Go Down” was the third and final single released in Australia from Suzanne’s fourth studio album 99.9°F (number 56, November 1992). The single was virtually a Greatest Hits EP, with the other tracks on it being Suzanne’s first three Australian top 40 hits: “Marlene on the Wall” (number 39, April 1986), “Luka” (number 21, August 1987), and “Left of Center” (number 35, July 1986).

Internationally, “When Heroes Goes Down” peaked at number 58 in the UK in February 1993. Locally, the single performed strongest in Western Australia, where it reached number 100 on the state chart.

I didn’t hear this one until getting hold of Suzanne’s Tried and True: The Best of (number 96, November 1998) compilation in early 2000. It must be one of the shorter singles to register on the Australian singles chart, clocking in at just 1 minute and 54 seconds, and is surely one of the only songs to contain the word ‘equivocate’ in its lyrics,

We’ll next see Suzanne in 1996.

Number 150 “Penthouse and Pavement” (The Tommy D Remixes) by Heaven 17

Peak: number 150

Peak date: 14 June 1993

Weeks in top 150: 1 week

Top 150 chart run: 150

Weeks on chart: 8 weeks

We last saw English electronic band Heaven 17 in in April 1993.

“Penthouse and Pavement” (The Tommy D Remixes) was the third remixed single released to promote their Higher and Higher: The Best of (number 129, May 1993) compilation album, although this time, the updated version of the track does not appear on the album.

Released as a single in 1981, the original version of “Penthouse and Pavement” peaked at number 57 in the UK in November 1981, number 37 in New Zealand in March 1982, and number 93 in Australia for two non-consecutive weeks in April 1982. The 1993 remix peaked at number 54 in the UK in April 1993, and at number 26 on the US Billboard Dance Club Songs chart.

The 1993 release of “Penthouse and Pavement” was most popular in Queensland, where it reached number 112 on the state chart.

This was the last Heaven 17 singles chart entry in Australia. The group had a later album release, Bigger Than America (number 155, February 1997), that narrowly missed the ARIA top 150 albums chart.

Although we shall not see Heaven 17 again, the band’s lead singer Glenn Gregory will make an appearance fronting another act in July 1993.

Bubbling WAY down under:

Number 175 “Wake Up Everybody” by Nick Scotti

Peak: number 171

Peak date: 28 June 1993

Weeks on chart: 5 weeks

Born Domenico Nicola Aniello Scotti, American Nick Scotti was primarily an actor, though also branched out into modelling and singing. Nick played Tony Viscardi on long running US soap opera The Young and the Restless between 1996 and 1999. He also appeared in a 1998 episode of one of my favourite shows Tracey Takes On…, and in a 2002 episode of Sex and the City.

Music-wise, Nick only recorded and released one album, Nick Scotti, which was released in Australia in April 1993 but did not chart. “Wake Up Everybody”, the first single issued from the album, was originally recorded by Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes in 1976. Nick ran into a pre-fame Madonna and Jellybean Benitez while out clubbing in New York underage. At 17, he embarked on a successful modelling career in Japan, relocating to France at 19. In 1991, Nick, crossed paths with Madonna again, at a birthday party for photographer Herb Ritts. Nick got talking to Madonna and told her that he was writing some songs. She suggested he send her a demo tape, which she then passed on to Warner Bros. Records (Madonna’s Maverick label did not yet exist), and they offered Nick a recording contract. Madonna co-wrote, produced, and sang backing vocals on one of the songs on the album, which we will see bubble under in September 1993.

While all of this would seem like a promising recording career was beckoning for Nick, this wasn’t to be the case. Nonetheless, Nick’s version of “Wake Up Everybody” reached number 9 on the US Dance Club Songs chart in May 1993. The single also peaked at number 90 (number 84 on the truncated chart with exclusions below number 75) in the UK in May 1993.

In Australia, “Wake Up Everybody” performed strongest in Queensland, where it reached number 162 on the state chart.

I didn’t hear this one at the time. I thought Nick’s voice was surprisingly soulful, and had I closed my eyes, I could have believed he was black.

We’ll see Nick on one more occasion, in September 1993.

Number 214 “Take Me for a Little While” by Coverdale Page

Peak: number 214

Peak date: 14 June 1993

Weeks on chart: 1 week

Another supergroup of sorts, Coverdale Page was a collaboration between Whitesnake front man David Coverdale and Jimmy Page from Led Zeppelin. Together, the duo recorded one album, Coverdale Page (number 25, April 1993), from which “Take Me for a Little While” was the second single released, following “Pride and Joy” (number 89, April 1993).

Internationally, this single peaked at number 29 in the UK in June 1993. The song also reached number 15 on the US Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 chart in August 1993.

Locally, “Take Me for a Little While” was most popular in South Australia/Northern Territory, where it reached number 159 on the state chart.

I wasn’t expecting to like this one, but the chorus isn’t bad.

This would be the last Coverdale Page single to chart in Australia.

Next week (21 June): Seven top 150 entries and four bubbling WAY down under debuts.

< Previous week: 7 June 1993 Next week: 21 June 1993 >

Kent Music Report beyond the top 100: 13 June 1983

2025-06-13T15:08:00.002+10:00

This week in 1983, there was just one single bubbling under the top 100 that didn’t break on through into the top 100. Let’s take a look.

Van Morrison tries phoning home.

Beyond the top 100:

Position 10 “Cry for Home” by Van Morrison

Highest rank: 9th

Peak date: 27 June 1983

Weeks on below list: 2 weeks

I have written about Northern Irish guitar whizz Van Morrison previously in a 1990 chart recap. “Cry for Home” was the lead single from Van’s fourteenth studio album Inarticulate Speech of the Heart (number 21, June 1983).

Internationally, “Cry for Home” peaked at number 98 in the UK in February 1983, and number 40 in New Zealand in June 1983.

Next post (27 June): Two singles peaking outside the top 100, both of which I am already familiar with for once.

< Previous week: 6 June 1983 Next post: 27 June 1983 >

Week commencing 7 June 1993

2025-06-07T00:00:00.003+10:00

A couple of themes stick out from this week in 1993’s new entries peaking outside the Australian top 100 singles chart. One of the themes is grunge, and how it made 80s ‘hair metal’ seemingly irrelevant overnight. Another theme is re-released singles. A third theme is double A-side singles - or those that might have been. Intrigued? Read on!

Boy Krazy: Australia was not ‘krazy’ for this release.

Top 150 debuts:

Number 123 “Until You Suffer Some (Fire and Ice)” by Poison

Peak: number 104

Peak date: 28 June 1993

Weeks in top 150: 5 weeks

Top 150 chart run: 123-114-120-104-125

Weeks on chart: 7 weeks

American glam metal band Poison last joined us in 1992.

“Until You Suffer Some (Fire and Ice)” was the second single lifted from Poison’s fourth studio album Native Tongue (number 60, May 1993). It followed the release of “Stand” (number 80, March 1993).

Internationally, “Until You Suffer Some…” peaked at number 32 in the UK in April 1993, and number 4 on the US Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 in May 1993.

In Australia, “Until You Suffer Some…” performed strongest on the South Australia/Northern Territory state chart, where it reached number 64. Nationally, the single peaked higher on the Australian Music Report singles chart, where it reached number 94.

While I heard “Stand” a couple of times in early 1993, I hadn’t heard this one before. It’s another mid-tempo rock song, I guess Poison tried to tone down their over the top ‘glam’ image from the 80s, as it was quite past its use-by date at this point in the 90s, as grunge and alternative made metal suddenly obsolete.

This was Poison’s final single to chart in Australia. They had later low-charting albums with Crack a Smile… and More (number 367, November 2000), The Best of - 20 Years of Rock (number 233, April 2006), and Double Dose: Ultimate Hits (number 545, July 2011).

Number 125 “Rooster” by Alice In Chains

Peak: number 121

Peak dates: 21 June 1993 and 5 July 1993

Weeks in top 150: 7 weeks

Top 150 chart run: 125-128-121-125-121-128-139

American rock band Alice In Chains, formed in Seattle in 1987, were the perfect example of the type of band who would replace the likes of Poison on the charts in the 1990s. “Rooster” was the second single issued in Australia from Alice In Chains’ second studio album Dirt (number 13, November 1993), following "Would?" (number 69, April 1993). The song was written by guitarist/backing singer Jerry Cantrell for his father, who served in the Vietnam war and whose childhood nickname was Rooster. The music video for “Rooster” contains documentary and news footage from the Vietnam war.

Internationally, “Rooster” peaked at number 7 on the US Billboard Mainstream Rock Airplay chart in April 1993.

Like numerous Seattle grunge band lead singers, Alice In Chains lead singer Layne Staley died in 2002, aged 34, from an accidental drug overdose.

We’ll next see Alice In Chains in 1996.

Number 127 “Crazy, Crazy Eyes” by Hard-Ons

Peak: number 104

Peak date: 21 June 1993

Weeks in top 150: 5 weeks

Top 150 chart run: 127-118-104-111-109

Weeks on chart: 7 weeks

The alternative ‘hits’ keep coming this week, this time from Aussie band Hard-Ons, whom we last saw in 1991.

“Crazy, Crazy Eyes” was the lead single from Hard-Ons’ fifth studio album Too Far Gone (number 107, June 1993). On the state charts, the single was most popular in New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory, where it reached number 69.

I hadn’t heard this one before. It’s a bit too much of a noisy racket for me to appreciate.

We’ll next see Hard-Ons in 1994.

Number 129 “That’s What Love Can Do” by Boy Krazy

Peak: number 124

Peak date: 14 June 1993

Weeks in top 150: 5 weeks

Top 150 chart run: 129-124-130-136-138

Weeks on chart: 11 weeks

Now here’s one with an interesting back story - or so I think. Boy Krazy were initially a 5-piece American vocal quintet, who were paired with English producers Stock Aitken Waterman to record their debut, and only, album Boy Krazy (released in Australia in May 1993, did not chart). “That’s What Love Can Do” was released as their debut single, and its original 1991 release bombed on the chart, reaching number 98 (number 86 on the truncated chart with exclusions below number 75) in the UK in July 1991. The Boy Krazy album was one of the last Stock Aitken Waterman productions, before Matt Aitken split from the trio in mid-1991. Interestingly, “That’s What Love Can Do” was also offered to Samantha Fox, while recording her fourth album Just One Night (number 167, August 1991). Samantha recorded vocals for the track, but it was otherwise not finished. In 2012, producer Matt Pop gave the track a SAW-esque early 90s production for inclusion on a re-issued and expanded version of Sam’s Just One Night album. You can hear her version here.

A second Boy Krazy single, “All You Have to Do”, was released in the UK, reaching number 116 (number 91 on the truncated chart with exclusions below number 75). Band member Renee Veneziale had left the group by this point. The band then effectively dissolved, until “That’s What Love Can Do” started receiving club and airplay in the US towards the end of 1992. The song got a second lease of life, receiving a commercial release in North America, and a re-release across Europe. “That’s What Love Can Do” peaked at number 18 on the US Billboard Hot 100 for three weeks in February-March 1993, number 6 in Canada in April 1993, number 89 (number 80 on the truncated chart with exclusions below number 75) in the UK in April 1993, number 29 in the Netherlands in June 1993, and number 54 in Germany in June 1993.

In Australia, “That’s What Love Can Do” performed strongest in New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory, where it reached number 97 on the state chart. The single peaked higher nationally on the Australian Music Report singles chart, where it reached number 97.

Despite being a Stock Aitken Waterman fan, I didn’t actually hear this one until 2007, when someone embedded the video on a pop music forum I frequented at the time. Boy Krazy member Johnna Lee Cummings sings lead on this track, and many have commented that her voice sounds similar to Kylie Minogue’s, which I can hear - although I would say that Johnna’s vocals are much stronger than Kylie’s. Despite not hearing “That’s What Love Can Do” at the time, I was aware of Boy Krazy’s existence, as they were mentioned as a new act in a Smash Hits article pondering whether the songwriting/production trio Stock Aitken Waterman were now down the dumper (i.e. their hit-making days were over). Rather unexpectedly, “That’s What Love Can Do” was playing over the PA system while I was getting a script filled at the hospital pharmacy last year.

While we will not be seeing Boy Krazy on the chart again, the lead singer of “That’s What Love Can Do”, Johnna, had a brief solo career, and we shall see her bubble under in 1996.

Number 130 “Will You Love Me Tomorrow” by Bryan Ferry

Peak: number 127

Peak date: 14 June 1993

Weeks in top 150: 6 weeks

Chart run: 130-127-132-132-133-145

Weeks on chart: 6 weeks

English singer-songwriter Bryan Ferry last joined us in 1989.

“Will You Love Me Tomorrow” was the second single lifted from Bryan’s eighth solo studio album Taxi (number 26, May 1993), which was a covers album, other than one original written by Bryan that was tacked onto the end. The song, written by Garry Goffin and Carole King, is a cover of The Shirelles from 1960, and followed "I Put a Spell on You" (number 68, May 1993). If you ask me, covers albums are almost universally bad, and I can only think of one that I actually like (Pauline Henry’s Do Over from 1996 - probably because I didn’t know most of the originals). This version of “Will You Love Me Tomorrow” is really quite mundane and pointless.

Internationally, Bryan’s version of “Will You Love Me Tomorrow” peaked at number 23 in the UK in May 1993, and number 79 in Germany in July 1993.

Locally, “Will You Love Me Tomorrow” was most popular in Western Australia, where it reached number 101.

We’ll next see Bryan in 1994.

Number 137 “Sax-A-Go-Go” by Candy Dulfer

Peak: number 107

Peak date: 19 July 1993

Weeks in top 150: 10 weeks

Top 150 chart run: 137-134-133-127-114-113-107-115-121-121

Weeks on chart: 11 weeks

Dutch saxophone maestro Candy Dulfer previously paid us a visit in 1991.

“Sax-A-Go-Go” was the lead single from Candy’s second studio album Sax-A-Go-Go (number 79, July 1993). Internationally, the single peaked at number 87 (number 83 on the truncated chart with exclusions below number 75) in the UK in February 1993, number 12 in the Netherlands in March 1993, number 32 in the Flanders region of Belgium in April 1993, and number 33 in Switzerland in April 1993.

In Australia, “Sax-A-Go-Go” performed strongest in New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory, where it reached number 81 on the state chart.

American hip-hop producer Easy Moe Bee performs the rap on this track, but does not receive a featured artist credit.

We shall see Candy next in August 1993.

Number 146 “My Hippy Angel” by Bob Geldof

Peak: number 143

Peak date: 28 June 1993

Weeks in top 150: 4 weeks

Chart run: 146-146-149-143

Weeks on chart: 4 weeks

Irish singer-songwriter/philanthropist Bob Geldof last paid us a visit in 1992.

“My Hippy Angel” was released as the second single from Bob’s third solo studio album The Happy Club (number 91, May 1993). Internationally, the single peaked at number 146 (number 100 on the truncated chart with exclusions below number 75) in the UK.

Domestically, “My Hippy Angel” was most popular in Queensland, where it reached number 125 on the state chart.

I hadn’t heard this one before; it’s not bad. Bob’s then-wife Paula Yates appears in the music video.

We shall see Bob again in 1994.

Number 150 “Sex Type Thing” by Stone Temple Pilots

Peak: number 138

Peak date: 2 August 1993

Weeks in top 150: 6 weeks

Top 150 chart run: 150-(out of top 150 for 4 weeks)-150-(out of top 150 for 1 week)-144-138-139-140

Weeks on chart: 16 weeks

American grunge/alternative rock band Stone Temple Pilots formed in San Diego, California in 1989. “Sex Type Thing” was the band’s debut single, lifted from their debut album Core (number 29, August 1993).

In the opening of this post, I mentioned there being some confusion about whether a single was a double A-side release or not. Well, this single is one of the culprits. The ARIA database initially lists it as just “Sex Type Thing”, but then on the 16 August 1993 chart, a week that “Sex Type Thing” is out of the top 150, “Sex Type Thing”/“Wicked Game” (sic) is listed as a double A-side release, entering at number 140, before dropping off the chart the following week. The “Wicked Game” in question should actually be “Wicked Garden”, as Stone Temple Pilots do not have a song with the former title. “Wicked Garden” was a promotional-only single in the US, but does not appear to have been released as a commercial single in its own right, although it has a music video! To complicate matters further, “Wicked Garden” was the second track on the “Sex Type Thing” CD single, but is not listed on the front cover or spine, as you would expect for a double A-side release. I assumed that this anomaly was just an error on the ARIA database, but they have listed it with its own unique catalogue number (7567873644), and I cannot find any release matching this catalogue number on discogs.com or through googling it. Can anyone out there shed some light on this?

Internationally, “Sex Type Thing” initially peaked at number 60 in the UK in March 1993, before being re-released later in the year when it reached a slightly higher peak of number 55 in November 1993. The song also registered on two US Billboard genre-specific charts, peaking at number 23 on the Mainstream Rock Airplay chart in January 1993, and number 8 on the Hard Rock Digital Song Sales chart in December 2015.

Locally, “Sex Type Thing” performed strongest in Victoria/Tasmania, where it reached number 119 on the state chart.

Stone Temple Pilots would crack the ARIA top 100 singles chart with their next release, “Plush” (number 47, October 1993). Their biggest hit in Australia, “Vasoline” (number 24, August 1994) - note the spelling difference from the petroleum jelly brand Vaseline - would come from their second album Purple (number 1 for one week in June 1994).

Like numerous front men from grunge/alternative bands from the 90s, Stone Temple Pilots front man Scott Welland died prematurely, aged 48, after an accidental drug overdose, in 2015.

We’ll next see Stone Temple Pilots in 1996.

Bubbling WAY down under:

Number 191 The Only Living Boy in New York EP by Everything But the Girl

Peak: number 191

Peak date: 7 June 1993

Weeks on chart: 2 weeks

We last saw English musical and romantic (although this was not publicised, and they did not marry until 2009) duo Everything But the Girl in 1992.

The The Only Living Boy in New York EP, led by the title track, was the lead single and a new track recorded for the compilation album Home Movies (number 183, July 1993). “The Only Living Boy in New York” was a cover version of the Simon & Garfunkel song from 1969. Internationally, the EP peaked at number 42 on the UK singles chart in May 1993.

In Australia, The Only Living Boy in New York EP was most popular in Queensland, reaching number 178 on the state chart.

The duo’s next release, I Didn’t Know I Was Looking for Love EP, does not appear to have been released in Australia, but the title track from it would become a hit across Europe in 1998, and a number 47 minor hit in Australia in October 1998, when covered by Karen Ramirez, and its title shortened to “Looking for Love”. Although I wouldn’t have heard the Everything But the Girl original at the time, somehow I could instantly tell it was a song of theirs when I first heard the Karen Ramirez version.

Everything But the Girl will next grace our presence in 1996.

Number 194 “Prodigal Son”/“Better Off Alone” by Graeme Connors

Peak: number 194

Peak date: 7 June 1991

Weeks on chart: 1 week

Now for an actual double A-side single! We saw Aussie country singer Graeme Connors a mere two weeks ago. Despite its later debut on the chart than its follow-up release, this was actually the first single lifted from Graeme’s sixth studio album The Return (number 90, March 1993). The album’s title was presumably taken from the chorus lyric “the return of the prodigal son”.

“Prodigal Son”/“Better Off Alone” performed strongest on the New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory state chart, where it reached number 172.

This would be Graeme’s last top 150 single. He had a low-charting single last year with “The Road Less Travelled” (number 1062, April 2024), which originally appeared on his 1996 album The Road Less Travelled (number 62, September 1996).

Number 203 “Black Gold” by Soul Asylum

Peak: number 197

Peak date: 7 February 1994

Weeks on chart: 2 weeks

American band Soul Asylum last joined us in March 1993.

“Black Gold” was the second single release from the band’s sixth studio album Grave Dancers Union (number 63, February 1994). Internationally, “Black Gold” initially peaked at number 76 in the UK in March 1993, number 58 in Canada in May 1993, number 25 in New Zealand in December 1993, and number 26 in the UK in March 1994 when re-released after the success of follow-up release “Runaway Train” (number 11, November 1993). “Black Gold” also registered on two US Billboard genre-specific charts, reaching number 6 on the Alternative Airplay chart in February 1993, and number 4 on the Mainstream Rock Airplay chart in May 1993.

In Australia, “Black Gold” was initially released on 19 April 1993, taking nearly two months to spend a solitary week at number 203. I am assuming there was a re-release in early 1994, where it re-entered the chart reaching a slightly higher peak; but nothing is listed in The ARIA Report’s lists of new release titles. On the state charts, “Black Gold” was most popular in Queensland, where it reached number 176.

We’ll next see Soul Asylum in 1995.

Number 205 “In Trance” by General Base

Peak: number 152

Peak date: 21 June 1993

Weeks on chart: 2 weeks

Here’s the second new entry this week that I am not sure whether it was a double A-side single or not. In the ARIA Report’s weekly lists of new release titles, “In Trance” and “Back Again” by General Base are listed as separate releases, released simultaneously on 29 March 1993. But then on 21 June 1993, a double A-side single, “Back Again”/“In Trance” is listed, with a different catalogue number to either earlier release - and this coincides with the single re-entering the chart at its peak (obviously, the double A-side single had to have been released in the week prior to the 21st, which was the chart survey date). I have embedded both songs below to cover all bases.

General Base was essentially German DJ and Eurodance artist/producer Thomas Kukula. Both “In Trance” and “Back Again”, which are largely instrumental, appear on General Base’s debut and only album First (released in Australia in June 1994, did not chart). Interestingly, I cannot find evidence of either track charting elsewhere. Who knew that Australia could be ahead of the curve in the commercial success of Eurodance?! On the state charts, “In Trance” performed strongest in New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory, where it reached number 126.

General Base never had a top 100 entry in Australia, though came rather close. We’ll next see General Base in November 1993.

Number 208 “You’ve Got Me Thinking” by The Beloved

Peak: number 200

Peak date: 28 June 1993

Weeks on chart: 3 weeks

Finally, here’s a third release debuting this week for which there is some ambiguity over whether it was a double A-side single or not. On UK and European pressings of the 12” vinyl single for this release, “Celebrate Your Life” is listed as the lead track on the single artwork, and two mixes of this track appear on the CD single, but not as the first track. “You’ve Got Me Thinking” is relegated to the B-side on the 12” pressings.

Both “You’ve Got Me Thinking” and “Celebrate Your Life” are lifted from The Beloved’s - whom we last saw in April 1993 - second studio album Conscience (number 144, April 1993). Internationally, the single peaked at number 23 in the UK in April 1993, and number 21 in Ireland in April 1993.

In Australia, “You’ve Got Me Thinking” was most popular in Western Australia, where it reached number 182 on the state chart.

One thing I didn’t know until recently is that “You’ve Got Me Thinking” was originally meant to be a duet between The Beloved and Neneh Cherry. A demo featuring Neneh has made its way online - you can listen to it here.

A third single from Conscience, “Outerspace Girl”, was released in Australia in November 1993, but failed to chart. Oddly, despite its lack of chart success, “Outerspace Girl” was the only single from Conscience I heard in 1993.

We shall next see The Beloved in 1996.

Next week (14 June): Five top 150 entries and two bubbling WAY down under debuts.

< Previous week: 31 May 1993 Next week: 14 June 1993 >

Kent Music Report beyond the top 100: 6 June 1983

2025-06-06T16:35:00.002+10:00

This week in 1983, we had two singles peaking outside the top 100, both from English artists... so I thought it fitting to post the picture of one of them below, decked out in union jack outfits.

Def Leppard: this release fell on ‘def’ ears in Australia.

Beyond the top 100:

Position 6 “Photograph” by Def Leppard

Highest rank: 4th

Peak date: 13 June 1983

Weeks on below list: 2 weeks

English band Def Leppard have previously appeared in one of my 1990 chart recaps.

“Photograph” was the lead single from the band’s third studio album Pyromania (number 70, February 1984). Internationally, the single peaked at number 66 in the UK in February 1983, number 32 in Canada in May 1983, and number 12 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in May 1983. The song also registered on several US Billboard genre-specific charts, reaching number 1 on the Mainstream Rock Airplay chart for six weeks in March-April 1983, number 4 on the Hard Rock Digital Song Sales chart in February 2018, number 23 on the Hot Rock Songs chart in May 2019, and number 23 on the Hot Rock & Alternative Songs chart in May 2019.

Def Leppard would land their first Australian top 100 single with their next release, "Rock of Ages" (number 96, October 1983).

Position 8 “That’s Love” by Jim Capaldi

Highest rank: 6th

Peak date: 13 June 1983

Weeks on below list: 2 weeks

I have previously written about English singer-songwriter Jim Capaldi in a 1989 post.

"That's Love" was the lead single from Jim's ninth studio album Fierce Heart. This track was co-produced by Jim and Steve Winwood. Internationally, the single peaked at number 28 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in June 1983.

Next week (13 June): Just one new entry peaking outside the top 100.

< Previous post: 2 May 1983 Next week: 13 June 1983 >

Week commencing 31 May 1993

2025-05-31T17:07:00.009+10:00

Before we take a look at this week in 1993's new entries peaking outside the Australian top 100, I have updated the following posts:

* 10 July 1989 - with a new bubbling WAY down under entry from The Neville Brothers;

* 26 March 1990 - with a new bubbling WAY down under entry from Joe Satriani;

* 20 August 1990 - with a new bubbling WAY down under entry from The Neville Brothers;

* 1 October 1990 - with a new bubbling WAY down under entry from The Neville Brothers;

* 3 December 1990 - with a new bubbling WAY down under entry from Judas Priest;

* 25 March 1991 - with a new bubbling WAY down under entry from The Waterboys;

* 24 August 1992 - with a new bubbling WAY down under entry from Joe Satriani;

* 14 December 1992 - with a new bubbling WAY down under entry from You Am I;

* 22 February 1993 - with a new bubbling WAY down under entry from The Neville Brothers.

Tasmin Archer: Australia didn’t show much ‘care’ for this release.

Top 150 debuts:

Number 118 “Don’t Tear Me Up” by Mick Jagger

Peak: number 108

Peak date: 21 June 1993

Weeks in top 150: 8 weeks

Top 150 chart run: 118-119-120-108-119-119-131-136

Weeks on chart: 10 weeks

Being the front man of one of the most successful bands ever does not necessarily mean you’ll have a successful solo career, as Mick Jagger, lead singer of The Rolling Stones, whom we last saw in 1991, can attest to. Mick’s solo career began in 1984 with a collaboration with The Jacksons, “State of Shock” (number 10, July 1984). His debut solo album She’s the Boss (number 6, March 1985) was released the following year, led by “Just Another Night” (number 13, March 1985), his first solo single proper. Between 1984 and 1993, Mick placed seven singles on the Australian top 100, with his Live Aid duet with David Bowie, “Dancing in the Street” (number 1 for two weeks in October 1985), being the biggest of those.

In early 1993, solo Mick had been absent from the Australian singles chart for five years, since “Say You Will" (number 21, February 1988). “Don’t Tear Me Up” was the second single issued from Mick’s third solo album Wandering Spirit (number 12, March 1993). It followed “Sweet Thing” (number 18, March 1993), which would become Mick’s seventh and final top 100 single in Australia.

Internationally, “Don’t Tear Me Up” peaked at number 97 (number 86 on the truncated chart with exclusions below number 75) in the UK in April 1993, 31 in the Netherlands in May 1993, number 39 in the Flanders region of Belgium in May 1993, and number 77 in Germany in June 1993. The song also peaked at number 1 on the US Billboard Mainstream Rock Airplay chart in February 1993.

In Australia, “Don’t Tear Me Up” performed strongest in South Australia/Northern Territory, where it reached number 58 on the state chart. The single peaked higher nationally on the Australian Music Report, where it reached number 81.

I hadn’t heard this one before. I liked it more than I was expecting to.

Mick will join us next in August 1993.

Number 121 “Merry Go Round” by Living Daylights

Peak: number 105

Peak date: 14 June 1993

Weeks in top 150: 2 weeks

Top 150 chart run: 121-(out for 1 week)-105

Aussie band Living Daylights last joined us in March 1993. “Merry Go Round” was their third and final top 150 entry in Australia, and their highest-charting single.

I hadn’t heard this one before; it’s quite good. Pity this didn’t have more success.

Number 135 Coprolalia EP by You Am I

Peak: number 117

Peak date: 5 July 1993

Weeks in top 150: 8 weeks

Top 150 chart run: 135-136-129-124-123-117-127-118

Weeks on chart: 10 weeks

We have previously seen Australian band You Am I in 1992. The Coprolalia EP was the band's third EP release. 'Coprolalia', in case you didn't know, basically means foul language. Track 2 on the EP, "Last Thing You Can Depend On", appears to have been the main track used to promote this release, as a music video (embedded below) was filmed for it. Interestingly, "Can't Get Started", the title track of the band's previous EP, appears on this release, although it was not on the Can't Get Started EP! That makes it twice in a row that the band have done this - include the title of an EP on the follow-up release. Following this pattern, the song "Coprolalia" does not appear on this EP, but is on the band's second album Sound As Ever (number 56, July 2013 - initially peaked at number 61 in June 1994).

On the state charts, the Coprolalia EP was most popular in New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory, where it reached number 91.

We'll next see You Am I in November 1993.

Number 138 “The Return of Pan” by The Waterboys

Peak: number 127

Peak date: 21 June 1993

Weeks in top 150: 7 weeks

Chart run: 138-132-132-127-131-139-148

Weeks on chart: 7 weeks

Scottish lads The Waterboys last joined us in 1991.

"The Return of Pan" was the lead single from The Waterboys' sixth studio album Dream Harder (number 69, June 1993). Internationally, the single peaked at number 24 in the UK in May 1993, number 28 in Ireland in May 1993, and number 64 in Canada in July 1993. The song also peaked at number 10 on the US Billboard Alternative Airplay chart in May 1993.

In Australia, "The Return of Pan' performed strongest in South Australia/Northern Territory, where it reached number 110 on the state chart.

This will be the last occasion we see The Waterboys in the top 150. They had later low-charting singles in the streaming era with “Where the Action Is” (number 2040, April 2019) and “Blackberry Girl” (number 4475, October 2022).

Number 145 “In Your Care” by Tasmin Archer

Peak: number 145

Peak date: 31 May 1993

Weeks in top 150: 3 weeks

Top 150 chart run: 145-149-(out of top 150 for 1 week)-148

Weeks on chart: 10 weeks

Hailing from Bradford, England, Tasmin Archer arrived out of nowhere with her debut single “Sleeping Satellite” (number 14, April 1993), which topped the UK singles chart for two weeks in October 1992, topped the Irish singles chart, became a top 10 hit across Europe, and a top 40 hit in the US. As a somewhat reluctant pop star, Tasmin later said that she was disappointed when her debut release went to number 1, as there was then nowhere else to go.

“Sleeping Satellite” was more of a ‘sleeper’ hit in Australia. I first heard the song on the UK Chart Attack radio program in September 1992 and liked it instantly. The single debuted at number 137 on the ARIA singles chart on 23 November 1992, and didn’t creep into the top 100 until the first chart of 1993. I thought its chance of becoming a hit had passed until it debuted at number 60 on the rage top 60 in mid-February 1993. “Sleeping Satellite” would take another two months to reach its Australian peak of number 14, five months after its local release.

“In Your Care” was the second release from Tasmin’s debut album Great Expectations (number 56, May 1993). Unfortunately for Tasmin (or maybe fortunately, since she didn’t seem to like being famous), “In Your Care” was not nearly as successful as its predecessor. Internationally, the single peaked at number 16 in the UK in February 1993, and number 37 in New Zealand in May 1993.

In Australia, “In Your Care” performed strongest in South Australia/Northern Territory, where it reached number 123 on the state chart.

While not as commercially successful as “Sleeping Satellite”, “In Your Care” was an artistic triumph. The song tells the harrowing tale of child abuse from a child’s perspective, which is illustrated effectively in the poignant music video. Subsequently, proceeds from the single in the UK were donated to Child Line, a phone counselling service for children and adolescents. The “son of a bitch, you broke my heart” chorus lyric doesn’t really bode well for airplay. This was a bold single choice.

While I toyed with the idea of purchasing Tasmin’s Great Expectations album in 1993, for some reason I didn’t buy it until the late 2000s. I remember reading in Smash Hits magazine that “In Your Care” was the next single, but I didn’t hear the song or see the music video until 2005, when I downloaded the song out of curiosity. I was taken aback by how raw the song was, and its subject matter. I was similarly shocked by the stark music video when I first saw it. There is an alternative edit of the music video, toned down slightly, which I didn’t know about until researching for this post, here.

Subsequent singles from Great Expectations, “Lords of the New Church” (released locally in July 1993 - I did catch this one on rage as a new release) and “Arienne” (released locally in February 1994), failed to chart in Australia.

We shall see Tasmin again in 1996.

Number 147 “Let Your Hair Down” by Starclub

Peak: number 147

Peak date: 31 May 1993

Weeks in top 150: 1 week

Top 150 chart run: 147

English band Starclub formed in 1991. “Let Your Hair Down” was their debut single, lifted from the band’s only album Starclub (released in Australia in February 1993, missed the top 150).

Internationally, “Let Your Hair Down” peaked at number 90 (number 83 on the truncated chart with exclusions below number 75) in the UK in November 1992. The band never entered the UK top 75.

This would be Starclub’s only single released in Australia. The band were dropped by their record label and split in 1994.

Bubbling WAY down under:

Number 168 “Don’t Take Away My Heaven” by Aaron Neville

Peak: number 162

Peak date: 7 June 1993

Weeks on chart: 13 weeks

We last saw American R&B/soul singer Aaron Neville with his brothers, The Neville Brothers, in February 1993.

Despite releasing two solo albums in the 1960s and a couple of non-album singles in the 1970s, Aaron didn’t make his solo debut on the Australian chart until November 1989 with “Don’t Know Much” (number 2, February 1990), a duet with Linda Ronstadt. Aaron followed that up with another, less successful duet with Linda on "All My Life" (number 57, May 1990), and his first truly solo charting single in Australia with “Everybody Plays the Fool” (number 52, September 1991).

“Don’t Take Away My Heaven” was the lead single from Aaron’s fifth solo studio album The Grand Tour (number 154, June 1993). The song was written by beige songwriter extraordinaire Diane Warren.

Internationally, “Don’t Take Away My Heaven” peaked at number 56 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in July 1993, number 17 in Canada in July 1993, and number 10 in New Zealand in August 1993. The song registered on two US Billboard genre-specific charts, reaching number 37 on the Radio Songs chart in July 1993, and number 4 on the Adult Contemporary chart in August 1993.

Domestically, “Don’t Take Away My Heaven” was most popular in Western Australia, where it reached number 104 on the state chart.

I hadn’t heard this one before. At first I thought I wasn’t going to like it, but the song grew on me as it went on.

This would be Aaron’s last solo single to chart in Australia. He had later top 200 albums with Soulful Christmas (number 176, December 1993) and Tattooed Heart (number 150, July 1995).

Number 176 “Gepetto” by Belly

Peak: number 176

Peak date: 31 May 1993

Weeks on chart: 2 weeks

American alternative rock band Belly last joined us in February 1993.

“Gepetto” was Belly’s second single release in Australia, in November 1992, when it failed to chart. The single was re-released locally in April 1993, becoming their second Australian top 200 ‘hit’. On the state charts, “Gepetto” performed strongest in Victoria/Tasmania, where it reached number 160.

Internationally, “Gepetto” peaked at number 49 in the UK in April 1993. The single peaked at number 13 on the US Billboard Bubbling Under chart in October 1992, and number 8 on the Alternative Songs chart.

“Gepetto”, which was the name of Pinocchio’s creator, was lifted from Belly’s debut album Star (number 74, June 1993).

We’ll see Belly next in 1995.

Number 192 “House of the Rising Sun” by Rage

Peak: number 171

Peak date: 7 June 1993

Weeks on chart: 8 weeks

English dance group Rage formed in 1992, and had landed a UK number 3 single by the end of the year, with a dance version of Bryan Adams’ “Run to You” (number 56, February 1993). The band were fronted by singer Tony Jackson, who had previously been a member of Ritz, who had a top 20 hit in Australia with their disco version of “Locomotion” (number 12, March 1980).

“House of the Rising Sun”, a cover of the traditional American folk song, was the third Rage single in their homeland, but their second Australian release. It would later appear on their debut and only album Saviour (number 144, July 1993).

Internationally, “House of the Rising Sun” peaked at number 41 in the UK in May 1993, number 23 in Sweden in June 1993, and number 20 in Austria in June 1993. In Australia, the single was most popular in South Australia/Northern Territory, where it reached number 140 on the state chart.

I don’t recall hearing this one at the time, but got hold of the music video in the 2000s. I like this arrangement of the song.

Tony Jackson died in 2001.

We will see Rage again in August 1993.

Number 194 “We’re on a Mission” by Frankë

Peak: number 194

Peak date: 31 May 1993

Weeks on chart: 1 week

We last saw American singer Frankë Pharoah in March 1993. “We’re on a Mission” was his second Australian release, and like its predecessor, it peaked in the 190s, performing strongest in New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory, where it reached number 177 on the state chart.

Internationally, “We’re on a Mission” peaked at number 100 (number 86 on the truncated chart with exclusions below number 75) in the UK in March 1993.

I hadn’t heard this one before. Vocally, Frankë reminds me of Seal, with clubbier backing music. I think this could have become a hit if it received better promotion.

This would be Frankë’s final charting release in Australia in his own right. He would appear as an uncredited featured vocalist later in the year on Usura’s “Sweat” (number 48, August 1993).

Number 199 “Plan 9” by 808 State

Peak: number 199

Peak date: 31 May 1993

Weeks on chart: 1 week

English electronic group 808 State last joined us in February 1993. “Plan 9” was issued as the second single in Australia from their fifth studio album Gorgeous (number 131, March 1993).

Internationally, “Plan 9” peaked at number 50 in the UK in January 1993. In Australia, the single performed strongest in Queensland, reaching number 177 on the state chart.

I hadn’t heard this one before. I was not expecting an acoustic guitar to feature so prominently on an 808 track.

We’ll see 808 State one more time, in September 1993.

Next week (7 June): Eight top 150 entries and five bubbling WAY down under debuts.

< Previous week: 24 May 1993 Next week: 7 June 1993 >

Week commencing 24 May 1993

2025-05-24T00:00:00.009+10:00

This week in 1993’s new entries peaking outside the Australian top 100 are a mixed bag, split between artists your parents wouldn’t object to listening to and newer acts struggling with their latest releases. Shall we take a look?

Kenny G doesn’t quite hit ’em with the old Peabo.

Top 150 debuts:

Number 126 “By the Time This Night Is Over” by Kenny G with Peabo Bryson

Peak: number 122

Peak date: 21 June 1993

Weeks in top 150: 7 weeks

Chart run: 126-129-128-130-122-128-124

Weeks on chart: 7 weeks

American lurve song crooner Peabo Bryson last joined us in 1992. American saxophone whizz Kenny G (born Kenneth Bruce Gorelick… shortening the surname to G was a wise decision) first made small ripples on the Australian singles chart with “Songbird” (number 76, November 1987), lifted from his fourth album Duotones (number 25, November 1987). More-recently, he scraped into the top 50 with “Forever in Love” (number 49, March 1993), the lead single from his sixth studio album Breathless (number 1 for one week in May 1993).

For this release, the pair joined forces, for what would become the second single from Kenny’s Breathless album. “By the Time This Night Is Over” would go on to appear on Peabo’s sixteenth studio album Through the Fire (number 193, August 1994). A Kenny collaboration with Michael Bolton, “Missing You Now” (number 61, August 1992), charted in 1992. Coincidentally, “By the Time This Night Is Over” was co-written by Michael Bolton and beige songwriter extraordinaire, Diane Warren.

With that pedigree, you’d expect “By the Time This Night Is Over” to be a chart smash, but it was only a major hit in Canada, where it peaked at number 6 in July 1993. Elsewhere, the single peaked at number 25 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in July 1993, and at number 56 in the UK in July 1993. The song registered on several US Billboard genre-specific charts, reaching number 68 on the R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart in June 1993, number 1 on the Adult Contemporary chart in July 1993, number 29 on the Pop Airplay chart in July 1993, number 37 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart in July 1993, number 24 on the Radio Songs chart in July 1993, and number 46 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles Sales chart in July 1994.

Locally, “By the Time This Night Is Over” performed strongest in Western Australia, where it reached number 92 on the state chart.

I didn’t recall this one by title, but recognised it once the chorus kicked in. I would have heard it being blasted from my parents’ then-new CD player they bought around March 1993. Breathless was one of the first CDs my dad bought, and I remember still being subjected to it more than 18 months later. Of course, now that I am middle-aged myself, I don’t have as strong a visceral reaction to Kenny G’s style of easy-listening music, and don’t even mind “Songbird”! Both that song and “Forever in Love” remind me of the nightly ‘Love Songs and Dedications’ program aired on Melbourne’s ultra-daggy TT F.M. radio station - but hey, there wasn’t much choice at the time, and often listening to this was preferable to the ‘classic rock’ stations or Triple M.

Although the music video embedded below claims to be ‘live’, the studio version of the song is used - so it’s just a live (sic) performance video.

This was Peabo’s final charting release in Australia. Kenny had a later low-charting single with “Legacy” (number 4118, January 2022).

Number 132 “C’mon People” by Paul McCartney

Peak: number 132

Peak date: 24 May 1993

Weeks in top 150: 4 weeks

Chart run: 178-(off chart for one week)-132-146-147-147

Weeks on chart: 5 weeks

We last saw English former-Beatle Paul McCartney in 1990.

“C’mon People” was the third single released in Australia from Paul’s ninth solo studio album Off the Ground (number 8, March 1993). It followed the singles “Hope of Deliverance” (number 29 for two weeks in February-March 1993) and title-track “Off the Ground” (number 66, April 1993); the latter does not appear to have been issued as a single in the UK.

Internationally, “C’mon People” peaked at number 41 in the UK in February 1993, number 41 in Germany in May 1993, and number 80 in Canada in June 1993.

Domestically, “C’mon People” was most popular in Victoria/Tasmania, where it reached number 117 on the state chart.

I hadn’t heard this one before. It sounds a bit Beatles-esque, as you might expect. The initially sparse black and white video ends in colour and with a lot happening.

Paul will join us next in 2001.

Number 135 “The World (In a Wrapper)” by Ratcat

Peak: number 115

Peak date: 7 June 1993

Weeks in top 150: 7 weeks

Top 150 chart run: 135-123-115-123-116-129-130

Weeks on chart: 8 weeks

Sydney band Ratcat formed in 1985. They released an EP, Ratcat in 1987, and an album, This Nightmare (number 81, July 1991), independently, before signing to RooArt, a label founded by INXS’s manager at the time, Chris Murphy.

The group experienced their first taste of commercial success when the Tingles EP (number 1 for two weeks in April-May 1991), led by “That Ain’t Bad”, debuted at number 118 in October 1990. The EP slowly climbed up the chart, reaching the top spot for two weeks in April-May 1991. The Tingles EP reaching number one was probably the first sign of ‘alternative’ music becoming mainstream in Australia.

Ratcat swiftly followed that up with another number one single “Don’t Go Now” (number 1 for one week in May 1991), and a number one album Blind Love (number 1 for three non-consecutive weeks in May-June 1991). However, Ratcat’s sudden success seemed to disappear just as quickly as it arrived, and the third single from Blind Love, “Baby Baby” (number 21 for three non-consecutive weeks in July-August 1991), ‘only’ reached number 21.

Taking a year off to record their third album, Ratcat returned in the second half of 1992 with the single “Candyman” (number 38, September 1992), and the album Inside Out (number 59, November 1992), which were both relative flops. Second single “Holiday” (number 41, November 1992) stalled outside the top 40, despite being one of the poppier-sounding songs they released. Third single “The World (In a Wrapper)” fared even worse, missing the top 100.

On the state charts, “The World (In a Wrapper)” was most popular in South Australia/Northern Territory, where it reached number 80. Nationally, the single performed better on the Australian Music Report singles chart, where it reached number 97.

Another one I don’t recall hearing at the time, the featured rapper in the middle of the song was not something I was not expecting! It was performed by Rosano “The Assassin” Martinez from Sound Unlimited Posse.

I think Ratcat suffered much the same fate as Aussie group Frente! Having major commercial success kills off any ‘indie’ credibility you had. The situation was probably worse for Ratcat, as they (at least the singer) had ‘pin-up’ appeal with teenage girls.

Ratcat would not trouble the top 100 again, but we will see them bubble under again in 1995.

Number 149 “Miss Chatelaine” by k.d. lang

Peak: number 145

Peak date: 21 June 1993

Weeks in top 150: 3 weeks

Top 150 chart run: 149-149-(out of top 150 for two weeks)-145

Weeks on chart: 11 weeks

Canadian singer-songwriter k.d. lang last visited us in 1992.

“Miss Chatelaine” was the second single lifted from k.d.’s second solo studio album Ingénue (number 3, April 1993), following “Constant Craving” (number 38, April 1993). Internationally, “Miss Chatelaine” peaked at number 58 in Canada in October 1992, and number 68 in the UK for two weeks in June 1993. The song also registered on the US Billboard Adult Contemporary chart, reaching number 32 in April 1993.

Domestically, “Miss Chatelaine” performed strongest in Victoria/Tasmania, reaching number 115 onthe state chart. Interestingly, the single debuted on the ARIA chart at number 209 on 16 November 1992, following its initial Australian release two weeks prior. “Miss Chatelaine” was re-released in Australia after the belated success of “Constant Craving”, re-entering the chart one week after its re-issue.

We’ll next see k.d. in July 1993.

Bubbling WAY down under:

Number 167 “Helpless Heart” by Graeme Connors

Peak: number 166

Peak date: 31 May 1993

Weeks on chart: 5 weeks

Aussie country singer-songwriter Graeme Connors last joined us in 1989.

“Helpless Heart” was the second single lifted from his sixth studio album The Return (number 90, March 1993). On the state charts, the single was most popular in New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory, where it reached number 157.

I don’t really like country music, but this wasn’t too bad.

We’ll next see Graeme in June 1993 with, oddly, the single released before this one.

Number 184 “Looks Like I’m in Love Again” by Key West featuring Erik

Peak: number 184

Peak date: 24 May 1993

Weeks on chart: 2 weeks

Key West was a pseudonym for British producer and multi-instrumentalist Richard Anthony Hewson, from the RAH Band, who had a hit in Australia with “The Crunch” (number 16, April 1978). Erik was British singer Erica Harrold. The two joined forces for this release, which was produced by Stock/Waterman (formerly of Stock Aitken Waterman).

Internationally, “Looks Like I’m in Love Again” peaked at number 46 in the UK in April 1993.

In Australia, “Looks Like I’m in Love Again” was most popular in New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory, where it reached number 170 on the state chart.

We’ll see Key West again in 1999, and Erik in 1994.

Number 197 “Rave the Brave” by Celtic Kings of Rock

Peak: number 197

Peak date: 24 May 1993

Weeks on chart: 2 weeks

Aussie synth-pop duo Celtic Kings of Rock were David Smith and Crispin Trist from Boxcar, whom we last saw in 1992. “Rave the Brave”, which makes the unusual pairing between bagpipes and dance music, was their only release under this artist name.

“Rave the Brave” performed strongest on the Western Australia state chart, where it reached number 158.

The song reminds me a little bit of Utah Saints and Usura.

Number 204 “It’s OK, All Right” by Def Dames Dope

Peak: number 158

Peak date: 9 May 1994

Weeks on chart: 22 weeks

Belgian girl group Def Dames Dope were produced by 2 Unlimited’s producers, Phil Wilde and Jean-Paul De Coster. “It’s OK, All Right” was their first single, appearing on their debut album It’s a Girl! The Album, which does not appear to have been released in Australia.

Internationally, the single peaked at number 9 in the Netherlands in February 1993, and was number 1 for two weeks in the Flanders region of Belgium in February-March 1993.

In Australia, “It’s OK, All Right” was most popular in Queensland, where it reached number 80 on the state chart. The single had a second lease of life following its re-release in April 1994, reaching its national peak the following month. “It’s OK, All Right” peaked in either April or May 1994 on all state charts. Spending 22 weeks on the chart is quite decent for a single that missed the top 150. “It’s OK, All Right” fared much better nationally on the Australian Music Report singles chart, where it reached number 74 in 1994.

This one didn’t seem familiar to me by artist or title name, but I recognised the chorus riff.

We shall see Def Dames Dope on one more occasion, in 1994.

Number 213 “I’m Gonna Soothe You” by Maria McKee

Peak: number 160

Peak date: 28 June 1993

Weeks on chart: 9 weeks

American (I previously assumed she was British) singer-songwriter Maria McKee is best known for “Show Me Heaven” (number 3 for five weeks in December 1990-January 1991), which appeared on the Days of Thunder soundtrack (number 31, September 1990), and was her only solo Australian top 100 entry. A little over a year before “Show Me Heaven”, Maria’s debut solo album Maria McKee (number 117, September 1989) made small ripples outside the top 100, despite yielding no charting singles. Prior to going solo, Maria fronted the band Lone Justice, who had a top 40 single in Australia with “Shelter” (number 38, February 1987), and a top 100 album with their second album Shelter (number 66, February 1987).

Despite having limited commercial success in Australia with her own recording career, Maria penned a number one single recorded by Feargal Sharkey, “A Good Heart” (number 1 for two weeks in February 1986). She also had a song written about her become a hit, Deacon Blue’s “Real Gone Kid” (number 18, February 1989). The band toured with Lone Justice, and dedicated the song to her wild onstage performance. Arguably, a second song written about Maria was a hit in Australia, Feargal Sharkey’s “You Little Thief” (number 4, March 1986), which was written by Maria’s ex (whom she had written “A Good Heart about after they split), Benmont Tench from Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, though he denies this.

“I’m Gonna Soothe You” was the lead single from Maria’s second solo album, You Gotta Sin to Get Saved (number 135, July 1993). Internationally, the single peaked at number 35 in the UK in May 1993, and number 49 in Canada in September 1993.

In Australia, “I’m Gonna Soothe You” performed strongest in Western Australia, where it reached number 123 on the state chart.

I hadn’t heard this one before. It’s very nice. Maria’s unique voice, as always, is a highlight.

A second single from You Gotta Sin to Get Saved, “I Can’t Make It Alone”, was released in Australia in September 1993, but failed to chart.

As this was Maria’s last charting release in Australia, I thought I would mention Maria’s 1992 collaboration with Sweetest Child, “Sweetest Child”, which I like a lot.

Number 222 “Harbor Lights” by Bruce Hornsby

Peak: number 180

Peak date: 31 May 1993

Weeks on chart: 2 weeks

We last saw American singer-songwriter-pianist Bruce Hornsby in 1990 as part of Bruce Hornsby & The Range. The group split in 1991, and Bruce embarked on a solo career.

“Harbor Lights” was the lead single from Bruce’s debut solo album Harbor Lights (number 118, May 1993). Internationally, the single peaked at number 14 in Canada in June 1993. The song also registered on two US Billboard genre-specific charts, reaching number 38 on the Mainstream Rock Airplay chart in April 1993, and number 13 on the Adult Contemporary chart in June 1993.

Locally, “Harbor Lights” was most popular in Queensland, reaching number 170 on the state chart.

Bruce would not trouble the ARIA top 150 again, but came close with his second solo album Hot House (number 151, September 1995), which became his final top 200 entry in Australia. Bruce had two later very low-charting singles during the streaming era, with “Voyager One” (number 1782, March 2019) and “Cast Off” (number 1574, April 2019).

Next week (31 May): Six top 150 entries and five bubbling WAY down under entries.

< Previous week: 17 May 1993 Next week: 31 May 1993 >

Week commencing 17 May 1993

2025-05-17T00:00:00.008+10:00

Another week where I can't identify any unifying theme among this week in 1993's new entries peaking outside the top 100... so let's just dive straight in.

Hothouse Flowers wilted on the Australian chart with this release.

Top 150 debuts:

Number 137 “One Tongue” by Hothouse Flowers

Peak: number 117

Peak date: 24 May 1993

Weeks in top 150: 5 weeks

Top 150 chart run: 137-117-131-139-139

Weeks on chart: 6 weeks

Irish band Hothouse Flowers made their debut on the Australian charts in 1988, with the single “Don’t Go” (number 39, August 1988), from their debut album People (number 30, October 1988). Between 1988 and 1993, the band placed nine top 100 singles on the Australian chart with their version of “I Can See Clearly” (number 22, March 1991 - almost six months after its debut) being their biggest hit, from the album Home (number 1 for one week in March 1991).

“One Tongue” was the second single lifted from their third studio album Songs from the Rain (number 19, March 1993). It followed “An Emotional Time” (number 57, February 1993), which would be their last top 100 single in Australia.

Internationally, “One Tongue” peaked at number 45 in the UK in May 1993, and number 55 in Germany in July 1993.

In Australia, “One Tongue” was most popular in Western Australia, where it reached number 89 on the state chart.

We shall see Hothouse Flowers on one more occasion, in 1998.

Number 142 “Start Choppin” by Dinosaur Jr.

Peak: number 137

Peak date: 31 May 1993

Weeks in top 150: 8 weeks

Top 150 chart run: 142-143-137-143-145-143-148-147

Weeks on chart: 10 weeks

American band Dinosaur Jr last joined us in March 1993.

“Start Choppin” (no apostrophe) was the second single lifted from their fourth studio album Where You Been (number 45, May 1993). Internationally, the single peaked at number 20 in the UK in January 1993, number 20 in Ireland in February 1993, and number 40 in Sweden in February 1993. The song also peaked at number 3 on the US Billboard Alternative Airplay chart in March 1993.

Locally, “Start Choppin” performed strongest in Queensland, where it reached number 121 on the state chart.

We’ll next see Dinosaur Jr. in September 1993.

Number 144 “I Got a Man” by Positive K

Peak: number 123

Peak date: 21 June 1993

Weeks in top 150: 8 weeks

Top 150 chart run: 144-128-126-124-126-123-130-132

American rapper Positive K, real name Darryl Gibson, hails from The Bronx, New York. “I Got a Man”, his debut Australian release, was the second single lifted from his debut album The Skillz Dat Pay the Billz (released in Australia in July 1993, missed the top 150). The album was split into two halves, The Skills Side and Pay the Bills Side; “I Got a Man” appears on the latter.

Internationally, “I Got a Man” peaked at number 14 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in March 1993, number 43 in the UK in May 1993, number 41 in New Zealand in June 1993, and number 14 in the Netherlands in February 1994. The song also peaked at number 1 on the US Billboard Rap Songs chart, and number 10 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart in February 1993.

An interesting fact about “I Got a Man” is that the ‘female’ vocals on the track are actually those of Positive K pitch-shifted upwards! A woman lip syncs the female lines in the video, however.

I knew this song at the time, but can’t recall where I first heard it - probably on Triple J. “I Got a Man” would be Positive K’s only top 150 entry in Australia.

Number 149 “Fear of Life” by Sam Brown

Peak: number 135

Peak date: 14 June 1993

Weeks in top 150: 10 weeks

Top 150 chart run: 149-144-139-138-135-(out of top 150 for 3 weeks)-144-148-145-150-150

Weeks on chart: 11 weeks

English singer-songwriter Sam Brown last joined us in 1990.

“Fear of Life” was the only single released from Sam’s third album 43 Minutes (number 132, June 1993). Sam started writing the songs for the album while her mother, singer Vicki Brown, was dying of breast cancer in mid-1991. Sam’s UK label, A&M Records, were not satisfied with the album, and insisted that Sam include sone more-commercial songs that they could release as singles. Sam refused to compromise, and released the album as it was, independently. Both “Fear of Life” and 43 Minutes were distributed in Australia through Festival Records, who distributed her first two albums and the accompanying singles, however.

Australia appears to have been the only country that “Fear of Life” charted in. The single was most popular in Queensland, where it reached number 109 on the state chart.

I didn’t hear this one at the time, but obtained the music video (embedded below) from someone I trade videos with in 2006. It’s a nice song, though perhaps not immediately commercial-sounding.

Sam will join us on one more occasion, in 1997.

Bubbling WAY down under:

Number 195 “Alone” by Big Country

Peak: number 195

Peak date: 17 May 1993

Weeks on chart: 3 weeks

Scottish rock band Big Country last paid us a visit in 1989.

“Alone” was the lead single from their sixth studio album The Buffalo Skinners (number 193, July 1993). Internationally, the single peaked at number 24 in the UK in March 1993.

In Australia, “Alone” performed strongest in Western Australia, reaching number 156 on the state chart.

I hadn’t heard this one before. I liked it, though it’s a bit more guitar-heavy than music I normally listen to.

We shall see Big Country once more, in July 1993.

Number 203 “In Our Love” by Caron Wheeler

Peak: number 203

Peak date: 17 May 1993

Weeks on chart: 1 week

English singer-songwriter Caron Wheeler previously visited us in 1990.

“In Our Love” was the second single lifted from Caron’s second album Beach of the War Goddess (number 125, June 1993). It followed “I Adore You”, which appeared on the Mo’ Money soundtrack (number 39, January 1993) and was released as a single in Australia in February 1993, but failed to chart. “In Our Love” was issued locally on 19 April 1993, but took four weeks to make a blip on the ARIA singles chart just outside the top 200.

Internationally, “In Our Love” registered on two US Billboard genre-specific charts, peaking at number 61 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart in March 1993, and number 54 on the R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart in April 1993.

Domestically, “In Our Love” was most popular in New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory, where it reached number 186 on the state chart.

I remember seeing the Beach of the War Goddess album reviewed in Smash Hits magazine, but didn’t hear any singles from it at the time.

Caron will join us on one more occasion, in October 1993.

Number 222 “Tetris” by Doctor Spin

Peak: number 222

Peak date: 17 May 1993

Weeks on chart: 2 weeks

Co-written by Andrew Lloyd-Webber, together with producer Nigel Wright under the name of Doctor Spin, “Tetris” was a novelty rave song based on the Nintendo Game Boy game. We saw another one of its ilk late in 1992. While both Nintendo-themed tracks were top 10 hits in the UK, they both languished outside the top 100 in Australia, partly due to receiving zero promotion. The “Tetris” game music is based on Russian folk song “Korobeiniki”.

“Tetris” peaked at number 6 in the UK in October 1992, number 7 in Ireland in October 1992, and number 23 in Austria in December 1992.

In Australia, “Tetris” performed strongest in Western Australia, where it reached number 185 on the state chart.

I first heard “Tetris” on the UK Chart Attack radio show. “Tetris” was released there four weeks before “Supermarioland”. Not being completely averse to novelty records and liking Eurodance, I actually like this one. Jake Canuso, who would go on to become an actor in Benidorm, appears as a dancer in the music video and on the Top of the Pops TV performance.

This was the only Doctor Spin release.

Next week (24 May): Four top 150 entries and six bubbling WAY down under debuts.

< Previous week: 10 May 1993 Next week: 24 May 1993 >

Week commencing 10 May 1993

2025-05-10T00:00:00.002+10:00

I don’t know what to say about this week in 1993’s new entries peaking outside the Australian top 100, other than they are an eclectic bunch. Shall we take a look?

D:Ream: things could only get better from this chart position.

Top 150 debuts:

Number 128 “Things Can Only Get Better” by D:Ream (1993 release)

Peak: number 128 (1993 chart run); number 9 (1994 chart run)

Peak date: 10 May 1993 (1993 chart run); 28 March 1994 (1994 chart run)

Weeks in top 150: 35 weeks (5 weeks in 1993; 30 weeks in 1994)

Top 150 chart run: 1993: 128-145-133-142-134.

Re-entry 14 February 1994: 87-59-42-24-19-13-9-11-10-10-10-11-10-11-14-14-18-20-19-21-26-36-43-50-58-61-89-68-106-105

Weeks on chart: 43 weeks (1993 and 1994 chart runs combined)

Pop group D:Ream formed in Manchester, England in 1992. The band’s live line up included Brian Cox, who would later become a professor of particle physics and a famous TV science broadcaster, on keyboards, although singer Peter Cunnah played keyboards on their studio recordings. Their first single, an early version of “U R the Best Thing”, scraped into the lower end of the UK Top 75 in June 1992. “Things Can Only Get Better”, their second single, would become their breakthrough hit in Australia, but not upon its initial 1993 release. The track was lifted from their debut album D:Ream on Vol. 1 (number 12, June 1994).

The early 1993 release of “Things Can Only Get Better” peaked at number 24 in the UK in January 1993, and at number 23 in Austria for two weeks in June 1993. The song would get a subtle remix, and a new music video, opening with the “you can walk my path, you can wear my shoes” couplet, for a late December 1993 re-release in the UK, where it became a much bigger hit, peaking at number 1 there for four weeks in January-February 1994.

The late 1993/early 1994 release of “Things Can Only Get Better” also peaked at number 2 in Ireland in January 1994, number 7 in Sweden in February 1994, number 20 in Germany in March 1994, number 20 in the Netherlands in March 1994, number 11 in Switzerland in March 1994, number 10 in the Flanders region of Belgium in April 1994, and number 46 in New Zealand in April 1994. The song also reached number 7 on the US Billboard Dance Club Songs chart in January 1994.

In Australia, the 1994 release of “Things Can Only Get Better” peaked at number 9 in March 1994. The single performed strongest in South Australia/Norther Territory, where it reached number 3 on the state chart.

“Things Can Only Get Better” received a third lease of life in the UK, being used (with D:Ream’s permission) as the ‘new Labour’ campaign song, led by Tony Blair, at the 1997 election. The single was re-released again, peaking at number 19 in the UK in April 1997. D:Ream came to regret to regret their decision to allow Labour to use their song, following the 2003 invasion of Iraq, which was supported by Tony Blair.

We’ll see D:Ream next in July 1993 with another single that would later go on to become a hit when remixed and re-released.

Number 130 “Play Me” by The Welcome Mat

Peak: number 123

Peak date: 24 May 1993

Weeks in top 150: 8 weeks

Top 150 chart run: 130-124-123-124-133-125-135-144

We last saw Sydney band The Welcome Mat in March 1993. “Play Me” was the second single lifted from their debut album Gram (number 107, April 1993).

We’ll next see The Welcome Mat in 1996.

Number 134 “Gentleman Style” by Indecent Obsession

Peak: number 118

Peak date: 24 May 1993

Weeks in top 150: 6 weeks

Chart run: 134-127-118-140-140-136

Weeks on chart: 6 weeks

Aussie pop band Indecent Obsession last graced our presence in 1992.

“Gentleman Style” was the fourth and final single released in Australia from the band’s second album Indio (number 39, August 1992). Another track from the album, “Whispers in the Dark”, received a single release in Europe, but not Australia. On the state charts, “Gentleman Style” performed strongest in Queensland, where it reached number 70.

I hadn’t heard this one until writing this post. I liked it. As I have no doubt previously written, I think Indecent Obsession’s success was hindered by being initially marketed as a ‘pin-up’ boy band aimed at teenage girls… and possibly also by having a stupid band name.

Indecent Obsession singer David Dixon would soon leave the group, taking on the role of Joseph in the Australian leg of stage production Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, a role Jason Donovan filled in Europe. David embarked on a brief solo career, landed a minor hit on the Australian chart with “Joseph Mega-Mix” (number 53, June 1993). We shall see David bubble under with a solo single in 1994. He further delved into acting, taking on the role of bad boy Nathan Roberts (almost my namesake), Irene’s jailbird son, on Home and Away towards the end of 1993. I read somewhere years ago that David was now working as a helicopter pilot.

The rest of the group, meanwhile, continued as Indecent Obsession, recruiting English vocalist Richard Hannassey. We’ll see the new line up Indecent Obsession bubble under in 1994.

Number 140 “All Together Now” by Jon English

Peak: number 128

Peak date: 31 May 1993

Weeks in top 150: 6 weeks

Top 150 chart run: 140-141-131-128-141-143

English-born Australian-based singer-songwriter and actor Jon English placed 18 singles on the Australian top 100 between 1973 and 1983, with “Six Ribbons” (number 5 for two weeks in February-March 1979) being the biggest of those. Jon played the role of ageing rocker Bobby Rivers on Australian sitcom All Together Now, which aired between January 1991 and September 1993. This was the theme song used for the show. Although I don’t recall ever watching an episode of it, I do remember the show.

This would be Jon’s final top 150 single in Australia. He died in 2016, aged 66, due to complications from surgery for an aortic aneurysm.

Number 144 “Ride Like the Wind” by East Side Beat

Peak: number 144

Peak date: 10 May 1993

Weeks in top 150: 1 week

Known chart run: 188-144

Weeks on chart: 6 weeks

We last saw Italian dance project East Side Beat in March 1993. “Ride Like the Wind”, a cover version of the Christopher Cross song (number 25, June 1980), was released in Europe in late 1991 as their first single, but received a belated Australian release in 1993 as their second single.

Internationally, “Ride Like the Wind” peaked at number 3 in the UK in December 1991, number 4 in Ireland, number 4 in the Flanders region of Belgium for five weeks in January-February 1992, number 29 in Austria in January 1992, number 6 in the Netherlands in February 1992, number 24 in Germany in February 1992, number 12 in France in February 1992, and number 23 in Switzerland in March 1992.

Domestically, “Ride Like the Wind” was most popular in Victoria/Tasmania, where it reached number 132 on the state chart.

While there was no music video filmed for “Ride Like the Wind”, you can see East Side Beat perform it live on Top of the Pops here.

We won’t see East Side Beat again, but singer Carl Fanini will bubble under with Clubhouse in 1994.

Number 145 “The Love I Lost” by West End featuring Sybil

Peak: number 145

Peak date: 10 May 1993

Weeks in top 150: 1 week

Top 150 chart run: 145

Weeks on chart: 8 weeks

We last saw American singer Sybil Lynch in 1991.

West End was an alias of Eddie Gordon, though what role he played on this recording, I am not sure, as his role is not specified on the credits. “The Love I Lost” was otherwise just a Stock Waterman (formerly Stock Aitken Waterman) production with Sybil on vocals. Eddie’s role at PWL was to find artists or songs to bring in to be produced by Stock Waterman or distributed in the UK through PWL Records. As doing a version of this song was Eddie’s idea, he wasn’t too pleased that he did not receive any credit, other than West End being billed, on the single sleeve. The song is a cover version of Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes’ “The Love I Lost” from 1973. This version was the lead single from Sybil’s fourth studio album Good ‘N’ Ready (released in Australia in August 1993, did not chart).

Internationally, “The Love I Lost” peaked at number 3 in the UK for two weeks in January 1993, number 9 in Ireland, number 90 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in April 1993, and number 68 in Germany in April 1993. The song also peaked at number 18 on the US Billboard Dance Club Songs in May 1993, and number 18 on the Dance Singles Sales chart in June 1993.

In Australia, “The Love I Lost” performed strongest in Western Australia, where it reached number 117 on the state chart.

I didn’t hear this one until picking up the UK 2-CD compilation The Greatest Hits of 1993 while on a family holiday in Hong Kong in January 1994.

We will see Sybil on one more occasion, in August 1993.

Number 147 “Dollar Bill” by Screaming Trees (1993 release)

Peak: number 147 (1993 chart run); number 119 (1995 chart run)

Peak date: 10 May 1993 (1993 chart run); 13 February 1995 (1995 chart run)

Weeks in top 150: 5 weeks (1 week in 1993; 4 weeks in 1995)

Top 150 chart run: 147. Re-entry 6 February 1995: 132-119-139-144

American rock band Screaming Trees formed in 1984 in Ellensburg, Washington. “Dollar Bill” was the second single issued from the band’s sixth studio album Sweet Oblivion (number 77, March 1993), following “Nearly Lost You” (number 96, March 1993), which was their only single to dent the ARIA top 100.

Internationally, “Dollar Bill” peaked at number 52 in the UK in April 1993. The song also registered on two US Billboard genre-specific charts, peaking at number 28 on the Alternative Airplay chart in January 1993, and number 40 on the Mainstream Rock Airplay chart in July 1993.

Interestingly, “Dollar Bill” re-entered the ARIA top 150 in early 1995, reaching a higher peak of number 119.

I hadn’t heard this one before. The guitar refrain during the introduction and verses reminds very much of George Michael’s “Waiting for That Day” (number 50, May 1991).

Screaming Trees lead singer Matt Lanegan died in 2022, aged 57. A cause of death has not been publicly revealed. Screaming Trees bassist Van Conner has also passed away, in 2023 aged 55, from pneumonia after contracting COVID-19 following surgery.

We’ll next see Screaming Trees in 1996.

Number 149 “Tap the Bottle” by Young Black Teenagers

Peak: number 136

Peak dates: 17 May 1993 and 31 May 1993

Weeks in top 150: 10 weeks

Top 150 chart run: 149-136-145-136-148-148-140-141-148-(out for 1 week)-150

American hip-hop group Young Black Teenagers formed in 1989 in Long Island, New York. Contrary to the group’s name, none of its members were teenagers, and all were Caucasian! “Tap the Bottle” was lifted from their second and final album Dead Enz Kidz Doin’ Lifetime Bidz (released in Australia in May 1993, missed the top 150).

Internationally, “Tap the Bottle” peaked at number 5 in New Zealand in May 1993, number 55 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in April 1993, and number 39 in the UK in April 1994 (not a typo).

This was the only Young Black Teenagers release to trouble the top 150 in Australia. I am not sure whether I have heard this one before; the chorus riff seemed vaguely familiar.

Bubbling WAY down under:

Number 174 Brisbane EP by Custard

Peak: number 153

Peak date: 19 July 1993

Weeks on chart: 14 weeks

Brisbane band Custard last joined us in 1992. It fits that they should release an EP named after their home city.

“Nightmare Two” was the lead track from the 7-track EP, which includes one unlisted track. On the state charts, the EP was most popular in Queensland, where it reached number 79.

Custard will join us next in November 1993.

Number 192 “Slow Emotion Replay” by The The

Peak: number 173

Peak date: 31 May 1993

Weeks on chart: 3 weeks

English band The The, fronted by Matt Johnson who was the only constant member, last joined us in 1989.

“Slow Emotion Replay” was the second single lifted from their fourth studio album Dusk (number 20, February 1993), following “Dogs of Lust” (number 70, March 1993). Internationally, the single peaked at number 35 in the UK in the April 1993.

Domestically, “Slow Emotion Replay” performed strongest in Western Australia, reaching number 153 on the state chart.

I didn’t hear this one at the time, but caught the video (I cannot remember where, probably on rage) a few years back and like the song very much. “Everybody knows what’s going wrong with the world, I don’t even know what’s going on in myself” is a powerful lyric.

Skip to 4:17 minutes in the video embedded below to bypass the dialogue intro and get to the song.

We’ll next see The The in August 1993.

Next week (17 May): Four top 150 entries and three bubbling WAY down under debuts.

< Previous week: 3 May 1993 Next week: 17 May 1993 >

Week commencing 3 May 1993

2025-05-03T00:00:00.002+10:00

Before taking a look at this week in 1993’s new entries peaking outside the Australian top 100, I wish to update you on my health situation. I wrote in early 2024 that my cancer appeared to be in remission, as the review CT, MRI and PET scans I had at that time showed no evidence of disease. Unfortunately, the scan results were not matched with reality when I underwent a minor procedure to evaluate the primary site. I continued chemotherapy throughout 2024, completing 36 cycles, and earlier this year switched to oral chemotherapy after the intravenous combinations I had been taking stopped working. Unfortunately, the oral chemo has also stopped working and I am now out of treatment options, other than clinical trials, which I am unlikely to be eligible for due to my complicated medical history. Given my current situation, I have thought of accelerating the frequency of my chart recaps (i.e. writing more than one post a week), but am not sure if I want to commit to that… watch this space. Now onto this week’s new entries.

This single was the kiss of death for Sade on the Australian chart.

Top 150 debuts:

Number 106 “If You Have to Ask” by Red Hot Chili Peppers

Peak: number 106

Peak date: 3 May 1993

Weeks in top 150: 5 weeks

Chart run: 106-121-115-136-120

Weeks on chart: 5 weeks

American band Red Hot Chili Peppers formed in Los Angeles in 1982. After several years underground, they finally made some ripples on the chart with their fourth album Mother’s Milk (number 33, May 1992 - after originally peaking at number 67 in April 1990), and the single “Higher Ground” (number 45, March 1990), which was a Stevie Wonder cover.

Red Hot Chili Peppers had their major commercial breakthrough with their fifth album, and first release on Warner Bros. Records, Blood Sugar Sex Magik (number 1 for 2 weeks in April 1992). “If You Have to Ask” was the fifth single lifted from Blood Sugar Sex Magik, following “Give It Away” (number 41 for 3 weeks in November 1991), “Under the Bridge” (number 1 for 4 weeks in April-May 1992), “Suck My Kiss” (number 8, May 1992), and “Breaking the Girl” (number 30, October 1992). It was only released as a single in Australia and Germany, and only charted in Australia.

On the state charts, “If You Have to Ask” performed strongest in Queensland, where it reached number 90.

We’ll next see Red Hot Chili Peppers in 1996.

Number 118 “How I’m Comin” by LL Cool J

Peak: number 101

Peak date: 17 May 1993

Weeks in top 150: 6 weeks

Top 150 chart run: 118-104-101-109-112-116

Weeks on chart: 8 weeks

American rapper LL Cool J last joined us in 1989.

“How I’m Comin” was the lead single from LL Cool J’s fifth studio album 14 Shots to the Dome (number 112, June 1993). Internationally, the single peaked at number 57 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in April 1993, number 37 in the UK in April 1993, and number 16 in New Zealand in May 1993. “How I’m Comin” also registered on several US Billboard genre-specific charts, peaking at number 28 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart in April 1993, number 10 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles Sales chart in April 1993, number 55 on the R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart in April 1993, number 24 on the Dance Singles Sales chart in May 1993, and number 1 on the Hot Rap Songs chart in May 1993.

In Australia, “How I’m Comin” performed strongest in Western Australia, where it reached number 71 on the state chart. The single peaked within the top 100 on all state charts except South Australia/Northern Territory. “How I’m Comin” peaked higher nationally on the Australian Music Report singles chart, where it reached number 98.

We’ll next see LL Cool J in July 1993.

Number 123 “Who Let in the Rain” by Cyndi Lauper

Peak: number 109

Peak date: 10 May 1993

Weeks in top 150: 4 weeks

Top 150 chart run: 123-109-119-129

Weeks on chart: 7 weeks

American singer-songwriter Cyndi Lauper last visited us in 1992.

“Who Let in the Rain” was the first single released from Cyndi’s fourth studio album Hat Full of Stars (number 102, July 1993). Internationally, the single peaked at number 12 in New Zealand in June 1993, number 76 in Canada in August 1993, and number 32 in the UK in January 1994. “Who Let in the Rain” also peaked at number 33 on the US Billboard Adult Contemporary chart in April 1993.

In Australia, “Who Let in the Rain” was most popular in Queensland, where it reached number 96 on the state chart. Nationally, “Who Let in the Rain” performed slightly better on the Australian Music Report singles chart, where it reached number 100.

I don’t recall hearing this one before. While it’s nice enough, it doesn’t stand out like Cyndi’s classic singles from the 80s, and doesn’t sound like lead single material to me. Cyndi’s commercial success after the 1980s waned partly because I think she was too closely associated with that decade, image wise. Taking a four year hiatus between albums also didn’t help.

We’ll next see Cyndi in 1995.

Number 144 “All About Eve” by Marxman

Peak: number 144

Peak date: 3 May 1993

Weeks in top 150: 3 weeks

Top 150 chart run: 144-146-(out for 1 week)-148

English four-piece hip-hop group Marxman formed in London in 1989. “All About Eve” was the third single lifted from their debut album 33 Revolutions per Minute, which does not appear to have been released in Australia. This single peaked at number 28 in the UK in February 1993, and was their only top 150 chart entry in Australia.

Number 145 “Dream On (Kathy’s Song)” by Jenni Forbes

Peak: number 104

Peak date: 14 June 1993

Weeks in top 150: 11 weeks

Top 150 chart run: 145-135-135-141-122-114-104-107-115-137-142

Weeks on chart: 15 weeks

“Dream On (Kathy’s Song)” was Australian singer-songwriter Jenni Forbes’ debut release. Despite the music video receiving some airplay, the single stalled outside the top 100 nationally, but was more popular in Queensland, where it reached number 45 on the state chart. “Dream On (Kathy’s Song)” peaked much higher nationally on the Australian Music Report singles chart, where it reached number 62.

Jenni, who would later change her name to Jenn Forbes, co-wrote Toni Pearen’s “I Want You” (number 10, May 1993), which was charting at the same time as this release. When Toni met Jenni to listen to some of her demo recordings, Jenni told Toni that she could have any song except for “I Want You”, which Jenni wanted to keep for herself. Obviously, Toni got her way by being permitted to record that one, and landed a hit with it.

“Dream On (Kathy’s Song)” would go on to appear on Jenni’s debut album (released as Jenn Forbes) I, No Y (number 169, October 1995). We'll see Jenni again (as Jenn) in 1995.

Number 148 “Erotic” by The Exponents

Peak: number 148

Peak date: 3 May 1993

Weeks in top 150: 2 weeks

Top 150 chart run: 148-(out for 5 weeks)-149

New Zealand band The Exponents formed in 1981, and were originally named Dance Exponents. Their biggest hit in New Zealand as Dance Exponents, was “Victoria”, which reached number 6 there in August 1982. “Sex and Agriculture” (number 11 in New Zealand in September 1984) was charting in New Zealand when my family relocated there for six months, but I have no recollection of hearing that one before.

Dance Exponents relocated to London in 1987, presumably hoping to gain international success which never came. They returned to New Zealand in 1991, and renamed themselves The Exponents. “Erotic” was lifted from the band’s fourth studio album Something Beginning with C, their first as The Exponents, which does not appear to have been released in Australia. “Erotic” peaked at number 27 in New Zealand in January 1993, where it was their fourteenth top 50 single. “Erotic” would be their only top 150 entry in Australia.

Number 149 “Slow Dance” by Mark Williams

Peak: number 139

Peak date: 10 May 1993

Weeks in top 150: 5 weeks

Top 150 chart run: 149-139-147-147-144

Weeks on chart: 9 weeks

We last saw New Zealand-but-now-Australia-based singer Mark Williams in 1991.

“Slow Dance” was the second single released from Mark’s sixth, and to date last, studio album Mind Over Matter (number 133, June 1993), following “We Can Dream” (number 95, October 1992). In between, Mark had a charting single with Tara Morice, covering Cyndi Lauper’s “Time After Time” (number 82, January 1993), from the Strictly Ballroom soundtrack (number 6 for two weeks in August-September 1992).

On the state charts, “Slow Dance” was most popular in South Australia/Northern Territory, where it reached number 120.

This was Mark’s last charting single in Australia. A third single from Mind Over Matter, “I Can’t Help You Anymore”, was released in August 1993, but failed to chart.

Bubbling WAY down under:

Number 184 “The Right Decision” by Jesus Jones

Peak: number 184

Peak date: 3 May 1993

Weeks on chart: 3 weeks

English band Jesus Jones last paid us a visit in 1992.

“The Right Decision” was the second single lifted from the band’s third studio album Perverse (number 32, February 1993), following “The Devil You Know” (number 54, February 1993). Internationally, “The Right Decision” peaked at number 36 in the UK in April 1993, and at number 88 in Canada in May 1993. The song also peaked at number 12 on the US Billboard Alternative Airplay chart.

Domestically, “The Right Decision” performed strongest in Victoria/Tasmania, where it reached number 167.

Jesus Jones will join us on one more occasion, in August 1993.

Number 186 “Kiss of Life” by Sade

Peak: number 186

Peak date: 3 May 1993

Weeks on chart: 2 weeks

English band Sade last joined us in January 1993.

“Kiss of Life” was the third single lifted from Sade’s fourth studio album Love Deluxe (number 13, March 1993). Internationally, the single peaked at number 44 in the UK in May 1993, number 78 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in May 1993, number 30 in Canada in May 1993, number 88 in Germany in May 1993, and number 33 in New Zealand in May 1993. “Kiss of Life” also registered on several US Billboard genre-specific charts, peaking at number 46 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles Sales chart in May 1993, number 65 on the Radio Songs chart in May 1993, number 10 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart in May 1993, number 9 on the R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart in May 1993, and number 20 on the Adult Contemporary chart in May 1993.

In Australia, “Kiss of Life” was most popular in Queensland, where it reached number 159 on the state chart.

“Kiss of Life” was released in Australia just before the first Love Deluxe single, “No Ordinary Love” (number 21, June 1993, after originally peaking at number 95 in November 1992), was climbing the chart.

We’ll see Sade on one more occasion, in September 1993.

Next week (10 May): Eight top 150 entries and two bubbling WAY down under debuts.

< Previous week: 26 April 1993 Next week: 10 May 1993 >

Kent Music Report beyond the top 100: 2 May 1983

2025-05-02T12:16:00.002+10:00

This week in 1983 sees just one new entry. Let's take a look...

Sylvia: like nothing ever happened on the Australian chart.

Beyond the top 100:

Position 7 "Like Nothing Ever Happened" by Sylvia

Highest rank: 7th

Peak date: 2 May 1983

Weeks on below list: 2 weeks

American country singer Sylvia, born Sylvia Jane Kirby, hails from Kokomo, Indiana. She moved to Nashville, Tennessee, in 1975 to pursue a career as a country recording artist. "Like Nothing Ever Happened" was lifted form her second album Just Sylvia. The song reached number 2 on the US Billboard Hot Country Songs chart in January 1983, and number 1 on the Canadian RPM Country Tracks chart.

Sylvia had previously registered on the Kent Music Report singles chart with "Nobody" (number 41, December 1982), which was her only top 100 entry in Australia.

Sylvia is still recording, with her latest album released in 2024.

Next post (6 June): Two new entries peaking outside the top 100.

< Previous post: 18 April 1983 Next post: 6 June 1983 >

Week commencing 26 April 1993

2025-04-26T00:01:00.004+10:00

This week in 1993’s new entries peaking outside the top 100 in Australia are quite a mixed bag, featuring veteran artists who had been around for decades, as well as new artists making their chart debut. Unusually, we also have two new entries from the same artist. Let’s take a look at them.

PJ Harvey didn’t quite measure up on the Australian chart with this release.

Top 150 debuts:

Number 113 “Sugar Kane” by Sonic Youth

Peak: number 110

Peak date: 3 May 1993

Weeks in top 150: 6 weeks

Chart run: 113-110-122-117-124-134

Weeks on chart: 6 weeks

We last saw American alternative band Sonic Youth in 1992.

“Sugar Kane” was issued as the third single from Sonic Youth’s seventh full-length studio album Dirty (number 22, August 1992). “Sugar Kane” was also the lead track on their Whores Moaning EP (number 44, February 1993), released only in Australia and New Zealand to coincide with their Australasian tour, which was the band’s highest-charting release on the Australian singles chart. It’s unusual that “Sugar Kane” would receive a single release in its own right just a couple of months later.

Internationally, “Sugar Kane” peaked at number 26 in the UK in March 1993. Domestically, the single performed strongest in Victoria/Tasmania, where it reached number 93.

I didn’t know this one at the time, but have caught the music video several times on rage over the years.

Sonic Youth will next join us in 1994.

Number 120 “Blood of Eden” by Peter Gabriel

Peak: number 112

Peak date: 3 May 1993

Weeks in top 150: 5 weeks

Chart run: 174-120-112-123-132-140

Weeks on chart: 6 weeks

English singer-songwriter Peter Gabriel last joined us in 1991.

“Blood of Eden”, featuring uncredited guest vocals on the chorus from Sinéad O’Connor (though she appears in the music video), was the third single lifted from Peter’s sixth studio album Us (number 3, October 1992). It followed “Digging in the Dirt” (number 23, November 1992) and “Steam” (number 29, February 1993). An earlier version of the track, minus vocals from Sinéad, appeared on the 1991 film Until the End of the World, but not on the soundtrack.

Internationally, “Blood of Eden” peaked at number 43 in the UK in April 1993. In Australia, “Blood of Eden” was equally most popular in New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory and Queensland, reaching number 93 on both state charts. “Blood of Eden” performed better nationally on the Australian Music Report singles chart, where it reached number 97.

I didn’t know this one until checking it out on YouTube out of curiosity when I got hold of the 1993 top 150 charts several years ago. I like it a lot, and think it deserved to do much better on the chart.

We shall next see Peter Gabriel in November 1993, and Sinéad O’Connor with another duet in August 1993.

Number 122 “Simple Life” by Elton John

Peak: number 122

Peak date: 26 April 1993

Weeks in top 150: 5 weeks

Top 150 chart run: 122-126-126-138-138

Weeks on chart: 7 weeks

English singer-songwriter Elton John, born Reginald Kenneth Dwight, needs no introduction. Starting with “Your Song” (number 10 on the Go Set chart, April 1971), Elton had placed 62 singles on the Australian top 100 chart at this point in 1993, with “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart” (number 1 for one week in August 1976) and “That’s What Friends Are For” (number 1 for one week in March 1986) reaching the top.

“Simple Life” was the fourth single lifted from Elton’s twenty-third studio album The One (number 2 for two weeks in June-July 1992), following title track “The One” (number 15, June 1992), Eric Clapton duet “Runaway Train” (number 53, September 1992), and “The Last Song” (number 32, January 1993).

Internationally, “Simple Life” peaked at number 3 in Canada in April 1993, number 30 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in April 1993, number 44 in the UK in May 1993, and number 63 in Germany in June 1993. “Simple Life” also registered on three US Billboard genre-specific charts, reaching number 1 on the Adult Contemporary chart in March 1993, number 26 on the Radio Songs chart in April 1993, and number 17 on the Pop Airplay chart in April 1993.

In Australia, “Simple Life” performed strongest in South Australia/Northern Territory, reaching number 99 on the state chart. “Simple Life” peaked higher nationally on the Australian Music Report singles chart, where it reached number 100.

We’ll next see Elton in 1996.

Number 128 “Dreams of Heaven” by Ground Level

Peak: number 119

Peak date: 3 May 1993

Weeks in top 150: 4 weeks

Top 150 chart run: 128-119-136-140

Weeks on chart: 12 weeks

Australian electronic music duo Ground Level were David Walker, hailing from Melbourne, and American Jean-Marie Guilfoil. “Dreams of Heaven”, their fourth single, achieved some underground success in the UK, reaching number 54 on the UK singles chart in January 1993.

“Dreams of Heaven” debuted on the ARIA singles chart at number 174 on 29 March 1993, taking almost a month to crack the top 150. On the state charts, “Dreams of Heaven” performed strongest in Western Australia, reaching number 60. “Dreams of Heaven” fared better nationally on the Australian Music Report singles chart, where it reached number 92.

“Dreams of Heaven” would eventually appear on the debut and only Ground Level album New Moon, in 1995, which did not chart.

I didn’t think I knew “Dreams of Heaven”, but it sounded familiar to me. I am not sure where I might have heard it, though have read it was used as background music on Neighbours at the time - but I stopped watching Neighbours in 1988. “Dreams of Heaven” sounds quite innovative and ahead of its time for 1993, which is impressive for an Australian dance track. It’s a shame that Australian radio wouldn’t touch this kind of music with a barge pole at the time - other than perhaps Triple J - as this could have been a hit had it received better promotion.

We’ll see Ground Level with another new entry, debuting outside the top 150, this week, unusually.

Number 142 “Lord of the Flies” by Scarymother

Peak: number 132

Peak date: 31 May 1993

Weeks in top 150: 10 weeks

Top 150 chart run: 142-136-137-133-137-132-135-141-142-149

Sydney band Scarymother formed in 1990. They supported Faith No More on their Australian tour in April-May 1993, coinciding with the release of their debut single “Lord of the Flies”, which was produced by Faith No More producer Matt Wallace. “Lord of the Flies” would go on to appear on Scarymother’s debut and only album Tai Laeo (number 94, May 1994), which was the band’s only top 100 entry in Australia.

We shall see Scarymother again in August 1993.

Bubbling WAY down under:

Number 176 “Candy Everybody Wants” by 10,000 Maniacs

Peak: number 174

Peak date: 24 May 1993

Weeks on chart: 7 weeks

We last saw American alternative rock band 10,000 Maniacs in February 1993.

“Candy Everybody Wants” was released as the second single from the band’s fifth studio album One Time in Eden (number 171, November 1992). Internationally, the single peaked at number 47 in the UK in April 1993, and at number 67 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in April 1993. In Australia, “Candy Everybody Wants” performed strongest in New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory, reaching number 163 on the state chart.

I hadn’t heard this one before; it’s quite pleasant.

10,000 Maniacs will next join us in 1994.

Number 182 “Anything” by Sydney Youngblood

Peak: number 163

Peak date: 31 May 1993

Weeks on chart: 8 weeks

Germany-based American singer-songwriter Sydney Youngblood last visited us in 1991.

“Anything” was the lead single from Sydney’s third studio album Just the Way It Is (number 211, May 1993). Internationally, “Anything” peaked at number 48 in the UK in March 1993, number 27 in the Flanders region of Belgium in April 1993, and number 51 in Germany in May 1993. Locally, “Anything” was most popular in Western Australia, where it reached number 146 on the state chart.

I didn’t know this one at the time, but digitised the video from a UK HMV in-store VHS compilation I picked up over a decade ago.

This was Sydney’s last single to chart in Australia. A second single from Just the Way It Is, “No Big Deal”, which sounds rather like Ace of Base musically, was released in Europe. Sydney released a fourth album in Europe, The Hat Won’t Fit, in 1994, containing the single “So Good So Right (All I Can Do)”, which has a lyrical and melodic nod to his earlier hit “Sit and Wait” (number 59, April 1990).

Number 189 “50 Ft Queenie” by PJ Harvey

Peak: number 179

Peak date: 31 May 1993

Weeks on chart: 4 weeks

PJ Harvey was originally a three-piece band formed in Bristol, England in 1988, named after front woman Polly Jean Harvey who sang and played guitar, with Rob Ellis on drums and backing vocals, and Ian Oliver on bass. The trio released their debut album Dry (number 156, July 1992) in 1992, which contained the singles “Dress” (released in Australia in April 1992, did not chart) and “Sheela-Na-Gig” (released in Australia in March 1992, did not chart).

The trio returned in 1993 with their second album and first major label release Rid of Me (number 110, June 1993), led by the single “50 Ft Queenie”. Internationally, “50 Ft Queenie” peaked at number 27 in the UK in April 1993. Domestically, the single performed strongest in Western Australia, where it reached number 148.

The trio disbanded in August 1993 after growing apart while on tour, and ‘PJ Harvey’ was relaunched as a solo act. An album of demos recorded for the Rid of Me album, 4-Track Demos (number 189, February 1994), was released later in the year, effectively launching Polly’s solo career.

I first became aware of PJ Harvey in early 1995, with the single “Down by the Water” (number 84, April 1995), preceding the album To Bring You My Love (number 38, April 1995), which I purchased. The material from the first two PJ Harvey albums is a little more guitar-heavy than I normally listen to, but I do enjoy “50 Ft Queenie”, no doubt helped by the music video in which Polly really hams it up. My favourite track from Rid of Me is the title track, “Rid of Me”.

Between 1995 and 2001, PJ Harvey placed five singles on the Australian top 100, with “Good Fortune” (number 71, April 2001) being the highest-charting of those. “A Perfect Day Elise” (number 83, September 1998) is probably my favourite single of hers.

We’ll next see PJ Harvey in July 1993.

Number 202 “Don’t Let It Go to Your Head” by The Brand New Heavies

Peak: number 195

Peak date: 28 June 1993

Weeks on chart: 2 weeks

British acid jazz band The Brand New Heavies, containing several American singers, last joined us in 1992. Since then, the band’s second album Heavy Rhyme Experience Vol. 1 (number 282, November 1992), an album of collaborations with other artists, was released.

“Don’t Let It Go to Your Head” was the second single released in Australia from The Brand New Heavies’ debut album The Brand New Heavies (number 139, August 1992). The song is a cover version of a song originally recorded by Jean Carn in 1978.

Internationally, The Brand New Heavies’ version of “Don’t Let It Go to Your Head” peaked at number 24 in the UK in August 1992.

Domestically, “Don’t Let It Go to Your Head” was most popular in Queensland, where it reached number 161 on the state chart.

The Brand New Heavies will next join us in 1994.

Number 204 “Took My Love” by Bizarre Inc featuring Angie Brown

Peak: number 190

Peak date: 3 May 1993

Weeks on chart: 5 weeks

We last saw English dance act Bizarre Inc in 1992.

“Took My Love” was Bizarre Inc’s fourth single release in Australia, and their fourth release to peak outside the top 100. The track was lifted from the band’s second album Energique (released in Australia in November 1992, did not chart). As with their previous single, Angie Brown is again featured on vocals, although this time she does not appear in the music video.

Internationally, “Took My Love” peaked at number 19 in the UK in February 1993, number 17 in Ireland in March 1993, and number 22 in the Netherlands in April 1993. “Took My Love” also peaked at number 1 on the US Billboard Dance Club Songs chart in April 1993, and number 15 on the Dance Singles Sales chart in May 1993.

In Australia, “Took My Love” performed strongest in Western Australia, where it reached number 153 on the state chart.

I didn’t hear this one until finding it on a UK promo VHS compilation about 15 years ago. It no doubt received an airing on the UK Chart Attack radio program.

This was Bizarre Inc’s last charting release in Australia. Angie Brown’s vocals would be heard again on Motiv 8’s “Rockin’ for Myself” (number 9, September 1994).

Number 208 “Out of Body” by Ground Level

Peak: number 208

Peak date: 26 April 1993

Weeks on chart: 2 weeks

The second new entry this week from Australian electronic duo Ground Level, “Out of Body” was their third single, released in Australia only on 12” vinyl in May 1992. I can’t explain its belated debut almost a year later, other than perhaps the ‘success’ of their next release, “Dreams of Heaven” (discussed above) resulted in renewed interest in this track.

On the state charts, “Out of Body” was most popular in Western Australia, where it reached number 174.

We’ll next see Ground Level in November 1993.

Number 220 “Independence” by Lulu

Peak: number 195

Peak date: 10 May 1993

Weeks on chart: 2 weeks

Scottish singer, actress and TV personality Lulu, born Marie McDonald McLaughlin Lawrie, made her Australian chart debut in the 1960s. Her biggest Australian chart hit would not come until the 2000s, though, with her duet with Ronan Keating, “We’ve Got Tonight” (number 12, February 2003). Lulu’s previous charting single in Australia was 1981’s “I Could Never Miss You (More Than I Do)” (number 71, March 1982).

“Independence” was Lulu’s first new single in the UK since 1990. Internationally, “Independence” peaked at number 11 in the UK in January 1993, number 21 in Ireland, and number 52 in Germany in April 1993. The song also reached number 3 on the US Billboard Dance Club Songs chart.

Domestically, “Independence” was most popular in Queensland, where it reached number 169 on the state chart.

We’ll see Lulu again in July 1993. She landed another top 40 hit in Australia as a featured artist on Take That’s “Relight My Fire” (number 33, February 1994).

Number 227 “One Shining Moment” by Diana Ross

Peak: number 227

Peak date: 26 April 1993

Weeks on chart: 1 week

American Motown legend Diana Ross last joined us in 1989. “One Shining Moment” was the belated second single released in Australia from Diana’s nineteenth studio album The Force Behind the Power (number 100, March 1992), following “When You Tell Me That You Love Me” (number 83, March 1992).

Internationally, “One Shining Moment” peaked at number 10 in the UK in June 1992, and number 16 in Ireland.

In Australia, “One Shining Moment” peaked at number 226 on all state charts except Western Australia, where it peaked at number 227. That suggests to me that “One Shining Moment” was very near to, if not at, the bottom of the chart this week in 1993.

Another single from The Force Behind the Power, “If We Hold on Together”, was released in Australia in June 1993, but failed to chart.

Diana will join us next in 1995.

Next week (3 May): Seven top 150 entries and two bubbling WAY down under debuts.

< Previous week: 19 April 1993 Next week: 3 May 1993 >

Week commencing 19 April 1993

2025-04-19T00:00:00.004+10:00

Before we take a look at this week in 1993’s new entries peaking outside the top 100, I wish to inform you that I have resumed my series of posts on singles that made the Kent Music Report’s list of singles receiving significant sales reports beyond the top 100, here. Now, back to 1993…

Billy Ray Cyrus: those locks were made for snippin’.

Top 150 debuts:

Number 135 “De-Emphasize” by Blazing Salads

Peak: number 135

Peak date: 19 April 1993

Weeks in top 150: 1 week

Top 150 chart run: 135

We last saw Australian duo Blazing Salads in March 1993. “De-Emphasize” (note the American spelling) was the second single issued from their only album Blazing Salads (number 130, May 1993).

Two further singles were released by the duo, “A Little Ray of Sunshine” and “Out of Time” - neither of which made the top 150.

Number 137 “These Boots Are Made for Walkin’” by Billy Ray Cyrus

Peak: number 115

Peak date: 3 May 1993

Weeks in top 150: 5 weeks

Top 150 chart run: 137-118-115-125-131

Weeks on chart: 6 weeks

Hailing from Kentucky, American country singer Billy Ray Cyrus burst onto the chart in 1992 with his debut single “Achy Breaky Heart”, which was number 1 for seven weeks in September-November 1992, becoming the highest-selling single of the year in Australia. One thing I didn’t realise until writing this post is that “Achy Breaky Heart” was originally recorded by The Marcy Brothers as “Don’t Tell My Heart” in 1991, with the slightly different chorus lyric, “my achy breakin’ heart”. Like most artists who come out of nowhere with a novelty number one hit, Billy never landed a second top 40 single in Australia, with follow-up “Could’ve Been Me” (number 43, February 1993) falling just a few places short.

“These Boots Are Made for Walkin’”, a cover version of the 1966 number one Nancy Sinatra single, was issued as the third single from Billy’s debut album Some Gave All (number 1 for two weeks October 1992) in Australasia and Europe, while the US went with “She’s Not Cryin’ Anymore”.

Internationally, Billy Ray’s version of “These Boots Are Made for Walkin’” peaked at number 63 in the UK in November 1992, number 27 in the Netherlands in February 1993, number 32 in the Flanders region of Belgium in February 1993, and number 42 in New Zealand in April 1993.

In Australia, “These Boots…” was most popular in Queensland, where it reached number 90 on the state chart.

We’ll next see Billy Ray in November 1993.

Number 143 “Hate It When You Leave” by Keith Richards

Peak: number 143

Peak date: 19 April 1993

Weeks in top 150: 1 week

Top 150 chart run: 143

Weeks on chart: 5 weeks

Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards last paid us a visit in 1992.

“Hate It When You Leave” was issued as the second single from Keith’s second solo album Main Offender (number 96, November 1992). While I cannot find evidence of this single charting anywhere else at the time of its release, interestingly, it registered on several UK format-specific charts (which I didn’t know existed until now) in 2020, following a special Record Store Day release. The re-release of “Hate It When You Leave” peaked at number 81 on the Offical Singles Sales Chart (so excluding streaming), number 10 on the Official Physical Singles Chart, and number 8 on the Official Vinyl Singles Chart - all in October 2020. I am thinking that the music video embedded below, although set to the audio of the original 1992 recording, may have been put together for the 2020 re-release, given the ’(2020)’ alongside the title.

In Australia, the 1993 release of “Hate It When You Leave” performed strongest in South Australia/Northern Territory, where it reached number 107.

Keith had six low-charting singles in Australia between 2015 and 2019, with “Amnesia” (number 871, September 2015) being the ‘biggest’ of those.

Number 147 “Sweet Harmony” by The Beloved

Peak: number 147

Peak date: 19 April 1993

Weeks in top 150: 2 weeks

Top 150 chart run: 147-148

Weeks on chart: 8 weeks

We last saw English electronic band The Beloved in 1991. Since then, the group’s lineup had pared back to singer Jon Marsh and his wife Helena.

“Sweet Harmony” was the lead single from the second Beloved studio album Conscience (number 144, April 1993). Internationally, the single peaked at number 8 in the UK in January 1993, number 14 in Ireland, number 3 in Austria in March 1993, number 14 in Sweden in March 1993, number 40 in the Flanders region of Belgium in April 1993, number 6 in Germany in May 1993, number 6 in Switzerland in May 1993, number 21 in the Netherlands in July 1993, and number 16 in France in November 1993. “Sweet Harmony” also peaked at number 14 on the US Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 in May 1993, number 23 on the Alternative Airplay chart in May 1993, and number 23 on the Dance Club Songs chart in June 1993. As you might have surmised from all of these stats, “Sweet Harmony” was The Beloved’s biggest international hit, as well as their highest-charting single in their native UK.

In Australia, where The Beloved were criminally underrated, “Sweet Harmony” would be their third biggest ‘hit’. On the state charts, the single performed strongest in Western Australia, where it reached number 122.

Owing to the UK Chart Attack radio show wrapping up in Melbourne in early January 1993, I did not hear “Sweet Harmony” until early 1996, when flipping between radio stations. Triple M, of all stations, were playing it, when they had a brief period of adding dance/pop to their playlist. I thought it was a new release, liked it, and recorded it onto cassette (how quaint). I am thinking that the ‘nude’ (though very well covered up) music video may have not helped “Sweet Harmony” receive exposure on TV. It’s a shame that this song didn’t receive proper promotion in Australia. It’s easily my favourite new entry this week.

We’ll next see The Beloved in June 1993.

Bubbling WAY down under:

Number 166 “Happy Birthday to Me” by Cracker

Peak: number 157

Peak date: 3 May 1993

Weeks on chart: 6 weeks

American rock band Cracker last paid us a visit in 1992.

“Happy Birthday to Me” was the second single released from the band’s debut album Cracker (number 178, November 1992). The only other chart this single registered on was the US Billboard Alternative Airplay chart, where it reached number 13 in July 1992.

Domestically, “Happy Birthday to Me” was most popular in Western Australia, reaching number 130 on the state chart.

I hadn’t heard this one before; it’s quite good.

Cracker will next join us in 1994.

Number 177 “Never Saw a Miracle” by Curtis Stigers

Peak: number 177

Peak date: 19 April 1993

Weeks on chart: 1 week

American jazz singer Curtis Stigers last joined us in 1992.

“Never Saw a Miracle” was issued as the third single in Australia from Curtis’ debut album Curtis Stigers (number 84, October 1992), in late January 1993. I’ve got a sneaking suspicion that ARIA have made a boo-boo on their database, as the follow-up single, “You’re All That Matters to Me”, was released in Australia one week prior to this chart survey, on 12 April 1993, and it would make much more sense for that release to be debuting at number 177 one week later than a single that came out twelve weeks’ prior.

Overseas, “Never Saw a Miracle” peaked at number 34 in the UK in October 1992, and number 39 in Canada in November 1992. The single also peaked at number 7 on the US Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 chart in December 1992, and number 5 on the Adult Contemporary chart in November 1992

Locally, “Never Saw a Miracle” performed strongest in Victoria/Tasmania, reaching number 169 on the state chart.

If this listing should actually be “You’re All That Matters to Me”, that release peaked at number 98 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in March 1992, number 6 in the UK in April 1992, number 11 in Ireland in April 1992, number 38 in Canada in April 1992, number 83 in the Netherlands in May 1992, number 32 in the Flanders region of Belgium in June 1992, and number 54 in Germany in July 1992. The track also reached number 17 on the US Billboard Adult Contemporary chart in April 1992.

I recall hearing “Never Saw a Miracle” at the time, but not “You’re All That Matters to Me”. Of the two, I prefer “Never Saw a Miracle”.

We shall see Curtis on one more occasion, in 1995.

Number 196 “If I Should Fall Behind” by Bruce Springsteen

Peak: number 196

Peak date: 19 April 1993

Weeks on chart: 2 weeks

American singer-songwriter Bruce Springsteen last paid us a visit in 1992.

“If I Should Fall Behind” was the third single released in Australia from Bruce’s tenth studio album Lucky Town (number 6, April 1992). It appears that this track was only released as a single in Australia and select continental European countries. I cannot find evidence of “If I Should Fall Behind” charting elsewhere. On the state charts, “If I Should Fall Behind” performed strongest in Queensland, where it reached number 173.

No music video appears to have been filmed for this track, although an official live recording (which sounds completely different to the studio version embedded below) has been uploaded to YouTube here.

I hadn’t heard this one before; it’s quite nice.

We’ll next see Bruce in 1995.

Number 203 “Fall from Grace” by Eskimos & Egypt

Peak: number 186

Peak date: 24 May 1993

Weeks on chart: 5 weeks

Hailing from Manchester, UK band Eskimos & Egypt would be best known by Australians for their remix of Headless Chickens’ “Cruise Control” (number 26, November 1994), which was the version that became a hit here.

“Fall from Grace”, lifted from the band’s debut album Perfect Disease (released in Australia in January 1994, did not chart), peaked at number 51 in the UK in February 1993. Locally, “Fall from Grace” was most popular in Western Australia, where it reached number 167. The track features vocals from Diane Charlemagne, who went on to front Urban Cookie Collective, who had top 10 hits in Australia with “The Key: The Secret” (number 4 for 5 weeks in November-December 1993) and “Feels Like Heaven” (number 10, January 1994). Sadly, Diane passed away in 2015, aged 51, from kidney cancer. We’ll see Urban Cookie Collective bubble under in 1994.

Eskimos & Egypt will join us again in August 1993.

Number 204 “Many Rivers to Cross” by Cher

Peak: number 204

Peak date: 19 April 1993

Weeks on chart: 1 week

American singer/actress Cher last visited us in January 1993.

“Many Rivers to Cross”, a cover of the Jimmy Cliff song from 1969, was the second new single released from Cher’s Greatest Hits 1965-1992 (number 48, December 1992). To my surprise, it is a live recording, ‘live from The Mirage’. The song had been performed live by Cher since at least 1975, with a live rendition performed for The Cher Sow in 1975. The lyric, “’cause I’ve been licked, washed up for years” sounds particularly poignant, coming from Cher.

Internationally, Cher’s version of this track peaked at number 37 in the UK in March 1993. In Australia, “Many Rivers to Cross” performed strongest in Western Australia, where it reached number 168 on the state chart.

A third new single from Cher’s Greatest Hits 1965-1992, “Whenever You’re Near”, was released in Australia in June 1993, but failed to chart.

Cher will next join us in 1996.

Next week (26 April): Five top 150 entries and eight bubbling WAY down under debuts.

< Previous week: 12 April 1993 Next week: 26 April 1993 >

Kent Music Report beyond the top 100: 18 April 1983

2025-04-18T20:51:00.004+10:00

After a two year break, welcome back to my series of posts on singles that made the Kent Music Report’s list of singles receiving significant sales reports beyond the top 100, which never actually made the top 100. Accordingly, there will not be a post for every week for this series of posts - I will only make a post when at least one of the listed titles missed the national top 100.

A honeymoon never came on the charts for Aussie band The Honeymoon.

Beyond the top 100:

Position 11 “Love Wakes Up” by The Honeymoon

Highest rank: 11th

Peak date: 18 April 1983

Weeks on below list: 1 week

The Honeymoon were an Australian band, originating in Sydney. “Love Wakes Up” was the lead single from The Honeymoon’s debut and only album Promise, although they had an earlier, non-album single, “Break Your Heart”, which made the Kent Music Report singles receiving significant sales reports beyond the top 100 list in October 1982. The Honeymoon never landed a top 100 entry in Australia.

Next post (2 May): one new entry peaking outside the top 100.

< Previous post: 7 March 1983 Next post: 2 May 1983 >

Week commencing 12 April 1993

2025-04-12T21:03:00.007+10:00

This was a quieter week on the Australian chart in 1993, with only three known new entries debuting and peaking outside of the top 100. The three entries are all new to me; perhaps they are new to you too? Let’s take a look at them.

Martha Wash: big in every way except on the charts (in her own right).

Top 150 debuts:

Number 132 “Green Machine” by Kyuss

Peak: number 114

Peak date: 26 April 1993

Weeks in top 150: 5 weeks

Top 150 chart run: 132-118-114-129-141

American band Kyuss (rhymes with ‘bias’) formed in Palm Desert, California in 1988. “Green Machine” was lifted from their second album Blues for the Red Sun (number 104, April 1993).

I could not find evidence of this one charting elsewhere, and was surprised to see that the music video embedded below is sourced from the long-running Australian music video TV program rage. I don’t normally care much for metal on the heavier side, but as one of the YouTube commenters writes, “do not listen to this song while driving if you enjoy your driver’s licence”.

This would be the only top 150 single in Australia for Kyuss.

Bubbling WAY down under:

Number 173 “(We Don’t Need This) Fascist Groove Thang” (The Rapino Brothers Remixes) by Heaven 17

Peak: number 173

Peak date: 12 April 1993

Weeks on chart: 5 weeks

English band Heaven 17 formed in Sheffield in 1980. Martyn Ware and Ian Craig Marsh were founding members of The Human League, but split from that group in late 1980, following personal and creative tensions. Together, they formed the production duo British Electric Foundation (B.E.F.), and recruited singer Glenn Gregory to front Heaven 17.

“(We Don’t Need This) Fascist Groove Thang” was issued as the band’s first single in 1981, peaking at number 45 in the UK in March 1981, and number 72 in Australia in August 1981. Between 1981 and 1993, Heaven 17 placed seven singles on the Australian top 100, with “Temptation” (number 38, September 1983) being the biggest of those, and the only one to make the top 50.

In late 1992, a Brothers in Rhythm remix of “Temptation” gave Heaven 17 their first UK top 10 single in nine years, and was also a minor hit in Australia, reaching number 64 in March 1993. A compilation album Higher and Higher: The Best of (number 129, May 1993) was subsequently released, containing new mixes of a couple of the band’s early singles. A Rapino Brothers remix of “(We Don’t Need This) Fascist Groove Thang” was issued as the second single from the album.

Internationally, the Rapino Brothers remix of “(We Don’t Need This) Fascist Groove Thang” peaked at number 40 in the UK in February 1993. In Australia, the single performed strongest in Victoria/Tasmania, where it reached number 162 on the state chart.

I hadn’t heard this remix before, but liked it.

We shall see Heaven 17 again in June 1993.

Number 179 “Give It to You” by Martha Wash

Peak: number 179

Peak date: 12 April 1993

Weeks on chart: 2 weeks

We last saw American powerhouse vocalist Martha Wash in February 1993.

“Give It to You” was released as the second single from Martha’s debut solo album Martha Wash (released in Australia in April 1993, did not chart). Internationally, “Give It to You” peaked at number 37 in the UK in February 1993, and at number 90 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in March 1993. The song also registered on several US Billboard genre-specific charts, peaking at number 75 on the Radio Songs chart in March 1993, number 48 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart in March 1993, and number 1 on the Dance Club Songs chart for one week in April 1993.

Domestically, “Give It to You” was most popular in Western Australia, where it reached number 167.

I hadn’t heard this one before; it’s quite decent.

Martha will next bubble under in 1999. Before then, she’ll score her only Australian top 100 single (where she is credited as Martha Wash), duetting with RuPaul on “It’s Raining Men - The Sequel” (number 64, March 1998).

Next week (19 April): Four top 150 entries and five bubbling WAY down under debuts.

< Previous week: 5 April 1993 Next week: 19 April 1993 >

Week commencing 5 April 1993

2025-04-05T10:24:00.002+11:00

Before taking a look at this week in 1993’s new entries peaking outside the top 100, earlier this week I completed the series of posts outlining the ARIA state chart number one singles that did not top the national chart between June 1988 and December 1989. You can read Part 3, covering July 1989 to December 1989.

Billy Ocean barely made a ripple on the Australian chart in 1993 with this release.

Top 150 debuts:

Number 112 "Oceans" by Pearl Jam

Peak: number 110

Peak date: 19 April 1993

Weeks in top 150: 6 weeks (5 weeks in 1993; 1 week in 1995)

Top 150 chart run: 112-111-110-125-121

Re-entered 20 March 1995: 148

Seattle band Pearl Jam are, at least in my mind, synonymous with the early 90s grunge scene. Formed in 1990, the group hit the Australian top 10 with their debut single "Alive" (number 9, April 1992), lifted from their debut album Ten (number 11, April 2009, after originally peaking at number 14 in April 1992). "Oceans" was the fourth single released from Ten, following "Even Flow" (number 22, June 1992) and "Jeremy" (number 68, October 1992).

Internationally, "Oceans" peaked at number 30 in the Netherlands in February 1993, number 35 in the Flanders region of Belgium in February 1993, and number 16 in New Zealand in May 1993.

I am definitely not a fan of Pearl Jam, though don’t mind "Go" (number 22, October 1993). I don’t recall hearing "Oceans" before. I am surprised that a music video was produced for the song, given how few videos the band did, although they do not appear in this one.

"Oceans" re-entered the ARIA top 150 in March 1995, as one of four Pearl Jam singles re-issued and peaking between numbers 101 and 150.

Number 125 "Ruby Tuesday" by Rod Stewart

Peak: number 118

Peak date: 12 April 1993

Weeks in top 150: 5 weeks

Top 150 chart run: 125-118-123-135-146

Weeks on chart: 9 weeks

Raspy-voiced English veteran singer Rod Stewart last joined us in 1992.

"Ruby Tuesday", a cover version of the Rolling Stones song from 1966, was the second single released from Rod's covers album Lead Vocalist (number 96, April 1993). It followed his rendition of "Tom Traubert's Blues (Waltzing Matilda)" (number 82, January 1993).

Internationally, "Ruby Tuesday" peaked at number 11 in the UK in February 1993, number 19 in Ireland in February 1993, number 21 in the Netherlands in March 1993, number 39 in the Flanders region of Belgium in March 1993, and number 57 in Germany in April 1993.

In Australia, "Ruby Tuesday" performed strongest in Queensland, reaching number 81 on the state chart.

We’ll next see Rod in October 1993.

Number 140 "Promenade" by Underground Lovers

Peak: number 140

Peak date: 5 April 1993

Weeks in top 150: 4 weeks

Known chart run: 153-140-141-149-141

Weeks on chart: 7 weeks

Melbourne band Underground Lovers last bubbled under in 1992.

"Promenade" was the second single from the band's second album Leaves Me Blind (number 133, March 1993). The single was most popular in New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory, where it reached number 118 on the state chart.

I hadn’t heard this one before. It’s more guitar-heavy than the other Underground Lovers tracks I know.

We’ll next see Underground Lovers in August 1993.

Number 141 "I Was a King" by Eddie Murphy featuring Shabba Ranks

Peak: number 141

Peak date: 5 April 1993

Weeks in top 150: 1 week

Top 150 chart run: 141

American comedian, actor and sometime singer Eddie Murphy last joined us in 1990.

"I Was a King" was the lead single from Eddie’s third musical studio album Love’s Alright. Eddie appears to have had the knack of duetting with problematic artists, teaming up with Jamaican dancehall artist Shabba Ranks, whom we last saw in 1992, for this release, and Michael Jackson for the next single "Whatzupwitu" (number 88, July 1993), which was Eddie’s last top 150 chart entry in Australia.

Internationally, "I Was a King" peaked at number 64 in the UK in February 1993, number 35 in Sweden in February 1993, and number 98 in Germany in March 1993. "I Was a King" also registered on the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, reaching number 61.

While we won’t see Eddie again, Shabba will join us next in 1994.

Number 145 "Pressure" by Billy Ocean

Peak: number 145

Peak date: 5 April 1993

Weeks in top 150: 1 week

Known chart run: 171-145

Weeks on chart: 5 weeks

Billy Ocean, born Leslie Sebastian Charles in Trinidad and Tobago, then part of the British West Indies, was based in the UK for his recording career. His first single "Nashville Rain" was released under the name Les Charles, in 1971. "Love Really Hurts without You" (number 3 for two weeks in June-July 1976) was Billy’s first single released as Billy Ocean, and his first Australian hit. Billy waited over eight years to land his second Australian hit, with "Caribbean Queen (No More Love on the Run)" (number 2, December 1984). Between 1976 and 1989, Billy placed 11 singles on the Australian top 100, with "When the Going Gets Tough, The Tough Get Going" (number 1 for six weeks in March-April 1986), and "Get Outta My Dreams, Get Into My Car" (number 1 for five weeks in April-May 1988) being the biggest of those, reaching number one.

Billy was last on the Australian chart with "Licence to Chill" (number 76, November 1989), from his Greatest Hits (number 14, January 1990) compilation. A second new single from Greatest Hits, "I Sleep Much Better (In Someone Else's Bed)", was released locally on 12" vinyl in March 1990, but did not chart.

"Pressure" was the lead single from Billy’s eighth studio album Time to Move On (released in Australia in June 1993, did not chart). Internationally, the single peaked at number 55 in the UK in January 1993, number 44 in the Netherlands in March 1993, and number 39 in the Flanders region of Belgium in April 1993.

Locally, "Pressure" performed strongest in South Australia/Northern Territory, where it reached number 118 on the state chart.

Billy had one further, low charting, single in Australia, with "One World" (number 2650, January 2020). He had later, low-charting albums with L.I.F.E. (number 123, August 1997), Let’s Get Back Together (number 584, March 2003), The Best of Billy Ocean (number 384, June 2009), Here You Are: The Best of Billy Ocean (number 242, May 2016), The Very Best of (number 695, May 2020), and One World (number 978, September 2020).

Bubbling WAY down under:

Number 165 "Photograph of Mary" by Trey Lorenz

Peak: number 155

Peak date: 3 May 1993

Weeks on chart: 6 weeks

We last saw American R&B singer Trey Lorenz in 1992.

"Photograph of Mary" was the second single released from Trey’s debut album Trey Lorenz. Internationally, the single peaked at number 38 in the UK in January 1993, and number 31 in New Zealand in March 1993. "Photograph of Mary" also peaked at number 18 on the US Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 chart in February 1993. The song registered on several US Billboard genre-specific charts, reaching number 46 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart in March 1993, number 46 on the R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart in March 1993, number 11 on the Dance Club Songs chart in March 1993, and number 6 on the Dance Singles Sales chart in March 1993.

In Australia, "Photograph of Mary" performed strongest in Western Australia, where it reached number 125 on the state chart.

I hadn’t heard this one before. I don’t mind it.

This was Trey’s last charting release in Australia.

Number 204 "Open Up" by Suzanne Rhatigan

Peak: number 204

Peak date: 5 April 1993

Weeks on chart: 1 week

Irish singer Suzanne Rhatigan last paid us a visit in 1992.

"Open Up" was Suzanne’s third and final single to chart in Australia, from her debut and only album To Hell with Love (released in Australia in February 1993, did not chart). The single was most popular in Western Australia, where it reached number 169 on the state chart.

Skip to 4:39 in the video embedded below to hear "Open Up".

Next week (12 April): Just one new top 150 entry and two bubbling WAY down under debuts.

< Previous week: 29 March 1993 Next week: 12 April 1993 >

Special post: State chart-only number 1 singles July-December 1989

2025-03-30T21:44:00.001+11:00

Here is the third and final instalment of a series of special posts taking a look at singles that topped one or more of the ARIA state charts, but not the national chart, between June 1988 (when ARIA began producing the chart in-house) and December 1989 (before this information was available via subscription to The ARIA Report). This post takes a look at singles that topped the state charts only, between July 1989 and December 1989. You can read Part 1, covering June 1988-December 1988, and Part 2, covering January 1989-June 1989, on the hyperlinks embedded here.

Jive Bunny was what Western Australians liked in late 1989.

State chart-only number one singles - July 1989 to December 1989:

1. "Telephone Booth" by Ian Moss

State(s) that it went to number one in: South Australia/Northern Territory

Known dates it was number one: 7 August 1989

National chart peak: number 7

National chart debut: 19 June 1989

National chart run: 40-20-17-19-22-17-14-12-7-11-17-21-34-51-58-71-98-108

We saw 'Mossy' in part 2 of this series of posts, with "Tucker's Daughter", which also topped the South Australia/Northern Territory state chart. I liked this one more than "Tucker's Daughter" at the time, but now I'd say they're neck and neck. One thing probably few people would have predicted at the time, though, was that this would be Ian's final top 10 solo single in Australia, after kicking off his solo career with back-to-back top 10 hits and a number one album Matchbook (number 1 for three weeks in August 1989), which actually debuted at number 148 on the national albums chart before climbing to the top spot the following week.

Another interesting statistic about "Telephone Booth" is that it peaked outside the top 10 on the two most-populous state charts (NSW/ACT and VIC/TAS), but still went top 10 nationally on the strength of its sales in QLD, SA/NT and WA.

2. "Right Back Where We Started From" by Sinitta

State(s) that it went to number one in: Victoria/Tasmania

Known dates it was number one: 21 August 1989

National chart peak: number 7

National chart debut: 10 July 1989

National chart run: 130-48-35-24-15-13-10-7-9-7-7-11-13-15-24-34-50-46-52-93-94

Despite being thought of as a Stock Aitken Waterman-produced artist, none of Sinitta's singles produced by them peaked higher than number 49 in Australia, that being "Toy Boy" (number 49, December 1987). Instead, her two biggest hits in Australia, "So Macho" (number 14, October 1986) and "Right Back Where We Started From" (number 7 for three non-consecutive weeks in August-September 1989) were produced by others. Although this one was produced by Pete Hammond, who was part of the Stock Aitken Waterman 'Hit Factory' team. Almost conversely to "Telephone Booth" above, "Right Back..." peaked within the top 5 in the three most-populous states, and in the teens in SA/NT and WA.

3. "Baby I Don't Care" by Transvision Vamp

State(s) that it went to number one in: Western Australia

Known dates it was number one: 21 August 1989

National chart peak: number 3

National chart debut: 29 May 1989

National chart run: 137-54-40-29-24-13-14-8-10-6-5-5-3-4-7-9-17-20-24-42-43-50-68-74-98-98

Despite liking Transvision Vamp, and this one being their biggest hit in Australia, "Baby I Don't Care" would not rank among my favourite songs of theirs, though I do like it. Released in Australia a mere three weeks after the final single from their debut album, "Sister Moon" (number 95, June 1989), "Baby I Don't Care" led the band's second album Velveteen (number 2, July 1989), ripping off the chord structure of The Troggs' "Wild Thing" (number 1 for two weeks in 1966). Roxette had also recently used the same chord structure with "Dressed for Success" (number 3 for four weeks in September 1989). It seemed like Transvision Vamp were going to be huge and stick around for some time when this was out - or so I thought - but that was not to be, with the band achieving only one further top 20 single in Australia after this point, before splitting in 1992.

4. "All I Want Is You" by U2

State(s) that it went to number one in: Victoria/Tasmania and Queensland

Known dates it was number one: 28 August 1989 (VIC/TAS); 9 October 1989 (QLD)

National chart peak: number 2

National chart debut: 21 August 1989

National chart run: 17-12-11-6-2-2-2-4-6-9-9-11-17-22-30-35-48-59-(2 week Xmas break)-47-70-89-78

"All I Want Is You" was issued as the fourth and final single from U2's hybrid/live studio album Rattle and Hum (number 1 for five weeks in October-November 1988). While lead single "Desire" (number 1 for three weeks in October 1988) topped the chart, the second and third singles stalled in the low teens/20s. The success of "All I Want Is You" was probably helped by the striking video, and also the new B-side, "Everlasting Love", which received so much airplay in Melbourne that I assumed it was their 'new' single. "All I Want Is You" peaked at number two on the state charts it was not number one on (NSW/ACT, SA/NT, WA).

5. "I'll Be Loving You (Forever)" by New Kids on the Block

State(s) that it went to number one in: Western Australia

Known dates it was number one: 4 September 1989

National chart peak: number 4

National chart debut: 31 July 1989

National chart run: 131-23-19-7-8-4-5-4-6-12-12-12-22-19-25-27-31-40-43-51-57-(2 week Xmas break)-61-68-83-82-87

American boy band New Kids on the Block burst onto the Australian chart earlier in 1989 with the second single from their second album Hangin' Tough (number 7 for four non-consecutive weeks in November 1989 and December 1989-January 1990), "You Got It (The Right Stuff)" (number 1 for three weeks in August 1989). They almost seemed 'cool' or slightly 'street' to me with that release - that image would be shattered permanently with the incredibly sappy "I'll Be Loving You (Forever)". Sounding more like a follow-up to Glenn Medeiros' "Nothing's Gonna Change My Love for You" (number 10, February 1988), "I'll Be Loving You (Forever)" was schmaltz in the extreme.

It was around this point I realised that I didn't actually like New Kids on the Block. They would redeem themselves somewhat with the lead single from their next album, "Step by Step" (number 8 for two weeks in June 1990), but the damage had been done. Any 'cool' factor the group had was further diminished by their hyper-commercialism, with bubblegum cards and an animated TV series - a model that Spice Girls would look to for inspiration later in the 90s.

6. "I Don't Want a Lover" by Texas

State(s) that it went to number one in: Western Australia

Known dates it was number one: 11 September 1989

National chart peak: number 4

National chart debut: 5 June 1989

National chart run: 121-104-86-58-61-42-38-28-17-14-6-9-5-8-4-8-13-14-24-23-27-32-36-45-54-54-65-83-95-(2 week Xmas break)

'Texas' is not the name you expect of a band hailing from Glasgow, Scotland. My dad, who was born in Scotland, was quite the fan of this one, and I'm pretty sure got the Southside (number 14, November 1989) album it's taken from. Interestingly, "I Don't Want a Lover" peaked at number 5 or lower on the non-Western Australia state charts, but peaked at number 4 nationally. Texas wouldn't land another decent-sized hit single in Australia for nearly another eight years, with "Say What You Want" (number 11 for two weeks in June 1997), which sounds quite different to "I Don't Want a Lover"... so much so that I was not certain it was the same 'Texas' when I first heard it!

7. "That's What I Like" by Jive Bunny and The Mastermixers

State(s) that it went to number one in: Western Australia

Known dates it was number one: 27 November 1989

National chart peak: number 4

National chart debut: 20 November 1989

National chart run: 62-4-4-4-5-(2 week Xmas break)-7-12-23-33-44-93-92

Jive Bunny and The Mastermixers were father and son duo John and Andrew Pickles, fronted by a... cartoon bunny named Jive. A novelty phenomenon you kind of had to be there at the time to understand. Their medleys of 'golden oldies', mainly from the 1950s and 1960s - some tracks were re-recorded with the original vocalists, or with soundalikes - were briefly popular in Australia towards the end of 1989. Their debut single "Swing the Mood" (number 1 for three weeks in October 1989) topped the Australian chart, as did their album The Album (number 1 for four weeks in December 1989-January 1990). "That's What I Like", their second release, wasn't quite as popular, but a top 5 hit nonetheless. It would be their last top 50 single in Australia.

One interesting piece of trivia about this single's chart run is that it debuted at number 101 on the Western Australia state chart, before climbing to number 1 the following week! Also, while researching this post, I found an article where the DJ behind Jive Bunny's first hit, "Swing the Mood", who was also involved with several of their later releases, claims he has only ever made £100 from their hits!

I lost my first music videos YouTube channel in 2009 after receiving three unexpired (I don't they ever expired back then) copyright strikes, the third of which was from Music Factory, the record label Jive Bunny's releases were on, for uploading one of their videos! I thought that was a bit rich, coming from an act whose entire body of work was based on sampling other people's songs.

8. "We Didn't Start the Fire" by Billy Joel

State(s) that it went to number one in: Queensland and Western Australia

Known dates it was number one: 4 December 1989 (QLD and WA)

National chart peak: number 2

National chart debut: 23 October 1989

National chart run: 20-10-5-3-3-2-2-2-2-(2 week Xmas break)-4-6-11-15-25-32-42-44-57-67-86-100

"We Didn't Start the Fire" was Billy Joel's first Australian single release since January 1988, preceding his Storm Front (number 1 for two weeks in November 1989) album. Similar to Ian Moss's Matchbook above, the Storm Front album debuted at number 136 in Australia, before climbing to number 2 the following week. I was not a fan of this one at all at the time, though I don't mind it now. It was a weird period, looking back, where artists your parents liked could score major hit singles. I can't see that happening now.

You can read part 1 and part 2 of this series of posts on the hyperlinks embedded here.