Week commencing 10 May 1993

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 21 January 1991

This week in 1991 saw nine new top 150-peaking debuts, and all but one of them happened to peak during the same week!  This week also sees the highest number of bubbling WAY down under entries to date, with eight.  Phew!  Let's take a look at them.

 

Innocence: they are that innocent!

  

Top 150 debuts:

 

Number 132 "Here and Now" by Shane Howard

Peak: number 132

Peak date: 21 January 1991

Weeks in top 150: 2 weeks

Known chart run: 153-132-148

Weeks on chart: 5 weeks

 

Shane Howard came to fame as the frontman for Australian band Goanna, who scored a massive hit in 1982 with "Solid Rock" (number 3, December 1982).  Surprisingly, the band only landed one other top 40 hit, with "Razor's Edge" (number 35, May 1983).

Goanna disbanded in 1985, and Shane launched a solo career.  We saw Shane bubble under with his debut solo single in March 1989.  "Here and Now" was the third single issued from Shane's second solo album River (number 68, November 1990), following "Walk on Fire" (number 48, July 1990) and "If the Well Runs Dry" (number 83, October 1990).

 

On the ARIA state charts, "Here and Now" performed strongest in Western Australia, where it reached number 43. 

"Here and Now" peaked higher on the Australian Music Report singles chart, reaching number 93.

 

Shane's biggest solo hit on the Australian chart, and my favourite of his, "Escape from Reality" (number 40, August 1991), was a new track recorded with Hothouse Flowers frontman Liam Ó Maonlaí.  "Escape from Reality" was tacked onto a re-issue of the River album.

 

We will see Shane again in 1993.

 

 

Number 133 "Groovy Train" by The Farm

Peak: number 113

Peak dates: 18 February 1991, 11 March 1991 and 18 March 1991

Weeks in top 150: 11 weeks 

Top 150 chart run: 133-133-142-126-113-114-115-113-113-120-123

Weeks on chart: 13 weeks

 

The Farm formed in Liverpool, England, in 1983.  "Groovy Train", their debut Australian single, was the lead release from the band's first studio album Spartacus (number 106, May 1991).  The track was produced by Madness lead singer Suggs, together with Terry Farley.

In their homeland, "Groovy Train" reached number 6 in September 1990.  The single also peaked at number 41 in the Netherlands in December 1990.

 

The Spartacus album topped the UK albums chart in March 1991, but, oddly, was The Farm's only album to chart within the top 75 there, despite the band notching up 8 top 40 singles.

 

On the state charts, "Groovy Train" performed strongest in New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory, where it reached number 79.  The single peaked higher on the Australian Music Report singles chart, where it reached number 90.

 

The Farm never managed to land a top 100 single or album on the ARIA chart, but we shall see them bubble under on a few more occasions, with the next one being in April 1991.

 

Number 136 "Total Confusion" by A Homeboy, A Hippie & A Funki Dredd

Peak: number 136

Peak date: 21 January 1991

Weeks in top 150: 4 weeks 

Top 150 chart run: 136-143-146-138

I don't recall hearing this one, or even of this one, before.  'Funki Dredd' in the group's name makes me think of Soul II Soul, but their sound is nothing like Soul II Soul.

 

A Homeboy, a Hippie & A Funki Dredd were British trio Caspar Pound, Marc Williams and Tony Winter.  "Total Confusion" peaked at number 56 in the UK in October 1990.

A Homeboy, A Hippie & A Funki Dredd would not release another single in Australia until 1996, with the rather different-to-"Total Confusion"-sounding "U Know".  Caspar Pound, whom I could not spot in the music video, died from cancer in 2004, aged 33.

Number 137 "Missunderstanding" by Al B. Sure!

Peak: number 137

Peak date: 21 January 1991

Weeks in top 150: 1 week

Top 150 chart run: 137

"Missunderstanding" - that's not a typo - was the lead single from American Al B. Sure!'s (real name Albert Joseph Brown III) second album Private Times... and the Whole 9!  Al B. Sure had previously remixed Robert Palmer's "Tell Me I'm Not Dreaming", which we saw bubble under in November 1989, for its single release.

 

"Missunderstanding" peaked at number 42 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in November 1990, and at number 30 in New Zealand during the same month.

While "Missunderstanding" appears to have been Al B. Sure's only solo single released in Australia, he was credited as a featured artist on David Bowie's "Black Tie White Noise" (number 74, June 1993) single from 1993.  He also later produced for other artists, including Tevin Campbell and Usher.

 

 

Number 138 "Feel the Rhythm" by Jazzi P

Peak: number 138

Peak date: 21 January 1991

Weeks in top 150: 2 weeks 

Top 150 chart run: 138-149

 

Jazzi P, real name Pauline Bennett, is most famous for being the guest rap artist on Kylie Minogue's "Shocked" (number 7, July 1991).  "Feel the Rhythm", issued in Australia in August 1990, was Jazzi's only solo single.  The track heavily samples the music from Chic's "Le Freak" (number 1, February 1979).

Internationally, "Feel the Rhythm" peaked at number 51 in the UK in June 1990, and number 35 in New Zealand in August 1990.

Jazzi's Wikipedia article states that she bought herself out of her record deal in 1991, and returned to being a dance instructor.  She also appeared as a contestant in the 2014 season of Big Brother UK.

 

Number 140 "Headline News" by Everyday People

Peak: number 140

Peak date: 21 January 1991

Weeks in top 150: 2 weeks 

Top 150 chart run: 140-(out for 1 week)-143

 

English band Everyday People were Desi Campbell (vocals), Shaun Ward (bass) and Lloyd Richards (guitar).  They recorded and released one album You Wash... I'll Dry, from which this was the lead single.

The band did not achieve much chart success anywhere, with only their second single, "I Guess It Doesn't Matter" registering a top 40 placement in Germany and Switzerland.

Nothing the band released dented the top 90 in their homeland, with "Headline News" reaching number 99 in the UK in April 1990.  "Headline News" also peaked at number 83 in the Netherlands in May 1990, and number 53 in Germany in October 1990.

Listening to "Headline News" for the first time as I write this post, I am not sure why the band did not have greater success.  This track makes me think of a more-soulful Roachford, and sounds like the kind of thing that might have done better later in the decade.

 

The band's singer, Desi Campbell - also known as Desny Campbell, was the frontman in Floy Joy, who scored a number 29 hit in Australia in June 1986 with "Weak in the Presence of Beauty".  Alison Moyet took her version of the same song to number 30 in Australia in May 1987.

Despite their local lack of success, the ever-faithful Australian record company issued two further singles from the group: "I Guess It Doesn't Matter" (March 1991) and "Place in the Sun" (July 1991), neither of which troubled the top 150.

Number 141 "Back to Boom" by Kid Sensation

Peak: number 141

Peak date: 21 January 1991

Weeks in top 150: 1 week

Top 150 chart run: 141

 

Kid Sensation, real name Xola Malik (originally Stephen Spence), is a rapper hailing from Seattle.  "Back to Boom" appears on his debut album Rollin' with Number One.  I cannot find evidence of this track, or any of Kid Sensation's other releases, charting anywhere else.

 

This track was produced and mixed by Sir Mix-A-Lot, who is (in)famous for "Baby Got Back" (number 8, August 1992).

Number 144 "Rodeo Clown" by Louie Louie

Peak: number 144

Peak date: 21 January 1991

Weeks in top 150: 1 week

Top 150 chart run: 144

Puerto Rican/American singer Louie Louie, real name Louis Cordero, landed a number 51 'hit' in Australia with "Sittin' in the Lap of Luxury" in August 1990.  "Rodeo Clown" was the third single lifted from Louie's debut album The State I'm In (number 117, September 1990).  In the interim, "I Wanna Get Back with You" was issued as a single in Australia in October 1990, but missed the top 150.

I didn't hear "Rodeo Clown" at the time.  It does not appear to have charted anywhere else.

 

Prior to launching his recording career, Louie appeared as Madonna's boyfriend in the music video for her 1984 single "Borderline" (number 12, August 1984).

Louie released one further single in Australia, "The Thought of It", in April 1993, but it missed the top 150.

Number 147 "Where Has Love Gone?" by Holly Johnson

Peak: number 147

Peak date: 21 January 1991

Weeks in top 150: 1 week

Top 150 chart run: 147
Weeks on chart: 2 weeks

Holly Johnson, full name William Holly Johnson, was the lead singer of Frankie Goes to Hollywood, who landed five top 100 singles and one bubbling under single in Australia between 1984 and 1987.  Their biggest and most-enduring hit was, of course, "Relax" (number 5, March 1984).  We saw Holly bubble WAY down under back in July 1989.

"Where Has Love Gone?" was the lead single from Holly's second solo album Dreams That Money Can't Buy.  The single also flopped in Holly's native UK, peaking at number 73 in December 1990.

On the ARIA state charts, "Where Has Love Gone?" performed strongest in New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory, where it reached number 135.

I don't recall hearing this song at the time, so it must have received next to zero promotion.

A second single from Dreams That Money Can't Buy, "Across the Universe", was released in Australia in May 1991, but failed to chart.

"Where Has Love Gone?" was Holly's final solo single to chart in Australia.

 

Bubbling WAY down under:

 

Number 151 "Miles Away" by Winger

Peak: number 151

Peak date: 21 January 1991

Weeks on chart: 1 week

 

American metal band Winger, named after lead singer Kip Winger, formed in New York City in 1987.  "Miles Away" was the second single issued from the band's second album In the Heart of the Young (number 135, September 1990).  It was Winger's first single to chart in Australia, and followed "Can't Get Enuff" (released in Australia in September 1990), which failed to chart.  Winger's debut album Winger (number 153, June 1989), despite containing no singles that charted locally, managed to register a place on the ARIA albums chart.

 

"Miles Away" had much greater success in the US, where it reached number 12 in January 1991, becoming Winger's biggest hit.  "Miles Away" also peaked at number 56 in the UK in January 1991.

 

In Australia, "Miles Away" was most popular in New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory, where it reached number 140 on the state chart.

 

I probably heard "Miles Away" on the American Top 40 radio program at the time, but have only a vague recollection of this.  I became properly-acquainted with the song when it appeared among the list of music videos satirical metal band Steel Panther chose when programming the Australian music video TV show rage on the eve of the Australian 2016 Federal election.

 

Although I am not generally a 'metal' fan, I like "Miles Away".  It reminds me more of Europe, the band responsible for "The Final Countdown" (number 2, April 1987), than the 'hair metal' sound typical of the early 90s.

We shall see Winger again in April 1991.

 

 

 

Number 152 "Liberty!" by Kon Kan

Peak: number 152

Peak date: 21 January 1991

Weeks on chart: 1 week

 

Canadian band Kon Kan have bubbled under twice previously, with the most recent prior occasion being in November 1989.

"Liberty!" was the lead single from Kon Kan's second album Syntonic (number 182, January 1991), and the group's final single released in Australia.

Elsewhere, "Liberty!" peaked at number 91 in Canada.

On the ARIA state charts, "Liberty!" performed strongest in Western Australia, where it reached number 128.

 

 

Number 156 "Let's Push It" by Innocence

Peak: number 153

Peak date: 25 March 1991

Weeks on chart: 2 weeks

 

We saw Innocence back in April 1990, and here they are with the third single from their debut album Belief (number 115, February 1991).  In the interim, "Silent Voice" was released as a single in Australia in August 1990, but failed to chart.  "Let's Push It" was issued locally in mid-November 1990, but took more than two months to register a chart placing.

"Let's Push It" had greater success in Innocence's native UK, where it reached number 25 in October 1990.  The single also peaked at number 37 in Germany in January 1991.

On the ARIA state charts, "Let's Push It" performed strongest in New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory, where it reached number 143.

I've said this before, but you have to admire the persistence of Australian record companies from this era.  Nothing Innocence released in Australia cracked the top 100, yet both of their albums and all eight singles lifted from them were released locally.

 

We will see Innocence again next month!

 

 

Number 157 "Love Comes to Mind" by The Chimes

Peak: number 152

Peak date: 11 February 1991

Weeks on chart: 2 weeks

 

We saw The Chimes bubble under in September 1990 and in November 1990, and here they are for a third and final time.

"Love Comes to Mind" was the fifth (not counting the re-release of "Heaven") and final single lifted from the band's only album The Chimes (number 16, August 1990).  The track was remixed for its single release.

 

In The Chimes' native UK, "Love Comes to Mind" peaked at number 49 in December 1990; the only other place it charted.

 

While we will not see The Chimes again, as they split in 1991, we will see lead singer Pauline Henry again in 1994.

 

 

 

Number 159 "Dance of the Mad" by Pop Will Eat Itself

Peak: number 159

Peak date: 21 January 1991

Weeks on chart: 1 week

We last saw Pop Will Eat Itself in 1990.

 

"Dance of the Mad" was the second single lifted from the band's third studio album Cure for Sanity (number 51, February 1991), where it was titled "Dance of the Mad Bastards".

 

Internationally, the single peaked at number 32 in the UK in October 1990.

 

In Australia, "Dance of the Mad" performed best in New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory, where it reached number 147.

 

We'll next see PWEI in July 1991.

Number 160 "Make It Easy on Me" by Sybil

Peak: number 160

Peak date: 21 January 1991

Weeks on chart: 1 week 

American singer Sybil Lynch has joined us on two previous occasions, in February 1990 and October 1990.

"Make It Easy on Me" was the lead single from Sybil's second album Sybilization.  This track was written and produced by Stock Aitken Waterman, although they were past their commercial peak at this point in time.  The US received a different mix of the track, mixed by Tony King.

"Make It Easy on Me" peaked at number 99 in the UK in November 1990, and at number 76 in the Netherlands in December 1990.

On the ARIA state charts, "Make It Easy on Me" performed strongest in New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory, where it reached number 143.

 

We will next see Sybil in 1993.

 

 

Number 174 "Hanging Tree" by Big Pig

Peak: number 174

Peak date: 21 January 1991

Weeks on chart: 1 week

 

Australian band Big Pig placed five singles on the Australian top 100 between 1986 and 1990, with "Breakaway" (number 8, May 1988) and "Hungry Town" (number 18, December 1986) being the biggest two of those.

 

"Hanging Tree" was the second single lifted from Big Pig's second, and final, album You Lucky People (number 104, January 1991).  It followed "Justifier" (number 73, October 1990).  The band's second album was not nearly as successful as their debut, Bonk (number 6, June 1988), which was certified platinum.

 

On the state charts, "Hanging Tree" was most successful in South Australia/Northern Territory, where it reached number 124.

It's probably just a 'me' thing, but I can't help but notice the similarity between the hair style Big Pig frontwoman Sherine Abeyratne - sister of Zan, no less - was sporting during this era and the wig Freddie Mercury wears in Queen's "I Want to Break Free" (number 8, June 1984) music video.

A third single from You Lucky People, "King of Nothing", was released in March 1991, but failed to chart.  "Hanging Tree" would be Big Pig's final charting release before the group split.

 

 

Number 180 "Me So Horny" by The 2 Live Crew

Peak: number 180

Peak date: 21 January 1991

Weeks on chart: 2 weeks

 

The 2 Live Crew, hailing from Miami, were famous, or rather, infamous, for their explicit rap music, with song titles like "Pop That Pussy" (number 97, January 1992).

"Me So Horny", continuing the theme, was released in Australia in June 1990, but somehow took more than seven months to enter the chart - I am not sure why.  I also recall hearing the song on Triple M's Top 8 at 8 radio program (supposedly voted for by listeners), hosted by John Peters, around September 1989.  I am not sure what went on with the single's release chronology in Australia.

"Me So Horny" was lifted from the group's third studio album, 1989's As Nasty As They Wanna Be.  Internationally, the single topped the Dutch singles chart (only in the Netherlands...) in February 1990, and peaked at number 26 in the US, number 9 in the Flanders region of Belgium in March 1990, and number 31 in New Zealand in August 1990.

 

On the ARIA state charts, "Me So Horny" performed strongest in Western Australia, where it reached number 130. 

 

We will next see The 2 Live Crew in April 1991.

 

 

 

Next week (28 January): Seven new top 150 debuts and two bubbling WAY down under entries.

< Previous week: 14 January 1991                                     Next week: 28 January 1991 >

Week commencing 29 October 1990

This week in 1990's new entries again cover a broad range of genres.  Let's take a look at them.

 

Inner City were on the outer with their latest release in 1990.

 

Top 150 debuts:

 

Number 125 "Lift Me Up" by Jeff Lynne

Peak: number 125

Peak date: 29 October 1990

Weeks in top 150: 2 weeks

Top 150 chart run: 125-148

 

English singer-songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist Jeff Lynne was the front man of Electric Light Orchestra, commonly abbreviated as ELO.  Between 1973 and 1986, ELO placed 20 singles on the Australian top 100 chart, including their "Xanadu" (number 2, September 1980) collaboration with Olivia Newton-John.  ELO's biggest hit in their own right in Australia was "Livin' Thing" (number 2, February 1977).

Jeff's first solo single, "Doin' That Crazy Thing", was released in 1977, but did not chart anywhere.  Jeff issued another one-off single, from the Electric Dreams soundtrack (number 54, October 1984), "Video!", in 1984.  "Video!" peaked at number 87 in the UK in July 1984, and number 85 in the US in August 1984, but did not chart in Australia.

More-recently, Jeff had been part of Traveling Wilburys, who landed two top 20 singles, "Handle with Care" (number 3, January 1989) and "End of the Line" (number 12, March 1989), and a number one album, with Vol. 1 (number 1, February 1989), in Australia.

Jeff also co-produced George Harrison's Cloud Nine (number 10, April 1988), Roy Orbison's Mystery Girl (number 1, February 1989), and Tom Petty's Full Moon Fever (number 13, June 1989) albums.  At this point in time, Jeff seemed to be the go-to producer for veteran acts seeking a career resurgence.

Jeff's first solo album, Armchair Theatre (number 35, July 1990), was not released until 1990.  The album's lead single, "Every Little Thing", peaked at number 31 in Australia in August 1990.  The single also reached number 59 in the UK in July 1990, and number 18 in Canada in August 1990.

 

"Lift Me Up" was the second and final single from Armchair Theatre.   The only other place the single charted was in Canada, where it reached number 37 in October 1990.

 

As with its predecessor, the "Lift Me Up" music video makes extensive use of animation.

I didn't think I knew "Lift Me Up", but the chorus sounds familiar.  It's not what I'd typically listen to, but I like it.  My dad was an ELO fan, buying several of their 70s albums on CD in the early-mid 90s.  I don't recall him buying Jeff's solo album, however, although he did own Traveling Wilburys' Vol. 1.

While Jeff will not appear in the top 150 again as a solo artist, he continued to have success producing for other artists.  It must have been disappointing for Jeff that he did not achieve the same level of success with his own work.

We shall see Jeff again as part of Traveling Wilburys in February 1991.

 

 

Number 138 "King of Dreams" by Deep Purple

Peak: number 138

Peak date: 29 October 1990

Weeks in top 150: 2 weeks

Top 150 chart run: 138-144

Weeks on chart: 3 weeks

 

Between 1971 and 1973, British rock band Deep Purple landed 6 singles on the Australian top 100, although only one of those made the top 40.  But hit singles aren't really the raison d'être for a band like Deep Purple, are they?

"King of Dreams" was the lead single from Deep Purple's thirteenth studio album Slaves and Masters (number 72, November 1990).  The single peaked at number 70 in the UK in October 1990, and number 56 in Canada in December 1990.

 

Locally, "King of Dreams" performed strongest in Western Australia, where it reached number 113.

With some exceptions, I am not generally a fan of the heavier side of rock, so I was not expecting to like this song... not that it's that 'heavy', but the chorus is quite melodic.  I actually don't mind it.

 

"Smoke on the Water", released on the band's 1972 album Machine Head, is surely Deep Purple's best-known song, but oddly only peaked at number 54 in Australia.  We saw a charity cover version of that track bubble under last month.

 

Deep Purple will join us next in 1991.

 

 

Number 139 "Summer in Siam" by The Pogues

Peak: number 139

Peak date: 29 October 1990

Weeks in top 150: 2 weeks

Top 150 chart run: 139-(out for 1 week)-140

Outside of fans of 80s/early 90s alternative music, The Pogues are best known for their festive season duet with Kirsty MacColl, "Fairytale of New York" (number 49, December 2019)... and lead singer Shane MacGowan's teeth.

 

Although "Fairytale of New York" was issued in Australia in December 1987, it did not chart until the digital/streaming era, as the song belatedly became known to a wider audience locally (I first heard it in 2005).  Its Australian peak to date of number 49 may be beaten in future years, as Christmas-themed songs of yesteryear continue to fill up the Christmas chart every year, sometimes bettering their previous peaks.

That aside, "Summer in Siam" was only The Pogues' second single to reach the top 150 in Australia.  We saw the first one back in March 1989.  The band achieved greater success on the Australian albums chart, with Rum Sodomy & The Lash (number 89, April 1986), If I Should Fall from Grace with God (number 36, February 1988) and Peace and Love (number 61, September 1989) all charting locally.

"Summer in Siam" was the lead single from The Pogues' fifth studio album Hell's Ditch (number 82, November 1990).  The single peaked at number 21 in Ireland in September 1990, and number 64 in the UK during the same month.

Shane MacGowan, the band's singer, will bubble under in 1995.

 

 

Number 141 "Long Cool Woman in a Black Dress" by Charlie Sexton

Peak: number 141

Peak date: 29 October 1990

Weeks in top 150: 2 weeks

Chart run: 155-141-149

Weeks on chart: 3 weeks 

American singer-songwriter Charlie Sexton placed four singles within the Australian top 100 between 1986 and 1990, with his biggest hit down under being "Beats So Lonely" (number 17, April 1986).  We also saw Charlie bubble WAY down under in June 1989 with a single that only charted in Australia.

"Long Cool Woman in a Black Dress", a cover version of a 1971 song by The Hollies, appears on the Air America (number 133, October 1990) soundtrack.  It appears that "Long Cool Woman in a Black Dress" was only released as a single in Australia.

On the state charts, "Long Cool Woman..." performed strongest in Western Australia, where it reached number 123.

This was Charlie's last release to chart in Australia.

Number 143 "That Man (He's All Mine)" by Inner City

Peak: number 143

Peak date: 29 October 1990

Weeks in top 150: 1 week

Chart run: 143

Weeks on chart: 1 week

Detroit techno pioneer Kevin Saunderson formed Inner City with singer Paris Grey (real name Shanna Jackson) in 1987.  The pair placed all four singles from their debut album Paradise (number 38, September 1989) in the ARIA top 100 - "Big Fun" (number 57, March 1989), "Good Life" (number 52, March 1989), "Ain't Nobody Better" (number 67, June 1989), and "Do You Love What You Feel" (number 76, August 1989). "What'cha Gonna Do With My Lovin'" (number 86, February 1990), a new track recorded for their Paradise Remixed (number 119, April 1990) album, also made the top 100.

While Inner City never landed a top 50 single in Australia, they achieved greater success in the UK, with 9 top 40 singles, 4 of which made the top 10.  The pair also topped the US Billboard Dance chart on five occasions - not that I consider this a 'real' chart.

"That Man (He's All Mine)" was the lead single from the band's second studio album Fire (number 166, January 1991).  "That Man..." peaked at number 42 in the UK in October 1990.  It missed the US Billboard Hot 100, but peaked at number 20 on the Dance Singles Sales chart in December 1990, and number 15 on the Billboard Dance chart in January 1991.

On the ARIA state charts, "That Man (He's All Mine)" performed strongest in Victoria/Tasmania, where it reached number 140.

"That Man..." was the only single issued from Fire in Australia.  A second single from the album, "Till We Meet Again", was released in Europe and North America, and peaked at number 47 in the UK in March 1991.

 

Despite being a fan of the singles from Inner City's first album, I never heard "That Man..." at the time, suggesting that lack of promotion was a factor in it not performing as 'well' as the singles from the first album on the chart.

We shall see Inner City again in 1992.

Number 144 "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" by The Jeff Healey Band

Peak: number 127

Peak date: 19 November 1990

Weeks in top 150: 4 weeks

Top 150 chart run: 144-147-144-127

 

The Jeff Healey band visited us twice in 1989, in June and July.  "While My Guitar Gently Weeps", a Beatles cover, was the second single issued from the album Hell to Pay (number 20, July 1990).  It followed "I Think I Love You Too Much", which was released in Australia in June 1990 but missed the top 150.

 

"While My Guitar Gently Weeps" peaked at number 27 in the band's native Canada, and at number 85 in the UK in October 1990.

 

On the Australian Music Report singles chart, "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" peaked at number 92.

Jeff Healey died in 2007, aged 41, following a three-year illness with bone cancer.

We will next see The Jeff Healey Band in 1993.

 

Number 146 "I Almost Felt Like Crying" by Craig McLachlan and Check 1-2

Peak: number 103

Peak date: 5 November 1990

Weeks in top 150: 5 weeks

Top 150 chart run: 146-103-110-116-124

Back in 1990, Aussie Craig McLachlan was best known as a TV soap actor, playing the roles of Henry Ramsay on Neighbours between 1987 and 1989, and Grant Mitchell on Home and Away in 1990-91. Currently, he is best 'known' for being accused of some rather unsavoury acts, which I won't repeat here, but you can check this link if you don't already know.

In between, Craig briefly tried his hand at being a pop star in the late 80s/early 90s.  With his back-up band Check 1-2, Craig landed a couple of hits - "Rock the Rock" (number 36, December 1989), "Mona" (number 3, May 1990) and "Amanda" (number 24, August 1990).

"I Almost Felt Like Crying" was the fourth and final single lifted from the band's only album Craig McLachlan and Check 1-2 (number 4, June 1990).  The single also charted in the UK, where it reached number 50 in November 1990.

On the Australian Music Report singles chart, "I Almost Felt Like Crying" peaked at number 100.

Following this release, Craig ditched Check 1-2, and became a solo artist.  He landed three further top 100 'hits' in Australia, with the fittingly-titled "On My Own" (number 23, September 1991) being the biggest.  Craig's debut solo album Hands Free peaked at number 104 in March 1992 on the ARIA albums chart.

Craig will join us again as part of a stage show cast towards the end of 1992.

Number 147 "Crazy 4 U" by Sybil

Peak: number 147

Peak date: 29 October 1990

Weeks in top 150: 1 week

Chart run: debuted 3 September 1990: 158-(off chart for 7 weeks)-147

Weeks on chart: 2 weeks

American chanteuse Sybil graced our presence back in February 1990.  "Crazy 4 U" was the second single lifted from her second album Sybil (released in Australia in March 1990, did not chart) in Australia.  Salt 'N' Pepa perform a rap in the middle of the song, though are not credited as featured artists.  They do, however, appear in the music video.

Internationally, "Crazy 4 U" peaked at number 71 in the UK in April 1990.  While it missed the US Billboard Hot 100, "Crazy 4 U" reached number 45 on the Dance Singles Sales chart in May 1990, and number 19 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart during the same month.

On the ARIA state charts, "Crazy 4 U" performed strongest in Queensland, where it reached number 125.

Interestingly, another Sybil single, "Walk on By", was released in Australia in between "Crazy 4 U"'s release in August 1990 and its debut in the top 150 nearly three months later.  "Walk on By", however, failed to chart.

We will next see Sybil in January 1991.

Bubbling WAY down under:

 

Number 152 "Piccadilly Palare" by Morrissey

Peak: number 152

Peak date: 29 October 1990

Weeks on chart: 1 week

 

English singer Steven Morrissey's Australian chart career commenced when he was lead singer of The Smiths.  Although the group achieved consistent chart success in the UK, they never really crossed over to a mainstream audience in Australia, only landing two top 100 singles, "This Charming Man" (number 52, April 1984) and "Stop Me If You Think You've Heard This One Before" (number 91, February 1988).  The Smiths also had two singles bubble under the top 100 during the 1980s, but we'll get to those in my 1980s Kent Music Report recaps in a few years' time.

 

The Smiths had greater success on the Australian albums chart, placing four albums within the top 40 during the 1980s.  We will see several of the band's singles bubble under when re-issued in a couple of years from now.

Following the demise of The Smiths in 1987, Morrissey embarked on a solo career.  His debut single, "Suedehead", peaked at number 45 in Australia in May 1988, and became his biggest hit here.  Second single "Everyday Is Like Sunday" did not chart nationally (when the ARIA singles chart stopped at number 100), but registered on the Western Australia state chart at number 97 in July 1988.  Morrissey's debut solo album Viva Hate reached number 21 in April 1988.

We saw Morrissey's third single, a non-album track, bubble under in July 1989.  Two further non-album singles, "Ouija Board, Ouija Board" (December 1989) and "November Spawned a Monster" (May 1990), were released locally but failed to chart.

"Piccadilly Palare" was issued to promote the Morrissey compilation album Bona Drag (number 57, October 1990), which contained all of his singles to date, along with B-sides.  The single peaked at number 18 in the UK in October 1990, and number 5 in Ireland during the same month.

 

On the ARIA state charts, "Piccadilly Palare" performed strongest in South Australia/Northern Territory, where it reached number 113.

 

Smiths bassist Andy Rourke plays on "Piccadilly Palare", marking the last occasion that Morrissey would collaborate with any of his former bandmates.  No music video was filmed to promote "Piccadilly Palare".

 

We shall next see Morrissey in March 1991.

 

Number 154 "Better Not Tell Her" by Carly Simon

Peak: number 154

Peak date: 29 October 1990

Weeks on chart: 9 weeks

 

We saw American singer-songwriter Carly Simon sampled on a track debuting last week, and here she is with one of her own.  Between 1971 and 1989, Carly placed 15 singles on the Australian top 100 chart.  Five of those singles reached the top 5, with Carly's biggest hit in Australia being "You're So Vain", which went to number 1 in 1973.  Carly last appeared on the ARIA chart with "Let the River Run" (number 83, May 1989).

 

"Better Not Tell Her" was the lead single from Carly's fifteenth studio album Have You Seen Me Lately? (number 160, November 1990).  Interestingly, the song did not chart in the US, but peaked at number 30 in Canada.

On the ARIA state charts, "Better Not Tell Her" performed strongest in Western Australia, where it reached number 108 in February 1991.  Unusually for a single peaking outside the top 150 in 1990, "Better Not Tell Her" spent 9 weeks on the chart.  The single peaked in four different months on the five state charts, hindering its success on the national chart.

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

 

Number 155 "Old Man Emu" (1990 version) by John Williamson

Peak: number 155

Peak date: 29 October 1990

Weeks on chart: 106 weeks

 

Australian country singer John Williamson originally released "Old Man Emu" in 1970, when it reached number 4 on the singles chart.  The track was re-recorded for his JW's Family Album (number 21, December 1990).

 

As the ARIA database tends to combine separate releases of the same title as though they were the same release, "Old Man Emu" is credited with spending 106 weeks on the chart at the time of writing.  Almost all of those weeks would be from the streaming era, and probably stem from the original recording of the song.  What that says about the tastes of the Australian streaming public, I don't know...

We will see John next in a mere three weeks' time.

 

 

 

Number 160 "Took the Children Away" by Archie Roach

Peak: number 160

Peak date: 29 October 1990

Weeks on chart: 51 weeks (probably only 1 or 2 weeks of those were from its 1990 chart run)

 

Indigenous Australian singer-songwriter Archie Roach was born in Mooroopna, Victoria.  After several turbulent years, including many years of homelessness and alcohol addiction, Archie launched his recording career in 1990 with the single "Took the Children Away", and the album Charcoal Road (number 86, March 1991).

 

"Took the Children Away" tells the story of the Stolen Generation of Aboriginal children who were forcibly removed from their homes to be raised by white parents.  When he was 2 or 3 years old, Archie and his siblings were removed from their family and placed in an orphanage, later to be raised by Scottish immigrants.

 

Although the single only reached number 160 on the ARIA singles chart upon its original release, the song became more widely-known in later years, as evidenced by the music video's 1 million plus views on YouTube, which is much more than one would expect from a single peaking this low on the chart.

 

"Took the Children Away" received a 30th Anniversary Edition digital release in 2020, re-entering the chart.  On the state charts, the single performed strongest in Queensland, where it reached number 9 in April 2021 - there is a large discrepancy between state chart peaks (which I assume must be based on purchased legal downloads) and the national singles chart (based almost entirely on streaming) in the streaming era.  The highest state charts peak for this single in 1990 I can see was in South Australia/Northern Territory, where it reached number 129.  I assume this single only spent one or two weeks on the chart in 1990, as its lowest state chart tally is two weeks (in 1990, national and state chart week tallies were always the same).

 

A second single from Charcoal Road, "Down City Streets", was released in April 1991, but did not chart.

 

Archie passed away in July 2022, aged 66.

 

We'll next see Archie bubble under in 1993.

Next week (5 November): Seven top 150 debuts, one of which is by a puppet!  There are also two bubbling WAY down under entries.

< Previous week: 22 October 1990                           Next week: 5 November 1990 >

Week commencing 5 February 1990

This week's post is a bumper week for new entries, with no fewer than 11 top 150 debuts and one bubbling WAY down under entry!  I had a look at the rest of the year, and 11 is the record for top 150 debuts in 1990.  At the other end of the spectrum, there is only one new top 150 debut one week in August 1990.  Interestingly, this week's post contains more debuts peaking between number 101 and 150 than we will see for the entire month of August 1990!  Let's dive in to this week's 12 new entries.

Transvision Vamp: the Australian record-buying public were not quite 'sold' on this release.

 

Top 150 debuts:

 

Number 111 "I'm Not the Man I Used to Be" by Fine Young Cannibals

Peak: number 109 

Peak date: 12 February 1990

Weeks in top 150: 6 weeks

Top 150 chart run: 111-109-114-129-125-134

Weeks on chart: 8 weeks

 

Up until this point, all eight of Fine Young Cannibals' previous singles had made the Australian top 100, with six of those making the top 20.  The group's biggest single down under had been "She Drives Me Crazy", which was number one for three weeks over two separate stints at the top, in March and April 1989.

The Cannibals' hit-making streak in Australia came to a crashing halt with "I'm Not the Man I Used to Be", the fourth single lifted from The Raw & The Cooked (number 1, July 1989).  Quite why this single stalled, I am not sure, although most people who wanted to own it had probably already purchased the album.

 

"I'm Not the Man I Used to Be" performed stronger on the Australian Music Report chart, where it peaked at number 96.  On the state charts, the single was most popular in Queensland and Western Australia, peaking at number 85 on both charts.

 

While the single was a modest hit (given their fast-paced charts at the time) in the band's native UK, peaking at number 20 for two weeks in December 1989, it was, at least, an improvement on the number 34 UK peak of previous single "Don't Look Back" (number 38 in Australia, October 1989).  Internationally, "I'm Not the Man I Used to Be" was a top 30 hit in the Netherlands and Austria, a top 40 hit in Germany, and had its greatest success in Ireland, where it peaked at number 8.

What few people would have predicted, including myself, is that there would be no more top 40 singles for Fine Young Cannibals - in Australia, anyway - owing largely to The Raw & The Cooked being the band's final studio album.  The band only released two studio albums during its existence, plus a greatest hits compilation in 1996, for which they recorded a new song, "The Flame" (number 85, November 1996).

Fine Young Cannibals will be back with another single from The Raw & The Cooked in April.

Number 115 "Prayer for You" by Texas

Peak: number 101

Peak date: 12 February 1990

Weeks in top 150: 5 weeks

Chart run: 151-(off chart for 1 week)-115-101-117-125-121

Weeks on chart: 6 weeks

I have written about this one previously in my special post on singles peaking at number 101 between 1989 and 1991.

Hailing from Glasgow, Scotland - in spite of the band name - Texas burst onto the ARIA singles chart in 1989 with "I Don't Want a Lover" (number 4, September 1989).  Follow-up singles "Thrill Has Gone" (number 60, September 1989) and "Everyday Now" (number 52, November 1989) struggled to replicate this success.  "Prayer for You", released as the fourth and final single from Southside (number 14, November 1989), had even less success, just falling short of the top 100.

 

It was a similar story in the band's native UK, where "I Don't Want a Lover" peaked at number 8 in March 1989, and subsequent Southside singles all missed the top 40.  "Prayer for You" continued the pattern of diminishing returns, peaking at number 73 in the UK in December 1989.

 

On the state charts, "Prayer for You" performed strongest in South Australia/Northern Territory, where it peaked at number 76.

 

Although Texas would return to the ARIA top 100 singles chart a couple of times in the early 90s, they would not score another sizeable hit in Australia again until 1997, with "Say What You Want" (number 11, June 1997).  We shall next see Texas bubble under in 1992.

 

 

Number 136 "Make Believe Mambo" by David Byrne

Peak: number 136

Peak date: 5 February 1990

Weeks in top 150: 3 weeks

Top 150 chart run: 136-144-145

 

David Byrne was the lead vocalist in Talking Heads, who notched up nine top 100 singles in Australia between 1979 and 1986, with three of those making the top 20; the highest-peaking of which was "And She Was" (number 10, March 1986).  Although the band's 1988 album Naked peaked at number 8 in Australia, it spawned no charting singles.  Talking Heads disbanded in December 1991, after band members learnt that Byrne had left through an article published in the Los Angeles Times; he had not otherwise informed the group of his intention to quit.

David Byrne released a solo album 1981, and the follow-up studio album Rei Momo (number 96, January 1990) was released in the last quarter of 1989, from which this track is lifted.

While David's solo career didn't exactly set the Australian charts alight, we will see him again in 1992.

 

 

 

Number 137 "Heat of the Moment" by After 7

Peak: number 107 (number 123 in 1990; number 107 in 1991)

Peak date: 8 April 1991

Weeks in top 150: 15 weeks (9 weeks in 1990; 6 weeks in 1991)

Top 150 chart run: 137-140-(out for 9 weeks)-128-134-135-129-123-125-133.

Re-entered 25 March 1991: 125-131-107-128-125-126

Weeks on chart: 18 weeks

 

If my memory serves me correctly, here we have the first instance of a single peaking outside the top 100 that had two separate (as in a year apart) chart runs.

"Heat of the Moment" was first released in Australia in January 1990, and peaked at number 123 in May 1990.  But even its first chart run was split in two, spending two weeks in the top 150 in February 1990, and then re-entering towards the end of April 1990, spending a further seven weeks in this region of the chart.   The group then released the singles "Ready Or Not" in August 1990 - which did not chart in Australia, and "Can't Stop" in December 1990 (number 80, February 1991).  "Heat of the Moment" was then again issued in March 1991, reaching its peak of number 107 in April 1991, and spending another 6 weeks on the chart.  "Heat of the Moment" fared much better in New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory, where it reached number 61 in April 1991, than elsewhere.  Its next-highest state chart peak was number 100 in Victoria/Tasmania, where it peaked in May 1990.

Listening to "Heat of the Moment" for the first time as I write this, I am struck by how similar the music backing sounds to Pebbles' "Giving You the Benefit" (number 48, January 1991).  Both tracks are L.A. Reid/Babyface compositions and productions, though.

"Heat of the Moment" is lifted from the After 7 album, which peaked at number 124 in Australia in February 1990.

We will see After 7 again in 1992.

Number 139 "Born to Be Sold" by Transvision Vamp

Peak: number 108

Peak date: 12 March 1990

Weeks in top 150: 7 weeks

Top 150 chart run: 139-(out for 1 week)-140-116-112-108-126-120

Weeks on chart: 8 weeks

During 1988 and 1989, Transvision Vamp placed seven singles in the ARIA top 100, with two of those reaching the top 10: "I Want Your Love" (number 7, December 1988) and "Baby I Don't Care" (number 3, August 1989).  The group's popularity down under was cemented with two platinum-certified albums, Pop Art (number 13, February 1989) and Velveteen (number 2, July 1989).

Despite this success, Transvision Vamp's singles chart peaks seemed to drop off quickly by the time it got to the third and fourth single releases from their albums, with "Tell That Girl to Shut Up" (number 44, February 1989), "Sister Moon" (number 95, June 1989), and "Landslide of Love" (number 70, November 1989) all missing the top 40.  "Born to Be Sold" would continue the trend, becoming the band's first release to peak outside the ARIA top 100; although it just scraped into the Australian Music Report top 100 singles chart at number 97.

 

Speaking of trends, "Born to Be Sold", like Billy Joel's recent hit "We Didn't Start the Fire" (number 2, November 1989) and The Beloved's upcoming flop "Hello" (number 94, May 1990), was a 'list' song.  That is, its verses list a number of cultural icons - in this instance, pop singers, film stars and politicians.  Among others, Elvis, Madonna and Morrissey get name-checked, and Transvision Vamp singer Wendy James (well, via songwriter and bandmate Nick Christian Sayer) declares herself, like the other people listed, as being "born to be sold".

 

Wendy, who loved to court controversy, copped some flack for comparing herself to 'the greats' with this song in at least one of the pop magazines I read at the time.  Those who followed pop music in the late 80s will no doubt remember some of Wendy's infamous comments slagging off other pop stars, particularly Kylie Minogue, who she once described as "pollution of the mind."  Ouch!  Still, at least Wendy had opinions, unlike many heavily stage-managed and media-trained artists.

On the state charts, "Born to Be Sold" performed strongest in Victoria/Tasmania, where it peaked at number 71.  Internationally, the single peaked at number 22 in the group's native UK in November 1989, and at number 12 in Ireland.

 

Fun fact: I bought this single on cassette at the time; just as I had bought Transvision Vamp's last single, "Landslide of Love", on the same format.  I obviously showed a precocious interest in flop singles as an 11 year-old.  One of the B-sides on the "Born to Be Sold" single, a live rendition of "Last Time", contained some naughty S and F-words delivered by Wendy when speaking to the audience during the intro - but there was no parental advisory sticker on the sleeve!  Ooh-er!

We won't see Transvision Vamp bubble under again, as the two singles from their third and final studio album in 1991 both made the top 100.  We will, however, see Wendy James in 1993, when she embarks on a solo career, after the demise of the band.

 

As a special treat, because I find it so funny - and it seems to have been taken down everywhere online - embedded below is French and Saunders' parody of Transvision Vamp/Wendy James' Star Test interview.  The song in the clip parodies the list-song format of "Born to Be Sold", with everything relating back to Wendy and her faux modesty (check out the "me me me me" chorus).

 

 

 

Number 143 "Insect" by Boxcar

Peak: number 143

Peak date: 5 February 1990

Weeks in top 150: 3 weeks

Top 150 chart run: 143-(out for 7 weeks)-149-(out for 1 week)-145

Weeks on chart: 4 weeks

Boxcar, hailing from Brisbane, were Australia's answer to New Order.  Well, minus the commercial success, unfortunately.  Their debut single, "Freemason (You Broke the Promise)", released in November 1988, failed to chart locally, but made some ripples on the US Billboard Dance chart, where it peaked at number 8.  OK, I know I've said before that such genre-specific Billboard charts, based on god knows what, are not 'real' charts, but I'm trying to be generous here, for an act responsible for some songs that I like.

"Insect", the band's second single, was released locally in November 1989, but took until now to register on the chart.  Fitting with the song title and the lyrical theme of being "crushed" like an insect by an ex, the music video contains numerous scenes of praying mantises, ants and the like, and is not one recommended for those with entomophobia (look it up!).  But the song itself is definitely worth a listen.

Released on Australian dance music label Volition, "Insect" was produced by pioneering Australian electronic/dance music producer and remixer Robert Racic, who was involved with many late 80s/early 90s home-grown dance releases, such as the 1994 remix of Severed Heads' "Dead Eyes Opened" (number 16, January 1995), Beatfish "Wheels of Love" (number 26, September 1991), and Sexing the Cherry's "Steppin' On" (number 42, May 1994).  Racic, sadly, passed away in 1996 from AIDS.

Boxcar would criminally peak no higher than number 82 on the ARIA singles chart, with "Gas Stop (Who Do You Think You Are)" reaching that position in January 1991. "Insect", "Freemason" and "Gas Stop" all appear on the band's debut album Vertigo (number 118, February 1991).  I don't think that Australia was ready to embrace electronic music made by local bands yet - radio certainly wasn't, instead preferring to stick with a staple of pub rock bands, "classic rock" and Cold Chisel.  Ugh.

 

Boxcar will bubble under a number of times in the coming years, with the next occasion being in 1991.

Number 144 "Don't Make Me Over" by Sybil

Peak: number 144

Peak date: 5 February 1990

Weeks in top 150: 2 weeks

Top 150 chart run: 144-(out for 2 weeks)-148

Weeks on chart: 5 weeks

Sybil Lynch, known mononymously as just Sybil, hails from America, and is Maxine Jones from En Vogue's cousin.  Although her version of Dionne Warwick's "Don't Make Me Over" was a number 20 hit for her on the US Billboard Hot 100 in December 1989, Sybil had the most career success in the UK, where she notched up three top 10 hits, and this song peaked at number 19 in October 1989.

 

The album this track is lifted from, Sybil, also contains a cover of Dionne Warwick's "Walk on By", which was a number 6 hit for her in the UK in February 1990.  Both the album and that single failed to chart in Australia.  Sybil later worked with Stock Aitken Waterman, or their Stock/Waterman incarnation, and some of the songs they produced made the ARIA chart.

While Sybil never peaked higher than number 144 in Australia, we will see her bubble under a few more times in the coming years, with the next occasion being in October.

Number 145 "It's Gonna Change" by Blow featuring Roy Hamilton

Peak: number 145

Peak date: 5 February 1990

Weeks in top 150: 1 week

Top 150 chart run: 145

 

I can't tell you much about Blow, other than it's an alias of house music producer and DJ, Gordon Edge, whose real name is Gordon Laing Matthewman.  Likewise, I can't tell you much about Roy Hamilton, other than his father, also named Roy Hamilton, was a singer from Jamaica.  Together, they released this acid house track, which does not appear to have charted anywhere else.

Number 146 "The Yuppie Rap" by Club Veg

Peak: number 146

Peak date: 5 February 1990

Weeks in top 150: 1 week

Top 150 chart run: 146

Here's an Australian comedy release I missed at the time, probably due to being too young to listen to Triple J.  Club Veg were duo Vic Davies and Malcolm Lees, and they started out as The Morning After Show on radio station Triple J in 1984, before migrating to 2SM in 1986, and then Triple M in 1988.

"The Yuppie Rap" was issued as a single in September 1988, featuring Barry Dink on vocals.  I am not sure why the single charted nearly 18 months later.  The B-side featured New Zealand singer Dave Dobbyn on vocals.

Vic Davies died from lung cancer in 2009.
 

Number 147 "We Almost Got It Together" by Tanita Tikaram

Peak: number 116

Peak date: 19 March 1990

Weeks in top 150: 7 weeks

Chart run: 165-147-124-139-126-134-133-116

Weeks on chart: 8 weeks

 

Tanita graced our presence twice in 1989, with "Good Tradition" (number 142, January 1989) and "Cathedral Song" (number 120, July 1989).  Her biggest, and only real hit in Australia was "Twist in My Sobriety" (number 23, April 1989).

"We Almost Got It Together" was the lead single from Tanita's second album The Sweet Keeper (number 68, February 1990), and peaked at number 52 in the UK in January 1990.  The single was also a top 30 hit in Ireland, a top 40 hit in the Netherlands and the Dutch-speaking region of Belgium (Flanders), and a top 50 hit in Germany.  One interesting thing about "We Almost Got It Together"'s chart run in Australia - if you're a chart freak, anyway - is that it didn't reach its peak until its final week on the chart, after which, it dropped out.

Subsequent singles released in Australia from The Sweet Keeper, "Little Sister Leaving Town" (May 1990) and "Thursday's Child" (August 1990), failed to chart.  Tanita will join us again, however, in 1995.

Number 149 "Quicksand" by Jimi the Human & Spectre 7

Peak: number 137

Peak date: 16 April 1990

Weeks in top 150: 9 weeks

Top 150 chart run: 149-(out for 1 week)-147-(out for 1 week)-138-144-140-143-139-141-137

 

Listening to this song as I write this, I didn't expect to know it, but the "walking in the quicksand" chorus sounds familiar. "Quicksand" was released back in early December 1989, but took until now to dent the top 150.

 

If you read the video description blurb for the clip embedded below - which appears to be uploaded by Jimi (Hocking) himself, you would be led to believe that the album this track is from, No Turning Back, was a top 20 success.  Um, hate to burst your bubble, man, but it wasn't.  In fact, the album peaked at number 101 on the ARIA albums chart in March 1990.  Top 20... on the Australian artists chart (another meaningless one), perhaps?  I have noticed that artists often have mistaken beliefs about their chart positions, and that they are prone to inflation.

This would be Jimi the Human & Spectre 7's only top 150 charting single.  "Quicksand" performed much better on the Australian Music Report singles chart, where it peaked at number 86.  You have to wonder, though, when there is a 51-place discrepancy between the ARIA and AMR peaks...

Bubbling WAY down under:

Number 153 "Action" by Steve Stevens Atomic Playboys

Peak: number 153

Peak date: 5 February 1990

Weeks on chart: 1 week

We saw Steve Stevens Atomic Playboys bubble under in November 1989.  "Action" was the second single lifted from the Steve Stevens Atomic Playboys (number 67, October 1989) album, and, likes its predecessor, appears to have only charted in Australia!  The song was a cover version of a song The Sweet took to number 4 in Australia in November 1975.

 

This was the band's final release.

Next week (12 February): I would normally expect a quieter week after one with 11 debuts, but no, next week there are another 9 top 150 debuts!  Obviously, a clear-out was happening in the lower region of the charts.  On top of that, there are 3 bubbling WAY down under entries for me to write about.  I had better get cracking...  You can also follow my posts on instagram and facebook.

 

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