News 5 July 2018

ARIA Charts Throwback: 2 July 1989

Got the look? Check out the Top Ten from this week in 1989.

ARIA Charts Throwback: 2 July 1989

Got the look? Check out the Top Ten from this week in 1989.

As 1989 began its second half, artists dominating the ARIA Albums Chart included Daryl Braithwaite, Stevie Nicks, Queen, Guns N’ Roses and the Traveling Wilburys.

On the Singles Chart, a Swedish duo was beginning a run of hits that would continue into the next decade.

10. John Cougar Mellencamp - Pop Singer

American singer-songwriter John Cougar Mellencamp scored his first Top Ten appearance in Australia since 1982 when ‘Pop Singer’ peaked at #8 in June 1989. The track was the first single released from Big Daddy, Mellencamp’s tenth album and only #1 on the ARIA Charts.

9. Fine Young Cannibals - Good Thing

1989 was a vintage year for British trio Fine Young Cannibals. In April, they spent three weeks at #1 with ‘She Drives Me Crazy’. Three weeks after ‘Good Thing’ peaked at #7 for two weeks, the group scored their only #1 on the Albums Chart with second album The Raw & The Cooked (#1 Jul. ’89).

8. Jason Donovan - Sealed With A Kiss

‘Sealed With A Kiss’ became Jason Donovan’s fourth and final Top Ten single on the ARIA Charts when it peaked at #8 in July 1989. The former Neighbours star also hit the Top Ten with ‘Nothing Can Divide Us’ (#3 Nov. 88), ‘Too Many Broken Hearts’ (#7 Mar. ’89) and the duet with Kylie Minogue ‘Especially For You’ (#2 Jan. ’89).

7. The Belle Stars - Iko Iko

First becoming popular in 1965 thanks to a version by The Dixie Cups, The Belle Stars’ version of ‘Iko Iko’ was first recorded in 1982. Its popularity at the end of the 1980s was thanks to its inclusion on the soundtrack to the film Rain Man, which starred Tom Cruise and Dustin Hoffman.

6. Kylie Minogue - Hand On Your Heart

The first single released from Kylie Minogue’s second album, Enjoy Yourself (#7 Nov. ’89), ‘Hand On Your Heart became the future ARIA Hall Of Fame member’s fifth Top Ten single on the ARIA Charts when it peaked at #4 in June 1989. She’d also hit the Top Ten that year with ‘Wouldn’t Change A Thing’ (#6 Sept. ’89).

5. Madonna - Express Yourself

During the 1980s Madonna scored 17 entries in the Top Ten of the ARIA Singles Chart. The follow-up to ‘Like A Prayer’ (#1 Mar. ’89), ‘Express Yourself’ became the star’s second Top Ten from fourth album Like A Prayer  (#4 Apr. ’89) when it peaked at #5. She rounded out the decade with ‘Cherish’ (#4 Oct. ’89).

4. The Bangles - Eternal Flame

The Bangles spent three non-consecutive weeks at the top of the ARIA Singles Chart in May and June 1989 with ‘Eternal Flame’. It was the American quartet’s second Australian #1 single after ‘Walk Like A Egyptian’ (#1 Feb. ’87). ‘Eternal Flame’ also gave the group their second US #1 and their first in the UK.

3. Bette Midler - Wind Beneath My Wings

Previously recorded by the likes of Colleen Hewett, Sheena Easton, Roger Whittaker, Gladys Knight & The Pips and more, ‘Wind Beneath My Wings’ became the only #1 On the ARIA Singles Chart for Bette Midler when it spent two weeks at #1 in June 1989. June/July 1989 also saw the American singer/actress/comedian top the Albums Chart for four weeks with the soundtrack to Beaches (#1 June. ’89).

2. Kate Ceberano - Bedroom Eyes

The first single released from the album Brave (#2 Sept. ’89), ‘Bedroom Eyes’ remains Kate Ceberano’s highest peak on the ARIA Singles Chart. The track spent six weeks at #2 during June/July 1989. Ceberano’s last Top Ten was with ‘Pash’ (#10 Feb. ’98).

1. Roxette - The Look

Swedish duo Roxette took out the first of their three #1s on the ARIA Singles Chart when ‘The Look’ spent six straight weeks at #1 in July/August 1989. It was the first of four Top Ten hits from the album Look Sharp! (#2 Sept.’89); they later charted with ‘Dressed For Success’ (#3 Sept. ’89), ‘Listen To Your Heart’ (#10 Nov. ’89) and ‘Dangerous’ (#9 May ’90). Roxette also topped the ARIA Singles Chart for two weeks with ‘It Must Have Been Love’ (#1 Jul. ’90) and for three weeks with ‘Joyride’ (#1 Apr. ’91).