ARIA Charts Throwback: 1 May 1988

Hey! (Hey!) You! (You!), check out what was setting the ARIA Top Ten alight 30 years ago!

Australia was centre stage in May 1988 with World Expo 88 in Brisbane in its first month of operation. In the music world, the iconic Atlantic Records celebrated 40 years with an all-star concert that included a reunited Led Zeppelin, jazz legend Chet Baker passed away at the age of 58 and future star Adele was born in the London suburb of Tottenham.

For the entire month, the ARIA Singles Chart was dominated by a track that can still fill dance floors today.

10. Bill Medley & Jennifer Warnes - (I've Had) The Time Of My Life

The theme song to Dirty Dancing had spent six weeks at #1 on the ARIA Singles Chart in February and March 1988. This week in 1988 was the last of its 15-week run in the Top Ten. It spent 25 straight weeks in the Top 50.

9. The Bangles - Hazy Shade Of Winter

Originally released by Simon & Garfunkel in 1966, ‘Hazy Shade Of Winter’ was recorded by The Bangles for the soundtrack to the film Less Than Zero. Peaking at #7, it became their third Top Ten hit in Australia. A year later, they would score their second and final #1 single with ‘Eternal Flame’.

8. Rick Astley - Whenever You Need Somebody

Having topped the chart with debut single ‘Never Gonna Give You Up’ (#1 Dec. ’87), Rick Astley followed it up with ‘Whenever You Need Somebody’. It became the second of his three consecutive Top Five hits when it peaked at #3.

7. Jerry Harrison: Casual Gods - Rev It Up

Talking Heads member Jerry Harrison’s greatest solo success came when ‘Rev It Up’ peaked at #3 in May 1988. His only other solo Top 50 entry in Australia was with ‘Man With A Gun’ (#12 Sept. ’88).

6. Patrick Swayze - She's Like The Wind

Actor Patrick Swayze scored his only hit on the ARIA Singles Chart when ‘She’s Like The Wind’ was released as a single from the soundtrack to Dirty Dancing (#1 Feb. ’88). The track had originally been written by Swayze and Stacy Widelitz in 1984 for use in the film Grandview U.S.A. but wasn’t used.

5. Bananarama - Love In The First Degree

Bananarama’s third Top Ten in Australia came when the British trio released the second single from the album Wow! (#1 Jun. ’88). They picked up another Top Ten from the album when I Want You Back peaked at #3 in June 1998.

4. Terence Trent D'Arby - Sign Your Name

American singer-songwriter Terence Trent D'Arby dominated the ARIA Albums Chart in May 1988 with his debut Introducing The Hardline According To Terence Trent D'Arby (#1 May ’88) holding the top spot for five straight weeks. Peaking at #3, ‘Sign Your Name’ was his second Top Ten hit following ‘Wishing Well’ (#9 Oct. ’87).

3. Morris Minor & The Majors - Stutter Rap

A parody of the Beastie Boys’ ‘No Sleep Till Brooklyn’, ‘Stutter Rap’ was the first of two chart entries in Australia for British parody group Morris Minor & The Majors. They charted later in 1988 with the Stock, Aitken and Waterman parody ‘This Is The Chorus’ (#22 Oct. ’88).

2. Kylie Minogue - I Should Be So Lucky

The second single released by Kylie Minogue in Australia was also her second to hit #1. Prior to this week, ‘I Should Be So Lucky’ had spent six straight weeks in the top spot. Her third single, ‘Got To Be Certain’, went on to spend three weeks at #1 in July 1988.

1. Billy Ocean - Get Outta My Dreams, Get Into My Car

Billy Ocean’s second #1 single on the ARIA Charts spent five weeks at #1 during May 1988. It was also #1 in the US and Canada, as well as a Top Five hit in the UK, New Zealand and across Europe. Trinidadian-born British artist Ocean first topped the chart two years earlier with ‘When The Going Gets Tough, The Tough Get Going’ (#1 Mar. ’86).