CHART BEATS: A JOURNEY
THROUGH POP

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Oct 5, 20164 min read

This Week In 1986: October 5, 1986

Changing tempo had sure worked for Berlin. This week in 1986, big ballad "Take My Breath Away" moved up to number 2 for the band better...

Oct 2, 20166 min read

This Week In 1983: October 2, 1983

In last week's recap of the ARIA singles chart from 1983, we encountered a bunch of songs I'd never heard before. I can't say the same...

Sep 29, 20167 min read

This Week In 1991: September 29, 1991

Back in the days of physical music formats (you know, the pre-iTunes era), I never approved of record companies deleting singles while...

Sep 28, 20164 min read

This Week In 1986: September 28, 1986

There's no denying Paul McCartney and Rod Stewart are music legends, but as well as both having decades-spanning careers that continue to...

Sep 25, 20166 min read

This Week In 1983: September 25, 1983

As I write my flashbacks to ARIA charts from years past, I sometimes come across songs I didn't know at the time. Often, it's an obscure...

Sep 22, 20164 min read

This Week In 1991: September 22, 1991

Some artists have a huge hit straight out of the gate — and then spend the rest of their career trying to live up to it. This week in...

Sep 21, 20165 min read

This Week In 1986: September 21, 1986

Unlike TV talent quests Star Search,Pot Of Gold and New Faces , you weren't meant to take Red Faces seriously. The Hey Hey It's Saturday...

Sep 18, 20163 min read

This Week In 1983: September 18, 1983

U2. Bon Jovi. Nirvana. R.E.M. Coldplay. At one time or other, they've all been regarded as the biggest band in the world. Before any of...

Sep 15, 20165 min read

This Week In 1991: September 15, 1991

It only takes one song to ruin a hit streak. A song like "Je Ne Sais Pas Pourquoi", which broke Kylie Minogue's initial run of number 1...

Sep 14, 20164 min read

This Week In 1986: September 14, 1986

Every pop music story has a beginning, and this week in 1986, a man synonymous with the modern era of reality TV singing competitions...

Sep 11, 20163 min read

This Week In 1983: September 11, 1983

If you happen to find yourself married to an incredibly successful songwriter, it only makes sense that you would get them to pen you a...

Sep 8, 20163 min read

This Week In 1991: September 8, 1991

In yesterday's flashback to 1986, we saw Belinda Carlisle embark on what would turn out to be a successful solo career. But what happens...

Sep 7, 20164 min read

This Week In 1986: September 7, 1986

Your band's broken up? No problem... if you were the lead singer, that is. There's always the option of pursuing a solo career — and if...

Sep 4, 20165 min read

This Week In 1983: September 4, 1983

Inspiration for pop songs can come from just about anywhere — an overhead conversation at an electronics store , a school massacre ,...

Sep 1, 20164 min read

This Week In 1991: September 1, 1991

Hot August Night. Whispering Jack. Innocent Eyes. 21. These are some of the albums to have held down the number 1 spot on the Australian...

Aug 31, 20164 min read

This Week In 1986: August 31, 1986

It's inevitable that whenever a music artist releases a new album after even a relatively short period of time, it's classed as a...

Aug 28, 20164 min read

This Week In 1983: August 28, 1983

Previously successful bands reform for a variety of reasons, but more often than not it's for the cash. Just look at all the '80s groups...

Aug 25, 20164 min read

This Week In 1991: August 25, 1991

I don't know what was going on in 1991, but, Bryan Adams aside, it was a big year for songs taking forever to reach number 1. Whether it...

Aug 24, 20165 min read

This Week In 1986: August 24, 1986

For a song to reach number 1 once is pretty good going. For it do so twice is an even more impressive feat — and something that has...

Aug 21, 20164 min read

This Week In 1983: August 21, 1983

Easy listening station Smooth FM is currently Sydney's most listened to radio station. My parents have it on constantly and whenever I'm...

A Journey Through Aussie Pop - green light.png

A Journey Through Aussie Pop is shining a light on classic Australian pop artists and releases from the 1980s, '90s and 2000s.

A Journey Through Stock Aitken Waterman is working its way through every single produced by Mike Stock, Matt Aitken and Pete Waterman in chronological order.

Chart Beats subscribers have access to exclusive content, including extended interviews and extra discussion we can't fit in the regular episodes. Click here for more info.

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About Chart Beats

Chart Beats: A Journey Through Pop has been looking back at music from the '80s, '90s, 2000s and 2010s since 2012. Run by freelance journalist and content creator Gavin Scott in Sydney, Australia.