Compilation: 100% Hits, Volume 4
Released: 1992 – Warner Music Australia
Number of tracks: 18
Number one singles: 3 – "To Be With You" by Mr. Big, "Under The Bridge" by Red Hot Chili Peppers, "Marvellous!" by The 12th Man
Other top ten singles: 7
Best track: "One" by U2
Hidden gem: "Dream Alone" by Killing Time
For me, this is the point where it became obvious the 100% Hits series was here to stay. While previous comps Let's Do It had had two volumes and Hits Of '89 had spawned three, 100% Hits, in reaching a fourth volume, had now established itself as a lengthy series. Personally I liked the quirky names they used to come up with for compilations prior to 1991, and the inclusion of the year in the title — each with its own cover art conceit. From here on out, there would be no more of that.
Not that that had any bearing on the quality of the music therein. Boasting ten singles that made the Australian top 10, including three number 1s, there was a lot of good stuff on here. Although it starts out with the execrable Teen Queens hit, the likes of Vic Reeves, Voice Of The Beehive and Oceanic's ace rave anthem "Insanity" show that pop was on a high in 1992. Speaking of anthems, The Clouds' "Anthem", my favourite song of theirs, is also here towards the back. And speaking of high, The Cure's "High" is here too — a song that debuted at number 5 and plummeted out of the chart.
U2's "One" — my favourite song of theirs, too — is also kinda pushed back towards the end, while the extremely naff 4th Melissa single "Skin To Skin" is right up the front. As is "Dream Alone" by Killing Time, a hard rock band that somehow disappeared very quickly. I just looked it up and apparently this song reached number 23, which was news to me as I followed the charts very closely in 1992 and had no recollection of this song at all.
Concrete Blonde is also here. I reckon they've got a lot to answer for, for depressing us to buggery with that awful song "Joey" back in 1990. The comp finishes with The 12th Man and his MCG-related antics (anyone know why compilations tend to put novelty singles as the final track?). I'll always be perplexed as to why there was never a video made for this song, despite the fact that in the very lyrics, he says "You can see me on the TV". No we can't, mate. If you ever release a follow-up to this, make a bloody video! Learn from Weird Al: if you've got a comedy single, the video is probably more funny than the song on its own.
Rating: 7/10
No comments:
Post a Comment