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The Best Of: 90s Compilations
Hit Machine vs 100% Hits
In the 1990s, Australia took its lead from the UK's Now That's What I Call Music series and two rival compilation series were born: 100% Hits, which launched in 1991, and Hit Machine, which followed in 1993. Just as they had in the 1980s, the major record companies fell into two groups — EMI, Warner and Polygram were behind 100% Hits; Sony, BMG and Festival put out Hit Machine — and most of the big hits of the day could be found on one or other of the franchises, which timed their releases to come out more or less head to head. With that in mind, I thought it would be fun to go back to mid-1993, when Hit Machine joined 100% Hits on the compilation chart and compare each set of albums. I'll give my verdict on each album and determine my preference, and I'll ask for your votes on the Chart Beats Facebook page. Let the debate begin!
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Chart debut: July 18, 1993
Peak: number 2
Biggest hit: "Easy" by Faith No More (number 1 for two weeks)
Smallest hit: "Happy Boy" by The Beat Farmers (number 156)
Best song: "No Limit" by 2 Unlimited
Worst song: "Happy Boy" by The Beat Farmers
Clearly wanting to make a good first impression, the launch edition of Hit Machine crammed in 21 songs, although it's a pity five of them weren't actually hits, with the tracks by David Bowie, The Black Sorrows, Sound Unlimited, Things Of Stone And Wood and The Beat Farmers all missing the top 50 — the latter didn't even make the top 100. The rest of the tracklisting was a pretty good summation of the diversity of the ARIA singles chart at this point, with pop, rock, dance and hip-hop all covered, and as a pop fan, I was well catered for.
Hit Machine '93
100% Hits Volume 8
Chart debut: June 27, 1993
Peak: number 1 (13 weeks)
Biggest hit: "Informer" by Snow (number 1 for five weeks)
Smallest hit: "This Isn't Love" by Boom Crash Opera (number 69)
Best song: "Looking Through Patient Eyes" by P.M. Dawn
Worst song: "Detachable Penis" by King Missile
​
100% Hits was so well established as a brand by this point that even a fairly average set of songs dominated the number 1 spot on the compilations chart for three months. Filled with mid-level hits, Volume 8 left most of its heavy-hitters until the end. Ugly Kid Joe aside, the run of five songs from "Mr Wendal" to "Oh Carolina" constituted the album's biggest hits — some very odd sequencing indeed. Similar to Hit Machine '93, the album covered off all genres.
Hit Machine 2
Chart debut: October 3, 1993
Peak: number 1 (one week)
Biggest hit: "All That She Wants" by Ace Of Base (number 1 for three weeks)
Smallest hit: "A Prayer For Jane" by Jo Beth Taylor (number 61)
Best song: "Ain't No Love (Ain't No Use)" by Sub Sub featuring Melanie Williams
Worst song: "Three Little Pigs" by Green Jelly
Sneaking out a week earlier than its rival, Hit Machine 2 gave the series its first chart-topper, but only for a week. To HM2's credit, it included "Mr Vain" and "All That She Wants" before either reached number 1 — a risky move. Despite those two and more excellent pop from Taylor Dayne, Dannii Minogue, Sub Sub and SWV, there was some real dross. I'm not just talking about the stuff you'd expect me not to like (Baby Animals, Jimmy Barnes, Rage Against The Machine, Ween). Even a lot of the pop, R&B and dance tracks were duds, like those by the ever-shirtless trio of Peter Andre, Jeremy Jordan and Freedom Williams.
Chart debut: October 10, 1993
Peak: number 1 (nine weeks)
Biggest hit: "What's Up?" by 4 Non Blondes (number 2)
Smallest hit: "The Honeymoon Is Over" by The Cruel Sea (number 41)
Best song: "The Floor" by Johnny Gill
Worst song: "Get A Haircut" by George Thorogood
What 100% Hits Volume 9 lacked in songs I really loved, it made up for in consistency. In other words, there might've been fewer 10/10 songs, but there weren't really any 1/10 songs either, although "Get A Haircut" and "Shock To The System" come close. And I was never a fan of number 2 hits, "What's Up?" and "Sweat (A La La La La Long)". On the plus side, there was everything from Lenny Kravitz and The Cranberries to the boy band double of East 17 and Silk to an excellent Duran Duran tune. I didn't even mind the contributions by Diesel (one of his best) and Tina Turner (a return to her mid-'80s form). So by virtue of having less crap, rather than a blistering set of songs, this receives my pick.
100% Hits Vol. 9
Chart debut: December 5, 1993
Peak: number 2
Biggest hit: "The Key: The Secret" by Urban Cookie Collective (number 4)
Smallest hit: "Last Train" by Christine Anu / Paul Kelly (number 93)
Best song: "The Key: The Secret" by Urban Cookie Collective
Worst song: "Going Down" by Jon Stevens
It's pretty telling that even though the third Hit Machine once again beat 100% Hits into stores, it couldn't take out the number 1 spot. Decidedly lacking in big hits, the compilation features seven songs that didn't actually make the top 50. And while some of them — "Breakadawn" by De La Soul and Deborah Conway's "Alive And Brilliant" — should've been bigger, there's a lot of filler and nowhere near enough killer. Best moments are the Eurodance triple of Urban Cookie Collective, Haddaway and DJ BoBo, and SWV's "Right Here" (which, despite not credited as such on the back cover, was the "Human Nature" remix).
Hit Machine Volume 3
Chart debut: December 12, 1993
Peak: number 1 (two weeks)
Biggest hit: "I'd Do Anything For Love (But I Won't Do That" by Meat Loaf (number 1 for eight weeks)
Smallest hit: "Spaceman" by 4 Non Blondes (number 85)
Best song: "Go West" by Pet Shop Boys
Worst song: "Spaceman" by 4 Non Blondes
Things didn't start well with #1 hog Meat Loaf — although having 1993's biggest single was a huge selling point as 100% Hits went into double digits. What pushes this over the line for me isn't the songs I loved — by Gabrielle, Pet Shop Boys, Crowded House and Caligula — but the fact that I didn't mind inclusions by artists who weren't my thing. If I had to listen to Stone Pilots or RHCP, for example, I'd choose "Plush" or "Soul To Squeeze". Good one-hit wonder action from Efua and Tony! Toni! Toné! (in Australia) as well. Fun fact: in a case of self-sabotage, Volume 10 was knocked off the top by The Best Of 100% Hits: 1993.
100% Hits Volume 10
Hit Machine Vol. 4
Chart debut: April 10, 1994
Peak: number 1 (three weeks)
Biggest hit: "Boom! Shake The Room" by DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince (number 1 for one week)
Smallest hit: "Sister Havana" by Urge Overkill (number 104)
Best song: "Relight My Fire" by Take That featuring Lulu
Worst song: "Pure Killer" by Defryme
Hit Machine was getting into the swing of things by now — coming out slightly before 100% Hits to claim time at number 1, and including a stack of hits and some (mostly) well-chosen misses (although what anyone was thinking with that random Urge Overkill song is unclear). Despite the track sequencing being haphazard — dance, then rock, back to dance, R&B, more rock, pop, dance again, rock, hip-hop — there were few missteps. And with Urban Cookie Collective, M-People, Culture Beat, Take That, Depeche Mode and 2 Unlimited leading the way, it triumphs in the tightest race yet.
100% Hits Volume 11
Chart debut: April 24, 1994
Peak: number 1 (10 weeks)
Biggest hit: "It's Alright" by East 17 (number 1 for seven weeks)
Smallest hit: "Where Would We Be Without A.B." by Doug Parkinson (number 100)
Best song: "Things Can Only Get Better" by D:Ream
Worst song: "Where Would We Be Without A.B." by Doug Parkinson
Imagine putting together a strong tracklisting just to blow it all with that Doug Parkinson/Gary Sweet/Dennis Leary triple play at the end. I can understand the inclusion of "Asshole" (and putting it last made sense), but were it not for the other two tracks, Volume 11 would have been in a much better position to take out this battle. ​That said, while the rock (a Screaming Jets song I didn't mind, a nice Crowded House ballad), R&B (Tevin! Janet!) and Chaka Demus & Pliers' best single were on point, the dance selection paled in comparison to Hit Machine's offering.
Hit Machine 5
Chart debut: July 10, 1994
Peak: number 1 (one week)
Biggest hit: "The Sign" by Ace Of Base (number 1 for four weeks)
Smallest hit: "Renaissance" by M-People (number 60)
Best song: "Sing Hallelujah" by Dr Alban
Worst song: "More Wine Waiter Please" by The Poor
I came into this round expecting the fifth Hit Machine to get my pick. It only contains one flop (which happens to be a great tune), the sequencing problems of the previous instalment were fixed resulting in a much better flow and it has a bunch of great songs ("The Sign", "Pray", "The Way You Work It", "Anything"), but there is too much rubbish. Substandard covers of "Mama Said Knock You Out" and "I Can See Clearly Now", dull remakes by Celine Dion and Pauline Henry, gimmicky hip-hop from 3 The Hard Way and Tag Team, the inferior mix of "Satisfy The Groove" and the abomination that is "Doop". Close but no little yellow circle.
Chart debut: July 3, 1994
Peak: number 1 (two weeks)
Biggest hit: "Whatta Man" by Salt 'n' Pepa with En Vogue (number 2)
Smallest hit: "Talk To Me" by GANGgajang (number 88)
Best song: "Stay" by Eternal
Worst song: "I'm Gonna Release Your Soul" by Dave Graney & The Coral Snakes
100% Hits wised up and used the Hit Machine playbook against it. It was released first — it debuted at number 2 while Volume 11 was still on top — and extended to 20 tracks (even if there was barrel scraping involved). The result: a chart tussle, which subscribers can follow on the 1994 chart gallery. But its duds weren't as objectionable as HM5's, and besides the K-klass, D:Ream, Tevin Campbell and Roxette songs you'd expect me to like, I enjoyed the tracks by Engima, Caligula, James and Electric Hippies. Terrible artwork, though.
100% Hits XII
Chart debut: October 9, 1994
Peak: number 1 (one week)
Biggest hit: "Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm" by Crash Test Dummies (number 1 for three weeks)
Smallest hit: "My Heavy Friend" by The Truth (number 105)
Best song: "You Gotta Be" by Des'ree
Worst song: "Swamp Thing" by The Grid
That's right, dance fan that I am, the banjo-happy "Swamp Thing" beat The Black Sorrows and Crash Test Dummies to take out the title of my least favourite song on what was an otherwise pretty decent Hit Machine. Elsewhere, tracks by Corona, The Prodigy, Southend, Culture Shock and a sadly overlooked Rockmelons remix gave this the edge over 100% Hits, but it wasn't just the club fare I liked. From radio-friendly Roachford to the duelling divas Kym Mazelle and Jocelyn Brown, this was a good bunch of tunes. I even didn't mind the Defryme song. An easy victory.
Hit Machine 6
100% Hits V13
Chart debut: September 25, 1994
Peak: number 1 (four weeks)
Biggest hit: "Absolutely Fabulous" by Absolutely Fabulous (number 2)
Smallest hit: "Take Me Away" by D:Ream (number 52)
Best song: "Son Of A Gun" by JX
Worst song: "Love Is Strong" by The Rolling Stones
Not surprisingly, it's the rock, which accounts for almost half the tracklisting, that makes this the lesser of the two compilations for me. That said, "Black Hole Sun" is one of two grunge songs I like and I can tolerate "Shine". But it's also the fact that the songs from other genres generally aren't as good — dull Joshua Kadison, second-rate R&B from Kulcha and Marcia Hines' disappointing comeback single. On the upside, there were underrated singles by D:Ream and Jon Secada, and power ballads by Marcella Detroit and The Pretenders.
Chart debut: December 11, 1994
Peak: number 3
Biggest hit: "Confide In Me" by Kylie Minogue (number 1 for four weeks)
Smallest hit: "Undone - The Sweater Song" by Weezer (number 63)
Best song: "Ain't Nobody" by Jaki Graham (even though the Love To Infinity single remix is better)
Worst song: "Tighten Up Your Pants" by Audio Murphy (terrible!)
Although it still played second (or should that be third?) fiddle to 100% Hits (both Volume 14 and The Best Of 94) on the ARIA chart, Hit Machine was once again more pleasing to me, kicking off with Kylie Minogue's comeback smash and taking in C&C Music Factory, Boom Crash Opera, Coolio, Roachford and more — who said I don't have diverse taste? (Me, probably). If there's one track that sums up why I prefer HM7 it's the underrated "Walkaway Lover" by Toni Pearen — a big hit with me, even if not as popular nationally.
Hit Machine 7
100% Hits Volume 14
Chart debut: December 4, 1994
Peak: number 1 (two weeks)
Biggest hit: "I Swear" by All-4-One (number 1 for five weeks)
Smallest hit: "Born Dead" by Body Count (number 52)
Best song: "Rockin' For Myself" by Motiv8
Worst song: "Born Dead" by Body Count
Volume 14 not only doubled up on several tracks with The Best Of 94, but through some quirk of record label deals, also contained "7 Seconds", which featured on HM7, too. Hitting number 1 for one week shortly after release and then not again until two months later, the album had its highs (All-4-One, Motiv8, Tinman, Warren G, Pet Shop Boys and The Cranberries), but, for me, was ultimately let down by tracks — many of them big hits — I didn't like (Crystal Waters, Lucas, Kulcha, Red Dragon, Alicia Bridges). I'd be interested to know what would've included if 100% Hits 14 had stretched to 20 tracks like HM7 since only "Born Dead" peaked outside the top 50 (unlike its rival, which had four flops).
Chart debut: April 9, 1995
Peak: number 1 (nine weeks)
Biggest hit: "Another Night" by MC Sar & The Real McCoy (number 1 for six weeks)
Smallest hit: "Voodoo Lady" by Ween (number 58)
Best song: "Sky High" by Newton
Worst song: "Cotton Eye Joe" by Rednex
This is the point where the tide turned in Hit Machine's favour and the "newcomer" became the dominator as it kept 100% Hits Vol. 15 in the runner-up spot for most of their chart runs. (Check out the weekly charts in the 1995 gallery.) And it gets my pick by the narrowest of margins, because for every "Another Night" or "Sight For Sore Eyes" there's a "Short Dick Man" or "Hot Hot Hot". And that bloody Rednex song. Dodgy dance tracks aside, there are solid inclusions from Kylie Minogue, Tina Arena and CDB, while after losing its way with the Supergroove / Ween / Boom Crash Opera section, it rallies with some of the album's best tracks: "Cruise Control", "Sky High" and "Sooner Or Later".
Hit Machine Vol 8
100% Hits Vol. 15
Chart debut: April 16, 1995
Peak: number 1 (two weeks)
Biggest hit: "Here's Johnny" by Hocus Pocus (number 1 for six weeks)
Smallest hit: "Just A Step From Heaven" by Eternal (number 62)
Best song: "Nothing In The World" by Mozaic
Worst song: "She Don't Use Jelly" by The Flaming Lips
So. Many. Questions. Was Tom Jones upfront due to a contractual obligation? Why else would you lead with some old fogey when you had chart-toppers Sheryl Crow and Hocus Pocus, and an almost #1 by Nicki French (who was also on HM8)? Were Stiltskin, Bomb The Bass, R.E.M. and Max Sharam frontloaded to tap into the Triple J market since the first Hottest 100 album had been so huge? Was it wise to include six-month-old no. 1 "I'll Make Love To You" (presumably the first time rights were available) and not a newer tune? The reason Vol. 15 loses: although there aren't as many objectionable tracks, there is an awful lot of mediocrity, with my first 10/10 not until track 11.
Chart debut: July 2, 1995
Peak: number 1 (five weeks)
Biggest hit: "Mouth" by Merril Bainbridge (number 1 for six weeks)
Smallest hit: "Old Pop In An Oak" by Rednex (number 70)
Best song: "Back For Good" by Take That
Worst song: "Old Pop In An Oak" by Rednex
Hit Machine continued its ascendancy with a blistering six-song start to its 19th volume, and I don't even like Tokyo Ghetto Pussy or that Real McCoy song much (and I can't stand The Outhere Brothers). But it really had A-list stuff, with eight top 10 hits to 100% Hits 16's three, and two chart-toppers to zero. In terms of what floats my boat, the female vocalist selection was on point, with Christine Anu, Annie Lennox, Tina Arena and Merril Bainbridge. And although I could've done without The Murmurs and Jimmy Barnes, there's not much else I would've skipped when I was playing this in the record department of Grace Bros, where I worked casually at the time. Another easy win.
Hit Machine 9
100% Hits Volume 16
Chart debut: July 9, 1995
Peak: number 2
Biggest hit: "Sukiyaki" by 4PM (number 3)
Smallest hit: "Reach Up (Papa's Got A Brand New Pig Bag)" by Perfecto Allstarz (number 94)
Best song: "The Bomb! (These Sounds Fall Into My Mind" by Kenny "Dope" presents The Bucketheads
Worst song: "Funtime" by Boy George
It's telling that after the debacle of Vol. 15's sequencing, 100% Hits went with Hit Machine's model — 20 tracks, dance at the start. But Volume 16 came off second best — in chart peak and my estimation. Looking at those dance tunes, Perfecto Allstarz (which I like). Alpha Team, DJ BoBo and Clock could not compete with HM9's selection. Except for a few standouts (JX, 4PM, BIIM), this was second string stuff, no matter the genre. Boy bands? Take That > East 17. Guitary female singers? Heather Nova > Sheryl Crow. '80s legends? The Mentals > Duran Duran (why?!). Location-themed songs? Tina Arena > Joshua Kadison.
Chart debut: September 24, 1995
Peak: number 1 (10 weeks)
Biggest hit: "Excalibur" by F.C.B. (number 2)
Smallest hit: "You Gotta Know" by Supergroove (number 57)
Best song: "U Sure Do" by Strike
Worst song: "Alice, Who The F..k Is Alice" by The Steppers
Ah, 1995. So many great dance tracks. So many horrible dance tracks. And the 10th volume of HM had plenty of both to go around, so much so that despite boasting a stack of big hits, all that crap really drags this compilation down. Well done on whoever sequenced Hit Machine 10 for at least putting Scatman John and The Steppers at the very end for easy avoidance. (I was also no fan of Herbie, F.C.B. or Interactive, but you can't have everything!) Amongst all those bangers, a good selection of slower grooves (M-People, Jodeci, Strawpeople, A.K. Soul) and some local stars (Christine Anu and Tina Arena, but not really Margaret Urlich or Rick Price's tunes) just give this the advantage.
Hit Machine 10
100% Hits Volume 17
Chart debut: October 1, 1995
Peak: number 1 (two weeks)
Biggest hit: "Kiss From A Rose" by Seal (number 1 for six weeks)
Smallest hit: "Shoot Me With Your Love" by D:Ream (number 73)
Best song: "Shoot Me With Your Love" by D:Ream
Worst song: "Alice, Who The X Is Alice (Living Next Door To Alice)" by Gompie
While Volume 17 had two chart-toppers, it also had five songs that missed the top 50, meaning 72% Hits would have been a more accurate title (although one of those was also my favourite track on the album). A more R&B (Montell Jordan, Brandy, Boyz II Men, Kulcha) and indie (Pulp, Radiohead, Jill Sobule) mix than its rival, there was not a Eurodance or techno track to be found, which I'm sure appealed to a lot of people — but not enough for the album to manage more than two weeks at number 1 compared to HM's 10 weeks. For me, while I didn't mind a bit of Chris Isaak or Max Sharam, there were only three songs I really loved — Seal and Paula Abdul, as well as D:Ream. Everything else was a bit like background music.
Chart debut: December 17, 1995
Peak: number 1 (nine weeks)
Biggest hit: "Stayin' Alive" by N-Trance (number 1 for one week)
Smallest hit: "Come Undone" by Jimmy Barnes (number 103)
Best song: "Absolute E-sensual" by Jaki Graham
Worst song: "Who Farted?" by The Vaughans
There really was a lot of average dance music released in 1995, as evidenced by The Outhere Brothers, Scatman John, Hoops Inc and Herbie on HM 11. And even though they were all big hits, I never really got into "Stayin' Alive", "I Kiss Your Lips" or "Be My Lover", either. Instead, my picks from this chart-dominating compilation were the ones by Jaki Graham, Take That, Sophie B Hawkins and Garbage. So while Hit Machine 11 might look on paper like the clearly superior album, for me, there were a hell of a lot of misses. Not even the presence of two Kylie songs impressed me much, since I don't like her Nick Cave collab and found the single mix of "Where Is The Feeling" dull.
Hit Machine 11
100% Hits 18
Chart debut: January 7, 1996
Peak: number 2
Biggest hit: "Fairground" by Simply Red (number 7)
Smallest hit: "Your Loving Arms" by Billie Ray Martin (number 85)
Best song: "The Sunshine After The Rain" by Berri
Worst song: "I'd Lie For You (And That's The Truth)" by Meat Loaf
Things really weren't going well over at 100% Hits HQ, with not a single top 5 hit on this 18th instalment. Also, the first five tracks were only top 20 hits and four songs didn't make the top 50 at all. And there were only 17 tracks on the compilation to begin with! That all said, flops by Dana Dawson, P.M. Dawn and Billie Ray Martin made this a much more enjoyable listening experience for me than if they hadn't been included, and overall, there were far less skippable tracks than on HM 11. Yep, I could happily tolerate Hootie, Queen or even Meat Loaf rather than listen to Scatman John or The Outhere Brothers. A win, but kind of by default.
Chart debut: April 21, 1996
Peak: number 1 (eight weeks)
Biggest hit: "How Bizarre" by OMC (number 1 for five weeks)
Smallest hit: "Sexuality" by kd lang (number 67)
Best song: "Missing (remix)" by Everything But The Girl
Worst song: "Boombastic" by Shaggy
While I preferred the mostly pop, dance and R&B offering from HM12, I can see why this volume of 100% Hits restored the franchise to the dominant position for the first time in over a year. As well as two long-running chart-toppers (OMC and Shaggy), there were a couple of big number 2s (EBTG and Boyzone) and major hits by Tracy Chapman, Deep Blue Something, The Corrs, Passengers, After 7 and Eternal. Thing was: I only liked a few of those. But it was proof that 100% Hits could muster up an impressive tracklisting if the record companies behind it did their job and had hits. A nice mix of genres with Britpop (Blur), R&B (Vybe), local hip-hop (Renegade Funktrain) and full-on rock (Skunk Anansie), if that's your thing.
100% Hits Volume 19
Hit Machine 12
Chart debut: April 7, 1996
Peak: number 1 (one week)
Biggest hit: "Wonderwall" by Oasis (number 1 for one week)
Smallest hit: "Living On A Dream" by Right Said Fred (number 147)
Best song: "Itchycoo Park" by M-People
Worst song: "La La La Hey Hey" by The Outhere Brothers
It wasn't like Hit Machine to have to so drastically scrape the barrel to fill 20 tracks, but besides the abysmal Right Said Fred tune — who thought that would be a hit? — there were two singles that peaked at number 100 ("Electronic Pleasure" and "Change"), despite both being good songs. R. Kelly's inclusion didn't do much better. And although it was trounced on the ARIA chart by 100% Hits Volume 19, HM12 gets my vote for the tracks by Swoop, Dreamworld, Real McCoy, Garbage, Tatjana, DJ Darren Briais vs DJ Peewee Ferris and Sophie B Hawkins. I'd also happily listen to Deni Hines, CDB, Oasis, Coolio, Tina Arena and TLC despite them not being my favourites from 1995-96.
Chart debut: June 30, 1996
Peak: number 1 (three weeks)
Biggest hit: "X-Files Theme" by Triple X (number 2)
Smallest hit: "I Wish" by Skee-Lo (number 74)
Best song: "Wrap Me Up" by Alex Party
Worst song: "Sexual Healing" by Max-A-Million
An easy win for Hit Machine — both as far as I was concerned and on the ARIA chart, where it triumphed over 100% Hits Volume 20. Lighter on dance tracks than usual (pros: Alex Party, The Prodigy; cons: Max-A-Million, Triple X; meh: La Bouche), a big chunk of this CD was given over to R&B and boy bands (sometimes both at the same time). And while I can't say these particular tunes by CDB, TLC, Take That and Deni Hines were my favourites by them, I did really enjoy "1,2,3,4 (Sumpin' New)", "Tell Me", "Stepping Stone" and "Got It Goin' On". Funnily enough, just missing out on being my favourite track was a rock song: Garbage's "Stupid Girl".
Hit Machine 13
100% Hits Volume 20
Chart debut: July 21, 1996
Peak: number 2
Biggest hit: "One Of Us" by Joan Osborne (number 1 for four weeks)
Smallest hit: "Gold To Me" by Ben Harper (number 84)
Best song: "Ooh Aah... Just A Little Bit" by Gina G
Worst song: "Classical Gas" by Daniel Amalm
It might've included my top single from 1996 — despite getting the title wrong — but other than Gina G, Ace Of Base, Boyzone and, if I was in the mood, Candy Girls, I can't say much on this 100% Hits appealed to me. I kinda liked "California Love" and "Spaceman", but not as much as everyone else. "Return Of The Mack" never did anything for me. With Ben Harper, Spacehog, Collective Soul, Everclear and The Cure, this felt again like an attempt to be a slightly more commercial version of the Hottest 100 CDs, the third volume of which blocked this from the top.
Hit Machine 14
Hit Machine 15
100% Hits Volume 21
Chart debut: December 1, 1996
Peak: number 1 (six weeks)
Biggest hit: "Wannabe" by Spice Girls (number 1 for 11 weeks)
Smallest hit: "Whoever You Are" by Geggy Tah (number 63)
Best song: "There's Nothing I Won't Do" by JX
Worst song: "Mother Mother" by Tracy Bonham
Proving the argument in favour of restraint, 100% Hits waited over four months to issue ts 21st volume, and although it didn't stay at number 1 as long as HM14, it did so over the Christmas period, ensuring huge sales. It also contained the biggest single of the summer in the form of Spice Girls' debut. Throw in quality from Savage Garden, JX, Pet Shop Boys, Chynna Phillips, George Michael, BoDeans and The Corrs, and it was a pretty easy win for me in this three-way stoush. Of the rest, I'd take Kulcha over Mark Morrison and Jewel over Tracy Bonham, and I had to be in the right mood to sit through "That Girl" and "Sunshine", but it was a pretty solid line-up. It would've been even stronger if the likes of The Rembrandts and Donna Lewis hadn't been kept for 100% Hits: The Best Of 1996.
Chart debut: October 6, 1996
Peak: number 1 (nine weeks)
Biggest hit: "Macarena" by Los Del Rio (number 1 for nine weeks)
Smallest hit: "Only Happy When It Rains" by Garbage (number 80)
Best song: "Only Happy When It Rains" by Garbage
Worst song: "Macarena" by Los Del Mar
This is where things get a bit odd — and I'm forced to redesign — as Hit Machine squeezed in two albums in the time 100% Hits put out one. That says two things: 1) the labels behind HM had so many hits that they thought they could justify that and 2) these compilations were huge money-spinners. On the first point, HM14 had an impressive tracklisting, with two of 1996's biggest number 1s. Unfortunately, I despised "Macarena", and the presence of the two rival versions is almost enough in itself to see it lose this round. But despite boasting lots of top 50 singles, I can count on the fingers of one hand the ones I really like: Fugees, Garbage, 3T, Human Nature and Deborah Cox. That said, I don't mind most of the (non-"Macarena" rest, including the tracks by Divinyls, Newton and Deni Hines, which are the standouts.
Chart debut: December 22, 1996
Peak: number 2
Biggest hit: "Break My Stride" by Unique II (number 2)
Smallest hit: "A God That Can Dance" by Shield presents Lonnie Gordon (didn't chart)
Best song: "Virtual Insanity" by Jamiroquai
Worst song: "Lover Lover" by Jimmy Barnes
I can see why the 15th volume of HM was whacked out just before Christmas, but they really did have to scrape the barrel to fill its 20 tracks, with seven songs not reaching the top 50. In fact, with only two top 10 singles on it when it was released — Unique II's Matthew Wilder remake wouldn't jump into the top 10 until early 1997 — it really was stretching the friendship. Still, some volumes of 100% Hits had been just as bereft of hits. For me, only No Mercy, Dead Or Alive and Jamiroquai are really that exciting, while I don't mind the inclusions by Strike, Puff Johnson, Deni Hines, Backstreet Boys, Ash and Unique II, but they're hardly on my list of most played songs from that year. Deservedly the first HM to miss the number 1 spot since the seventh volume.
Hit Machine 16
Hit Machine 17
Chart debut: April 27, 1997
Peak: number 1 (seven weeks)
Biggest hit: "Last Night" by Az Yet (number 2)
Smallest hit: "People Hold On" by Lisa Stansfield vs The Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (number 89)
Best song: "Quit Playing Games (With My Heart)" by Backstreet Boys
Worst song: "Fire Water Burn" by Bloodhound Gang
Proof again that when Hit Machine wanted to, it could be very, very good. Other than the Bloodhound Gang song (which veers a bit close to novelty for me), there's really not a bad track on this compilation — a fact that made up for the cash-in job that was Hit Machine 15. With highlights from Amber, The Prodigy, Crush, BSB, Sash, Jamiroquai and Human Nature, HM16 was pop, dance and R&B dominated — just the way I liked it. In terms of chart hits, only two songs (Lisa Stansfield and Newton) didn't make the top 50, although it should be noted that the album dropped back to 19 tracks instead of HM's traditional 20.
Chart debut: July 20, 1997
Peak: number 1 (one week)
Biggest hit: "When I Die" by No Mercy (number 2)
Smallest hit: "The Real Thing" by Lisa Stansfield (number 124)
Best song: "It's No Good" by Depeche Mode
Worst song: "Tease Me" by Paul Kelly
And when Hit Machine rushed out a collection too soon, it could be very, very bad. Once again, the series released two volumes in the time 100% Hits issued one — and to do so, eight tracks that weren't actually hits had to be included. Basically, the entire second half of the album (DJ Kool only reached number 50) would not have warranted a place ordinarily. As for the first half, kicking the album off with a ballad triple play, including the eight-month-old "Un-Break My Heart", didn't exactly get the party started. With only Real McCoy and Whigfield in the way of dance floor fillers and no "Pony"-like R&B anthems (the Puff Daddy tune doesn't count), this was a big old dud.
100% Hits 97: The Music
Chart debut: June 1, 1997
Peak: number 1 (five weeks)
Biggest hit: "To The Moon And Back" by Savage Garden (number 1 for one week)
Smallest hit: "Desperately Wanting" by Better Than Ezra (number 83)
Best song: "I Belong To You" by Gina G
Worst song: "Discotheque" by U2
In a curious, one-off rebranding attempt, the 22nd volume of 100% Hits was given a title that made it sound like a year-end retrospective (especially confusing since the franchise did such releases). That aside, this was as solid as you'd expect given it covered a six-month period. As usual, it was a more diverse offering than HM, venturing further into rock and indie — not in itself a bad thing. It's just that the tracks by U2 and Blur weren't my favourites by either band, although I didn't mind the Luscious Jackson song. On the pop and R&B front, Spice Girls, Gina G, The Cardigans, En Vogue, White Town, Quad City DJs, Boyzone and Belinda Carlisle kept me happy, with Tori Amos left to fly the flag for club music.
Chart debut: October 12, 1997
Peak: number 1 (seven weeks)
Biggest hit: "MMMBop" by Hanson (number 1 for 9 weeks)
Smallest hit: "Picture Of You" by Boyzone (number 39)
Best song: "Picture Of You" by Boyzone
Worst song: "Bitch" by Meredith Brooks
Sometimes it's best just to keep things simple. Instead of getting greedy, solid old 100% Hits chugged along, delivering what it said on the cover better than it had in a while, with all 18 tracks making the top 40. Quite a few of those were monster singles, including long-running number 1s from Hanson and Savage Garden, and top 5 hits by Jewel, Meredith Brooks and Blur. But I can't say I loved any of those, nor other smashes by Texas, Third Eye Blind and Mr President. "Coco Jamboo" (ugh) aside, I didn't hate any of them, they just weren't my go-to tunes. Even the Spice Girls inclusion was the wrong side of the double A-side as far as I was concerned. That all said, I really have to give 100% Hits the win in this case for not forgetting what the assignment actually was. Side note: Diana Ah Naid's "I Go Off" featured on both albums and was lucky there was, for me, one worse song on each or it might have ended up with a double whammy in that respect.
100% Hits 23
Hit Machine 18
Chart debut: November 30, 1997
Peak: number 1 (seven weeks)
Biggest hit: "I'll Be Missing You" by Puff Daddy and Faith Evans featuring 112 (number 1 for 5 weeks)
Smallest hit: "Big" by Wendy Matthews (number 200)
Best song: "Everybody (Backstreet's Back)" by Backstreet Boys
Worst song: "More Than I Can" by Jane Jensen
The forces behind Hit Machine might have given up releasing two volumes in the time that one 100% Hits was issused, but instead they put out a double CD crammed with... lots of songs that flopped. Not only did some tracks miss the top 50, but four inclusions (Wendy Matthew, Smoke City, Joe and Jane Jensen) didn't even make the top 100. Given the format change, it's hard to directly compare these releases. While 100% Hits certainly has an all-hit track listing, I actually prefer a higher number of songs on this Hit Machine (BSB, Diana King, Olive, Human Nature, Az Yet, Robyn, Jamiroquai and No Mercy being the best). Problem is: there's a much greater number of tracks to begin with, not to mention a lot of other dross just to fill the quota — and it loses points for that. Unlike many Hit Machine albums that you could play from beginning to end, there would have had to have been some serious programming and disc-swapping going on here.
Chart debut: April 19, 1998
Peak: number 2
Biggest hit: "Barbie Girl" by Aqua (number 1 for three weeks)
Smallest hit: "All About Us" by Peter Andre (number 65)
Best song: "As Long As You Love Me" by Backstreet Boys
Worst song: "The Change In Me" by Monique Brumby
It's almost like all that messing around with the format and putting out substandard volumes instead of less frequent, high quality instalments came home to roost for Hit Machine. Despite having, in my opinion, the superior track listing, the 19th in the series was blocked from the top spot for three months. Dance tracks from Sash!, Burnette, Da Hool and Run-DMC vs Jason Nevins, along with top pop from Robyn, BSB, Kylie Minogue and CDB got this over the line for me. Yes, there were three top 50 misses, but none of them were terrible. Question was: would the labels behind Hit Machine learn their lesson or would weeks in the runner-up spot satisfy them enough?
Hit Machine 19
100% Hits Volume 24
Chart debut: April 5, 1998
Peak: number 1 (12 weeks)
Biggest hit: "Tubthumping" by Chumbawamba (number 1 for three weeks)
Smallest hit: "Dark Sky" by Jimmy Somerville (number 62)
Best song: "Together Again" by Janet Jackson
Worst song: "You Sexy Thing" by T-Shirt
You have to go back to Volume 8 for a run at number 1 longer than the 12 weeks enjoyed by 100% Hits Volume 24. The lack of other competition (Hottest 100, Wild FM, etc.) at the time would have played into that, but I can't help but think there might have been a few people burned by earlier Hit Machines who decided to stick with old faithful. Beyond Janet Jackson, Texas, Dario G, Robyn Loau and Eternal, there's not much I get really excited about. I don't mind the songs by The Corrs and Spice Girls, but they're hardly party starters. I also find the placement of Jimmy Somerville's flop to kick off the cassette's Side B an odd choice.
Chart debut: July 5, 1998
Peak: number 1 (two weeks)
Biggest hit: "Never Ever" by All Saints (number 1 for seven weeks)
Smallest hit: "Dangerous" by Busta Rhymes (number 92)
Best song: "Stop" by Spice Girls
Worst song: "The Ballad Of Tom Jones" by Space
I can see why this compilation did even worse than Hit Machine 20 after its strong start (and week's headstart). The main problem is that this volume was 75% hits, with five of the 20 tracks missing the top 50. There's also a fair bit of skippable stuff here — Mr President, Space, Tonic, Sugar Ray — but points for including The Dandy Warhols and the best mix of Janet Jackson's "I Get Lonely". And girl group anthems "Never Ever" and "Stop" were both major selling points, But when "Cleopatra's Theme", "I Never Loved You Anyway" and "Bamboogie" are also among my favourite tracks on this album, you know there's a problem — they're OK songs but not classics. Shania Twain and Hanson were other big-name draws, if you like that kind of stuff, which plenty of people did. An uneven entry into the 100% Hits catalogue.
100% Hits Volume 25
Hit Machine 20
Chart debut: July 12, 1998
Peak: number 1 (two weeks)
Biggest hit: "5, 6, 7, 8" by Steps (number 1 for one week)*
Smallest hit: "I'll Be There For You" by Solid HarmoniE (number 83)
Best song: "I'll Be There For You" by Solid HarmoniE
Worst song: "Fight For Your Right" by N.Y.C.C.
Despite featuring some of my favourite pop acts of all time — Kylie Minogue, Steps, Backstreet Boys — the songs included on Hit Machine 20 aren't my go-to tracks by them and you have to go to inclusions by P. M. Dawn, Allure and under-appreciated girl group Solid HarmoniE for my top picks here. Still, it's mostly listenable stuff, although I'd choose Next and Peter Andre over Will Smith and Uncle Sam when it comes to R&B, and Kylie and Kate Ceberano over Tina Arena and Natalie Imbruglia in the Aussie female singer stakes. I can see why the fifth volume of Triple J Hottest 100 kept this album at number 2 for most of its run, though.
* Technically, "Maria" by Ricky Martin is the biggest hit as it was a chart-topping double A-side with "The Cup Of Life", but since "Maria" was not on track to reach number 1 before it got coupled with the World Cup song, I'm giving it to Steps.
Chart debut: September 27, 1998
Peak: number 1 (two weeks)
Biggest hit: "The Cup Of Life" by Ricky Martin (number 1 for six weeks)
Smallest hit: "I'm The Woman Who Loves You" by Renee Geyer (number 201)
Best song: "Last Thing On My Mind" by Steps
Worst song: "Keep On My Side" by Ammonia
It was little wonder these substandard volumes of Hit Machine and 100% Hits were largely kept off the number 1 spot during their run by not only the fifth volume of The Hottest 100 but also The World's Best Ever Beer Songs — a damning indictment if ever there was one. Hit Machine, in particular, really scraped the barrel with five songs that didn't even make the top 100. It gets my pick, though, mostly on account of its top-notch first seven tracks (although it shared Aqua and K-Ci & JoJo with 100% Hits). I also didn't mind the inclusions by Kate Ceberano, Sash!, Imajin and CDB, but it was far from Hit Machine's best effort.
Hit Machine 21
100% Hits Volume 26
Chart debut: September 27, 1998
Peak: number 1 (one week)
Biggest hit: "High" by Lighthouse Family (number 1 for one week)
Smallest hit: "Mama's Trippin'" by Ben Harper (number 92)
Best song: "High" by Lighthouse Family
Worst song: "Kung Fu Fighting" by Bus Stop featuring Carl Douglas
Although this instalment of 100% Hits more faithfully kept to the definition of "hit" than its counterpart, it was just a shame that many of those hits were on the lacklustre side. I was a fan of the tracks by All Saints, The Corrs, Cleopatra, Ultimate Kaos, Janet Jackson and Aqua, but none were among my real favourites for 1998. I was more excited by the two ARIA chart-topping ballads included — from K-Ci & JoJo and Lighthouse Family — but they were tucked away on the tracklisting with the double whammy of "Kung Fu Fighting" and "Crush On You" getting things off to a less than auspicious start.