Journalist
Jeff Jenkins' weekly column featuring Australian music news,
interviews, a look at the charts and more. Updated every
Sunday afternoon. Click
here for the archive page.
Jeff
is a semi-regular guest on
The Australian Mood with Neil Rogers, 8-10pm Thursdays
on 3RRR in Melbourne
Contacting
Jeff: If you need to contact Jeff Jenkins you can email
me (Lee-Roy) at and I'll forward the
email onto Jeff
May 18th 2025
MILESTONES AND MEMORIES
Forty years ago this week, Uncanny X-Men’s 50 Years entered the Top 40.
Also 40 years ago this week, Eurogliders’ We Will Together entered the Top 40.
The Masters Apprentices’ Turn Up Your Radio entered the Go-Set charts this week in 1970. It would peak at number seven.
Midnight Oil’s Beds Are Burning entered the US Top 40 this week in 1988. It would peak at number 17.
Daryl Braithwaite’s comeback album, Edge, hit number one in Australia this week in 1989.
Jason Donovan’s debut album, Ten Good Reasons, hit number one in the UK this week in 1989. It would spend four weeks on top.
This week in 1992, Weddings Parties Anything’s Father’s Day entered the charts, as did Jimmy Barnes & Tina Turner’s version of (Simply) The Best.
Thirty years ago this week, Merril Bainbridge’s Mouth hit number one, the start of a six-week reign.
Nick Cave’s Push The Sky Away won the Album Award at the Ivor Novello Awards this week in 2014.
Ten years ago this week, Colleen Hewett released her first album in 14 years, Black & White.
Happy Birthday to John Schumann who is 72, Jim Moginie who is 69, and Richard Clapton who is 77, on May 18. James Reyne is 68, and AC/DC’s Phil Rudd is 71, on May 19. Joe Camilleri and Leo Sayer both turn 77, and Wally De Backer (Gotye) is 45, on May 21. And Iva Davies is 70, and Scotty Kingman (Horsehead, The Screaming Jets) is 57, on May 22.
And we remember Peter Jones, drummer in Crowded House, Deadstar and Harem Scarem, who died of brain cancer, aged 49, this week in 2012. And Bee Gee Robin Gibb died of cancer, aged 62, this week in 2012.
CHART WATCH
Still no Australian singles in ARIA’s Top 40.
Spacey Jane’s third album lands at number two.
If That Makes Sense SPACEY JANE (number two, debut)
Listen Like Thieves (40th Anniversary Edition) INXS (17, debut)
HOWZAT! PLAYLIST
Mountains Mountains Mountains EMILY ULMAN
Velveteen THE NIGHT PARROTS
Will Not Let You Down MELODY POOL
Across The Nullarbor MICK THOMAS’ ROVING COMMISSION
Kiss Me Like You’re Leaving JEM CASSAR-DALEY
Contacting
Jeff: If you need to contact Jeff Jenkins you can email
me (Lee-Roy) at and I'll forward the
email onto Jeff |