Well regardless of how you feel about this theatrical adaptation of the Broadway show set in the 50's (I personally love it) there's no denying that the soundtrack left a mark on audiences back in the day as it was by far the most successful to emerge from the 70's and arguably of all time. This is due to how much chemistry the two leads have both in the film and with the songs, regardless of John's deficiencies as a vocalist.
Peak position #1x9
Hit singles
You're the one that I want #1
Grease #2
Hopelessly devoted to you #2
Summer nights #6
Greased lightning #40
Well, this is the album many of Kiss's former fans cried sellout to given how they like so many other bands and artists of the day, decided to cash in on the disco trends for commercial success. It does remain their most popular album in their career even though many will tell you that their earlier material is much better, however it's clear that this was the peak of their popularity regardless.
Peak position #2
Hit singles
I was made for loving you #2
Sure know something #4
If you're wondering why ELO decided to name this album what they did, that's because it's a pun because the band found themselves "discovering" disco with this release which means that this album was cashing in on the disco craze of the decade. Like many artists dipping their toes into the genre, they did so respectfully which is why the tracks on this album remain staples on oldies stations to this day.
Peak position #1x6
Hit singles
Shine a little love #14
Don't bring me down #6
Midnight blue #48
This was the magnum opus for Supertramp given how the lead single was a huge hit on Billboard for the prog band upon its initial release, this was also the penultimate album they released that achieved massive success for them worldwide as they sadly struggled to adapt into the MTV era with their subsequent releases.
Peak position #1x6
Hit singles
The logical song #16
Boney M was the first band that Frank Farian had success with, although it's the only band where he participated in the vocals as he was the lead singer of the band. This was their biggest success likely due to it spawning not one but two of their biggest hits worldwide, although as they were in the disco genre, their popularity began to dwindle as the decade was coming to an end.
Peak position #7
Hit singles
Rivers of Babylon #1
Rasputin #1
Following the success of her previous album Simple dreams, it appears that Linda Ronstadt decided she wasn't done exploring country and RNB which is perhaps why this album proved to be a successful follow-up less than a year after that albums release. She did eventually move on to new wave in the new decade, and it appears we Aussies at least weren't particularly interested in her tackling a heavier genre like that.
Peak position #3
Hit singles
Living in the USA #18
Just one look #38
If there was any doubt that his previous album the Stranger was a fluke for Billy Joel in the mainstream, then this album put those doubts to rest as it cemented him as the piano man of choice given how both of these albums were released during Elton John's first dark period. Even though he had millions of fans around the world with these albums, he saw backlash from rock snobs who felt he was catering to soccer mums.
Peak position #1x5
Hit singles
My life #6
This was where it all began for one of the most critically acclaimed bands of all time, and it's with an album that sounds completely stripped back from what was coming out at the time to boot. Of course, Dire straits would go on to have infinitely more success the following decade, however they did win over a bunch of fans with this album who wanted an alternative with all the bombast.
Peak position #1x3
Hit singles
Sultans of swing #6
Compared to the rest of their discography, this feels like an outlier in Fleetwood Mac's catalogue, mainly due to it being their one double album as well as it being more in line with a prog album compared to the rest of their work. As a result, it wasn't quite as successful as their other albums, however it was still a massive success for them regardless.
Peak position #2
Hit singles
Tusk #3
Sara #11
Well would you look at this, we have a rock opera set to the plot of the H.G Wells book War of the worlds by composer Jeff Wayne that managed to become a huge success this decade. Admittedly this wasn't the first concept album to achieve massive success that was based on a book as a few years prior, Yes frontman Rick Wakeman did just that with the Jules Verne novel Journey to the center of the earth.
Peak position #1x7
Well at least this album saw Rod Stewart experimenting with his sound for a change, even if it was to allow him to get on board with the disco scene that was taking the world by storm upon its initial release. This would be the last mega successful album in his catalogue until his 1991 effort Vagabond heart, meaning the 80's was an off period for the crooner.
Peak position #1x6
Hit singles
Do ya think I'm sexy #1
Ain't love a bitch #44
For nearly thirty years, this was the final album that the Eagles released in their catalogue, although I doubt they were planning for this to be their final album given what was in store for them during its promotion. They were supposed to give a concert in their native California to with a government official in the audience, and yet the behind-the-scenes drama got so out of control that they ended up embarrassing themselves during the show.
Peak position #1x3
Hit singles
Heartache tonight #13
While he wasn't among the most successful artists of the decade, his (then) most recent album Stranger in town was a huge sleeper hit for Bob Seger which likely explains the success of this greatest hits package from him here in Australia. What's interesting is that he would return to the mainstream eight years later with one of the tracks on this album.
Peak position #1x2
This was another album that took its sweet time in finding success here in Australia, although at least it was a success unlike in the bands native America where they didn't have any success until their comeback from the late 80's. It's little wonder this appealed to Australians as it's the type of wacky throwback rock from the 50's that was all the rage at the time, that and appearing on Countdown also did the trick.
Peak position #7
Hit singles
Planet Claire #43
Rock lobster #3
Following the huge success of the Saturday night fever soundtrack, it was only inevitable that the Brothers Gibb would find massive success with whatever album they put out provided it was within the disco genre. Indeed, this album was a massive success for them and likely would've been even if it weren't released at the height of disco, although it has been cited as one of the contributing factors to the disco backlash in America.
Peak position #1x5
Hit singles
Too much heaven #5
Tragedy #2
Although he remains one of the most iconic singer/songwriters of all time, Neil Young didn't have that much success in Australia back in the day save for the occasional solo album as well as his magnum opus with Crosby Stills Nash and Young at the start of the decade. This would be a close second to his biggest album here after Deja vu from 1971, allowing him to bookmark both sides of the 70's with a successful album.
Peak position #6
This was a very productive decade for Leo Sayer given how he scored two of the biggest albums of the 70's, here he has a greatest hits package to overlook the journey he made from his humble beginnings, although the journey wouldn't end here as he had further success in the 80's.
Peak position #1x1
They had an amazing run throughout the 70's not just here in Australia but internationally, so it makes sense that the band would release a greatest hits package detailing the journey they had made in such a short amount of time and for it to be a huge success for them. This sadly was a bit of a curse for the band here as they wouldn't have another hit for ten years when they came back with "Love is a bridge."
Peak position #4
She was one of the biggest celebrities of the decade, so of course this greatest hits package from Barbra Streisand would be a success for her worldwide upon its initial release. Her popularity would continue to grow in the 80's as she would score her next album would be the biggest of her career, and indeed her film career would also flourish.
Peak position #2
Hit singles
You don't bring me flowers #4
It would seem odd that Santana would still be popular by the end of the decade only to fade into obscurity going into the 80's, until you remember that MTV launched in 1981 which naturally caused the mainstream to sideline these guys until the late 90's worldwide. Even so, they achieved massive success with their penultimate album of the decade here in Australia which makes this transition rather jarring.
Peak position #5
Hit singles
Well all right #20
This was a greatest hits package from Kenny Rogers that was released exclusively here in Australia and NZ, as such it was a huge hit for the country legend in both countries and even prompted him to give us a slightly altered version of his international greatest hits package the following year when he topped the charts with "Lady" on Billboard. This was one way of beginning the 80's and a positive one at that.
Peak position #4
This was the most successful album to come from the Doobie Brothers given how it spawned their biggest hit in their catalogue in the form of its lead single. Even though they had a very successful run this decade with their adult contemporary rock music, they would struggle to retain their popularity with their next album which resulted in them breaking up for most of the 80's, although they would eventually reform.
Peak position #6
Hit singles
What a fool believes #12
What better way to end the decade than with an album overlooking the success you achieved throughout it? Rod Stewart decided not to release a new studio album once the 70's ended which might have costed him his success throughout the 80's as he wouldn't have a bestselling album again until 1991's Vagabond heart.
Peak position #1x5
Even though this was a massive success for Donna Summer and is often considered to be the quintessential disco record from a musician of colour, it unfortunately led to her developing resentment for her previous work as the marketing depicted her as a sex worker which she felt sent her audience the wrong message. As a result, she became a devoted feminist after this album cycle was finished and changed her image going into the 80's.
Peak position #6
Hit singles
Hot stuff #1
Bad girls #14
This was the biggest success that Rickie Lee Jones had in Australia, this was largely due to the lead single becoming a huge international success for her at a time where adult contemporary was competing with disco. She did have some minor success throughout the following decade, although she would never again reach the dizzying heights of her debut.
Peak position #1x6
Hit singles
Chuck e's in love #15
Even though they had success earlier in the decade with "In the flesh" in Australia and "Denis" in the UK, Blondie were finally able to make it big in their native America with this album given how the lead single incorporates disco into their sound. This made the band a household name internationally and set them up for major success in the 80's which they unfortunately didn't manage to achieve after their album Autoamerican.
Peak position #2
Hit singles
Heart of glass #1
Hanging on the telephone #39
Toto began their life as a group of session musicians for other bands and artists before they decided to join the leagues of their clientele by releasing their debut album, it proved to be a worthy decision as this album was a huge success for them worldwide. They did struggle to retain their popularity with their next two albums; however, they would be back in the spotlight with their Grammy winning fourth album.
Peak position #2
Hit singles
Hold the line #8
Although this wasn't their first album, this was the album which made Cold Chisel a household name in Australia likely due to how pub rock was taking over the mainstream in Australia around this time despite this album failing to produce a hit single for them. Their next album would be even bigger and would make them one of the biggest names of the 80's along the likes of Australian crawl and Split enz.
Peak position #4
Bob Dylan was certainly on a roll when he released this album as it showed promise that he would thrive throughout the 80's, alas since he wasn't what would be marketable for the MTV era, this promise proved to be empty as he struggled to find mainstream success that decade. He did eventually return to the mainstream as a member of the Traveling wilburys, so it's not like this was the last people heard from him.
Peak position #1x2
This album was named after his duet with Barbra Streisand which happened to be one of the biggest hits from both artists careers, so of course this was going to be a huge success for Neil Diamond just like most of his albums this decade. His popularity would continue to flourish in the 80's thanks to his performance in the Jazz singer, although it would quickly dwindle once the MTV era launched.
Peak position #5
Hit singles
You don't bring me flowers #4
Forever in blue jeans #41
This was released at the tail end of the 70's to commemorate how far the Brothers Gibb had come from their previous greatest hits album from a decade prior, they made a habit of doing this once a decade as they would release another greatest hits package in 1990 despite not having much success in the 80's.
Peak position #1x3
While he continued to have success following the temporary parting ways he had with Bernie Taupin, it's obvious that the magic had been lost in Elton's music to the point where he occasionally needed to have songs originally written by Bernie be reworked into some of the tracks on his albums. Even so, he did manage to find success with this album due to it spawning a couple of hit singles for him.
Peak position #8
Hit singles
Part time love #12
Song for guy #14
This was the final successful album that 10cc had here in Australia, I'm guessing because we Aussies were a bit too confused with their direction towards reggae with the lead single but could also be due to us not wanting them around in the 80's for some reason. They admittedly had a good run in the mainstream here so it's not like they went largely unheard of unlike in America.
Peak position #3
Hit singles
Dreadlock holiday #2
This was the final album that Led zeppelin released in their career, OK so technically that honour goes to Coda in 1982, however that album was only released due to contractual obligations and by their label as the band had broken up by that stage. I'm not even sure why they called it quits the following year as there weren't any behind the scenes drama that I'm aware of, it could be to allow Robert Plant to have a successful solo career.
Peak position #3
There's a version of this album which doesn't include Art Garfunkel's theme to Watership down on the track listing, I'm guessing he wanted the album to stand on its own but changed his mind when he realised that his popularity only revived this year because of his affiliation with the animated film. The next time he would trouble the charts was with his reunion tour with his former partner in crime Paul Simon.
Peak position #3
Hit singles
Bright eyes #2
It looked like Cheap trick weren't going to find any crossover success here in Australia given how their live album At Budokan failed to become a success for them over here like it was throughout the rest of the world, however due to a rather memorable Countdown performance with the title track of this album, they were able to finally score mainstream success here which set them up for much success throughout the 80's.
Peak position #7
Hit singles
Dream police #5
Following the success of the Grease soundtrack from earlier on this list, Olivia Newton John doubled down on her sex appeal she displayed in the film with this album which naturally went over well with her fanbase given how this was her first album to be a success outside of its singles here in Australia. It's a bit of a prototype to her next album which seemed to be tailor made for the launch of MTV.
Peak position #7
Hit singles
A little more love #9
These guys saw a lot of hype with their debut album, so much so that they were declared to be the American equivalent of the Beatles before it even dropped. Fortunately for them, the album was a huge success thanks to the strength of its lead single. Unfortunately for them, this made them a one album wonder as their subsequent releases failed to find much of an audience for them.
Peak position #1x4
Hit singles
My Sharona #1
This was the final album to be released from Wings before they went their separate ways in the new decade, it's worth noting that every one of their albums was a huge success here in Australia proving how much we Aussies loved Paul McCartney back in the day as he didn't start to feel irrelevant until the mid 80's.
Peak position #3
This was the only notable success from Nicollette Larsson, a woman who's best known for her relationship with Neil Young from around this time as she appeared on his album Comes a time which is perhaps how she managed to find success with this album. I'm guessing she had a falling out with Neil as her popularity vanished once this album left the charts.
Peak position #6
Hit singles
Lotta love #11
Phoebe Snow was a singer/songwriter who had promise earlier in the decade when "Poetry man" became a huge hit for her in her native America, now she never had a hit here in Australia but due to how popular she was in NZ during the second half of the decade, this album became a huge success for her despite it flopping on the Billboard charts. Why her popularity fizzled out over there is anyone's guess.
Peak position #9
Hit singles
Every night #22
This was a collaboration album between Neil Young and the American band Crazy horse, although half of the album is only a Neil Young album with side B being his collaborations with Crazy horse. The album was such a huge success upon its initial release that both parties went on tour to cash in on it which led to the tour being a huge success for them and even the live album being big as well.
Peak position #8
It seems odd that both this guy and his American counterpart Eric Clapton wouldn't see much success this decade in Australia, perhaps due to both men having success earlier in their careers and thus seeming like they were out of touch by the time the Countdown era rolled around. In any case, we have this album from JJ Cale which was indeed his fifth album and one that was a huge hit for him here.
Peak position #6
Now that these guys had a highly successful album under their belt, they had little issues with finding success with their subsequent follow ups beginning with this album which may have failed to produce a hit single for them but was a massive success regardless. The 80's would see their popularity increase as they began scoring hits from their albums as well as developing a positive reputation as a live act.
Peak position #8
Hit singles
Shadow boxer #25
Out of the blue #29
This is the one and only album to be released from Racey, naturally it was a massive success here in Australia given how it managed to spawn three of the bigger hits during the final stretch of the 70's here, which makes you wonder why they never even attempted to release a second album given how successful they were going into the 80's.
Peak position #5
Hit singles
Lay your love on me #1
Some girls #1
Boy oh boy #12
The decade might have been coming to an end, however that didn't mean Abba was yesterday's news quite yet as they were able to score a massive hit with this album and even several hit singles to spawn from it. While their popularity wasn't as unavoidable as their earlier material, it was still noteworthy which is more than I can say for several other bands and artists that dominated the midpoint of the 70's.
Peak position #5
Hit singles
Chiquitita #4
Does your mother know #7
This was the only notable success that Elvis Costello had in the music industry, mainly for its lead single which remains a staple on oldies stations despite a controversial lyric where he uses a racial slur at one point (the slur is edited out on the radio.) Elvis is best known for being a punk rocker even though this album is more in line with what would eventually become new wave.
Peak position #9
Hit singles
Oliver's army #24
Following the breakthrough success of Parallel lines in their native America, Blondie no longer had any issues with finding success worldwide with their subsequent follow ups including this album which managed to rebound on our charts here in Australia when they released their theme to the Richard Gere flick American gigolo at the start of the 80's, meaning this became a success twice down under.
Peak position #9
Hit singles
Atomic #12
I'm a bit surprised this wasn't an even bigger success for Barbra Streisand given how it contains her feminist duet with Donna Summer among the track listing, perhaps we Aussies were only interested in Donna's transition towards female empowerment throughout the 80's as Barbra's next album would see her working with the brothers Gibb with a heavy theme towards love.
Peak position #7
Hit singles
No more tears #8
Their self-titled debut album was a massive flop in Australia, this is despite the fact it was one of the biggest albums of the decade in NZ proving there was an audience for them upon their initial breakthrough. Indeed, it's likely due to this audience over there that their second album was a huge success here, even managing to spawn a hit single here that they lacked over there.
Peak position #7
Hit singles
Let's go #6
This was the last successful album that Little river band had in Australia for nearly ten years, I'm guessing it's because they were more interested in chasing their international appeal that they seemed to have forgotten to make music for us Aussies during the 80's. They would have a surprise comeback in 1988 with Monsoon when Glenn Shorrock rejoined the band after John Farnham's brief stint as the lead singer.
Peak position #2
Hit singles
Lonesome loser #19
Jon English had begun to see massive worldwide success this year due to the popularity of his miniseries Against the wind, as such he released this greatest hits package to help fans navigate through his back catalogue that proved to be a success for him just as the decade was coming to an end. He would struggle to retain his popularity in the 80's as did many of his contemporaries from the 70's.
Peak position #4
Hit singles
Get your love right #27
This was an album that was originally released six years prior to deafening silence for the Greek pop artist, it was given a second chance this year for reasons I can't seem to fathom which allowed him to close out the decade with a successful album here in Australia. He was a one album wonder here of course, although I have heard him described as the Greek Bob Dylan over the years.
Peak position #11
Hit singles
My friend the wind #21
Wings were so inescapable this decade that even this greatest hits package managed to be a huge success for them, heck there were simply no signs of Paul McCartney slowing down in the music industry until the mid 80's where his music became less critically acclaimed.
Peak position #8
They may not have had much success here in Australia with their singles or even albums, however at least this greatest hits package from Earth wind and fire was able to become a success likely as a way of reconciling with our ignorance of their music throughout the decade. Indeed, they managed to score a major hit this year with the Emotions, proving that we were ready to make them a household name.
Peak position #7
Hit singles
September #12
There were two artists to perform at Budokan this year, the first was Cheap trick who scored a massive international hit with their performance at the Japanese stadium and the second was Bob Dylan who also scored massive worldwide success with his performance there. Naturally it was Bob's live album that managed to become a massive success here in Australia proving how well loved he was this decade.
Peak position #4
Well, this is an album that many have claimed to be a carbon copy of the band's debut album, I'm guessing audiences felt this was too much of the same back in the day to pay as much mind to it as they did with their earlier entry on this list even though it was still a massive success back in the day due to how talented the band was.
Peak position #5
One of the wackier bands to make it big through Countdown was Mi-sex, this is largely due to the antics of their lead singer as well as their unconventional song topics ranging from aliens to the rise in videogaming. While this was a sleeper hit for the band, it did set them up for a ton of success here and in their native NZ that they sadly never ended up having after their second album.
Peak position #16
Hit singles
But you don't care #25
Computer games #1
This is the only album from Anne Murray aside from her greatest hits package to find any sort of success outside of America and her native Canada, although I'm guessing this is due to the surprise success of its lead single worldwide which likely came from it compared favourably to an early Olivia Newton John track around the time her British/Australian equivalent went in a more pop direction.
Peak position #13
Hit singles
You needed me #2
While this wasn't their first album, it was the album which made the Angels into a household name due to how long it charted (albeit in the lower half of the charts.) This allowed them to join the elite ranks of Skyhooks and Dragon as one of the more successful bands from the southern hemisphere without finding success in the northern hemisphere.
Peak position #18
Hit singles
Take a long ling #29
This was the only notable success that the Sports were able to achieve here in Australia, they were among the more popular pub rock bands of their time even though they didn't reach the same heights as Cold chisel or Dragon during the Countdown era. They would sadly not last for very long as their next album didn't bring in the numbers of their earlier work which would cause them to break up.
Peak position #9
Hit singles
Who listens to the radio #35
Don't throw stones #26
This was another successful album to come from George Benson back in the day, although it didn't have that big crossover hit that his next album had likely due to his work from the 70's being more in line with jazz rather than disco like that album was.
Peak position #14
This was the only successful album that Van Morrison had here in Australia prior to the release of his 1990 greatest hits package, I bring this up because we Aussies really did seem to ignore the Irish singer/songwriter's catalogue back in the day which makes you wonder what compelled us to correct that mistake throughout the 90's.
Peak position #10
Much like his previous album, this was an album that has some traces of his glam rock roots in an album that's otherwise very indicative of the times. This resulted in Alice being polarising to his fanbase and the mainstream which in turn resulted in this album being nowhere near as successful as his earlier work.
Peak position #12
Hit singles
How you gonna see me now #9
This guy had been making albums since the start of the decade with very limited success, so to see him cap off the 70's with this throwback album was a bit of a surprise but inevitable given all the throwback albums to make it big over the years. In NZ this was an even bigger success due to his cover of an Elvis Presley classic becoming a surprise hit over there during the start of the 80's.
Peak position #7
Hit singles
Little sister #39
They may have only been active for an entire year, however this Canadian trio did manage to have a successful album to their name if only due to a wardrobe malfunction from the video of its lead single. I'm sure if MTV had existed back when these guys were big in Australia and NZ, they would've been equally as successful in their homeland and especially in America.
Peak position #6
Hit singles
Baby it's you #2
Let's get back together #27
Given how the lead single from this album managed to become a huge success for Kingston Trio member John Stewart here in Australia, it only makes sense that the album itself would be a moderate success even if this was the only success he achieved here throughout his career (this includes his work with his band by the way.)
Peak position #10
Hit singles
Gold #5
Given how Dragon had called it quits this year due to Marc Hunter wanting to embark on a solo career (as well as the behind the scenes tension they were going through) they decided to cap off their initial run together with a greatest hits package that was a decent success for them here in Australia.
Peak position #8
Following the success of their greatest hits package from earlier on this list, Earth wind and fire managed to score moderate success with this album largely due to the lead single being their duet with the Emotions which became both groups one and only hit here in Australia (unfortunately.) At least their back catalogue was finally recognised down under thanks to the success of both of these albums this year.
Peak position #12
Hit singles
Boogie wonderland #6
This is the soundtrack to the miniseries which helped Jon English briefly become an international household name by the end of the decade, it allowed him to find a worldwide audience due to how well received it was internationally which makes you wonder why this wasn't more of a success here in Australia back in the day.
Peak position #10
Hit singles
Six ribbons #5
While this wasn't their biggest album here in Australia, this was a huge hit for the Village people regardless due to it including one of their more iconic tracks in their catalogue which helped them acquire a fanbase that was willing to embrace their campy nature at a time where other artists seemed to be more down to earth with their image.
Peak position #8
Hit singles
In the navy #7
While David Bowie did achieve more success throughout the 70's here in Australia than he did in the 80's and beyond, I wouldn't get your hopes up too high as each of his entries will be appearing on the bottom half of these lists from here on out. Hey at least his brand of creativity was able to achieve some notoriety down under during the height of the Countdown era.
Peak position #11
This was the last album that Santana had any success with for nearly two decades, it was more of the same of their south American style pop rock that had made them a household name throughout the 70's but didn't do them any favours going into the 80's. They would need the help of the 90's scene to find success in the mainstream again.
Peak position #9
It appears that fifth time was the charm for Jo Jo Zep and the Falcons as this was their fifth album in their catalogue as well as the album that finally made them a household name here in Australia thanks to the lead single becoming their only hit. This is another surprise for me as I would've thought this would be among the more successful albums of this time from the overplay on oldies stations to the band appearing regularly on Countdown.
Peak position #13
Hit singles
Hit and run #12
Shape I'm in #22
It's a bit of a coincidence that Gary Numan would find more success with his album with Tubeway army than he did with his solo album here in Australia considering the opposite was true with the only hits he had with each respective project here, either way, his work has been widely accepted as what pioneered new wave going into the 80's and as such, remains critical darlings to this day.
Peak position #11
Hit singles
Are friends electric #12
In a bit of an odd twist, Ian Dury managed to find success this year not with the album that spawned his one and only hit but rather with his solo debut from two years prior. Naturally it makes sense he would find success with this album given how big "Hit me with your rhythm stick" was down under, however it still feels like an outlier on this list given how it's a rare punk album on this site.
Peak position #13
This was a bit of a commercial disappointment for Kate Bush, largely due to it lacking that runaway hit that most of her other albums have in her catalogue but also due to it failing to live up to the standards set up by her debut album from the previous year. She would of course bounce back the following decade with her third album and having varying degrees of success with her music.
Peak position #12
Hit singles
Hammer horror #17
This is the only other album that Gerry Rafferty had success with here in Australia following the success of his first solo album City to city, it failed to produce a hit single here despite being able to do so in his native UK which is perhaps why the album overall didn't do as well here as it did internationally.
Peak position #18
Even though he had a good run with his solo material throughout the decade, it appears we Aussies were still sceptical with Bryan Ferry's band Roxy music as the decade was coming to an end given how they wouldn't achieve inescapable success here until their next album at the start of the 80's. This had much better success internationally including in NZ where it was their first taste of success with the kiwis.
Peak position #13
Given how Kate Bush was now one of the most prominent artists in the music scene, it makes sense that a rip-off in the form of Lene Lovich would also find success with her own album this year. Said success largely came from the lead single which was inescapable this year, however the album itself did find its audience who didn't mind it borrowing heavily from the younger artist.
Peak position #13
Hit singles
Lucky number #2
This was the last successful album that Marcia Hines released in her career, although she did score one more hit in the 80's with the lead single to her next album, meaning she did somewhat survive the transition from the 70's to the 80's unlike most albums who were inescapable this decade. It's also the album which gave her international recognition given how the lead single became a huge hit in NZ for her.
Peak position #15
Hit singles
Something's missing #9
This seemed like the perfect way to end the decade for 10cc given how they were coming off the success of their earlier entry on this list, unfortunately this album activated a curse many bands and artists suffer from where they release a greatest hits package only for said album to kill their popularity moving forward.
Peak position #15
This is another surprise for me as I would've thought the Boomtown rats would have at least one of their albums be inescapable here in Australia, alas this was only a success here due to the lead single becoming one of the last big hits of the decade which of course translated to moderate success for it. Like many other new wave bands, this did far better in the UK where that genre thrived.
Peak position #11
Hit singles
I don't like Mondays #1
Diamond smiles #42
Given how Livie's popularity had slowed down here in Australia by the time she released this greatest hits package here, it only makes sense that it would've been a flop upon its initial release. It did rebound on our charts following the success of her film Grease from earlier on this list which allowed it to become a huge sleeper hit eventually.
Peak position #18
This is the last album from AC/DC to have Bon Scott on lead vocals, naturally his time with the band ended with a whimper given how he would tragically pass away not long after this albums release. Its mediocre success is shocking to me given how it's yet another album on this list I would've thought was inescapable upon its initial release.
Peak position #13
Hit singles
Highway to hell #24
This is the most recent album from Chicago to find success here in Australia (that is if we ignore their singles) suffice to say that we Aussies appeared to be growing tired of their brand of soft rock even if we briefly grew out of that fatigue with their 1982 hit "Hard to say I'm sorry."
Peak position #14
Hit singles
Alive again #37
This is one of only two albums that Gloria Gaynor saw any success with in her career, this other was of course the one that initially put her on the map earlier in the decade and briefly made her the queen of disco before Donna Summer stole that crown from her. Indeed, this felt like she was taking that crown back as it came out slightly before Donna's earlier entry on this list.
Peak position #15
Hit singles
I will survive #5
These guys were on a roll going into the 80's as they managed to score a ton of success throughout the 70's with their entries here in Australia, although the best was still to come for the duo given how they had still yet to release a single from any of their albums which would change with their 1982 magnum opus Eye in the sky.
Peak position #14
Eric Clapton was in a bit of hot water around this time due to some rather disparaging comments he made about musicians of colour which I won't delve into here, suffice to say that we Aussies were a bit disappointed in his public image but not enough to shun him with this release entirely.
Peak position #16
Hit singles
Promises #26
Known as UK Squeeze here in Australia due to a band with the same name (that naturally found no success here) this second album from the new wave band became a moderate success here due to the title track becoming one of the few punk singles to make it big here. Naturally they were a one album wonder as none of their other albums managed to even touch our charts over the years.
Peak position #18
Hit singles
Cool for cats #5
Given how he achieved massive success with his previous album Year of the cat, it's fitting that Al Stewart would find moderate success with this follow up even if it didn't come with any gimmick or novelty that album had. As a result, his further prospects fizzled out going into the 80's.
Peak position #15
Hit singles
Time passages #36
It's a bit of a surprise that this wasn't as big as their earlier entry on this list, mainly because this contains the band's biggest hit not just here in Australia but throughout the world as its lead single which you'd think would boost the sales and popularity of this album but alas it didn't.
Peak position #16
Hit singles
Y.M.C.A #1
This feels like an entry that only made the cut due to the lack of competition rather than us Aussies being genuinely interested in what it had to offer, there's a few of these entries we'll be looking at as we go further back in the decade, although at least this was a follow up to a genuine success from James Taylor.
Peak position #18
This was the second album from Chic, one of the more influential disco bands of the day that scored a massive hit with its lead single worldwide. Admittedly I'm not as shocked to see this underperforming here in Australia given how little success Earth wind and fire had on our charts back in the day, especially considering how this at least spawned one of the biggest hits of the decade.
Peak position #18
Hit singles
Le freak #1
Even though these guys only achieved success here in Australia thanks to the surprise success of this album's lead single, it was nonetheless enough for the album itself to be a minor success even though I feel this is another entry that only makes the cut due to the lack of competition rather than it piquing our curiosity upon its initial release.
Peak position #19
Hit singles
Hot summer nights #3
It turns out that Joe Jackson was able to find success from the very beginning here in Australia as the lead single to his debut album was enough of a hit here to encourage us Aussies to check out what else he had to offer from the album. Of course, his true peak in popularity wouldn't come until he scored a massive hit with "Real men" three years later, impressive considering how out of touch that is from the MTV era.
Peak position #20
Hit singles
Is she really going out with him #15
This was the second and final album that the Babys managed to find any success with, mainly because it's the only other album in their catalogue after their breakthrough to spawn a hit for them anywhere in the world. This would be the last time we hear from the band; however, lead singer John Waite would return both as a solo artist as well as a member of the supergroup Bad English.
Peak position #18
Hit singles
Everytime I think of you #6
This was the last taste of success that Manfred Mann had here in Australia or anywhere in the world for that matter, I guess he was another victim of the transition from the 70's to the 80's as he had a fairly good run throughout this decade with his second band.
Peak position #22
Hit singles
You angel you #50
This was the first taste of success that Robert Palmer had here in Australia, mainly due to him performing the lead single on Countdown which went over so well that it became a huge hit for him here as well as in America due to the buzz it received from us Aussies. Of course, he would go on to have massive success throughout the 80's both solo and with Duran Duran of all bands.
Peak position #23
Hit singles
Bad case of loving you #13
This was an E.P that was released three years prior from Demis Roussos, although it was only barely a success here, the fact that an E.P from an artist who found success with an album he released much earlier in the decade being this successful is quite an accomplishment in its own right.
Peak position #25
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