Although her earlier albums were plenty successful throughout the world, this was the album which made Mariah Carey into a superstar given its blend of diva pop from her earlier work and RNB which had taken over the mainstream by the time this was released. She's had plenty of success since this album's release, although nowhere near the level of success she accomplished here.
Peak position #1x18
Peak position #1x16 (AMR charts)
Hit singles
Dreamlover #7 (AMR #7)
Hero #7 (AMR #5)
Without you #3 (AMR #3)
Anytime you need a friend #12 (AMR #10)
Before there was Avril Lavigne, there was Alanis Morrissette and she made quite a name for herself initially in the teen pop market in her native Canada before she did a 180 on her career and released this deeply personal album about her heartbreak she had from a relationship. This in turn has led to many jokes (most notably on How I met your mother) to how a teen idol managed to evolve into a voice of a generation.
Peak position #1x10
Peak position #1x9 (AMR charts)
Hit singles
You oughta know #4 (AMR #5)
Hand in my pocket #13 (AMR #15)
Ironic #3 (AMR #3)
You learn #20 (AMR #14)
Head over feet #12 (AMR #12)
All I really want #40
This was originally released to mere moderate success for Celine Dion despite it spawning her version of the chart topper "The power of love," however the album gained a second wind a year after its release when Celine embarked on a highly successful world tour as well as the surprise success of "Think twice" over in the UK. This allowed her to join the elite ranks of Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston as a top-notch diva of the 90's.
Peak position #1x8
Peak position #1x5 (AMR charts)
Hit singles
The power of love #1 (AMR #1)
Think twice #2 (AMR #1)
Only one road #23
Even though she was always one of the most gifted vocalists of all time (even outside of Australia) Tina's first album from the start of the decade was a huge failure save for its lead single "I need your body" largely due to it being dismissed as a Paula Abdul rip-off album (which I thoroughly disagree with.) Here she took that criticism to heart by releasing an album more in line with RNB which was a huge success for her both locally and internationally.
Peak position #1x1
Peak position #2 (AMR charts)
Hit singles
Chains #4 (AMR #4)
Sorrento moon #7 (AMR #7)
Heaven help my heart #22
Wasn't it good #11 (AMR #16)
That's the way a woman feels #31
This had a very slow rise to its success throughout the world, I'm guessing because these guys were on a tiny indie label and as such weren't able to find much success with their brand of alternative rock on most stations. Fortunately, in Australia, Triple J came to the rescue and heavily promoted this album on the station which resulted in it becoming a massive success for them here.
Peak position #1x7
Peak position #1x7 (AMR charts)
Hit singles
Lightning crashes #13 (AMR #15)
Selling the drama #49
Following the buzz they received from their debut album Definitely maybe, the Gallagher's and company released their sophomore album which proved to be so much of a game changer that it single handedly brought Britpop to most parts of the world that wasn't already familiar with the genre. Unfortunately, due to the cocky nature of the Gallagher's, the band have received tons of backlash in recent years as people have dismissed their music as overblown and pretentious.
Peak position #1x5
Peak position #1x4 (AMR charts)
Hit singles
Morning glory #25
Wonderwall #1 (AMR #1)
Don't look back in anger #19 (AMR #12)
Champagne supernova #26
Roll with it #48
One of the most well-respected albums of the decade, partially due to how many iconic tracks are on this double album but also due to how well loved the Smashing pumpkins remain to this day (side note, this is a silly name for a band to call themselves.) Sadly, this album took its toll on the band as one of their touring members died of a drug overdose during its production which messed them up.
Peak position #1x2
Peak position #1x2 (AMR charts)
Hit singles
Bullet with butterfly wings #33
1979 #16 (AMR #10)
Tonight tonight #21 (AMR #20)
This was the album that took this Irish band from an indie darling to an overnight sensation in the mainstream, mainly due to the politically charged lead single which not only won over many fans who were disenfranchised from the times but sadly was also the victim of widespread ridicule from those who found it to be overdramatic. At least the band soldiered on as if this had no impact on them.
Peak position #1x1
Peak position #1x4 (AMR charts)
Hit singles
Zombie #1 (AMR #1)
Ode to my family #5 (AMR #5)
I can't be with you #30
Although their debut album Ten is what many consider to be the peak of Pearl jam's artistic merit, it was actually their sophomore album where they began to become the megastars, we all know them for today. Sure, this didn't have the big hit on here that "Alive" was for their debut (at least in Australia it didn't) however the tradeoff was that the album was a huge success here and even encouraged Ten to linger on the charts throughout the decade.
Peak position #1x1
Peak position #1x1 (AMR charts)
Hit singles
Go #22 (AMR #20)
Daughter #18 (AMR #18)
Animal #30
These guys had made two albums that achieved no success by the time they released their third album which became a huge success in Australia thanks to it catching the attention of Triple J upon its initial release. I'm guessing the initial appeal of the album was people relating to the loser persona the band adopted for this album, perhaps in response to how much of a failure they felt they were in the mainstream.
Peak position #1x3
Peak position #1x4 (AMR charts)
Hit singles
Come out and play #8 (AMR #8)
Self esteem #6 (AMR #4)
One of the most quintessential films to come out of the decade was Pulp fiction, and while I can't say that the film is a masterpiece myself (I never cared for Bruce Willis's segment) I will say that it is a fantastic film thanks to the performances from John Travolta and Samuel L Jackson. The soundtrack was also a huge success likely due to all of the 60's classics that appear throughout the film.
Peak position #4
Peak position #3 (AMR charts)
Hit singles
Girl you'll be a woman soon #24 (AMR #15)
This was the second time this album became a success in Australia this decade, this time it was due to the success of Muriel's wedding which is a film that celebrates the nostalgia of Abba by having their back catalogue be the film's soundtrack. Essentially this album became a success in lieu of the soundtrack proving that Abba was awesome actually, much like the film states throughout its runtime.
Peak position #1x2
Peak position #2 (AMR charts)
Hit singles
Dancing queen (re release) #37
Surprised to see this album so low on the list? I should point out that I'm only ranking these albums based on their original chart runs and while this was a huge success upon its initial release, it wasn't as inescapable as its reputation would have you believe. That said, this album is responsible for why many artists from the 70's and 80's struggled to retain their popularity as the decade went on due to how it revolutionised the rock scene.
Peak position #2
Peak position #1x1 (AMR charts)
Hit singles
Smells like teen spirit #5 (AMR #5)
Come as you are #25
Following the success of her album Rhythm nation, Janet no longer had any issues with finding an audience in Australia which means that this album (which reportedly was made after a record-breaking contract she made with her label) was a huge success for her. Interestingly, the album popped up several times throughout the decade whenever one of the singles became popular worldwide.
Peak position #1x4
Peak position #1x2 (AMR charts)
Hit singles
That's the way love goes #1 (AMR #1)
If #18 (AMR #20)
Again #19 (AMR #19)
Because of love #25 (AMR #20)
Any time any place #37
You want this #16
What'll I do #14 (AMR #13)
Whoops now #49
While there wasn't any chance that this album would be as successful as Mariah's previous album Music box, it does have the consolation of spawning two of her biggest hits in her career worldwide, one of which even broke records on Billboard by staying at number one for sixteen weeks. I should also point out that the album is indeed structured to be like a daydream, much like her last album was meant to be seen as a music box.
Peak position #1x1
Peak position #1x1 (AMR charts)
Hit singles
Fantasy #1 (AMR #2)
One sweet day #2 (AMR #3)
Always be my baby #17 (AMR #14)
Open arms #27
Enya had already achieved massive success with her previous four albums; however, this was her crowning achievement given how it remains her most successful album in her career despite coming out a bit late in the new age craze she kick started with her second album Watermark. Indeed, this was her last notable success in most parts of the world as the new age craze began to lose its momentum.
Peak position #1x4
Peak position #1x5 (AMR charts)
Hit singles
Anywhere is #34
Although they had two albums prior which achieved no success even in their native America, this third album from Green day proved to be a massive success due to the surprise success of one of its singles on the Billboard airplay charts. This allowed the album to find an international audience months after its initial release and set the trio up as one of the leading forces of the punk revival of the 90's.
Peak position #1x3
Peak position #1x2 (AMR charts)
Hit singles
Longview #33
When I come around #7 (AMR #6)
Welcome to paradise #44
It may have divided the fans upon its initial release, however it's clear that this follow up to Blood sugar sex magik wasn't a failure by any means for the band no matter how much the A.V club wanted us to believe otherwise when they (in my opinion) foolishly declared it as one of the least essential albums of the decade. Sure, the departure of John Frusciante did mean that the band had changed their sound, however it still managed to connect with audiences and still does to this day.
Peak position #1x2
Peak position #1x1 (AMR charts)
Hit singles
Warped #12
My friends #15 (AMR #18)
Aeroplane #35
So, this is a film that seems to divide modern audiences, mainly due to people feeling that it glorifies ableism due to the way the titular character is portrayed by Tom Hanks (it doesn't, although admittedly he could've been handled better in the writing department.) Those who don't hold that against the film agree that it's a sentimental classic about how anyone can make it big regardless of who they are in life.
Peak position #1x3
Peak position #1x1 (AMR charts)
Although he had already achieved moderate success earlier in the decade with his greatest hits package It had to be you, I don't think anyone could've predicted just how successful this jazz album from the Hollywood actor turned musician would be in Australia and NZ this decade. Unfortunately, this was a mere one off for him as his subsequent albums failed to find much of an audience here.
Peak position #3
Peak position #3 (AMR charts)
Hit singles
Whisper your name #15 (AMR #17)
Here comes the big parade #43
This was the second album to come from Boyz II men, an album that had no issues with finding success here now that they had two of the biggest hits of the decade under their belt. While they wouldn't find any further success with their albums throughout the decade, they didn't need to as their ballads would continue to become chart toppers for them in their native America throughout the 90's.
Peak position #4
Peak position #4 (AMR charts)
Hit singles
I'll make love to you #1 (AMR #1)
On bended knee #7 (AMR #5)
Thank you #33
Water runs dry #36
I'm not sure if it was in good taste to release this live album mere months after the death of Kurt Cobain, then again, it's not like the other two members of the band ever objected to this albums existence so maybe it was a heartfelt tribute to his legacy. Like the other MTV unplugged albums, I've featured so far, its success comes from how honest and raw the performance was on the show from the band in question.
Peak position #1x3
Peak position #1x3 (AMR charts)
Hit singles
About a girl #4 (AMR #1)
This is a bit of a different album from Chris Isaak as he seems to have traded in his Roy Orbison impression for a more original performance he gives throughout this album. This paid off for him massively as it remains his biggest album in his career, although he curiously didn't revisit this approach with his later work. Another interesting fact about this album is that the second single was only a hit when it was featured in the Stanley Kubrick film Eyes wide shut.
Peak position #2
Peak position #3 (AMR charts)
Hit singles
Somebody's crying #5 (AMR #7)
Baby did a bad bad thing #27
This was originally just meant to be a greatest hits package for MJ; however, it was delayed by several months when he realised he wrote and entire albums worth of new songs which resulted in this being a hybrid of a studio album and a greatest hits album. I should also point out that it had an aggressive marketing campaign involving the erection of several statues that the cover art depicts.
Peak position #1x3
Peak position #1x3 (AMR charts)
Hit singles
Scream #2 (AMR #2)
You are not alone #7 (AMR #5)
Earth song #15 (AMR #11)
They don't care about us #16 (AMR #18)
Stranger in Moscow #14 (AMR #17)
This was another album that sat on shelves ignored for well over a year, it's a pity because Sheryl Crow was in the same boat as Tracy Chapman and Melissa Etheridge in terms of women who wrote personal ballads for a mass audience. In any case, the album did finally become a major success when the lead single was picked up on the radio, admittedly Sheryl was far from the only victim of this delayed cycle.
Peak position #1x2
Peak position #1x3 (AMR charts)
Hit singles
All I wanna do #1 (AMR #1)
Strong enough #3 (AMR #4)
Can't cry anymore #41
Often considered to be one of the quintessential industrial bands of the decade, we have Garbage led by the seductive Shirley Manson who made a huge splash with their debut album which connected with many people back in the day. It was a slow rise to success as they were an alternative band competing with EDM, however they made it big down under thanks to heavy promotion from Triple J.
Peak position #4
Peak position #5 (AMR charts)
Hit singles
Vow #32
Stupid girl #47
Milk #44
Bjork is one of the most unconventional artists to ever make it big in the music industry, while this wasn't her debut album by any means, it was the album that made her a household name due to the success of its second single which saved it from falling out of the charts upon its initial release and allowed it to become one of the more popular alternative albums of the 90's.
Peak position #2
Peak position #3 (AMR charts)
Hit singles
Army of me #35
It's oh so quiet #6 (AMR #6)
Hyperballad #31
Perhaps the first film to feature a trans character and treat them with any sense of dignity and respect, we have this distinctly Australian film that managed to become a huge success everywhere in the world except for America because anything that isn't filtered by Hollywood doesn't tend to do well over there. The soundtrack was a predictable hit worldwide due to the film recontextualising many of the tracks as queer anthems throughout its runtime.
Peak position #1x4
Peak position #1x4 (AMR charts)
Hit singles
I love the nightlife #11 (AMR #11)
Even though this came out several months after the tragic suicide of Kurt Cobain, the tragic event didn't seem to hamper its sales proving that while the two bands were similar to each other, they had very different fanbases at the time. Pearl jam would continue to thrive throughout the decade over Nirvana's sequel band Foo fighters, even though both bands would evolve in similar ways.
Peak position #1x1
Peak position #1x1 (AMR charts)
Hit singles
Spin the black circle #3 (AMR #3)
Not for you #29
Bon Jovi were on a roll when they released their greatest hits package which led to them scoring the biggest hit of their career, this led to their next album being more in line with adult contemporary than any of their previous work up until this point. It remains a polarising point in their career to this day, many saying they felt betrayed by this change in direction while others saying they deserved the success.
Peak position #1x2
Peak position #1x2 (AMR charts)
Hit singles
Always #2 (AMR #1)
Someday I'll be Saturday night #10 (AMR #9)
It seemed that Janet and her fanbase couldn't wait for the actual tenth anniversary of her breakthrough album Control before she released this greatest hits package and her fans made it an instant success, I bring this up because the album is a bit of a lie since it was released a year earlier than it would suggest. Her popularity would dwindle after this; however, she was still a household name for another nine years.
Peak position #2
Peak position #1x1 (AMR charts)
Hit singles
Runaway #8 (AMR #6)
Twenty foreplay #29
By far the most successful 2d animated film, the Lion king is often considered to be a masterpiece thanks to its groundbreaking animation and its story about a prince reclaiming his throne after being gaslight into giving it up to his abusive uncle (OK this is essentially the story of Hamlet made for kids.) The soundtrack is also skillfully done by Elton John and composers Tim Rice and Hans Zimmer.
Peak position #3
Peak position #3 (AMR charts)
Hit singles
Can you feel the love tonight #9 (AMR #10)
This was originally released in 1985 to deafening silence, likely because we didn't need another greatest hits package from the Doors since they were well and truly broken up since 1971. It regained some popularity in 1991 following the release of the biopic named after them, although it was only two years later that it became a huge success here likely because it was released on CD for the first time.
Peak position #3
Peak position #5 (AMR charts)
This albums placement on this list may surprise my American readers considering this is one of the most successful albums of all time over there, however it wasn't nearly that big here in Australia despite how well the songs permeated on radio here. The album was still a huge success thanks to the vocals of Darius Rucker as well as heartland rock always having a welcomed presence in our music scene.
Peak position #7
Peak position #8 (AMR charts)
Hit singles
Let her cry #4 (AMR #5)
Only wanna be with you #40
Just like the previous entry, this album sat on shelves ignored for over a year before it finally found success worldwide with its lead single. Another thing this album has in common with Sheryl's debut is that Joshua was also in his thirties when he recorded it, perhaps this was a sign of agism initially being a barrier to success only for it to be torn down when audiences realise the good music they'd be missing out on.
Peak position #2
Peak position #2 (AMR charts)
Hit singles
Jessie #15 (AMR #18)
Beautiful in my eyes #5 (AMR #6)
Picture postcards from LA #46
These guys saw minor success in their native UK in the late 80's with their debut album, this success didn't translate to Australia likely due to us being uninterested in British soul at the time. This attitude obviously changed with their third album as there was plenty of British artists finding success with soul music, although it did take a while for this album to peak here despite finding success with the singles.
Peak position #2
Peak position #2 (AMR charts)
Hit singles
Only to be with you #18 (AMR #19)
Lay your love on me #26
KD Lang was on a roll by this point of her career as she managed to score yet another successful album that connected with her audience, she really did carry the torch for LGBT singer/songwriters this decade as her ballads connected with women who felt they weren't fitting into the conventions of the day.
Peak position #3
Peak position #4 (AMR charts)
Hit singles
If I were you #23
When news broke that hell froze over and thus allowed these guys to bury the hatchet and make a new album, fans were excited so much so that this greatest hits package released to cash in on their reunion went on to be a huge success for them before they even began their Hell freezes over tour. Despite patching things up and putting on a highly successful show, the band wouldn't release new material for another thirteen years.
Peak position #2
Peak position #2 (AMR charts)
There have been quite a number of ballads to make it big from Madonna over the years, she certainly noticed how many of them were successful which is why she released a greatest hits packaged themed around them that was a huge success for her worldwide. As far as I can tell, she's yet to do the same for her more upbeat material as those songs can only be found on albums that has her ballads on them.
Peak position #1x1
Peak position #1x2 (AMR charts)
Hit singles
You'll see #9 (AMR #10)
One more chance #35
Love don't live here anymore #27
Following the surprise success of their previous album worldwide, Green day followed that up with this album which was a huge success even if it didn't quite live up to the standards Dookie set up for them. Still, it at least had a ton of fanfare upon its initial release which is more than you can say for their next album which needed one of the songs to be affiliated with Seinfeld of all things for it to be a success.
Peak position #5
Peak position #4 (AMR charts)
Hit singles
Geek stink breath #40
Stuck with me #46
As divisive as this phase of Bon Jovi's career has remained over the years, there's no denying that its success makes sense as "Always" remains their biggest hit in their catalogue. As such, they ditched their hair metal ballads in favour of more adult contemporary ballads which struck a chord with listeners of the day, although they would go on hiatus for the rest of the 90's despite how big this album was.
Peak position #1x2
Peak position #1x2 (AMR charts)
Hit singles
This ain't a love song #4 (AMR #5)
Something for the pain #14 (AMR #15)
Lie to me #20 (AMR #16)
These days #38
Wow did this album take its sweet time in finding success here in Australia, granted this is likely due to it being an RNB album which the occasional rap thrown in which would've made it unlikely for it to be a success here were it not for the strength of its third single. The irony is that this album became a success here around the time the trio filed for bankruptcy due to poor management of their money.
Peak position #5
Peak position #4 (AMR charts)
Hit singles
Creep #20
Waterfalls #4 (AMR #3)
Digging on you #6 (AMR #5)
This was the debut album from Silverchair, a band who was "unearthed" the previous year by Triple J despite only being in their early to mid-teens when they were discovered by the band. This led to the album being a huge success for them which of course they weren't able to handle very well, although they did keep it together throughout the rest of the decade as they matured their sound with each new album.
Peak position #1x3
Peak position #1x2 (AMR charts)
Hit singles
Tomorrow #1 (AMR #1)
Pure massacre #2 (AMR #2)
Isreal's son #11 (AMR #14)
Shade #28
While they were never among the likes of Pearl jam or Nirvana when it comes to grunge royalty, Stone temple pilots did achieve massive success this year with their second album due to the heavy endorsement they received on Triple J as well as the radio in general gravitating towards their sound. They would struggle for relevancy as the decade went on largely due to the antics of their lead singer Scott Weiland.
Peak position #1x1
Peak position #1x1 (AMR charts)
Hit singles
Vasoline #24
Insterstate love song #50
This was Madonna's foray into RNB, an exercise that would result it being her lowest selling album of the 90's given how people felt she was following trends on this album rather than setting them. Even so, it was a moderate success for her as it would take something disastrous like American life or anything she would release in the 2010's for fans to abandon her music.
Peak position #1x1
Peak position #1x1 (AMR charts)
Hit singles
Secret #5 (AMR #6)
Take a bow #15 (AMR #17)
Bedtime story #5 (AMR #4)
Human nature #17 (AMR #13)
These guys were on a roll this decade as they released this album two years after the success of their previous album Automatic for the people, it's worth noting that at this point they had become more popular worldwide than in their native America which is why they didn't see much success on Billboard as the decade went on. Unfortunately, this was their last major album as their popularity would decline after this.
Peak position #2
Peak position #2 (AMR charts)
Hit singles
What's the frequency Kenneth #24
Bang and blame #29
This was the final successful album that Simply red had here in Australia, although considering they had an entire decade of uninterrupted success, this was an impressive feat for them even if it didn't reach the same levels of success as their first four albums. They aged into the 90's remarkably well, although after their greatest hits album which they released a year after this, their popularity would fade away.
Peak position #7
Peak position #9 (AMR charts)
Hit singles
Fairground #7 (AMR #7)
Never never love #42
EDM might have been the genre of choice in Australia when it came to our singles chart, however it wasn't the case for the albums given how few EDM albums we've looked at so far on these lists of mine. One of the notable exceptions came from the Real McCoy who scored a massive hit with their album due to how many singles came from it, indeed they were the most successful EDM act of the decade until Aqua came along.
Peak position #6
Peak position #6 (AMR charts)
Hit singles
Another night #1 (AMR #1)
Run away #4 (AMR #2)
Love and devotion #7 (AMR #4)
Come and get your love #18 (AMR #16)
Automatic lover #18 (AMR #10)
Given how he had won an academy award the previous year for his work on the Philadelphia soundtrack, this seemed as good as time as any for Bruce Springsteen to remind fans of his back catalogue with his greatest hits package which allowed the album to become a huge success for him.
Peak position #1x1
Peak position #1x1 (AMR charts)
Oh, that poor puppy! I guess these guys wanted to dedicate their fourth album to this helpless canine on the cover which admittedly must have compelled their fans to make this a success for them as the album sadly didn't receive the same love that their previous album got from Triple J. This was the last successful album from the band as their subsequent follow ups failed to find an audience for them.
Peak position #1x2
Peak position #1x2 (AMR charts)
Hit singles
Just a man #39
Anybody but you #49
INXS were on a roll when they released this greatest hits package towards the end of the previous year, it had its success roll over to this year due to how inescapable the band still were during the mid 90's. Unfortunately, this would be the final bit of success they would achieve during Michael Hutchence's lifetime.
Peak position #2
Peak position #2 (AMR charts)
Hit singles
The strangest party #34
This was the only album that Jeff Buckley managed to release in his lifetime, it was an alternative rock album that was heavily promoted on Triple J as they were in love with the rock scene throughout the 90's and even to this day. Unfortunately, Jeff would drown two years after this album came out, although the silver lining is that this became a success for him again that year.
Peak position #8
Peak position #10 (AMR charts)
Hit singles
Eternal life #44
This was released initially to moderate success for Seal, I'm guessing fans were already on board with him moving on from EDM to RNB despite him naming this after himself just like his earlier album. It received a massive boost in popularity when the second single was played over the closing credits of the Batman forever film and thus became a massive worldwide success for him.
Peak position #2
Peak position #1x1 (AMR charts)
Hit singles
Kiss from a rose #1 (AMR #1)
Cat Stevens hadn't had any success since the release of his previous greatest hits album in 1982, although I guess this was the first album of his to be released on CD which perhaps makes its success this decade more of us going digital (that's how the transition of vinyl to CD was referred to back in the day) rather than there being a recent uprise in appreciation of this man's music.
Peak position #6
Peak position #3 (AMR charts)
This was the last album from Queen to have Freddie Mercury on vocals, I guess this is their version of Milk and honey that John Lennon made eleven years prior which gives me complicated feelings about its existence.
Peak position #3
Peak position #2 (AMR charts)
Hit singles
Heaven for everyone #15 (AMR #11)
This was only one of two albums that Merril Bainbridge released in her career, the other one being so much of a commercial disaster it didn't even chart here let alone internationally. I'm guessing it was the success of this album which allowed her to see international success with its lead single despite how long it took for it to find an audience here initially, although it could also be that she was a popular female singer/songwriter.
Peak position #5
Peak position #6 (AMR charts)
Hit singles
Mouth #1 (AMR #1)
Under the water #4 (AMR #3)
Power of one #21
This was originally released as Enya's debut album back in 1986 to deafening silence, I'm guessing because it was a bit ahead of its time seeing as though new age music wouldn't become a thing until her second album Watermark. It was rereleased under this title in 1992 where it didn't make much of a splash, however it did three years later for some reason which led to the success of her next album.
Peak position #7
Peak position #6 (AMR charts)
This was originally released two years prior to minimal success here in Australia, even with the lead single becoming a surprise success in America, there wasn't any indication these guys would crossover here. That changed when their earlier entry on this list became a massive success here due to the lead single topping the 1994 Triple J year end lists, it was the boost this album needed to finally connect with audiences.
Peak position #16
Peak position #13 (AMR charts)
Hit singles
Linger #33
Dreams #30
These guys made a massive splash with their debut album the previous year, however it was their sophomore album which made them a household name likely due to us Aussies growing to love Heather Smalls vocals the more we heard them on the radio. While this wasn't an immediate success like other albums on this list, it was a huge sleeper hit due to it lingering on the charts longer than most albums.
Peak position #14
Peak position #14 (AMR charts)
Hit singles
Sight for sore eyes #20 (AMR #16)
Open your heart #25 (AMR #17)
Search for the hero #37
This was the official sequel to the 12th man's debut album from seven years prior, indeed this became equally as successful as that album proving that his impersonations of sports commentators were still entertaining audiences well into the 90's.
Peak position #1x4
Peak position #1x3 (AMR charts)
Yanni is a well-known Greek musician who had a massive breakthrough this year when he released this live album from a performance he gave at the Acropolis in his homeland, it was such a success that he was able to join the ranks (however briefly) of his fellow classical musicians such as the Three tenors and Andrea Bocelli.
Peak position #2
Peak position #2 (AMR charts)
So, we all know that scene from the Blues brothers where the two leads are driving down the street and the musician of colour is entertaining everyone with his scatting right? Well, here he is fifteen years later with a successful album to his name likely due to the success of Scatman John and his hit single this year. John would live until 2001 where he passed away at the age of 83, making him one of the oldest artists to feature on this site.
Peak position #8
Peak position #9 (AMR charts)
From what I can gather, Dangerous minds is a combination of Dead poet's society and To sir with love as it draws themes from both of those movies with the twist of the teacher being a woman as opposed to a man in the former and a man of colour in the latter. It received mixed reviews for its derivative story; however, the soundtrack did much better thanks to its theme song provided to it by Coolio.
Peak position #1x2
Peak position #1x2 (AMR charts)
Hit singles
Gangsta's paradise #1 (AMR #1)
This is the last successful album Gloria Estefan released in her career both solo and with her band Miami Sound Machine, it was only a success here in Australia due to the lead single also serving as the theme to the Sylvester Stallone flick the Specialist which helped it become her biggest hit down under. In case you're wondering, yes, this album title was coopted for U2's Batman forever theme.
Peak position #11
Peak position #10 (AMR charts)
Hit singles
Turn the beat around #8 (AMR #7)
Hold me thrill me kiss me #48
Everlasting love #29
This was the third album from this decade that Faith no more saw a ton of success with here in Australia, it was more of their hybrid of hard rock and hip hop just like their previous two albums even though it didn't have that obvious hit on here that "Epic" and their cover of "I'm easy" was for their other albums. They would release one more album after this before going their separate ways in 1998.
Peak position #2
Peak position #2 (AMR charts)
Hit singles
Digging the grave #12 (AMR #10)
Evidence #27
This was released the previous year to very minimal success, likely because it took us Aussies a hot minute to realise these two women were the backup vocalists for the Black sorrows and thus are a large reason why those albums remain classics to this day. Indeed, the album saw a massive surge in popularity this year likely because of this connection, although it would be the full extent of their success without the band.
Peak position #7
Peak position #13 (AMR charts)
Well Nirvana was able to find massive success with their earlier entry on this list, so why not allow Pearl jam to rise to the ranks of rock gods with their debut album? It may surprise you to learn that while this was a success upon its initial release, it took several attempts for it to reach the same level of success that Nevermind and even their later albums achieved, likely due to it being a bit ahead of its time.
Peak position #14
Peak position #15 (AMR charts)
Hit singles
Alive #9 (AMR #8)
Even flow #22 (AMR #20)
While he wouldn't have any more success further in the decade, Michael Bolton was able to find success with this greatest hits package overlooking the first ten years of his career. Granted most of his success came from the previous five years, however I guess this was a good way of fans discovering his mid 80's work which wasn't a success for him at the time.
Peak position #6
Peak position #9 (AMR charts)
Hit singles
Can I touch you there #18 (AMR #16)
Batman forever remains critically divided to this day as while some enjoy it for its campier tone (me included) others feel it's out of place with the previous two Batman films as they were both more serious in tone and were among the first superhero movies to treat its source material with dignity and respect. The soundtrack was at least a success as it spawned not one but two chart toppers here in Australia.
Peak position #6
Peak position #7 (AMR charts)
Hit singles
Hold me thrill me kiss me kill me #1 (AMR #1)
Kiss from a rose #1 (AMR #1)
Apparently, there was archival footage of John Lennon making songs for the Beatles, meaning that at some point before his death, he was considering reuniting the band which I guess meant he was willing to patch things up with the other three members (particularly Paul.) When this footage was discovered, the rest of the band honoured his wishes by pseudo reforming and releasing these new tracks on this greatest hits album.
Peak position #1x2
Peak position #1x2 (AMR charts)
Hit singles
Free as a bird #6 (AMR #7)
This was a bit of a comeback for the Rolling Stones here in Australia, mainly because it managed to spawn a few minor hits here which is proof that even if they were past their prime at this point, they were still able to retain a fanbase this far in their career.
Peak position #1x1
Peak position #2 (AMR charts)
Hit singles
Love is strong #47
Out of tears #43
Vanessa Mae was a Singaporean born British violinist who scored massive worldwide success with this album of hers, it was a decent hit here in Australia likely due to how popular classical music was even if as far as I'm aware, this was the only successful album to feature a solo violinist in our music scene ever.
Peak position #2
Peak position #2 (AMR charts)
From what I can gather, Pret a porter (French for "ready to wear") was a film panned by critics for it failing to satirise the rich and famous of the mid 90's. This wasn't the case when it came to its soundtrack as that was a huge success due to spawning one of the biggest hits of the decade worldwide with its lead single.
Peak position #12
Peak position #12 (AMR charts)
Hit singles
Here comes the hotstepper #2 (AMR #2)
My girl Josephine #26
I guess it was only a matter of time before I featured a Take that album on this site, although this was their only notable success given how they were thoroughly defeated in the first round of the boy band wars by East 17 as far as we Aussies were concerned. Still, this did spawn their biggest hit even in their native UK, so I guess we cut them some slack by handing them success with this album here.
Peak position #2
Peak position #2 (AMR charts)
Hit singles
Sure #31
Back for good #1 (AMR #1)
Never forget #12 (AMR #14)
Given that this album came a year after the tragic death of his former bandmate, Dave Grohl had little issues with this finding an audiences worldwide back in the day which retains the spirit of Nirvana with his new band the Foo fighters with this album. An interesting note is that each of their albums would see more success than the last in their catalogue, culminating with their 2010's release which was their most popular work.
Peak position #3
Peak position #4 (AMR charts)
Hit singles
This is a call #9 (AMR #12)
This was released on the 35th anniversary of Cliff Richard's first hit single (which was the previous year in his native UK and NZ) which means that there was enough nostalgia for his back catalogue for this to be a modest success for him this year.
Peak position #2
Peak position #2 (AMR charts)
These guys were a massively popular band in the Australian alternative scene, so it was only inevitable that they would eventually have a massive mainstream crossover thanks to how well promoted they were on Triple J throughout the decade. They would become overshadowed by the likes of Living end and Grinspoon by the end of the decade, however you can say these guys were a warmup to their brand of rock.
Peak position #1x1
Peak position #1x1 (AMR charts)
Hit singles
Cathy's clown #36
This was the only successful album that comedy band TISM (short for This is serious mum) managed to achieve in Australia, I'm guessing because audiences found the concept of combining Machiavelli with the Four seasons onto an album to be the height of comedy gold which allowed it crossover from their niche audience to the mainstream. This might also be their tamest album as the rest of their catalogue is far filthier than this.
Peak position #8
Peak position #5 (AMR charts)
Hit singles
Ol man river #23
Well, I did say that these guys didn't have too much success here after their debut album from three years prior, however they did achieve just enough success with this follow up to qualify for this list even if it dropped out of our charts very quickly which somewhat justifies my previous statement about the duo.
Peak position #8
Peak position #9 (AMR charts)
This is to date the only album that Max Sharam has released in her career, I'm not sure why she didn't try to release another album given that this did quite well for one that came from a female indie artist. Indeed, she has Triple J to thank for this being so successful given how the lead single was quite popular on the station for her, once again this was during a time where female indie artists weren't doing so well here.
Peak position #9
Peak position #9 (AMR charts)
Hit singles
Coma #14 (AMR #13)
Be firm #25
Lay down #36
This proved to also be a success for Annie Lennox throughout the world, further proving that she didn't need her former partner in crime David Stewart to find success throughout the 90's. Still, his lack of presence can be felt on here as I feel that he could've complemented her quirkier image she adopted throughout the decade given how she already experimented with it throughout the 80's.
Peak position #5
Peak position #4 (AMR charts)
Hit singles
No more I love yous #16 (AMR #15)
These guys had minor success with their previous album here in Australia (too minor for it to appear on this site of mine) however thanks to their cover of a Neil Diamond track being the standout single from the Pulp fiction soundtrack from earlier on this list, they were able to achieve mainstream success with this album before they once again faded into obscurity.
Peak position #6
Peak position #7 (AMR charts)
Hit singles
Somebody elses baby #47
Well sandwiched between two of the bigger EDM albums of the decade to come from one album wonders was this one and only album from the Italian group Corona who made it big with their catchy beats despite minor controversy surrounding who was singing on the album. Another difference between these guys and Culture beat and La bouche is that they didn't have any rapping on the album like those guys, it likely explains why this wasn't quite as big as those albums.
Peak position #10
Peak position #14 (AMR charts)
Hit singles
The rhythm of the night #8 (AMR #9)
Baby baby #7 (AMR #6)
Try me out #10 (AMR #10)
Given how he saw a surprise hit with his last album In pieces, it makes sense that Garth Brooks would want fans to discover his older material which he helped them do with this greatest hits package this year.
Peak position #2
Peak position #13 (AMR charts)
It had been a while since Bob Seger troubled the charts here in Australia, so much so that this greatest hits album was actually released rather late here as it was supposed to come out at the end of the previous year but didn't come out until this year instead.
Peak position #5
Peak position #7 (AMR charts)
I guess we Aussies had enough love for these guys by this point in the decade to have their third album be a moderate success for them this year, at least it didn't have to wait two years on shelves to finally see success like their previous album did even if its popularity wasn't nearly as such as that release.
Peak position #5
Peak position #7 (AMR charts)
Hit singles
Friend of mine #44
Although Pink Floyd had called it quits by this point, that didn't mean the world was quite ready to say goodbye to their music as this live album from the band managed to become a massive hit for them less than a year after they broke up.
Peak position #1x1
Peak position #1x1 (AMR charts)
This was another successful album to come from AC/DC in Australia, they really were one of the most consistent bands of all time given how they were able to transcend the different trends in music for twenty years by this point,
Peak position #1x1
Peak position #2 (AMR charts)
Hit singles
Hard as a rock #14 (AMR #18)
Ballbreaker #49
One of my favourite films of the 90's was Bad boys, mainly for the chemistry between its three stars Will Smith, Martin Lawrence and Tea Leoni but also because I consider it to be the decade's equivalent of Beverly Hills cop which is one of my favourite films of all time period. It also has a great soundtrack which spawned several hit singles throughout the world this year.
Peak position #12
Peak position #17 (AMR charts)
Hit singles
Shy guy #3 (AMR #3)
I've got a little something for you #7 (AMR #9)
Someone to love #50
Even though they only have two successful albums under their belt here in Australia, they were influential enough for fans to check out the back catalogue of Def Leppard this year as this became a modest success for the band long after the death of hair metal.
Peak position #9
Peak position #10 (AMR charts)
Hit singles
When love and hate collide #22 (AMR #17)
This was the third Little river band greatest hits package to be a success here in Australia, it wasn't anywhere near as popular as their second entry from a decade prior which is to say nothing of how far it falls short of the success of their first entry from the late 70's.
Peak position #8
Peak position #13 (AMR charts)
It was apparent that Elton John was struggling to maintain his mainstream relevancy by this point in his career, it's somewhat strange considering the success of the Lion king soundtrack from earlier on this list, but I guess he had officially worn out his welcome by this point in the 90's as did most artists from the 80's.
Peak position #6
Peak position #10 (AMR charts)
Hit singles
Believe #23
Made in England #48
Given how he saw a massive comeback with his last album, it makes sense that Van Morrison would see success with this follow up which allowed him to see the same level of success in the 90's that he had throughout the 70's.
Peak position #16
Peak position #11 (AMR charts)
I have no doubt that this this had of been released earlier in the decade like his previous album then it would've been at least as big as Heaven knows for Rick Price, unfortunately he was a victim of the purge of local artists that took place two years prior which means this perfectly serviceable follow up failed to live up to the commercial hype of his earlier work.
Peak position #11
Peak position #17 (AMR charts)
Hit singles
River of love #18
This is yet another greatest hits package from CCR that was released exclusively in the southern hemisphere as it only charted in Australia and NZ upon its release, naturally it didn't bring in the numbers of their last album of this kind from the start of the decade due to there being no new news of the band getting back together when it was released.
Peak position #13
Peak position #19 (AMR charts)
Given how he scored a surprise hit with the lead single to this album via Triple J of all places here in Australia, it makes sense that this album would be a huge sleeper hit on our charts which no doubt set up the full comeback for Tom Jones he would have at the end of the decade with his duets album Reload.
Peak position #19
Peak position #18 (AMR charts)
Hit singles
If I only knew #5 (AMR #6)
I wanna get back with you #30
I'm not exactly sure why 1000 maniac's cover of Patti Smith's "Because the night" was a flop here in Australia given how A: the original was a decent success back in the day and B: it would've fitted in perfectly with our indie scene, however the lead singer of the band Natalie Merchant managed to achieve minor success with her first solo album due to how inescapable it was in her native America.
Peak position #18
Peak position #20 (AMR charts)
Hit singles
Carnival #24
If you were to compare Seal's chart run of his earlier entry on this list on the AMR and ARIA charts, you'd notice it did far better on the former than on the latter which was quite rare for albums before 1997 here in Australia. The likely reason for that is that ARIA was able to track the success of this double album that was released exclusively here which showed how success it was upon its initial release.
Peak position #10
(didn't chart on AMR charts)
I guess it was only a matter of time before we had an aboriginal solo artist to appear on this site of mine, here we are with the earliest success story in that category which happens to be the debut album of Christine Anu, although I am using the term success story loosely given how it was only a minor sleeper hit at the time. Still, she had an interesting voice, and it was enough to give her a huge sleeper hit with its lead single.
Peak position #21
Peak position #21 (AMR charts)
Hit singles
Party #20 (AMR #20)
One of the more influential alternative dance bands from the UK was Portishead, they had a bit of a rough start to their career as this album proved to be far too bizarre for the mainstream even if Triple J did eventually jump on its bandwagon this year. It did last long enough to become a sleeper hit for the band, likely due to the vibes fitting in with the mainstream despite being darker than your average EDM track.
Peak position #23
Peak position #26 (AMR charts)
This was the second year in a row where a Triple J compilation album was among the most successful albums in Australia, although I'm basing this list on the AMR charts as these albums naturally didn't chart on the ARIA charts due to ARIA considering them compilation albums and thus excluding them from their rankings.
Peak position #1x2
We finally have the Hit machine franchise usurping the 100% series on this site, this was because the franchise had access to the bigger hits of the year which wasn't the case when they initially launched.
Peak position #1x1
Hit singles
Another night #1
Short dick man #4
Hot hot hot #9
Turn the beat around #8
Total eclipse of the heart #2
A girl like you #6
Put yourself in my place #11
Chains #4
Hook me up #11
Come back #14
Sight for sore eyes #20
Dead eyes opened #18
Can't get enough #32
Tongue tied #25
Cruise control #25
Sky high #8
Sooner or later #11
Cotton eye Joe #8
You better believe that Hit machine was the compilation series of choice this year, as such we have these two entries which cover the big hits of summer and autumn to make it big here.
Peak position #2
Hit singles
Everybody on the floor #6
Don't stop #5
Set you free #11
Baby baby #7
Run away #4
Open your heart #25
Back for good #1
Hey girl #14
Mouth #1
Here comes the hotstepper #2
Mr. natural #27
Digging the grave #12
Walk this world #28
Change of heart #27
You suck #25
I'm jealous #14
Sorrento moon #7
No more I love yous #16
Hit machine strike once again this year with their third seasonal album, I guess they finally had some good choices to put on their albums which 100% hits struggled to do this year.
Peak position #1x1
Hit singles
Shy guy #3
Love and devotion #7
U sure do #9
Forever young #15
Excalibur #2
Right type of mood #10
Try me out #10
Don't give me your life #13
Search for the hero #37
I like it #28
Party #20
Trick with a knife #37
Evidence #37
Heaven help my heart #22
River of love #18
Gonna make you mine #29
Freek n you #23
Scatman #8
Alice who the f**k is Alice #2
It's worth noting that the 100% series did achieve success this year even if it took a back seat to the Hit machine series, as such we have all of their entries from this year becoming a success starting with this entry overlooking the summer period of this year.
Peak position #2
Hit singles
If I only knew #5
All I wanna do #1
Bang and blame #29
Coma #14
Inside #40
Bug powder dust #34
When I come around #7
Here's johnny #1
She don't use jelly #25
She's a river #29
Nothing in the world #20
Baby come back #11
Total eclipse of the heart #2
Soul feeling #16
15 feet of snow #29
I'll make love to you #1
Beautiful in my eyes #5
The winter of this year was a hectic time indeed if this was only slightly less popular than the Hit machine counterpart from earlier on this list.
Peak position #5
Hit singles
Kiss from a rose #1
This is who we do it #7
Lay down #36
Can't cry anymore #41
Insensitive #1
Somebody's crying #5
I kissed a girl #36
My love is for real #7
I believe #18
Baby #16
Everytime you go away #35
Accidentally cool #39
Water runs dry #36
This was naturally going to be a success given how autumn was an excellent time for our music scene given the selection of music on display here.
Peak position #4
Hit singles
You belong to me #4
Speed #16
Axel f #42
Love is all around #24
The bomb #11
Let it rain #12
When I was a sperm #26
White lines #20
Whoops now #49
I wanna be down #12
4PM #3
On bended knee #7
Strong enough #3
Be firm #25
Picture postcards from LA #46
Hang around #48
Everything Zen #41
You know that chart positions meant nothing even this close towards the 21st century when this compilation album managed to make the yearend list (for AMR of course) over several entries we've looked at on this list. It's easy to see why it was a sleeper hit given how it contains several remixes of popular tracks from the EDM genre during the height of its popularity.
Peak position #24
You may have noticed that 1994 was a bit of a strange year overall for music here in Australia, as such it's little surprise the 100% hits recap wasn't that big of a success when it came out.
Peak position #9
Hit singles
100% pure love #2
I like to move it #6
Son of a gun #6
Dum da dum #5
Rocking for myself #9
Give it up #1
It's alright #1
Things can only get better #9
Whatta man #2
Absolutely fabulous #2
Stay #3
Shaka jam #7
Shine #8
I'll stand by you #8
Hands out of my pocket #9
Jessie #15
Mountain #12
American life in the summertime #18
You may have noticed a lack of presence of these themed compilation albums on these lists, suffice to say that they didn't bring in the numbers throughout the 90's that they did in the 80's even though they were being produced right up until the streaming era. This is one of the lucky few non seasonal compilations to find success this decade due to it being a double album containing nearly forty rock tracks throughout the twentieth century.
Peak position #14
The spring of 1994 was a true dud as both entries looking over that period failed to appear on a yearend list, although at least this was a modest success which is more than I can say for the Hit machine counterpart.
Peak position #11
Hit singles
100% pure love #2
Lucas with the lid off #15
What's the frequency Kenneth #24
Regulate #16
7 seconds #3
Standing strong #37
I swear #1
I love the nightlife #11
Rocking for myself #9
Eighteen strings #16
Nothing but you #16
Fly girl #26
Dreams #30
Trouble #17
Compliments on your kiss #18
Yesterday when I was mad #13
Give it up #16
Well, this is tragic, we have the first seasonal compilation to be a complete flop since 1981, I'm including this on my site because I feel these entries are an excellent way of grouping together what was popular here in Australia in any given year.
Peak position #23
Hit singles
Confide in me #1
Do you wanna get funky #11
Voodoo people #24
Gimme #14
Fantastic voyage #37
Ain't nobody #17
7 seconds #3
Stay #6
Breathe again #2
I miss you #44
Walkaway lover #35
Black book #25
Lay your love on me #26
Love ain't here anymore #38
Wild flowers #41
Tighten up your pants #39
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