This was when disco was at its peak, despite there being an apparent backlash in America due to its oversaturation.
Unlike in Australia where Billy Joel had some success with his previous efforts, this was the first that the kiwis had heard from him which is likely why it was a bigger success for him over there than it was over here. Although it's worth noting that his overall popularity there couldn't hold a candle to what it was here.
Peak position #2
Hit singles
Just the way you are #6
Moving out #31
It remains their most popular album in their career, so naturally it would be a massive success for NZ back in the day given how it was a huge success around the world for Supertramp. Interestingly it proved to be even bigger over there than it was here, likely because they had more mainstream appeal there than they did here.
Peak position #1x10
Hit singles
The logical song #13
Goodbye stranger #40
So, this was a massive success for the Cars in NZ but not here in Australia, admittedly this was mainly a success over there due to the popularity of their second album, but it was still inescapable over there once the kiwis did discover how awesome the album was. That's certainly more than I can say for us Aussies who likely thought that Candy O was the band's debut album back in the day.
Peak position #5
Hit singles
Just what I needed #38
It appears that the world tour that Neil Young and Crazy horse gave for their Rust never sleeps album was so compelling for the kiwis to listen to that the live album proved to be more successful over there than the studio album it was based on. That's impressive considering how huge the studio album was over there.
Peak position #1x2
Even though this had a low peak position in NZ back in the day like it did here in Australia, this breakthrough from Supertramp nonetheless managed to last for quite some time on their charts which ensured that it would be a shoe in for several of these lists on this side of my site.
Peak position #12
Hit singles
Dreamer #34
Given how he wasn't competing with his family when he released his first album to be produced by Quincy Jones, MJ was able to flood the NZ charts with this album much more so than he did in Australia who had just discovered his family's post Motown material around this time.
Peak position #2
Hit singles
Don't stop till you get enough #1
Rock with you #3
Off the wall #14
She's out of my life #6
Girlfriend #49
Although this album was a huge success over in NZ, it wasn't quite as inescapable over there as it was over here likely due to the kiwis only gravitating towards this album when it became a huge success for Meat loaf here in Australia due to his appearance on Countdown back in the day.
Peak position #1x1
Hit singles
You took the words right out of my mouth #2
Two out of three ain't bad #9
Given how their albums seemed to stick to the lower half of the album's charts in NZ throughout the 80's like glue, it seems fitting that their debut album would also do the same once its initial popularity began to fade as the decade was coming to an end. Even so it was a massive success over there thanks to how big the lead single was worldwide.
Peak position #2
Hit singles
Sultans of swing #12
Much like in Australia, the success of this album in NZ was likely bolstered by it spawning the biggest hit in Pink Floyd's career over there in the form of one of its title tracks. It also likely allowed their entry from the top of this list to keep charting well into the 80's as it had still yet to drop off the charts over there like it did here in the mid 70's.
Peak position #1x13
Hit singles
Another brick in the wall #1
Run like hell #40
Given how rock operas weren't as successful in NZ as they were here in Australia, this concept album from Jeff Wayne wasn't as inescapable over there as it was over here even though it was still a massive success there.
Peak position #2
The kiwis also seemed to be in love with the Grease phenomenon as the soundtrack to the film managed to be a massive success over there just like it was over here, although its popularity in the 90's wasn't as inescapable over there so perhaps their love for the film faded over time as opposed to it growing here in Australia.
Peak position #1x16
Hit singles
You're the one that I want #1
Grease #2
Hopelessly devoted to you #6
Summer nights #3
Greased lightning #40
This was another massive success that Fleetwood Mac had in NZ just like they did throughout the rest of the world, in fact what I said about this on the Australian side of my site applies here as its success there perfectly mirrors its success here.
Peak position #1x2
Hit singles
Tusk #4
Sara #12
Well at least the Eagles were able to go out with a bang when they embarrassed themselves during a concert promoting this album around this time in their native California, indeed it was more of a success in NZ thanks to the songs being able to become hits over there which wasn't the case for them here in Australia.
Peak position #2
Hit singles
Heartache tonight #7
The long run #30
I can't tell you why #11
This was the magnum opus for Frank Farian in his career, mainly because of his presence in the band but also because of how infectiously catchy the disco is on this album which led to the lead single being one of the biggest hits of the decade worldwide.
Peak position #3
Hit singles
Rivers of Babylon #1
Rasputin #4
Given how his previous album was a massive success for him in NZ, it only seems fitting that Billy Joel would continue that winning streak with this album which manages to confirm him as the real deal over there given how his work prior to the Stranger wasn't a success over there like it was here.
Peak position #1x2
Hit singles
My life #6
Big shot #36
Honesty #38
Much like in Australia, Rod Stewart wouldn't have an inescapable album again in NZ until the early 90's with the success of Vagabond heart. Unlike in Australia, he wouldn't score any success with his singles between that time meaning that the kiwis completely ignored this guy throughout the 80's.
Peak position #1x3
Hit singles
Do ya think I'm sexy #2
While this collaboration between Neil Young and Crazy horse was initially as successful in NZ as it was here in Australia, the fact the album spawned a highly successful live album from their world tour over there ensured that success would be repeated a year after its initial release for both parties involved.
Peak position #7
It looks like ELO's venture towards disco was their biggest success over in NZ as this album remains their most successful album over there, likely due to it being released at the height of the genres popularity but also due to the band needing to find their footing over there given how rock operas weren't as big as they were here in Australia.
Peak position #2
Hit singles
Shine a little love #17
Don't bring me down #6
Confusion #19
This was all set to flop in NZ upon its initial release the previous year, however then the lead single became a huge success in their native America which allowed it to become a massive success over there in response. Following the success of this album, Blondie no longer had any issues with finding success over there as their next two albums would be huge hits for them going into the 80's.
Peak position #3
Hit singles
Heart of glass #1
Hanging on the telephone #43
This was all set to be a mere minor success in NZ upon its initial release, however the lead single became a surprise success over there at the start of the 80's which allowed it to become a massive success for Ry Cooder. He remains a one album wonder in both countries, although he was a part of the Buena Vista social club two decades later which had a successful album with their release.
Peak position #7
Hit singles
Little sister #1
These guys weren't that big in NZ, or at least they weren't compared to how well they did here in Australia despite them having more immediate success over there with their debut album. Here they follow up the success of Outlandos D'amour with this album which didn't spawn that big hit over there they had here and on their previous album over there.
Peak position #4
Hit singles
Message to a bottle #11
Walking on the moon #12
Kiss never had much success in NZ back in the day, so I guess the kiwis weren't that surprised that they went in a more mainstream direction with this album given how their earlier material all flopped over there earlier in the decade. They did have success with their follow up in the 80's, although like Australia their popularity didn't last very long in the new decade.
Peak position #2
Hit singles
I was made for loving you #1
Sure know something #11
Well at least we Aussies got in on the Bob Marley bandwagon when the rest of the world did as this too was his breakthrough success over in NZ just like it was here and in the UK. I'm guessing the world outside of his Jamaica were turned off by his more politically charged albums from earlier in the decade and finally came around to him on this album where he was more spiritually inclined than before.
Peak position #6
Hit singles
Is this love #8
You'd think these guys would've had more success in Australia around this time given how they seemed like the perfect band to be promoted on Countdown back in the day, alas they flopped here but were a huge deal in NZ beginning with this album which should explain why they had so much more success over there in the 80's than they did here.
Peak position #4
Hit singles
Take me to the river #20
Well at least these guys had a bit more success in NZ prior to this greatest hits package becoming a huge success for the band, although their success at least skyrocketed after its success over there and even carried over to the member's solo material throughout the 80's, so it's not like it was little more than a pity success like it was here in Australia.
Peak position #3
Hit singles
September #12
I guess a little controversy never hurt anyone as despite it being controversial even at the time, the lead single allowed this album to be a massive hit for Elvis Costello back in the day in most parts of the world. Unlike here in Australia where it was his only successful album, he saw a bit of a comeback over there four years later with Punch the clock, meaning he wasn't a one album wonder with the kiwis.
Peak position #9
Hit singles
Oliver's army #25
This wasn't quite as successful in NZ as it was here in Australia, however even with a different lead singer, these guys were able to retain their popularity over there until the end of the decade as the Doobie Brothers did indeed have massive success in NZ throughout the 70's with their earlier material.
Peak position #6
Hit singles
What a fool believes #5
Minute by minute #34
This was also a sleeper hit for Bob Seger in NZ, although unlike in Australia where it just lingered in the lower half of our charts long enough to qualify to be on that side of my site, in NZ this skyrocketed up the charts when he almost scored a hit with "We've got tonight" six months into the albums existence. It set the rock and roller up for massive success over there that he only achieved with his next album.
Peak position #4
Hit singles
Still the same #20
Hollywood nights #38
We've got tonight #12
Well, this was significantly less popular in NZ than it was here in Australia, granted its lower appearance on this side of my site does stem from the fact that it was much more of a sleeper hit for Neil Young over there, however it was also due to him just not being as popular in general over there throughout the 70's.
Peak position #6
This was an E.P that was released three years prior from Demis Roussos, I guess if we Aussies can give out success for a years old album this year, why can't the kiwis give out success for a years old E.P from the same artist?
Peak position #3
This had a bit of a delay to its success in NZ, likely because it was only a sleeper hit here in Australia for the NZ band. It became a more mainstream success a year after its initial release due to the success of the second single but also once they released their second album which allowed the album to rebound on their charts.
Peak position #6
Hit singles
But you don't care #33
Computer games #5
This wasn't the big inescapable hit in NZ that it was here in Australia for Rickie Lee Jones, admittedly the lead single was an actual hit for her over there so perhaps the kiwis were too infatuated with that in order to make this even more of a success for her back in the day.
Peak position #3
Hit singles
Chuck e's in love #5
Well, their debut album from earlier on the list became one of the biggest albums of the decade in NZ, so it's only fitting that their second album would be a huge success over there even though it failed to spawn that big hit for them like it did here in Australia. Their third album would be a huge flop on the southern hemisphere; however, they would bounce back from that with their fourth and biggest album.
Peak position #6
Hit singles
Let's go #40
This was the first album that Roxy music released once they reunited the previous year, although I don't think the kiwis even realised they had any material prior to this album given how much of a failure their music was throughout the 70's over there. This led to them having massive success during the first stretch of the 80's before they called it quits in 1983 for good.
Peak position #8
Hit singles
Dance away #10
Angel eyes #50
This was another successful greatest hits package to bookend the 70's, although it didn't become a success in NZ until this year for Donna Summer likely because the lead single was included on Barbra Streisand's album which the kiwis didn't seem to like that much until this decade for some reason.
Peak position #2
Hit singles
No more tears #7
On the radio #32
While he wasn't as inescapable in NZ as he was here in Australia throughout the 70's, Leo Sayer was popular enough that it made sense that this greatest hits package closing out the decade would become a success for him over there this year.
Peak position #1x1
Rod Stewart closed out the 70's on top regardless of where in the world you're from, although this was the last time he would trouble the charts in NZ until his next greatest hits album from ten years later.
Peak position #1x6
This feels like a more appropriate position for this live album from David Bowie on this list compared to the Australian side of my site, it's curious it was more successful over there considering this wasn't the case for Bowie's career overall save for the occasional hit here and there.
Peak position #1x6
This was the last successful album that the Brothers Gibb had in NZ for nearly two decades, admittedly their next successful album in Australia was also Still waters, however they did have a mini comeback in 1987 when "You win again" became a surprise hit for them which isn't what happened over in NZ.
Peak position #1x5
Hit singles
Too much heaven #1
Tragedy #1
Love you inside out #17
This was also a success for Linda Ronstadt in NZ like it was here in Australia, although like her earlier entry on this list, it wasn't as huge over there as it was down under likely due to "Blue bayou" being such a juggernaut for her on their singles charts throughout the year.
Peak position #3
Hit singles
Living in the USA #24
Well unlike in Australia, Barbra Streisand was far from the most popular artists in NZ which does make the success this greatest hits package a bit more confusing over there. Still, it was a success, likely due to the bonus track also coming from Neil Diamond's successful album of the same name which was also a success over there (stay tuned for it.)
Peak position #1x4
Hit singles
You don't bring me flowers #3
Much like in Australia, this album from Art Garfunkel likely took off in NZ due to the success of his theme to the animated film Watership down becoming a huge success for him over there. It was his only successful album over there as far as I can tell, although it's possible his solo efforts from earlier in the decade were also big hits over there.
Peak position #1x1
Hit singles
Bright eyes #2
Since I don't have you #16
This was the final album that Led zeppelin released as a unit worldwide, naturally it would be a success in NZ given how they were one of the biggest bands of the decade over there despite not releasing an album since the midpoint of the decade.
Peak position #1x3
Hit singles
Fool in the rain #44
Much like here in Australia, the kiwis were initially sceptical with the thought of Elton John finding success without his partner in crime Bernie Taupin, although this album did win them over when they discovered that the second single was donated to Elton from Bernie, suggesting that they merely distanced themselves from each other rather than completely cutting ties.
Peak position #5
Hit singles
Part time love #14
Song for guy #7
Well, it appears the kiwis were more forgiving towards these guys providing more of the same as their earlier entry on this list than us Aussies were, the results were a slightly more successful album over there than it was here in Australia as well as it occasionally popping back into the charts whenever the band released a new album throughout the 80's.
Peak position #1x2
Hit singles
Lady writer #39
Even though the Beach boys didn't achieve a single hit in NZ throughout the 70's (either on RIANZ or the Listener charts) that didn't mean that they didn't close out the decade without any success at all as this greatest hits album was a hit for them this year.
Peak position #5
This was also a success in NZ due to it also being released over there like it was here in Australia, again I'm not sure why this album was released exclusively in the southern hemisphere as between both countries, he only had a total of three hits to his name by this point.
Peak position #2
Given how Jon English suddenly had two successful hits to his name in NZ, it only seems reasonable that the kiwis would educate themselves on his back catalogue which included a third minor hit from the midpoint of the 70's that didn't crossover here to Australia. This is why his greatest hits album did slightly better over there than it did over here.
Peak position #3
Hit singles
Get your love right #3
This was Donna Summer's only successful album in NZ (not counting her greatest hits package of course) naturally it was the one which depicted her as a sex worker on the cover as well as some of the track referencing her as such including the two big hits from the album. While you could argue the pros and cons of marketing her as such (though not on this site if you don't mind) it led to her becoming a devoted Christian in the 80's because of the backlash she received from religious groups.
Peak position #3
Hit singles
Hot stuff #7
Bad girls #6
Dim all the lights #14
Well, this had their reggae hit as the lead single, so naturally this was going to be a success for 10CC in NZ regardless of how the kiwis felt about the band by this point. Fortunately, their feelings seemed to be positive as they were able to close out the decade with a greatest hits package that did fairly well over there (it won't be appearing on this site I'm afraid.)
Peak position #2
Hit singles
Dreadlock holiday #1
This was eventually a hit here in Australia for Steely Dan; however, it was one of those cases where it continuously charted in the lower half of our charts during the height of their popularity which prevented it from being appearing on the Australian side of my site. It was much more of an immediate success in NZ due to them being very popular over there as we'll see the further back in the decade we go.
Peak position #10
Given how these guys weren't as popular in NZ as they were in Australia throughout the 70's, it's fitting that this was less successful over there for ELO than it was over here at the start of the 80's even if this was coming off a highly successful album.
Peak position #2
Well, you know the kiwis have a love for classical music when even the London Symphony Orchestra could score a massive hit over there with an album where they make classical renditions of popular rock and roll hits of the 60's and 70's.
Peak position #2
I guess the kiwis weren't that fooled with the hype that went into this band back in the day, I'm not saying these guys were hacks by any means, but rather their popularity was only limited to this one album worldwide and it appears the kiwis didn't love it as much as the rest of the world did.
Peak position #2
Hit singles
My Sharona #3
Good girls don't #20
If you were looking for more representation from the Commodore on this side of my site, there will be that albeit to a much lesser scale than you would otherwise think given how Lionel Richie and company weren't that much more popular in ZN than they were here in Australia. Indeed, this was their final successful album over there due to how ubiquitous it was with the times.
Peak position #7
Hit singles
Sail on #6
Still #13
This was a fantastic year for XTC in NZ given how they have two appearances on this list, this was their debut album which was a minor success upon its initial release the previous year but saw a massive spike in popularity when their second album became an instant success over there six months after its initial release.
Peak position #12
Hit singles
Making plans for nigel #29
It may not have been as inescapable in NZ as it was here in Australia, however this greatest hits package from the brothers Gibb was indeed a success coming into the 80's over there due to how popular the trio was with their pivot towards disco in their catalogue.
Peak position #2
I don't know why this underperformed here in Australia given how much we Aussies loved Abba back in the day, it did much better over in NZ for the band likely at the expense of the new single to appear on the album which wasn't a big hit over there like it was over here.
Peak position #3
Hit singles
Gimme gimme gimme #15
I guess the kiwis allowed compilation albums to chart on their album charts back in the day, although I'm guessing these albums were given their own charts going into the 80's as there weren't any on there like there were in Australia. As the name implies, this was a collection of the biggest disco hits of the day that was originally released in the UK before finding its way over there.
Peak position #1x5
This wasn't quite as successful for Abba in NZ as it was here in Australia, I'm guessing because the lead single did eat up a bunch of its success over there as opposed to it being less successful here to allow the album to flourish. In any case, it was their final big hit over there as they band struggled for mainstream relevancy going into the 80's which certainly wasn't the case down under.
Peak position #2
Hit singles
Chiquitita #1
Does your mother know #27
I told you the popularity of these guys skyrocketed going into the 80's, here we have the album that Earth wind and fire released after the success of their greatest hits package from earlier on the list. This managed to spawn two hit singles in NZ as opposed to just the one here in Australia, and likely kept the bands popularity going around the launch of MTV which certainly wasn't the case down under.
Peak position #3
Hit singles
Boogie wonderland #7
After the love has gone #8
In the stone #39
They may have had less success in NZ overall than they did here in Australia, but at least the Police were able to have immediate success over there rather than having to wait until the new decade for this to take off after the success of their sophomore album. To be honest, I'm not even sure why this album initially failed here given how it not only had massive international success but fitted in perfectly with our music scene.
Peak position #6
Hit singles
Roxanne #8
Can't stand losing you #48
If you're wondering how this album from a Greek conductor managed to become a success over in NZ just as the decade was coming to an end, that's due to it also serving as the soundtrack to the BBC series of the same name which proved to be quite popular throughout the world upon its initial release.
Peak position #6
Hit singles
Who pays the ferryman #8
This year was a huge breakthrough for the Commodores outside of their native America, as such it makes sense they would cap it off with a greatest hits album to help their new international audience discover their back catalogue off the success of their earlier entries.
Peak position #12
Well at least Bob Dylan still managed to have success in NZ during the 70's, nothing he released this decade came close to what he achieved in 1985 over there, but it would be wrong for me to say that he was a no name prior to that album.
Peak position #1x2
Unlike in Australia where Neil Diamond managed to score one more successful album with his contributions to the Jazz singer remake, this was the final successful album that he had over in NZ mainly due to the success of its title track he had with Barbra Streisand upon its initial release.
Peak position #2
Hit singles
You don't bring me flowers #3
Forever in blue jeans #22
Given the success of their concert at Budokan over in NZ (which we'll be getting to in a bit) Cheap trick had little issue with finding success with this album over there like they did at first over here. It's a bit of a shame that they would be a one album wonder over there given how much success they had over here, particularly with their sellout album Lap of luxury almost a decade later.
Peak position #2
Hit singles
Dream police #7
Here's that live album from Cheap trick I mentioned earlier on this list, indeed it had a bit of a slow start to its success over there given how it became a surprise hit in their native America around the time Bob Dylan released his live album capturing his greatest moments of his performance at Budokan this year. It finally peaked in popularity when their earlier entry on this list became an instant success in NZ.
Peak position #10
Hit singles
I want you to want me #23
Ain't a shame #24
Just like here in Australia, this was only a success in NZ following the success that Ian Dury and company had with the lead single from their next album "Hit me with your rhythm stick." Again how this wasn't a success upon its initial release is beyond me, but I guess its appeal was better late than never.
Peak position #7
This was the second volume of the Don't walk boogie series to make it big in NZ, who'd thought a disco compilation series would be among the more popular sets of albums over there throughout the decade?
Peak position #1x4
This is the only other album that Kamahl had success within NZ following his self-titled breakthrough from the previous year, I have no idea why this was so big over there given how he was originally from Australia.
Peak position #3
Hit singles
What would I do without music #32
This is the only other success that the Village people had with their albums in NZ, I guess the reason for why the soundtrack to their feature film underperformed over there is more due to the kiwis not being as big of fans of the LGBT group as we Aussies were back in the day.
Peak position #6
Hit singles
Y.M.C.A #1
This was also a bit of a disappointment for Kate Bush in NZ like it was here in Australia, although unlike here where she managed to rebound throughout the 80s, this was the last of her albums to be a massive success over there save for her greatest hits package which was only big due to her collaboration with Peter Gabriel.
Peak position #5
Hit singles
Hammer horror #21
It had been fourteen years since the death of Nat King Cole by this point, that seemed like a good enough incentive for the kiwis to make this greatest hits package a success given how I'm sure he was one of the biggest names over there in the 40's and 50's (I can't say for sure due to a lack of info on what was popular prior to 1966.)
Peak position #4
You'd think that David Bowie would've had more success in NZ than he did here in Australia throughout the 70's given how the kiwis didn't have a Countdown equivalent to push his music aside, that's only partly true as while he generally charted higher with his albums, they all didn't chart as long which balanced out their success in both countries.
Peak position #3
While Jon English did find success earlier int he decade with "Turn the page" in NZ, I wasn't expecting to see him on this side of my site with the soundtrack to a miniseries he starred in. I'm guessing this was more due to the show being a huge success over there as the show would be released throughout Europe to varying degrees of success.
Peak position #4
Hit singles
Six ribbons #3
For whatever reason, the kiwis passed up on the official soundtrack for the original Star Wars film (before it was known as A new hope) yet gravitated towards this highlights reel that was released as an album (for some reason) which technically makes this the most successful Star Wars project on the RIANZ charts.
Peak position #10
This was a greatest hits package for the 50's country star Marty Robbins, I'm guessing he was a big deal in NZ back in the day if this was able to be a success for him two decades after the end of his heyday over there.
Peak position #2
Just like here in Australia, these guys were on a roll heading into the 80's in NZ as their (then) latest album was a massive success for the duo over there like it was internationally. Admittedly it was a bit of a step back commercially for them, however they were still beating out the competition in the realms of prog rock.
Peak position #4
Given how Cheap trick were able to feature on this list with their live album from Budokan, it only makes sense that we revisit Bob Dylan's album from his concert there as well. Admittedly this wasn't as big in NZ likely because it had to compete with Cheap trick's album from earlier, however the kiwis made it a success regardless.
Peak position #3
Ever wondered what a Beatles album would be like if their melodies were set to orchestral music? It turns out that a group of classical musicians did just that this year as they released this album which curiously was only a success in NZ and nowhere else in the world.
Peak position #4
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