Well I think it's time to begin our journey through the popular music of Australia with the first year of my personal favourite decade in music. The 80's are often known for MTV however since that wasn't a thing until the following year and disco was apparently dead in the mainstream (spoilers it wasn't) this has led to the first year of the decade being a bit of an outlier in retrospect as it desperately tries to figure out what it wants to be.
These guys did have success in their homeland throughout the 70's, so it's less surprising to see that this was a massive hit over there at the start of the decade even though it absolutely owes most of its success there to how it became a massive success here in Australia.
Peak position #1x2
Hit singles
I got you #1
I hope I never #33
Well, the kiwis not only loved classical music this decade, but also music from a guy who played the pan flute as this album from Romanian musician Gheorghe Zamfir managed to become a massive success over there for reasons I can't seem to fathom.
Peak position #1x4
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
Unlike in Australia where this was only a modest success due to the goodwill that Bryan Ferry had accumulated throughout the 70's with his solo career, in NZ this was a massive success as it was the second album the band released following their reunion from 1978 and the success of their previous album Manifesto from the previous year.
Peak position #1x1
Hit singles
Over you #24
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
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 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
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 debut album from B52's, an album that needed some incentive to become a success in the southern hemisphere which came when the band performed their signature track from the album on Countdown thus allowing it to find an audience in both countries due to how memorable it was.
Peak position #3
Hit singles
Planet Claire #35
Rock lobster #38
It was a new decade and Tom Petty was already off to a good start as far as the kiwis were concerned as he scored a massive hit with this album by having it spawn one of his more iconic songs as the second hit single. I guess the kiwis were far more willing to embrace heartland rock than we Aussies were around this time given how much more popular the genre was over there compared to over here.
Peak position #1x3
Hit singles
Don't do me like that #17
Refugee #3
Here comes my girl #41
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
This was the debut album from Pat Benatar, an artist that I would've thought would do so much better in Australia than she ended up doing. In fact her presence on the NZ charts accurately sums up how well I thought she did back in the day, meaning that we Aussies have since realised our mistake in sleeping on her music from back in the day.
Peak position #8
Hit singles
Heartbreaker #14
We live for love #26
Much like in Australia, this was the biggest album from George Benson's career in NZ due to him incorporating disco into his sound which helped it stand out in his catalogue during a time where the disco backlash supposedly took effect worldwide.
Peak position #2
Hit singles
Give me the night #4
Love x love #8
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
This was equally as successful in NZ as it was in Australia for Barbra Streisand, again we have the involvement of the Brothers Gibb to thank for that as she didn't have much success on her own throughout the 70's over there when it came to her music. Indeed, she wouldn't have much success over there after this save for a cover of the Cats showstopper "Memory."
Peak position #1x5
Hit singles
Woman in love #2
Guilty #12
Joan already had a huge sleeper hit in NZ with her self-titled album in the 70's, so this commercial breakthrough for her was less so over there which is perhaps why it was a much bigger success there than it was here in Australia. The title track even became a sleeper hit over there, meaning that she isn't a one hit wonder on their singles chart with "Drop the pilot" like she is here.
Peak position #4
Hit singles
Me myself I #14
I told you this was a success for the Motels this year in NZ, arguably more so than it was here in Australia which suggests that the kiwis (at least by this point) were tuning into Countdown as that's the only explanation I have as to how this managed to be a success over there and not in the northern hemisphere.
Peak position #4
Hit singles
Total control #11
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
Much like in Australia, this album from Willie Nelson was released two years prior to deafening silence only for it to become a massive success over there this year for reasons I can't seem to fathom.
Peak position #1x6
Hit singles
Blue skies #26
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
Marianne Faithful began her career as a child star in the 60's, although aside from a highly publicised relationship with Mick Jagger, nothing came of her career as a child back then. Fast forward over a decade and she finally scored a massive hit with this album in NZ of all places which led to a more stable career in the 80's over there.
Peak position #2
Hit singles
The ballad of Lucy Jordan #20
Broken English #25
This proved to be even more successful in NZ than it was here in Australia for Kenny Rogers, likely due to it spawning a huge hit over there where it was only a minor hit at best over here for the country legend that also became his biggest hit in his native America.
Peak position #1x6
Hit singles
Lady #6
This was a solid introduction to the decade for the Pretenders, although unlike in Australia where they would have a healthy balance between the success of their albums and singles, in NZ they wouldn't trouble the charts again until their fourth album much later in the decade.
Peak position #2
Hit singles
Brass in pocket #2
Stop your sobbing #25
This was a bit of a stumble for Billy Joel in NZ, I guess the kiwis weren't too interested in having him venture towards rock and roll like we Aussies were but were curious enough to make it a success regardless. I'm guessing it was this ambivalence towards him trying out rock that led to the failure of the Bridge over there later in the decade.
Peak position #6
Hit singles
You may be right #23
It's still rock and roll to me #21
While this wasn't as big in NZ as it was here in Australia, it was still a success for David Bowie over there which proves that the kiwis were still in love with him moving from the 70's into the 80's. Indeed, he would see much more success over there with his next album which spawned a bunch of hits for him that didn't crossover here to Australia.
Peak position #1x3
Hit singles
Ashes to ashes #6
Fashion #22
Unlike here in Australia where this required the assistance of a live E.P which contained the two most popular tracks on this album to become a success here, the kiwis were able to make this a hit over there upon its initial release (albeit as a sleeper hit at first) which the album then saw a boost in popularity once "Whip it" became a sleeper hit on their singles charts half a year after its initial release.
Peak position #9
Hit singles
Whip it #11
This was the final album that Bob Marley released in his lifetime, much like the lead single, it was the second successful album he had in NZ meaning that the kiwis were likely going to make him a household name for many years to come had he lived to see the remainder of the 80's.
Peak position #1x3
Hit singles
Could you be loved #2
Redemption song #22
It appears the kiwis were far more impressed with the Cure throughout the decade than we Aussies were given how their second album was a huge success over there, although it's worth mentioning that success was stretched out for two years given how this had a very slow start to its popularity upon its initial release.
Peak position #9
Hit singles
A forest #38
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
This was another huge success for the Rolling Stones in NZ like it was throughout the rest of the world, although it's worth noting that it didn't have that big hit over there with the title track like it did here in Australia and America despite it being a disco track.
Peak position #2
Hit singles
Emotional rescue #16
She's so cold #26
This is another entry to appear low on this list despite being a massive hit for the artist in question, this time it's from Elton John who did score a huge hit in NZ with this album just like he did in Australia, although the album's success came from the lower half of the charts likely due to it only having the one hit from it.
Peak position #3
Hit singles
Little Jeannie #5
Well, if this was able to be a huge success for Boney M here in Australia, naturally it would repeat that success in NZ as the German disco band were also fairly inescapable over there throughout the 70's.
Peak position #2
This was also a sleeper hit over in NZ this year, in fact aside from the fourth single performing much better over there than it did over here, it had the exact level of success as well as the same path to its success in both countries in the southern hemisphere which nonetheless led the band to having a widely successful decade worldwide.
Peak position #11
Hit singles
Crazy little thing called love #2
Another one bites the dust #2
This is one of two albums that found massive success over in NZ for the Clash, although this was more of a sleeper success for the band like it was here in Australia likely due to punk rock not being as popular in the southern hemisphere as it was in their native UK back in the day. Still, it did prove that there was an audience for the scene amongst us Aussies and kiwis as opposed to those in America.
Peak position #12
Hit singles
London calling #23
Train in vain #26
This was the soundtrack to Xanadu, the other critical disaster this year which led to the creation of the Golden Razzie awards where both this and Can't stop the music were deemed the worst films of 1980. I guess the kiwis were also not big fans of the film as the soundtrack and its singles were far less successful over there than they were here.
Peak position #8
Hit singles
Magic #4
I'm alive #32
Xanadu #8
Suddenly #30
Although this appears much higher on this list than their debut album (which we'll look at in a bit) it still remains less successful overall in Mi-Sex's homeland than its predecessor once again due to it being more of an immediate success as opposed to the intrigue of their debut lasting longer which in turn made its sleeper success all the stronger in the long run.
Peak position #1x4
Hit singles
People #3
Space race #19
I'm not sure what the general consensus is in NZ with regards to Kiss during their supposed sellout period, mainly because they weren't that popular before or after this period over there which leads me to believe that they weren't into these guys outside of this specific point in their careers. It's certainly funny to me that this album is called Unmasked and yet they wouldn't unmask themselves until much later in their career.
Peak position #1x1
Hit singles
Shandi #6
Given how Bob Seger saw massive success in NZ with his previous album, it only makes sense he would keep up the momentum with this album going into the 80's like he did here in Australia. It's a shame he didn't survive the transition into the MTV era as he would've thrived during the height of Bruce Springsteen's dominance in the mainstream.
Peak position #3
Hit singles
Fire lake #18
There were plenty of signals that Supertramp would be one of the biggest bands of the decade when it began, I think the biggest by far was the success of this live album recorded on their Paris tour which became a worldwide success. Unfortunately, they didn't have much success after their next album Famous last words.
Peak position #1x1
Well, it appears that the kiwis weren't as impressed with the film which was a fictional account of how the Village people came to be, either that or they weren't as impressed with the soundtrack as we Aussies were which I doubt was the case as disco seemed to be even stronger over there than it was over here this year.
Peak position #4
Hit singles
Can't stop the music #2
Evidently the kiwis were bigger fans of James Galway than we Aussies were given how this managed to be an even bigger success over there than it was over here for the flutist, at least he never scored a hit in either country in the southern hemisphere which is more than I can say for his presence in his native UK.
Peak position #4
This was a live album from Eric Clapton that went over really well in NZ this year, I'm actually surprised there haven't been more successful live album from him or any of his bands over the years apart from this and his MTV concert from the early 90's.
Peak position #3
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
Well, this is a bit of a surprise, apparently the kiwis were so impressed with the Motels debut album from earlier on this list that their second album was also a huge hit over there this year. No doubt this led to them acquiring a budget for their third album later in the decade which allowed them to finally score success in their native America.
Peak position #3
Hit singles
Danger #30
This was only barely a success here in Australia despite "Private Idaho" being a modest success from the album and a song you can still hear on oldies stations to this day. It was a much bigger hit in NZ likely due to the band performing the lead single on Countdown (along with "Rock lobster") which I'm guessing the kiwis found amusing enough to make the album a success as the song didn't even chart there.
Peak position #3
It appears the kiwis weren't as impressed with the biopic for Janis Joplin that Bette Midler starred in as the rest of the world, instead it seems that they treated the soundtrack as more of a live album from her rather than a tie in to the critically and commercially successful flick which resulted in its status as a sleeper hit.
Peak position #19
Hit singles
The rose #24
Although these guys had slightly better luck in NZ with their debut than they did here in Australia, it's still worth noting that this was more of a sleeper hit over there despite it having a high peak upon its initial release. That said, the band would score a huge hit over there later in the decade with their protest song about freeing Nelson Mandela.
Peak position #5
Hit singles
Gangsters #20
A message to you rudy #29
Too much too young #47
This was an album that refused to die on the NZ charts, granted this was also the case worldwide but the kiwis kept this around in the mainstream for quite a number of years since its initial release hence why it's appearing on this list.
Peak position #3
It appears that Pete Townshend had more than one successful solo album in his career as his effort from this year managed to make an appearance on this side of my site, although it's worth noting that most audiences didn't care much for the Who frontman's solo output until later in the decade with his hit single "Face the face."
Peak position #21
Although I would've thought this guy did better in NZ throughout the 70's, at least his final good record (according to his fans that is) was an even bigger success over there due to spawning two hits over there as opposed to just the one here in Australia.
Peak position #2
Hit singles
Master blaster #1
I ain't gonna stand for it 2
Lately #15
Happy birthday #23
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
Again, I would've thought these guys would've been inescapable in NZ due to the kiwis love for reggae over the years, I guess they were too distracted by Sting's shaky songwriting in order to appreciate the tight instrumentation the band offered on each of their albums. Even so they were still a massive success over there even if they weren't as big as they were in Australia or their native UK.
Peak position #3
Hit singles
Don't stand so close to me #2
De do do do do da da da #8
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
Although this was a massive success in NZ upon its initial release, its placement on this list is more due to how well it did throughout the decade particularly when it was rereleased during the height of the Born in the U.S.A tour.
Peak position #2
Hit singles
Hungry heart #24
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
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
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
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
This was a bit more of a success for Rod Stewart in NZ, likely because the kiwis did give him a hit with the lead single over there but also due to his artist momentum not dying out as quicky there as it did over here even though it would recover over here as the decade went on where it didn't over there.
Peak position #3
Hit singles
Passion #7
My girl #42
This was also a moderate success in NZ like it was here in Australia at the start of the decade for CCR, perhaps this was proof that the kiwis wanted to hear more from the band like we Aussies did even though (at least as far as I can tell) they didn't reach the same dizzying heights of success over there as they did over there during their heyday.
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'm a bit surprised this live album didn't do even better in NZ than it did here in Australia, although considering this was still a success over there, I think it's safe to say that the kiwis were also disappointed in the demise of the band shortly before its release.
Peak position #9
I'm a bit surprised that XTC didn't appear on the Australian side of my site as they were heavily promoted by Countdown around this time, heck they even appeared on the show to promote the lead single of this album where it became a minor success here. The kiwis passed up the single in favour of the album itself which remains one of the greatest new wave albums to come out around this time.
Peak position #1x1
Hit singles
Generals and majors #16
This was the only successful album that KC and the Sunshine band had over in NZ, sure some of their singles back in the day were hits which explains the success of their greatest hits package this year, however none of their studio albums even touched the charts over there let alone were massive hits like they were in their native America.
Peak position #3
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