This was the official year for two things in the music industry, the first of course being the rise of MTV as it officially launched late in the previous year. The second was the rise of the second British invasion in America due to many of the earliest music videos coming from UK artists which resulted in the popularity of the TV program.
This was a massive success over in NZ, I'm guessing they really appreciated the band slightly altering their sound from Communique (which was still a success over there for what it's worth.) This would be the first blockbuster album of the decade over there as it took three years to leave the charts.
Peak position #3
Hit singles
Skateaway #47
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
While Richard Clayderman had moderate success in Australia throughout the 80's, the French pianist's popularity was unavoidable over in NZ proving how much the kiwis loved classical music back in the day.
Peak position #1x2
This album only came out this year in NZ due to it needing to be a success here in Australia before Men at Work's label could market it to an international audience, indeed the album was a huge success over there despite the failure of their debut single which was made up for when the third single was a bigger hit there than it was here.
Peak position #1x11
Hit singles
Who can it be now #45
Down under #1
Be good Johnny #3
I guess this wasn't the second biggest hit that Dire Straits achieved in NZ throughout the 80's, although it was still a massive success over there even if their earlier entry proved to be a bigger success for them.
Peak position #1x16
Hit singles
Private investigations #16
I said on the Australian side of this site that these guys had more success in NZ than they did here with their second album, this absolutely was the case and no doubt led to the second single here catching on in the UK given how the singles didn't suffer too much for allowing the album to be a massive success over there.
Peak position #1x3
Hit singles
Great southern land #10
Hey little girl #9
Street cafe #40
This wasn't much of a success for Barbra Streisand upon its initial release in NZ, likely because the kiwis were never that big on her music save for a couple of soundtracks here and there. However, it became a huge success when the title track became a surprise hit for her, likely due to it being her rendition of the showtune from the (then) recent Andrew Lloyd Webber production of Cats.
Peak position #2
Hit singles
Memory #4
It may have lacked that huge number one hit in NZ, however that didn't prevent this album from being the Rolling Stones's biggest success over there likely due to it being a return to their rock and roll roots after dabbling in disco with their previous two albums.
Peak position #1x2
Hit singles
Start me up #33
This album was released before Flowers needed to change their name to their debut album in order to gain success in the northern hemisphere, although it's worth noting that the album did chart later in the decade as a self-titled album when their subsequent follow ups became even more successful in NZ.
Peak position #2
Hit singles
Can't help myself #29
We can get together #36
Walls #43
This was equally as successful in NZ as it was here in Australia, likely because Roxy music was always more popular in NZ and that they didn't need the news of Bryan Ferry disbanding the band for good to embark on a solo career to fuel its success like we Aussies did.
Peak position #1x5
Hit singles
More than this #12
Avalon #37
This album was released on time in NZ and yet it only became a success over there around the time it was released here which was when their big UK chart topper was released as a single worldwide. Much like in Australia, they had further hits after this album that didn't translate to their subsequent albums having any success.
Peak position #1x3
Hit singles
Love action #21
Open your heart #43
Don't you want me #1
Unlike in Australia where the debut single from Duran Duran helped them find success with their debut album, the kiwis completely ignored "Planet earth" which was set to doom their album as a failure over there. Fortunately, their controversial second single managed to be a huge success for the band when they unveiled its music video.
Peak position #2
Hit singles
Girls on film #4
Well, this proved to be an even bigger success in NZ than it was in Australia, then again classical music in general seemed to be more popular over there during the 80's which makes this albums success all the more inevitable.
Peak position #1x2
Hit singles
Hooked on classics #6
This was a massive success for Grace Jones in NZ, mainly because it was a success twice over there as it not only blew them away upon its initial release but also when she released her follow up album Living my life a year after its initial release. We Aussies were aware of her music as she did appear on Countdown frequently throughout the decade, as did several of these alternative artists now that I think about it.
Peak position #3
Hit singles
Pull up the bumper #14
Walking in the rain #34
Much like Australia, this proved to be an even bigger success in NZ for Split enz than their previous album, I'm guessing because the name of the album remained consistent worldwide and wasn't a reference to a countries indigenous population given how their music has remained a political over the years.
Peak position #1x6
Hit singles
Dirty creature #3
Six months in a leaky boat #7
Given how this managed to spawn a massive hit for George Benson over in NZ, it makes sense that this would be an even bigger success over there than it was over here back in the day for him.
Peak position #3
Hit singles
Turn your love around #3
Love all the hurt way #42
This proved to be an even bigger hit over in NZ than it was here in Australia for Dexy's midnight runners, although they didn't have any further success with their other singles or albums over there meaning they weren't any better off there than they were here or in America.
Peak position #2
Hit singles
Come on Eileen #1
Much like in Australia, this was the Alan Parson's project's biggest success in NZ due to it spawning a hit single for them, although the title track was indeed a huge success for them over there which gives you an idea as to how much more commercially viable this album was compared to their work from the 70's.
Peak position #3
Hit singles
Eye in the sky #6
I guess not having Bernie Taupin as a full-time collaborator didn't seem to harm this albums success in NZ, heck in Australia this was only a hit due to Elton performing the lead single on Countdown which allowed that to be a hit for him here back in the day. That said, the two would officially reunite the following year for arguably their biggest album in NZ and have a more permanent reunion.
Peak position #1x2
Hit singles
Blue eyes #11
Empty garden #14
This was a success for a band who I would've thought would be more popular back in the day given how much the music community loves these guys, kind of like how the music community loves to go on about Sonic youth and Melanie Martinez despite neither of them having any mainstream success in their time. At least these guys had one big album in NZ back in the day, it's about ten times the success those two had.
Peak position #4
Given the success of the album's second single in NZ, it was fitting that the debut album from Kid Creole would be a massive success over there even if it wasn't as big as it was in the UK where all three of the singles were massive hits on the British charts.
Peak position #6
Hit singles
I'm a wonderful thing baby #49
Stool pigeon #8
Annie I'm not your daddy #13
Again, this greatest hits package may have been a massive success in NZ back in the day, however it didn't achieve the reputation is has for being the most successful album of all time until the third or fourth time that it became a hit worldwide for the band.
Peak position #1x5
For whatever reason, these guys were completely inescapable in NZ throughout the decade given how all of their albums as well as several of their singles managed to achieve far greater success over there than they did over here throughout the decade. I guess the kiwis were bigger fans of their brand of lovestruck ballads over us Aussies despite them having better marketing over here back in the day.
Peak position #2
Hit singles
Promised you a miracle #9
Glittering prize #4
This was Cold Chisel's only successful album in NZ mainly through the strength of its lead single which incidentally was the second single here in Australia, hence why it was a much bigger hit over there compared to here in their homeland. Lead singer Jimmy Barnes would go on to have massive success over there once the band called it quits two years later, making this a launching pad for his own success.
Peak position #1x1
Hit singles
Forever now #2
These guys were more successful in NZ than they were here in Australia, I'm guessing because the kiwis were more enamoured by their flashy music videos which would explain why their debut single wasn't a hit over there as that didn't have a flashy music video to go with it. Here we have their second album which many agree is where their creativity peaked when it came to their visuals.
Peak position #2
Hit singles
My own way #12
Hungry like the wolf #4
Save a prayer #35
This was an amazing time for ABC in NZ given how their success was twice that it was here in Australia and even their native UK over there, I'm guessing it was due to how infectious the two lead singles were which only enhanced the popularity of the album. They would score minor success over there as the decade went on, nothing substantial but certainly better than what they achieved here which was nothing.
Peak position #1x3
Hit singles
Poison arrow #5
The look of love #5
All of my heart #21
This was already a moderate success in NZ; however, it rebounded on the charts due to the lead single in Australia "Beautiful world" being switched around to the second single as "Working in a coal mine" was included on the album in the southern hemisphere despite not being on the album in the northern hemisphere.
Peak position #6
Hit singles
Beautiful world #15
Working in a coal mine #8
This was one of two successful albums that the Psychedelic furs managed to achieve in NZ throughout the decade, although I'm guessing this was a success due to the lead single becoming a surprise hit over there despite it being a massive flop even in their native UK at the time. This is one of those bands that have since gained a cult audience since their initial popularity.
Peak position #4
Hit singles
Love my way #9
Well credit where it's due, Vangelis did do a mighty fine job in composing a compelling score for a film many will tell you is little more than an Oscar bait film made in the UK. It was deservedly a hit for the Greek composer and even spawned a massive hit for him in NZ and America of all places.
Peak position #6
Hit singles
Chariots of fire #8
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 is another album that appears low on this list but only because it found its success in NZ on the lower half of the charts, in fact it lasted so much longer on their charts than it did on our charts despite it peaking higher over here as well as spawning a huge hit for Joe Jackson on our charts in the form of the lead single.
Peak position #8
Hit singles
Real men #48
Stepping out #21
Breaking us in two #35
It looks like the kiwis were much more appreciative of the TV adaptation of the cult classic Fame than we Aussies were, although I feel this was more a success due to them ignoring the film at the start of the decade given how both it and its soundtrack was a huge flop over there compared to the rest of the world.
Peak position #1x1
Hit singles
Hi fidelity #24
Starmaker #15
Well, it wasn't quite the enz of an era for Split enz in NZ as they would continue to have moderate success until the bitter end over there, however it was a clever name for a greatest hits album which I'm sure was a factor into why the album was such a huge success over there.
Peak position #1x2
I guess the hype for this concert in Central Park from Simon and Garfunkel wasn't met upon its initial release in NZ, although the kiwis likely realised how great it was eventually when it skyrocketed up the charts likely due to rumours that their reunion would be more permanent. Those rumours proved to be false due to the pair remembering why they couldn't stand each other.
Peak position #1x2
As with all of their albums (except for their debut funnily enough) this was also not as big in NZ as it was here in Australia despite the band incorporating reggae music into their sound throughout each of their albums and the kiwis love for reggae especially around this time. It was still a success, just not at the same level it was down under.
Peak position #5
Hit singles
Every little thing she does is magic #7
It appears the kiwis were also hungry for more material from the Eagles this far into the 80's given how this second edition of their greatest hits package was also a huge success over there like it was over here. Unfortunately, fans would have to wait a quarter of a century before the band finally gave them new material after the release of this album.
Peak position #2
This was the greatest hits package from Stevie Wonder that he released following the success of his (then) most recent album Hotter than July, it was a massive hit in NZ likely due to that album as well as his collaboration with Paul McCartney on "Ebony and ivory" (which curiously doesn't appear on this album.)
Peak position #5
Hit singles
Do I do #9
Given how she had two greatest hits albums in NZ like she did in Australia, this was also released as the third volume over there as opposed to just the second volume throughout the rest of the world.
Peak position #3
Hit singles
Heart attack #11
There was real hype for this concert that Simon and Garfunkel would give the following year in Central Park, naturally the kiwis were excited about it as they made this greatest hits package a success in its anticipation.
Peak position #1x5
This was a mere modest success in NZ for the Clash upon its initial release, heck if I based its success only upon its initial release over there, it would still be more successful than it was over here as this was a massive flop for them down under. Naturally this rebounded over there when "Rock the casbah" became a success due to how popular it was over here and in America.
Peak position #5
Hit singles
Rock the casbah #4
Even though this didn't last as long on the NZ charts as it did here in Australia, this debut album from Culture Club managed to be more of an immediate success over there likely due to the success of its lead single which perhaps explains why this didn't stick around when they released their second album from earlier on this list.
Peak position #2
Hit singles
Do you really want to hurt me #2
This was the soundtrack to a now long forgotten film about humanoid cat people, basically it's a theatrical adaptation of Andrew Lloyd Webber's Cats but presented as a horror film rather than a joyous musical. I'm guessing the soundtrack was a hit in NZ due to the title track from David Bowie being a massive success over there as well as the score from Giorgio Moroder also being neat.
Peak position #4
Hit singles
Cat people #1
Even though it charted higher for Joan Jett and the Blackhearts in NZ, this breakthrough album for the band was only equally as successful in both countries as each other as opposed to it being bigger over there than it was over here. They would return later in the decade with "I hate myself for loving you" in NZ and their native America whilst remaining a one album wonder down under.
Peak position #1x1
Hit singles
I love rock and roll #1
Crimson and clover #11
While these guys didn't see as much success in NZ as they did here in Australia with the lead single to this album, the kiwis made up for that by having the album be a massive success over there despite it being a huge flop over here for the band. This didn't do them any favours with their subsequent follow ups as they failed to adapt with the trends of new wave with those releases.
Peak position #6
Hit singles
I ran #7
Space age love song #31
Given how this spawned one of the biggest hits of the decade in NZ, it makes sense that this album from Toots and the Maytals would be a decent success over there even though it appears it was only a success with the kiwis specifically due to the big hit it was associated with.
Peak position #11
Hit singles
Beautiful woman #1
This was equally as successful in NZ as it was here in Australia, although it did seem to come at the expense of the singles popularity as they weren't as big over there as they were here down under. That said, this was enough of a success to allow the band to have their biggest hit over there upon its initial release later in the decade rather than it only being a hit from the Crocodile Dundee films like it was throughout Europe.
Peak position #2
Hit singles
If you leave me can I come too #16
Too many times #23
Berserk warriors #50
These guys were on a roll in NZ as they found success over there with the second album they released in the decade, this one follows the same theme as their biggest album which allows Midge Ure to croon over the band's new wave melodies that connected better with the kiwis than it did us Aussies back in the day.
Peak position #4
Hit singles
The voice #29
This was the first big album that AC/DC had over in NZ, this is likely due to the international success of their previous album which was a huge flop over there for some reason the previous year.
Peak position #6
This was less of a success in NZ for Elton John back in the day, perhaps due to the kiwis also wanting a reunion with him and Bernie Taupin which wouldn't happen for at least another two years after its initial release.
Peak position #2
I'm not even sure why this managed to become a success for Joe Cocker in NZ when it did as this was released a full year prior to when he won an academy award for best original song at the Oscars which is why the Australian exclusive version of this album from the following year was a massive success for him down under.
Peak position #2
This was the first of only two albums that Haircut 100 released in their short time together, it did produce a hit here in Australia with the second single, however that was the full extent of its popularity down under as the rest of the singles and album flopped here. It fared much better in NZ despite the singles all flopping over there, however its biggest success was in the band's native UK.
Peak position #12
Hit singles
Favourite shirts #32
Love plus one #22
Fantastic day #29
This was the first of only two albums from D.D Smash to come out this decade, a band that's best known for having its lead singer be one of the most popular NZ artists of all time given how he would go on to have one of the biggest hits of the decade with "Slice of heaven."
Peak position #1x1
Hit singles
Repetition #25
The devil you know #35
Well, this seemed like as good as time as any to recap the success that Blondie had up until that point, although like most bands who released a greatest hits album, they didn't have any further success after this which led to them breaking up later in the year.
Peak position #1x2
Unlike in the rest of the world where the popularity of this album peaked the following year when it won album of the year at the Grammies, in NZ it was a hit upon its initial release likely due to the second single being an instant success over there this year which meant the kiwis knew this was an album worth checking out instantly.
Peak position #9
Hit singles
Rosanna #22
Africa #8
This was more of a success over in NZ than it was here in Australia for the Rolling stones, I'm guessing the kiwis were able to use this as a supplement to them being unable to attend the band's tour from the previous year as it manages to capture the best moment from the tour.
Peak position #6
Hit singles
Going a go go #24
These guys were so inescapable this year in NZ that their album from the previous year was given a second chance by the kiwis which allowed it to become a massive hit over there a year after its initial release, this is bizarre considering how the band performed one of the tracks from this album on Countdown and that track even becoming a minor hit here in Australia despite the album flopping here.
Peak position #7
Hit singles
Sweat in a bullet #47
Suzanne Prentice is best known nowadays as a politician, however back in the day she was a country singer who scored a massive hit with this album of hers due to the title track becoming a minor hit upon its initial release. She did have middling success over the years with her material, but this was the peak of her popularity.
Peak position #10
Hit singles
When I dream #11
I guess the kiwis weren't as sentimental over the two-year anniversary of John Lennon's death as we Aussies were given how quickly this exited their charts following its release, at least they were somewhat sentimental about it as it does make a reappearance on this list which is more than I can say about his final album Milk and honey from the following year.
Peak position #5
Whereas this album was able to spawn a hit for Supertramp here in Australia, that didn't seem to be the case in NZ likely due to the kiwis feeling like their time in this spotlight was up despite how strong they began the 80's over there. I guess the MTV effect took hold much sooner over there than it did over here as it is a surprise in retrospect this managed to compete with the likes of Culture club and Duran Duran down under.
Peak position #5
Hit singles
It's raining again #19
This was much less popular in NZ than it was here in Australia as was everything that Cliff Richard released at the time of MTV's launch, although at least the kiwis had enough nostalgia for his love ballads in his back catalogue to make this a success over there as opposed to his (then) most recent album Wired for sound.
Peak position #2
Given how she made a massive splash with her previous album at the start of the decade in NZ, it only makes sense that Marianne Faithful would follow up that success with this album even if it saw a mere fraction of the success that Broken English achieved from the year prior.
Peak position #7
This was the true final album from Led Zeppelin, although given how the band had been broken up for two years at this point, I feel this shouldn't exist given how their label released it to fulfill their contract similar to what John Lennon's label did with his album Milk and honey the following year. It appears the rest of the world had this sentiment back in the day as this was only barely a hit back in the day.
Peak position #7
What's interesting about this album is that Richard Clayderman would go on to have another live album that was a success here in Australia much later in the decade, although that was due to different circumstances as we Aussies didn't really care much for the French pianist at this point in time.
Peak position #2
There was no stopping Richard Clayderman in NZ this year as we have yet another appearance from him on this list, although his luck was starting to run out by the end of the year given how he will have fewer appearances on my site going forward.
Peak position #9
This was all set to be a minor sleeper hit in NZ like it was here in Australia for the Motels, however it received a boost in popularity when the second single became a minor success over there likely due to it becoming the band's first big hit in their native America shortly after its release over there. As a result, it managed to have more of a mainstream success with the kiwis than it did with us Aussies.
Peak position #10
Hit singles
Take the l #44
Only the lonely #10
From what I can gather, this was a mashup album from NZ composer Bob James that he released to cash in off the success of RPO from earlier on this list which admittedly was a decent success for him this year as a result.
Peak position #10
This was even more of a success for Pink Floyd in NZ than it was here in Australia, likely because they didn't have as much competition over there that they had over here which allowed it to chart much higher on their charts.
Peak position #5
While this wasn't anywhere near as popular in NZ like it was here in Australia, it appears the kiwis did have enough love for this album for it to at least chart higher over there than it did over here largely through the strength of its second single.
Peak position #4
Hit singles
Wired for sound #10
Daddy's home #4
I'm a bit surprised this flopped here in Australia given how inescapable the lead single was throughout the world; however, it was a decent success in NZ likely because of the huge hit it spawned as well as a lack of competition the duo had in the music scene over there. That said, it did far better in their homeland given how it spawned more hits for them on the UK charts.
Peak position #7
Hit singles
Tainted love #2
In a bit of a cruel twist of fate, this breakthrough album from Prince Tui Teka proved to be his final album as he would tragically pass away from a heart attack three years after its release. Naturally it was a success thanks to the surprise hit of its lead single which was one of the biggest hits of the decade in his homeland.
Peak position #5
Hit singles
E ipo #1
This was all set to flop in NZ just like everything Hall and Oates had released over there prior to it, however it became a modest success due to the second single taking off over there for some reason. This is particularly interesting as the album bombed here in Australia despite how well the duo were doing prior to its release here.
Peak position #9
Hit singles
Private eyes #19
I can't go for that #5
From what I can gather, Charly Pride is an American singer who saw very limited success even in his homeland, that said he did find moderate success in NZ with this greatest hits package which allows me to feature it on this list.
Peak position #3
I'm not entirely sure if I'm using the right album art for this entry as while I'm confident this album belongs on here, RIANZ credits it as Can't stop the classics from the London symphony orchestra. I'm airing on the side of it being a title error as I've scoured the internet to find this mystery album with this title to no such luck.
Peak position #3
It seems oddly appropriate that I feature an album from Harry Secombe here given how he had an entry on the Australian side of my site from 1983, although here he's joined by his lifelong friend Moira Anderson who to my knowledge, never had that much success even in her native UK.
Peak position #4
I guess the kiwis weren't interested in making this album a success for Fleetwood mac like we Aussies were, heck it was more of a sleeper hit over there as opposed to being a genuine success here to give you an idea of how interested they were upon its initial release.
Peak position #13
Hit singles
Hold me #45
Given how his previous album McCartney II was a major failure in NZ despite its massive international success, this feels like a bit of a comeback for him over there given how inescapable his band Wings was throughout the 70's. Although I can't definitively say this as there's no album data for NZ prior to 1975, I'm almost certain this is a comeback for his solo career over there rather than his first successful solo album.
Peak position #4
Hit singles
Ebony and ivory #2
Take it away #30
It feels odd that we have a second greatest hits album from Anne Murray on this side of my site given how once again, she never saw that much success in NZ from what I can gather. Granted she may have had massive success prior to 1975 with her albums over there, however I have no idea if this is the case.
Peak position #1x1
I have no idea how on earth the kiwis came across this guy, mainly because Jade Hurley went completely ignored here in his homeland Australia including this greatest hits album and yet here we are looking at it due to its success in NZ.
Peak position #4
This was also a sleeper hit over in NZ due to the two huge hits it spawned worldwide, although it managed to chart higher over there which resulted in it being more of a success and thus more than worthy to appear on this side of my site for the band.
Peak position #14
Hit singles
Centerfold #5
Freeze frame #6
This feels like it was only a success due to the Tom Tom club being a spinoff project of Talking heads, as such this was big due to the kiwis love of the members rather than the music they had to offer in this project.
Peak position #18
Hit singles
Wordy rappinghood #35
Genius of love #28
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