This is my personal favourite year in music, mainly due to how diverse the music industry had become both when it comes to the type of people allowed in the mainstream but also due to how many older artists were able to make it big this year due to the popularity of many charity events such as Live aid.
Given how John Farnham wasn't the most successful artist of the 80's in NZ, this allowed Dire Straits to have the most successful album of the decade over there with their biggest album. It also managed to be more successful with the singles due to having the correct release schedule over there.
Peak position #1x22
Hit singles
So far away #25
Money for nothing #4
Walk of life #3
Brothers in arms #5
Your latest trick #47
This proved to be an even bigger success in NZ than it was in Australia (if that was even possible) likely due to the songs being bigger hits over there which suggests that the kiwis were more in love with heartland rock around this time than us Aussies were (again if that was even possible.)
Peak position #1x16
Hit singles
Dancing in the dark #2
Cover me #7
Born in the USA #1
I'm on fire #10
My hometown #28
Much like in Australia, this album took its sweet time in becoming a best seller in NZ due to the lead single being released without a music video, I'm sure this albums success would've been more immediate if either A: "How will I know" had been released with a music video or B: this wasn't the height of the MTV era where a single without a video was a death sentence to its success.
Peak position #3
Hit singles
How will I know #19
You give good love #44
Saving all my love for you #5
Greatest love of all #12
Unlike in Australia where these guys needed the success of their biggest album Little creatures in order for this soundtrack to find success, it was an instant success in NZ due to the band already being a household name by this point over there with their previous album Speaking in tongues.
Peak position #2
Hit singles
Once in a lifetime #15
Girlfriend is better #21
Well at least the kiwis were able to instantly recognise this as one of the biggest albums of the decade, then again, these guys already saw massive success in the 70's with their first two albums over there so this being a huge success there is less surprising and more proof that it wasn't a bigger hit here.
Peak position #1x6
Hit singles
You might think #27
Drive #5
Magic #50
Hello again #12
Unlike here in Australia where this album needed the success of the band's iconic hit "Legs" to even chart, in NZ this was a modest success upon its initial release only for its popularity to explode a year later when their aforementioned track became a massive worldwide success for them.
Peak position #4
Hit singles
Legs #7
While the previous entry remains Talking head's biggest success in NZ, this was a close second due to it spawning multiple hits over there that have remained on oldies stations worldwide to this day. Interestingly the big hit here in Australia was their weakest hit over there for some reason.
Peak position #1x3
Hit singles
The lady don't mind #8
Road to nowhere #5
And she was #16
This was the biggest album that Madonna had in NZ as was the case throughout the rest of the world, it even allowed her debut album to become a success over there throughout the year finally allowing the kiwis to see what all the fuss was about when it first came out.
Peak position #1x8
Hit singles
Like a virgin #2
Material girl #5
Angel #2
Dress you up #7
Given how Genesis were able to achieve massive success in NZ even prior to their magnum opus Invisible touch this decade, I guess it makes sense that this Grammy award winning album from Phil Collins wasn't as big over there as it was internationally both as an album and especially with its singles.
Peak position #1x1
Hit singles
Sussudio #27
One more night #5
Billy don't lose my number #22
This was an album that was a success multiple times throughout the decade in NZ, the first time was upon its initial release given how well received Phil Collin's solo material was during the first half of the decade. It lingered around the lower half of the charts for the next two years (hence its lower placement on this list) before skyrocketing in popularity due to the success of "Home by the sea" over there around the time Invisible touch was taking over the charts worldwide.
Peak position #2
Hit singles
Mama #27
Home by the sea #4
This proved to be even more successful in NZ than it was here in Australia, although it's worth noting that her next two albums wouldn't be as successful over there likely due to neither of them having a big hit for her there like she had in Australia and from this album.
Peak position #2
Hit singles
Let's stay together #4
What's love got to do with it #3
Better be good to me #22
Private dancer #5
Show some respect #41
Well, the album didn't have a rebound over in NZ due to the sudden success of its final single like it did here, although that didn't mean that this solo debut from Sting wasn't a massive success over there given how it still remains his most popular album to date both solo and with the Police.
Peak position #4
Hit singles
If you love somebody set them free #6
Fortress around your heart #13
Love in the seventh wave #17
Russians #25
While she didn't see much success earlier in the decade in NZ with her band Yazoo, Alison Moyet more than made up for it by having her debut album be one of the biggest hits of the decade over there due to how much the kiwis seemed to love her voice on this album. Their love for her continued with her next album which was also a massive success for the English vocalist.
Peak position #1x1
Hit singles
Love resurrection #18
All cried out #6
Invisible #4
This was a massive hit for Go west in NZ, so much so that it even managed to be more popular over there than the duo's native UK which was impressive to say the least. Part of that was due to how long it lasted on the charts over there, they must have had a memorable performance on whatever equivalent NZ had of Countdown back in the day in order for this to be so successful over there.
Peak position #5
Hit singles
We close our eyes #4
Call me #10
Goodbye girl #33
Don't look down #15
Unlike in Australia where this needed the runaway success of one of the singles to be as such on Billboard for it to be a success, the kiwis instantly gravitated towards this debut album from Sade due to the lead single being an instant success over there upon its initial release.
Peak position #1x4
Hit singles
Your love is king #2
Smooth operator #22
Hang on to your love #20
This debut album from Cyndi Lauper had a similar run with its success in NZ as it did in Australia, namely it was a modest success at first despite spawning three of her biggest hits over there only for it to become a best seller when she embarked on a highly successful world tour a year after its release.
Peak position #3
Hit singles
Girls just want to have fun #1
Time after time #3
She bop #6
All through the night #19
Money changes everything #14
This was slightly more successful over in NZ than it was in Australia, I'm guessing because the kiwis were more in love with the band's more upbeat direction they took from their second album compared to their first considering how their first album was less of a success over there due to it failing to spawn a hit single for them.
Peak position #2
Hit singles
Mothers talk #50
Shout #1
Everybody wants to rule the world #1
Head over heels #12
I believe #28
I guess the kiwis passed up the singles on the album in favour of it being more of an immediate success over there, this means that while it had a stronger run in the upper echelons of their charts, the albums overall success was about the same there as it was in Australia for Bryan Adams.
Peak position #1x6
Hit singles
Run to you #14
Heaven #17
Summer of 69 #7
It's only love #37
I guess the kiwis weren't as put off from the arrogant marketing towards these guy's debut album as us Aussies were, although seriously the way British ads marketed the title track as their next UK number one even before it was released was one of the more arrogant things I discovered while going over those old top ten charts from TOTP you can come across on YouTube. As with everywhere else in the world, their next album was a huge flop for them in NZ.
Peak position #1x2
Hit singles
Relax #10
Two tribes #1
The power of love #2
Welcome to the pleasuredome #9
Much like in Australia, this was the only success that Julio Iglesias had over in NZ, meaning that his son would go on to have more success in both countries than he ever did going into the 21st century. At least the singles on here were more successful for him over there than they were over here.
Peak position #1x4
Hit singles
To all the girls I've loved before #2
All of you #10
This album's success seemed inevitable in NZ given how inescapable the band was during this point of their career, although like in the rest of the world, they weren't able to retain this momentum during the second half of the decade over there due to their next album being a massive bomb for them.
Peak position #2
Hit singles
Tonight she comes #20
Unlike in Australia where Billy Joel was able to retain his popularity during the second half of the 80's after releasing this double album, in NZ his popularity tanked after this due to his next album the Bridge being a huge commercial failure everywhere in the world except for Australia.
Peak position #1x3
Hit singles
You're only human #17
This was a massive success in NZ for Mick Jagger, mainly due to the surprise success of "Hard woman" which nearly became a chart topper for him over there nearly a year after the albums initial release. Even with how big this album was, it was still his only successful solo work over there due to his next album with his band being a critical failure for him.
Peak position #6
Hit singles
Just another night #8
Lucky in love #45
Hard woman #2
I guess the kiwis were bigger fans of Miami vice than we Aussies were given how the soundtrack was more popular over there than it was over here back in the day, this could be due to the theme song being a genuine hit over there which boosted its sales, but it could also be what a cultural phenomenon the show was back in the day.
Peak position #5
Hit singles
Miami vice theme #8
You belong to the city #46
Much like in Australia, it appears that each new album that the Eurythmics released in NZ was more successful than the last as this managed to be a huge success for the duo thanks to it spawning multiple hits from the album worldwide. Their popularity would peak on their next album as it was one of the biggest of the decade at the expense of it spawning a hit single for them over there.
Peak position #2
Hit singles
Would I lie to you #5
There must be an angel #5
Sisters are doing it for themselves #6
It's alright #18
While this also didn't have that inescapable hit in NZ just like here in Australia, that didn't prevent this sophomore album from Paul Young from being a massive success over there given how the third single was a Billboard chart topper for him. He would also struggle to find success in NZ during the second half of the decade, however at least his first two albums were more successful in NZ than they were in Australia.
Peak position #3
Hit singles
I'm gonna tear your playhouse down #18
Everything must change #42
Everytime you go away #14
Given how their previous album was a massive hit for the Style council in NZ, it only makes sense that their big crossover album here in Australia would also be a hit for the British band this year even if it once again failed to produce that big hit for them over there. This was the last we Aussies and kiwis heard from not just the band but Paul Weller as he hasn't had any success through any other project since.
Peak position #6
Hit singles
Walls come tumbling down #15
Boy who cried wolf #21
This proved to be even more of a success for ZZ top in NZ than it was here in Australia, likely because they already managed to achieve success with their previous album without it spawning a runaway hit over there like it did internationally for the band. Sadly, they would fade into obscurity after this album over there like they did in most parts of the world.
Peak position #1x3
Hit singles
Sleeping bag #13
Stages #40
Velcro fly #10
This was a huge comeback success for Bob Dylan in NZ, mainly because it spawned his only hit over there with the lead single which is surprising in of itself considering how none of his other tracks were a hit over there during his career. It remains his biggest album over there despite it being a huge failure everywhere else in the world due to him embracing the trends of the time.
Peak position #3
Hit singles
Tight connection to my heart #8
This is a bit surprising to me given how Bryan Ferry had very little success with his solo material in the 70's in NZ despite two of his four albums being massive hits for him here in Australia, and yet this was a huge hit for him over there despite only being a minor success at best here in Australia for the former Roxy music front man. I guess we Aussies didn't want to hear him give into the trends of the 80's on this album.
Peak position #3
Hit singles
Slave to love #11
Don't stop the dance #16
This was all set to be a mere modest success for INXS in NZ, certainly a step back from their previous album in terms of commercial success kind of like it was here in Australia but to a much larger scale. It saw a resurgence in popularity when it became a surprise success in America which allowed it to linger on the lower half of the charts for quite some time and thus making it a huge sleeper success over there.
Peak position #4
Hit singles
What you need #14
This time #40
Kiss the dirt #42
I'm a bit surprised this wasn't even bigger in NZ considering how massive the singles were here in Australia, indeed the singles weren't even among the biggest of the decade (barring George Michael's solo entry) meaning this was far from the most unavoidable album of the moment back in the day over there.
Peak position #1x1
Hit singles
Wake me up before you go go #2
Careless whisper #3
Freedom #8
Everything she wants #6
There were no surprises when it came to this album's success in NZ, OK there was one when the title track became a surprise success over there months after it was originally released as the second single in order to promote a release of the video album which contained the videos of both singles as well as live footage of the band performing them.
Peak position #1x3
Hit singles
Pride #1
The unforgettable fire #3
I would've been shocked if this was a flop over in NZ considering A: how big Falco's tribute to this film was over there the following year and B: that it was the soundtrack to a film that many consider to be one of the best not just of the decade but of all time due to it shedding a light on one of the most underappreciated composers of all time albeit in a way that's perhaps portrays him in a more sanctimonious way than he was in real life.
Peak position #9
This was the second and final album to come from DD Smash (Dave Dobbyn Smash for short) a new wave band best known for making Dave Dobbyn a household name before he took the NZ music scene by storm with his solo material. It was a huge hit due to it spawning multiple singles on their charts, as were most of their local albums that did well over there.
Peak position #6
Hit singles
Whaling #8
Magic #4
She loves me back #38
You'd think that Nik Kershaw's biggest album in his career would be his debut given how that was what spawned his biggest hit, however that wasn't the case as this proved to be his more successful due to it spawning two huge hits throughout the world back in the day. It makes sense it was his biggest hit in NZ given how it spawned his only hit single, however it was a minor success here in Australia as well.
Peak position #8
Hit singles
The riddle #6
Wide boy #21
Don Quixote #36
This was originally a flop for Madonna when it came out the previous year in NZ, in fact the reason why I'm using a different album art is that when it became a success over there, it was repackaged as The first album which is how it was sold internationally given how it originally wasn't even released in most parts of the world due to how much it failed everywhere except for Australia.
Peak position #6
Hit singles
Holiday #7
Borderline #47
This was the debut album from Bronski beat, and LGBT band from the UK who along with Culture club, helped normalise queer music in the music industry by having songs about love and acceptance without coming off as too flamboyant like the Village people before them. I'm not sure why this album flopped in Australia, although it did very well in NZ and their native UK.
Peak position #5
Hit singles
Smalltown boy #5
Why #11
It ain't necessarily so #27
It appears that Bob Dylan had a resurgence in popularity throughout the 80's in NZ, this is interesting because his popularity was close to non-existent anywhere else in the world due to people not caring for him adapting the trends of the decade in his music.
Peak position #4
This was a massive success in NZ likely due to Duran Duran being frequently described as a killer live band back in the day, although it wasn't so big here in Australia likely due to how divisive the bonus track from the album was (even back in the day.) The album recharted shortly after it dropped off the charts when the band members found success with their side projects shortly after its release.
Peak position #3
Hit singles
The wild boys #5
This was the only successful album that Foreigner had in NZ, in fact if it weren't for the fact that the lead single was a huge worldwide chart topper for the band, I doubt this would've had any success over there given how the kiwis clearly rejected these guys for the likes of the Cars and Bob Seger during the height of their popularity.
Peak position #4
Hit singles
I want to know what love is #1
This was a soundtrack album that Clannad made for the TV series Robin of Sherwood, it was a show based on the Robin Hood legend that was a massive success in the UK and NZ if this albums success is anything to go by. This did lead to the band having a massive hit with a greatest hits album at the end of the decade over there.
Peak position #9
Hit singles
Robin #36
While they haven't had any further appearances on this side of my site apart from this greatest hits package and Rage in Eden, Ultravox did see more success over in NZ during the first half of the decade than they did here in Australia which explains why this album was more successful over there than it was here.
Peak position #2
This is one of the earliest albums to find success from the sophistopop genre, basically it's the type of music that is similar to new wave except for bring nowhere near as bombastic or even particularly loud and was often accompanied by bands and artists whose image was more in line with the squares of the day rather than the androgynous crowd. China Crisis definitely fitted the mold which is why they made it big early on.
Peak position #6
Hit singles
Black man ray #15
Although this was a modest success upon its initial release from the start of the decade in NZ, it didn't become a best seller for Bruce Springsteen until this year over there thanks to his highly successful world tour from the top of this list.
Peak position #6
Although he never had a charting single in NZ (at least on the RIANZ charts he didn't) Neil Young did have a few bestselling albums in the 70's which means it does make sense that this greatest hits package was a success for him over there this year.
Peak position #3
You'd think that these guys would've had more success back in the day given how they made it big in their native UK during the height of the new wave phenomenon, alas this was their only success in NZ which is odd considering how its lead single was more of a hit here in Australia for the former punk band. Still, they at least have some representation on my site even if it's not with their most iconic work.
Peak position #13
Hit singles
Skin deep #19
This was a success twice in NZ for Billy Idol, although we'll only be looking at the first time it was a hit for Billy Idol which was upon its initial release this year. Naturally the second time it charted worldwide was when "Mony mony" became a surprise hit for him two years later.
Peak position #8
There were no signs of Prince slowing down in NZ given how he saw massive success with this album over there even if it was more of a sleeper hit for the Purple one, at least the lead single nearly topped their charts as opposed to it being a minor hit over here in Australia. Whereas his momentum would slow down here in Australia, it wouldn't be the case over there as it was carry on.
Peak position #16
Hit singles
Raspberry beret #2
Paisley park #26
Pop life #44
Given how this was a concept album that was due to be turned into a west end production, it makes sense that its success mainly came from the two big hits it spawned worldwide rather than anticipation for a show that didn't even exist when it first came out. That said, it was only a sleeper hit in NZ likely because of those two hits, although it did better there than it did here in Australia.
Peak position #20
Hit singles
One night in Bangkok #2
I know him so well #9
This was a success twice in NZ, the first time was upon its initial release due to the Talking heads already having success over there in the late 70's with their album More songs about buildings and the second time was when the big hit from the album on Billboard became as such over there several months after its initial release.
Peak position #3
Hit singles
Burning down the house #5
There should be no surprises with this entry given how U2 had already achieved massive success in NZ with their album this live recording is based on, indeed this allowed their career to pan out the same was in NZ as it did in Australia and their native UK by them having massive success with their next album.
Peak position #1x1
Although this was a massive success for Lionel Richie in NZ, it was mostly a sleeper success which is why it's a bit lower on here than you would otherwise expect. Yes, it was massively popular, however it was more due to the two big hits that came from there as the album would linger in the lower half of the charts throughout the rest of its run on the album charts over there.
Peak position #1x1
Hit singles
All night long #4
Running with the night #33
Hello #1
Stuck on you #26
Penny lover #30
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