This was a bit of a slow year worldwide likely due to the continued rise in popularity with songs meant to be ad jingles rather than more respected artists of the day, however one positive I can give this year is that there was a noticeable rise in popularity with what has since become definitively queer music.
It was already a huge success for U2 here in Australia, however its success down under was pitiful compared to how well it did in NZ thanks to the singles being massive hits over there from the album. I'm not sure why this album underperformed here in Australia comparatively, I guess we were a little slow in realising the genius of the songs from the record.
Peak position #1x8
Hit singles
With or without you #5
I still haven't found what I'm looking for #2
Where the streets have no name #1
One tree hill #1
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
I'm sure this was as big of a surprise for the kiwis as it was everywhere else in the world that Paul Simon managed to achieve massive success with this Grammy award winning album, sure the lead single wasn't as big over there but who cares when he had such a massive hit with the album?
Peak position #1x3
Hit singles
You can call me al #6
Boy in the bubble #33
Graceland #37
This proved to live up to the standards of Thriller as far as the kiwis were concerned as it was only slightly less successful over there than it was on Billboard, as such his next album didn't feel like a comeback over there despite it still being bigger than this was throughout the 90's.
Peak position #1x2
Hit singles
I just can't stop loving you #3
Bad #2
The way you make me feel #2
Man in the mirror #4
Dirty Diana #5
Just another part of me #14
Smooth criminal #29
Leave me alone #9
Liberian girl #31
I guess the success of Genesis really did help out everyone involved with the group during this point in time as Peter Gabriel was able to score massive success in NZ with this album due to how similar he sounded on here to Phil's solo work from around this time. Much like in Australia, this rebounded on the charts due to the success of the third single worldwide.
Peak position #1x1
Hit singles
Sledgehammer #3
In your eyes #50
Don't give up #16
Big time #19
Given how Genesis already scored massive success with their previous album from earlier in the decade in NZ, it only makes sense that this magnum opus from the trio would be an even bigger success over there compared to its success here. Again, this came at the expense of the singles not being as big there as they were here.
Peak position #1x1
Hit singles
Invisible touch #8
In too deep #30
Land of confusion #9
Tonight tonight tonight #42
Much like the rest of the world, this was INXS's biggest album in NZ due to how big the singles were at the time, although like in Australia, it didn't reach its peak until the success of the fourth single which is often considered to be their signature track even to this day.
Peak position #1x2
Hit singles
Need you tonight #3
Devil inside #2
New sensation #16
Never tear us apart #21
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
We have another album that was much bigger in NZ than it was in Australia, although in this case it did come at the expense of the singles as they weren't the runaway success over there like they were here for Eurythmics. Their next album did fairly well over there despite it being a huge flop over here.
Peak position #1x10
Hit singles
When tomorrow comes #19
Missionary man #12
Thorn in my side #7
Miracle of love #30
While this was far from the most successful album of the decade in NZ, it was still a massive hit for John Farnham which also makes this a comeback for him as "Sadie the cleaning lady" was a success for him twenty years prior over there and throughout the rest of the world. Indeed, this albums success would crossover throughout Europe when the lead single got him out of the one hit wonder bin in the UK.
Peak position #2
Hit singles
You're the voice #13
Pressure down #8
A touch of paradise #47
Much like in the rest of the world, Madonna was on a roll when she released her third album in NZ due to it spawning multiple hits for her throughout the world. An interesting thing to note is that with the exception of her big chart topper in Australia, all of the songs on here had a higher peak in NZ than they did down under.
Peak position #1x2
Hit singles
Live to tell #6
Papa don't preach #3
True blue #3
Open your heart #12
La isla bonita #5
I'm not sure what was so special about this movie that the soundtrack managed to become a success three years after its initial release in the southern hemisphere, what I do know is that it was even more of a success in NZ due to it lasting well over a year in the charts with its rerelease.
Peak position #4
This is another Australian album to find more success in NZ this decade, although I guess the theme for aboriginal rights could be appreciated by the kiwis considering they don't have the best track record for how they've treated their indigenous community and that this album would help people realise that.
Peak position #1x11
Hit singles
The dead heart #14
Beds are burning #1
Put down that weapon #9
Well, there shouldn't be any surprise that this album managed to be a huge success in NZ, although it's worth noting that the kiwis didn't even both looking into the lead single until the second single became a worldwide hit for them. This allowed the album to spawn three top ten hits over there as opposed to just the one here.
Peak position 1x8
Hit singles
You give love a bad name #7
Living on a prayer #1
Wanted dead or alive #5
Never say goodbye #38
The success of this album for this RNB singer in NZ was the exact inverse of what it was here in Australia, from the order of how big the singles were to it being an immediate success over there as opposed to it needing the success of its fourth single to crossover here. Naturally this was all due to RNB being much more accepted in NZ back in the day compared to how it was here in Australia.
Peak position #2
Hit singles
If you let me stay #4
Wishing well #4
Dance little sister #4
Sign your name #13
This was a bit less of a success for Simply red in NZ, again because it lacked that giant hit over there like it did everywhere else in the world despite the lead single being a modest success over there this year. They would bounce back with their third album by the end of the decade which contained their biggest hit over there.
Peak position #4
Hit singles
The right thing #9
Infidelity #26
There were no signs of Pink Floyd slowing down anywhere in the world even with the departure of Roger Waters from their previous album earlier in the decade, indeed this album managed to spawn a few minor hits for them worldwide proving the band were likely better off without him after all.
Peak position #1x6
Hit singles
Learning to fly #10
On the turning away #34
Even though this was released around the same time in NZ as it was in Australia, this debut album from Crowded house didn't have a single of any kind over there until the third single became a huge success here in Australia. That song was chosen as the lead single internationally which allowed it to become a much bigger hit worldwide than it was locally.
Peak position #3
Hit singles
Don't dream it's over #1
Something so strong #3
Now we're getting somewhere #33
This was less of a comeback for Icehouse in NZ given how A: this wasn't as inescapable over there as it was here and B: their previous two albums were still massive hits for them over there. Even so, it's success in the southern hemisphere did allow it to finally crossover to America where they scored a huge Billboard hit with the second single.
Peak position #1x2
Hit singles
Crazy #10
Electric blue #4
My obsession #14
Nothing too serious #39
I should point out that Billy Idol's success in NZ was the exact inverse of what it was here in Australia, that is his albums progressively got less successful over there as opposed to becoming more successful over here for him. That said, he still found massive success with his third album which goes to show that even him dialing back his sound he still found success with the kiwis here.
Peak position #5
Hit singles
To be a lover #2
Don't need a gun #27
Sweet sixteen #3
Soul standing by #20
While this wasn't as inescapable in NZ as her solo debut was from a few years prior, it was still a massive success for Alison Moyet thanks to the kiwis still being in love with her voice which allowed the album to spawn two more hits for her over there. Unfortunately, this cycle wouldn't repeat for a third time as her third album was a massive flop over there.
Peak position #1x2
Hit singles
Is this love #7
Weak in the presence of beauty #7
Ordinary girl #49
While this wasn't as inescapable in NZ as it was here in Australia, this was nonetheless a huge success for Fleetwood Mac due to them making a surprisingly good album considering all of the behind-the-scenes drama that went into its creation. Lindsey Buckingham infamously quit the band while promoting this album on tour which no doubt helped its popularity grow worldwide.
Peak position #9
Hit singles
Big love #29
Seven wonders #49
Little lies #9
Everywhere #43
These guys were among the biggest names in music throughout the 80's in NZ, as such this greatest hits package managed to be a huge success over there for basically the last stretch of the 80's.
Peak position #3
Although they had moderate success earlier in the decade in NZ with Sports, this was the big breakthrough album that Huey Lewis and the News had over there just like it was for them everywhere else outside of their native America. I'm not sure why their popularity all but faded as the decade was coming to an end but their next album was a massive flop for the band even on the Billboard charts.
Peak position #1x1
Hit singles
Stuck with you #2
Hip to be square #9
Jacob's ladder #50
I guess Whitney going urban in the 90's might have something to do with her failing to score much success with her singles this decade internationally, oh sure she had a string of Billboard chart toppers with her first two albums but her second album only spawned one hit for her outside of her native America. Admittedly the album was still a massive success so it's not like she was failing here or anything.
Peak position #1x2
Hit singles
I wanna dance with somebody #1
Didn't we almost have it all #49
So emotional #47
Where do broken hearts go #23
From what I can gather, this is a remix album that was released exclusively in NZ due to it failing to become a hit here in Australia even though the title track was the band's biggest hit here as well as the rest of the world. Perhaps this is why they failed to score any further success if even we Aussies weren't interested in making this a success back in the day.
Peak position #1x4
Hit singles
Funky town #1
It appears the kiwis were a bit ahead of the curb when it came to the female singer/songwriter phenomenon as Suzanne Vega managed to score even more success in NZ than she did here in Australia back in the day. That said, aside from a remix of a song from this album in the 90's, she didn't have much success anywhere in the world after this album.
Peak position #1x2
Hit singles
Luka #8
Solitude standing #45
I guess the kiwis still had enough love for Barbra Streisand to make this live album of hers a success this year, it was certainly more successful over there than it was here in Australia despite how well loved she was down under throughout the 70's.
Peak position #7
Well given how there was a much higher ratio of black to white musicians in NZ, I think it's safe to say that Robert Cray's popularity over there doesn't feel as out of place as it does here in Australia. This wasn't even his only successful album there as he would return a year later with his band for another successful release.
Peak position #5
This was one of the bigger British bands of the mid to late 80's in their native UK, so naturally this album from Level 42 would be a massive success in NZ where sophistopop was more commercially mainstream than it was here in Australia. They even managed to score a hit with the title track which no doubt helped boost the albums popularity over there.
Peak position #6
Hit singles
Lessons in love #18
Running in the family #9
To be with you again #20
Much like the rest of the world, this was initially a flop for the Bangles in NZ from the previous year as people quickly discovered the lead single was written by Prince and thus was likely donated to them by him in order to boost their career and little else. Much like the rest of the world, they realised the band was worth making a household name when the third single became an inescapable hit worldwide.
Peak position #4
Hit singles
Manic Monday #5
If she knew what she wants #39
Walk like an Egyptian #2
Walking down your street #21
It seems weird that this would be named after the biggest hit the Police had worldwide and yet Sting would only rerecord one of the songs for the album that wasn't their big Billboard chart topper for them. In any case, this album was a huge hit for the band after they broke up in NZ due to the popularity Sting was enjoying with his solo material around this time.
Peak position #1x4
Hit singles
Don't stand so close to me 86 #14
This turned out to be a bit of a disappointment for the kiwis as not only were the singles not as popular over there, but the album itself didn't bring in the numbers like his previous two albums did. That said it was still a huge success for Lionel Richie, which I'm sure led to his fans frustrations over there as it took him ten years to follow it up with his fourth album.
Peak position #3
Hit singles
Say you say me #8
Dancing on the ceiling #7
Love will conquer all #24
Given how they saw massive success with Dave Dobbyn around this time, it makes sense that Herbs were able to achieve a huge hit with their fourth album this year even if it was more of a sleeper hit for the reggae band. You'd think this would've rebounded the following year when the deluxe edition came out and spawned a second hit from the album, alas you'd be wrong.
Peak position #10
Hit singles
Sensitive to a smile #9
Rust in dust #11
Listen #7
No nukes #48
Much like here in Australia, there was every chance that these two would dominate the charts for many years had Mel lived to see the 90's past its first few months. The songs were even bigger over there likely due to the girls blending of RNB and dance pop better connecting with the kiwis than us Aussies (only slightly though) making it one of the bigger albums to come from Stock Aiken and Waterman.
Peak position #2
Hit singles
Showing out #8
Respectable #1
FLM #7
There were a lot of successful women of colour to make it big around this time in NZ, one of the more popular entries was this debut album from British singer Ruby Turner who scored a string of hits over there with the singles that weren't even popular in her native UK at the time. She did have further success over there with her second album the following year.
Peak position #4
Hit singles
If you're ready #3
I'm in love #9
Bye baby #10
I'd rather go blind #21
Given the surprise success of his previous album in NZ from the previous year, I guess it's somewhat fitting that Chris Rea was able to score a massive success over there this year with the album that finally got him out of the one hit wonder bin here in Australia. This was the last time he troubled the charts in either country as his next album would fail to become a success anywhere in the world.
Peak position #1x1
Hit singles
Let's dance #2
I guess the kiwis were also big fans of Kevin Wilson given how huge this album of his was over there, granted it was more of a sleeper hit likely due to comedy albums not being as popular over there as they were over here, however there's no denying that they appreciated the politically incorrect humour (even for the time) that's on display here.
Peak position #11
This wasn't as successful in NZ as it was here in Australia, I'm guessing because the kiwis didn't care much for the back catalogue of Ritchie Valens which would also explain why the title track wasn't as big a hit over there as it was over here.
Peak position #3
Hit singles
La bamba #1
Come on let's go #14
Donna #32
This was an impeccable year for Aussies over in NZ given how we have the first appearance of the Angels on this side of my site, indeed they saw a lot of success with this album likely due to its big hit over here being released as its lead single over there which resulted in its success for the band. Their popularity would remain for as long as it did back home.
Peak position #10
Hit singles
We gotta get out of this place #13
Don't waste my time #38
This was a modest success for Prince over in NZ, I'm guessing it was mostly for it rebounding whenever one of the singles were released given how it lingered for quite a while in the lower half of the charts over there during its lifetime. Admittedly it's probably his less commercially viable album given how many different directions the album takes during its runtime.
Peak position #6
Hit singles
Sign of the times #4
If I was your girlfriend #48
U got the look #8
I could never take the place of your man #9
This looked like it was going to flop over in NZ this year, however thanks to the success of Kate's duet with Peter Gabriel from the latter's (then) most recent album, this was able to skyrocket up the charts over there which helped the kiwis discover what they were missing out on from Kate Bush since she first broke through nearly a decade prior.
Peak position #4
This was the first of several albums from the Piano by candlelight series from NZ pianist Carl Doy, I guess he was meant to be NZ's answer to Richard Clayderman who coincidentally was deemed yesterday's news when his NZ counterpart started finding success this year.
Peak position #3
This proved to be more successful in NZ than it was here in Australia, this is odd as of the three ladies on here that had found prior success to this album, both Dolly and Linda were far more popular down under than they were over there both with their singles and albums. This was certainly the case after the fact as Linda's next album was bigger here and of course, Dolly and Emmylou's subsequent material bombed worldwide.
Peak position #6
This proved to be equally as successful in NZ as it was here in Australia, although this was at the expense of the singles bombing over there given how only the lead single was barely a success whilst the album failed to spawn a second hit like it did internationally. This would also be the last the kiwis would hear from these guys as their 1994 comeback wouldn't happen over there like it did internationally.
Peak position #13
Hit singles
Don't get me wrong #11
My baby #50
Hymn to her #46
They may have failed to score a genuine hit in NZ like they did throughout the rest of the world, however that didn't prevent this breakthrough album from Europe from becoming a massive success for the band over there as it managed to chart higher there than it did over here for some reason. Again, this is the full extent of the band's popularity regardless of where in the world you're from.
Peak position #3
Hit singles
The final countdown #12
Although they failed to make a second appearance with their album Famous last words on this side of my site, this greatest hits package from Supertramp was a big deal for them over there back in the day which allowed it to make another appearance on this site.
Peak position #7
While this wasn't an immediate success for Cyndi Lauper in NZ like it was here in Australia, it was popular long enough over there for it to qualify for my site for one last time proving that there was still plenty of love for her that the kiwis had around this time. That love wouldn't carry her any further as her third album would be a huge failure by the end of the decade due to her becoming more mature in her music.
Peak position #3
Hit singles
True colors #8
Change of heart #41
What's going on #30
Well at least this proved to be more of a mainstream success in NZ as opposed to Australia where it only made the cut on that side of my site due to how long it lasted on our charts (albeit in the lower regions of it) even so, this was only a success long after the one and only single it spawned dropped off the charts over there, suggesting it was due to a successful tour they had for the album.
Peak position #7
Hit singles
The way it is #23
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
It appears the kiwis were quicker to make this soundtrack from the most lucrative theatre show of all time a huge success than us Aussies, I'm guessing because they would see the show before us Aussies who had to wait for the 90's to experience the magic of this adaptation of the crime noir from the 1800's.
Peak position #1x5
He may have already achieved massive success in NZ with his band Cold chisel, however it appears the kiwis weren't initially convinced with Jimmy's solo venture as Bodyswerve was a massive flop for him from the previous year over there. Fortunately, the remix album of his debut was a massive hit there due to the title track being selected as the theme for the Michael Keaton film Gung ho.
Peak position #2
Hit singles
I'd die to be with you tonight #16
Working class man #36
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 the last project that Talking heads were able to find success with even in NZ, I guess the world had become fed up with their brand of new wave mixed with their eccentricities which led to their next album being a massive flop for them later in the decade. It could also be that the film this serves as a soundtrack to wasn't well received at the time despite since gaining a cult following.
Peak position #1x6
Hit singles
Wild wild life #2
Hey now #45
This was a bit of a surprise hit for Chris Rea in NZ, mainly because he hadn't had any success over there prior to this album and that it wasn't much of a hit for him here in Australia where he did achieve minor success in the late 70's by appearing on Countdown. This led to him having a hit single in both countries on his next album which was also a massive success in the southern hemisphere.
Peak position #4
Not only did these guys have huge success with their debut album in NZ at the cost of their signature track being a massive hit, it appears that A-ha also managed to have their second album be a huge hit over there as well as it even managed to spawn a couple of minors hits for them that weren't as such over here. Sadly, this was the full extent of their popularity outside of Europe as their next albums would flop in NZ.
Peak position #4
Hit singles
I've been losing you #19
Cry wolf #10
Given how successful the Cure were in NZ throughout the 80's (except for the one big album they had here in Australia funnily enough) it was inevitable that this greatest hits package from the band would be a huge success over there. Heck one of their earliest songs even recharted over there and became a minor hit for the band, which more or less restored their popularity.
Peak position #3
Hit singles
Boys don't cry (rerelease) #10
This wasn't quite as successful in NZ for the Pet shop boys as it was here in Australia, mainly because the album cycle was delayed over there to allow the duo's cover of "Always on my mind" to become a success before it resumed this year with the final single. This meant that the album actually dropped out of the charts for a little bit which affected its placement on this list.
Peak position #7
Hit singles
It's a sin #8
What have I done to deserve this #6
Rent #23
Heart #1
Unlike here in Australia where this was more of a sleeper hit for Tina Turner due the surprise success of the third single, this was more of an immediate success for her in NZ due to the lead single being one of her bigger hits over there. Her third album of the decade was a huge flop over there likely due to the lead single failing to catch on with the kiwis.
Peak position #4
Hit singles
Typical male #8
Two people #41
What you get is what you see #41
I haven't seen Footrot flats (although from what I can gather, it looks terrible from the animation displayed in the music videos of its singles) so I can't say how much of this soundtrack's success was due to how good the film was and how much of it came from it being Dave Dobbyn's first project away from his old band DD Smash.
Peak position #5
Hit singles
Slice of heaven #1
You oughta be in love #2
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