This was another slow year in the music industry, mainly because many of the bombastic trends of the decade had since gone out of vogue in favour of many of the trends that would come to define the following decade such as singer/songwriter ballads, EDM and new jack swing.
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
Well, I guess you can argue that we Aussies weren't as into this debut album from Guns n Roses as the kiwis were, not only was the album itself more successful over there but so were the singles as it managed to spawn two more hits over there that were never successful here in Australia.
Peak position #1x1
Hit singles
Sweet child o mine #5
Welcome to the jungle #6
Paradise city #2
Nighttrain #21
While this album wasn't initially as successful in NZ as it was here in Australia due to it lacking that big hit over there, it eventually became more successful over there due to her embarking on a well tour that helped the kiwis appreciate her tender ballads which set her next album up for success there.
Peak position #1x5
Hit singles
Fast car #21
Talking about a revolution #32
Baby can I hold you #16
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
This was a massive hit for Toni Childs in NZ, definitely more so than it was in Australia meaning that the kiwis were in love with this woman's music back in the day unlike her fellow Americans. This led to her having success over there with her second album just like she did here, although that was the last the kiwis had heard from her.
Peak position #1x2
Hit singles
Stop your fussing #5
Don't walk away #12
Zimbabwae #31
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
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
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
Given how they were more successful in NZ than they were in Australia, it was inevitable that this soundtrack to their documentary of the same name would be even bigger over there than it was over here both as an album and with its singles.
Peak position #1x11
Hit singles
Desire #1
Angel of Harlem #1
When love comes to town #4
All I want is you #2
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
While this album did still take its sweet time in finding an audience over in NZ, at least it wasn't as long as two years after its initial release as the kiwis finally gave this a chance when it became a huge success over in America for the British band. Indeed, it managed to spawn multiple hit singles over there that were only minor hits at best here.
Peak position #1x3
Hit singles
Animal #8
Pour some sugar on me #16
Love bites #2
Armageddon it #2
Rocket #5
This had a bit more of a delay to its success in NZ given how John Mellencamp had yet to have that big crossover success over there like he did here in Australia a decade prior, however once the album started spawning hits for him, he found little issues with scoring a massive hit with the album over there.
Peak position #3
Hit singles
Paper in fire #16
Cherry bomb #4
Check it out #18
Rooy toot toot #10
This proved to be twice as successful for Tiffany Darwish in NZ than it was in Australia, likely because the singles were more immediate hits over there which makes sense as I never understood why that wasn't the case for them here.
Peak position #1x3
Hit singles
I think we're alone now #1
Could've been #5
I saw him standing there #3
This wasn't nearly as successful in NZ as it was in Australia, largely due to the singles not being as big over there despite having a better release schedule as his cover of a Nat King Cole classic was pushed as the fourth single rather than the third single. I guess the kiwis didn't like him much as a vocalist as this type of music was a huge success for the likes of Kylie Minogue and Mel and Kim over there.
Peak position #3
Hit singles
Never gonna give you up #1
Whenever you need somebody #9
Together forever #10
When I fall in love #25
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 proved to be an even bigger success for Kylie in NZ than it was here in Australia, I'm guessing because it was a bigger success still in the UK given how much the Brits were in love with her due to her playing Charlene in Neighbours back in the day.
Peak position #1x6
Hit singles
The locomotion #8
I should be so lucky #3
Got to be certain #2
I still love you #9
It's no secret #47
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
It appears the kiwis were a little late to the party when it came to the Tour of duty phenomenon from the late 80's, however once they got on board, they proved to be even bigger fans of the series than us Aussies were if the success of the soundtracks is anything to go by.
Peak position #2
It appears the Phantom of the opera was so popular in NZ that a second soundtrack from the show was released in NZ which also became a huge success over there. I don't even think this was released here in Australia as it certainly didn't chart if it was.
Peak position #4
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 think the world would've ultimately preferred Dire straits' fifth album this year rather than them temporarily breaking up so that Mark Knopfler could focus on a side project that only led to them making one album together in 1990, at least they found success with their fifth album after he dissolved that project in 1991.
Peak position #2
Unlike in Australia where there was a close competition as to which film had the most successful soundtrack of the 80's, in NZ there wasn't even a contest as Dirty dancing proved to have the most successful soundtrack presumably due to how much they loved the film upon its initial release.
Peak position 1x7
Hit singles
I've had the time of my life #3
Hungry eyes #18
She's like the wind #27
While this wasn't as successful as either of the albums this was sandwiched between in Jimmy Barne's career either in Australia or NZ, the album made up for that by spawning his biggest hit in both countries in the form of the lead single which no doubt ate up some of the album's sales in both countries back in the day. Besides this was still heaps bigger than most of the competition back in the day regardless.
Peak position #5
Hit singles
Too much ain't enough love #4
Driving wheels #19
I'm still on your side #50
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
George Michael already had plenty of success in NZ during his time with Wham as he did everywhere else in the world, so really his Grammy award winning album being a success over there should come as no surprise to anyone given how all of the singles managed to become a top ten hit on their charts.
Peak position #3
Hit singles
I want your sex #2
Faith #1
Father figure #7
One more try #8
Monkey #9
While this wasn't the inescapable success in NZ that it was here in Australia and the trio's native UK, it was big enough to be a success which is further proof that even back in the day, radios and journalists had little impact on what the public wanted to listen to given how they both advised against making this debut album from Bros a success back in the day.
Peak position #1x1
Hit singles
When will I be famous #43
Drop the boy #8
I owe you nothing #5
I quit #47
Cat among pigeons #27
Even though it was a huge box office success and a critical darling back in the day, I think Good morning Vietnam still doesn't get the recognition it deserves nowadays given how it's commentary on the Vietnam war holds up even after all of these years. While this wasn't as big a success in NZ as it was in Australia, the soundtrack was still a huge hit over there due to how well it's used in the film.
Peak position #8
Hit singles
What a wonderful world #8
This was the only successful studio album Belinda Carlisle had in NZ, although she did have a successful greatest hits album in the 90's, meaning that the kiwis likely realised their mistake in ignoring her body of work throughout her career. I'm surprised this underperformed here in Australia especially considering how inescapable her third solo album would be in the 90's.
Peak position #3
Hit singles
Heaven is a place on earth #1
I get weak #11
Circle in the sand #16
I'm surprised this flopped here in Australia back in the day, mainly because I would've thought this was a huge success due to all of the hair metal making it big back in the day (then again Hysteria was initially a flop here so what do I know?) It was a huge success in NZ despite the album failing to spawn any kind of hit over there, heck "Is this love" didn't even chart let alone become a modest success.
Peak position #2
Hit singles
Here I go again #34
Give me all your love #49
This was the first big success that AC/DC had in NZ, oh the kiwis would've heard of these guys prior to this year, however for some reason, it was this album where they finally began taking notice of their brand of rock and roll despite being in the industry for well over a decade at this point.
Peak position #3
Hit singles
Heetseaker #29
That's the way I wanna rock and roll #35
This wasn't quite as successful in NZ as it was here in Australia as was John Farnham's previous album Whispering jack, however it was still a massive success for him over there likely due to the title track becoming a hit for him this year. Still, he wasn't able to have much success over there going into the 90's, meaning this comeback was much shorter lived over there.
Peak position #6
Hit singles
Age of reason #4
Two strong hearts #28
You know that heartland rock was a massive deal in NZ when this guy managed to score a massive hit over there, Robbie Robertson was the lead singer of the Canadian band err.... the Band who saw a ton of success throughout the 70's before they broke up in 1977. They had since reformed in 1983, however Robbie didn't rejoin them and instead waited a few years before he released this album.
Peak position #7
Hit singles
Showdown at the big sky #17
Somewhere down the crazy river #40
It looks like the kiwis were more forgiving of Annie's image makeover on this album than we Aussies were given that it was a genuine success over there despite being a minor success over here back in the day, this would be their final success over there as their last album was a complete flop over there despite being a decent success over here as the decade was ending.
Peak position #7
Hit singles
Beethoven #6
Shame #19
You have placed chill in my heart 31
Although they weren't among the most popular bands of the decade in NZ, this greatest hits package from Orchestral Manoeuvres in the dark (OMD for short) managed to become a huge success over there this year proving once again how strong the kiwis alternative scene was throughout the twentieth century.
Peak position #1x5
Hit singles
Dreaming #37
Well, the same deal that this album got here in Australia applies to it with NZ, the only thing I can add is that it really got the short end of the stick over there given how the likes of Def Leppard and Poison were really tearing up the hair metal scene around this time on their charts.
Peak position #1x2
Hit singles
Bad medicine #2
Born to be my baby #19
I'll be there for you #26
Lay your hands on me #8
I'm a bit disappointed that I couldn't feature "Shattered dreams" on this site in any way, unfortunately it wasn't a hit for the British trio in the southern hemisphere despite how big it was in their native UK and in America upon its initial release. Fortunately, the kiwis did check out their album this year where it became a huge success, although we Aussies seemed to completely ignore them for whatever reason.
Peak position #3
Hit singles
Turn back the clock #3
Heart of gold #18
Following the massive success he had with his live album from two years prior, George Thorogood was finally able to score some success in NZ with one of his studio albums this year which finally put the "Bad to the bone" singer on the map over there. I guess we Aussies were intrigued by his success over there as the following year his greatest hits package would become a massive success here.
Peak position #2
Hit singles
You talk too much #42
This was only a moderate success for Crowded house in NZ, in fact it mainly got its second appearance on this site due to it rebounding on the charts in the new year due to some of the singles suddenly charting for the trio over there. Even so, it was an instant success there upon its initial release due to the lead single being their second biggest hit over there and biggest here in Australia.
Peak position #2
Hit singles
Better be home soon #2
Sister madly #26
Into temptation #38
Following the surprise success of his solo album from the previous year, Robert Cray reformed his self-titled band who went on to have a massive hit this year in NZ with this new album of theirs. It managed to spawn their only charting single which almost became a hit over there likely due to how popular they were.
Peak position #6
Hit singles
Don't be afraid of the dark #11
This was a very successful decade for Pat Benatar in NZ, so much so that the inclusion of this greatest hits package from her on this list shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone. In fact, I still can't believe how much more successful she was in NZ than she was here in Australia, mainly because I would've thought she'd be inescapable down under back in the day.
Peak position #5
This was the second album to be released by Ardijah, it was a massive success this year for the band largely thanks to two factors, the first was that it had several advanced singles to build up its hype from the previous year and the second was the success of "Watching u" which was one of the bigger hits of the late 80's in their homeland.
Peak position #8
Hit singles
That's the way #32
Time makes a wine #41
Watching u #3
This was the debut album from Hothouse flowers, it was decently successful in NZ this year due to the lead single being a massive hit for the band over there. It was a huge flop here in Australia this year likely due to we Aussies not having much love for Celtic music at the time, however we made up for this failure by making their second album a hit in the 90's.
Peak position #6
Hit singles
Don't go #6
I'm sorry #30
This was slightly more popular in NZ than it was here in Australia, I guess Sade was able to recover over there following the disappointment of their second album Promise from three years prior. This feels like an inverse of their fortunes here in Australia given how popular that album was here upon its initial release.
Peak position #8
This was released the previous year in T'pau's native UK where it became an instant success for the band, despite that it didn't see an international release until six months later which naturally hindered its worldwide success due to their hype dying out by then. Even so, the kiwis were impressed with their debut album given how it was a modest success for them as well as both of its singles.
Peak position #6
Hit singles
Heart and soul #9
China in your hand #8
To my knowledge, Ziggy Marley was the only offspring of Bob Marley to embark on a music career which was off to a good start seven years after the tragic passing of his father with his debut album. This got a bit lost in the shuffle in NZ this year due to how chaotic the album charts were; however, it did connect with the kiwis to make an appearance on this list.
Peak position #4
Hit singles
Tomorrow people #15
Well, these guys really did Cut the crap when they released their final album three years prior, as such their career imploded that year worldwide which led to their breakup in 1986 which means that two years had passed before their label issued a greatest hits package that became a moderate success in NZ.
Peak position #3
Hit singles
I fought the law #17
This was an inevitable success for Jerry given how much the kiwis loved his band up until this point, although it was his only success there as none of his other material charted there which was also the case everywhere else in the world. Still, it was impressive that he managed to achieve this much on his own given how much of a failure his work with Talking heads was over there by this point.
Peak position #4
Hit singles
Rev it up #6
Man with a gun #15
It's a bit of a misconception that Sinead's debut album was her 1990 magnum opus I do not want what I haven't got, this is her actual debut which was a decent success for her in NZ and her native UK upon its initial release and even received some buzz here in Australia even if it flopped here.
Peak position #4
Hit singles
Mandinka #18
I want your #40
This was another successful album to come from Prince in NZ, again there were no signs of his popularity slowing down over there even if he had been reduced to a minor legacy act here in Australia around this time. Of course, that would change here once he released the Batman soundtrack the following year.
Peak position #1x2
Hit singles
Alphabet st #1
Glam slam #12
I wish u heaven #24
This was initially a flop for Poison in NZ, likely because its lead single didn't even chart over there let alone become a hit for them. It was given a second chance when the third single became a Billboard chart topper which allowed the album to follow suit and thus have a much higher peak there than it did here.
Peak position #1x1
Hit singles
Fallen angel #32
Every rose has its thorn #8
Your mama don't dance #3
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
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
I'm not sure why this greatest hits package failed here in Australia given how this was coming off the success of Graceland, it was a success over in NZ which suggests that the kiwis were more interested in checking out the back catalogue of Paul's career with this album than we Aussies were.
Peak position #5
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
This was caught between two years here in Australia which is the reason why it failed to appear on that side of my list, it was also the case in NZ but thankfully it charted much higher over there to make it on this side of my site. To my knowledge, this is the only remix album Madonna has released as it contains remixes of several of her tracks from her first three albums that connected well with the kiwis.
Peak position #4
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 album took its sweet time in finding success in NZ as all of the singles had already peaked in the quartet's native UK by the time it began charting in NZ due to the second single becoming a surprise hit over there, it managed to stick around for quite a while due to the singles slowly being discovered by the kiwis as time went on, which of course extended the popularity of the album each time.
Peak position #6
Hit singles
Wishing I was lucky #26
Sweet little mystery #3
Angel eyes #4
Temptation #19
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