A new decade would have you expect to have new trends, right? This wasn't the case as the 80's kept on going into the 90's.
AC/DC had success with their previous album Blow up your cool in NZ, however it was this album that finally made them a household name over there given how it managed to be an even bigger success for them there than it was here in Australia. Indeed, they would go on to have massive success in NZ throughout the 90's with their subsequent follow ups.
Peak position #2
Hit singles
Thunderstruck #3
Moneytalks #9
Are you ready #1
It looks like Hammer time was a much bigger deal in NZ than it was here in Australia, OK so given this was a hip hop album from the 90's, of course it was going to be more successful there than it was here both as the album and the singles it spawned.
Peak position #2
Hit singles
Help the children #42
U can't touch this #1
Have you ever seen her #4
Pray #2
Here comes the hammer #6
This was even more of a success in NZ than it was here in Australia, then again Mariah in general was more popular over there throughout the 90's even before she began incorporating RNB into her sound later in the decade. I can't say what made her that much more successful over there beyond the kiwis loving her voice more back in the day than we did.
Peak position #4
Hit singles
Vision of love #1
Love takes time #9
Someday #14
I don't wanna cry #13
This was an even bigger success in NZ than it was in Australia, this is curious because whereas he at least had some success throughout the 80's, Rod didn't have much success in NZ since his last greatest hits package from a decade prior.
Peak position #2
Hit singles
Downtown train #30
This wasn't as inescapable in NZ as it was here in Australia, possibly due to Alannah Myles being a one hit wonder over there as the lead single didn't race up the charts when the second single became a Billboard chart topper like it did in Australia. At least she had further success in her native Canada as the decade went along.
Peak position #5
Hit singles
Love is #44
Black velvet #2
Lover of mine #40
Still got this thing #26
Well, this was one way to kick off the 90's, UB40 were already one of the biggest names of the 80's in NZ so to see them achieved this much success with an album that needed to take such a circuitous route to find any form of success here in Australia was something to behold back in the day. Indeed, this album didn't gain any traction here until a year after its initial release when one of the songs became a success in America.
Peak position #1x3
Hit singles
Homely girl #4
Here I am #6
Kingston town #17
Wear you to the ball #28
Impossible love #28
It's strange to think that this was Phil Collin's biggest solo album in NZ, although considering he had infinitely more success with his band Genesis throughout the 80's, I think it's safe to say that the kiwis preferred his prog material compared to his ballads back in the day.
Peak position #1x5
Hit singles
Another day in paradise #5
I wish it would rain down #27
Much like in Australia, these guys were very successful in NZ a decade prior with their first two albums, meaning this albums success at the start of the 90's was a welcomed return for the band as they were able to kick off the new decade on top of the charts for the second decade in a row.
Peak position #1x1
Hit singles
Love shack #1
Roam #2
Deadbeat club #21
While it wasn't as inescapable as her debut album, this sophomore album from Tracy Chapman proved to be a huge success for her in NZ which helped her escape the one album wonder bin that the rest of the world had temporarily trapped her in until her comeback album A new beginning in the mid 90's.
Peak position #1x7
Hit singles
Crossroads #21
The three tenors were indeed a success throughout the decade in NZ, although mainly as a unit as unlike in Australia and the UK where the three men found success on their own over the 90's, that wasn't the case over there.
Peak position #1x5
There were no signs of Phil Collins' career slowing down anywhere in the world when he entered the 90's, so much so that this live album of his managed to be a huge worldwide success following the success of his (then) most recent album But seriously.
Peak position #2
Nigel Kennedy was a British violinist who scored a massive success with this album which is an adaptation of Vivaldi's Four seasons. Here he incorporates the assistance of the English Chamber Orchestra to help him bring to life this classic work in order to find success with the increasingly lucrative classical music crowd.
Peak position #3
This came at the end of a very troubling time in Elton John's life as he had finished dealing with a lot of personal demons was fighting throughout the 80's, as such this greatest hits album proved to be more successful in NZ than the one he released a decade prior with the exact name as it was everywhere else in the world.
Peak position #1x12
Hit singles
You gotta love somebody #27
Much like here in Australia, this solo debut from Gloria Estefan was widely ignored in NZ upon its initial release despite her having massive success with Miami Sound Machine throughout the 80's over there. It was given a second chance when word got out about her near fatal accident on her tour bus which allowed us Aussies and kiwis to finally respect the pop diva and her music.
Peak position #1x3
Hit singles
Don't wanna lose you #18
Get on your feet #47
Cuts both ways #10
While it didn't spawn that inescapable hit over in NZ like it did here in Australia, this album from Aerosmith was nonetheless a success over there even before they had that big hit here. I'm guessing this was more due to them fitting in with the hair metal scene of the day as their 90's material didn't make any impact on the charts over there like it did worldwide.
Peak position #8
Hit singles
Love in an elevator #15
Janie's got a gun #13
What it takes #19
This managed to be an even bigger success in NZ than it was here in Australia, likely due to their first greatest hits package not being that big a deal from seven years prior likely due to it coming out around the time of Karen's tragic death.
Peak position #1x7
I'm not exactly sure why, but these guys managed to achieve even more success over in NZ at the start of the decade both with their breakthrough album and its signature ballad, hence why both appear much higher on this side of my site than they did on the Australian side. Even though they're a one album wonder by all accounts, frontman Sebastian Bach would resurface a decade later as a successful actor.
Peak position #1x4
Hit singles
18 and life #50
I remember you #2
It appears the kiwis were so much in love with these guys that they allowed the American version of the album to become a success in addition to the original version. Admittedly the new hit single they had from this album was their biggest hit over there so it makes sense this would follow suit.
Peak position #1x6
Hit singles
Blame it on the rain #3
From what I can gather, Brian Smith was a popular NZ saxophonist who scored a massive hit with this album this year, it appears the kiwis were also into jazz around this time as there were a few albums that found success over there from the genre in addition to all of the classical music and other unconventional genres.
Peak position #1x3
Robert Palmer didn't have much success in NZ compared to Australia, however the kiwis at least allowed him to enter the 90's with some dignity by having this greatest hits package from him be a massive success over there. His fate was pretty much the same over there throughout the 90's as it was over here save for the fact that this and his collaboration with UB40 was much bigger over there.
Peak position #3
Well, it wasn't as inescapable in NZ as it was here in Australia or their previous album Diesel and dust, however this new album from Midnight oil this decade was still a huge success for them likely due to the kiwis being able to sympathise with the Australian miners this album was dedicated to. Their popularity did dwindle as the decade went along; however, they did score another hit later in the decade.
Peak position #1x2
Hit singles
Blue sky mine #2
Forgotten years #24
I guess the kiwis weren't as big a fan of this guy as we Aussies were as this was considerably less popular over there than it was over here, although its low placement on this list is due to it being a sleeper hit given how it spent most of its time charting in the lower half of their charts during its run.
Peak position #6
Hit singles
How am I supposed to live without you #10
How can we be lovers #27
When I'm back on my feet again #35
Georgia on my mind #38
This was the first of a surprising number of albums that Joe Cocker had success in NZ this decade, mainly because he struggled for mainstream relevancy everywhere else in the world throughout the 90's including here in Australia. This was a live album he released which I'm sure impressed the kiwis given how it was a massive success there as well as throughout Europe.
Peak position #2
This proved to be more of a success in NZ than it was here in Australia for NKOTB, I'm guessing the kiwis weren't that fussed about the controversy behind the accusations that the boys didn't sing a note on their album even if they eventually proved otherwise later in the decade. Then again, lip synching didn't seem to be that controversial over there given the overwhelming success of Milli Vanilli.
Peak position #1x1
Hit singles
Step by step #3
Tonight #16
Let's try it again #31
Games #27
Call it what you want #45
Baby I believe in you #20
Well they did begin the decade with one of the biggest hits of the year in the form of its lead single in the southern hemisphere, so there was little doubt that this album from Faith no more would be as successful in NZ as it was here in Australia even if that success would dwindle throughout the decade over there for the rap rock band in favour of the likes of Rage against the machine and RHCP.
Peak position #3
Hit singles
Epic #2
Falling to pieces #16
I guess the kiwis weren't as in love with Pretty woman as the rest of the world was, either that or the singles didn't incentivise them to be the album save for Roxette's ballad which wasn't even originally written for the film to begin with. The film was still a huge success at the box office, and it was a critical daring as well due to the strong performance from its star Julia Roberts.
Peak position #2
Hit singles
Fame 90 #32
Wild women do #35
It must have been love #2
The king of wishful thinking #24
This was a massive hit for Jeff Healey and company in NZ this year, I'm guessing the kiwis really liked his performance in Road house even though the film was panned by critics for its confusing storyline. In any case, this was a one-off success for the band over there like it was everywhere else in the world likely due to the novelty of its success.
Peak position #5
Hit singles
I think I love you too much #43
While my guitar gently weeps #25
This was released the previous year for Grayson Hugh, it was going to be a flop for the singer even with the worldwide success of the lead single, but it became a surprise hit in NZ likely because of said single having a very slow rise to its popularity over there. Admittedly the album feels more at home in the 90's than it does in the decade it was originally released in.
Peak position #3
Hit singles
Talk it over #3
Bring it all back #37
This took a real long time to make it big over in NZ, I mean this was already a year old by the time it reached the upper echelons of their charts as opposed to Australia where it was only six to eight months before it became a success here. Admittedly the second single was pushed back over there to when it became a hit in the UK, I'm guessing due to their label wanting to market their more upbeat tracks first.
Peak position #3
Hit singles
You got it #2
Hanging tough #7
Cover girl #17
I'll be loving you #28
This soundtrack wasn't quite as successful for Madonna over in NZ as it was here in Australia, I'm guessing because the kiwis weren't as into the music from Dick Tracy as we Aussies were which admittedly is fair enough as it's essentially a vaudeville album from Madonna as delivered as her character in the film Breathless Mahone.
Peak position #2
Hit singles
Vogue #1
Hanky panky #6
This was a success in NZ multiple times for Cat Stevens, naturally this was the first time it was a success due to it being released at the start of the decade, however it was an even bigger success seven years later for reasons I can't seem to fathom.
Peak position #1x2
Well, this is a site meant to promote the positive elements of popular music from back in the day, as such I won't dwell on all of the negative press that came from this album. Let's just say that it being a massive critical and commercial success for Sinead O'Connor was just about the only positive story to come from its existence due to the labour of love that went into its creation and the fallout from the aftermath.
Peak position #1x4
Hit singles
Nothing compares 2 u #1
The emperor's new clothes #23
While this wasn't as inescapable in NZ for Elton John in Australia, this was still a happy ending for him over there given how much worse off he was in their mainstream throughout the second half of the 80's. In fact, were it not for "Nikita" becoming one of his biggest hits over there, he might as well have fallen off the face of the earth prior to when this album became a success for him this year.
Peak position #1x2
Hit singles
Sacrifice #19
This was more of an immediate success in NZ this year as we Aussies likely felt that George Michael didn't need to become a serious artist which was the premise of his second solo album, naturally we were won over much later where this became a huge success for him. I think this was so big initially over there due to the lead single topping the Billboard charts.
Peak position #2
Hit singles
Praying for time #8
Freedom #13
While this proved to be more of a success in NZ for Lisa Stansfield than it did here in Australia, the obvious trade off was that the lead single was only barely a success over there as opposed to it being a massive success here and the rest of the world. It's strange that a vocalist as unique as her wouldn't find any other success in her career anywhere in the world after this solo breakthrough.
Peak position #5
Hit singles
All around the world #10
Live together #23
For whatever reason, this album didn't catch on in NZ when it found its international breakthrough from the previous year, meaning that it was possible that the duo would be a one hit wonder with their breakthrough single "The look" over there despite their international success. Their fortunes changed when their contribution to the Pretty woman soundtrack boosted this album's success over there this year.
Peak position #12
Hit singles
The look #1
Dressed for success #36
Listen to your heart #11
Dangerous #12
It appears the kiwis were much bigger fans of China Beach than we Aussies were, so much so that the soundtrack proved to be more of a success over there than it was over here. It was a success over there on time as well, suggesting that this might have been the same fanbase that Tour of duty had the year prior that made this a success there.
Peak position #2
Well, this album certainly took its sweet time in finding success in NZ, I'm guessing this was due to the album only being a hit here in Australia upon its initial release the previous year and the kiwis only checking this out once it spawned a second hit for her over here early in the new decade. To make up for this tardy release, her next album would be far more popular over there than it was over here.
Peak position #7
Hit singles
If I could turn back time #3
Just like Jessie James #16
It was a new decade, and this NZ band was already off to a good start when they released this album given how it gave them a huge hit in the form of its lead single over there, indeed this album has gone down as one of the most critically acclaimed to come out of NZ due to how fondly remembered it seems to remain on the internet.
Peak position #1x2
Hit singles
Heavenly pop hit #2
The one trade-off for Paula Abdul scoring massive success with her singles in NZ was that her debut album was only a minor sleeper hit over there as opposed to it becoming a massive surprise hit this year here in Australia, I guess you can consider this remix album a placeholder for Forever your girl given how its popularity seems to match what the main album achieved on our charts.
Peak position #4
Well, it was certainly a new decade alright, as such Soul II Soul were able to score success with their sophomore album in NZ with their blending of EDM and RNB. Unfortunately, they weren't able to survive the full transition from the 80's to the 90's anywhere in the world as their third album was a complete flop for them two years later.
Peak position #4
Hit singles
Get a life #5
A dream's a dream #8
People #49
This is another album that was an instant success for the artist in question as opposed to it finding success the following year (there were a few of these albums to follow this trend in the southern hemisphere.) This time it's the one and only album from Black box which found all of its success this year as the kiwis had moved on to C+C Music factory the following year when it came to music from Martha Walsh.
Peak position #4
Hit singles
Ride on time #2
I don't know anybody else #9
Everybody everybody #11
Fantasy #28
Strike it up #29
This had a slow rise to its success in NZ as the lead single sadly bombed over there upon its initial release the previous year, fortunately the second single became a surprise hit for Tom Petty over there which allowed it to rise up the charts at the start of the 90's. Sadly this would be the final success that he would have outside his native America as the rest of the decade wasn't kind to him internationally.
Peak position #5
Hit singles
I won't back down #49
Free falling #4
This was a success twice over in NZ, the first time was upon its initial release due to spawning two of the biggest hits of 1989 worldwide whilst the second was when the band released their second album as it rebounded on the charts over there due to the momentum they had. This curiously bombed here in Australia, likely because we Aussies felt it was a bit too ahead of its time unlike the rest of the world.
Peak position #8
Hit singles
Keep on moving #14
Back to life #4
Although this didn't take as long to become a success for Janet Jackson in NZ, I'm willing to bet she ultimately preferred it if it did given how it was only a modest success over there following the success of "Escapade" in her native America of all things. I guess the kiwis didn't take to her experimenting with rock and roll like we Aussies did.
Peak position #9
Hit singles
Miss you much #2
Rhythm nation #17
Escapade #15
Alright #28
Black cat #25
Love will never do #27
Well at least Van Morrison had a massive success with his 1983 album Inarticulate speech of the heart in NZ, even so this greatest hits album wasn't as big over there as it was over here at least upon its initial release as it became a hit again later in the decade when Van Morrison was back in the mainstream over there.
Peak position #3
Like us Aussies, it appears the kiwis didn't seem to have any love for this guy until a decade after his breakthrough (film) performance in the Blues brothers with this entry. He also went on to have massive success over there throughout the decade, although it was with different material than what he achieved over here.
Peak position #6
Hit singles
The healer #23
Unlike the rest of the world, it appears the kiwis were a bit sceptical towards this debut album from Wilson Phillips given how it and the lead single failed to chart as high as they did here in Australia (let alone their native America.) The trade-off was that it lasted for quite some time over there as well as the follow ups becoming minor hits over there where they flopped over here.
Peak position #10
Hit singles
Hold on #6
Release me #18
Impulsive #28
This was far less popular in NZ than I would've expected it to be given how much more the kiwis loved David Bowie in his prime than we Aussies did, at least it was a success over there likely due to there being a remix of one of his signature tracks that also appears on the Pretty woman soundtrack.
Peak position #2
Hit singles
Fame 90 #32
It appears that Gary Moore managed to find moderate success in NZ back in the day, although it's worth noting that his magnum opus here in Australia was only a moderate sleeper hit for him over there likely due to it failing to spawn a hit single there like it did here. That said, he did score another hit with his follow up album over there which is something he failed to do over here.
Peak position #14
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
This was one of the last albums to be released from the 80's in NZ, it goes to show that even moving towards the 90's, classical music was still one of the biggest genres in the mainstream over there when it comes to albums. Carl Doy was a NZ pianist who I'm guessing was their answer to Richard Clayderman.
Peak position #1x4
This was only a minor success for Jimmy Barnes when it was released in NZ initially, however it saw a massive surge in popularity a year later when the fourth single became a modest success over there which allowed it to be a huge success for the pub rocker. His popularity would continue with his Soul deep project which the kiwis liked much like us Aussies back in the day.
Peak position #1x1
Hit singles
Lay down your guns #12
When your love is gone #17
Love is enough #42
This was the original version of Milli Vanilli's one and only album, or at least their one and only album as a unit given how the two men on the cover would make their own music in the 90's while the "Real Milli Vanilli" would release a second album around the same time. It was a massive success in NZ as the kiwis didn't care if the two men were singing on the record or not as opposed to us Aussies.
Peak position #1x3
Hit singles
Girl you know it's true #13
Baby don't forget my number #9
Girl I'm gonna miss you #8
All or nothing #1
This wasn't as inescapable in NZ as it was here in Australia, mainly because it didn't continue to chart over there as the Blonde ambition tour became more and more successful worldwide for the queen of pop. One thing I didn't say on the Australian side of my site is that it didn't end up falling off our charts until 1994 which means it had charted here for four consecutive years.
Peak position #3
Hit singles
Justify my love #5
Rescue me #18
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
It's a bit weird that Jenny Morris didn't see as much success with her albums in her homeland as she did here in Australia, granted her popularity only exploded over there due to how big she was over here with her earlier material, however you'd think she would've had more of her success translated to NZ than what she got. Still, this was a huge hit for her over there during the transition from the 80's to the 90's.
Peak position #6
Hit singles
Saved me #37
She has to be loved #3
This will be the only album from Alice Cooper to appear on this side of my site given how the kiwis didn't seem to have much love for the glam rocker at any point in his career as we Aussies did, although I get the feeling this was more due to him hopping on the hair metal trend with this album that they made it a success due to how inescapably popular the sub-genre was around this time.
Peak position #6
Hit singles
Poison #2
Bed of nails #27
Given how they were arguably more popular in NZ than they were here in Australia, it makes sense that Icehouse would have this greatest hits package overlooking the first ten years of their success be popular over there like it was over here during the transition from the 80's to the 90's.
Peak position #4
Hit singles
Touch the fire #39
Much like here in Australia, this was also the final successful album that Paul Simon had over in NZ given how he chose to mostly sit out the rest of the twentieth century after the release of this album. Perhaps if he found more inspiration from different cultures, he could've kept up this winning streak he had with this and Graceland.
Peak position #6
Hit singles
The obvious child #46
Much like the rest of the world, this album struggled to find an audience upon its initial release on NZ due to Snap being considered to be more of a singles act much like Technotronic or Black box. However, once they embarked on a tour in the southern hemisphere, this album really took off over there which makes the failure of their subsequent material that much more tragic from later in the decade.
Peak position #2
Hit singles
The power #6
Ooops up #8
Cult of snap #15
Mary had a little boy #13
You'd think that this would've been inescapably popular in Margaret's homeland given how much more successful it was here in Australia when it eventually crossed over here, sadly you'd be wrong as while the lead single was a massive success upon its initial release, the same can't be said for the album which only lingered around the lower half of their charts for half the time it charted over here.
Peak position #4
Hit singles
Escaping #1
Number one #10
Whereas this at least managed to have a few massive hits here in Australia, this second album from Kylie Minogue was only a success in NZ due to how popular her debut was given how only the lead single which doesn't even appear on the standard version of the album managed to be a success over there. Indeed she would flame out entering the 90's and wouldn't be a household name over there until "Spinning around" became a hit in 2000.
Peak position #6
Hit singles
Especially for you #2
Hand on your heart #15
Wouldn't change a thing #21
Never too late #27
Tears on my pillow #33
Much like here in Australia, this was the only notable success that Motley Crue had in NZ given how this managed to benefit from the rise of hair metal that permeated the last stretch of the 80's and the first stretch of the 90's worldwide. It's a bit of a shame that none of their other albums managed to make it big in the southern hemisphere especially considering how they arguably pioneered the genre in their native America.
Peak position #5
Dr feelgood #11
Kickstart my fire #31
Don't go away mad #49
Given how the lead singer Aaron Neville managed to score a massive hit this year with his collaboration with Linda Ronstadt, it only makes sense that the rest of his family would follow suit in NZ with this album that also had the luck of having one of the singles be affiliated with a (then) popular Mel Gibson flick.
Peak position #4
Hit singles
Bird on a wire #5
Fearless #40
Although their third and final album was a bit of a dud in NZ, that didn't mean that the kiwis were upset when the girl band called it quits given the success of this greatest hits package they released less than a year after the fact. Just like here in Australia, this was the final time anyone cared about the Bangles as both their 00's reunion and Susanna Hoffs solo career were a failure over there.
Peak position #6
Much like Tracy Chapman from earlier on this list, Melissa Etheridge was also able to score moderate success in NZ with her second album as the 80's transitioned to the 90's thanks to how popular her and the female singer/songwriter phenomenon was around this time. Unfortunately, this would be the last us Aussies and kiwis would hear from her as her subsequent follow ups flopped in the southern hemisphere.
Peak position #5
This is the only noticeable success that Sybil had anywhere in the world, heck this was initially a flop everywhere outside of NZ and only became a success throughout Europe once some of the singles crossed over later in the decade due to them becoming surprise hits in the UK for her. I don't know how the kiwis got a hold of this upon its initial release, however they clearly love it and its singles.
Peak position #3
Hit singles
Don't make me over #1
Walk on by #2
Crazy 4 u #26
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