This was a year with a bit if an identity crisis, we had the likes of adult contemporary, new Jack seeing and even Christian music making it big in the mainstream.
This was a massive success for Queen over in NZ so much more so than it was here in Australia, I'm guessing the kiwis were more upset with Freddie Mercury's passing given how the band's back catalogue flooded their charts over there from around this time.
Peak position #1x7
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 proved to be an even bigger success over in NZ for Tina Turner, I'm guessing because the kiwis were really rooting for her this decade given how she wasn't quite as successful over there throughout the 80's as she was in Australia. This also rebounded over there once her biopic was released two years after its initial release.
Peak position #1x2
Hit singles
Nutbush city limits remix #26
Unlike in Australia where this needed to work its way up to its success, this was an instant success over in NZ proving how much the kiwis loved these guys even going into the 90's. This albums success over there is still pitiful compared to what it achieved in their native UK where it became the first album to top the end of year charts for two years in a row.
Peak position #2
Hit singles
Something got me started #10
Stars #32
For your babies #47
Although this comeback album wasn't as substantial in NZ as it was in Australia and throughout the rest of the world, it did bring his career back from the dead over there thanks to the lead single becoming a massive success which reminded audiences of his work from the previous decade in a positive way.
Peak position #2
Hit singles
I do it for you #1
Can't stop this thing we started #7
There will never be another tonight #21
Thought I'd died and gone to heaven #23
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
Their second album Temple of low men was a bit of a stumble in NZ, so it appeared that Crowded house wouldn't find much success in the 90's which certainly wasn't the case as their third album was a massive success over there even if like in Australia, it didn't have that inescapable hit that their previous two albums had.
Peak position #1x4
Hit singles
Chocolate cake #7
Fall at your feet #24
It's only natural #31
Weather with you #9
Four seasons in one day #33
Well, there's no surprises to be found in this entry, except for maybe the singles being slightly more successful in NZ than they were in Australia which is a common theme for these albums given how the kiwis didn't seem to allow album sales to hamper the success of its singles over there.
Peak position #1x3
Hit singles
You could be mine #2
Knocking on heaven's door #2
Yesterdays #7
Estranged #28
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
There were plenty of these albums that were highly successful in NZ just like they were here in Australia, the 90's was the decade of reminiscing after all so it makes sense that these greatest hits packages from bands and artists from yesteryear would be massive worldwide hits.
Peak position #1x8
Well, this is a surprise from Rod Stewart in NZ, mainly because the kiwis really didn't care for his music since the 70's given how he failed to score a single hit in the 80's over there. At least we Aussies gave him the occasional hit and even allowed him to have a successful album or two that decade, this comeback album on the other hand seems completely out of left field over there.
Peak position #2
Hit singles
It takes two #19
Rhythm of my heart #6
The Motown song #23
Broken arrow #26
Have I told you lately #41
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
These guys already had plenty of success in NZ from the 80's (further proof that the alternative scene was much stronger over there throughout the twentieth century) so it makes sense that this big breakthrough they had in their native America would be a massive success over there like it was everywhere else in the world.
Peak position #3
Hit singles
Losing my religion #16
Shiny happy people #29
Well at least this album was a success for the Eagles in Australia upon its initial release, for some reason it only became a success in NZ this year which was six years after its initial release for a band who had been broken up for eleven years and were still three years out from reuniting due to hell still needing to freeze over for that to happen.
Peak position #1x1
U2 were on a roll when they released their first new album of the 90's worldwide, they could've fallen behind the times like many of their earliest contemporaries but instead they adapted with the times which is why they were still on top of the world by the time the 90's came to an end.
Peak position #1x1
Hit singles
The fly #1
Mysterious ways #3
One #3
Even better than the real thing #8
Who's gonna ride your wild horses #13
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
This was a massive success in NZ despite Deborah Harry's solo career being close to non-existent over there even though it was only a minor success here where her solo career was much more noticeable, I guess this was a hit there more due to the kiwi's nostalgia for Blondie than anything else.
Peak position #1x2
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
Well new age was equally as popular in NZ as it was throughout the rest of the world, as such this debut album from Enigma was able to become a massive success over there just like it was internationally for the German duo. I should mention this even recharted later in the decade when the group released their second album, proving how strong the new age crowd was back in the day.
Peak position #2
Hit singles
Sadeness #2
Mea culpa part II #34
Unlike in Australia where this needed the release of a CD in order to find success, the kiwis immediately gravitated towards this remaster's album upon its initial release ten years after the demise of Led zeppelin. In fact, this wasn't even charting over there when this became a success down under to give you an idea of how much the kiwis didn't care whether this was on CD or vinyl.
Peak position #3
Her debut album was an even bigger success in NZ than it was here in Australia, so I would've been shocked if her sophomore album was a failure over there even though it failed to spawn a huge hit for her there like it did here. Unfortunately, not even her greatest hits package from later in the decade was a huge success over there, meaning this was the last time the kiwis cared about Toni's career.
Peak position #5
Hit singles
I've got to go now #19
House of hope #27
It may have received a ton of backlash back in the day, however this tribute album from Natalie Cole to her father Nat King Cole still managed to receive album of the year at the Grammys as well as sweep the big awards proving that they felt this was a touching tribute to her father and not artistic grave robbery like her haters claim. It was a massive success either way and honestly a well-deserved one.
Peak position #1x3
Hit singles
Unforgettable #7
I don't think many people cared about the fact that Martha Walsh from the Weather girls had been reduced to an anonymous vocalist for the likes of these guys and Black box, admittedly she did give compelling performances on each of these albums which no doubt fueled their respective success back in the day, but she obviously didn't think it was worth it which resulted in some ugly lawsuits from her.
Peak position #3
Hit singles
Gonna make you sweat #2
Here we go #9
Things that make you go hmm #2
Just a touch of love #21
I'm not exactly sure how the kiwis came across these guys back in the day given how they weren't that successful in their native America around this time; however, they did which resulted in this album being a massive success for the band this year. Eventually this led to their second album being a minor success the following year and even had enough crossover appeal to become a minor success here in Australia as well.
Peak position #4
Hit singles
She talks to angels #21
Even though both of the singles from the album were from Bart Simpsons voice actor Nancy Cartwright, it turns out this album from the cartoon show features tracks from all of the main cast of the show including voices from several of the townspeople featured in the first two seasons of the show. It was a massive hit in NZ due to the kiwis love of the show, however the show was popular worldwide even if the album wasn't.
Peak position #2
Hit singles
Do the bartman #1
Deep deep trouble #10
For whatever reason, Seal was far more popular in NZ with his debut album than he was here in Australia. I find this weird because even this early in the decade, we Aussies were more in line with EDM which this album is in line with than RNB which would be his later material.
Peak position #6
Hit singles
Crazy #8
Future love paradise #25
Killer on the loose #37
I guess the kiwis had a slightly different album to cash in off the success they had from the Ghost soundtrack around this time, it proved to be an even bigger hit than the album that charted here in Australia.
Peak position #1x6
Hit singles
Unchained melody #1
Well, there should be no surprises that this album was a success for Dire straits in NZ given how inescapable it was throughout the rest of the world. The kiwis didn't even both handing any success to the Notting Hillbillies the previous year, proving how uninterested they were in Mark's side project but how much they wanted to hear more from his main band.
Peak position #1x1
Hit singles
Calling Elvis #9
Heavy fuel #34
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
This was the first volume of the Use your illusions era for Guns n Roses, it was a massive success in NZ just like it was throughout the rest of the world even if it didn't rise up to the level of success that the second edition from earlier on this list had.
Peak position #2
Hit singles
Don't cry #2
Live and let die #1
November rain #7
This was also a success for Chris Isaak in NZ this year, again I'm not sure why as it's not like there was a successful project he was attached to this year aside from whatever included "Wicked game" on its soundtrack.
Peak position #3
Hit singles
Wicked game #7
Blue hotel #39
Regardless of how you feel about the lead single to this album, there's no denying it brought many people comfort back in the day which no doubt checked out the album it came from which made it a massive hit for Bette Midler this year. This was no different in NZ as the kiwis were impressed with what Bette had to offer on this record.
Peak position #10
Hit singles
From a distance #3
Night and day #50
It's weird that this greatest hits package from Stevie Nicks was more of a success in NZ than it was here in Australia considering that Stevie never had much success on her own over there like she did over here throughout the 80's.
Peak position #1x4
Hit singles
Sometimes it's a bitch #39
Aaron Neville certainly seemed to have a lot of success in NZ following his collaboration with Linda Ronstadt from the start of the decade, first with his family for the Mel Gibson film Bird on a wire and now with a solo album which spawned him his biggest hit over there in the form of its lead single.
Peak position #1x3
Hit singles
Everybody plays the fool #1
This was released on the twentieth anniversary of the breakup of Simon and Garfunkel; I'm guessing this was a trend for the kiwis to make a greatest hits package a success for the duo once every ten years as another one of these albums would see huge success ten years later over there.
Peak position #1x4
Although her previous album Heart of stone wasn't as big a success in NZ as it was here in Australia, this third and final album from Cher's arena rock period was certainly bigger over there than it was over here likely due to the success of the lead single which also came from her (then) latest film Mermaids. She would lose popularity throughout the decade both as a singer and actress until her comeback album Believe.
Peak position #4
Hit singles
The shoop shoop song #3
Love and understanding #25
I'm not entirely sure if this is the correct version of the Les Misérables soundtrack to make it big in NZ this year given how their charts fail to specify which version became successful over there this year, however from what I can gather, there was a London recording of the show that received a ton of media attention this year to the point where a version of the original soundtrack became a success as a result.
Peak position #9
One band who wasn't as successful in NZ as they were here in Australia was Metallica, mainly for their later material where the kiwis didn't seem to appreciate their approach to more mainstream rock and roll but also here as the singles weren't as big over there as they were over here. The album was still huge albeit in multiple increments throughout its chart run.
Peak position #1x1
Hit singles
Enter sandman #8
The unforgiven #24
Nothing else matter #11
Sad but true #42
Wherever I may roam #8
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
I'm guessing this was a hit for Bob Marley this year due to it being released as a single over there, thankfully the kiwis didn't allow too many albums previously unavailable on CDs to make it that big over there this decade like we Aussies did.
Peak position #3
Although she scored a massive hit with "World in union" this year in the UK of all places, it was this album from Kiri Te Kanawa that made her a household name in her homeland this year likely due to it being a collaboration album between fellow opera singer Malcolm Mcneill.
Peak position #3
Well, this was much less successful in NZ than it was here in Australia, hey at least it charted much higher than their breakthrough album even if the singles were much less successful over there than that albums hits. I guess the kiwis weren't as invested with them adapting with the times as we Aussies were, then again, these guys sadly didn't have that much success over there overall.
Peak position #4
Hit singles
Joyride #3
Fading like a flower #22
The big l #34
Spending my time #31
Church of your heart #47
This was volume three of the Piano by Candlelight series from Carl Doy, it was a huge success for the NZ pianist this year proving the kiwis still wanted to hear classical music well into the decade.
*Apologies for reusing the image of the second volume, I couldn't find a correct image of the album even one that's in poor condition. *
Peak position #2
Unlike here in Australia where this only became a success the following year due to it winning a bunch of awards, this was a success upon its initial release in NZ despite the fact that the kiwis didn't seem particularly warm towards Michael Bolton's music throughout his time in the spotlight.
Peak position #12
Hit singles
Love is a wonderful thing #12
When a man loves a woman #21
I'm guessing this became a success over in NZ due to the surprise success that Jesus Jones managed to achieve in America this year, although it's worth noting that it only became eligible for this list due to it re-entering the charts the following year and racking up quite a lot of points in a short amount of time to stack up with these other entries on this list.
Peak position #6
Hit singles
International bright young thing #22
Right here right now #29
Real real real #37
Who where why #48
It makes sense that De la soul would find more success with their second album in NZ than they did here in Australia, in fact I would’ve been more surprised if this wasn't a success over there given how the kiwis were all about hip hop by this point in time and that the lead single was a massive success over there.
Peak position #6
Hit singles
Ring ring ring #5
A roller skating jam named Saturdays #4
This was a moderate success for the Doors in NZ this year thanks to the biopic that came out, although it wouldn't achieve its full success until the midpoint of the decade for whatever reason.
Peak position #18
If you can believe it, this was not only a minor sleeper hit in NZ this year, but also failed to produce any singles outside of its big international hit over there like it did here in Australia back in the day. Indeed, Lenny wouldn't become a superstar over there until his next album where it along with its title track became one of the biggest hits of the decade like it was internationally.
Peak position #19
Hit singles
It ain't over till it's over #5
While it still took them five albums to find a mainstream audience in NZ, at least RCHP had more immediate success with this album as the lead single did allow it to chart in the upper echelons of the album charts before the second single became a runaway success for the band this year. Indeed, they're another band to find more success overall in NZ than they did in Australia.
Peak position #1x1
Hit singles
Give it away #22
Under the bridge #2
Suck my kiss #3
Breaking the girl #12
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
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
This proved to be a huge success for Jimmy Barnes over in NZ, although it wasn't as inescapable over there as it was over here due to the kiwis perhaps having a bit more reservations when it came to him covering Motown classics than we Aussies did.
Peak position #3
Hit singles
I gotcha #27
When something is wrong with my baby #6
Ain't no mountain high enough #45
While this still wasn't Enya's biggest hit in NZ, it was a massive success for her and the biggest album she released in the 90's which should bring comfort to her fans who widely consider this to be her magnum opus.
Peak position #3
Hit singles
Caribbean blue #22
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 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
This was the last successful album that Genesis had over in NZ as was the case everywhere else in the world, mainly because Phil Collins would leave the band after this album which led to them releasing an album without him on lead vocals which led to their breakup. Phil's popularity in the 90's quickly dwindled after this as his next solo album would be a complete flop for him.
Peak position #5
Hit singles
No son of mine #36
I can't dance #10
Jesus he knows me #35
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
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
This was a massive success for the Jeff Healey band in NZ, likely because of their contributions to the Patrick Swayze flick Road house which was a critically panned but commercially successful action film that also stars Jeff Healey in a supporting role. I'm guessing we Aussies weren't big fans of the film as this was a flop upon its initial release.
Peak position #5
Hit singles
I think I love you too much #43
While my guitar gently weeps #25
This was a decent success for Jenny Morris in NZ like it was here in Australia, possibly suggesting that her fellow kiwis were initially willing to allow her to stick around in the 90's following her breakthrough over there at the tail end of the 80's with her previous album. Alas this wasn't the case as her next album bombed over there like it did over here.
Peak position #5
Hit singles
Break in the weather #5
I've had you #39
Zero #33
I get the feeling this album was meant to forever rechart during each Christmas season when it was initially released, however like every Christmas album released in the twentieth century, this wasn't the case for Cliff Richard as it wasn't even that popular in most parts of the world likely due to its mediocre critical reception.
Peak position #2
Hit singles
Scarlet ribbons #19
Named after the Bette Midler track that was popular around this time (which Cliff puts his own spin on with this release) this is a live album from a concert he gave around this time which must have connected with the kiwis early in the year given how big it was over there.
Peak position #7
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
This was the only success that Bonnie Raitt had over in NZ, it was a modest success upon its initial release and exploded in popularity several months later likely due to it being a rock album as opposed to her usual country fare which the kiwis eventually gravitated towards.
Peak position #6
Hit singles
Something to talk about #33
I can't make you love me #22
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