This was the year where the 90's became its own in the music industry, although for whatever reason reggae was quite popular this year as well as all the other trends affiliated with the decade.
This was another inevitable reappearance for this site of mine, naturally the singles from Mariah's third album were much bigger over in NZ given how much the kiwis had embraced both RNB and diva ballads by this point in time.
Peak position #2
Hit singles
Dreamlover #2
Hero #2
Without you #1
Anytime you need a friend #5
Unlike in Australia where this was an instant inescapable classic for MJ, it appears the kiwis were prepared to write this off as a mere moderate success for him until "Give in to me" became one of the biggest hits of the decade which allowed this album to rebound on the charts over there and become a best seller.
Peak position #1x2
Hit singles
Black or white #1
Remember the time #1
In the closet #5
Jam #2
Who is it #16
Heal the world #3
Give in to me #1
Will you be there #2
Gone too soon #6
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
It appears the kiwis were more touched by the emotional concert that Eric Clapton gave on MTV unplugged, so much so that it was an even bigger success over there than it was here making it easily one of the most successful albums of all time over there.
Peak position #1x18
Hit singles
Layla #3
As with most alternative albums from the 90's, this album from R.E.M managed to be twice as successful over in NZ than it was in Australia likely due to the two lead singles cracking their top ten over there when they flopped here. One thing to note was that the big hit from the album "Everybody hurts" in Australia was only a modest success over in NZ for the band.
Peak position #1x1
Hit singles
Drive #5
Man on the moon #8
The sidewinder sleeps tonight #29
Everybody hurts #12
Nightswimming #48
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
It looks like the kiwis were also intrigued with what U2 wanted to do with their sound throughout the decade, indeed their venture towards industrial music paid off for them as it was also a huge success over there as it was here in Australia.
Peak position #1x1
Hit singles
Numb #13
Lemon #4
Stay #6
Just like in Australia, this was the biggest album in Pearl Jam's career in NZ following the huge success of their debut album from two years prior. Unlike in Australia, this managed to spawn a huge hit for them over there as did their next album which made them more of a singles band as far as the kiwis were concerned.
Peak position #1x3
Hit singles
Go #2
Daughter #11
Animal #7
This might be a shock to my readers, but Rage against the machine would up having one of the biggest albums of the decade in NZ with their debut largely because it spawned multiple hits over there (albeit minor hits save for the lead single.) They even had massive success with their second album later in the decade, making them the Faith no more equivalent of an American band who scored more success outside of their native America in NZ.
Peak position #9
Hit singles
Killing in the name #8
Bombtrack #11
Freedom #17
Bullet in the head #19
This was more of a success for the Smashing pumpkins in NZ than it was here in Australia, mainly due to the singles being able to chart over there which they didn't over here (save for "Disarm" which was the reason the album became a success in Australia.) Their next album would be even bigger due to the singles again being more successful over there.
Peak position #3
Hit singles
Cherub rock #16
Today #27
Disarm #29
Rocket #26
I'm not sure how he did it, but Kenny G really did take the southern hemisphere by storm this year with this album of his. Perhaps it was due to his instrumentals fitting in nicely with spa resorts who likely bought the album along with the new age albums from the time to fit with their ambience at their resorts.
Peak position #1x3
This was also a success in NZ back in the day, further adding insult to injury that the title track was never released as a single in America given how it seemed on only harm the albums sales over there. I don't think it really matters as Billboard seemed more interested in breaking chart records throughout the 90's than promoting the type of rock and roll to be found on this album.
Peak position #2
Hit singles
Are you gonna go my way #2
Believe #5
Heaven help #21
Is there any love in your heart #50
Like in Australia, things could've been better for Bryan Adams by this point in his career, although unlike in Australia this was as good as things would get for him as his popularity would begin to dwindle over there after this greatest hits album.
Peak position #1x13
Hit singles
Please forgive me #7
These guys were on a roll with this album as it proved to be a huge success for them in NZ despite it only being a modest success here in Australia and throughout most parts of the world. Then again, they did begin the decade with the mammoth success of their second Labour of love album without any input of how the Americans would react to the album from earlier in the decade.
Peak position #1x7
Hit singles
Falling in love with you #1
Higher ground #8
Bring me your cup #7
C'est la vie #7
Reggae music #48
At least this debut album from Pearl jam was more of an immediate success in NZ than it was in Australia, although like Australia it was a hit several times throughout the decade due to how the band's popularity grew with each subsequent album in the 90's.
Peak position #3
Hit singles
Alive #20
Even flow #20
Jeremy #34
Oceans #16
I should point out that while it wasn't well received even upon its initial release, the Bodyguard was one of the most commercially successful films of all time worldwide which no doubt played a huge part in the soundtrack being a huge success for its star Whitney Houston.
Peak position #1x8
Hit singles
I will always love you #1
I'm every woman #5
I have nothing #20
It was the sequel to the 1977 classic no one was asking for, but everyone was nonetheless grateful for when it came out due to it somehow recapturing the magic from the original fifteen years after its initial release. It was a massive success in NZ as it was everywhere else in the world proving that rock operas from the 70's had held up remarkably well even during the age of RNB and EDM.
Peak position #1x4
Hit singles
I'd do anything for love #1
Rock and roll dreams come through #6
Objects in the rear view mirror may appear closer than they are #32
This was a massive hit for the Mutton birds in NZ, I'm guessing they were able to benefit from the strong alternative scene that NZ had throughout the 90's much like many other bands that either had more success over there or otherwise failed to score any success here in Australia.
Peak position #2
Hit singles
Dominion road #31
Nature #4
Giant friend #20
Your window #19
Even though this managed to spawn a hit for Boyz II Men in NZ upon its initial release, it still was a flop for them over there until their theme to the Boomerang film starring Eddie Murphy broke records worldwide. It was included in the rerelease of the album which allowed it to become a massive success there as well as spawn two additional singles from the album.
Peak position #4
Hit singles
Motownphilly #38
It's so hard to say goodbye to yesterday #3
End of the road #1
Please don't go #3
In the still of the nite #1
Billy Joel had been struggling to retain his popularity over in NZ for almost a decade at this point, however he managed to score a massive comeback over there when this album became a surprise hit for him due to the title track being one of his biggest hits of his catalogue. Who knows if this comeback would've remained as he never released another album after this.
Peak position #1x1
Hit singles
The river of dreams #1
All about soul #22
Lullaby #43
I'm sure if the 90's wasn't all about breaking records on Billboard, then these guys would've had their success on time worldwide as opposed to their debut album needing that one in a million shot of taking off through word of mouth back in the day. Indeed, the band was also successful in NZ because of this tardy approach, and their second album would be a flop the following year due to how unconventional it was.
Peak position #1x2
Hit singles
Little miss can't be wrong #5
Two princes #4
Jimmy Olsen's blues #23
Boney M was one of the most successful bands of the 70's worldwide, so of course this album would be a massive success in NZ this year. Curiously it wasn't here in Australia despite the German band arguably being even bigger here, I guess we Aussies were still mad at Frank Farian for deceiving us with Milli vanilli.
Peak position #2
Hit singles
Mega mix #49
This album's success was inevitable in NZ, although it was a success only the same time it crossed over here in Australia so perhaps it was a result of them winning best new artist at the Grammys this year. This win did allow their songs to become much bigger this year over there which set them up for so much hype for their next album that they failed to meet.
Peak position #6
Hit singles
Tennessee #12
People everyday #6
Mr wendal #2
Revolution #2
Natural #34
This was an even bigger success in NZ for Crowded house, suggesting that the kiwis preferred these guys the less they sounded like Split Enz (that or they just found their full niche over there in the 90's rather than the 80's.) It really does make you wonder why they decided to call it quits later in the decade considering how well they were doing in both countries in the southern hemisphere.
Peak position #1x1
Hit singles
Distant sun #5
Nails in my feet #11
Together alone #37
Pineapple head #50
While they were never that huge anywhere in the world, the Cult did have moderate success in NZ which even included a number one hit which was all the incentive the kiwis needed into making this greatest hits album a success for the band this year.
Peak position #1x3
This was one of those soundtrack/album hybrids that was very popular throughout the 90's in the music industry, after all this was named after her biopic of the same name which became a box office success this year as well as a critical darling due to strong performances from Angela Bassett as Tina and Laurence Fishburne as Ike.
Peak position #6
Hit singles
I don't wanna fight #7
Disco inferno #25
Although this didn't chart as high in NZ as it did here in Australia, the trade-off was that this lasted much longer on their charts due to it spawning several minor hits over there in addition to their one inescapable hit they had around this time. Nowadays it's only known for two reasons, it being the launching pad for frontwoman Linda Perry's career as a songwriter and for how hated the lead single remains to this day.
Peak position #10
Hit singles
What's up #2
Spaceman #23
Dear Mr president #40
I guess there was a tradition for there to be a successful greatest hits album from the Little river band once every ten years in NZ, this was the second of three successful albums to come from the band in this vein despite their back catalogue not being a success over there like it was here in Australia.
Peak position #1x2
Although her popularity in NZ wasn't the same as it was here in Australia, that still didn't prevent this greatest hits album from Bette Midler from becoming a huge success over there this year. Admittedly it didn't linger on the charts over there like it did over here, so it wasn't quite as inescapable there as it was here.
Peak position #3
Much like here in Australia, Lenny's ambitions of being the (then) modern equivalent of Jimi Hendrix were certainly palpable to the kiwis. As such, they invested themselves in the genuine article with this greatest hits package which was as a reason as any for it to be a massive success for him.
Peak position #1x1
This was the live album that Genesis released following the conclusion of their Way we walk tour, it was a huge flop in Australia likely because we Aussies were done with anything affiliated with Phil Collins, however it was a massive hit over in NZ likely because of how much the kiwis loved their (then) latest album We can't dance.
Peak position #2
This was way more of a success in NZ than it was here in Australia for Nirvana as was the case for their previous album, I'm guessing this was because rock music in general seemed to be more popular over there which is odd given how Nirvana were among the first bands to truly gain success due to their exposure on Triple J down under.
Peak position #3
Hit singles
Heart shaped box #9
All apologies #32
Unlike in Australia where this popped up multiple times during its chart run, this only popped up twice in NZ. The first time was upon its initial release where it was yet another easy success for Janet Jackson over there and the second was two years later when "Whoops now" became a surprise chart topper for her over there.
Peak position #1x1
Hit singles
That's the way love goes #1
If #8
Again #13
Because of love #23
Any time any place #20
You want this #11
Whoops now #1
This managed to be an even bigger success for Van Morrison in NZ as in addition to him also having a bestselling greatest hits package this decade, he also managed to have a huge album exactly ten years prior over there which proves that the kiwis were always ready to hand the Irish crooner success.
Peak position #3
Hit singles
Gloria #46
From what I can gather, the Seekers did have moderate success on the Listener charts in NZ, meaning that this album which was released once Judith Durham rejoined the band becoming a hit over there does make sense.
Peak position #3
Classical music was still one of the most popular genres in the mainstream in NZ this far into the decade, as such we have this classical album from soprano singer Dawn Upshaw who managed to score a massive hit over there with this album and even briefly charted here in Australia as well.
Peak position #3
This is a sequel to Neil Young's solo breakthrough Harvest from two decades prior, naturally it was a success in most parts of the world including NZ as it's able to make an appearance on my site because of how much the kiwis loved it this year. Curiously it bombed here in Australia, I guess we Aussies didn't have much nostalgia for Neil's catalogue around this time.
Peak position #7
I'm guessing the film was a huge success over in NZ considering how big both the soundtrack and the one single it spawned was over there, either that or the kiwis really did have nostalgia for John Paul Young's one and only hit there which wasn't even that big back in the day. It was likely because of this success that the film was released internationally this year where it became a critical darling.
Peak position #4
Hit singles
Love is in the air (ballroom mix) #2
Following the commercial disappointment of his previous album the Soul cages in NZ, Sting was able to bounce back over there with this album which served to prove the kiwis that he was able to survive the transition from the 80's to the 90's after all which is something many of his contemporaries weren't able to do at the time.
Peak position #5
Hit singles
It's probably me #11
If I ever lose my faith in you #36
Fields of gold #34
This was a greatest hits package from Hot chocolate that became a success in NZ this year and nowhere else in the world, I guess the kiwis still had nostalgia for the band during their heyday from the 70's and early 80's.
Peak position #3
This was slightly less successful in NZ than it was here in Australia, although considering it spawned the band a genuine hit over there, I don't think they minded as much if this didn't bring in the numbers that their earlier material did throughout the 80's.
Peak position #5
Hit singles
Truganini #4
My country #49
Outbreak of love #45
I honestly would've been surprised if this was a flop for Sade in NZ given that it managed to be a huge success for them over here in Australia, once again, it's low placement on this list is more due to it being a sleeper hit as it could've easily appeared much higher on here had it spent more time in the upper echelons of the NZ charts.
Peak position #5
Hit singles
No ordinary love #17
Feel no pain #48
Kiss of life #33
This proved to be a minor success for Jimmy Barnes in NZ this year, I guess the kiwis didn't mind him returning to form for one last time with this album given how popular the first Soul deep album was over there.
Peak position #3
Hit singles
Sweat it out #30
Stone cold #14
Given how she found plenty of success with her two previous bands Netherworld dancing toys and When the cats away (two of the dumber names I've featured on this site so far) it only makes sense that Annie Crummer's first solo album would be a massive success for her even if it was more for the singles rather than the album itself. Still the album did last for quite some time on their charts even if it was on the lower half.
Peak position #9
Hit singles
See what love can do #3
Language #3
Seven waters #18
I'm not entirely sure if this is the correct entry for this list or if there's a NZ exclusive album Billy Joel released given how this entry is for an album that's simply titled Billy Joel greatest hits, either way, it appears the kiwis allowed him to find success with a greatest hits album right before he released his earlier entry on this list.
Peak position #10
I did mention in my 1990 list that this recharted due to the sudden popularity Van Morrison experienced this year worldwide, here we are with this entry’s resurgence in popularity thanks to the success he was experiencing.
Peak position #8
You know that an artist is popular when the second edition of a greatest hits package manages to become a success for them, in this case we have volume II from Van Morrison's album from the start of the decade following the success of his earlier entry on this list.
Peak position #6
This was another album from Michael Bolton that wasn't nearly as successful in NZ as it was here in Australia, I should point out that each of his albums were sleeper hits over there as opposed to mainstream successes like they were here in Australia.
Peak position #9
Hit singles
To love somebody #39
Drift away #23
This is a bit of a surprise entry given how it spent most of its time on the lower half of the NZ charts, however it lasted for quite some time and likely failed to appear on the upper echelons of their charts due to stiff competition rather than the kiwis not being interested in the band's biggest success here in Australia.
Peak position #17
Hit singles
Where do you go #49
We the people #36
True tears of joy #47
Holy grail #25
This was originally a flop for Headless chickens upon its initial release even though it spawned a huge hit for them, it was given a second chance when the band managed to score a few more hurts since its release which compelled them to reissue the album this year with these hits included on the album which made it a modest success.
Peak position #17
Hit singles
Gaskrankinstation #28
Cruise control #6
Donde esta la pollo #7
Juice #7
Mr moon #22
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
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
Well Simple minds were one of the biggest bands of the 80's in NZ, so it stands to reason this greatest hits album would be a massive success over there just like it was over here from around this time.
Peak position #1x4
Just a fair warning that when it comes to the east coast/west coast rivalry in the 90's, the kiwis are on the firm side of the west coast as just about every west coast rapper had some degree of success over there back in the day. One of the earliest success stories was Cypress hill who admittedly needed a push for success which came this year when they scored a massive hit with one of the songs from their second album.
Peak position #2
Hit singles
Insane in the brain #12
I ain't going out like that #6
When the shit goes down #5
Named after their signature track from their 1980 album Remain in light (despite that never being a commercial success anywhere in the world) this greatest hits package from Talking heads proved to be a huge hit for them over in NZ despite it being a massive flop for them here in Australia for some reason.
Peak position #3
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 a huge flop here in Australia, although I could say the same for many of the new entries from these greatest hits albums that have appeared on this side of my site, suggesting the kiwis were much more nostalgic for older artists around this time than we Aussies were.
Peak position #3
Much like the rest of the world, the kiwis could only tolerate Billy Ray Cyrus for one album as his subsequent follow ups failed to make an impact over there despite the album popularising the line dance craze of the 90's. The success of his singles was also largely the same as it was in Australia, although that's only the case if you were to cut the lead singles success in half and apply that success to the second single.
Peak position #2
Hit singles
Achy breaky heart #1
Could've been me #7
These boots are made for walking #42
It appears the kiwis were also on board with having Frank Sinatra find success with this duets album he released less than five years prior to his untimely death as we Aussies were, I guess there was a bit of a nostalgic factor to this albums success given how he hadn't found any success in either country since the 60's which coincidentally was a duet with his daughter about their (platonic) love for each other.
Peak position #3
Given how Joe Cocker was experiencing arguably the peak of his career over in NZ around this time, it makes sense that this greatest hits package of his managed to be a huge success over there like it was over here back in the day.
Peak position #6
It looks like the kiwis were more interested in checking out the back catalogue of RHCP than we Aussies were given how this was more successful over there than it was over here for the band, indeed the band in general found way more success over there back in the day likely due to their funk influences.
Peak position #5
It had been a while since Dave Dobbyn last troubled the charts in his homeland, however that didn't prevent this greatest hits album from being a success over there which likely encouraged his comeback shortly after its release given how he scored a big hit over there following its success.
Peak position #4
This proved to be more successful in NZ than it was here in Australia, I'm guessing because it's technically a NZ film as well as an Australian production and this was back when the kiwis really did look out for their own when it came to their entertainment industry. Aside from that, the trajectory this soundtrack had over there was the same as it skyrocketed in popularity when the film swept the Oscars.
Peak position #3
I'm a bit surprised this wasn't even bigger in NZ than it was here in Australia given how much of a winning streak AC/DC were on over there compared to over here, at least it spawned a minor hit with its lead single even if it was likely more due to nostalgia than anything else.
Peak position #3
Hit singles
Highway to hell #9
Dirty deeds done dirt cheap #34
While this wasn't as popular in NZ as it was here in Australia for Frente, it was nonetheless a huge success over there due to the success of its second single as well as the personality on display giving the album a sense of life to it for the listener (it does have feelings after all.) Sadly, the second album from the band wasn't a success for them which led to them breaking up later in the decade.
Peak position #4
Hit singles
Ordinary angels #30
Accidentally Kelly street #4
The kiwis were far more invested in the post death career of Freddie Mercury than we Aussies it seems, not only did he score a huge hit posthumously with an opera singer from his 1987 album, but he also saw huge success with this greatest hits package over there which was more or less his two solo albums compiled together for one convenient release.
Peak position #4
Hit singles
Barcelona #2
The great pretender #36
Cher was certainly on a winning streak over in NZ during the first stretch of the decade, so much so that this greatest hits package she released proved to be a huge success over there despite it being a massive failure here in Australia as was the case for several of these new entries on this side of my site.
Peak position #6
This originally charted earlier in the decade following the success of the Doors biopic in 1991, however for some reason it didn't peak in NZ until this year likely for the same reason it wasn't a success here in Australia until 1993, namely that it was released on CD for the first time over there.
Peak position #5
It looks like this was a bigger success for the Rolling stones in NZ than it was here in Australia, I guess the kiwis were willing to have these sorts of albums dominate their mainstream at the time even if I'm unsure how successful this album was upon its initial release 22 years prior over there.
Peak position #2
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