Hits of Australia and NZ: Hits of the 80's Australia VI

I know this feels a little reductive considering every entry on this list appeared on my biggest hits of 1980-1992 lists, however I love the 80's and I'm sure the 80's aficionados in my audience would want a list like this given how I've already done one for the 90's and 70's on this site. The same rules I applied to the 90's list apply here, I'll only add commentary to songs that didn't appear on one of my official year end lists and will be ranking them based on how long they lasted on our charts.

#37 for 1982

#38 for 1982

This is a bit of an odd entry given how we have a classic two for one deal here, it's also odd since both of these songs made the cut for this list but not "Love dimension" which was the second single from Kate Ceberano's solo album from the end of the 80's. I guess all three songs are about as big as each other were you to separate these two from each other in terms of popularity.

Although the original version of this song charted upon its initial release here in Australia, it was this version from their 1987 album which became the sleeper hit here due to it being released around the time of their American breakthrough "Is this love" (stay tuned for that in a bit.) Sadly, this was the full extent of Whitesnake's popularity here in Australia given they were just one of many hair metal bands of the moment.

It turns out this was a modest success here in Australia for Psychedelic furs after all given how it managed to chart long enough to qualify for this list of mine, although I guess it was seen as too bizarre for us Aussies for it to be a genuine success with the likes of ABC and Madness upon its initial release. Regardless of its minimal success back in the day, it's presence on oldies stations has since ensured its legacy here.

#39 for 1982

Although they didn't see the dizzying heights of success here in Australia that they did internationally, it appears the Brothers Johnson were able to find massive success with their brand of RNB and disco given how both of their entries on the NZ side of my site managed to be sleeper hits over here back in the day ("Strawberry letter 23" would've made the cut here had I included 70's tracks.)

Given how "I want a new drug" was the big hit for Huey Lewis over in NZ from their breakthrough album Sports, it only makes sense that the other favourite on oldies stations from that album would be their big sleeper hit here in Australia which thankfully didn't have any baggage attached to it back in the day involving a song ripping off its melody like their anti-drug classic did.

It's rather bizarre that this would be OMD's biggest hit here in Australia given how it owes its success to the band performing "We love you" on Countdown around the time it was released as a single, then again stranger things have happened throughout the 80's when it comes to our music scene. This won't be the band's final appearance on this list given how their theme to Pretty in pink is still to come.

Just like in NZ, this debut single from Fine young cannibals was also pushed aside here in Australia upon its initial release in favour of all the Live aid shenanigans found in the midpoint of the 80's. That of course didn't prevent this from being a massive success for the band here back in the day, rather it just slipped through the cracks of mainstream relevancy which prevented it from appearing on my 1985 list.

#61 for 1987

21 weeks

#47 for 1981

#40 for 1982

#55 for 1980

#46 for 1983

#48 for 1981

#62 for 1987

#66 for 1988

#44 for 1984

#41 for 1982

#47 for 1983

#49 for 1981

#42 for 1982

#38 for 1986

#63 for 1987

#48 for 1983

#43 for 1982

#41 for 1985

#67 for 1988

#68 for 1988

#57 for 1989

#42 for 1985

#49 for 1983

#56 for 1980

#50 for 1981

#51 for 1981

#57 for 1980

#58 for 1979

#58 for 1980

#59 for 1980

#60 for 1980

#52 for 1981

#44 for 1982

#61 for 1980

#53 for 1981

#45 for 1984

#43 for 1985

#54 for 1981

#45 for 1982

#50 for 1983

#64 for 1987

#39 for 1986

#51 for 1983

#52 for 1983

#44 for 1985

#58 for 1989

#69 for 1988

#65 for 1987

#59 for 1989

#55 for 1981

#53 for 1983

#54 for 1983

#66 for 1987

#40 for 1986

#56 for 1981

#46 for 1984

#57 for 1981

#60 for 1989

#45 for 1985

#67 for 1987

#58 for 1981

#47 for 1984

#46 for 1982

#41 for 1986

#48 for 1984

#68 for 1987

#59 for 1981

#70 for 1988

#60 for 1981

#47 for 1982

Whereas this was released as the second single in NZ from Billy Idol's solo debut, this was the first single here in Australia which meant that this was his first impression on us Aussies as opposed to "White wedding" with the kiwis. That said, the main reason why it didn't appear on one of my lists on this side of my site was due to it peaking during our Christmas period of 1982 where it faced stiff competition.

#42 for 1986

I'm a bit surprised this wasn't a bigger hit here in Australia given how A: it was a massive worldwide success for Hot chocolate and B: their performance of the song on Countdown was widely praised by viewers upon its initial release. Then again, it did peak during the Christmas period of 1982, meaning that there were a ton of other songs it was up against which are all fondly remembered to this day.

#49 for 1984

Given how she left the 80's with one of the biggest hits of all time here in Australia, it’s a bit surprising that the third single from Heart of stone wouldn't be more of a success here were it not for the fact that said album was a massive success in its own right and thus would've eaten up most of its success here. Even so, that didn't prevent this track which compares Cher's relationship to that of an American outlaw from being a success here.

#69 for 1987

#46 for 1985

#55 for 1983

Much like in NZ, this also managed to be a huge sleeper hit here in Australia which is how it managed to appear on this list of mine just like it did on my bonus list for the 80's on that side of my site. Interestingly this came bundled with "Stop your fussing" in the southern hemisphere, meaning that song was technically a hit twice in both countries even though I haven't included its stats with this entry.

#61 for 1981

Evidently a film called White nights has not one, but two Oscar nominated ballads on its soundtrack, although this one was far less successful outside of America given how "Say you say me" was the big hit off the film due to it winning the academy award. In fact, I'm willing to bet the only reason why this got any attention was due to it having Phil Collins name on it during the height of his popularity.

I guess now I can comfortably say that all three of Paul Young's big hits from his debut album have featured on both side of my site, although curiously, none of his hits from his second album have appeared on here including his Billboard chart topper "Every time you go away." In any case, he had quite the run with his earlier work in the southern hemisphere that promised a long career for him.

#71 for 1988

#72 for 1988

#47 for 1985

This barely missed the cut on appearing on the NZ side of my site, although I get the feeling the only reason why this was a success at all was due to the novelty of the only two duets on Julio's first English language album being released as singles back in the day. OK that and having Diana Ross duet with you also would've contributed to this song's popularity upon its release.

20 weeks