Seeing as though I've covered the most popular albums of the twentieth century in the UK a while back, it only seems fitting to do the same for the most popular albums of the twentieth century on Billboard which should complete my run for overlooking the most popular music of all time in the English-speaking side of the world. Again, I'm only including albums on here that were a success in Australia and/or NZ to avoid making a fool of myself talking about successful albums in America that I've never heard of.
This is the final entry from Fleetwood mac on this list, normally it would be the second entry on a list given how well received this was throughout the rest of the world. For the most part it was well received in America, however there's a noticeable drop in popularity compared to its international release, suggesting the Americans weren't that impressed with it back in the day.
Peak position #7
Hit singles
Big love #5
Seven wonders #19
Little lies #4
Everywhere #14
#40 for 1987 (#7 cash box)
#49 for 1988
It's a bit surprising to see that this album makes the cut due to its success here in Australia given how we Aussies weren't that big into RNB back in the day (or now for that matter.) It took off here due to the success of "Have you ever" which confirmed Brandy as the hot new star she was in her homeland throughout the 90's. At the very least, her singles were inescapable in NZ even if her albums weren't.
Peak position #2
Hit singles
The boy is mine #1 (#2 airplay)
Have you ever #1 (#1 airplay)
Almost doesn't count #16 (#7 airplay)
#29 for 1998
#26 for 1999
This was another entry on the Australian side of my site that only made it on there due to my insistence in including every album that appeared on a yearend list back in the day, this is fortunate as I'm able to include this entry from Mr Mister on this list like I did for the UK list to show just how inescapable the American band was on both sides of the Atlantic.
Peak position #1x1
Hit singles
Broken wings #1
Kyrie #1
#7 for 1986 (#14 cash box)
As Led zeppelin were a hard rock band, they naturally saw more success in America than they did in their homeland even though they were a non-American band finding success on Billboard. I think this goes to show just how much their fellow Brits weren't into rock and roll over the years if they can find more success internationally than with the endorsement of TOTP.
Peak position #1x6
#10 for 1975 (#12 cash box)
This is another entry on both this and my UK list that only qualified due to me including all the sleeper hits here in Australia from back in the day, I guess we Aussies and kiwis saw these guys as a bit of a novelty with the lead single to this album which wasn't the case for the Brits and their fellow Americans. They had some success with their next album in their homeland before they became yesterdays' news.
Peak position #4
Hit singles
Le freak #1
I want your love #7
#30 for 1979 (#20 cash box)
We have our second live album on this list following the appearance of Cheap trick's live album from Budokan, this time it's from Fleetwood mac who may have been has-beens as far as new music was concerned by the late 90's but were nonetheless able to put on a good show which was reflected by this album's success worldwide.
Peak position #1x1
#36 for 1997
#32 for 1998
Much like in NZ, this was only a minor success in ZZ top's homeland given how the band had little to no success prior to its release. It was given a major boost in popularity when it crossed over to the UK of all places which allowed the rest of the world to check out what all the fuss was about. They found success going into the 90's, however they only have one more entry on the main list.
Peak position #9
Hit singles
Legs #8
#31 for 1983 (#43 cash box)
#7 for 1984 (#17 cash box)
#65 for 1985
We're finally picking up steam when it comes to live albums on this list, this one comes to us from Bruce Springsteen fresh off his Born in the USA world tour which showcases how great he is in front of a live audience. For all the success he achieved throughout the 70's and 80's, his decline in popularity is something to behold.
Peak position #1x7
Hit singles
War #8
#43 for 1987
Given how the lead single was a worldwide success regardless of where in the world you're from, it was inevitable that this album from Foreigner would be a huge success in their homeland as it was internationally. They did see sound success with their next album as that spawned a few hits for them, however it was too sound for it to be a candidate for this list.
Peak position #4
Hit singles
I want to know what love is #1
#20 for 1985 (#14 cash box)
This was just as big of a surprise hit for Linda Ronstadt in her native America as it was internationally given how she hadn't touched a chart anywhere in the world since her previous entry from 1983 on this list. I guess people could relate to the themes of the album seeing as though it does suck growing old, however it did little to retain her audience moving into the 90's.
Peak position #7
Hit singles
Don't know much #2
#14 for 1990 (#18 cash box)
If only we Aussies and kiwis made the debut album from the Beastie boys a success in the southern hemisphere, then they'd had more than one entry on this list and my UK list as the hip hop trio did remarkably well in both countries back in the day. We'll have to settle for this entry from eleven years later which put the boys back on the map after a decade of total silence in the mainstream.
Peak position #1x3
Hit singles
Intergalactic #28
#13 for 1998
#104 for 1999
I had a theme for my early 90's lists that the 80's may have been over officially but it kept going on in spirit, this was definitely the case in America where hair metal and arena rock reigned supreme on Billboard until the grunge movement exploded in 1992 (right when Neil scan began calculating the Billboard charts conveniently enough.) This is why Van Halen is so high up on this list with this entry.
Peak position #1x3
#37 for 1991 (#12 cash box)
#75 for 1992
Unlike the rest of the world where these guys are a one hit wonder with "A horse with no name," they were a huge deal in America which makes sense why this greatest hits album was a success on Billboard during the midpoint of the 70's. For everyone else, this feels more like a gateway to the catalogue they passed up much like the Eagles entry from earlier.
Peak position #3
Hit singles
Lonely people #5
#9 for 1976 (#5 cash box)
Even though this was barely a hit here in Australia for Yes, at least it was a genuine hit for them in America to the point where it spawned a Billboard chart topper for the British band. I'm not sure why the rest of the world largely rejected this album other than maybe everyone crying sellout given how this was one of the more well-respected prog bands of the 70's.
Peak position #5
Hit singles
Owner of a lonely heart #1
#91 for 1983 (cash box)
#21 for 1984 (#15 cash box)
Of the three solo albums that Robert Plant found success with, I wasn't expecting this one to be his biggest in America even taking into account Americans appreciation of how the late 80's was all about older artists trying (and in many ways failing) to adapt with the times. I guess this trend explains why there's detractors' of 80's music as a construct as there's a very "how do you do fellow kids" feel to a lot of these albums.
Peak position #6
Hit singles
Tall cool one #25
#20 for 1988 (#18 cash box)
I'm guessing Linda Ronstadt had her finger on the pulse when it comes to international trends as she made what I'm sure felt like a controversial move from her fellow Americans by pivoting to new wave on this album. The gambit paid off given how successful this was in her homeland as well as here in Australia, although she didn't remain in the genre as she pivoted to standards for her next album.
Peak position #3
Hit singles
How do I make you #10
#27 for 1980 (#13 cash box)
I wasn't expecting this album to be a success on the Billboard charts, certainly not above Stars on 45 which won't be appearing this list for quite some time. This is all the more surprising when you consider the fact there isn't a lot of classical music on this list like there is on the Australian, NZ and UK lists on this site.
Peak position #4
Hit singles
Hooked on classics #10
#13 for 1982 (#15 cash box)
You know the drill by now, this is a rock album from the 90's which supposedly was only a success on Billboard because their label didn't release any singles in America, this is despite the fact the album did just as well (if not better) internationally which did allow the album to have singles released. Soundgarden is just another band that should've done gangbusters with their singles on Billboard.
Peak position #1x1
#19 for 1994 (#4 cash box)
#88 for 1995
Well at least Metallica was able to have their songs chart on Billboard due to their label releasing them as singles, it didn't seem to affect the album one way or another given how the songs bombed on Billboard, however I feel this goes to show that American audiences of the 90's didn't allow single sales to affect their love of the album.
Peak position #1x4
Hit singles
Until it sleeps #10
Hero of the day #60
#14 for 1996
#56 for 1997
I'm a bit surprised we haven't seen more of Barbra Streisand's 70's output on this list yet (we'll get to it eventually) however at least her second greatest hits album was just as popular in her homeland as it was internationally given how inescapable she was as a musician and an actress. This album seemed to have activated the greatest hits curse not on her singing career but rather her acting career as her movie output slowed down after this.
Peak position #1x3
Hit singles
You don't bring me flowers #1
#28 for 1979 (#21 cash box)
Given how this is Steve Miller's biggest album internationally, it makes sense that it would be a huge hit for him in his homeland even if it didn't surpass the success it achieved worldwide on Billboard. I guess it was a mixed blessing that he adapted with the MTV era with this album, good enough to be a success but not good enough to be considered a classic like his earlier entry.
Peak position #3
Hit singles
Abracadabra #1
#77 for 1982 (#17 cash box)
There were no signs of Jackson Browne slowing down moving into the 80's in his homeland, in fact this is his best charting album here in Australia which suggests we Aussies were finally seeing what all the fuss was about with this guy when it first dropped. There are still two more entries to come from this guy to give you an idea of how well he did in both countries.
Peak position #1x1
#12 for 1980 (cash box)
I'm less surprised that this was a massive hit in America so much as I am that this underperformed here in Australia, again this only made it on the Australian side of my site due to my insistence of filling up each list with 100 entries, however I can't understand just how uninterested we Aussies were with Livie's albums until her acting breakthrough with Grease.
Peak position #1x1
Hit singles
I honestly love you #1
Have you ever been mellow #1
Please Mr please #3
#13 for 1975 (#4 cash box)
Given how popular both Nirvana and MTV unplugged was throughout the world in the 90's, it only makes sense that the band's presence on the program would be a massive success in their homeland even if it was for sentimental value as this was the first release from their label following Kurt's tragic death.
Peak position #1x1
#13 for 1995 (#19 cash box)
It's not that surprising that this wasn't as popular in America as it was in the UK given how Paul Simon's comeback period was more popular with the Brits than it was with his fellow Americans. Just like everywhere else in the world, this was the last original album that Paul found success with in his homeland.
Peak position #4
Hit singles
The obvious child #92
#22 for 1991 (#42 cash box)
It's tough to determine how successful this breakthrough album from Janis Ian would be here in Australia had Countdown not pushed aside American artists in favour of local talent throughout the 70's. I'd say odds are good as her biggest success here was when she did appear on Countdown in 1980, suggesting there was always an audience for her down under.
Peak position #1x1
Hit singles
At seventeen #3
#12 for 1975 (#43 cash box)
It turns out this album's success from Barry Manilow was late over in NZ by a full year, I guess the kiwis needed some convincing in handing Barry success as he was a one hit wonder over there prior to this albums release with "Mandy." This wasn't an issue in his native America given how he was one of the biggest names in music throughout the 70's on Billboard.
Peak position #1x1
#49 for 1977 (#24 cash box)
#35 for 1978
There was so much chaos on the charts in the mid 80's that it's somewhat of a miracle this managed to make the cut for my 1985 list, it's easy to see the appeal here as it's essentially a Duran Duran album if you swapped out Simon Le Bon for Robert Palmer as the lead vocalist. This was a bargain deal for the Americans to the point where it boosted Palmer's popularity on Billboard following its success.
Peak position #6
Hit singles
Some like it hot #6
Get it on #9
#31 for 1985 (#18 cash box)
Although this album has a fairly low peak position, it's refusal to drop out of the Billboard charts for the longest time ensured it would have a high placement on this list for Sting. He was certainly on a roll when he released this album even if the success of his singles was beginning to dry up globally, I guess that's a small price to pay for thriving throughout the 90's.
Peak position #9
Hit singles
We'll be together #7
#42 for 1987 (cash box)
#24 for 1988 (#20 cash box)
I wasn't expecting to feature this album before Sade's debut album on this list, however this is where we're at given how they saw a massive comeback in the early 90's throughout the world (except their homeland funnily enough.) If you can believe it, this isn't the most recent success they had in America as their next album was also a massive hit for them on Billboard.
Peak position #3
Hit singles
No ordinary love #28
Kiss of life #78
#12 for 1993 (#11 cash box)
Looking at how well they did in America compared to the rest of the world, I'm a bit surprised that the Cars were so successful in Australia and NZ given how this album's success on Billboard would suggest they would struggle to appeal to us Aussies and kiwis. Admittedly it was the kiwis who made their debut a household name, so perhaps we Aussies were following their suit more than anything.
Peak position #3
Hit singles
Let's go #14
#82 for 1979 (#9 cash box)
#32 for 1980
Given how we've looked at two albums from Steve Miller on this list, it's a bit surprising that this was his big success here in Australia as it was the weakest of his three entries in his homeland. I guess this was a success here in Australia as penance for us Aussies ignoring his top entry on this list, however I can't think of how we made an exception for him over his 70's contemporaries.
Peak position #2
Hit singles
Jet airliner #8
#44 for 1977 (#17 cash box)
#74 for 1978
I'm a bit surprised this wasn't even bigger in America given how much international success it achieved for Joan Jett and company, although I guess you can argue the bulk of its success came from the title track which broke down barriers back in the day due to radio stations not knowing how to categorise it (ah the days where rock had its own separate fanbases depending on the sub-genre.)
Peak position #2
Hit singles
I love rock and roll #1
Crimson and clover #7
#22 for 1982 (#10 cash box)
I told you Sting was still at the peak of his popularity by the 90's in America, in fact this was arguably bigger on Billboard than anywhere else in the world even if the singles didn't light up their singles chart (then again what did.) This isn't the last entry from Sting as he had other success throughout the 90's worldwide.
Peak position #2
Hit singles
If I ever lose my faith in you #17
Fields of gold #23
#21 for 1993 (#9 cash box)
The Bee gees success in America was about the same as it was throughout the rest of the world in the 70's, this means that their greatest hits album they released when the decade ended was bound to be a success on Billboard which of course activated the greatest hits curse where a band or artist would suffer commercial failure upon said albums release.
Peak position #1x1
#62 for 1979 (cash box)
#33 for 1980 (#54 cash box)
Whereas this was an outlier to for Eric Clapton in NZ and his native UK, this albums success was a surefire thing on Billboard where there wasn't an unwritten rule to prevent him from finding success in the mainstream like there seemed to be on those two countries. Still at least this was a success on those countries as opposed to here in Australia where it was a massive bomb.
Peak position #2
#47 for 1980 (#19 cash box)
We haven't seen a Billy Joel entry on this list for a while, have we? Here we are with an album that often gets overlooked in his catalogue due to being sandwiched between two entries we've looked at from earlier on this list. It won't be too much longer before we've looked at every eligible album from the American piano man on this list.
Peak position #7
Hit singles
Pressure #20
Allentown #17
#35 for 1982 (cash box)
#33 for 1983 (#31 cash box)
Of all the entries from the 90's to not release songs as singles in America, I wasn't expecting a soundtrack to be among them and yet here we are with the soundtrack to Romeo + Juliet which joins the likes of the Fugees and Pearl jam as a successful album that had no charting singles on Billboard from that decade. The film was a massive critical and commercial success, was denying it singles success really necessary?
Peak position #2
Hit singles
Lovefool #2 (airplay)
#12 for 1997
Even though they wound up having more success in their native UK than they did in America, it's worth noting that Dire straits originally found their success on Billboard with their debut album before their fellow Brits realised what they were missing out on and made it a hit. Of course, its success in both countries pale in comparison to what it achieved in Australia and NZ back in the day.
Peak position #2
Hit singles
Sultans of swing #4
#23 for 1979 (#15 cash box)
Oh Beaches, you're a movie the internet loves to hate because you had the audacity to make even the most hardened souls cry during your climax. Naturally the film was a box office success despite initial negative reviews that unfavourably compared it to a 40's soap opera, however audiences were able to look past these reviews and made it and the soundtrack a (in my opinion) well deserved success.
Peak position #2
Hit singles
Wind beneath my wings #1
#14 for 1989 (#13 cash box)
#74 for 1990
Although they managed to find success in their native America with their singles, it appears that Blondie was more well known for said singles as their albums didn't do as well on Billboard as they did internationally. This was the most successful of said albums, likely because it spawned not one but two chart toppers for them as well as their most well-known singles in internet circles.
Peak position #7
Hit singles
The tide is high #1
Rapture #1
#28 for 1981 (#19 cash box)
Even though this album allowed the songs to be singles in America, said singles massively underperformed on Billboard and yet the album was still a massive success for Cypress hill upon its release. It was so successful that it even found crossover success here in Australia where hip hop at the time was about as welcome as K pop on the Billboard charts pre BTS.
Peak position #1x2
Hit singles
Insane in the brain #19
I ain't going out like that #65
#33 for 1993 (#25 cash box)
#98 for 1994
I'm as surprised as you are that this didn't make it on my UK list, it had the potential as it did chart high on the UK charts for the Clash, however it appears their fellow Brits weren't too impressed with this album from the punk band. This did way better in NZ and America of all places, likely due to how big the lead single was in both countries which makes its failure here in Australia all the more puzzling.
Peak position #7
Hit singles
Rock the casbah #8
#70 for 1982 (#94 cash box)
#30 for 1983 (#42 cash box)
Given how this began the trend of releasing a soundtrack to an artist's performance on MTV unplugged, it's reasonable that this wasn't the biggest thing in the world for Mariah Carey on Billboard even if it found massive worldwide audience for her. Think of it as a proof of concept that gave the green light to the other MTV album's we've seen so far on this list.
Peak position #3
Hit singles
I'll be there #1 (#1 airplay)
#35 for 1992 (#16 cash box)
It took us a while, but we've finally come across a studio album from Kenny Rogers which allows me to say that he did indeed find massive success in his homeland just like he did internationally as the 70's became the 80's. This came close to appearing on my UK list as it did crack the UK top ten, however it was too minor a success for that to happen.
Peak position #5
Hit singles
You decorated my life #7
Coward of the county #3
#54 for 1979 (cash box)
#10 for 1980 (#22 cash box)
Following the surprise worldwide success of their previous album, it appears the Americans decided to examine the back catalogue of AC/DC which resulted in their 1976 effort being a massive success on Billboard five years after its initial release. Naturally none of the singles were released over there, a missed opportunity given how they would've fit in perfectly for the times.
Peak position #3
#30 for 1981 (#16 cash box)
Tim Burton's Batman is one of the few cultural phenomena from the twentieth century the internet still allows us to like, making it and its accompanying soundtrack from Prince a rare exception to the rule I've discovered where something inescapably popular in America is now loathed by those who wished the twentieth century had different media become cultural phenomenon's.
Peak position #1x6
Hit singles
Batdance #1
Partyman #18
The arms of Orion #36
#40 for 1989 (#14 cash box)
It may have only been for a week, however I would've laughed so hard if this album from Wings failed to get to number one in America given that it's a live album they recorded while on tour over there. Honestly that's the only new thing I can come up with for this entry as its success on Billboard is the same as it was globally.
Peak position #1x1
#35 for 1977 (#12 cash box)
Following the success of his live album from the start of this list, Peter Frampton had no issue with finding success in America just like he did in Australia and NZ with this album. In fact, the success he had in all three countries was almost identical to each other as his next album was a complete dud in all of them.
Peak position #2
Hit singles
I'm in you #2
Signed sealed delivered #18
#72 for 1977 (#11 cash box)
If you can believe it, Lenny Kravitz never had that much success with his albums in his homeland over the years, meaning this greatest hits album was the best he could do on Billboard despite how much success he had internationally throughout the 90's. I would say this activated a greatest hits curse over there, except there wasn't much for him to lose as far as his fellow Americans were concerned.
Peak position #2
Hit singles
Again #4 (#9 airplay)
#18 for 2001
I really cheated when I included this album on my 1996 list on the Australian side of my site, even so, it appeared on this site prior to me constructing this list which makes it eligible for this list. If anything, else, it's success in America explains why it was barely a success here in Australia for the jazz musician.
Peak position #2
#90 for 1996
#27 for 1997
I'm honestly shocked that these guys were more popular in the UK than they were in their native America, heck they even allowed their label to release songs as singles over there and they still lost out to the Brits where said singles did better on the UK charts. That said, they still had massive success in their homeland, it's just pitiful to what it obviously could've been.
Peak position #1x2
Hit singles
What's the frequency Kenneth #21
Bang and blame #19
#67 for 1994 (#33 cash box)
#36 for 1995 (#35 cash box)
Given how they had established themselves as rock and roll royalty with their two earlier entries in America, it makes sense that this would go to number one on Billboard for AC/DC even if this would be the last the Americans would hear from them until their other earlier entry on this list nine years later.
Peak position #1x3
#43 for 1982 (#29 cash box)
Given how this was the follow-up to their top entry on this list, it was inevitable that this second album from Boston would be a huge success in their homeland as well as a more immediate success here in Australia. If you can believe it, it took them eight years to follow up this album with their third album in 1986, an album that bombed everywhere except their homeland.
Peak position #1x2
#16 for 1978 (cash box)
#72 for 1979
As far as the Americans are concerned, this was the debut album from Duran Duran as their actual debut was released over there following the success this achieved on Billboard. It's interesting how these guys found success on Billboard given how they hadn't had a chart topper anywhere in the world prior to its release over there, coincidentally with a track made for the US version of their debut album.
Peak position #6
Hit singles
Hungry like the wolf #3
#13 for 1983 (#19 cash box)
#78 for 1984
This is another album that's lucky to be on the main list due to its inclusion on this site being out of me filling out each year end list rather than it being a genuine success here in Australia. That said, there's a reason why this lingered on our charts in 1987, it was a huge success for Kenny G due to it spawning a genuine hit single for him on Billboard which puzzles chart historians to this day.
Peak position #6
Hit singles
Songbird #4
#15 for 1987 (#10 cash box)
#59 for 1988
Much like in their native UK, this was the biggest success that ELO has in America even if its singles failed to become hits on the Billboard charts like they did on the UK charts. You've likely noticed the lack of non-American artists from the 70's so far on this list, that's because there's an "invasion" whenever a slew of non-Americans flood the Billboard charts be it the 60's or 80's or even 2010's.
Peak position #4
Hit singles
Turn to stone #13
Sweet talking woman #17
#18 for 1978 (#30 cash box)
I haven't seen the film adaptation of Tommy, I hear it's really good as it successfully strings together the songs from the Who album it's named after to form a compelling story. The film was a box office success (from what I can gather) which means that there's no reason to dispute why its soundtrack was a worldwide phenomenon including in America.
Peak position #2
#17 for 1975 (#13 cash box)
This was a hit twice for the Bangles in their homeland, the first time was upon its initial release where they almost scored a chart topper with its lead single whilst the second was when the third single became a massive chart topper for the quartet. It's the only place in the world where this happened as it was either a flop initially then a success (such as here in Australia and NZ) or a hit only on its release (like in the UK.)
Peak position #2
Hit singles
Manic Monday #2
If she knew what she wants #29
Walk like an Egyptian #1
Walking down your street #11
#27 for 1986
#25 for 1987
Well, we had the album from monks that made it big in NZ on the UK list, time now for the album that was big here in Australia which also happened to be a huge success in America (man the 90's were weird.) Regardless of who was chanting from where, it appears that the new age craze reached its apex with these albums in 1994 as we didn't see an influx of members of the clergy in the mainstream.
Peak position #3
#30 for 1994 (#10 cash box)
#152 for 1995
Well, this is a surprise, mainly because I wasn't expecting to see this album from Rod Stewart so low on the list comparative to where it places on all my other all-time album lists on this site. That said, it appears the albums success was largely sacrificed on Billboard in favour of the lead single being one of the biggest of all time in America.
Peak position #2
Hit singles
Tonight's the night #1
Killing of Georgie #30
The first cut is the deepest #21
#29 for 1976 (#29 cash box)
#31 for 1977 (#35 cash box)
There's little surprise that this debut album from Rickie Lee Jones would be a shoe in for this list, in fact I'm more surprised it was an international hit for the folk singer given how many albums I've skipped over from the 70's that were inescapable on Billboard but were complete failures internationally. Her other international success was also as such in her homeland as is still to come on this list.
Peak position #3
Hit singles
Chuck e's in love #4
#33 for 1979 (#17 cash box)
I would've thought this would be inescapable in America given how Billy's fellow Americans would have all the incentive in the world to discover the back catalogue they initially passed up on in the early to mid 70's. That wasn't the case, or at least not to the scale it was in Australia and NZ where this was way more popular for the American piano man.
Peak position #6
Hit singles
You're only human #9
#90 for 1985 (#24 cash box)
This list is really struggling for disco representation, isn't it? Here we are with ELO's foray into the genre which proved to be a huge success for them in America even if it wasn't on the same level of success it achieved internationally. Again, we have to keep in mind this is a British band finding success on the usually patriotic Billboard charts.
Peak position #5
Hit singles
Shine a little love #8
Don't bring me down #4
Confusion #37
#74 for 1979 (#19 cash box)
This is the final studio album from Michael Bolton on this list, although we still have his greatest hits album from the mid 90's to get to, proving how well loved this guy was back in the day. Naturally the internet despises this guy (as well as so many bands and artists on this list) for reasons too convoluted for me to get into here.
Peak position #3
Hit singles
Said I loved you but I lied #6 (#7 airplay)
#14 for 1993 (cash box)
#10 for 1994
I have a question for the person who wrote the famous A.V club article about inessential albums from the 90's, how does an album that lasted four weeks at number one on Billboard count as being inessential? I mean it's one thing that you didn't like it, it's the internet, you're entitled to your opinions. But to say this highly successful album was unloved by audiences? How is that the case?
Peak position #1x4
Hit singles
Take it back #73
#20 for 1994 (#17 cash box)
I still haven't seen Dick Tracy (I may have to pirate it at some point) however the fact that the film and its tie in soundtrack/concept album from its female lead Madonna was such a critical and commercial success should tell you how much of a phenomenon it was back in the day. Nowadays the album is only known for spawning "Vogue" as a single whilst the film is laughed at for its gangster cliches.
Peak position #2
Hit singles
Vogue #1
Hanky panky #10
#42 for 1990 (#22 cash box)
If I included releases from the first half of the 70's, rest assured we would've James Taylor's breakthrough album Sweet baby James as well as a few of his other entries in the bonus section of this list. This is his only entry which was a bit of a comeback for him in his homeland as well as here in Australia given how he saw a massive stumble during the midpoint of the decade.
Peak position #4
Hit singles
Handy man #4
#86 for 1977 (#18 cash box)
This came close to appearing on the UK list I did a while back; however, it was too minor a hit for me to consider it a candidate for that list. This wasn't the case for this list despite having the same peak position on the Billboard charts as it did in the UK as the album managed to stick around for quite some time through the strength of the singles.
Peak position #9
Hit singles
Caribbean queen #1
Loverboy #2
Suddenly #4
#57 for 1984 (cash box)
#8 for 1985
I would say this is the final entry from Heart on this list, however we still have their 70's output to get to as that too managed to be a success for them on Billboard even if it was pitiful compared to what it achieved here in Australia. Indeed, the album might've been more popular in America overall, however the lead single sure wasn't as it was one of the biggest hits of the decade down under.
Peak position #3
Hit singles
All I wanna do is make love to you #2
#26 for 1990 (#17 cash box)
As this was a hair metal album from the mid to late 80's, it was a surefire success for Europe even if the title track wasn't their biggest hit on the Billboard charts. If you're wondering why "Carrie" isn't mentioned in the hit singles section, I only include stats for songs that chart in either Australia or NZ which it failed to do on both.
Peak position #8
Hit singles
The final countdown #8
Rock the night #30
#12 for 1987
I sort of jumped the gun when I said this was a huge failure for Billy Joel in America, it turns out it was a massive success for the piano man, just not to the ridiculous scale it was here in Australia back in the day. I was accurate about this being panned by critics at the time as many felt this was Billy selling out with the times, honestly that wouldn't happen until his next album from earlier on this list.
Peak position #7
Hit singles
Modern woman #10
A matter of trust #10
#31 for 1986 (cash box)
#50 for 1987
This is the final entry from Hall and Oates on this list, it was a huge success in their homeland just like it was internationally thanks to there being plenty of curiosity for their back catalogue following the success of their other two entries on this list. They had one more album after this that was a candidate for this list before even their fellow Americans grew tired of their work.
Peak position #7
Hit singles
Say it isn't so #2
#67 for 1983 (cash box)
#36 for 1984 (#28 cash box)
Again, I'm not sure why Tom Petty didn't have much of an audience here in Australia given how popular he was in NZ and his native America during the first stretch of the 80's. That said, his popularity in both countries took a nosedive after this album, likely due to him failing to adapt to the MTV era which was a trap most 70's bands and artists fell into.
Peak position #5
Hit singles
The waiting #19
#49 for 1981 (#20 cash box)
If you're wondering why it's taken me so long to feature 2pac's magnum opus on this list, that's because we skipped over his biggest success on Billboard which was the album he released before this. This was his final album he released in his lifetime given how he would be tragically murdered shortly after its release, he at least finished his next album which was released posthumously under an alter ego.
Peak position #1x2
Hit singles
California love #1
How do u want it #1
#12 for 1996
#85 for 1997
Of all the albums to make it on this list, I doubt many would've expected the debut from Shaun Cassidy given how we've established the American charts of the 70's being isolated from the rest of the world. As I said on my 1977 recap, Shaun Cassidy was one of the first international guest stars on Countdown, which means he had little issues with crossing over to our charts back in the day.
Peak position #3
Hit singles
That's rock and roll #3
Da doo ron ron #1
#73 for 1977 (#16 cash box)
#52 for 1978 (#58 cash box)
Is anyone else sick of Star Wars or is it just me? I feel like this is a franchise that's been milked into the ground since Disney got their hands on it in 2012 given how they've only released (in my opinion) two good films and two good seasons of TV since their acquisition (I'll let you figure out what they are.) Long ago in a..... well in America, the franchise began with a blockbuster of a film which had a highly successful soundtrack that eventually saw massive success worldwide.
Peak position #2
#64 for 1977 (#77 cash box)
If you're wondering why this breakthrough album from Celine Dion is so low on this list, that's because it didn't rebound on the Billboard charts following the surprise success of "Think twice" like it did internationally. This is because that song wasn't a hit on Billboard, meaning there was no incentive for Americans to reconsider their opinions they formed on the album.
Peak position #4
Hit singles
When I fall in love #23
The power of love #1 (#2 airplay)
Misled #23
Think twice #95
Only one road #93
#16 for 1994 (#46 cash box)
#116 for 1995
#197 for 1996
It's been a while since we looked a Bryan Adams on this list, here he is with his greatest hits album which curiously didn't get to number one on Billboard like it did everywhere else in the world. I'm not sure why as his singles were as popular in America as they were internationally, perhaps the backlash to his music had started long before the internet was a thing over there.
Peak position #6
Hit singles
Please forgive me #7 (#3 airplay)
#17 for 1994 (#42 cash box)
Much like here in Australia, there was a push for Leann Rimes to release her early catalogue following the success of her top entry on this list. This means that the young country star was able to achieve massive success with the early demos and performances from her career in both countries much to the delight of her label.
Peak position #1x1
#21 for 1997
I get the feeling this album was a bit out of leftfield for Americans given how the rest of the world was blessed (or perhaps cursed given the song's reception) with the release of "Mull of kintyre" which to this day is one of the most successful of all time internationally. As such, this feels like it came out of nowhere in America where that song never saw the light of day.
Peak position #2
Hit singles
With a little luck #1
#56 for 1978 (#18 cash box)
This may be the most successful album from the Pretenders in America, but it was also their final successful album as the bands never recovered after this as far as the Americans were concerned. Interestingly enough, this was a dud in their native UK as well as only being a sleeper hit here in Australia, suggesting this was a career killer that they recovered from internationally with Get close.
Peak position #5
Hit singles
Back on the chain gang #5
#30 for 1984 (#16 cash box)
Given how it was a massive critical and commercial success back in the day, the soundtrack to this biopic for Ritchie Valens was guaranteed to be a success throughout the world as people look to rediscover the folk singer's music. What's surprising however is the success that American band Los lobos achieved, specifically with the title track which was one of the biggest hits of the 80's worldwide.
Peak position #1x2
Hit singles
Come on let's go #21
La bamba #1
#68 for 1987 (#11 cash box)
It's strange to think that it took a live album from George Benson to make him a star here in Australia, although at least this musician of colour managed to find success in the southern hemisphere as opposed to many others that each failed to appear on this list (particularly from the 70's.) Another interesting fact is that his popularity would grow internationally just as it was beginning to shrink on Billboard.
Peak position #5
Hit singles
On Broadway #7
#26 for 1978 (#27 cash box)
This is the final entry from Linda Ronstadt on this list, although she does have several other candidates that I won't be covering on here due to their failure to connect with anyone other than her fellow Americans (look for them in my bonus list.) We're not even halfway through this list and we've already covered all the major releases from Linda, this should be an inditement to how inescapable she was.
Peak position #1x1
Hit singles
Living in the USA #16
Just one look #44
#31 for 1978 (cash box)
#41 for 1979 (#61 cash box)
Although it was the first album of theirs to find success on Billboard (that would be their 1975 effort Face the music) this was the album that made ELO a household name in America due to how long it lasted on the Billboard charts. Even so, it's success over there and in their homeland is pitiful compared to what it achieved here in Australia, it was easily in the top ten most successful albums of the 70's here.
Peak position #5
Hit singles
Living thing #13
Telephone line #7
#63 for 1976 (cash box)
#6 for 1977 (#21 cash box)
The success Tom Petty had in his homeland is almost identical to what he achieved over in NZ it seems, sure he may have had the occasional buzz here in Australia; however that's nothing compared to what he achieved with the kiwis and his fellow Americans. The proof is that his greatest hits album was a success in those countries but not in ours.
Peak position #2
#14 for 1994 (#22 cash box)
#93 for 1995
#167 for 1996
Admittedly I'm not sure how we Aussies came across this album from Bruce Springsteen given how you'd think Countdown would've shut this out of our charts, it appears there were cracks in the system the show had in place as Bruce was able to find an audience among us Aussies just like he did with his fellow Americans during the midpoint of the 70's.
Peak position #3
Hit singles
Born to run #23
#31 for 1975 (cash box)
If you're wondering how this managed to appear on this list, I used RIANZ's official year end charts to fill up those lists on the NZ side of my site much like I did for the Australian side. This managed to squeeze onto their 1980 list, which means I can feature this solo breakthrough from the Who front man Pete Townshend on this list who found success in America with this gem.
Peak position #5
#60 for 1980 (#23 cash box)
Well, she may have failed to appear on the UK list barring her 1994 greatest hits album, however at least Cyndi Lauper had better luck in her homeland given how well her second album did on Billboard. That said, she seems like another candidate for an international artist who found more success here in Australia than she did anywhere else given how much better this did on my Australian ranking.
Peak position #4
Hit singles
True colors #1
Change of heart #3
What's going on #12
#36 for 1986 (cash box)
#39 for 1987
It's a bit odd to see this album lower on this list considering how well it did here in Australia, then again it might be more the fact that we Aussies were making up for leaving this guy back in 1984 barring his Batman soundtrack seeing as though he hadn't had much success outside of the Tim Burton flick on our charts in the seven years between these two albums.
Peak position #3
Hit singles
Gett off #21
Cream #1 (#5 airplay)
Diamonds and pearls #3 (#2 airplay)
Money don't matter 2 night #23
#30 for 1991 (cash box)
#31 for 1992 (#12 cash box)
Oh boy is this album too low on the list compared to my other all-time albums lists on this site, at least we've featured all three of R.E.M's big hitters of the 90's before the halfway mark of this list even though their popularity back in the day was centred around the Brits love for their music. You may have noticed that apart from their top entry, none of their albums spawned them any hits on Billboard.
Peak position #2
Hit singles
Drive #28
Man on the moon #30
Everybody hurts #29
#83 for 1992
#27 for 1993 (#23 cash box)
This is another album I included on my 1999 list for the sake of filling it up with 100 entries, as such I'm not actually sure if this was a huge success here in Australia given how unreliable the ARIA charts were in the late 90's and that the AMR charts ceased before this was released here. What I do know is that it's by far the most successful album from Everlast in his homeland both solo and with House of pain.
Peak position #9
Hit singles
What it's like #13 (#5 airplay)
#24 for 1999
I think I understand now why RHCP loved Australia and NZ so much as they seemed to be more popular in the southern hemisphere than they were in their homeland. Although this comeback album of theirs did far better on Billboard than it did in the UK, it's still pitiful compared to what it achieved in both countries here right before the turn of the millennium.
Peak position #3
Hit singles
Scar tissue #9 (#8 airplay)
Otherside #14
Californication #69
#36 for 1999
#24 for 2000
#180 for 2001
Whereas this was only a moderate success here in Australia due to Countdown prioritising local talent over international artists, this was a massive success in America where no such attention to fresher talent was prioritised. That said, this is still a bit of a disappointment compared to the trio's earlier work with Neil Young as that remains one of the most successful albums of all time worldwide.
Peak position #2
#83 for 1977 (#15 cash box)
I would say it's a bit odd that this album wasn't as successful in America for Kenny Rogers as it was in Australia and NZ, but then I remember that the lead single refused to die on either of our charts which wasn't the case on Billboard as it dropped off the charts by the end of 1983 as opposed to sticking around long into 1984 in the southern hemisphere.
Peak position #6
Hit singles
Islands in the stream #1
This woman #23
#30 for 1983 (cash box)
#44 for 1984 (#68 cash box)
I guess John Denver's fellow Americans weren't as impressed with this evening with him as the rest of the world was given how much lower it appears on this list compared to where it appeared in my Australian, NZ and UK rankings. At least it was a huge success for him on Billboard even if it didn't stick around as long as it did internationally.
Peak position #2
#7 for 1975 (#11 cash box)
If this was a rush release from Bush following the success of their earlier entry, the Americans didn't seem to care as it was a genuine hit for them on Billboard as opposed to it being a modest success at best here in Australia. That said, we once again have a rock album without any physical singles in America on this list, imagine how much bigger it could've been had that not been the case.
Peak position #1x2
#11 for 1997
OK it was one thing that the Romeo + Juliet soundtrack didn't release songs as singles in America, but the Men in black soundtrack? I'll never understand the mindset these labels had in the 90's as it really does make it hard to understand what was popular in America back in the day. At least the soundtrack was a huge hit, thought likely it was due to the film being a critical and commercial success.
Peak position #1x2
Hit singles
Men in black #1 (airplay)
#19 for 1997
#80 for 1998
Given how he had died two years prior to its release, it makes sense that 2pac's label would release a greatest hits album to look over what the late rapper achieved in his short time on this earth. If it had of stopped here, then I'm sure his legacy would be secured. However, it didn't which resulted in it being mired with artistic grave robbery.
Peak position #3
Hit singles
Changes #32
#16 for 1999
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