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.
It appears that Metallica's fellow Americans were so in love with them that they allowed the band to have success on Billboard with this live album with the San Francisco symphony just as the 90's were coming to an end. They would go on hiatus after this album due to a frivolous lawsuit against a pirate website known as Napster which they went after due to them being opposed to fans pirating their music.
Peak position #2
Hit singles
No leaf clover #74
#30 for 2000
Even though the lead single to this album was a chart topper here in Australia, it appears the Americans were following the lead of the kiwi's as said single was a mere moderate success on Billboard in exchange for allowing the album to be a bigger success over there as opposed to a mere minor hit down under. In any case, A flock of seagulls were more success everywhere outside their native UK.
Peak position #10
Hit singles
I ran #9
Space age love song #30
#63 for 1982 (#93 cash box)
#94 for 1983
It really is messing with my head that Neil Diamond saw more success internationally with his albums than he did in his homeland, heck even this entry which I'm sure was only a success here in Australia due to his artist momentum was more of a success here than it was on Billboard which just further proves how much we Aussies loved the soft rocker than his fellow Americans.
Peak position #10
Hit singles
September morn #17
#67 for 1980 (cash box)
It looks like we Aussies were the biggest fans of this sexually charged album from Madonna back in the day, although that could be due to the album rebounding on our charts on the one-year anniversary even though that was only due to the surprise success of its final single "Bye bye baby" here. Even so, I wouldn't call the rest of the world prudes because of this album lack of success as it was big internationally.
Peak position #2
Hit singles
Erotica #3 (#2 airplay)
Deeper and deeper #7 (#8 airplay)
Bad girl #36
Rain #14 (#11 airplay)
#61 for 1993 (#44 cash box)
It's a good thing I made that 70's list a while back which allowed me to include this album on the list, otherwise I'd have to try and justify how this managed to make the cut despite the rules I made out for making this list. In any case, this was a massive success for Elvis Presley posthumously given how he was taken from the world so soon in his career.
Peak position #5
#62 for 1977 (cash box)
#64 for 1978 (cash box)
Not only does this movie divide audiences to this day based on whether or not they can buy Barbra Streisand as a teenage boy, it was even more divisive back in the day as she was both praised and panned by critics for her performance depending on if they bought her chemistry with co-star Amy Irving or not. As the movie is a musical, it only seems natural its soundtrack would be a success in America.
Peak position #9
#89 for 1983 (cash box)
#90 for 1984 (#47 cash box)
It's a bit surprising that nowhere in the world was David Bowie a massive superstar during his heyday, although at least he did see moderate success with his work regardless of where you're from. This is his first greatest hits album which was just as much a success in America as it was internationally due to his sound but solid success up until its release.
Peak position #10
#95 for 1976 (#58 cash box)
Once again, we can thank the ARIA charts for why this is appearing on this list given how it was a dud on the AMR charts as well as in NZ. This is the sequel album to the Titanic soundtrack from earlier on this list which yes was less popular than it and the film in America, however it was nonetheless a massive hit given how it was attached to the biggest movie of all time (at the time of its release.)
Peak position #2
#101 for 1998
Whereas this was the peak of Rod Stewart's success internationally, this was a mere modest hit for him in America likely due to how much of a failure the singles were on Billboard. It looked like he would be yesterday's news over there but fortunately his previous entries on this list proved otherwise.
Peak position #9
Hit singles
Sailing #58
This old heart of mine #83
I don't want to talk about it #46
Hit in 1975
Much like the rest of the world, this proved to be less popular than its predecessor form earlier on this list in America, although at least this did confirm Queen as the hot new act from the UK on Billboard which helped them tread water until they got to their magnum opus from the start of this list. They have one more entry to come on here before we've featured every successful album from them in America.
Peak position #5
Hit singles
Somebody to love #13
Tie your mother down #49
#58 for 1977 (cash box)
Much like most Canadian albums that find international success, this was a bit of a dud for Crash test dummies in their homeland which makes their international success seem a bit odd. I can't even say we can thank Triple J for why they found that success even though the lead single was more successful here in Australia than anywhere else in the world, I guess we Aussies don't always need the alternative station to set trends in motion.
Peak position #9
Hit singles
Mmm mmm mmm mmm #4 (#15 airplay)
Afternoons and coffeespoons #66
#53 for 1994 (#31 cash box)
This was a mere modest success in NZ and Billy's native UK upon its initial release in 1985, however it was when it was given a second chance in America and here in Australia that this live album truly shined given how it allowed him to score his first chart topper anywhere in the world with a live rendition of one of his earlier tracks in his catalogue.
Peak position #10
Hit singles
Mony mony #1
#71 for 1988 (#47 cash box)
This feels a bit low on here given how these guys have the most successful live album of the twentieth century in their homeland, I guess their fellow Americans were a bit burned out with that album to give them further success but changed their minds when this album took off in Australia and NZ. Even though they would score a chart topper nine years later with "The flame," none of their subsequent albums found success on Billboard.
Peak position #6
Hit singles
Dream police #26
#51 for 1979 (cash box)
#66 for 1980
Surprised to see Suzanne Vega so low on this list? It turns out that it was the Brits that made her a success given how well she did on the UK charts even compared to in Australia and NZ. Even so, it appears her fellow Americans did want to see what all the fuss was about and so checked out her second album where it became a massive sleeper hit for her on Billboard.
Peak position #11
Hit singles
Luka #3
Solitude standing #94
#61 for 1987 (#19 cash box)
You knew these guys would make the list eventually, I'm as shocked as you are that this E.P from Alice in chains did so poorly in their homeland compared to in NZ where it was more of a mainstream success for the grunge band. This is despite the fact this debuted at number one on Billboard at a time where that actually meant something and not just because an album had a strong fanbase.
Peak position #1x1
#52 for 1994 (#24 cash box)
I bet you thought I'd forgotten about Neil Young given how long it's taken for me to feature his only other successful album in America (post 1974 that is.) Again, I don't know how he managed to maintain his success throughout the rest of the world given how he only had modest success at best in America and his native Canada at this point in his career, however he thrived internationally regardless.
Peak position #7
#71 for 1978 (cash box)
#56 for 1979
Although they had buzz with their earlier albums internationally, this was the album that broke INXS through to an American market given how well the lead single did on Billboard. Of course, the best was still to come for the Aussie band given how well their top entry on this list did internationally, however this was still better than most of their contemporaries could hope for on Billboard.
Peak position #11
Hit singles
What you need #5
This time #81
Listen like thieves #54
#15 for 1986
Dear A.V club, how can you consider this an inessential album when it was a massive worldwide success less than a year prior to your article? Look I love their least essential albums of the 90's article, however that's more for its snarky commentary of what they believe to be inessential albums of that decade (which may or may not have inspired my own writing style) however there's no denying they were biased as heck when they wrote it back in the day.
Peak position #7
#72 for 1998
Well, you knew this album would appear at some point, again I'm not sure I'm comfortable with albums like this as unlike Roy Orbison's posthumous release, this wasn't finished during John Lennon's lifetime, meaning that Yoko Ono had to improvise with filling out the rest of the album with deep cuts that we'll never knew John was OK with while he was alive.
Peak position #11
Hit singles
Nobody told me #5
#38 for 1984 (cash box)
Given how long it took for Green day's earlier entry on this list to take off internationally, this was indeed a rush release from the trio which resulted in its mixed reception back in the day. It appears we Aussies were the kindest when it came to this album given how well it did in Australia, however their fellow Americans did seem to enjoy this for what it's worth.
Peak position #2
#146 for 1995
#48 for 1996
This is the only other entry from the Smashing pumpkins on this list, they came close with their breakthrough album but it was too minor of a hit to make it on here (compared to everything else we've look at so far.) This was where the band was beginning to struggle not just commercially but also behind the scenes as they would fall apart by the 21st century where they called it quits.
Peak position #2
Hit singles
Ava adore #42
Perfect #54
#86 for 1998
It turns out that Blink 182 are yet another band that saw the bulk of their success here in Australia compared to their native America, although again we have Triple J to thank for this success given how they were heavily promoted on the station for their second and third albums. It was thanks to this album spawning a massive hit for them on Billboard that they finally went mainstream in America.
Peak position #9
Hit singles
What's my age again #58
All the small things #6
#45 for 1999
#32 for 2000
They're widely considered a one hit wonder with the lead single to this album, however it was because of how infectious the single was that the album managed to become a hit for Men without hats in NZ and on Billboard despite once again being far from the most successful album in their native Canada. They did eventually score a massive hit at home with "Pop goes the world" in 1987.
Peak position #13
Hit singles
The safety dance #3
#73 for 1983 (cash box)
These guys really lucked out when it came to mainstream success in their homeland, I guess this explains why they didn't do so well in the southern hemisphere despite having heavy promotion on Triple J just like their contemporaries Nirvana, Pearl jam and Soundgarden. Even so, they did better than most bands from the 90's who you would think would've flooded this list by now.
Peak position #6
#39 for 1993
Given how the film remains a classic to this day (even though I can't say I'm a fan of the Matrix series) it makes sense that its accompanying soundtrack would be a huge success throughout the world even if it did better in Australia and NZ than it did in America (likely because the movie was filmed in Australia technically making it an Australian film.)
Peak position #7
#91 for 1999
I guess we Aussies were following the lead of Belinda Carlisle's fellow Americans given how this was also barely a success for her on Billboard just like it was on our charts, in fact this was only really a success in the UK and NZ largely due to how inescapable the lead single was. This is despite the fact that she found no success with the Go go's prior to its release in either country.
Peak position #13
Hit singles
Heaven is a place on earth #1
I get weak #2
Circle in the sand #7
#17 for 1988
While the biopic for the Doors did well at the box office, I can see why its accompanying soundtrack would be a moderate success at best on Billboard given how it's really just a greatest hits album rather than it being interpretations of the Doors catalogue as performed by its star Val Kilmer like you would think would be on here.
Peak position #8
#100 for 1991 (#46 cash box)
Again, this RNB album from Madonna saw the bulk of its success here in Australia, meaning that we Aussies were the main force that kept her presence active throughout the 90's and into the 21st century. That said, the singles did far better on the Billboard charts than they did here, especially the second single which greatly benefitted from playing at a pivotal moment in the F.R.I.E.N.D.S season one finale.
Peak position #3
Hit singles
Secret #3 (#3 airplay)
Take a bow #1 (#1 airplay)
Bedtime story #42
Human nature #46
#28 for 1995 (#30 cash box)
This is the final entry from Pink Floyd on this list, it's also their most recent entry given how this came out just as they called it quits after promoting their 1994 album the Division bell. It is a bit odd that both of their live albums would be towards the bottom of this list, however the fact they both made the cut should tell you how well loved they are worldwide.
Peak position #1x1
#85 for 1995 (#49 cash box)
Although it took a while for the world to get used to Michael McDonald on lead vocals over Tom Johnson, the fact that the former's first album with the Doobie brothers did decently well internationally should tell you how well loved the band was regardless of who was fronting them. That said, their fellow Americans would warm up to Michael as the 70's carried on.
Peak position #8
#39 for 1976 (#42 cash box)
Had I allowed albums from the early 70's on here, Hot august night would've appeared quite high but not at number one like it does on my Australian and NZ lists. This likely explains how the soft rocker managed to retain his popularity in the southern hemisphere throughout the decade even though he did OK at best in his native America and in the UK.
Peak position #8
Hit in 1977
This being more of a mainstream success in America makes sense given how all of Foreigner's albums up until its release were a massive success for them on Billboard. This did OK here in Australia (hence its placement on this list) however the rest of the world saw them as a one album wonder with their (then) most recent album Four which made this a redundant release internationally.
Peak position #10
#70 for 1983 (#58 cash box)
Even though this album was a decent success for the Pretenders in America, it failed to spawn a charting single on Billboard which suggests that it was only a success out of obligation rather than the Americans finding any enjoyment with it. Obviously, they would bounce back with their top entry on this list, however these are their only three entries on this list that were even candidates for it.
Peak position #10
#70 for 1981 (cash box)
Following the success they had with MTV unplugged two years prior, Nirvana (well actually their label since they were broken up by this stage) released a second live album which did decently worldwide and serves as further proof that the world wasn't ready to say goodbye to the trio even though one third of them was no longer with us.
Peak position #1x1
#140 for 1996
#182 for 1997
Admittedly there was no chance that this Christmas album would appear high on this list given how every album of this ilk was pulled from shelves by the new year, however I wasn't expecting it to be more of a success here in Australia for the family trio given how well their earlier entry did in their homeland.
Peak position #7
#81 for 1998
It blows my mind that these guys were only decently successful at best in their homeland, again I realise we Aussies and kiwis had stronger rock and alternative scenes throughout the 90's than their fellow Americans, however the fact that only two out of their four albums made it on this list and so late into it should tell you how little love they had back in the day in America.
Peak position #1x1
#139 for 1999
#53 for 2000
Well at least all five of R.E.M's internationally successful albums were as such in their homeland, again it feels weird that they all did far worse on Billboard than they did internationally, but they're accounted for regardless. This was their final success even in their homeland as everything they released after this crashed and burned even on the Billboard charts.
Peak position #2
Hit singles
E bow the letter #49
#96 for 1996
We have one final entry from James Taylor on this list, again he would've had more had I included albums from the first half of the 70's, but he's had healthy representation on here regardless. This is conveniently the final album he released before the rise of MTV which predictably made his 80's material massive failures worldwide.
Peak position #10
#79 for 1979 (#67 cash box)
Given how it gave him two back-to-back Billboard chart toppers, you'd think this debut album from Rick Astley would've been more of a success in America which to be fair it was if we included its full chart run as it was a sleeper hit back in the day. Even so, it was a mainstream success internationally, meaning its low placement on here is still a disappointment from him regardless.
Peak position #10
Hit singles
Never gonna give you up #1
Together forever #1
#15 for 1988 (#30 cash box)
This is the final entry from Santana on this list, admittedly they would have more had I included their material from the early 70's, however I didn't so this is all you're getting. This is somewhat of a comeback for the band given how they had a bit of a stumble in the mid 70's even in their homeland.
Peak position #10
#75 for 1976
What I said about Rick Astley a few moments ago also apply here for Leo Sayer, the different of course being that this wasn't Leo's debut album even in America as opposed to Rick's album being his first worldwide. It feels strange that this is Leo's only entry on this list given how he was one of the few British artists to score multiple chart toppers on Billboard throughout the 70's.
Peak position #10
Hit singles
You make me feel like dancing #1
When I need you #1
How much love #17
#16 for 1977 (#76 cash box)
Here's another band that would've had more entries on this list had I included albums from the early 70's, this was indeed their final successful album in America just like it was internationally given how they failed to compete with the likes of the Eagles and Doobie brothers during the second half of the decade. I guess it was a bit of a passing the torch moment as those two failed to compete with them earlier in the decade.
Peak position #11
#64 for 1976 (cash box)
Given how he saw no success during his time with the Kingston trio here in Australia, it's odd that John Stewart would find more success with his solo album with us Aussies than he did in his homeland (unless of course there's a Countdown performance that's since been lost to the sands of time.) This was his only success in either country, suggesting this was a lightning in a bottle moment for his career.
Peak position #10
Hit singles
Gold #5
#62 for 1979 (#87 cash box)
This initially didn't see the light of day in America given how notoriously difficult it is to break non-American artist onto the Billboard charts even to this day, however it finally saw the light of day when it was issued as their second album following the success of their actual second album from earlier on this list. I also cheated a little with the singles info given how it only spawned one hit on Billboard.
Peak position #10
Hit singles
Is there something I should know #4
#26 for 1983 (#60 cash box)
I bet you thought I forgot about J-Lo given how inescapable she was throughout the 00's, well there the key issue, I'm not covering anything that came out after 2000 meaning I won't be featuring the rest of her catalogue on here which yes, were massive hits in America as they were internationally. That said, I would've thought her debut would also be a hit on Billboard given the hit singles it spawned worldwide.
Peak position #8
Hit singles
If you had my love #1 (#3 airplay)
Waiting for tonight #8 (#4 airplay)
Feeling so good #51
#50 for 1999
#101 for 2000
I'm actually a bit surprised this isn't higher on the list given how it spawned one of the biggest hits of the decade on Billboard, then again, it was only barely a success here in Australia for Thelma Houston (again no relation to Whitney) despite disco being far more prominent here than it was in America. Even in her homeland, Thelma is a one hit wonder with the lead single.
Peak position #11
Hit singles
Don't leave me this way #1
#28 for 1977
Whereas this was at least a decent success in Australia and NZ for Dire straits, it appears it was only a mild success in America and their native UK at best likely due to the Americans and their fellow Brits feeling this was more of the same from the pub rock band. As we've seen on both of these lists, their 80's output fared much better in the southern hemisphere than it did in the northern.
Peak position #11
Hit singles
Lady writer #45
#72 for 1979 (cash box)
It looks like we Aussies had the last laugh when we made this comeback album from the Jackson 5 a hit at the start of the 80's, although you can't really fault us for completely ignoring this album and its singles upon its initial release given how it was only a minor success in America at best. Still, we could've at least noticed it given how well the lead single did in NZ and the UK.
Peak position #11
Hit singles
Blame it on the boogie #54
Shake your body #7
#31 for 1979 (#65 cash box)
Given how long it's been since we look at the Cars last entry on this list, you'd think that their greatest hits album would've done a lot better in their homeland especially coming off their top entry on this list. It appears their fellow Americans saw little incentive to revisit their past catalogue when this album dropped as opposed to us Aussies and kiwis who salivated at the opportunity to do so.
Peak position #12
Hit singles
Tonight she comes #7
#53 for 1986
This is Kiss's final entry on this list, again I have no idea how they've gotten so much hate on the internet given how they were never that big in their homeland during their heyday (it must've been an Aussie that started their hate campaign.) I guess they were the rare American glam rock band, although you'd think that would qualify them to have success in the UK which they didn't.
Peak position #11
Hit singles
Shout it out loud #31
#94 for 1976 (#25 cash box)
We're really starting to scrape the bottom of the barrel when it comes to entries on this list, this should give you an idea of how mediocre David Bowie's success was back in the day compared to what the internet would have you believe. Still, he does make it on here over so many other British artists who went unheard of in American throughout the 70's.
Peak position #11
Hit singles
Sound and vision #69
#96 for 1977 (cash box)
Here's the other album that Bruce Springsteen release on the same day as his previous entry on this list, naturally this proved to be the weaker of the two albums in America just like it was here in Australia given how he was past his prime when they both came out.
Peak position #3
#79 for 1992
I was not expecting this to be a sleeper hit at best for Bon Jovi in their homeland, if for no other reason that it spawned on of their biggest hits in their catalogue even in their native America. Admittedly this album did take off thanks to how big it was in the UK, however their transition from hair metal to heartland rock in the 90's proved way less disastrous (at least commercially) than it did for their contemporaries.
Peak position #8
Hit singles
Always #4 (#3 airplay)
#41 for 1995
If there was a rivalry between Limp bizkit and Korn, Limp bizkit were the clear winners as this will be their only other entry on this list and that we're getting closer to its conclusion. Admittedly I know very little about TRL, however from what people have told me, it was a kiddie version of Countdown or TOTP that aired in the late 90's and throughout the 00's and heavily promoted the nu metal scene.
Peak position #1x1
#77 for 1998
#32 for 1999
Well, if Nirvana could have massive success with a posthumous live album from a TV show, why couldn't the fab four? Here they are with their appearances on the BBC from 1963 to 1965 which while huge worldwide, was treated like a Christmas album given how it was gone from the charts by February of 1995.
Peak position #3
#46 for 1995
Even though their first three albums were massive failures in America throughout the 90's, it appears fourth time was the charm for Radiohead given how this debuted at number one on the Billboard charts right as the twentieth century was coming to an end. This of course makes it one of the most recent entries on this list which set them up for massive success in the 00's.
Peak position #1x1
#190 for 2000
It's been a hot minute since we've look at Pat Benatar on this list, hasn't it? Not only was this live album way less popular in her homeland than it was in Australia and NZ, but it also appears her fellow Americans didn't like the fact that she went in a more pop friendly direction given how she only has one more entry to come on this list with the rest of her subsequent releases being utter failures on Billboard.
Peak position #13
Hit singles
Love is a battlefield #5
#40 for 1983 (cash box)
#84 for 1984
This is the final entry from Prince on this list, although by this point, he went by the name of an unpronounceable symbol which led the UK press to refer to him as "the artist formerly known as Prince" following its release. It appears his fellow Americans didn't quite know what to make of this album given how it barely made the cut for this list.
Peak position #5
Hit singles
Sexy MF #66
My name is prince #36
7 #7 (#12 airplay)
Hit in 1992
This is the only candidate from Tori Amos on this list, it's her third album and the first two spawn a hit single for her albeit in the UK where she scored a chart topper with the lead single. As she was an alternative artist from the 90's, this didn't have any songs appear as singles on the Billboard charts due to her label refusing to release any of them as such in her homeland.
Peak position #2
#100 for 1996
This came oh so close to appearing on the UK list I made a while back, however it just couldn't outperform those pesky compilations that would've clogged up that list had they found success internationally. Despite that, I feel this was a bigger success over there than it was in America despite it appearing on this list for Mick Jagger, we really are scraping the bottom of the barrel to fill it up after all.
Peak position #13
Hit singles
Just another night #12
Lucky in love #38
#80 for 1985 (#40 cash box)
This is the only appearance from all four men on the cover on this list, their 1990 effort was a massive dud in America which makes the success of this live album all the more curious when you consider the lack of opera music on this list. Even so, you can make the argument this album paved the way for the likes of Andrea Bocelli to find success later in the 90's over there.
Peak position #4
#105 for 1994
This is another album that came close to appearing on my UK list but failed to do so due to it not racking up enough points, again I feel like this was a bigger success over there despite its appearance on this list even though this did spawn a few hits for Real McCoy on the Billboard charts. This along with Aqua and Technotronic are the only EDM albums that made it on this list from the 90's.
Peak position #13
Hit singles
Another night #3 (#2 airplay)
Automatic lover #52
Run away #3 (#4 airplay)
Come and get your love #19
#68 for 1995
This is the final entry from Pat Benatar on this list, it's also the album with her final hit single on Billboard as everything she released after this bombed in her homeland. This obviously wasn't the case here in Australia and NZ given how her next album did well in the latter country whilst the one after that did well in the former, proving that there was still love for her in the southern hemisphere after this.
Peak position #14
Hit singles
We belong #5
Ooh ooh song #36
#67 for 1984 (cash box)
Given how this is the debut album for a British group, it makes sense that it would be a sleeper hit for them in America even if one of the singles proved to be a massive success for them on Billboard. This was rebranded as Keep on movin in America, which was the name of their debut single, I'm not sure why they changed the album's name, but it seemed to work out for them.
Peak position #14
Hit singles
Keep on moving #11
Back to life #4
#62 for 1989 (#22 cash box)
It looks like Australia was the only country in the world where this was one of the biggest albums of the 90's as even in their native America, this album from Bon Jovi was a huge disappointment compared to their earlier entries on this list. This is their final album on this list as despite cracking the Billboard top ten, their subsequent releases each failed to make an impact among their fellow Americans.
Peak position #5
Hit singles
Keep the faith #29
Bed of roses #10
In these arms #27
I'll sleep when I'm dead #97
#49 for 1993
This is the final entry from AC/DC on this list, admittedly I'm surprised this made the cut and nothing else from the 80's given how they're often considered an 80's band by Americans (who are clearly unaware of their 70's output.) I guess this was able to fight through all of the RNB and hip-hop albums that have appeared on my bonus lists given how rock wasn't as big in America as it was in the southern hemisphere throughout the 90's.
Peak position #4
#162 for 1995
#147 for 1996
Unlike the rest of the world where George Michael the solo artist was welcomed back with open arms following his sting as the frontman of Queen, it appears Americans weren't as kind to this comeback as this and the singles were only barely a success on Billboard upon its initial release. This means that his material from the 21st century was a complete failure for him in America.
Peak position #6
Hit singles
Jesus to a child #7
Fastlove #8
#99 for 1996
You thought Korn appearing so low on this list was a surprise, I'd love to see the looks on my readers face at how long it's taken us to get to a Marilyn Manson album on this list. Here's the first of two entries as this was indeed the album that broke him through to a mainstream audience in his homeland just like it did internationally, again there's no signs of one of the songs on the Billboard charts due to his label not releasing a physical single in America.
Peak position #3
#157 for 1996
#75 for 1997
Given how it barely managed to appear on the Australian side of my site, you can imagine just how much of a disappointment this was for Ricky Martin in America where he didn't even have that big hit on Billboard like he did on our charts and especially in NZ. I guess you can argue the Latin craze lasted longer in the southern hemisphere as there wasn't much of it to be found over there when this came out.
Peak position #4
Hit singles
She bangs #12 (#8 airplay)
Nobody wants to be lonely #13
#48 for 2001
This is one of those albums that refuses to die on the charts due to there being such a lack of competition nowadays that modern chart compilers need to fill them out with arbitrary entries like this. This of course only covers the initial release of this album from Bob Seger which was a hit on time in his homeland just like it was in NZ, I bring this up because I still don't know what took us Aussies so long to make it a success here.
Peak position #8
#22 for 1995
#94 for 1996
If you want proof that comic books have always been diverse much like movies, music, games, etc. consider the fact that we had not one but two comic book heroes of colour adapted for the big screen in the 90's. Blade is obviously the more popular of the two, however Spawn came first and had its soundtrack be a massive worldwide success despite the film being panned by critics.
Peak position #7
#136 for 1997
Here's the other big hit from Marilyn Manson, admittedly it's fairly close to his earlier entry even if you add back in all the albums I've skipped over on this list, meaning these two albums were fairly even in terms of success in his native America. Nowadays he's been cancelled due to several allegations made towards him from prominent figures throughout the entertainment industry.
Peak position #1x1
#119 for 1998
#198 for 1999
I already talked about the movie when I featured this album on the Australian side of my site, to sum up, it's a cheesy but fun action flick which revels in the madness of its own plot and doesn't bother trying to appeal to any wave of feminism. The soundtrack was more of a success here in Australia, probably because the theme song was also the lead single for Destiny's child's third album which came out shortly after its release.
Peak position #7
Hit singles
Independent women #1 (#1 airplay)
#68 for 2001
I did mention on the Australian side of my site that this west German trio were little more than sex symbols judging by their cover art, I hope this cover serves to prove that even if I run the risk of this page (and indeed my entire site) being flagged NSFW by including it on here. I don't know if this is how they got a number one hit in America, however it couldn't have hurt their chances if it wasn't.
Peak position #10
Hit singles
Fly robin fly #1
Hit in 1975
Given how he saw massive worldwide success with his earlier entry on this list, it only makes sense that Al Stewart would also find success with this follow up in America just like he did here in Australia back in the day. This really was the last successful album in his career given how he had no chance of surviving moving into the 80's, heck he did well to survive during the 70's.
Peak position #10
Hit singles
Time passages #7
#53 for 1978 (cash box)
#52 for 1979
Just like here in Australia, this was a mini comeback for George Harrison in America given how the lead single nearly topped the Billboard charts for him back in the day. George would see no success between both of his entries on this list, this is because his next album was Gone troppo which did so poorly, he took a five-year break before coming back with his earlier entry.
Peak position #11
Hit singles
All those years ago #2
#71 for 1981 (cash box)
Even if you've never played any of the Mortal Kombat games (you're missing out if that's the case) you've probably heard at least part of the theme music to the games which of course finds its way into the soundtrack for the theatrical film in addition to a bunch of other alternative rock and EDM from the 90's. Like I said, the movie is campy fun, not meant to be taken seriously by any means.
Peak position #10
#145 for 1995
#125 for 1996
Although this is their only appearance on this list, Seals and Crofts did achieve massive success during the first half of the 70's in their homeland and definitively would've been a shoe in for my bonus list had I allowed albums from that period to be candidates for this list. Given how they had no success on the NZ Listener charts, I have to assume they saw massive success with their albums for this to be big over there.
Peak position #11
#38 for 1976
It looks like we have a third entry from Donna Summer after all as this managed to barely squeeze onto this list despite its mediocre success back in the day in her homeland. Admittedly this might be due to the fact that half of the album was released and condensed as a single which nearly topped the Billboard charts, meaning that the only thing the album had to offer was an extra ten minutes of the title track and some RNB numbers.
Peak position #11
Hit singles
Love to love you baby #2
#58 for 1976 (#68 cash box)
We have one final entry from Bob Dylan on this list, again it's fascinating to me to see how much less popular folk rock was in America compared to Australia and NZ even from local folk rockers throughout the 70's. I guess this was due to the genre clashing with disco, although we Aussies and kiwis found a way to make it work given how much better disco did in our countries as well.
Peak position #11
#65 for 1978 (cash box)
It turns out U2 had some success in America prior to the Joshua tree after all as this managed to be a decent hit for them three years prior to their Grammy award winning album. Admittedly this did trip me up due to the failure of its lead single on Billboard, which led me to assume that the album itself was a failure prior to constructing the rest of this list.
Peak position #12
Hit singles
Pride #33
#46 for 1984 (cash box)
#19 for 1985
Although A night at the opera was the big hit for Queen internationally in their career, they did start out strong with this album given how it spawned their first hit across the world with its lead single. The fact they were able to succeed in America with this album when the likes of Status quo and Bay city rollers flopped on Billboard despite their massive worldwide success should tell you the type of music the Americans were into in the 70's.
Peak position #12
Hit singles
Killer queen #12
#36 for 1975 (#61 cash box)
This was another near miss for making it onto my UK list a while back, admittedly prog music was more accessible in America throughout the 70's even if it was more accessible still in Australia and NZ given how well the likes of the Alan Parsons project and Pink Floyd did in the southern hemisphere. Admittedly these guys would've flooded my UK list had their early 70's material found more success internationally.
Peak position #12
#60 for 1977 (#66 cash box)
I would say this was a big hit here in Australia due to how much we Aussies loved Fleetwood mac, except Bob Welch had already left the band by the time they made it big worldwide. He did appear on Countdown to perform the lead single to this album, however that was a year after it found success here. In any case, I'm not sure how we Aussies came across this given how poorly it did in his homeland.
Peak position #12
Hit singles
Ebony eyes #14
#97 for 1977 (cash box)
#17 for 1978 (#44 cash box)
This barely managed to sneak onto this list, admittedly it wasn't that big here in Australia given how this only made my 1980 list due to the lack of competition there was that year, however the fact that even his fellow Americans had grown tired of his work was proof that Paul Simon needed to shake things up in order to remain relevant in the 80's.
Peak position #12
Hit singles
Late in the evening #6
#66 for 1980 (cash box)
I really need to rewatch Phenomenon again as it always bored me to tears when I saw it as a kid, reading the synopsis of it online, it seems like a movie that would grab my attention based on the premise alone. All I know is that the soundtrack was a big hit in America as well as a decent here in Australia thanks to it spawning one of the biggest hits of the 90's on Billboard.
Peak position #12
Hit singles
Change the world #5 (#2 airplay)
#109 for 1996
Well, here's the biggest surprise from David Bowie on this list, what is easily one of his most successful albums international was only barely a success in America. I'm guessing the Americans didn't appreciate his fascination with the tin man from the Wizard of oz given how the lead single didn't even chart on Billboard which likely led to the album underperforming over there.
Peak position #12
Hit singles
Fashion #70
Hit in 1980
While admittedly this wasn't that big of a deal here in Australia for the Pointer sisters, the fact it was arguably more popular with us Aussies than it was with their fellow Americans does intrigue me. Admittedly the lead single did nearly top the Billboard charts for the trio, so perhaps their fellow Americans merely passed up the album over making the singles a success.
Peak position #12
Hit singles
Slow hand #2
Should I do it #13
#64 for 1981 (cash box)
I guess the Americans weren't that desperate to rediscover the back catalogue of U2 when this and its sequel came out back in the day, they did alright, just not the overwhelming success they achieved internationally back in the day. I guess this underperformed due to their label not releasing the bonus track as a single in America, another piece of evidence to support my theory this actually harmed album sales over there.
Peak position #2
Hit singles
The sweetest thing #63
Hit in 1999
So, let me get this straight American public of the 1990's, you completely ignored the Corrs but made B*witched an overnight sensation? Granted this album did OK at best in America due to their singles failing to catch on the radio, however the fact these guys charted and not the Corrs does leave me puzzled as to what logic there was for British artists making it big in America over the years.
Peak position #12
Hit singles
C'est la vie #9
Rollercoaster #67
#85 for 1999
It appears we Aussies were merely following the lead of the Carpenters fellow Americans by making this a minor success here as opposed to Countdown unfairly pushing them aside in favour of promoting our local talent. At least that's the excuse I have as to why this underperforming here and on Billboard given how well it did in NZ and especially the UK.
Peak position #13
Hit singles
Please Mr. postman #1
Only yesterday #4
Solitaire #17
#86 for 1975 (cash box)
There's not much I can say about this album that I haven't already covered when it comes to the Alan Parsons project, instead I'll talk about why I included year end stats for Billboard's rival magazine Cash box. As you likely know, Billboard's year end list is infamous more so than ARIAs from the 90's as there's absolutely no logic to how they were calculated back in the day. Cash boxes are more consistent; however they have their issues as well.
Peak position #13
#11 for 1981 (#57 cash box)
If you've read my bonus lists, you'll know that Loverboy has had quite a few appearances on their given how much Americans loved the Canadian band throughout the 80's. It's odd that their only success in the southern hemisphere was their weakest effort on Billboard and in their homeland given how it did in Australia and NZ thanks to the memorable lead single it has.
Peak position #13
Hit singles
Turn me loose #35
#35 for 1981 (#86 cash box)
#73 for 1982
This barely snuck onto the list for Olivia Newton John, just like I said earlier on the list, even the Americans had grown tired of her brand of country music likely due to it becoming male dominated by the mid 70's thanks to the likes of John Denver and the Bellamy brothers. She needed a serious image makeover to survive into the 80's which happened when she made her on screen debut in Grease.
Peak position #13
Hit singles
Come on over #23
#74 for 1976 (cash box)
I really had to struggle to fit this breakthrough album from Hall and Oates onto the list, I honestly would've thought it was a shoe in for the upper echelons of this list given how it spawned their first Billboard chart topper as its lead single. It makes you wonder how this crossed over here in Australia given how said single didn't get to number one on our charts.
Peak position #13
Hit singles
Rich girl #1
#97 for 1976 (cash box)
#13 for 1977
This is our final entry on this list, what better way to wrap things up than with KC and the Sunshine band? This is another entry I would've thought would be higher on this list due to it spawning multiple Billboard chart toppers, I guess these guys were considered a singles band given that their earlier entry wasn't that big in their homeland either.
Peak position #13
Hit singles
Shake your booty #1
I like to do it #37
I'm your boogie man #1
Keep it coming love #2
#72 for 1976 (cash box)
#7 for 1977
That's it for the list; how did we do? Well, going by what actually made the list, I guess there's not too many surprises as it's notoriously hard to make it in America if you're a non-American artist. That said, there's plenty of diversity on these lists, meaning that much like the rest of the world, Americans didn't care how you identified as long as you made good music. Certainly not like these days where you have to either be Taylor Swift, Taylor Swift, Taylor Swift or....... Taylor Swift. Or you could get yourself cancelled on social media and have the "anti-woke" brigade promote your music to "own the libs" or whatever the hell the idiots from the daily wire are telling their audience these days. I make these all-time lists not to flex my knowledge on music from yesteryear, rather it's to help people discover music that isn't endorsed by the Swifties or Ben Shapiro as I feel the less attention we give the culture war of the 2020's, the happier the world will be as music shouldn't be about "owning the chuds" or "owning the libs." With that, I hope you've discovered your new favourite album on this list as well as rediscover some forgotten favourites, take care and I'll see you around.
No comments:
Post a Comment