I've decided to make a list going over the biggest albums of all time in the UK that have become a success in the southern hemisphere, that is, rank the albums that have appeared on this site based on how well they did over there (as of 2000 for the sake of my sanity.) I feel this is pretty self-explanatory as I'll of course update my commentary and album stats for each entry to reflect how well they did with the Brits during the twentieth century.
We have our final entry from the brothers Gibb on this list, although E.S.P was also a candidate for this list given how it spawned their final UK chart topper "You win again" exactly a decade prior to this album. Had I included 00's albums on this list, they would've had some more entries on here than they already do.
Peak position #2
Hit singles
Alone #5
#52 for 1997
This is another album where I had to cheat to get it featured on this site, it makes sense it was a success in the UK given how Charlotte Church is British, and that opera music was all the rage during the second half of the 90's over there.
Peak position #4
#28 for 1998
This is the final entry from Black sabbath on this list, they had other candidates to appear on here but alas they weren't that big here in Australia and it's impossible for me to tell how well they did in NZ prior to 1975. At the very least, they have healthy representation on this list as opposed to many of their contemporaries.
Peak position #5
Hit in 1971
Oh look, another album that needed more than one attempt to make it big in the UK. This time it's the second album from Jon and Vangelis given how this flopped over there initially due to it competition with Vangelis entry from earlier on this list. It was given a second chance when the second single became a hit for the duo over there.
Peak position #6 (originally #17)
Hit singles
I'll find my way home #6
#65 for 1982
Here's another album that only made it on my site due to me cheating when I created my albums list on the Australian side of it, this means I'm able to feature an album from Neil Young on this list as nothing else he released in his catalogue was a candidate for this list other than his live album from MTV unplugged.
Peak position #4
Hit in 1993
You'd think this debut album from Suede would've been much higher on this list given how it managed to become a success in NZ for them, alas it appears their fellow Brits weren't that impressed with their breakthrough or indeed the rest of their catalogue as they only had one other candidate for this list we haven't skipped over.
Peak position #1x1
Hit singles
Animal nitrate #7
#45 for 1993
This is the final entry from Eric Clapton on this list, it's also by far his most recent as his career saw a sharp decline during the second half of the 90's for whatever reason. At least he had plenty of representation on this list which is more than I can say for other blues legends.
Peak position #6
#62 for 1994
It feels like forever ago that we looked at Tracy Chapman's debut album on this list, here she is again with her second album which may not have reached the dizzying heights of success that her earlier entry achieved in the UK (or what it achieved globally for that matter) but was regardless a chart topper for her over there.
Peak position #1x1
#44 for 1989
Again, it feels like forever since we last looked at this duo on this list, although to be fair, that's because we skipped over both their debut album (which was also a number one hit in the UK) and their greatest hits album their label released when they parted ways with each other and Roland Orizabal became a solo act under the name.
Peak position #1x1
Hit singles
Sowing the seeds of love #5
Woman in chains #26
#21 for 1989
This is the only other appearance from Elvis Costello on this list, even then I sort of cheated when I featured it on the Australian side of my site as I included entries that appeared on ARIA's year end list for 1989 to fill up the top 100 with non compilation albums. As such, this is another entry that was a hit in the UK that by all accounts shouldn't be on here.
Peak position #5
Hit singles
Veronica #31
Hit in 1989
We may have featured all of Dire strait's albums on this list already, however we still have one more entry to look at from Mark Knopfler which it this album he released with his side project the Notting Hillbillies. It was as successful in his homeland as it was internationally, that is to say, it was a decent success at best.
Peak position #2
#69 for 1990
OK when I first found out that literal monks were able to find success in the mainstream throughout the 90's, I didn't think it was due to the Brits that this trend took off worldwide. It appears to be the case here as the kiwis were clearly enamoured by this album which was a huge success in the UK.
Peak position #7
#55 for 1994
This came close to missing out on the list due to how chaotic the late 90's was in the UK (as you've no doubt noticed from this list alone) however Portishead's fellow Brits were able to ensure that their second album was at least as big a success over there as it was here in Australia even if it was a powerhouse for them in NZ.
Peak position #2
Hit singles
All mine #8
Only you #35
#69 for 1997
This is the final entry from Bob Dylan on this list, we've had quite a rollercoaster when it comes to featuring his discography on this site given how some of his more notable work never saws much success anywhere in the world back in the day.
Peak position #1x1
Hit in 1970
This is the most recent candidate for David Bowie on this list that isn't a greatest hits album, yes, he saw minor success in his homeland after this effort, however nothing he released was impactful enough to qualify for this list of mine. That said, many will tell you this is his final album from the peak of his career.
Peak position #1x1
Hit singles
Blue jean #6
Loving the alien #19
#39 for 1984
I'm over 700 albums into this list and only now featuring an entry from the Cure, I guess their fellow Brits were completely unimpressed with their catalogue save for this entry which made the cut despite failing to spawn any hit singles for them in their homeland. Naturally this was more of a success here in Australia given how well received they were here prior to its release.
Peak position #6
Hit singles
In between days #15
Close to me #24
Hit in 1985
While it's tempting to say that this was a hit for Chris De Burgh in his homeland for the same reason it was here in Australia, I should point out that it was a success over there upon its initial release, meaning that this was the introduction to his career his fellow Brits got as opposed to a recap of his career for us Aussies.
Peak position #6
#44 for 1985
This is the final entry from Mariah Carey on this list, it seems oddly fitting that she would cap off her appearance on here with her debut album given how this was a proof of concept to what was to come in her career worldwide. Indeed, the Brits didn't seem to be particularly impressed with this album despite its placement on this list.
Peak position #6
Hit singles
Vision of love #9
Love takes time #37
Someday #38
I don't wanna cry #17
Hit in 1990
We're near the bottom of this list and we've finally gotten to this live album covering the iconic concert that Simon and Garfunkel held in Central Park New York twelve years after they first went their separate ways. Like I said earlier, it appears the Brits weren't as impressed with this concert as the rest of the world was.
Peak position #6
#40 for 1982
We have one final entry from the Pet shop boys on this list, it just so happens to be their greatest hits album which proved to be a death note for their popularity moving forward as their subsequent releases all failed to become candidates for this list like their two earlier entries were.
Peak position #3
#36 for 1991
If you're shocked to see this third and final album from Nirvana so low on this list, need I remind you of how many other bands and artists from the 90's alt scene that failed to even become potential candidates for this list, let alone scrap by onto it like this entry did. That said, we're still not done with these guys just yet.
Peak position #1x1
Hit singles
Heart shaped box #5
All apologies #32
#46 for 1993
#57 for 1994
This is the final album from the Who to make it onto this list, again it was barely successful enough in their homeland to do so which suggests that their fellow Brits had long grown tired of their brand of music by the time this was released right at the cusp of the launch of the MTV era.
Peak position #2
Hit singles
You better you bet #9
Hit in 1981
This is the final entry from Prince on this list, it's curious that of all the albums to make it on here, it would be the first he released under his new identity as an unpronounceable love symbol. This is where UK journalists began to refer to him as the Artist formerly known as Prince for the record.
Peak position #1x1
Hit singles
Sexy MF #4
My name is prince #7
7 #27
#48 for 1992
This is the final entry from INXS on this list, it's the only album from them to go to number one on the UK charts which is bizarre given how it was the beginning of their decline here in Australia. They may have lucked out with the Brits throughout the 80's, however they more than made up for it with their 90's run.
Peak position #1x1
Hit singles
Heaven sent #31
Baby don't cry #20
Taste it #21
Beautiful girl #23
#53 for 1992
Given how well received the movie was both critically and commercially, it makes sense that the Brits would make the soundtrack to Men in black a success just like it was internationally. You can even argue it made Will Smith's solo debut a success over there as it was a candidate for this list.
Peak position #5
Hit singles
Men in black #1
We just wanna party with you #21
Hit in 1997
This is the earliest success that John Lennon had in his solo career as well as Yoko Ono in her career overall in their homeland, although it's worth noting that it was more of a success here in Australia for the couple likely due to us Aussies not buying into the conspiracy that Yoko broke the Beatles up (she didn't.)
Peak position #8
Hit in 1971
This was one of the most successful albums of all time here in Australia, so to see this soundtrack to Andrew Lloyd Webber's magnum opus Jesus Christ superstar so low on this list is a bit of a shock to me. I think it only charted in the UK once the show premiered as opposed to it charting before hand down under.
Peak position #6
Hit in 1972
I bet you forgot when I said that Leo Sayer had a third entry on this list, indeed it appears his fellow Brits weren't too impressed with his early material which makes his crossover success here in Australia all the more puzzling even when you consider the fact he was heavily promoted by Countdown.
Peak position #8
Hit singles
Moonlighting #2
Hit in 1975
We're quickly coming to the end of this list, and we've still got more entries from David Bowie to look at, again you'd think his fellow Brits would elevate his music given how they've proven how patriotic they are for their local music scene throughout this list.
Peak position #5
Hit singles
Golden years #8
Hit in 1976
We've finally come across Nirvana's live album from their appearance on MTV unplugged, again it was only a success in the UK due to it being released around the time Kurt Cobain tragically took his own life thus making it a cash grab following his death. I guess the Brits saw this in bad taste which would explain its low placement on this list.
Peak position #1x1
#31 for 1994
#73 for 1995
For the most part, we haven't had many entries on this list from American artists who found no success on the Billboard charts, Adeva is one of the lucky few in this category as despite being based in her homeland, she only found success in the UK and eventually here in Australia with her debut album.
Peak position #6
Hit singles
Warning #17
I thank you #17
#60 for 1989
It's been a while since we looked at Alice Cooper on this list, however he manages to squeeze onto it with his comeback album from 1989 even if most of its success in the UK is attributed to how well the lead single did over there. Still at least it was a success with the Brits as opposed to his fellow Americans who ignored this.
Peak position #2
Hit singles
Poison #2
Bed of nails #38
#75 for 1989
This is the final entry from Jon Bon Jovi on this list, although it's also his only solo album which also serves as the soundtrack to the second Young guns movie from the start of the 90's. Even though it was a success for him in the UK, the singles weren't which is odd because the lead single was a chart topper in most parts of the world.
Peak position #2
Hit singles
Blaze of glory #13
Miracle #29
#64 for 1990
You can argue that releasing this live album five years after the concert it was recorded at following the death of Freddie Mercury is in poor taste, we Aussies certainly thought it was which is why it was a complete flop for Queen here in Australia. It wasn't the case for the kiwis or their fellow Brits as it was a massive success in both countries.
Peak position #3
#59 for 1992
This is the only success that the Clash had in their homeland, how one of the most iconic punk bands of all time managed to only barely make it onto this list about the biggest albums in their homeland is beyond me, however it appears its moderate success in the UK was enough for us Aussies and kiwis to make it a bigger success in the southern hemisphere.
Peak position #9
Hit singles
London calling #11
#60 for 1980
I'm a bit surprised that this didn't do even better in the UK given how inescapable it was over in NZ for Stray cats, although at least it was a huge success in both countries upon its initial release and even spawned a decent hit for them here in Australia which is far more than I can say about its success in their native America.
Peak position #6
Hit singles
Runaway boys #9
Rock this town #9
Stray cat strut #11
#55 for 1981
Even though we're near the bottom of the list, this isn't the final entry from Deep purple as we'll be getting to that entry in a minute. Again, you have to remember that the Brits didn't seem to like heavy rock and roll for the most part, so the fact these guys have had such a healthy representation on this list is impressive.
Peak position #4
Hit in 1973
It may have barely qualified for this list, however this second album from Men at work did prove to be a big enough success in the UK for it to be considered one of the bigger albums of the decade over there. Of course, its success there pales in comparison to what it achieved here and over in America.
Peak position #8
Hit singles
Overkill #21
It's a mistake #33
Dr heckyl and Mr jive #31
#54 for 1983
It turns out a bunch of albums from the Beatles were rereleased in 1987 as CD's worldwide, the only reason why this was a success for them that year was the CD release was marketed as the album's twentieth anniversary which it absolutely was.
Peak position #3
#78 for 1987
It looks like Yes were able to score a second entry on this list given how this was a decent hit for them here in Australia as well as their homeland, for what it's worth, I did skip a ton of their entries from the early 70's on here.
Peak position #4
Hit in 1974
We've finally come to the final entry from David Bowie on this list, it's coincidentally his oldest album on this list as well as the album that finally spawned a chart topper for him on Billboard in the form of "Fame."
Peak position #2
Hit singles
Young Americans #18
Hit in 1975
This was barely a success for Tina Turner in the UK given how close we are to the end of this list, indeed this was only a hit over there due to her artist momentum which obviously dipped with its release but picked back up with her top entry on this list by the end of the 80's.
Peak position #2
Hit singles
Typical male #33
What you get is what you see #30
#42 for 1986
This was only barely able to make it onto this list despite being a huge success here in Australia for Gary Glitter, again it spawned a massive hit for him in his homeland which by now should tell you that his fellow Brits prioritised his singles over his albums which we've already seen on this list.
Peak position #8
Hit singles
Rock and roll #2
I didn't know I loved you #4
Hit in 1972
This is the final entry from Deep Purple on this list, granted it's at the very bottom of said list; however, this means that they only have two albums I've featured on this site absent here, those being Made in Japan which curiously bombed in their homeland and Come taste the band which got lost in the shuffle.
Peak position #3
#46 for 1974
If you're wondering if I skipped over any entries from the Smiths, the answer is yes as I skipped over their self-titled album from 1984 as well as their 1992 greatest hits album. This was another sleeper hit here in Australia from 1987, meaning by all accounts, this album cheated to get on here.
Peak position #2
#70 for 1987
In this section, I'll be going over soundtracks that were massive hits in the UK but I couldn't properly rank due to not having access to their compilation albums.
There was little doubt that the soundtrack to Pretty woman would connect with the Brits like it did throughout the rest of the world, although the real winner here is Roxette who were finally given a fair chance in the UK when their love ballad became a massive hit for them on the UK charts.
Peak position #2
Hit singles
Fame 90 #28
Wild women do #16
It must have been love #3
The king of wishful thinking #18
Hit in 1990
If only Whitney Houston credited this soundtrack to herself, she would've had it chart on the UK album charts as opposed to it being relegated to the compilation charts due to their bullshit rules that forced soundtracks to chart along the likes of the Now that's what I call music series. I had to include this album on here otherwise I'd get a million comments saying, "where is the Bodyguard soundtrack?"
Peak position #1x11
Hit singles
I will always love you #1
I'm every woman #4
I have nothing #3
#1 for 1993 (on compilation charts)
Hit in 1994
As it was the biggest British film of the 90's, it makes sense that the soundtrack to Four weddings and a funeral was a massive success in the UK just like it was here in Australia. It also made Wet wet wet an international household name given how their theme song to the flick became a massive worldwide chart topper.
Peak position #5
Hit singles
Love is all around #1
#10 for 1994 (on compilation charts)
Even though this is often credited to Elton John in most internet circles, it was originally a Disney soundtrack which meant it was ineligible for the main charts in the UK. For what it's worth, none of the other Disney soundtracks even touched the compilation charts over there, meaning this was the only candidate for this list from Disney.
Peak position #3
Hit singles
Can you feel the love tonight #14
Circle of life #11
#4 for 1994
#10 for 1995
This feels less like the soundtrack to Forrest Gump and more of a playlist for music that was popular during the height of the Vietnam war. Regardless of how it got big, this soundtrack was a success in the UK just like it was throughout the rest of the world even if it failed to spawn a hit on any chart.
Peak position #5
From one Oscar winning Tom Hanks performance to another, we have the soundtrack to Philadelphia which became big in the UK the same way it did in the southern hemisphere. That of course being its Oscar winning ballad from Bruce Springsteen which almost allowed the heartland rocker to have his first chart topper in the UK.
Peak position #3
Hit singles
Streets of Philadelphia #2
You have no idea how much of a cultural juggernaut Pulp fiction was back in the day, even the Brits were able to recognise how awesome the soundtrack was given how it ranked fairly high on the year end compilation charts (despite peaking rather low on there) which is unusual for a soundtrack comprised of oldies music.
Peak position #5
Hit singles
Girl you'll be a woman soon #37
Hit in 1994
#7 for 1995 (on compilation charts)
Hit in 1996
Trainspotting was another cultural juggernaut in the land of cinema to come out of the UK, as such it's fitting that its soundtrack would be a huge hit in the UK even if it's filled with industrial rock and roll that makes you wonder why the Brits didn't hand success to Marilyn Manson back in the day.
Peak position #2
Hit singles
Born slippy #2
#3 for 1996 (on compilation charts)
Hit in 1997
Not only was the film a massive box office hit, but it managed to spawn a bunch of notable hit singles throughout the world including the UK. Interestingly enough, the lead single from Des'ree bombed over there, although I guess her fellow Brits weren't interested in her ballads that were attached to films given how her theme to the Next karate kid also flopped over there.
Peak position #3
Hit singles
Lovefool #2
Young hearts run free #20
