This year was where certain artists dominated the mainstream, in Australia they were Abba, Sherbet and the Bay city rollers.
This was an album that refused to die on the NZ charts, granted this was also the case worldwide but the kiwis kept this around in the mainstream for quite a number of years since its initial release hence why it's appearing on this list.
Peak position #3
This became a success twice in NZ throughout the decade, the first time was upon its initial release and the second was when "I don't want to talk about it" unexpectedly became a huge success two years after its release over there. Admittedly that song also did reasonably well here in Australia albeit as a sleeper hit.
Peak position #2
Hit singles
Sailing #3
I don't want to talk about it #2
Well, there's no surprise that Rod Stewart would be a huge success in NZ this decade, this is also his biggest album over there due to the kiwis falling in love with his ballads which are still successful on oldies stations to this day.
Peak position #1x9
Hit singles
Tonight's the night #2
Get back #23
The first cut is the deepest #21
The kiwis were just as enamoured with this greatest hits package as we Aussies were, again this was due to the success of a bonus track from the album becoming one of the biggest hits of the decade over there.
Peak position #1x18
This may have come out earlier in the decade, however it was still popular enough by the time the RIANZ charts launched for it to be one of the biggest albums of the year, it goes to show how inescapable this was from Neil Diamond back in the day.
Peak position #1x1
I can't say if the Eagles were among the biggest bands of the decade in NZ during the first half of the 70's, however they did see even more success over there with their Australian breakthrough album One of these nights than they did here which makes this greatest hits album success over there make more sense.
Peak position #2
This was more of an immediate success in NZ than it was in Australia, as such it managed to have a higher peak over there despite doing as well in both countries as each other for the iconic guitarist.
Peak position #3
Hit singles
Show me the way #26
This proved to be an even bigger success in NZ for Olivia Newton John, although to be fair this was during the earliest stages of the RIANZ charts so perhaps its popularity wasn't as bloated as its lengthy chart run would otherwise suggest.
Peak position #2
It's hard to say if this was the album which made John Denver a household name over in NZ considering how the RIANZ charts only go back to when this was initially released and not factor in his previous albums over there, from what I can gather he didn't have much success prior to this album there due to the previous charts Listener not ranking his earlier singles high on their charts.
Peak position #1x2
I guess these guys had massive success with their albums during the first half of the decade in NZ, why else would their greatest hits package be so successful over there given how they didn't see much success with their singles (at least according to the Listener charts they didn't.)
Peak position #3
Even though this had a low peak position in NZ back in the day like it did here in Australia, this breakthrough from Supertramp nonetheless managed to last for quite some time on their charts which ensured that it would be a shoe in for several of these lists on this side of my site.
Peak position #12
Hit singles
Dreamer #34
While this album wasn't quite the inescapable success in NZ that it was in Australia, Abba mania was still a huge deal over there back in the day due to how inescapable the songs were. In fact, the album had a longer shelf life due to the Australian exclusive tracks being released months later over there than they were here.
Peak position #3
Hit singles
I do I do I do #1
SOS #1
Mamma Mia #2
Rock me #2
I've been waiting for you #8
This proved to be an even bigger hit in NZ than it was in Australia, I'm guessing because their third album wasn't quite as huge over there as it was over here which means the inevitable burnout from the Swedish foursome didn't occur as quickly over there as it did over here.
Peak position #1x12
Hit singles
Dancing queen #1
Money money money #1
Knowing me knowing you #8
From what I can gather, these guys did have success in NZ with their previous album due to "Killer queen" being a massive hit over there according to the Listener charts right before the RIANZ charts launched. Even so, this was a massive step up from their previous efforts which resulted in it remaining as their biggest album to date in their career (not counting their greatest hits packages that is.)
Peak position #1x6
Hit singles
Bohemian rhapsody #1
He did score two of the biggest hits of the decade in NZ, so it only makes sense that this album which spawned those two hits would be a massive success for Freddy Fender over there back in the day. He scored further moderate success the following year with his next album Are you ready for Freddy, however it wasn't big enough to earn a spot on this side of my site.
Peak position #1x2
Hit singles
Before the next teardrop falls #2
Wasted days and wasted nights #1
As far as the RIANZ charts are concerned, this was the first successful album that the Rolling Stones had in NZ. Admittedly it's nigh impossible for me to determine if their earlier material was successful over there due to the Listener charts not having an albums chart like they did with a singles chart.
Peak position #4
Hit singles
Fool to cry #38
It looks like the kiwis had also grown tired of John Denver once the popularity of this album died out over there, although admittedly it did last longer over there than it did over here which suggests they considered letting him stick around for a while longer but ultimately decided against it.
Peak position #5
Hit singles
I'm sorry #5
Calypso #5
Wings were certainly not yesterday's news in NZ when they released this album, in fact since there wasn't a local music scene that had to compete with over there, the singles on here managed to become hits where they weren't here in Australia.
Peak position #2
Hit singles
Silly love songs #8
Let em in #13
These guys were on a roll worldwide as this album was a massive success wherever it was released (once it acquired a less horrifying album cover that is) it was more of a success in NZ because the album didn't have much to compete with over there due to the kiwis lacking an effective local music scene.
Peak position #1x3
From what I can gather, Seals and Crofts didn't have much success in NZ prior to the launch of the RIANZ charts. Unless they had success with their albums over there, then this greatest hits package being a huge success for the duo makes no sense to me.
Peak position #2
Well, this is a surprise given how this was the band's least successful album here in Australia, I guess the kiwis were a little ahead of the curve when it came to the rock opera scene as this was the band's venture towards that genre which became a massive hit for them over there but not over here.
Peak position #1x1
Hit singles
Art for art's sake #6
I'm Mandy fly me #25
Given how there wasn't a Countdown equivalent in NZ (to my knowledge at least) this allowed Neil Diamond to have even more success over there than he did over here which feels like a more accurate representation of how big he was throughout the second half of the 70's worldwide.
Peak position #1x6
Hit singles
If you know what I mean #8
It was a bit of a surprise that this was only barely a success here in Australia back in the day, fortunately the kiwis were way more impressed with the works of Supertramp during their heyday which is why this manages to not only have a much higher appearance on this side of my site, but also multiple appearances given how long it charted for over there compared to over here.
Peak position #6
From what I could gather, these guys did have minor success during the first half of the decade on the Listener charts, so it's possible they would've been popular enough for this greatest hits package named after one of their signature tunes would be a massive success over there.
Peak position #1x3
This was the only successful album that Bill and Boyd had in their homeland, it was originally released the previous year here in Australia following their touching tribute to the victims of Cyclone Tracy, however it was delayed a release over there for some reason and only became a success due to the surprise hit that had with a bonus track once it did come out there.
Peak position #1x1
Hit singles
Put another log on the fire #5
Well, this is a surprise, out of all the albums to become a success from the Bay city rollers, it had to be the one which didn't spawn a charting single for them which I suppose explains the absence of "Give a little love" on their charts at the time.
Peak position #5
This was an album that I thought was released exclusively in America, however it turns out it makes for a good greatest hits album given how it contains all of the band's biggest hits they had from their first few albums internationally. Indeed, the kiwis treated this as such which allowed for it to be a massive success for them over there.
Peak position #4
I guess the kiwis really wanted to hear more from this guy's back catalogue as he found success with an album that serves as a direct sequel to his greatest hits album he released from the previous year which was also a massive success for him over there.
Peak position #3
I guess there was potential for Genesis to be a huge success with Peter Gabriel on lead vocals back in the day, that's the best explanation I have for the first album with Phil Collins on the vocals to be a huge success in NZ as I'm sure the kiwis would've heard about them prior to the change in singers.
Peak position #4
This is a bit confusing as Suzi Quatro didn't have much success in NZ during the first half of the decade (according to the listener charts that is) I guess this was the kiwi's way of atoning for ignoring her back in the day as the album wasn't very successful here in Australia despite how inescapable she was back then.
Peak position #2
Hit singles
I may be too young #27
Unlike in Australia where these guys at least had some success during the first half of the decade when they were a jazz rock band, I doubt that was the case in NZ as they didn't have any successful singles and this album was the best they could do on the album chart which suggests they weren't much of an album's band either.
Peak position #6
Hit singles
If you leave me now #2
Steely Dan was popular from the start in NZ it seems, this was another successful album they had over there that was only barely a hit here in Australia likely due to our local music scene pushing this album out of the competition down under.
Peak position #3
Well, you may have noticed a suspicious absence from Santana when going through this side of my site, that's because the Californian band didn't have much success in NZ over the years save for their 1999 comeback Supernatural and this effort from their original run in the mainstream. I don't even know if they had any success prior to this album over there, meaning they were likely a one album wonder for many years.
Peak position #8
It was a Beatles compilation, no matter how many of these that exist, they will always be a massive success upon their initial release worldwide proving how much audiences love their music years after their initial breakup.
Peak position #2
This is where it all began for the Alan Parsons Project, I guess the kiwis were on top of this group from the start if this managed to be a modest success for them this year given how it was a huge flop for them here in Australia.
Peak position #7
To my knowledge this was the final country album that Livie released throughout her career before her pop makeover she underwent from her involvement in Grease later in the decade. We Aussies were done with her country image; however, the kiwis weren't as this and the title track was a major hit for her over there.
Peak position #12
Hit singles
Come on over #3
This was a greatest hits package covering the works of all of the Osmond family, meaning this has the big hits from the band, Donny Osmond and Marie Osmond throughout the first half of the decade. It was a big success in NZ given how Donny and Marie were able to score hits over there as opposed to here in Australia, however those hits dried up after this became a success for the family.
Peak position #2
This proved to be more popular in NZ than it was here in Australia for Elton John, I guess the news of him retiring by the end of the year must have compelled the kiwis to support him anyway they could back in the day which is as good an explanation as any for why this did so well over there.
Peak position #3
I'm guessing the reason why Bob Dylan had so much more success in Australia than he did in NZ was due to the success of the lead single from this album he had over here, I'm sure if it had of been a hit over there, he too would've been able to be considered one of the most inescapable artists of the decade there.
Peak position #3
Hit singles
Hurricane #25
It appears the London Symphony Orchestra wasn't the first orchestra to have a successful album in NZ as their own symphony orchestra managed to score a huge success with their renditions of classical music from the golden age of classical music.
Peak position #1x1
This was released two years prior for Elton John, although it was popular enough to last this far into the decade in NZ to chart this year and even become a massive hit for the piano player this year. It remains his most iconic work due to it having some of his biggest hits from the earliest parts of his career.
Peak position #9
I'm guessing this album was even bigger in NZ back in the day given how it was released the previous year before the RIANZ charts were able to track its full success, as is it was still one of the biggest albums of the decade over there due to how inescapable Elton John was during the first half of the 70's.
Peak position #2
This is another album from the first half of the decade that was a massive success for Neil Diamond in Australia, I'm guessing it was an even bigger deal over in NZ considering how long it lasted in order for it to chart on the RIANZ charts two years after its initial release.
Peak position #3
Again, I'm sort of cheating with this entry as it wasn't that big on the RIANZ chart, but also it was released two years prior meaning that it's possible it was even bigger upon its initial release over in NZ.
Peak position #10
This had a similar reason for becoming a success this year that it did in Australia, the main difference of course is that given that the kiwis were already familiar with this guy as "I don't believe in if anymore" was a huge hit on the Listener charts from the start of the decade, the album was more of a success over there.
Peak position #1x8
This was way more successful in NZ than it was in Australia in every way, not only for the album itself but also the singles which managed to be actual hits over there likely due to the kiwis not having a local music scene established at the time for them to choose over these classics from the Eagles.
Peak position #2
Hit singles
One of these nights #3
Lying eyes #7
Take it to the limit #23
From what I can gather on the Listener charts, Helen Reddy was decently successful during the first half of the decade in NZ but not on the same level as she was here in Australia. I bring this up because it's curious that this greatest hits album would be so much more successful over there than it was over here back in the day.
Peak position #1x6
This was more of a success in NZ than it was here in Australia for Led Zeppelin, again this was due to a lack of competition the band had over there as the kiwis didn't have a strong local music scene like we Aussies did throughout the decade.
Peak position #6
This also had a bit of a delay to its release over in NZ, mainly because the previous entry was also delayed a release over there due to how long it took for the band to take off in their music scene due to there not being a Countdown equivalent to help introduce the kiwis to their music.
Peak position #6
Hit singles
Money honey #11
Rock and roll love letter #34
This was less popular in NZ than it was here in Australia, or at least I assume it was given how it peaked during the summer period of 1976/1977 which is the longest time that the charts have ever been on hiatus since the Listener charts launched a decade prior over there.
Peak position #7
Hit singles
Sorry seems to be the hardest word #7
OK the album wasn't quite as successful in NZ as it was here in Australia (to say nothing of how much bigger it was in Stevie Wonder's native America) however at least it still managed to be a success for him back in the day over there hence why it is making another appearance on this site of mine.
Peak position #5
Hit singles
I wish #19
Sir duke #24
Although this was a decent success for Elton John in NZ like it was here in Australia, I'm willing to bet that many audiences wished it wasn't due to it containing one of the more divisive songs in his catalogue as its lead single.
Peak position #4
Hit singles
Island girl #4
Grow some funk of your own #39
Although these guys didn't find any success with their albums following their reunion (at least not whilst Louisa Wisseling was the lead vocalist) here in Australia, they were able to score a massive hit in NZ with this entry likely suggesting the kiwis wanted to hear more form the Australian group even with the absence of Judith Durham.
Peak position #5
