ARIA charts
Peak position #1×2
Hit singles
Always #2
Someday I’ll be Saturday night #10
Popular in 1994, 1995
It’s as if no time had passed between this album and its predecessor despite the fact that it had been over fifteen years since the first instalment of this franchise from both men involved. Here we have an album that technically came out twelve years prior when Jim Steinman released his one and only album Bad for good which contains a few tracks on here as well as several tracks that were meant for this album, needless to say Meat loaf does these tracks better than he ever could.
AMR charts
Peak position #1×3
Hit singles
I’d do anything for love #1
Rock and roll dreams come through #20
Popular in 1993, 1994
Due to the success of a mashup which combines three of the best tracks from the film, the soundtrack to this cult classic managed to become a success all over again at the start of the decade several years prior to it becoming a hit once more to commemorate the films 20th anniversary.
AMR charts
Peak position #1×2
Hit singles
Grease megamix #1
Popular in 1991
Perhaps the first film to feature a trans character and treat them with any sense of dignity and respect, we have this distinctly Australian film that managed to become a huge success everywhere in the world except for America because anything that isn’t filtered by Hollywood doesn’t tend to do well over there. The soundtrack was a predictable hit worldwide due to the film recontextualising many of the tracks as queer anthems throughout its runtime.
AMR charts
Peak position #1×4
Hit singles
I love the nightlife #11
Popular in 1994, 1995
Whereas most of his contemporaries from the 80’s had struggled for mainstream relevancy by this point in the decade, John Farnham continued to thrive thanks to him adapting with the change in sound that adult contemporary was shifting towards at the time. This led to him having success well into the new millennium which is something even some of the biggest artists of the 90’s was unable to do.
AMR charts
Peak position #2
Hit singles
Seemed like a good idea at the time #17
Angels #45
Popular in 1993, 1994
This was released ten years after the band’s magnum opus Diesel and dust, presumably to remind audiences of their back catalogue as the band’s popularity had been in sharp decline since their 1993 effort Earth sun and moon. The album proved to be a massive success for them, proving that their fans had simple grown tired of their newer music and still had plenty of love for their older music.
AMR charts
Peak position #1×2
Popular in 1997, 1998
ARIA charts
Peak position #1×2
Hit singles
Achy breaky heart #1
Could’ve been me #43
Popular in 1992, 1993
Hole is best known for their frontwoman Courtney Love and her relationship with her husband Kurt Cobain, I’m not going to repeat any of the conspiracies surrounding her on this site but suffice to say she’s had a bad reputation in the music industry for several decades at this point. Here she scores her band’s biggest album as they went in a more pop friendly direction compared to their earlier work.
AMR charts
Peak position #2
Hit singles
Celebrity skin #25
Malibu #12
Awful #44
Popular in 1998, 1999
Given how inescapable the second advanced single was from their earlier entry was, this second album from the Prodigy managed to finally become a success here in Australia three years after its initial release in order to help hype up their third album. I’m not sure why their first two albums initially flopped here as industrial rock while not the most successful genre of the decade did have its fanbase here.
AMR charts
Peak position #5
Hit singles
No good #44
Voodoo people #22
Popular in 1997
For the longest time, this was the only album from an aboriginal artist to find success here in Australia, in recent years Jessica Mauboy has found success with her albums but she only started doing so in the late 00’s. Indeed, this album struggled to become a best seller initially due to audiences missing the point of its lead single, however it eventually won people over when it spawned another hit for the band.
AMR charts
Peak position #4
Hit singles
Treaty #11
Djapana #11
Popular in 1992
ARIA charts
Peak position #4
Hit singles
Treaty #11
Djapana #13
Popular in 1992
It had been seven years since Tracy Chapman last troubled the charts with one of her albums, so to see her back in the spotlight with her fourth album was a bit of a welcomed surprise for audiences around this time. Although this comeback was short lived as Tracy unfortunately failed to capitalise off of its success, it’s nonetheless one of the more heart-warming stories of perseverance.
AMR charts
Peak position #6
Hit singles
Give me one reason #5
Popular in 1996
I wonder how many people were able to predict that this album would be a huge success for Human nature in the lead up to its release, I say this because none of the advanced singles managed to find much of an audience for them and yet it was when they released the album that “Wishes” became a genuine hit for them. I’m guessing this albums success was what led to the Backstreet boys being inescapable here a year after its release.
AMR charts
Peak position #8
Hit singles
Got it going #30
Telling everybody #30
Wishes #4
Don’t say goodbye #9
Whisper your name #36
People get ready #46
Popular in 1997
This almost didn’t find any success outside of the duo’s native Sweden, in fact it took a foreign exchange student requesting an American radio station to play this on the radio for it to finally see success internationally. Roxette are one of my favourite bands of all time, so this was a huge victory in my eyes, and indeed the general public agreed with this assessment as the album spawned four huge hits worldwide.
AMR charts
Peak position #3
Hit singles
The look #1
Dressed for success #3
Listen to your heart #9
Dangerous #13
Popular in 1990
It had been a long while since Phil Collins troubled the charts here in Australia and an even longer while since he did so as a solo artist, however like many successful greatest hits packages this decade, he was able to find success with this album which I’m sure gave him great solace in knowing that his fans enjoyed his back catalogue from when he was scoring hit singles worldwide.
AMR charts
Peak position #7
Popular in 1998, 1999
It took them seven albums, but the Hunters and collectors were finally able to achieve massive success with one of their albums given how hugely success this was for them. It’s worth noting that these guys were very popular in our alternative scene and even saw moderate success over in NZ throughout the 80’s, and indeed their popularity would continue well into the 90’s with their subsequent follow ups.
AMR charts
Peak position #7
Hit singles
When the river runs dry #22
Blind eye #49
Popular in 1990
This is one of those bands I could’ve sworn were so much more successful than they actually were, admittedly I’m more familiar with their 00’s material which seems to be when digital piracy was at the peak of its popularity which likely affected their overall success. In any case, we have this debut album from the band which you guessed it, received heavy promotion from Triple J to boost its popularity.
AMR charts
Peak position #6
Hit singles
Dc x 3 #38
Just ace #24
Popular in 1997, 1998
ARIA charts
Peak position #10
Hit singles
When the river runs dry #23
Blind eye #42
Popular in 1990
We haven’t seen Cher on one of these lists for a while, have we? Well, here she is with the album which many argue introduced autotune into the music industry as the title track was the first hit to become as such with the tool. Thankfully the rest of the album doesn’t have this gimmick, meaning that Cher only used the program as a feature to signal her comeback rather than to hide her perceived vocal deficiencies.
Peak position #13
Hit singles
Believe #1 (AMR #1)
Strong enough #11 (AMR #11)
Dove l’amoure #49
Popular in 1999
ARIA charts
Peak position #1×2
Popular in 1993
Following the success of his tribute to Andrew Lloyd Webber, Michael Crawford decided to release another album which was meant to showcase him as a more contemporary crooner in the music scene. It was a success here in Australia due to Phantom of the opera being on tour here, however it flopped everywhere else due to crooners being pushed aside for the likes of more modern music trends.
AMR charts
Peak position #1×2
Popular in 1993
ARIA charts
Peak position #1×2
Hit singles
Let the night roll on #17
Dogs are talking #11
Back street pick up #23
Popular in 1990
It seemed that Janet and her fanbase couldn’t wait for the actual tenth anniversary of her breakthrough album Control before she released this greatest hits package and her fans made it an instant success, I bring this up because the album is a bit of a lie since it was released a year earlier than it would suggest. Her popularity would dwindle after this; however, she was still a household name for another nine years.
AMR charts
Peak position #1×1
Hit singles
Runaway #6
Twenty foreplay #29
Popular in 1995, 1996
ARIA charts
Peak position #1×2
Hit singles
Don’t wanna lose you #40
Here we are #20
Cuts both ways #38
Popular in 1990
Bon Jovi were on a roll when they released their greatest hits package which led to them scoring the biggest hit of their career, this led to their next album being more in line with adult contemporary than any of their previous work up until this point. It remains a polarising point in their career to this day, many saying they felt betrayed by this change in direction while others saying they deserved the success.
AMR charts
Peak position #1×2
Hit singles
Always #1
Someday I’ll be Saturday night #9
Popular in 1994, 1995
While he was never exactly the most successful artists in Australia, Paul Kelly did have enough of a legacy for this greatest hits package to become a huge success for him about a decade after his last big hit “To her door.” Indeed, several of his songs have endured on oldies stations more so than some of the biggest hits of all time down under.
AMR charts
Peak position #1×2
Popular in 1997, 1998
ARIA charts
Peak position #2
Hit singles
Runaway #8
Twenty foreplay #29
Popular in 1995, 1996
ARIA charts
Peak position #1×2
Hit singles
We didn’t start the fire #2
I go to extremes #48
Popular in 1990
It had been almost an entire decade since we last heard from these guys, admittedly one of their members did tragically pass away in the time they were absent from our mainstream so it’s not like they were too interested in being household names throughout the 80’s. They closed out the decade with this comeback album which seemed to pick up their momentum where it left off with their 1980 effort Planet Claire.
AMR charts
Peak position #1×3
Hit singles
Love shack #1
Roam #15
Popular in 1990
ARIA charts
Peak position #4
Popular in 1996, 1997
ARIA charts
Peak position #1×1
Hit singles
Seemed like a good idea at the time #16
Angels #36
Popular in 1993, 1994
Following the success of their previous album, R.E.M went back to the studio to release what’s often considered their magnum opus as it contains many of their most iconic songs. It’s by far their most successful album even if it had a bit of a slow start to its success here in Australia, in fact this only became a best seller when the third single became a huge success half a year after its release.
AMR charts
Peak position #2
Hit singles
Drive #30
Man on the moon #45
Everybody hurts #5
Popular in 1992, 1993
ARIA charts
Peak position #2
Popular in 1998, 1999
ARIA charts
Peak position #7
Hit singles
I’ll be there #9
Popular in 1992
ARIA charts
Peak position #1×3
Hit singles
Burn #2
If I didn’t have you #41
Now I can dance #13
I want to know what love is #36
Popular in 1997, 1998
ARIA charts
Peak position #4
Hit singles
Celebrity skin #24
Malibu #11
Awful #44
Popular in 1998, 1999
ARIA charts
Peak position #2
Hit singles
Sweat it out #11
Stand up #41
Stone cold #4
Right by your side #43
Popular in 1993
By far the most successful 2d animated film, the Lion king is often considered to be a masterpiece thanks to its ground-breaking animation and its story about a prince reclaiming his throne after being gaslight into giving it up to his abusive uncle (OK this is essentially the story of Hamlet made for kids.) The soundtrack is also skilfully done by Elton John and composers Tim Rice and Hans Zimmer.
AMR charts
Peak position #3
Hit singles
Can you feel the love tonight #10
Popular in 1994, 1995
While this wasn’t her debut album, this was the album which not only launched the career for Enya but also the popularity of new age music as the genre would go on to be a massive success throughout the 90’s. This is the only album from her to spawn a huge worldwide hit in the form of its lead single, which no doubt helped other bands and artists like Enigma and Deep Forest find massive success.
AMR charts
Peak position #5
Hit singles
Orinoco flow #6
Popular in 1991, 1992, 1993, 1995, 1996
Peter Blakely was the original lead singer for the Rockmelons, you likely didn’t know that as he had already left the band when they broke through with their singles from their album Tales from the city. Fortunately for him, he found success with his own album two years later which he named after the popular pie shop chain throughout Sydney, although he would sadly be a one album wonder.
AMR charts
Peak position #5
Hit singles
Crying in the chapel #2
The first time I ever saw your face #17
Popular in 1990
ARIA charts
Peak position #1×2
Hit singles
Said I loved you but I lied #2
Popular in 1993, 1994
You have no idea how inescapable the Riverdance phenomenon was throughout the decade, I’m sure the Corrs owe all of their success here in Australia and eventually around the world to how popular this show was given how Celtic music had always struggled for mainstream popularity over the years. Leave it to Bill Whelan to create a show that was so adorned by audiences that it became synonymous with the decade.
AMR charts
Peak position #3
Popular in 1996, 1997
ARIA charts
Peak position #5
Hit singles
U can’t touch this #1
Have you ever seen her #42
Pray #7
Here comes the hammer #37
Popular in 1990, 1991
These guys had been active throughout the entire decade and yet it was only their third album which made them a household name in Australia, I’m guessing it was due to the lead single which featured a very creepy video depicting what I assume is a CGI baby experiencing its first thoughts in what I’m guessing is the mother’s foetus. Whatever the case, this album was a massive success for the duo and one that put them on the map of both the alternative and EDM scenes.
AMR charts
Peak position #1×1
Hit singles
Tear drop #15
Popular in 1998
This was all set the become a flop for Green day given how it didn’t create much buzz for the trio despite coming off of two successful albums from earlier in the decade, however one of the songs on here was chosen to play over the series finale of Seinfeld which boosted the albums popularity almost a year after its initial release. It did them no favours in retaining a fanbase which resulted in their popularity dwindling in the 00’s.
AMR charts
Peak position #4
Hit singles
Hitching a ride #25
Time of your life #46 (originally)
Time of your life #1
Redundant #1
Popular in 1998, 1999
This would be an album that would see massive success this decade in multiple droves, the first was from this year when it along with many other albums was released on CD for the first time. The more prominent way this got popular was when its sequel was finally released later in the decade.
AMR charts
Peak position #3
Popular in 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993
ARIA charts
Peak position #1×2
Hit singles
Let’s get rocked #6
Make love like a man #22
Have you ever needed someone so bad #44
Two steps behind #33
Popular in 1992
ARIA charts
Peak position #4
Hit singles
Vow #32
Stupid girl #47
Milk #44
Popular in 1995, 1996, 1997
This was released exclusively in Japan the previous year for reasons I can’t seem to fathom, I know that Kylie going indie was a strange phenomenon, but she had already done that with her previous album, and it went over well with audiences. In any case she released it internationally this year where it was a huge success for her despite lacking that obvious hit single, although considering how well it did with Triple J listeners, I don’t think she minded too much.
AMR charts
Peak position #1×1
Hit singles
Some kind of bliss #18
Did it again #13
Breathe #18
Cowboy style #32
Popular in 1998
ARIA charts
Peak position #4
Hit singles
Everyday formula #41
Black bugs #32
Polyester girl #14
! #28
Popular in 1997, 1998
This was originally released in 1985 to deafening silence, likely because we didn’t need another greatest hits package from the Doors since they were well and truly broken up since 1971. It regained some popularity in 1991 following the release of the biopic named after them, although it was only two years later that it became a huge success here likely because it was released on CD for the first time.
AMR charts
Peak position #5
Popular in 1991, 1993, 1995
The last time anyone cared about Alice Cooper was back in the late 70’s when he tried to appeal to a more mainstream market with his adult contemporary ballads, fast forward a decade and we’re here with his glam rock album from the height of hair metal which got him back in the mainstream worldwide except for his native America. I guess his fellow Americans felt he was already too old to rock with the younger crowd.
AMR charts
Peak position #11
Hit singles
Poison #3
Bed of nails #15
Only my heart talking #44
Popular in 1990
ARIA charts
Peak position #7
Hit singles
From a distance #8
Popular in 1991
This albums placement on this list may surprise my American readers considering this is one of the most successful albums of all time over there, however it wasn’t nearly that big here in Australia despite how well the songs permeated on radio here. The album was still a huge success thanks to the vocals of Darius Rucker as well as heartland rock always having a welcomed presence in our music scene.
AMR charts
Peak position #8
Hit singles
Let her cry #5
Only wanna be with you #48
Popular in 1995, 1996
With all of the love their back catalogue has received thanks to the disco backlash finally being seen as the bigoted mistake that it always was, it seems that the Brothers Gibb were prime for a comeback which is exactly what they achieved with this album which saw them continue the adult contemporary approach they had with their previous comeback ESP to massive success. This would lead to a highly successful live album the following year.
AMR charts
Peak position #10
Hit singles
Alone #14
Popular in 1997
This was the last album to have Phil Collins as part of the band as he wouldn’t reunite with the band later in the decade when they put out their final album to deafening silence. This album’s success likely came from its main theme of religion which was becoming an increasingly popular topic for artists this decade ever since Madonna destigmatised criticisms of the church with her album Like a prayer.
AMR charts
Peak position #4
Hit singles
No son of mine #28
I can’t dance #7
Popular in 1991, 1992
OK so this album was a bit slow to find success here in Australia, I’m guessing it was due to us Aussies finding the lead single to be more of a novelty as it was her rare sex jam in a catalogue otherwise filled with ballads. It was when the second single was released that this became a huge success here, sort of how “Breathe again” from her previous album made it a household name for her.
AMR charts
Peak position #9
Hit singles
You’re making me high #2
Unbreak my heart #4
Popular in 1996, 1997
This was released the year prior to deafening silence for Gloria Estefan, I’m guessing because unlike the rest of the world, we Aussies weren’t particularly interested in her work with the Miami sound machine and thus had little interest in her solo work. The album eventually became a success for her due to her surviving a horrific accident where she was violently knock out of her bed in her tour bus while she was sleeping during a crash it was involved with, needless to say our support for her was strong as a result.
AMR charts
Peak position #1×1
Hit singles
Don’t wanna lose you #38
Here we are #16
Cuts both ways #40
Popular in 1990
This was the fourth year in a row where a Triple J compilation album was among the most successful albums in Australia, although I’m basing this list on the AMR charts as these albums naturally didn’t chart on the ARIA charts due to ARIA considering them compilation albums and thus excluding them from their rankings.
AMR charts
Peak position #1×4
Hit singles
Buy me a pony #45
Pepper #15 (AMR #16)
Glycerine #5 (AMR #7)
Breathe #2 (AMR #3)
You’re gorgeous #28 (AMR 28)
Down #41 (AMR #48)
Born slippy #20 (AMR #19)
Scooby snacks #32 (AMR #34)
Spaceman #3 (AMR #3)
Powderfinger – D.A.F. #39 (AMR #49)
Santa Monica #25 (AMR #25)
Just a girl #3 (AMR #3)
The distance #21 (AMR #21)
Milk #44 (AMR #43)
Hyperballad #31 (AMR #27)
Professional widow #17 (AMR #13)
Popular in 1997
This was a bit of a disappointment from Billy Joel considering how inescapable (at least in Australia) his previous album was, although it did spawn arguably his biggest hit in the form of its lead single which in turn translated to the album’s success worldwide. His next album would be even bigger, although it would also be his final album as he would spend the rest of his life as a touring act.
AMR charts
Peak position #1×4
Hit singles
We didn’t start the fire #3
Popular in 1990
ARIA charts
Peak position #1×2
Hit singles
Iris #1
Popular in 1998
ARIA charts
Peak position #2
Hit singles
High #1
Raincloud #29
Popular in 1998
ARIA charts
Peak position #3
Hit singles
Can you feel the love tonight #9
Popular in 1994, 1995
While this wasn’t their debut album, it was the first album that Faith no more saw any success with worldwide likely due to the strength of its lead single. This was the band’s only success in their native America, although here in Australia, they would release three more albums which would prove to be three of the most successful of the decade. They broke up after the fourth album likely due to frustration of their lack of success back home.
AMR charts
Peak position #2
Hit singles
Epic #1
Falling to pieces #29
Popular in 1990
Just like the previous entry, this album sat on shelves ignored for over a year before it finally found success worldwide with its lead single. Another thing this album has in common with Sheryl’s debut is that Joshua was also in his thirties when he recorded it, perhaps this was a sign of agism initially being a barrier to success only for it to be torn down when audiences realise the good music they’d be missing out on.
AMR charts
Peak position #2
Hit singles
Jessie #18
Beautiful in my eyes #6
Picture postcards from LA #46
Popular in 1995
They may have only ever had one hit on the Australian charts, however Lighthouse family were able to at least score a massive hit with their second album here thanks to how inescapable that one hit was for them down under. The duo did try to recapture their international success going into the new millennium; however, their third album was a massive flop which led to their breakup in 2003.
AMR charts
Peak position #2
Hit singles
High #2
Raincloud #31
Popular in 1998
Elton John was certainly on a roll this decade as he was able to score massive success with his first new album of the 90’s, although it would be his last successful album that wasn’t attached to a soundtrack in his career as he largely focused on making soundtracks following the success he had with the Lion king two years later. It was not only a huge commercial success but also won him and academy award.
AMR charts
Peak position #3
Hit singles
The one #14
The last song #24
Popular in 1992, 1993
ARIA charts
Peak position #2
Hit singles
The one #15
The last song #32
Popular in 1992, 1993
This was the album Madonna released to coincide with her book Sex, a book that was little more than a bunch of photos of her in sexually provocative positions that was meant to titillate the general audiences of the early 90’s. While the album isn’t as tasteless as the book, it does have a highly sexual nature which perhaps explains its bad reputation over the years as being an album for horny listeners.
AMR charts
Peak position #1×2
Hit singles
Erotica #3
Deeper and deeper #10
Bad girl #29
Rain #6
Bye bye baby #15
Popular in 1992, 1993
It seems odd that these guys would be able to survive the initial onslaught that the grunge scene had with the rest of rock music, however they did just that thanks to the lead single and its music video which features some of the worst CGI to come out of this decade. This allowed the band to hang in there while many of their contemporaries struggled to find success with their respective albums.
AMR charts
Peak position #1×2
Hit singles
Let’s get rocked #4
Make love like a man #29
Two steps behind #34
Popular in 1992
While I can’t quite call this a comeback album as AC/DC did see plenty of success throughout the 80’s here in Australia, it is the first album they released that I would say was among the most successful of its time thanks to have a very distinct lead single compared to the rest of their catalogue. The album was the first to become a success over in NZ which led to the band having a great decade over there as well.
AMR charts
Peak position #4
Hit singles
Thunderstruck #8
Moneytalks #25
Are you ready #25
Popular in 1990, 1991
ARIA charts
Peak position #1×2
Hit singles
Erotica #4
Deeper and deeper #11
Bad girl #32
Rain #5
Bye bye baby #15
Popular in 1992, 1993
ARIA charts
Peak position #5
Hit singles
Heart in danger #5
Always and ever #16
Hold me in your arms #9
Popular in 1990, 1991
ARIA charts
Peak position #6
Popular in 1996, 1997
This was the debut album from the British boy band Five, I would’ve said these guys were a little late to the boy band wars that began in the first half of the decade with Take that and East 17 except that they were more firmly in the second round of those wars with Backstreet boys and N sync. They came in second place in Australia due to how many hit singles they managed to achieve here back in the day.
AMR charts
Peak position #18
Hit singles
When the lights go out #3
Everybody get up #5
Got the feeling #8
Until the time is through #8
Popular in 1998, 1999
This was the debut album from a band that would go on to be widely despised when years later when they ruined the Joni Mitchell classic “Big yellow taxi” for the film Two weeks’ notice. Before they were blacklisted in the music community for that, there were a well-respected band who score massive success with their debut album as well as having the first hit single worldwide that was never released as such in their native America.
AMR charts
Peak position #12
Hit singles
Mr. Jones #13
Popular in 1994
We have yet another band who thrived from the previous decade entering this one with a highly successful album, in fact this was by far the biggest album to come from the Angels which set them up for great success this decade that unfortunately didn’t end up happening. Admittedly this is because they didn’t release a new album until the end of the decade, so it’s not like they were unfairly ignored.
AMR charts
Peak position #1×1
Hit singles
Let the night roll on #22
Dogs are talking #8
Back street pick up #24
Popular in 1990
Well, this was a huge success on the AMR album charts, so of course it would feature again on this site. I’m mainly doing this to highlight just how different AMR was to the ARIA charts as one thing fascinating about the Australian music scene in the 90’s is that we had two official charts tracking our popular music. With that said, this E.P’s placing on both lists should give you an idea of how similar singles sales were to album sales.
AMR charts
Peak position #2
Popular in 1991
ARIA charts
Peak position #2
Hit singles
Viva las Vegas #28
Popular in 1992
ARIA charts
Peak position #3
Hit singles
Touch the fire #13
Jimmy Dean #47
Popular in 1990
There was little doubt that U2 would find success with this album regardless of what direction they took their sound in, however the fact that they went with ironic rockstars certainly helped it find an audience who were likely becoming fed up with how sincere their 80’s work had become as well as it spawning multiple hit singles which lasted over a year after its initial release.
AMR charts
Peak position #1×1
Hit singles
The fly #1
Mysterious ways #4
One #3
Even better than the real thing #9
Who’s gonna ride your wild horses #9
Popular in 1991, 1992
City of angels is an American remake of a film known as Wings of desire, a French film from the 70’s about a fallen angel falling in love with a mortal woman and the conundrum that ensues from there. It’s an admirable remake of a foreign film, although like most Hollywood remakes it removes the cultural identity of the original to appeal to a more mainstream audience. At least the soundtrack was a huge success.
AMR charts
Peak position #2
Hit singles
Iris #2
Popular in 1998
ARIA charts
Peak position #2
Popular in 1991, 1992
ARIA charts
Peak position #2
Hit singles
You don’t treat me no good #1
You ain’t thinking #3
Popular in 1993
ARIA charts
Peak position #2
Hit singles
Drive #34
Man on the moon #39
Everybody hurts #6
Popular in 1992, 1993
ARIA charts
Peak position #1×6
Hit singles
Unforgettable #2
Popular in 1991
This was the debut album for one Billy Ray Cyrus, a man who would go on to be known as the father for one Destiny Hope Cyrus AKA Miley. Before his daughter became a major Disney star, he was a decently successful country singer who initially struggled to find a record deal due to being seen as little more than a pretty face. Indeed, the success of this album was largely due to a lot of people finding him attractive as well as it popularising the line dance craze.
AMR charts
Peak position #3
Hit singles
Achy breaky heart #1
Could’ve been me #44
Popular in 1992, 1993
From what I can gather, the Main event was a charity concert which had John Farnham, Olivia Newton John and opera singer Anthony Warlow putting on a show that was a massive success during the final months of 1998. As such the showrunners issued this live album which captures the best moments of the concert which became a huge success for the program.
AMR charts
Peak position #3
Popular in 1998, 1999
ARIA charts
Peak position #1×2
Popular in 1998, 1999
ARIA charts
Peak position #2
Hit singles
To love somebody #39
Popular in 1992, 1993
These guys had a massive run throughout the 80’s here in Australia and over in NZ, so much so that it makes sense they would close out the decade with a greatest hits package in both countries which would unfortunately explain the lack of success they would achieve in both countries going into the 90’s.
AMR charts
Peak position #2
Hit singles
Touch the fire #15
Jimmy Dean #41
Popular in 1990
This is the debut album from Taxiride, a boy band who played their own instruments much like that of Hanson before them and 5 Seconds of summer after them given how the majority of their fanbase was teenage girls who were also fans of boy bands who didn’t play their own instruments. It was a massive success for the band due to a combination of their musical chops and their good looks.
Peak position #1×1
Hit singles
Get set #8 (AMR #12)
Everywhere I go #15 (AMR #13)
Can you feel #35
Nothing in this world #43
Popular in 1999
This was initially only a minor success in Australia when it was released, likely because we Aussies were beginning to fall out of love with their marriage of hip hop and rock in their sound. We quickly fell in love with it again when they released their cover of a Lionel Richie classic, a cover that has almost nothing in common with the rest of the album it appears on which nonetheless boosted its sales.
AMR charts
Peak position #4
Hit singles
Midlife crisis #29
I’m easy #1
Popular in 1992, 1993
This album also serves as the soundtrack to the film Dick Tracy, a film that happens to star Madonna as a vaudeville singer which gave her the perfect opportunity to perform a bunch of throwback tunes that appear throughout the album. I can’t say if the film is good or not because I haven’t seen it yet (I’ll update this post once I have) however it’s seeming like it’ll be campy fun if this soundtrack is anything to go by.
AMR charts
Peak position #1×3
Hit singles
Vogue #1
Hanky panky #5
Popular in 1990
Michael Bolton was still very much a thing this far into the 90’s, although his popularity would dwindle following the success of his greatest hits package later in the decade. Even so, he along with Bryan Adams and Richard Marx are a large reason why male adult contemporary stars get such a bad rep as many people feel their over passionate ballads are too over the top and melodramatic to find any enjoyment out of.
AMR charts
Peak position #1×3
Hit singles
Said I loved you but I lied #3
Popular in 1993, 1994
This was originally released to only minor success here in Australia, likely because no matter how big the singles get, EDM albums usually don’t do well on our charts. I guess we eventually made an exception here following the news that Martha Walsh from the Weather girls was the lead singer of the band and not the conventionally attractive woman that appeared on the cover art and in the music videos.
AMR charts
Peak position #1×3
Hit singles
Ride on time #2
I don’t know anybody else #4
Everybody everybody #29
Fantasy #2
Strike it up #18
Popular in 1990, 1991
ARIA charts
Peak position #2
Hit singles
Epic #1
Falling to pieces #26
Popular in 1990
ARIA charts
Peak position #1×3
Hit singles
Vogue #1
Hanky panky #6
Popular in 1990
Given that this was the soundtrack to the theatrical adaptation of Andrew Lloyd Weber’s Evita and that it starred Madonna in the title role, it was going to be a success regardless of if the film was a critical and commercial success or not. Fortunately, the film was both which got the soundtrack to rebound on the charts when the lead single took home the academy award for best song and its second single became a hit.
AMR charts
Peak position #5
Hit singles
You must love me #14
Don’t cry for me Argentina #11
Popular in 1996, 1997
These guys saw minor success in their native UK in the late 80’s with their debut album, this success didn’t translate to Australia likely due to us being uninterested in British soul at the time. This attitude obviously changed with their third album as there was plenty of British artists finding success with soul music, although it did take a while for this album to peak here despite finding success with the singles.
AMR charts
Peak position #2
Hit singles
Only to be with you #19
Lay your love on me #27
Popular in 1995
