ARIA charts
Peak position #5
Hit singles
Shoop #2
Whatta man #2
Heaven and hell #21
Popular in 1994
As with most RNB albums, this initially sat on shelves in Australia likely due to us Aussies not being into RNB that much. Toni’s fortunes changed here when “Breathe again” became a surprise hit which allowed this album to follow suit in becoming a huge hit here months after it already became a success in NZ and her native America. This led to her having no issues with finding success with her second album.
AMR charts
Peak position #5
Hit singles
Breathe again #2
You mean the world to me #43
Popular in 1994
ARIA charts
Peak position #6
Hit singles
Hook me up #11
Hey girl #14
Let’s groove #2
Don’t stop #28
Popular in 1995, 1996
ARIA charts
Peak position #8
Hit singles
Wicked game #15
Blue hotel #23
Popular in 1991
This was the third time that this soundtrack became a success here in Australia, this time it was due to it being the twentieth anniversary of the film and it being rereleased to cinemas this year to massive success.
AMR charts
Peak position #7
Hit singles
The grease megamix #32
Popular in 1998
ARIA charts
Peak position #6
Popular in 1990
Harry Connick Jr was always a crooner in the music industry; however, his career received a massive boost when he appeared in the film Little man Tate which compelled audiences to check out his music catalogue with this greatest hits package he had conveniently released around the time the movie came out. It was a slow rise to success here in Australia, however we were eventually won over.
AMR charts
Peak position #5
Popular in 1991, 1992
ARIA charts
Peak position #3
Hit singles
Heaven for everyone #15
Popular in 1995
They’ve been described as John Farnham fanboys over the years, and listening to their debut album it’s easy to see why as this does sound like something Farnham would make if he were fronting a band around this time period. That obviously didn’t prevent this album from being a huge success for Southern sons, however it did leave them as a one trick pony as their next album failed to replicate its success.
AMR charts
Peak position #6
Hit singles
Heart in danger #4
Always and ever #16
Hold me in your arms #7
Popular in 1990, 1991
ARIA charts
Peak position #1×1
Hit singles
High #5
Friday I’m in love #39
Popular in 1992
ARIA charts
Peak position #8
Hit singles
Bricks #13
Popular in 1998
ARIA charts
Peak position #7
Popular in 1991, 1996, 1997
This was a decently successful album upon its initial release, likely due to it spawning two hits for Rick Price which was impressive for a debut album even for someone his age. It saw a massive rebound a year later when “Walk away Renee” became a surprise hit for him, thus making it a huge success for an Australian artist when that was becoming increasingly difficult to achieve.
AMR charts
Peak position #5
Hit singles
Not a day goes by #6
Heaven knows #9
What’s wrong with the girl #45
Walk away Renee #18
Popular in 1992, 1993
ARIA charts
Peak position #7
Hit singles
Spin that wheel #5
Turtle power #15
Popular in 1990
Their debut album was a massive commercial flop for them, so to see this album succeed as well as it did must have been a huge shock for Smashing pumpkins given how they were infamously known for not being able to handle their success very well. This album led to them becoming more ambitious with their subsequent material which translated to even more success that they weren’t prepared for.
AMR charts
Peak position #10
Hit singles
Disarm #14
Popular in 1994, 1996
ARIA charts
Peak position #10
Hit singles
Always on the run #43
It ain’t over till it’s over #10
Stand by my woman #46
Popular in 1991
ARIA charts
Peak position #9
Popular in 1993
ARIA charts
Peak position #8
Hit singles
The x files #27
Popular in 1996
ARIA charts
Peak position #9
Hit singles
Ice ice baby #1
Play that funky music #13
Popular in 1991
ARIA charts
Peak position #9
Popular in 1992
This was a greatest hits packaged named after one of their singles from their breakthrough album Hold on to me, indeed this was another example of a band whose popularity died out by this point but was able to find success with an album looking over their biggest success which secured their legacy in the music industry. This decade had a ton of these albums find success over original material.
AMR charts
Peak position #10
Popular in 1993, 1994
Leann Rimes was only fourteen years old when she recorded this album, not only that but it wasn’t even her first album as she had been active since the start of the decade meaning she was only nine years old when she released her first album. That’s impressive considering this would be a highly critically acclaimed album as well as a huge commercial success despite it being a country album.
AMR charts
Peak position #7
Hit singles
Blue #12
Popular in 1996, 1997
This was a highly successful decade for Lenny Kravitz who saw massive success with his second and third albums throughout the world, although it’s worth noting that only this album was a success for him in his native America as his next album bombed there for some reason. This initially struggled to become a success here in Australia, however once his second single made him a household name on Billboard the album flew up the charts here.
AMR charts
Peak position #10
Hit singles
Always on the run #47
It ain’t over till it’s over #10
Stand by my woman #39
Popular in 1991
This was originally released twenty years prior, as such it was given a CD release this year which allowed it to be a massive success worldwide for the fab four. They also rereleased the sister album this year which we’ll look at in a bit.
AMR charts
Peak position #9
Popular in 1993
This was the final album that Linda Ronstadt managed to have any success with worldwide, although I’m guessing it was due to audiences resonating with the lead single about how getting old kind of sucks, but she doesn’t care now that she’s found the love of her life with Aaron Neville. Indeed, this is her most sombre album that I’ll be featuring on this site, likely a reflection of how she’s matured over the years.
AMR charts
Peak position #10
Hit singles
Don’t know much #2
Popular in 1990
This had a rather slow rise to its success here in Australia, I’m guessing because these guys weren’t among the more popular Australian bands of the decade despite scoring a huge hit with their debut single “Great wall.” Their fortunes changed for the better when the album became a huge success around the turn of the decade due to fan favourite “Dancing in the storm” taking over the airwaves.
AMR charts
Peak position #10
Hit singles
Onion skin #11
Get out of the house #23
Dancing in the storm #19
Talk about it #35
Popular in 1990
One of the wackier films of the decade was the live action TMNT movie, a film based on a cartoon which in turn was based on a comic about anthropomorphic turtles fighting crime with their ninja skills. The film is way better than it has any right to be as is the entire TMNT franchise for that matter, also it came with a killer soundtrack which of course was a massive success here in Australia.
AMR charts
Peak position #11
Hit singles
Spin that wheel #4
Turtle power #14
Popular in 1990
Well Faith no more might have been this biggest band this decade in Australia to combine hip hop elements with rock, however the most critically acclaimed by far was Rage against the machine who made a massive splash worldwide with their debut album thanks to the lead single being a heavy hitter on the radio even to this day. It was their biggest album here, although they’ve retained a fanbase thanks to their sound and politically charged lyrics.
AMR charts
Peak position #12
Hit singles
Killing in the name #5
Popular in 1993
ARIA charts
Peak position #12
Hit singles
Killing in the name #7
Popular in 1993
It took them fourteen years to break through to the mainstream worldwide, however the alternative duo Everything but the girl (named after an ad they saw) managed to take the world by storm thanks to a remix of one of their ballads from two years prior. They leaned into the EDM scene with this album which proved to be a massive success for them, however they quickly ran out of steam which costed them their popularity.
AMR charts
Peak position #12
Hit singles
Missing #1
Walking wounded #19
Wrong #27
Popular in 1996
In a way, this feels like a greatest hits album as we have Michael Crawford singing all of the best-known songs from all of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s productions at the time of the album’s release. The success of this album was likely due to when the Phantom of the opera began its tour here in Australia which happened to star him in the titular role, thus making this a tie into the show.
AMR charts
Peak position #1×1
Popular in 1992
ARIA charts
Peak position #2
Hit singles
The weight #6
Popular in 1993, 1994
ARIA charts
Peak position #3
Hit singles
Constant craving #38
Popular in 1993, 1994
So Frank Sinatra was able to score a successful album this year, this would’ve been four years prior to his death meaning that even in his twilight years he was still managing to connect with audiences with new material. Here he collaborates with the likes of Aretha Franklin and Barbra Streisand which managed to appease audiences of the day.
AMR charts
Peak position #2
Popular in 1993, 1994
ARIA charts
Peak position #2
Popular in 1993, 1994
Given how this managed to spawn three UK chart toppers for the band in question, it makes sense that this debut album for Jive bunny and the Mastermixers would be the first chart topper of the decade here in Australia given how it came out at a time where mashup singles were all the rage in the mainstream.
AMR charts
Peak position #1×4
Hit singles
Swing the mood #1
That’s what I like #4
Popular in 1990
He may have failed to score a hit single anywhere in the world since the soundtrack to his version of the Jazz singer, however it’s obvious that Neil Diamond has remained a welcome presence in the music industry as evidence by how frequently his 1972 live album Hot august night recharts in the mainstream. Twenty years after that album, he released this greatest hits package that detailed his success from his debut to its release.
AMR charts
Peak position #1×3
Popular in 1992, 1996
This was the second album that Jimmy Barnes released within a year, although this came after the album cycle of Heat came to an end meaning he was at least pacing his career fairly well this decade. If you couldn’t tell from the cover art, this was his foray into acoustic rock given he had learned to play the guitar around this time to help him further craft his identity away from Cold chisel.
AMR charts
Peak position #2
Hit singles
The weight #5
Popular in 1993, 1994
This was another successful entry from the 100% series, this time it overlooked the biggest hits of spring of 1992 which allowed it to be a huge hit for 1992 and 1993 due to how long it lasted on our charts.
AMR charts
Peak position #1×3
Hit singles
Something good #10 (AMR #10)
Ain’t no doubt #5 (AMR #5)
Tennessee #12 (AMR #16)
Breaking the girl #30 (AMR #29)
Baby got back #8 (AMR #5)
Take this heart #11 (AMR #10)
No regrets #26 (AMR #14)
Neighbour #28 (AMR #22)
Do for you #7 (AMR #5)
Too much love will kill you #18 (AMR #18)
White men can’t jump #6 (AMR #9)
Just another day #12 (AMR #13)
The day you went away #2 (AMR #2)
Love how you love me #14 (AMR #10)
How do you do #13 (AMR #17)
Achy breaky heart #1 (AMR #1)
Popular in 1992, 1993
This was the biggest seasonal compilation for this year; it covered the big hits in Australia from our summer of 1996/1997 due to it having a strong selection of songs to choose from that period.
AMR charts
Peak position #2
Hit singles
Breathe #2 (AMR #3)
Last night #2 (AMR #1)
Pony #3 (AMR #3)
Sexy eyes #6 (AMR #7)
Wishes #6 (AMR #4)
It’s all coming back to me now #8 (AMR #6)
This is your night #11 (AMR #11)
Fire water burn #13 (AMR #17)
Over and over #29 (AMR #24)
Lemon tree #31 (AMR #32)
I need you #17 (AMR #18)
Barrel of a gun #33 (AMR #33)
Cosmic girl #33 (AMR #29)
Jellyhead #32 (AMR #28)
Quit playing games #27 (AMR #33)
In the evening #17 (AMR #12)
Encore une fois #35 (AMR #16)
Popular in 1997
One of the most prominent shows of the early 90’s was Twin peaks, even with the cliff-hanger ending it was well beloved by critics and audiences alike to the point where the soundtrack became a massive success around the world. The true surprise is that the theme song was a number one hit here in Australia (at least on the ARIA charts) which further secured the shows legacy down under.
AMR charts
Peak position #1×1
Hit singles
Falling #3
Popular in 1991
This was originally a flop for KD Lang, presumably due to the album being affiliated with her coming out as a lesbian which was seen as a risky move back in the day when LGBT representation was still in its infancy. It was given a second chance when her soundtrack to the Uma Thurman flick Even cowgirls get the blues became a surprise hit for her this year, thus making her a household name worldwide.
AMR charts
Peak position #3
Hit singles
Constant craving #38
Popular in 1993, 1994
This was only one of two albums that Merril Bainbridge released in her career, the other one being so much of a commercial disaster it didn’t even chart here let alone internationally. I’m guessing it was the success of this album which allowed her to see international success with its lead single despite how long it took for it to find an audience here initially, although it could also be that she was a popular female singer/songwriter.
AMR charts
Peak position #6
Hit singles
Mouth #1
Under the water #3
Power of one #26
Popular in 1995
This was the final album from Pearl jam that fans would consider to be part of their classic period, mainly because this was the last album of theirs to have any trace of grunge as they would move on to adult contemporary with their subsequent albums. Admittedly I feel that they wanted to make the move here but didn’t fully commit to it so that they could ease their fans through the transition.
AMR charts
Peak position #1×1
Hit singles
Given to fly #9
Popular in 1998
ARIA charts
Peak position #1×1
Hit singles
Given to fly #13
Wishlist #48
Popular in 1998
Well, this was back in the day where sequels to soundtracks were a thing, and to be fair the Romeo and Juliet soundtrack from earlier didn’t have every song that was included in the film so it makes sense this edition would also be a success here in Australia.
AMR charts
Peak position #3
Hit singles
When doves cry #1
Popular in 1997
ARIA charts
Peak position #4
Hit singles
Have I told you lately #12
Popular in 1993
ARIA charts
Peak position #4
Hit singles
What’s up #2
Popular in 1993
This was the final album that Faith no more released during their time together, although they have since reformed so perhaps there’s a comeback waiting to happen given how older artists seem to have little trouble with making it big over the newer talent these days. In any case, this album once again was a much bigger deal here in Australia than their native America which no doubt led to them throwing in the towel initially.
AMR charts
Peak position #1×2
Hit singles
Ashes to ashes #7
Popular in 1997
It pains me to say that this guy never had much success here in Australia save for this highly successful greatest hits package he released at the start of the decade. I guess the success of this album allowed us Aussies to rediscover his back catalogue and thus allow his songs to become staples on oldies stations.
AMR charts
Peak position #1×3
Popular in 1990, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1997
ARIA charts
Peak position #1×2
Hit singles
Highway to hell #29
Popular in 1992, 1993
Given how he was now one of the biggest artists in the music industry, it feels natural that this album from Andrea Bocelli would be a huge success for him worldwide. Indeed, he would continue to find massive success well into the new millennium, proving that there were plenty of fans of what many would consider to be music for soccer mums.
Peak position #3
Popular in 1999
ARIA charts
Peak position #5
Hit singles
Unchained melody #1
Popular in 1991
ARIA charts
Peak position #6
Hit singles
Love is in the air (ballroom mix) #3
Popular in 1992
This was originally released as Enya’s debut album back in 1986 to deafening silence, I’m guessing because it was a bit ahead of its time seeing as though new age music wouldn’t become a thing until her second album Watermark. It was rereleased under this title in 1992 where it didn’t make much of a splash, however it did three years later for some reason which led to the success of her next album.
AMR charts
Peak position #6
Popular in 1995
ARIA charts
Peak position #7
Popular in 1995
This was the second 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 #1×2
Hit singles
Closer #3 (AMR #3)
Tomorrow #1 (AMR #1)
Seether #34 (AMR #27)
Coma 14 (AMR #13)
Dead eyes opened 16 (AMR #19)
Laid #40 (AMR #35)
Longview #33 (AMR #34)
Confide in me #1 (AMR #1)
Cornflake girl #19 (AMR #19)
Voodoo people #24 (AMR #22)
Absolutely fabulous #2 (AMR #2)
Swamp thing #3 (AMR #2)
Bizarre love triangle #7 (AMR #7)
Popular in 1995
This was the soundtrack to a film that was mired in controversy back in the day due to the accidental death of its star, I won’t go into the details here but suffice to say the film has a lot of sentimental value to Brandon Lee’s fans even after all of these years. The film itself remains a classic more than just the circumstances surrounding it as it was a serious take on a comic book series much like the Batman films.
AMR charts
Peak position #2
Popular in 1994
ARIA charts
Peak position #2
Popular in 1994
This was the only notable success that Crash test dummies had outside their native Canada, presumably due to the overwhelming success of a song that remains one of their least successful hits in their homeland despite it being their only international hit. Indeed, that song trapped the band in novelty status despite the rest of the album being fairly serious, which explains why the rest of their catalogue didn’t catch on.
AMR charts
Peak position #3
Hit singles
Mmm mmm mmm mmm #1
Afternoons and coffeespoons #50
Popular in 1994
There were plenty of British RNB girl groups of the decade, however with the possible exception of the Spice girls (depending on how you define their music) this was the most successful group in this category thanks to how inescapable their debut album was. They were previously known as All Saints 1.9.7.5. due to two of the members being born that year, however they dropped the date when they released this album.
AMR charts
Peak position #7
Hit singles
Never ever #1
I know where it’s at #18
Under the bridge #8
Lady marmalade #8 (#25 by itself)
Popular in 1998
ARIA charts
Peak position #2
Popular in 1991, 1992
This was originally a flop for Lauryn Hill due to hip hop not having much presence in Australia, however it saw a surge in popularity this year when it won the album of the year at the Grammys thus breaking through our prejudice against hip hop (and female hip hop at that.) Unfortunately, this was the last anyone would hear from Lauryn as her mental health would see a sharp decline in the new millennium.
Peak position #2
Hit singles
Doo wop #8 (AMR #8)
Can’t take my eyes off you #8 (AMR #8)
Popular in 1999
I feel like we need to give these three women a round of applause for finally making it big in their native America given how the rest of the world had little issues with making them a household name with their earlier work. Here the girls continue spitting the rhymes that made them respected in the hip hop game whilst having fun catchy beats to go along with their rhymes that captivated audiences.
AMR charts
Peak position #4
Hit singles
Shoop #3
Whatta man #2
Heaven and hell #20
Popular in 1994
Cat Stevens hadn’t had any success since the release of his previous greatest hits album in 1982, although I guess this was the first album of his to be released on CD which perhaps makes its success this decade more of us going digital (that’s how the transition of vinyl to CD was referred to back in the day) rather than there being a recent uprise in appreciation of this man’s music.
AMR charts
Peak position #3
Popular in 1990, 1995, 1997
Given that their E.P from earlier on this list was a huge success (regardless of if it was charting as a single or album) it’s fitting that the band’s debut album would be a huge success for them as they were given a lot of hype in the leadup to its release. The hype was of course effortlessly met; however, it didn’t translate to their second album where it became a massive flop for the alternative rock band.#4435
AMR charts
Peak position #1×4
Hit singles
Don’t go now #1
Baby baby #19
Popular in 1991
I’m guessing this greatest hits package became a success here in Australia due to Stevie Wonder being featured on Babyface’s hit single “How come how long” as a way to remind us Aussies of the back catalogue for one of the greatest musicians to ever make it big in the music industry.
AMR charts
Peak position #9
Popular in 1997
ARIA charts
Peak position #3
Popular in 1993, 1994
ARIA charts
Peak position #5
Hit singles
3AM eternal #3
Last train to trancentral #5
Justified and ancient #3
Popular in 1991
This was only a modest success upon its initial release here in Australia, I guess this was because it felt too out of place with all of the teen pop that was making it big this year (this was certainly the case according to ARIA.) It was given a second chance here when one of the tracks became the theme to the Adam Sandler flick Big daddy which helped it become a worthy follow up to their self-titled debut.
AMR charts
Peak position #4
Hit singles
Push it #25
When I grow up #22
Popular in 1998, 1999
Well, they were a trio and yet insisted they were a quintet, OK jokes aside this was a huge breakthrough for Ben Folds five who managed to take the Australian music scene by storm due to the lead single becoming heavily promoted on Triple J this year. They remain a one album wonder here likely due to the station not promoting any of their other material, however this was a quirky album for them to get their hands on.
AMR charts
Peak position #7
Hit singles
Bricks #17
Popular in 1998
This was the first of only two albums to come from Chocolate Starfish, an Australian band who were known for their campy onstage antics who nonetheless were able to see massive success thanks to how well their music connected with audiences. I’m not sure why they didn’t find any success with their second album the following year, it unfortunately led to them breaking up later in the decade.
AMR charts
Peak position #5
Hit singles
You’re so vain #12
All over me #34
Mountain #11
4 letter word #40
Popular in 1994
By far the most successful show to be performed on theatre, we have Andrew Lloyd Webber’s stage adaptation of the Gaston Leroux which has been playing nonstop on stage since its premiere in 1986. I’m guessing the soundtrack became a success this year when news broke out that the show would be touring in Australia throughout the 90’s, as the last time a soundtrack from Lloyd Webber was a success was with Jesus Christ superstar in 1970.
AMR charts
Peak position #2
Popular in 1991, 1992
ARIA charts
Peak position #2
Hit singles
The strangest party #34
Popular in 1994, 1995, 1998
ARIA charts
Peak position #4
Popular in 1991, 1992
This was the last album from Queen to have Freddie Mercury on vocals, I guess this is their version of Milk and honey that John Lennon made eleven years prior which gives me complicated feelings about its existence.
AMR charts
Peak position #2
Hit singles
Heaven for everyone #11
Popular in 1995
It appears that KD Lang found her niche as the perfect gift for Mother’s Day as this album was all set to flop here in Australia only for it to rebound on the charts when the special occasion rolled around. As such, KD Lang decided to market her music from here on out as the perfect gift for our mothers and releasing her albums during the early to mid-months of the year.
AMR charts
Peak position #5
Popular in 1997
AMR charts
Peak position #2
Hit singles
The memory remains #6
The unforgiven II #9
Fuel #2
Popular in 1997, 1998
ARIA charts
Peak position #7
Hit singles
Fairground #7
Never never love #42
Popular in 1995, 1996
Following her recovery from her potentially life-threatening injury, Gloria Estefan wanted to make it clear that she didn’t want to dwell over that part of her life by releasing this album whose title seems to drive that message home. She was coming out of a very dark place in her life and as such wanted to live the rest of her life without thinking about it.
AMR charts
Peak position #6
Popular in 1991
This was the debut single from B*witched, an Irish family group who briefly took the world by storm by combining teen pop with traditional Celtic music that won over a bunch of audiences back in the day. This formula only worked out for their debut album as their second album was such a failure that it flopped hard for them.
AMR charts
Peak position #5
Hit singles
C’est la vie #6
Rollercoaster #5
To you I belong #25
Blame it on the weatherman #48
Popular in 1998, 1999
This was the sequel to David Bowie’s previous greatest hits album Changesonebowie, naturally he had a ton of success since that albums release in 1976 so of course this would be a success upon its release this year.
AMR charts
Peak position #8
Popular in 1990
ARIA charts
Peak position #3
Hit singles
Mach 5 #29
Popular in 1996, 1997
ARIA charts
Peak position #3
Hit singles
Hitching a ride #26
Time of your life #2
Redundant #2
Popular in 1998, 1999
This was so much less successful than Tracy’s previous album here in Australia, although it was nonetheless a success for her likely due to it connecting with an audience even if said audience wasn’t as vast as her debut album on this release. Still, it would be wrong to say that she only had two successful albums throughout her career given how this did leave a mark back in the day.
AMR charts
Peak position #5
Popular in 1990
This was meant to be rereleased simply as the tenth anniversary of its existence, it became a success all over again due to the tragic passing of Freddie Mercury which even allowed their signature track to chart again this year.
AMR charts
Peak position #8
Hit singles
Bohemian rhapsody (re release) #6
Popular in 1991, 1992
I know that following up one of the biggest albums of the decade would’ve been a tall order for these guys, however surely, they could’ve done better than what they’ve achieved on here. That said I guess this was a case of the novelty wearing off for the group but not fast enough for this to be a total failure for them, this was a very common trend throughout the 90’s for alternative bands.
AMR charts
Peak position #3
Hit singles
Mach 5 #33
Popular in 1996, 1997
There were a lot of love themed greatest hits albums released over the years, this wasn’t even the first one to come from Elton John as he had previously released an album with this name back in 1982 to very minimal success. He had better luck this time around as he had mostly stuck to love ballads in the 90’s which helped him remain in the mainstream.
AMR charts
Peak position #8
Popular in 1995, 1996
ARIA charts
Peak position #5
Hit singles
Mr. vain #1
Got to get it #7
Anything #12
Popular in 1994
ARIA charts
Peak position #4
Popular in 1990
ARIA charts
Peak position #10
Hit singles
I want that man #2
Sweet and low #30
Popular in 1990
ARIA charts
Peak position #11
Hit singles
Don’t know much #2
Popular in 1990
This was originally released two years prior to minimal success here in Australia, even with the lead single becoming a surprise success in America, there wasn’t any indication these guys would crossover here. That changed when their earlier entry on this list became a massive success here due to the lead single topping the 1994 Triple J year end lists, it was the boost this album needed to finally connect with audiences.
AMR charts
Peak position #13
Hit singles
Linger #34
Dreams #30
Popular in 1994, 1995
These guys made a massive splash with their debut album the previous year, however it was their sophomore album which made them a household name likely due to us Aussies growing to love Heather Smalls vocals the more we heard them on the radio. While this wasn’t an immediate success like other albums on this list, it was a huge sleeper hit due to it lingering on the charts longer than most albums.
AMR charts
Peak position #14
Hit singles
Sight for sore eyes #16
Open your heart #17
Search for the hero #38
Popular in 1995
ARIA charts
Peak position #11
Popular in 1996, 1997
ARIA charts
Peak position #1×1
Hit singles
Nothing compares 2 u #1
The emperor’s new clothes #20
Popular in 1990
ARIA charts
Peak position #1×3
Popular in 1994
ARIA charts
Peak position #5
Hit singles
Ordinary angels #3
Accidentally Kelly street #4
No time #50
Lonely #7
Popular in 1992, 1993
This was the final successful compilation album to come out of the 80’s, it’s proof that the spring of 1989 was an interesting time in music here in Australia given what this album was able to include in its track listing.
AMR charts
Peak position #1×3
Hit singles
If I could turn back time #1 (ARIA #1)
Hanging tough #8 (ARIA #8)
Tell me something #18 (ARIA #17)
She has to be loved #5 (ARIA #5)
Don’t look back #34
Cherish #5 (ARIA #4)
Toy soldiers #5 (ARIA #5)
Communication #13 (ARIA #13)
Poison #3 (ARIA #3)
Way of the world #7 (ARIA #8)
Get out of the house #23
Dr feelgood #28
Every little step #7 (ARIA #8)
Healing hands #16 (ARIA #14)
Blush #25 (ARIA #19)
The world seems difficult #22 (ARIA #19)
The only one #34
Popular in 1990
This was more of a hit this year despite originally charting the previous year, it was a massive success either way as it had a fine selection of songs to choose from during our spring of 1991 to market as summer jams, thus confirming the 100% franchise as a legitimate compilation series.
AMR charts
Peak position #3
Hit singles
Good vibrations #4 (AMR #4)
Sexy #3 (AMR #2)
I’ve got to go now #5 (AMR #4)
Wind of change #7 (AMR #7)
Break in the weather #2 (AMR #3)
Pump it #8 (AMR #4)
Just like you #4 (AMR #4)
The big l #20 (AMR #22)
Do you want me #19 (AMR #18)
Hole hearted #24 (AMR #20)
Lovesick #13 (AMR #12)
Every heartbeat #17 (AMR #17)
Fall at your feet #31 (AMR #35)
I will be there #43 (AMR #42)
Someone’s singing new York new York #29 (AMR #29)
Popular in 1992
