As if her involvement with Black box wasn’t enough of a controversy, we have another group where Martha Walsh had provided vocals for and yet she was nowhere to be found on the promotion of the album and its singles. I’m not sure what everyone’s fascination was for hiding her behind attractive models who lip synched to her music, however she grew tired of this and sued these bands for damages.
AMR charts
Peak position #8
Hit singles
Gonna make you sweat #3
Here we go #17
Things that make you go hmm #5
Just a touch of love #25
Popular in 1991
ARIA charts
Peak position #1×1
Hit singles
Never miss your water #12
Masterplan #42
I’ve been loving you too long #41
Popular in 1993
ARIA charts
Peak position #1×2
Hit singles
Until it sleeps #1
Hero of the day #2
Mama said #24
Popular in 1996
While their debut album was a modest success here in Australia the previous year, it was this second album which made 2 Unlimited a household name due to how irresistible the songs were that became hits from the album. While the Dutch duo would go on to have massive success throughout Europe as the decade went on, this was the last we Aussies heard from them as we moved on to other EDM acts.
AMR charts
Peak position #3
Hit singles
No limit #8
Tribal dance #5
Maximum overdrive #31
Let your beat control the body #35
Popular in 1993
ARIA charts
Peak position #8
Popular in 1993
ARIA charts
Peak position #4
Hit singles
Men in black #1
We just wanna party with you #28
Popular in 1997
ARIA charts
Peak position #6
Popular in 1990
ARIA charts
Peak position #6
Popular in 1992
ARIA charts
Peak position #6
Popular in 1994
It’s a bit weird that this was the only successful album that Lisa Stansfield had anywhere in the world given how this managed to break her through into the American market, I guess everyone was intrigued enough with the lead single to check it out and was decently impressed but ultimately decided to have Lisa be a one album wonder given how her subsequent follow ups failed to become a success for her.
AMR charts
Peak position #8
Hit singles
All around the world #9
Popular in 1990
ARIA charts
Peak position #7
Hit singles
All around the world #9
Popular in 1990
It was a new decade, so Crowded house decided to dial back the bombast of their previous material to help them fit in with the calmer music scene which provided them their third big hit in a row with their albums. This managed to break them through into the UK where they scored massive success with this album, I’m guessing the Brits were looking to make them a success but couldn’t get into their 80’s material.
AMR charts
Peak position #2
Hit singles
Chocolate cake #20
Fall at your feet #35
It’s only natural #15
Weather with you #25
Popular in 1991, 1992
ARIA charts
Peak position #4
Hit singles
Jukebox in Siberia #1
Popular in 1990
ARIA charts
Peak position #5
Hit singles
Dr feelgood #26
Kickstart my fire #34
Without you #45
Popular in 1990
ARIA charts
Peak position #5
Hit singles
Boy in the moon #21
Burnt Sienna #33
Popular in 1992, 1993
ARIA charts
Peak position #5
Hit singles
Push it #31
When I grow up #22
Popular in 1998, 1999
Given the popularity of their previous album load, Metallica decided to double down on their more mainstream sound by releasing this sequel to that album which proved to be slightly more successful due to it having more hit singles spawned from it. Again, this was well received at the time by everyone except for their diehard fans who felt betrayed by their abandonment of their older sound.
AMR charts
Peak position #2
Hit singles
The memory remains #7
The unforgiven II #9
Fuel #3
Popular in 1997, 1998
Bet you didn’t know that Baz Lurhman had a music career, didn’t you? Granted this is more of a compilation album of songs from his first two films Strictly ballroom and Romeo + Juliet which he released following the success of the latter this year which did quite well here in Australia as well as in the UK where his song “Everybody’s free” became a chart topper there.
AMR charts
Peak position #7
Popular in 1997, 1998
This was the second entry from the lucrative Hit machine series, from here on out, this and the 100% series will serve as the seasonal compilations for artists on Sony/Universal labels and Warner/EMI labels respectively. The series would eventually overtake its rival franchise; however, it was at a disadvantage this year due to it lacking strong choices for its franchise.
AMR charts
Peak position #4
Hit singles
Ain’t no love #11 (AMR #10)
Tribal dance #5 (AMR #5)
She kissed me #9 (AMR #10)
Three little pigs #6 (AMR #5)
Killing in the name #7 (AMR #5)
Can’t get enough of your love #2 (AMR #2)
Bad boys #25 (AMR #22)
Voice of freedom #41 (AMR #44)
Funky junky #13 (AMR #12)
Push the little daisies #18 (AMR #19)
Don’t tell me what to do #24 (AMR #25)
Mr. vain #1 (AMR #2)
This is it #13 (AMR #11)
More and more #43
Right by your side #43 (AMR #39)
Wannagirl #22 (AMR #15)
All that she wants #1 (AMR #1)
I’m so into you #40 (AMR #39)
Walk away Renee #21 (AMR #18)
Popular in 1993
This was the only other success that Margaret Urlich was able to achieve here in Australia given how successful her solo debut was from the start of the decade, although it’s worth noting that this too underperformed in her homeland, suggesting that the kiwis had grown tired of her music by this point.
AMR charts
Peak position #5
Hit singles
Boy in the moon #21
Burnt Sienna #36
Popular in 1992, 1993
ARIA charts
Peak position #1×1
Hit singles
I’m broken #49
Popular in 1994
ARIA charts
Peak position #5
Hit singles
I touch myself #1
Love school #43
Popular in 1991
Now that they had three hits to their name, it was inevitable that Culture beat was able to find success with their one and only album here in Australia which would start a mini trend of a European EDM group scoring three hits from an album before fading into obscurity by the end of the year. Corona would follow suit with their album the following year and La bouche the year after that.
AMR charts
Peak position #5
Hit singles
Mr. vain #2
Got to get it #4
Anything #11
Popular in 1994
This was the last album to be released from Crowded house during their initial run together, it was a massive hit here in Australia and an even bigger hit in Neil’s native NZ proving they too were able to survive the transition from the 80’s to the 90’s and even the purge of Australian music from this year in particular thanks to how much more timeless their music was compared to their contemporaries.
AMR charts
Peak position #3
Hit singles
Distant sun #24
Nails in my feet #42
Popular in 1993, 1994
ARIA charts
Peak position #2
Hit singles
Distant sun #23
Nails in my feet #34
Private universe #46
Popular in 1993, 1994
ARIA charts
Peak position #8
Hit singles
Bohemian rhapsody (re release) #5
Popular in 1991, 1992
Well Lenny Kravitz was saying around this time that he would be the modern-day equivalent of Jimi Hendrix, that would explain the success of this greatest hits album from the genuine article given how Lenny’s popularity was exploding this year.
AMR charts
Peak position #5
Popular in 1993, 1994
ARIA charts
Peak position #10
Popular in 1997
ARIA charts
Peak position #7
Hit singles
Moving on up #4
One night in heaven #23
Popular in 1994
ARIA charts
Peak position #7
Popular in 1998, 1999
This was all set to be a modest success at best here in Australia upon its initial release, likely due to the novelty of a band who named themselves after a controversial prime minister wearing off as the 90’s was coming to an end. It received a massive boost in popularity when fan favourite “Blow up the pokies” became a massive radio smash which helped it become a huge sleeper hit for the band.
Peak position #3
Hit singles
Blow up the pokies #21
Popular in 1999
ARIA charts
Peak position #10
Popular in 1996
This is the last successful album Gloria Estefan released in her career both solo and with her band Miami Sound Machine, it was only a success here in Australia due to the lead single also serving as the theme to the Sylvester Stallone flick the Specialist which helped it become her biggest hit down under. In case you’re wondering, yes, this album title was co-opted for U2’s Batman forever theme.
AMR charts
Peak position #10
Hit singles
Turn the beat around #7
Hold me thrill me kiss me #44
Everlasting love #22
Popular in 1995
So, we all know that scene from the Blues brothers where the two leads are driving down the street and the musician of colour is entertaining everyone with his scatting right? Well, here he is fifteen years later with a successful album to his name likely due to the success of Scatman John and his hit single this year. John would live until 2001 where he passed away at the age of 83, making him one of the oldest artists to feature on this site.
AMR charts
Peak position #9
Popular in 1995
This had been an interesting decade for Wendy Matthews, she began as the lead singer of a supergroup before scoring two successful solo albums to her name before becoming yesterday’s news by the midpoint of the 90’s. Here she released a greatest hits package which became a success for her, this being the latest album of its kind to confirm that an artist’s work is secured in the nostalgia circuit.
Peak position #4
Popular in 1999
One of the most popular shows of the decade was the X files, a sci fi crime show about two agents solving mysteries centred around aliens and paranormal activities. The show was a massive success, leading to this soundtrack of songs that appeared in each episode by this point which helped launch the sci fi craze of the decade out of nostalgia for the sci fi craze of the 70’s.
AMR charts
Peak position #14
Hit singles
The x files #28
Popular in 1996
Their first album was a flop earlier in the decade, so it must have been a bit of a surprise to see that Everclear managed to score a massive hit with their second album even if they owe that success in Australia to Triple J heavily promoting the album. Indeed, the album didn’t receive much love anywhere else in the world likely due to them being lost in all of the other alternative bands that were coming out around this time.
AMR charts
Peak position #12
Hit singles
Santa Monica #25
Heartspark dollarsign #44
Popular in 1996
It looked like this third album from Richard Marx was going to be a massive flop for him given how the lead single failed to find any sort of audience outside his native America from the previous year, fortunately the second single managed to become a massive worldwide hit albeit rather slowly as I’m sure most people didn’t realise the dark subject matter of the ballad and thus not realise the true potential this guy had on here.
AMR charts
Peak position #12
Hit singles
Keep coming back #32
Hazard #1
Take this heart #10
Popular in 1992
By this point Tina Turner had become royalty in the Australian music scene, so naturally this greatest hits album would be a massive success for her when she released it. Interestingly it was even more successful over in NZ meaning that the kiwis were likely bigger fans of her at this point than us Aussies.
AMR charts
Peak position #11
Hit singles
Nutbush city limits remix #14
Popular in 1991, 1992, 1993
ARIA charts
Peak position #13
Hit singles
Sometimes it’s a bitch #18
Popular in 1991
ARIA charts
Peak position #13
Hit singles
Ain’t love the strangest thing #46
Popular in 1993
ARIA charts
Peak position #13
Hit singles
Shaka jam #7
Don’t be shy #13
Fly girl #26
Soul feeling #16
Popular in 1995
ARIA charts
Peak position #11
Hit singles
Missing #2
Walking wounded #30
Wrong #36
Popular in 1996
The summer of 89/90 was a fascinating time for the Australian music scene, this album collected the big hits of that period to the benefit of audiences of the day.
AMR charts
Peak position #1×5
Hit singles
Ride on time #2 (AMR #2)
Love shack #1 (AMR #1)
Lambada #5 (AMR #4)
All around the world #9 (AMR #9)
Girl I’m gonna miss you #3 (AMR #3)
When I see you smile #4 (AMR #5)
Janie’s got a gun #1 (AMR #1)
Kickstart My Heart #34 (AMR #32)
I feel the earth move #2 (AMR #2)
Pump up the jam #4 (AMR #4)
Black velvet #3 (AMR #3)
Another day in paradise #11 (AMR #11)
Don’t know much #2 (AMR #2)
How am I supposed to live without you #2 (AMR #2)
The love we make #23 (AMR #27)
Just like Jesse James #14 (AMR #15)
Popular in 1990
The summer of 90/91 was a hectic time in music, so much so that this was the biggest compilation album of this year which allows it to appear at the top of this bonus list of mine (or it would’ve had I ranked these by calendar releases and not how well they did overall.)
AMR charts
Peak position #2
Hit singles
I’ve been thinking about you #1 (AMR #1)
Wiggle it #3 (AMR #4)
Fantasy #3 (AMR #2)
Always and forever #16 (AMR #16)
I saw red #36 (AMR #35)
Sucker DJ #1 (AMR #1)
Because I love you #8 (AMR #5)
Step back in time #5 (AMR #5)
Gonna make you sweat #3 (AMR #3)
Where are you baby #19 (AMR #14)
Rise #23 (AMR #26)
Burn for you #5 (AMR #5)
Mary had a little boy #18 (AMR #14)
Throw your arms around me #34 (AMR #30)
Miss freelove 69 #19 (AMR #17)
Games #33 (AMR #42)
Popular in 1991
Well, you knew this was coming, we have the first 100% hits album of the year which overlooks the success artists had during the summer of 1992/1993 in Australia.
AMR charts
Peak position #3
Hit singles
Would I lie to you #3 (AMR #2)
People everyday #6 (AMR #6)
Friday’s child #15 (AMR #11)
Steam #29 (AMR #25)
Shivers #19 (AMR #19)
Tequila #8 (AMR #8)
House of love #5 (AMR #5)
Who’s gonna ride your wild horses #9 (AMR #9)
Free your mind #39 (AMR #34)
In the morning #36 (AMR #36)
Are you gonna go my way #1 (AMR #1)
Sleeping satellite #14 (AMR #16)
The last song #32 (AMR #24)
Could’ve been me #43 (AMR #44)
Ordinary world #18 (AMR #18)
Popular in 1993
For the second year in a row, the Hit machine franchise played second fiddle to the 100% hits franchise, this won’t be the case the following year where it was the inverse of what happened this year, however it’s worth noting that both franchises were still plenty successful regardless of which one we’re looking at.
AMR charts
Peak position #4
Hit singles
Slave to the music #2 (AMR #1)
Green limousine #35 (AMR #34)
Moving on up #4 (AMR #4)
Hey Mr. DJ #9 (AMR #9)
Feeling alright #7 (AMR #5)
Feels like heaven #10 (AMR #11)
The weight #6 (AMR #5)
Boom shake the room #1 (AMR #2)
Got to get it #7 (AMR #4)
In your room #40
Relight my fire #33 (AMR #32)
Maximum overdrive #32 (AMR #31)
Let’s get it on #17 (AMR #17)
Open up #39 (AMR #40)
Popular in 1994
Hit machine strike once again this year with their third seasonal album, I guess they finally had some good choices to put on their albums which 100% hits struggled to do this year.
AMR charts
Peak position #1×1
Hit singles
Shy guy #3 (AMR #3)
Love and devotion #7 (AMR #4)
U sure do #9 (AMR #4)
Forever young #15 (AMR #12)
Excalibur #2 (AMR #2)
Right type of mood #10 (AMR #10)
Try me out #10 (AMR #10)
Don’t give me your life #13 (AMR #11)
Search for the hero #37 (AMR #38)
I like it #28 (AMR #23)
Party #20 (AMR #20)
Trick with a knife #37 (AMR #32)
Evidence #27 (AMR #27)
Heaven help my heart #22 (AMR #22)
River of love #18 (AMR #21)
Gonna make you mine #29 (AMR #32)
Freek n you #23 (AMR #22)
Scatman #8 (AMR #5)
Alice who the f**k is Alice #2 (AMR #3)
Popular in 1995
ARIA charts
Peak position #1×2
Hit singles
Who you are #5
Hail hail #31
Off he goes #46
Popular in 1996
This was the final successful album that Taylor Dayne had anywhere in the world, in fact it was only a success here in Australia due to how big the lead single was which in of itself was a surprise hit for her given how it’s a cover of a Barry White track and how Barry was never a household name here.
AMR charts
Peak position #3
Hit singles
Can’t get enough of your love #2
Send me a lover #43
Popular in 1993
ARIA charts
Peak position #1×1
Hit singles
Love is strong #47
Out of tears #43
Popular in 1994, 1995
I guess Neil Finn wanted to follow in the footsteps of his older brother Tim by releasing this solo album following the demise of his band Crowded house, he was off to a good start in his solo career as this was a huge success for him upon its immediate release both here and in his native NZ. He would struggle to retain his popularity going into the new millennium much like his contemporaries.
AMR charts
Peak position #1×3
Hit singles
Sinner #43
Popular in 1998
ARIA charts
Peak position #3
Hit singles
Sometimes #33
Popular in 1992
ARIA charts
Peak position #6
Hit singles
Your own sweet way #28
Popular in 1990
ARIA charts
Peak position #6
Hit singles
Hold me thrill me kiss me kill me ##1
Kiss from a rose #1
Popular in 1995
This was always meant to be the second album to come from Jeff Buckley, in fact it was meant to be released the previous year but was delayed until this year due to his tragic death in 1997. When it was finally released, fans immediately fell in love with it, although naturally this would be the last they would get from him now that he was no longer with us.
AMR charts
Peak position #1×2
Hit singles
Everybody here wants you #31
Popular in 1998
This was the first album to come from the very lucrative 100% hits catalogue, a series that lasted two decades and only came to an end due to compilation albums being made redundant in the age of streaming and digital downloads. It was off to a great start thanks to it collecting the biggest hits of our winter of this year which it had plenty of worthy songs to choose from
AMR charts
Peak position #2
Hit singles
People are still having sex #17 (AMR #18)
P.A.S.S.I.O.N #28 (AMR #28)
Baby baby #5 (AMR #4)
Shiny happy people #19 (AMR #19)
Chocolate cake #20 (AMR #20)
Love gets rough #22 (AMR #18)
Couple days off #40 (AMR #39)
Fading like a flower #7 (AMR #4)
Rush rush #2 (AMR #2)
Gypsy woman #11 (AMR #9)
Read my lips #1 (AMR #1)
It ain’t over till it’s over #10 (AMR #10)
Slave #10 (AMR #10
Love junk #19 (AMR #18)
Walking in Memphis #11 (AMR #8)
More than words #2 (AMR #2)
Touch me #16 (AMR #17)
Grease megamix #1 (AMR #1)
Popular in 1991
This was a decent success during the summer of 91/92 due to having a nice selection of songs to choose from that was a hit during the spring of the previous year.
AMR charts
Peak position #5
Hit singles
I’m too sexy #1 (AMR #1)
Rush #1 (AMR #1)
I gotcha #6 (AMR #5)
Love thy will be done #1 (AMR #1)
On my own #23 (AMR #27)
Wheels of love #26 (AMR #26)
Rush you #30 (AMR #28)
Under my skin #34 (AMR #42)
Move that body #27 (AMR #22)
Nutbush city limits #16 (AMR #14)
Jump to the beat #48 (AMR #47)
Where do you go #33 (AMR #30)
Ain’t no sunshine #5 (AMR #4)
See right through #33 (AMR #39)
Popular in 1992
Just as the previous entry successfully collected the biggest hits of summer for an autumn release, this entry from the Hit machine franchise collected the big hits of autumn for a winter release resulting in its success.
AMR charts
Peak position #4
Hit singles
The sign #1 (AMR #1)
Right in the night #2 (AMR #2)
Sing hallelujah #5 (AMR #5)
Doop #5 (AMR #5)
Pray #10 (AMR #11)
The power of love #1 (AMR #1)
Feel like making love #13 (AMR #15)
Is it love #20 (AMR #15)
Satisfy the groove #31 (AMR #35)
Rocks #43 (AMR #40)
Whoomp #19 (AMR #16)
Mama said knock you out #38 (AMR #40)
Hip hop hooray #17 (AMR #16)
Anything #12 (AMR #11)
To the top #46 (AMR #38)
The way you work it #41 (AMR #38)
I can see clearly now #17 (AMR #18)
Less than a feeling #26 (AMR #30)
More wine waiter please #10 (AMR #9)
Popular in 1994
Spring of 1995 was pretty interesting for the Hit machine franchise given that this was a decent success during the summer period of 95/96.
AMR charts
Peak position #5
Hit singles
Staying alive #1 (AMR #1)
Come and get your love #18 (AMR #16)
Mysterious girl #8 (AMR #8)
Where the wild roses grow #2 (AMR #2)
Morning glory #25 (AMR #25)
As I lay me down #7 (AMR #8)
Never forget #12 (AMR #14)
Boom boom boom #2 (AMR #2)
I kiss your lips #8 (AMR #8)
Be my lover #2 (AMR #1)
Where is the feeling #31 (AMR #24)
Vow #32 (AMR #31)
Who farted #43 (AMR #41)
Popular in 1996
One of the more popular films live action kids’ films of the 90’s was My girl, a story about a young girl who was going through the challenges of life in the early 70’s due to how distant her father was due to him being a funeral director and thus fascinated with death over his daughter. I won’t spoil the film, but it’s a fantastic watch to this day due to the performances and the way the soundtrack is incorporated in the scenes.
AMR charts
Peak position #4
Popular in 1992
Noiseworks had officially called it quits this year following the departure of Jon Stevens to allow him to embark on a theatrical career, as such they released this greatest hits album which was a success due to it collecting their biggest hits from their three albums during their time together.
AMR charts
Peak position #5
Popular in 1992
His last album saw him working with the African bambaata band, so why not shift his sound towards Brazilian music on this album? It wasn’t as successful as Graceland likely due to it lacking that catchy bop like “You can call me al” on this track, however it was still a success for the aging singer/songwriter.
AMR charts
Peak position #2
Hit singles
The obvious child #43
Popular in 1990
Following the success of his greatest hits package from the previous year, Jimi Hendrix’s label issued this previously unreleased album from the music legend which became a huge success here in Australia likely due to it sounding like something Lenny Kravitz would release from around this time.
AMR charts
Peak position #2
Popular in 1994
I think I can safely declare these guys to be the winners of the first round of the 90’s boy band wars, just a heads up that there’ll only be one entry from their rivals Take that on this site which was the album with their one American crossover “Back for good” from later in the decade. This did have a lengthy climb to its success here even with how big the singles were during their initial release, however it eventually peaked once the deluxe edition was released.
AMR charts
Peak position #7
Hit singles
House of love #5
Deep #6
West end girls #4
It’s alright #1
Popular in 1993, 1994
ARIA charts
Peak position #2
Hit singles
Can’t get enough of your love #2
Send me a lover #42
Popular in 1993
ARIA charts
Peak position #3
Hit singles
Better #4
Stop the world #33
Shine on #36
Popular in 1991
ARIA charts
Peak position #1×1
Hit singles
Discotheque #3
Staring at the sun #23
Last night on earth #32
Please #21
Mofo #35
Popular in 1997
ARIA charts
Peak position #6
Hit singles
Senza una donna #42
Popular in 1992
ARIA charts
Peak position #1×1
Hit singles
Falling in love with you #1
Higher ground #40
Popular in 1993
ARIA charts
Peak position #6
Popular in 1997
ARIA charts
Peak position #5
Hit singles
Born slippy #20
Popular in 1996
ARIA charts
Peak position #2
Hit singles
Heart shaped box #21
Popular in 1993, 1994, 1995
ARIA charts
Peak position #3
Hit singles
No limit #7
Tribal dance #5
Maximum overdrive #32
Let your beat control the body #39
Popular in 1993
ARIA charts
Peak position #3
Popular in 1997, 1998
ARIA charts
Peak position #3
Hit singles
Rush rush #2
The promise of a new day #31
Popular in 1991
Although her (then) most recent album was a bit of a dud for her, Kylie’s career so far was nonetheless a massive success everywhere in the world except for America (due to being dropped from her label over there) which made this the perfect opportunity to release a greatest hits package looking over the highlights. After this, she would experiment with her sound before eventually returning to bubblegum pop in 2000.
AMR charts
Peak position #4
Hit singles
What kind of fool #16
Celebration #23
Popular in 1992
ARIA charts
Peak position #4
Popular in 1991
Rod Stewart hadn’t troubled the charts since his 1981 effort Tonight I’m yours, sure he had a minor hit here and there, but it seemed like his time in the spotlight was done going into the 90’s. Naturally that would turn out to be false with his next album Vagabond heart, however he did release this best of album which was a huge success for him with fans of his overall work.
AMR charts
Peak position #7
Hit singles
Downtown train #25
Popular in 1990, 1992
ARIA charts
Peak position #7
Hit singles
Downtown train #29
Popular in 1990, 1992
Given how Van Morrison began the decade with a greatest hits package that would prove to be among the most successful of the 90’s, it only makes sense that he would finally see success with one of his albums here in Australia for the first time since his 1979 effort Wavelength.
AMR charts
Peak position #6
Hit singles
Gloria #24
Popular in 1993
ARIA charts
Peak position #4
Hit singles
Gloria #22
Popular in 1993
ARIA charts
Peak position #5
Popular in 1991
It’s worth noting that the 100% series did achieve success this year even if it took a back seat to the Hit machine series, as such we have all of their entries from this year becoming a success starting with this entry overlooking the summer period of this year.
AMR charts
Peak position #2
Hit singles
If I only knew #5 (AMR #6)
All I wanna do #1 (AMR #1)
Bang and blame #29 (AMR #29)
Coma #14 (AMR #13)
Inside #40 (AMR #48)
Bug powder dust #34 (AMR #31)
When I come around #7 (AMR #6)
Here’s johnny #1 (AMR #1)
She don’t use jelly #25 (AMR #25)
She’s a river #29 (AMR #47)
Nothing in the world #20 (AMR #15)
Baby come back #11 (AMR #11)
Total eclipse of the heart #2 (AMR #1)
Soul feeling #16 (AMR #28)
15 feet of snow #29 (AMR #32)
I’ll make love to you #1 (AMR #1)
Beautiful in my eyes #5 (AMR #6)
Popular in 1995
Well, this is something else, apparently the Grammy award nominations were so stacked this year that their second album they released to promote the nominees was a huge success in Australia this year. This was the only album from the Grammys to ever be a success here (at least as far as I can tell) which makes this a strange phenomenon indeed.
AMR charts
Peak position #3
Popular in 1996
100% hits return this year as does Hit machine with this being the biggest entry from both franchises, here it covers the biggest hits in Australia for our summer season of 1995/1996 which was pretty chaotic here.
AMR charts
Peak position #1×1
Hit singles
Missing #2 (AMR #1)
How bizarre #1 (AMR #1)
Charmless man #35 (AMR #36)
Breakfast at Tiffany’s #3 (AMR #3)
Power of a woman #8 (AMR #9)
Pass the vibes #36 (AMR #36)
Warm summer daze #26 (AMR #27)
Boombastic #1 (AMR #1)
Fee fi fo fum #22 (AMR #20)
Give me one reason #3 (AMR #5)
Miss Sarajevo #7 (AMR #7)
My friends #15 (AMR #18)
Runaway #10 (AMR #11)
Til you do me right #16 (AMR #17)
Father and son #2 (AMR #3)
Popular in 1996
I’m actually a bit surprised this wasn’t even more popular given how hectic the midpoint of the year was here in Australia, although I guess some of the choices on here were a tad redundant all things considered.
AMR charts
Peak position #3
Hit singles
Macarena #1 (AMR #1)
Killing me softly #1 (AMR #1)
I love to love #6 (AMR #4)
Anything #5 (AMR #5)
Kitty #19 (AMR #18)
Champagne supernova #26 (AMR #31)
Tha crossroads #15 (AMR #15)
Not an addict #22 (AMR #21)
Telling everybody #30 (AMR #30)
Let it rain #30 (AMR #36)
Fable #21 (AMR #19)
The look of love #30 (AMR #29)
Who do u love #11 (AMR #14)
Sometimes when we touch #5 (AMR #5)
It’s all the way live #50 (AMR #44)
September #42 (AMR #34)
Macarena #2 (AMR #2)
Popular in 1996
It looks like Hit machine took a page out of the 100% series by combining the spring and summer seasons into one release, it somewhat paid off as this was a decent success but nothing that noteworthy compared to previous years.
AMR charts
Peak position #5
Hit singles
I’ll be missing you #1 (AMR #1)
Burn #2 (AMR #4)
Even when I’m sleeping #4 (AMR #5)
D’you know what I mean #16 (AMR #16)
Please don’t go #35 (AMR #19)
Sunday morning #21 (AMR #17)
You’re not alone #40 (AMR #34)
Sunny came home #44
I go off #35 (AMR #33)
So help me girl #36 (AMR #32)
Hard to say I’m sorry #5 (AMR #3)
I say a little prayer #6 (AMR #4)
Whisper your name #18 (AMR #36)
C u when u get there #7 (AMR #7)
Running #13 (AMR #6)
Everybody #3 (AMR #4)
The freshmen #28 (AMR #30)
Wonderful tonight #39 (AMR #29)
Do you know #48 (AMR #35)
Forever lately #38 (AMR #32)
Popular in 1998
The third entry from the Wild FM series was a bit of a bust, likely due to it being caught between two years and thus failed to appear on a yearend list. It picked up with the fourth entry where it finally broke the series into the top ten on the AMR charts.
AMR charts
Peak position #3
Popular in 1998
Winter was a hectic time for this franchise, this album was only slightly less successful than the previous entry but was a massive hit regardless.
AMR charts
Peak position #1×1
Hit singles
The cup of life #1 (AMR #1)
When the lights go out #2 (AMR #3)
This is how we party #7 (AMR #7)
Last thing on my mind #5 (AMR #6)
All my life #1 (AMR #1)
Turn back time #10 (AMR #10)
Feel it #19 (AMR #14)
Lonely #40
Beloved #49 (AMR #45)
Sway #10 (AMR #10)
Twisted #19 (AMR #12)
La primavera #36 (AMR #29)
Popular in 1998
These guys were also able to successfully make the transition from the 80’s to the 90’s as their third album proved to be more successful than their second from three years prior. Admittedly they didn’t dial back their bombast on here so perhaps that had little to do with who was making it big during the first stretch of the decade and who wasn’t. They called it quits the following year so that Jon Stevens can become a theatre actor.
AMR charts
Peak position #1×1
Hit singles
Freedom #25
Miles and miles #24
Hot chilli woman #7
RIP #27
Popular in 1991
This was the third album from this decade that Faith no more saw a ton of success with here in Australia, it was more of their hybrid of hard rock and hip hop just like their previous two albums even though it didn’t have that obvious hit on here that “Epic” and their cover of “I’m easy” was for their other albums. They would release one more album after this before going their separate ways in 1998.
AMR charts
Peak position #2
Hit singles
Digging the grave #10
Evidence #27
Popular in 1995
This was another successful album to come from an artist who hadn’t seen any success in several years at this point, Paul Young was one of the biggest artists of the 80’s worldwide due to the strength of his first two albums so it makes sense that this album overlooking that success would be huge this year.
AMR charts
Peak position #6
Hit singles
Senza una donna #48
Popular in 1992
One of the best comedies of the decade was Sister act, mainly for the ridiculous plot involving Whoopi Goldberg being put in witness protection in a nunnery and having her teaching the church choir how to be “hip” with the youth of the day through song. The film was a critical and commercial success as well as spawning a soundtrack which did include renditions of the songs used in the film as advertised in its credits.
AMR charts
Peak position #6
Popular in 1993
ARIA charts
Peak position #1×2
Popular in 1997, 1998
ARIA charts
Peak position #3
Hit singles
What kind of fool #17
Celebration #21
Popular in 1992
This was the second live album from Nirvana to be released posthumously, again fans were clearly not ready to say goodbye to Kurt Cobain even though the other two members had moved onto other projects by this stage, proving what an immense talent and tragic loss he was to the music industry.
AMR charts
Peak position #1×1
Popular in 1996
One of the more successful films to be critically panned this decade was Godzilla, audiences were impressed with the CGI (which admittedly still holds up pretty well) but critics felt the storyline to be rather lacking and that it was little more than style over substance. The soundtrack was better received given how it was a collection of tracks from the alternative scene of the day.
AMR charts
Peak position #8
Hit singles
Come with me #10
Deeper underground #46
Popular in 1998
ARIA charts
Peak position #4
Popular in 1997
ARIA charts
Peak position #4
Hit singles
Streets of Philadelphia #4
Popular in 1994
