This was volume three of the Piano by Candlelight series from Carl Doy, it was a huge success for the NZ pianist this year proving the kiwis still wanted to hear classical music well into the decade.
Peak position #2
POPULAR IN 1991
Well at least Van Morrison had a massive success with his 1983 album Inarticulate speech of the heart in NZ, even so this greatest hits album wasn’t as big over there as it was over here at least upon its initial release as it became a hit again later in the decade when Van Morrison was back in the mainstream over there.
Peak position #3
POPULAR IN 1990
This is the only noticeable success that Sybil had anywhere in the world, heck this was initially a flop everywhere outside of NZ and only became a success throughout Europe once some of the singles crossed over later in the decade due to them becoming surprise hits in the UK for her. I don’t know how the kiwis got a hold of this upon its initial release, however they clearly love it and its singles.
Peak position #3
Hit singles
Don’t make me over #1
Walk on by #2
Crazy 4 u #26
POPULAR IN 1990
Much like it waws here in Australia, this was only barely a success for Enigma in NZ, again likely due to the controversy that their previous album sparked with its big hit “Return to innocence” two years prior.
Peak position #8
Hit singles
Beyond the invisible #45
POPULAR IN 1996
We all know who the three tenors are by this point, so let’s look at an Irish trio of opera singers who managed to score a massive breakthrough in NZ at the start of the decade with this album of theirs that failed everywhere else in the world. It appears this was a fluke for the three gentlemen in question as their subsequent follow ups failed to make it big over there as the decade went on.
Peak position #5
POPULAR IN 1999
This was also a bit of a minor comeback for the Rolling stones in NZ like it was here in Australia, although it was a fluke over there like it was over here as none of their subsequent follow ups managed to recreate this level of success never mind what their classic albums achieved throughout the century.
Peak position #1×1
Hit singles
Love is strong #12
Out of tears #36
POPULAR IN 1994
It had been a while since Alison Moyet troubled the charts anywhere in the world, however she was able to score a massive hit in NZ with this greatest hits package likely to commemorate the eleventh anniversary of her solo breakthrough over there with Alf which remains one of the biggest albums to come out of the 80’s.
Peak position #5
POPULAR IN 1995
This was the last successful album that Tina Turner had in NZ, admittedly it’s with an album I’m sure most of her fans outside of NZ wouldn’t even realise existed given how little remembered this album is in recent memory. In fact, it was a success mainly due to a successful tour she had with the album which boosted its sales over there.
Peak position #1×2
Hit singles
Whatever you want #16
In your wildest dreams #22
POPULAR IN 1996
It appears that even monks were able to find success in the mainstream in NZ back in the day, to think that a bunch of priests who called themselves the Priests made headline news in the late 00’s when they scored a top ten album in 2008 when this was one of the bigger albums of the year back in its day.
Peak position #4
POPULAR IN 1994
It looks like this was a bigger success for the Rolling stones in NZ than it was here in Australia, I guess the kiwis were willing to have these sorts of albums dominate their mainstream at the time even if I’m unsure how successful this album was upon its initial release 22 years prior over there.
Peak position #2
POPULAR IN 1993
Following the success of their previous album Broadcast, the Strawpeople were able to continue their dominance in their local music scene with this album that sadly didn’t receive any love from Triple J like their previous album did which is why it remains in obscurity outside of their native NZ.
Peak position #4
Hit singles
Taller than god #19
Boxers #44
Spoiler #47
POPULAR IN 1996
Given how the first volume to the Commitments soundtrack was released late in NZ, it only makes sense that its second volume would also have a tardy release even if it wasn’t as tardy which resulted in it competing with the first volume over there.
Peak position #3
POPULAR IN 1992
Although it was panned by critics, the film adaptation of the book series the Saint was a huge commercial success back in the day to the point where its soundtrack was a massive hit in certain parts of the world. It was particularly a success in NZ largely due to its techno soundtrack which the kiwis were getting into at the time.
Peak position #5
POPULAR IN 1997
Although this was a bomb here in Australia it appears the kiwis were more willing to allow yet another live album from the Rolling stones to become a success in their homeland which is how this managed to appear on my list.
Peak position #6
Hit singles
Highwire #32
POPULAR IN 1991
This was also the final successful album to come from Hunters and collectors in NZ just like it was here in Australia, hey I’m as surprised as you are these guys maintained their popularity down under let alone with the kiwis this far into the decade.
Peak position #9
Hit singles
Easy #38
POPULAR IN 1994
For some reason, this was a mere minor success earlier in the decade in NZ where it was a success here in Australia due to the biopic about the band that came out in 1991, however it became a success this year over there presumably for the same reasons it rebounded on our charts down under.
Peak position #5
POPULAR IN 1995
This was a greatest hits package from Hot chocolate that became a success in NZ this year and nowhere else in the world, I guess the kiwis still had nostalgia for the band during their heyday from the 70’s and early 80’s.
Peak position #3
POPULAR IN 1993
This was slightly less successful in NZ than it was here in Australia, although considering it spawned the band a genuine hit over there, I don’t think they minded as much if this didn’t bring in the numbers that their earlier material did throughout the 80’s.
Peak position #5
Hit singles
Truganini #4
My country #49
Outbreak of love #45
POPULAR IN 1993
It may surprise you to learn that Eternal didn’t achieve that much success in NZ throughout the 90’s, certainly less so than what they achieved here in Australia as we saw on the Australian side of this site. That said, the kiwis did give them a massive hit with “I wanna be the only one” the previous year and allowed their greatest hits album to become a hit over there right when that song took off over here.
Peak position #4
Hit singles
Angel of mine #17
POPULAR IN 1998
It appears the kiwis were bigger fans of the Doors biopic that came out this year than we Aussies were given how much more successful its soundtrack was over there compared to over here, although the trade-off is that their greatest hits album that was rereleased to coincide with the film’s success didn’t do as well over there as it did over here.
Peak position #4
Hit singles
Break on through #28
POPULAR IN 1991
Following the commercial disappointment of his previous album the Soul cages in NZ, Sting was able to bounce back over there with this album which served to prove the kiwis that he was able to survive the transition from the 80’s to the 90’s after all which is something many of his contemporaries weren’t able to do at the time.
Peak position #5
Hit singles
It’s probably me #11
If I ever lose my faith in you #36
Fields of gold #34
POPULAR IN 1993
Like us Aussies, it appears the kiwis didn’t seem to have any love for this guy until a decade after his breakthrough (film) performance in the Blues brothers with this entry. He also went on to have massive success over there throughout the decade, although it was with different material than what he achieved over here.
Peak position #6
Hit singles
The healer #23
POPULAR IN 1990
I honestly would’ve been surprised if this was a flop for Sade in NZ given that it managed to be a huge success for them over here in Australia, once again, it’s low placement on this list is more due to it being a sleeper hit as it could’ve easily appeared much higher on here had it spent more time in the upper echelons of the NZ charts.
Peak position #5
Hit singles
No ordinary love #17
Feel no pain #48
Kiss of life #33
POPULAR IN 1992
This was a huge hit for Marilyn Manson over in NZ, the only reason why it doesn’t appear any higher on this list was due to it spending most of its time in the lower half of the album charts over there likely due to the kiwis considering him to be style over substance like we Aussies did.
Peak position #3
Hit singles
The dope show #28
I don’t like the drugs #35
POPULAR IN 1998
While they didn’t reach the dizzying heights of success in NZ that they did here in Australia, it appears the kiwis were willing to let the Angels enter the 90’s with massive success with this album just like we Aussies did. Unfortunately, they took too long to release their next album, meaning that we Aussies and kiwis were well and truly done with them by the time it came out in 1998.
Peak position #3
Hit singles
Dogs are talking #12
Back street pick up #29
POPULAR IN 1990
This is a bit of a strange entry from Kenny G, namely because this was a hit upon its initial release in NZ as opposed to it only being a hit after the success of his mainstream breakthrough Breathless two years later here in Australia. What’s truly bizarre is that we Aussies at least gave him a chance initially with his debut album Duotones back in 1987 whereas the kiwis completely ignored him then.
Peak position #9
POPULAR IN 1991
I’m a bit confused as to how this guy managed to crossover to NZ as instead of it being with his debut single that was a massive hit in his native UK, Rebel MC appealed to the kiwis with his second single which was coincidentally released around the time he dropped his debut album which naturally resulted in its success over there.
Peak position #9
Hit singles
Street tuff #29
Better world #4
Rebel music #15
POPULAR IN 1990
Of all the 80’s bands to still have success this far into the 90’s, The the wasn’t on my bingo list due to them finding little success in their homeland during the height of their popularity. It appears the kiwis were impressed with their fourth album enough for it to be a hit this year, however they didn’t show them any further charity with their subsequent follow ups.
Peak position #6
Hit singles
Dogs of lust #16
POPULAR IN 1993
It’s a bit weird that these guys waited thirteen years to release a sequel to their 1979 greatest hits album, so weird in fact that I’m more surprised it was a hit in NZ than I am that it bombed everywhere else in the world.
Peak position #11
POPULAR IN 1992
Given how A: RNB was far more popular in NZ than it was here in Australia and B: this album spawned multiple hits for All 4 one, it makes sense that it was more of a success over there than it was over here back in the day. That said, outside of scoring a huge hit from their second album the following year, this was the full extent of their popularity outside of their native America.
Peak position #11
Hit singles
So much in love #3
I swear #1
Something about you #20
Skillz #3
POPULAR IN 1994
It appears the kiwis love for reggae was going strong even this close to the 21st century as Finley Quaye was able to score a massive sleeper hit over there this year with his debut album despite it being a massive flop even in his native UK. This just goes to show how much more lucrative reggae is over there compared to the rest of the English-speaking world.
Peak position #11
POPULAR IN 1998
It appears that this second album from Five was only a sleeper hit in NZ as opposed to it being a mainstream success here in Australia for the boy band, although the trade-off is that three of the four singles found way more success over there than they did over here (relatively speaking that is due to the stiffer competition on the NZ charts.)
Peak position #16
Hit singles
If ya getting down #1
Keep on moving #7
Don’t wanna let you go #5
We will rock you #29
POPULAR IN 1999
From what I can gather, Spawn was the first Hollywood adaptation of a comic book character of colour, it was poorly received back in the day mainly due to inconsistencies with the plot and setting (although I’m sure there was some racism in the backlash as well.) At least the soundtrack was a huge success in NZ, likely due to it being a compilation album of the alternative scene at the time.
Peak position #1×2
POPULAR IN 1997
While this wasn’t as popular in NZ as it was here in Australia, the kiwis were nonetheless willing to make this greatest hits album a success for INXS due to the fond memories they had with the bands back catalogue despite their popularity being non-existent over there by this point in time.
Peak position #2
POPULAR IN 1994
While she didn’t have quite as successful a career up until this point in NZ as she did here in Australia, the kiwis were clearly in love with Enya’s music regardless which makes sense why this greatest hits package of hers would also be a success over there like it was over here.
Peak position #6
POPULAR IN 1997
From what I can gather, the Cherry poppin daddies (sorry but I can’t even with these band names) were a swing revival band who sparked a lot of buzz throughout the 90’s in their native America. This buzz crossed over to NZ where this greatest hits package became a huge success for the band over there this year.
Peak position #5
POPULAR IN 1998
I would’ve thought this covers album from Guns n roses would do better in NZ than it did here in Australia, they did see way more success over there than they did over here with their previous catalogue after all. Alas it appears the kiwis weren’t too happy with this album given how it was more popular over here for them.
Peak position #3
Hit singles
Ain’t it fun #36
Since I don’t have you #48
POPULAR IN 1993
Given how there was already a massively successful greatest hits album from the Police not even five years prior to this album, you may be forgiven into thinking it was redundant for Sting to release it. Then you realise this also cover his solo material which more than explains its success in NZ upon its initial release.
Peak position #5
POPULAR IN 1997
Given how Bob Marley has somehow been able to release new material in the fourteen years since he passed away, it only seems fitting that his label would issue a greatest hits album collecting the songs he released posthumously which the kiwis made a success out of this year.
Peak position #3
Hit singles
Keep on moving #14
POPULAR IN 1995
It appears the kiwis were also impressed with the soundtrack to Philadelphia, a film that was among the first to depict the LGBT community in a positive light this decade which also includes the likes of Priscilla queen of the desert, To Wong foo and the Birdcage which were all critical and commercial successes back then, proving that audiences were willing to accept this community into the mainstream.
Peak position #7
Hit singles
Streets of Philadelphia #3
POPULAR IN 1994
Even though this was a massive success in NZ (though not on the level it was here in Australia) it appears that the kiwis weren’t willing to keep these guys around moving forward as their next album was a complete flop over there. Still, they did manage to prove that the 80’s was far from over with this release over there just like they did internationally.
Peak position #2
Hit singles
Suicide blonde #1
Disappear #25
Bitter tears #44
POPULAR IN 1990
It appears the kiwis were such huge fans of the China Beach series that the inevitable second volume of its soundtrack series managed to be a huge hit over there even though it bombed everywhere else in the world including here in Australia. The international failure of this album meant there wasn’t a third soundtrack to the series.
Peak position #4
POPULAR IN 1991
From what I can gather, John McDermott is an Irish opera singer who scored his only successful album in the mainstream with this number, even then it was only a success in NZ where opera music seemed to thrive more so than it did throughout the rest of the world.
Peak position #1×1
POPULAR IN 1993
Following the success of their remix album from the previous year, Deep Forest were able to score a massive hit in NZ this year with their second album which is impressive given how this underperformed here in Australia for the French duo. This would be their final successful album anywhere in the world as the new age craze began to wind down as the second half of the decade began.
Peak position #1×1
POPULAR IN 1995
This was a modest success for Collective Soul in NZ this year, I’m guessing the kiwis still had plenty of love for the band given how their second album was indeed one of the biggest of the decade over there despite them being a massive failure here in Australia save for their one and only hit “Shine.”
Peak position #3
POPULAR IN 1997
I did mention this was a minor success in NZ when we looked at their far more lucrative album from the previous list, indeed this did just as well over there as it did over here for the Black Crowes, making the failure of their third album Amorica all the more puzzling in both countries.
Peak position #4
Hit singles
Remedy #6
POPULAR IN 1992
This was also a modest success in NZ this year as it was here in Australia, although considering the kiwis love for classical music, I’m a bit disappointed that this wasn’t an even bigger success over there than it was here.
Peak position #1×1
POPULAR IN 1994
This was the one and only album from the first winners of the reality series Popstars anywhere in the world, it still blows my mind that the idea of a singing competition for a reality series originated from NZ given how this would inspire Australia and the UK to follow suit which would inspire the American counterpart American idol.
Peak position #1×1
Hit singles
Tonight #1
Number one #12
POPULAR IN 1999
This is the final album from John Farnham I’ll be featuring on this side of my site, as you can see, it’s success in NZ is pitiful compared to what it achieved over here which suggests that the kiwis had grown tired of the comeback period of the 60’s teen pop singer.
Peak position #8
Hit singles
Chain reaction #21
POPULAR IN 1990
Unlike here in Australia where this saw a massive surge in popularity the following year due to the success of the band’s cover of a Lionel Richie classic, it wasn’t quite the case in NZ where it only briefly popped up in their top ten before plummeting on their charts. As such, this won’t be appearing on the following list like it did on the Australian side of my site.
Peak position #6
Hit singles
Midlife crisis #32
I’m easy #6
POPULAR IN 1992
This was the second greatest hits package from Bread to be a success in NZ despite the band never having that much success with their singles during their heyday over there, I’m guessing the Listener charts were unreliable if they were able to achieve this much success through the nostalgia network.
Peak position #3
POPULAR IN 1994
This barely missed the cut from appearing on the Australian side of my site, indeed it even charted higher here but fell off much quicker hence why it failed to appear on that list. This just goes to show how fleeting Lenny Kravit’s popularity was throughout the 90’s, although he scored a massive comeback with his next album later in the decade.
Peak position #4
Hit singles
Rock and roll is dead #8
POPULAR IN 1995
One of the wackiest films of the decade was Lasts action hero, a movie where a young boy is sucked into a TV and gets to live out the different scenes from action sets throughout cinema (it’s the film equivalent of Gex the gecko for game enthusiasts.) It was a commercial success despite a mixed critical reception, most of that success of course being affiliated with its soundtrack.
Peak position #7
Hit singles
Big gun #3
Two steps behind #34
POPULAR IN 1993
This proved to be a minor success for Jimmy Barnes in NZ this year, I guess the kiwis didn’t mind him returning to form for one last time with this album given how popular the first Soul deep album was over there.
Peak position #3
Hit singles
Sweat it out #30
Stone cold #14
POPULAR IN 1993
We have one more album to feature from the Sex pistol’s former manager Malcolm McLaren on this site, this time it’s arguably his biggest album in NZ and his native UK due to it spawning his biggest hit in both countries in the form of its lead single.
Peak position #6
Hit singles
Operaa house #4
POPULAR IN 1991
This is the final successful album that Live had in NZ, I guess the kiwis didn’t want to keep these guys around in their alternative scene like we Aussies did for our alternative scene. Heck this was way less popular over there than it was over here, suggesting that they were already growing tired of their brand of alternative rock.
Peak position #2
Hit singles
The dolphin’s cry #48
POPULAR IN 1999
Given how they’re two of the most successful albums of all time in NZ, it only makes sense that UB40 would release this two for one deal for their first two Labour of love albums which naturally meant it be a success over there for the band.
Peak position #8
POPULAR IN 1994
It appears the kiwis weren’t that impressed with this side project from Dire straits frontman Mark Knopfler, it was a success over there seemingly due to his star power, however it didn’t make much of an impression with them like it did with us Aussies this year.
Peak position #4
Hit singles
Your own sweet way #32
POPULAR IN 1990
Given how this was the biggest EDM album of the decade in America, I can only assume that its success on Billboard encouraged the kiwis to check out what all of the fuss was about despite it being the only one of these albums that failed to spawn a single hit over there this decade. At least the likes of Culture Beat and Corona scored a few minor hits over there in exchange for those albums underperforming.
Peak position #6
Hit singles
Falling in love #33
Be my lover #44
Sweet dreams #34
POPULAR IN 1996
This was also a success in NZ like it was here in Australia, although it didn’t last quite as long on their charts as it did on ours which is why it wasn’t as successful over there as it was over here. In any case, this is proof that Dire straits was a band that would stand the test of time given how they hadn’t released anything new since their final album from seven years prior.
Peak position #6
POPULAR IN 1998
I guess I should’ve mentioned on the Australian side of my site that the soundtrack was well received for the Matrix film given how it was a massive success here upon its initial release, this was also the case in NZ where it proved to be equally as successful due to its ambience as well as the multiple alt rock tracks it contains.
Peak position #5
POPULAR IN 1999
Given how the title track was a massive hit this year in his homeland, it only makes sense that John Grenell would find success with this album amongst his fellow kiwis even if this was the full extent of his success in their mainstream.
Peak position #6
Hit singles
Welcome to our world #1
POPULAR IN 1990
While Britpop was slightly more popular in NZ than it was here in Australia, I’m afraid there won’t be many new entries from the genre on this side of my site. Indeed, this debut album from Suede was the best they could do over there despite how inescapable the British band were in their native UK throughout the decade.
Peak position #8
Hit singles
Animal nitrate #11
POPULAR IN 1993
Well at least Shaggy’s sophomore album was a success on time in NZ as opposed to it being heavily delayed here in Australia, although it didn’t seem to matter when he released the album as it was equally as popular in both countries even if the singles were more popular over there than they were over here. Apparently, he released a two for one deal the following year by bundling this with his debut Pure pleasure.
Peak position #10
Hit singles
In the summertime #4
Boombastic #1
Why you treat me so bad #20
Something different #22
POPULAR IN 1995
For whatever reason, this second album from the Foo fighters wasn’t as big in NZ as it was here in Australia (at least on the AMR charts as it was on the ARIA charts.) I guess this was more due to the stiff competition the band had to compete with during the peak of its popularity which resulted in its low placement on this list.
Peak position #10
Hit singles
Everlong #31
Walking after you #48
POPULAR IN 1997
This really did struggle to make a reappearance on this side of my site given how unpopular Michael Bolton was with the kiwis throughout his career, however this did last long enough on the lower half of their charts to qualify here likely due to how popular this was here in Australia and his native America.
Peak position #4
Hit singles
Said I loved you but I lied #13
Lean on me #36
POPULAR IN 1993
This was too minor of a success to appear on the Australian side of my site, likely because Gary Moore seemed to have worn out his welcome amongst us Aussies by the time this came out. This didn’t seem to be the case with the kiwis who allowed this to be a moderate success over there, thus giving him one more entry on this side of my site that he had on the Australian side.
Peak position #9
Hit singles
Cold day in hell #31
POPULAR IN 1992
This was initially a huge flop for Bone thugs n harmony the previous year in NZ despite the lead single becoming a huge hit for them over there, naturally it reached its peak in popularity this year when the third single became a huge worldwide success for the hip hop quartet as it boosted its sales over there.
Peak position #10
Hit singles
1st of tha month #7
East 1999 #15
Tha crossroads #1
POPULAR IN 1995
Unlike the rest of the world, it appears the kiwis were a bit sceptical towards this debut album from Wilson Phillips given how it and the lead single failed to chart as high as they did here in Australia (let alone their native America.) The trade-off was that it lasted for quite some time over there as well as the follow ups becoming minor hits over there where they flopped over here.
Peak position #10
Hit singles
Hold on #6
Release me #18
Impulsive #28
POPULAR IN 1990
This is a bit odd to talk about, mainly because the kiwis were well ahead of the curve when it came to making Korn a household name worldwide given how their debut album was a massive hit over there this year even if it was two years after its initial release. This means that their later entries found less success over there than they did internationally as the kiwis likely found them to be sell-outs compared to this.
Peak position #10
POPULAR IN 1996
You’d think this would be more of a success in NZ than it was here in Australia considering A: RNB was more lucrative over there throughout the 90’s and B: it spawned a massive hit for them over there that it lacked over here. Alas, it appears the kiwis only made this a success due to said hit it spawned, that and how inescapable it was with us Aussies.
Peak position #11
Hit singles
Only to be with you #24
Lay your love on me #7
This generation #32
POPULAR IN 1994
Given how this was a modest success here in Australia (at least on our AMR charts) it only makes sense that Puff daddy would see moderate success in NZ with his debut album as a rapper given how much more popular hip hop was over there throughout the 90’s compared to over here. It definitely wasn’t hindered by the singles which were all way more successful on their charts.
Peak position #12
Hit singles
Can’t nobody hold me down #11
I’ll be missing you #1
Been around the world #3
POPULAR IN 1997
This was originally released in 1987 to deafening silence worldwide, I’m not sure why it bombed back then given how popular their (then) most recent album Get close was worldwide. It was given a second chance in NZ this year (unless there’s a different greatest hits package with this title that I’m unaware of) likely due to the fond memories the kiwis had of their back catalogue.
Peak position #11
POPULAR IN 1999
This was originally a flop for Tiny Tina in NZ upon its initial release, in fact I’m not sure if it was the original version or the international release that became a sleeper hit this year for her over there given how this only took off when “Show me heaven” became a massive hit throughout Europe for her (which interestingly wasn’t on the original release.) Sadly, this was the full extent of her success with the kiwis.
Peak position #12
Hit singles
Chains #7
Sorrento moon #16
Heaven help my heart #33
Show me heaven #33
POPULAR IN 1995
