Well, this proved to be much less successful in NZ than it was here in Australia, I’m guessing because the kiwis didn’t jive with the lead single as much as we Aussies did back in the day. In fact, I’m willing to bet this was only a hit over there because it was so successful down under upon its initial release.
Peak position #4
Hit singles
The things we do for love #23
POPULAR IN 1977
This was slightly more popular in NZ than it was here in Australia, mainly because the kiwis didn’t have a strong local music scene like we Aussies did to distract them from the innovative work that’s on display here. They’re a one album wonder over there just like they are over here despite the success they saw in the UK in the early 80’s.
Peak position #7
Hit singles
Autobahn #4
POPULAR IN 1975
This is the only other success that the Village people had with their albums in NZ, I guess the reason for why the soundtrack to their feature film underperformed over there is more due to the kiwis not being as big of fans of the LGBT group as we Aussies were back in the day.
Peak position #6
Hit singles
Y.M.C.A #1
POPULAR IN 1979
I guess Split Enz were able to achieve some success in their homeland prior to making it big here in Australia after all given how this album of theirs managed to be a huge success over there in lieu of its lead single becoming a moderate success like it was here in Australia. They would of course go on to dominate both countries music scenes in the 80’s by reinventing their image with each new album.
Peak position #3
Hit singles
My mistake #21
POPULAR IN 1977
It appears these guys had a similar trajectory for their success in NZ that they had here in Australia given how this was also their breakthrough over there like it was over here, the big difference is that it managed to be a bigger success likely due to the lack of competition the RNB and disco band had in the kiwi’s music scene.
Peak position #12
Hit singles
Serpentine fire #32
Fantasy #14
POPULAR IN 1978
This was another successful greatest hits album from the Rolling stones to be a success back in the day, there’s not much to say about it as it doesn’t have much of a legacy anymore given how much more popular their other greatest hits packages have been in their catalogue.
Peak position #4
POPULAR IN 1977
This was also a bit of a disappointment for Kate Bush in NZ like it was here in Australia, although unlike here where she managed to rebound throughout the 80s, this was the last of her albums to be a massive success over there save for her greatest hits package which was only big due to her collaboration with Peter Gabriel.
Peak position #5
Hit singles
Hammer horror #21
POPULAR IN 1978
It had been fourteen years since the death of Nat King Cole by this point, that seemed like a good enough incentive for the kiwis to make this greatest hits package a success given how I’m sure he was one of the biggest names over there in the 40’s and 50’s (I can’t say for sure due to a lack of info on what was popular prior to 1966.)
Peak position #4
POPULAR IN 1979
I may not be quite sure how well their earlier entry did over in NZ, however it must have been popular enough for the band’s fourth album to become a modest success over there this year. It even spawned a minor hit with its lead single, proving that at least for a little while, these guys were the biggest name in the NZ music scene.
Peak position #5
Hit singles
Hey you #10
POPULAR IN 1975
I’ve gone through the Listener charts and can confirm that Gary Glitter didn’t have much success with his singles in NZ during the first half of the decade, admittedly he might’ve had better luck with his albums as no such data exists for how well they did over there, however it must have been very well if this greatest hits package was a hit for him.
Peak position #4
POPULAR IN 1975
Given how the lead single to this album was a massive success for John Rowles in his native homeland, it makes sense that this album would be at least a mild success over there which it ended up being.
Peak position #6
Hit singles
Tania #1
If I ever have to say goodbye #40
POPULAR IN 1978
We have another album that charted higher in NZ that ultimately wasn’t as popular over there as it was here in Australia, this time it’s this live album from the Rolling stones which nonetheless serves as further proof that band were far from yesterday’s news during the second half of the decade.
Peak position #5
POPULAR IN 1977
You’d think that David Bowie would’ve had more success in NZ than he did here in Australia throughout the 70’s given how the kiwis didn’t have a Countdown equivalent to push his music aside, that’s only partly true as while he generally charted higher with his albums, they all didn’t chart as long which balanced out their success in both countries.
Peak position #3
POPULAR IN 1979
It’s tough to say if this third album from John Hanlon was his breakthrough given how there aren’t any album charts from NZ preceding this year, what I do know is that its two singles were among the last to become a success on the Listener charts which ensures its success when it was released months after those charts became redundant.
Peak position #7
Hit singles
Lovely lady #1 (on the listener charts)
Apple wine #13 (#6 on the listener charts)
POPULAR IN 1975
I’m guessing we Aussies weren’t big of fans of the Muppet show back in the day given how this was a complete flop over here, this wasn’t the case in NZ where it was a huge hit for the TV cast right down to it spawning a huge hit for them over there. Their love for the series wasn’t present for the film soundtrack where even we Aussies gave Kermit a hit with “Rainbow connection.”
Peak position #8
Hit singles
Mah na mah na #7
POPULAR IN 1977
To my knowledge, this is the only success that Status quo had in NZ over the years, although it’s possible one of their earlier albums found success over there as I don’t have access to their album stats prior to 1975. Assuming this was the only success they had; it means that the kiwis really didn’t like these guys as opposed to us Aussies who loved them at least throughout the 70’s.
Peak position #9
POPULAR IN 1976
For whatever reason, the kiwis passed up on the official soundtrack for the original Star Wars film (before it was known as A new hope) yet gravitated towards this highlights reel that was released as an album (for some reason) which technically makes this the most successful Star Wars project on the RIANZ charts.
Peak position #10
POPULAR IN 1978
While Jon English did find success earlier int he decade with “Turn the page” in NZ, I wasn’t expecting to see him on this side of my site with the soundtrack to a miniseries he starred in. I’m guessing this was more due to the show being a huge success over there as the show would be released throughout Europe to varying degrees of success.
Peak position #4
Hit singles
Six ribbons #3
POPULAR IN 1979
