At least this debut album from Pearl jam was more of an immediate success in NZ than it was in Australia, although like Australia it was a hit several times throughout the decade due to how the band’s popularity grew with each subsequent album in the 90’s.
Peak position #3
Hit singles
Alive #20
Even flow #20
Jeremy #34
Oceans #16
POPULAR IN 1992
The best proof I have that this was only a success for Steps worldwide due to kids being forced to dance to the song in P.E was when this became a success in NZ almost a year after its initial release due to the success of the lead single as the album no doubt sat on shelves for months before the kiwis finally understood why it was a success in Australia initially.
Peak position #6
Hit singles
5 6 7 8 #2
Last thing on my mind #24
One for sorrow #13
Heartbeat #1
POPULAR IN 1998
This was the first signs of Abba’s re-evaluation in the 90’s after over a decade of them being mocked by rock snobs for popularising the trends of the 70’s, of course like Australia this would also be a success multiple times over there due to the different ways people realised the band was actually good this whole time.
Peak position #3
Hit singles
Dancing queen (re release) #14
POPULAR IN 1992
I should point out that while it wasn’t well received even upon its initial release, the Bodyguard was one of the most commercially successful films of all time worldwide which no doubt played a huge part in the soundtrack being a huge success for its star Whitney Houston.
Peak position #1×8
Hit singles
I will always love you #1
I’m every woman #5
I have nothing #20
POPULAR IN 1992
Well at least this album was a success for the Eagles in Australia upon its initial release, for some reason it only became a success in NZ this year which was six years after its initial release for a band who had been broken up for eleven years and were still three years out from reuniting due to hell still needing to freeze over for that to happen.
Peak position #1×1
POPULAR IN 1991
Given how Seal was already one of the biggest names in music in NZ from earlier in the decade, it makes sense that his second self-titled album would be a huge success over there upon its immediate release even with him changing from EDM to RNB on the album. Of course, it rebounded on their charts when the second single was chosen as the main theme for the Batman forever film a year after its release.
Peak position #4
Hit singles
Prayer for the dying #13
Kiss from a rose #24
Newborn friend #24
Kiss from a rose (rerelease) #16
POPULAR IN 1994
Just a fair warning that when it comes to the east coast/west coast rivalry in the 90’s, the kiwis are on the firm side of the west coast as just about every west coast rapper had some degree of success over there back in the day. One of the earliest success stories was Cypress hill who admittedly needed a push for success which came this year when they scored a massive hit with one of the songs from their second album.
Peak position #2
Hit singles
Insane in the brain #12
I ain’t going out like that #6
When the shit goes down #5
POPULAR IN 1993
I’m a bit shocked that these guys didn’t have that inescapable hit with the lead single to their second album in NZ that they did here in Australia, it did chart over there meaning it was indeed released as a single, but it wasn’t that huge hit for some reason. It didn’t prevent the album from being a massive success for the duo, proving their brand of RNB did have an audience with the kiwis this year.
Peak position #6
Hit singles
High #8
POPULAR IN 1998
This was a modest success over in Australia around the turn of the century, however it was a much bigger hit in NZ likely due to the kiwis love for the English duo’s previous album which was a massive hit for them over there. They didn’t have much success going into the 00’s in either country, although they do occasionally pop up on the charts even to this day.
Peak position #7
Hit singles
Hey boy hey girl #10
Let forever be #30
Out of control #26
POPULAR IN 1999
It was the sequel to the 1977 classic no one was asking for, but everyone was nonetheless grateful for when it came out due to it somehow recapturing the magic from the original fifteen years after its initial release. It was a massive success in NZ as it was everywhere else in the world proving that rock operas from the 70’s had held up remarkably well even during the age of RNB and EDM.
Peak position #1×4
Hit singles
I’d do anything for love #1
Rock and roll dreams come through #6
Objects in the rear view mirror may appear closer than they are #32
POPULAR IN 1993
This albums success in NZ was inevitable given the circumstances of when it was released, in fact I’m a bit surprised it wasn’t even more of a success over there given how much bigger Nirvana was in NZ compared to Australia.
Peak position #1×1
POPULAR IN 1994
The success of this album in NZ was almost identical to what it achieved here in Australia; the only main difference is that the lead single “Longview” didn’t chart over there likely due to the kiwis not having a Triple J equivalent which played the song about masturbation at the time (charming breakthrough guys BTW.) They wouldn’t trouble the charts again over there for ten years as their subsequent releases bombed in the 90’s.
Peak position #1×4
Hit singles
When I come around #4
Basket case #21
Welcome to paradise #21
POPULAR IN 1994
This likely was the first time the kiwis knew about Sarah Brightman outside of her performance as Christine Daea from Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Phantom of the opera, heck we Aussies gave her a number one hit earlier in the decade with her duet with Jose Carreras for the Spanish Olympics. In any case, we have the first of two big albums from her this year which was a collaboration with the London Symphony Orchestra.
Peak position #4
POPULAR IN 1999
Unlike in Australia, this album wasn’t that big of a deal earlier in the decade when the Grease megamix became a success, although the kiwis still had nostalgia for the film this year given how this became a success due to the film being rereleased to theatres on its twentieth anniversary.
Peak position #3
POPULAR IN 1998
This was a flop in NZ upon its initial release over there, this is even after the fact that it had taken the Australian charts by storm thanks to the family group’s blend of adult contemporary and traditional Celtic music. It was given a second chance this year when the band embarked on a highly successful Australian tour which convinced the kiwis to check out what all the fuss was about.
Peak position #1×1
Hit singles
Runaway #48
Love to love you #46
POPULAR IN 1996
Unlike in Australia where this needed to win album of the year at the Grammys in order to become a success for Lauryn Hill, the kiwis were initially enamoured by this solo debut from the Fugees rapper as it was a success upon its initial release over there. It still saw a massive rebound on their charts once she swept the Grammys with it, however it didn’t have that big hit on their singles charts like it did here.
Peak position #5
Hit singles
Everything is everything #15
POPULAR IN 1998
Unlike in Australia where this needed the release of a CD in order to find success, the kiwis immediately gravitated towards this remaster’s album upon its initial release ten years after the demise of Led zeppelin. In fact, this wasn’t even charting over there when this became a success down under to give you an idea of how much the kiwis didn’t care whether this was on CD or vinyl.
Peak position #3
POPULAR IN 1990
It was a new century and yet classical music was still all the rage in NZ as Kiri Te Kanawa managed to score a massive success this decade with a classical album based on covers of popular music from NZ. This did lead to a rise in interest for both classical music and local artists throughout the decade for what it’s worth.
Peak position #4
POPULAR IN 1999
Well, this proved to be even more of a success for the Fugees in NZ than it was here in Australia, although the fact that this spawned a huge hit worldwide was bound to make it a success everywhere that allowed for hip hop to make it in the mainstream. Who knows if the trio would be able to continue their popularity if they made another album together.
Peak position #4
Hit singles
Fugalee #11
Killing me softly #1
Ready or not #8
No woman no cry #1
Rumble in the jungle #13
POPULAR IN 1996
This was the final successful album these guys were able to achieve anywhere in the world, granted their fourth album did spawn a huge hit with “Shape of my heart,” however their popularity quickly dwindled going into the new millennium due to that being the end of the boy band wars.
Peak position #1×1
Hit singles
I want it that way #1
Larger than life #11
Show me the meaning of being lonely #2
The one #15
POPULAR IN 1999
Well given how this orchestral album based on renditions of Split Enz’s back catalogue was a massive success for the supergroup Enzso here in Australia, it only makes sense that this would be at least somewhat more successful in NZ for the group in their homeland thanks to the star power of the performers on the album.
Peak position #2
Hit singles
Poor boy #29
POPULAR IN 1996
This album sat on shelves for over a year ignored in NZ just like it did everywhere else in the world, in fact the only difference between its fate over there from its fate here in Australia is that it wasn’t quite as successful over there likely due to the kiwis not being that impressed with the singles like we Aussies were.
Peak position #4
Hit singles
All I wanna do #4
Strong enough #42
POPULAR IN 1994
This took a while for it to become a success in NZ, mainly because the Offspring had their success here in Australia strictly because Triple J promoted this album the previous year as it was a massive flop in their native America. It crossed over to NZ once the two lead singles appeared high on the year end list for 1994, thus enabling the kiwis to check out what all the fuss was about here.
Peak position #6
Hit singles
Self esteem #39
POPULAR IN 1994
I guess the kiwis were a bit intrigued with these guys earlier in the decade given how their debut album did create some buzz for them over in NZ that certainly didn’t happen here in Australia. I’m not sure why this album in particular took off over there given how the kiwis seemed to have a vibrant indie scene, I guess they took a look at the Triple J year end list for 1996 and noticed their presence on there which convinced them to give the band a second chance.
Peak position #7
Hit singles
Cosmic girl #29
POPULAR IN 1996
This came at the end of a very troubling time in Elton John’s life as he had finished dealing with a lot of personal demons was fighting throughout the 80’s, as such this greatest hits album proved to be more successful in NZ than the one he released a decade prior with the exact name as it was everywhere else in the world.
Peak position #1×12
Hit singles
You gotta love somebody #27
POPULAR IN 1990
Well so much for this being one of the most pointless albums to come out of the decade (according to the A.V club) this was a massive success for Vonda Shephard who was previously a failed jazz performer from the 80’s before finding massive success due to her role as the jazz performer within the show’s universe. I guess the success of the show was able to help her translate that success to her own music career worldwide as this was also a success throughout Europe.
Peak position #1×2
POPULAR IN 1998
Well, we all know that cliché of making music made for coffee houses, Martin Winch took that cliché and actually made an album with the idea of it playing in coffee houses and marketed it as such which allowed it to become a massive success in his native NZ this year.
Peak position #1×3
POPULAR IN 1998
It appears the kiwis were not only bigger fans of S club 7 overall given how much more successful this album and its singles were over there compared to over here, but they were also instantly on board with Simon Fueller’s second project following his dismissal from the Spice girls two years prior. As such, it was a huge success both at the end of the 90’s and the start of the 00’s over there.
Peak position #2
Hit singles
Bring it all back #1
S club party #1
Two in a million #1
POPULAR IN 1999
While this still wasn’t Enya’s biggest hit in NZ, it was a massive success for her and the biggest album she released in the 90’s which should bring comfort to her fans who widely consider this to be her magnum opus.
Peak position #3
Hit singles
Caribbean blue #22
POPULAR IN 1991
There were no signs of R.E.M slowing down anywhere in the world except for their native America when they released their third album of the 90’s, in fact they were more popular in the UK by this point as they had struggled to find any success on the Billboard charts with this album as did everyone at the time who wasn’t signed to a major label.
Peak position #1×3
Hit singles
What’s the frequency Kenneth #4
Bang and blame #17
POPULAR IN 1994
This wasn’t as inescapable in NZ as it was here in Australia, mainly because it didn’t continue to chart over there as the Blonde ambition tour became more and more successful worldwide for the queen of pop. One thing I didn’t say on the Australian side of my site is that it didn’t end up falling off our charts until 1994 which means it had charted here for four consecutive years.
Peak position #3
Hit singles
Justify my love #5
Rescue me #18
POPULAR IN 1990
This was a success in NZ under similar circumstances to its success here in Australia, namely that George was worried his career was over when it was discovered he was a queer man (as if it wasn’t already obvious) and releasing this album to find out if that was a deal breaker for fans. It wasn’t, although he didn’t have much success in NZ going into the new millennium.
Peak position #3
Hit singles
Outside #11
As #21
POPULAR IN 1998
Well, the kiwis were certainly in love with this cult classic back in the day like we Aussies were, as such the soundtrack became a massive hit over there helping it become a massive box office hit in Hollywood as well as cement its status as a cultural phenomenon.
Peak position #2
Hit singles
Girl you’ll be a woman soon #19
POPULAR IN 1994
I get the feeling this was a success in Australia and NZ due to the success of the spin off band of these guys Green jelly from earlier in the decade, yeah it turns out Maynard James Keenan had multiple projects throughout his career including these two bands and A perfect circle in the new millennium.
Peak position #1×1
POPULAR IN 1996
It was a new decade and close to not only a new century but also new millennium, all of this to say that Tom Jones should’ve been yesterday’s news by this point and yet here he is with arguably the biggest album of his career due to him taking a page out of Santana’s book by releasing a duets album with some of the hottest names in music at the time.
Peak position #4
Hit singles
Burning down the house #13
Mama told me not to come #45
POPULAR IN 1999
Jewel’s second album was equally as popular in NZ as it was here in Australia, I’d say her career trajectory was identical in both countries in the southern hemisphere except it took widely different paths in both countries going into the new millennium. All I’ll say here is that her transition towards pop music was less of a surprise over there than it was over here.
Peak position #4
Hit singles
Hands #19
Down so long #16
POPULAR IN 1998
This is the part where I remind my audience that I’m ranking these albums based on how well they did in the upper echelons of the charts and not necessarily their overall success, I bring this up because this greatest hits album from Andrea Bocelli was a massive hit in NZ even if most of its success came from the lower half of their charts as opposed to it being a mainstream success here in Australia.
Peak position #8
POPULAR IN 1997
There were no signs of these guys slowing down throughout the 90’s even with the demise of their main rivals Nirvana, indeed they continued to find success in NZ both with their albums and the singles as this album spawned one of their biggest hits over there with the lead single.
Peak position #1×1
Hit singles
Spin the black circle #2
Not for you #10
Immortality #29
POPULAR IN 1994
Well Simple minds were one of the biggest bands of the 80’s in NZ, so it stands to reason this greatest hits album would be a massive success over there just like it was over here from around this time.
Peak position #1×4
POPULAR IN 1992
It may not have had that runaway hit single in NZ like it did in Australia (seriously that baby still gives me nightmares to this day) however this album from Massive attack was still a massive success for them in NZ proving how much the kiwis were warming up to EDM (even if it’s downtempo) around this time.
Peak position #1×1
Hit singles
Tear drop #19
Inertia creeps #16
Angel #33
POPULAR IN 1998
Well, I guess you can’t talk about Deep Forest without mentioning their German counterparts, so here’s the second album from Enigma which managed to be an even bigger success in NZ due to it spawning a hit single over there much like their first album from earlier in the decade. Their popularity would fade after this as did most new age artists due to the trends turning against them.
Peak position #1×2
Hit singles
Return to innocence #5
The eyes of truth #12
POPULAR IN 1994
This was a massive success in NZ despite Deborah Harry’s solo career being close to non-existent over there even though it was only a minor success here where her solo career was much more noticeable, I guess this was a hit there more due to the kiwi’s nostalgia for Blondie than anything else.
Peak position #1×2
POPULAR IN 1991
Unlike in Australia where these guys had sound success throughout the 90’s, it wasn’t until the start of the decade where the kiwis paid any attention to their music which was likely due to how this album became a massive success down under thanks to the runaway success of one of its singles on MTV. Indeed, these guys didn’t find much love over in NZ outside of this album save for a big hit later in the decade.
Peak position #2
Hit singles
What’s my age again #43
All the small things #10
Adam’s song #39
POPULAR IN 1999
It looks like the kiwis weren’t quite as invested in this greatest hits album as we Aussies were, although they still made this a success given how U2 were even more successful over there than they were over here. They even allowed a previously unreleased track to become a hit over there like it did over here.
Peak position #1×2
Hit singles
The sweetest thing #3
POPULAR IN 1998
This was the first of a surprising number of albums that Joe Cocker had success in NZ this decade, mainly because he struggled for mainstream relevancy everywhere else in the world throughout the 90’s including here in Australia. This was a live album he released which I’m sure impressed the kiwis given how it was a massive success there as well as throughout Europe.
Peak position #2
POPULAR IN 1990
Andrea Bocelli had the same career trajectory in NZ as he did in Australia, namely that he had little trouble finding success over there once his greatest hits album from two years prior became a worldwide success for him.
Peak position #3
POPULAR IN 1999
This was the first volume of the Use your illusions era for Guns n Roses, it was a massive success in NZ just like it was throughout the rest of the world even if it didn’t rise up to the level of success that the second edition from earlier on this list had.
Peak position #2
Hit singles
Don’t cry #2
Live and let die #1
November rain #7
POPULAR IN 1991
This proved to be way more popular in NZ than it was here in Australia for Vanessa Mae, likely because classical music was more popular over there this decade than it was over here which seemed to be the case going into the 21st century as well.
Peak position #2
POPULAR IN 1995
This was the last successful album that Genesis had over in NZ as was the case everywhere else in the world, mainly because Phil Collins would leave the band after this album which led to them releasing an album without him on lead vocals which led to their breakup. Phil’s popularity in the 90’s quickly dwindled after this as his next solo album would be a complete flop for him.
Peak position #5
Hit singles
No son of mine #36
I can’t dance #10
Jesus he knows me #35
POPULAR IN 1991
This took a while to take off in NZ likely due to the album failing to produce a hit single over there as well as the kiwis lacking a Triple J equivalent to promote it, however once it did, it became a huge success for Garbage likely due to the unique vocals of Shirley Manson which helped add a female touch to the industrial rock crowd.
Peak position #1×1
Hit singles
Vow #41
Queer #37
Stupid girl #32
Only happy when it rains #38
Milk #50
POPULAR IN 1995
You knew there’d be a NZ equivalent of the Jesus Christ superstar at some point in time, well here’s the soundtrack to that show which was a massive success over there despite it lacking that his single that the Australian show produced two years prior.
Peak position #8
POPULAR IN 1994
It looks like the kiwis were also waiting patiently for that fourth solo album from Lionel Richie, just like the rest of the world they got bored waiting as it was a massive flop when it finally came out later in the decade, meaning this greatest hits album was the final success he had anywhere in the world.
Peak position #1×4
Hit singles
Do it to me #29
My destiny #38
POPULAR IN 1992
This was a massive hit for the Crash test dummies over in NZ, more so than it was in Australia despite their big crossover hit not being as big over there as it was over here. Indeed, the singles were less successful overall due to their only other charting hit failing to become a success over there like it was in their native Canada.
Peak position #1×4
Hit singles
Mmm mmm mmm mmm #4
Afternoons and coffeespoons #41
POPULAR IN 1994
This proved to be more of a success in NZ than it was in Australia, mainly for the singles which were much more successful over there for Diesel than they were over here for some reason. Although this was a massive success over there for the Australian rocker, it proved to be the last the kiwis would hear from him as his subsequent follow ups would be massive failures over there as opposed to moderate hits here.
Peak position #1×3
Hit singles
Come to me #3
Tip of my tongue #3
Man alive #25
One more time #39
POPULAR IN 1992
Unlike in Australia where these guys had some buzz thanks to Triple J heavily promoting them back in the day, they only managed to crossover to NZ purely thanks to them having a surprise hit over in America with “Glycerine” which incidentally was the only song of theirs to chart in NZ back in the day. I think the kiwis know these guys best nowadays for Gavin Rossdale who married Gwen Stefani shortly after this time.
Peak position #2
Hit singles
Glycerine #31
POPULAR IN 1996
From what I can gather, Brian Smith was a popular NZ saxophonist who scored a massive hit with this album this year, it appears the kiwis were also into jazz around this time as there were a few albums that found success over there from the genre in addition to all of the classical music and other unconventional genres.
Peak position #1×3
POPULAR IN 1990
This was a massive hit for the Mutton birds in NZ, I’m guessing they were able to benefit from the strong alternative scene that NZ had throughout the 90’s much like many other bands that either had more success over there or otherwise failed to score any success here in Australia.
Peak position #2
Hit singles
Dominion road #31
Nature #4
Giant friend #20
Your window #19
POPULAR IN 1992
There haven’t been that many successful albums from Joe Cocker in NZ over the years (at least from what I can tell given how RIANZ didn’t cover the early 70’s where he was at his commercial peak) so it’s somewhat fitting to see this album see massive success over there given how it barely made an appearance on the Australian side of my site.
Peak position #3
POPULAR IN 1992
This wasn’t as big a hit for Boyz II Men in NZ as it was here in Australia, I’m guessing because the kiwis were more interested in making the singles a success over there given how the singles were indeed more popular there than they were here back in the day. It could also be a sense of overexposure as the band would start to see diminishing returns over there as the decade went on.
Peak position #1×1
Hit singles
I’ll make love to you #1
On bended knee #4
Thank you #17
Water runs dry #19
POPULAR IN 1994
If you’re surprised at how low this iconic album from Prince is on this list, the reason for that is that it was more of a sleeper hit in NZ than it was here in Australia which suggests the kiwis were a bit uneasy with him incorporating hip hop into this album but were eventually won over this year thanks to his world tour he had promoting it.
Peak position #5
Hit singles
Gett off #13
Cream #5
Diamonds and pearls #8
Money don’t matter 2 night #20
POPULAR IN 1991
It appears the kiwis were also interested in U2’s venture towards pop music on this album, although it wasn’t really a venture and more of them being pop friendlier than what they had being at this point in their career. It was a huge success at the time for them, although time hasn’t been kind to this album.
Peak position #1×1
Hit singles
Discotheque #1
Staring at the sun #4
Last night on earth #36
Please #32
If god will send his angels #35
POPULAR IN 1997
Paul Young had much bigger success in NZ than he did here in Australia, as such this greatest hits album was no doubt going to be more of a success over there and even slightly sooner than it was here for him.
Peak position #2
Hit singles
What becomes of the broken hearted #46
POPULAR IN 1992
Boney M was one of the most successful bands of the 70’s worldwide, so of course this album would be a massive success in NZ this year. Curiously it wasn’t here in Australia despite the German band arguably being even bigger here, I guess we Aussies were still mad at Frank Farian for deceiving us with Milli vanilli.
Peak position #2
Hit singles
Mega mix #49
POPULAR IN 1993
Well, it’s a good thing that the kiwis got on board with the Corrs from earlier in the decade otherwise this might have either been a flop for B*witched over there or the kiwi’s introduction to the concept of mixing Celtic music with more contemporary music from the 90’s. I like to think that this albums success in their native UK was what sparked the Brits into checking out the Corrs for the record.
Peak position #1×1
Hit singles
C’est la vie #1
Rollercoaster #1
To you I belong #5
Blame it on the weatherman #29
POPULAR IN 1998
Well new age was equally as popular in NZ as it was throughout the rest of the world, as such this debut album from Enigma was able to become a massive success over there just like it was internationally for the German duo. I should mention this even recharted later in the decade when the group released their second album, proving how strong the new age crowd was back in the day.
Peak position #2
Hit singles
Sadeness #2
Mea culpa part II #34
POPULAR IN 1991
Pink Floyd had already broken up by the time their label issued this live album from them, it was a massive success in NZ proving that the kiwis weren’t ready to say goodbye to these guys even if some felt they were past their prime at this point.
Peak position #1×1
POPULAR IN 1995
Much like here in Australia, this was also the final successful album that Paul Simon had over in NZ given how he chose to mostly sit out the rest of the twentieth century after the release of this album. Perhaps if he found more inspiration from different cultures, he could’ve kept up this winning streak he had with this and Graceland.
Peak position #6
Hit singles
The obvious child #46
POPULAR IN 1990
Dean Martin had been dead for three years at this point, meaning that this greatest hits album was made three years too late given how most audiences even in the 90’s likely didn’t realise who he was at this point. Somehow none of this prevented the album from being a massive success for the crooner in NZ, likely due to the kiwis remembering him and that it was released as the twentieth century was coming to an end.
Peak position #1×2
POPULAR IN 1998
Although Elton’s popularity in NZ wasn’t as big as it was over here in Australia by this point in his career, he did nonetheless score massive success with this love themed greatest hits package due to how much nostalgia the kiwis had for his ballads throughout his career.
Peak position #1×3
POPULAR IN 1995
Even though this guy would go on to have massive success in Australia throughout the 00’s, he was virtually unheard of in the 90’s despite A: Triple J promoting his music and B: him having massive success in NZ with his work including this breakthrough album which was a huge hit for him over there.
Peak position #1×1
Hit singles
Faded #28
POPULAR IN 1997
It may have failed to produce that big hit over in NZ like it did here in Australia, however this debut album from Joshua Kadison was nonetheless a huge success over there likely due to its surprise popularity down under given how “Beautiful in my eyes” was such a huge hit for him over here.
Peak position #1×1
Hit singles
Jessie #15
Beautiful in my eyes #23
POPULAR IN 1994
Given how Joe Cocker was experiencing arguably the peak of his career over in NZ around this time, it makes sense that this greatest hits package of his managed to be a huge success over there like it was over here back in the day.
Peak position #6
POPULAR IN 1992
Well, it wasn’t as inescapable in NZ as it was here in Australia or their previous album Diesel and dust, however this new album from Midnight oil this decade was still a huge success for them likely due to the kiwis being able to sympathise with the Australian miners this album was dedicated to. Their popularity did dwindle as the decade went along; however, they did score another hit later in the decade.
Peak position #1×2
Hit singles
Blue sky mine #2
Forgotten years #24
POPULAR IN 1990
Her debut album was an even bigger success in NZ than it was here in Australia, so I would’ve been shocked if her sophomore album was a failure over there even though it failed to spawn a huge hit for her there like it did here. Unfortunately, not even her greatest hits package from later in the decade was a huge success over there, meaning this was the last time the kiwis cared about Toni’s career.
Peak position #5
Hit singles
I’ve got to go now #19
House of hope #27
POPULAR IN 1991
It had been a while since Dave Dobbyn last troubled the charts in his homeland, however that didn’t prevent this greatest hits album from being a success over there which likely encouraged his comeback shortly after its release given how he scored a big hit over there following its success.
Peak position #4
POPULAR IN 1993
This was a huge success for George Michael in NZ, I should note that these albums are ranked the same way as I rank the singles which is that I prioritize entries the longer they remained in the upper echelons of the charts rather than their overall success. I bring this up because though it left the upper echelons of the charts quickly in NZ, it stuck around for a fairly long time in the lower half of the charts due to the success of the singles.
Peak position #1×1
Hit singles
Jesus to a child #5
Fastlove #5
The spinning wheel #17
POPULAR IN 1996
Well, there should be no surprises that this album was a success for Dire straits in NZ given how inescapable it was throughout the rest of the world. The kiwis didn’t even both handing any success to the Notting Hillbillies the previous year, proving how uninterested they were in Mark’s side project but how much they wanted to hear more from his main band.
Peak position #1×1
Hit singles
Calling Elvis #9
Heavy fuel #34
POPULAR IN 1991
This was the first successful album that Ben Harper had anywhere in the world, I’m guessing it was a success due to him becoming the new (then) modern Jimi Hendrix as much like Lenny Kravitz, he two was a musician of colour who was from the hard rock scene from the 90’s.
Peak position #7
POPULAR IN 1996
Much like here in Australia, this was a comeback for the Cure which is odd considering that the band were coming back to the mainstream from two very different albums from the 80’s. In Australia it was the Head on the door whereas in NZ it was Faith from well over a decade prior at this point, I of course don’t count their greatest hits package that they released around the time of their big Australian success.
Peak position #3
Hit singles
High #4
Friday I’m in love #7
A letter to Elsie #13
POPULAR IN 1992
Although “Creep” remains a classic to this day from the band (despite how much they hate that song) it didn’t lead to much success for their debut album Pablo honey anywhere in the world. Fortunately for them, their second album was much better received as they moved away from grunge and more towards Britpop which proved to be a big success for the band in NZ and their native UK.
Peak position #8
Hit singles
High and dry #22
Fake plastic trees #22
POPULAR IN 1995
There was little doubt this was going to be a success for Simply red in NZ given how it was a massive hit for them here in Australia, although like Australia they didn’t find much success over there after this album despite it spawning a hit with one of its bonus tracks.
Peak position #1×2
Hit singles
Angel #11
POPULAR IN 1996
This was a huge success in NZ despite it lacking that inescapable hit that it had here in Australia, although I get the feeling that “Iris” was yet another victim of chart manipulation over there as there were a lot of songs in the upper echelons of the charts this year that I doubt had much of an impact even at the time.
Peak position #1×2
Hit singles
If god will send his angels #35
Iris #16
POPULAR IN 1998
I’m shocked that Tom Petty never had much success here in Australia given how heartland rock was always one of the more popular genres here back in the day, fortunately he was much more popular in NZ which is why this greatest hits package from him and his band was such a huge success over there this year.
Peak position #2
POPULAR IN 1993
It may have received a ton of backlash back in the day, however this tribute album from Natalie Cole to her father Nat King Cole still managed to receive album of the year at the Grammys as well as sweep the big awards proving that they felt this was a touching tribute to her father and not artistic grave robbery like her haters claim. It was a massive success either way and honestly a well-deserved one.
Peak position #1×3
Hit singles
Unforgettable #7
POPULAR IN 1991
It appears the kiwis were also in love with the Adam Sandler flick the Wedding singer, either that or they already had nostalgia for the mid 80’s as this soundtrack was a huge success over there regardless.
Peak position #2
POPULAR IN 1998
This managed to be an even bigger success in NZ than it was here in Australia, likely due to their first greatest hits package not being that big a deal from seven years prior likely due to it coming out around the time of Karen’s tragic death.
Peak position #1×7
POPULAR IN 1990
I’m not exactly sure why, but these guys managed to achieve even more success over in NZ at the start of the decade both with their breakthrough album and its signature ballad, hence why both appear much higher on this side of my site than they did on the Australian side. Even though they’re a one album wonder by all accounts, frontman Sebastian Bach would resurface a decade later as a successful actor.
Peak position #1×4
Hit singles
18 and life #50
I remember you #2
POPULAR IN 1990
This was originally a flop for Harry Connick Jr in NZ, I’m guessing the kiwis only wanted him around for his greatest hits package from earlier in the decade which was a massive hit over there like it was over here for him. They must have changed their minds this year when this skyrocketed up their charts, I’m guessing due to it being a massive success here in Australia around this time.
Peak position #2
Hit singles
Whisper your name #48
POPULAR IN 1994
One of the most critically acclaimed films of the 90’s was Once were warriors, a NZ film that portrays domestic violence in a way that had rarely been done prior to its release, that is with dignity and respect. It was a massive hit in its homeland and in Australia, although the soundtrack didn’t really crossover here due to the singles not charting like they did in its homeland.
Peak position #2
Hit singles
What’s the time Mr. wolf #3
Tahi #9
POPULAR IN 1994
This was an even bigger hit in NZ likely due to it actually connecting with the kiwis unlike here in Australia where it was merely a sleeper (albeit still huge) success for the band. Even with all of the love they had received from the southern hemisphere and their native UK, the band were unable to keep up this momentum throughout the second half of the decade leading to them eventually breaking up.
Peak position #4
Hit singles
Sight for sore eyes #17
Open your heart #21
POPULAR IN 1994
This was an even bigger success in NZ for Crowded house, suggesting that the kiwis preferred these guys the less they sounded like Split Enz (that or they just found their full niche over there in the 90’s rather than the 80’s.) It really does make you wonder why they decided to call it quits later in the decade considering how well they were doing in both countries in the southern hemisphere.
Peak position #1×1
Hit singles
Distant sun #5
Nails in my feet #11
Together alone #37
Pineapple head #50
POPULAR IN 1993
These guys might have appeared on the Australian side of my site with “Shine,” however they only became a household name in their native America with this album that became a huge success in NZ a year after its initial release for some reason. I guess these guys weren’t too well loved on Triple J which is why this didn’t do so well here.
Peak position #1×1
Hit singles
December #34
The world I know #25
POPULAR IN 1995
This was a massive hit for the band as opposed to it being a mere modest success here in Australia, again likely due to how much stronger the kiwi’s alternative scene was in the 90’s than it was for us. Despite this being a massive success overall, it was the band’s final album for a while as they would break up after this in order to pursue other projects, most notably Audioslave for Chris Cornell.
Peak position #1×1
Hit singles
Pretty noose #18
POPULAR IN 1996
It looks like the kiwis were more interested in checking out the back catalogue of RHCP than we Aussies were given how this was more successful over there than it was over here for the band, indeed the band in general found way more success over there back in the day likely due to their funk influences.
Peak position #5
POPULAR IN 1992
This was initially a failure for Billie Piper, mainly because the music scene was already clogged up with a bunch of teen pop from artists that time has since erased from existence. She got a massive push this year when the second single unexpectedly became a huge success in NZ which encouraged the kiwis to check out the rest of the album and indeed make the rest of the single’s moderate successes for her.
Peak position #3
Hit singles
Because we want to #9
Girlfriend #2
She wants you #4
Honey to the bee #5
POPULAR IN 1998
If this was able to find success here in Australia, then you can rest assured it would be an even bigger success in NZ for the RNB trio given how well loved RNB and hip hop was throughout the 90’s over there. Who knows how much longer these girls would’ve endured in the mainstream were they not forced to break up in 2002 due to Left Eye’s tragic passing.
Peak position #6
Hit singles
No scrubs #1
Unpretty #3
Dear lie #10
POPULAR IN 1999
Unlike in Australia where this popped up multiple times during its chart run, this only popped up twice in NZ. The first time was upon its initial release where it was yet another easy success for Janet Jackson over there and the second was two years later when “Whoops now” became a surprise chart topper for her over there.
Peak position #1×1
Hit singles
That’s the way love goes #1
If #8
Again #13
Because of love #23
Any time any place #20
You want this #11
Whoops now #1
POPULAR IN 1993
This was a huge surprise hit for Dave Dobbyn given how he hadn’t touched the charts since the late 80’s in his homeland, indeed many of his contemporaries had come and gone in the time it took to follow up his second album with this third album of his which makes its success that much more surprising.
Peak position #8
Hit singles
Language #4
Lap of the gods #13
Naked flames #20
POPULAR IN 1994
Well, this had a similar story to its success over in NZ, the only main difference is that it managed to chart higher over there due to the kiwis completely ignoring it upon its initial release as opposed to us Aussies making it a minor success the previous year and only making it a huge sleeper hit this year due to the popularity of their earlier entry.
Peak position #9
Hit singles
Linger #38
POPULAR IN 1994
Well, this was a massive surprise from the Brothers Gibb in NZ, mainly because they didn’t even have a mini comeback ten years prior over there like they did in Australia and the UK. Still, they had become legacy acts by this stage which would more than explain the success of this album around this time.
Peak position #1×1
Hit singles
Alone #2
POPULAR IN 1997
