Even though both of the singles from the album were from Bart Simpsons voice actor Nancy Cartwright, it turns out this album from the cartoon show features tracks from all of the main cast of the show including voices from several of the townspeople featured in the first two seasons of the show. It was a massive hit in NZ due to the kiwis love of the show, however the show was popular worldwide even if the album wasn’t.
Peak position #2
Hit singles
Do the bartman #1
Deep deep trouble #10
POPULAR IN 1991
Well, this album really feels low on this list, again it was massive success in NZ back in the day just not as big as its reputation will since have you believe. That said, the singles were definitely bigger over there likely due to the kiwis seemingly having a stronger alternative scene than us Aussies given how many rock bands found more success over there back in the day than they did over here.
Peak position #2
Hit singles
Smells like teen spirit #1
Come as you are #3
Lithium #28
Bloom #20
POPULAR IN 1991
I think this is the only album to be a bigger success in NZ than it was in Australia despite its huge worldwide hit not being released as a single over there, this makes it one of the very few exceptions to the rule where not releasing a song as a single will result in the albums popularity declining in that environment. I guess it didn’t do the Wallflowers any favours in the long run over there as they’re still a one album wonder regardless.
Peak position #1×1
POPULAR IN 1997
Given how inescapable these guys were in NZ for their first album, you’d think this would’ve been a success over there upon its initial release from the previous year. You’d be wrong as much like here in Australia, this needed the assistance of Four weddings and a funeral of all things in order for it to become a success over there.
Peak position #1×2
Hit singles
Love is all around #1
POPULAR IN 1994
For whatever reason, this greatest hits album from the start of the decade became a hit again in NZ this year, I’m not sure why as there hasn’t been any news from Cat Stevens since he first released this album seven years prior.
Peak position #5
POPULAR IN 1997
This is another greatest hits package that I’m surprised was a success in NZ considering its mediocre reception here in Australia, I guess the kiwis really wanted to atone for sleeping on the catalogue of Belinda Carlisle when this came out and we Aussies feeling we already knew her back catalogue resulting in its failure here.
Peak position #4
POPULAR IN 1992
This was a massive hit for Jeff Healey and company in NZ this year, I’m guessing the kiwis really liked his performance in Road house even though the film was panned by critics for its confusing storyline. In any case, this was a one-off success for the band over there like it was everywhere else in the world likely due to the novelty of its success.
Peak position #5
Hit singles
I think I love you too much #43
While my guitar gently weeps #25
POPULAR IN 1990
I’m sure if the 90’s wasn’t all about breaking records on Billboard, then these guys would’ve had their success on time worldwide as opposed to their debut album needing that one in a million shot of taking off through word of mouth back in the day. Indeed, the band was also successful in NZ because of this tardy approach, and their second album would be a flop the following year due to how unconventional it was.
Peak position #1×2
Hit singles
Little miss can’t be wrong #5
Two princes #4
Jimmy Olsen’s blues #23
POPULAR IN 1993
I’m not exactly sure how the kiwis came across these guys back in the day given how they weren’t that successful in their native America around this time; however, they did which resulted in this album being a massive success for the band this year. Eventually this led to their second album being a minor success the following year and even had enough crossover appeal to become a minor success here in Australia as well.
Peak position #4
Hit singles
She talks to angels #21
POPULAR IN 1991
I don’t think many people cared about the fact that Martha Walsh from the Weather girls had been reduced to an anonymous vocalist for the likes of these guys and Black box, admittedly she did give compelling performances on each of these albums which no doubt fuelled their respective success back in the day, but she obviously didn’t think it was worth it which resulted in some ugly lawsuits from her.
Peak position #3
Hit singles
Gonna make you sweat #2
Here we go #9
Things that make you go hmm #2
Just a touch of love #21
POPULAR IN 1991
This proved to be more of a success in NZ than it was here in Australia for NKOTB, I’m guessing the kiwis weren’t that fussed about the controversy behind the accusations that the boys didn’t sing a note on their album even if they eventually proved otherwise later in the decade. Then again, lip synching didn’t seem to be that controversial over there given the overwhelming success of Milli Vanilli.
Peak position #1×1
Hit singles
Step by step #3
Tonight #16
Let’s try it again #31
Games #27
Call it what you want #45
Baby I believe in you #20
POPULAR IN 1990
For whatever reason, Seal was far more popular in NZ with his debut album than he was here in Australia. I find this weird because even this early in the decade, we Aussies were more in line with EDM which this album is in line with than RNB which would be his later material.
Peak position #6
Hit singles
Crazy #8
Future love paradise #25
Killer on the loose #37
POPULAR IN 1991
This was a success in NZ multiple times for Cat Stevens, naturally this was the first time it was a success due to it being released at the start of the decade, however it was an even bigger success seven years later for reasons I can’t seem to fathom.
Peak position #1×2
POPULAR IN 1990
I guess the kiwis had enough love for Faith no more by this point of their career to give them one more successful album in their career, that love didn’t extend to giving them a hit single from the album, but I’m sure the band appreciated the success they got over there as it was still far more than what they achieved in their homeland.
Peak position #1×1
Hit singles
Ashes to ashes #39
The last cup of sorrow #32
POPULAR IN 1997
As this was a major hit here in Australia for CCR, it only makes sense that it would also find success over in NZ even though we once again have a greatest hits package from the band released exclusively in the southern hemisphere. From what I can gather, they didn’t have nearly as many of these releases in the northern hemisphere over the years.
Peak position #4
POPULAR IN 1990
This album’s success was inevitable in NZ, although it was a success only the same time it crossed over here in Australia so perhaps it was a result of them winning best new artist at the Grammys this year. This win did allow their songs to become much bigger this year over there which set them up for so much hype for their next album that they failed to meet.
Peak position #6
Hit singles
Tennessee #12
People everyday #6
Mr wendal #2
Revolution #2
Natural #34
POPULAR IN 1992
At least these guys were able to achieve massive success in NZ much like they did here in Australia, although I should point out the lack of success they had with their singles as by this point, only one of their songs had charted on the NZ charts. Still, it was obvious the kiwis had a strong alternative scene during the second half of the decade that wasn’t trying to be covered up by the RIANZ charts.
Peak position #1×1
Hit singles
Lakini’s juice #37
POPULAR IN 1997
It appears the kiwis were much more receptive towards the Chemical brothers back in the day than we Aussies were, this is particularly strange given how like Portishead, they were from the alternative dance scene which you’d think we Aussies would be all over at the time. I guess all of that promotion on Triple J could only do so much for these guys down under compared to their international appeal.
Peak position #2
Hit singles
Block rocking beats #29
Elektronik #44
POPULAR IN 1997
Well considering it was an Australian film released fairly late from the previous year, it makes sense that the soundtrack to arguably one of the best LGBT films ever created would only become a success in NZ this year when the film finally made it to cinemas. The soundtrack was also a huge success over there likely due to all of the remixes of the popular tracks featured in the film which still persist on oldies stations to this day.
Peak position #1×5
Hit singles
I love the nightlife #4
POPULAR IN 1995
I guess the kiwis had a slightly different album to cash in off the success they had from the Ghost soundtrack around this time, it proved to be an even bigger hit than the album that charted here in Australia.
Peak position #1×6
Hit singles
Unchained melody #1
POPULAR IN 1991
It’s weird that this greatest hits package from Stevie Nicks was more of a success in NZ than it was here in Australia considering that Stevie never had much success on her own over there like she did over here throughout the 80’s.
Peak position #1×4
Hit singles
Sometimes it’s a bitch #39
POPULAR IN 1991
This was a decent success for Jenny Morris in NZ like it was here in Australia, possibly suggesting that her fellow kiwis were initially willing to allow her to stick around in the 90’s following her breakthrough over there at the tail end of the 80’s with her previous album. Alas this wasn’t the case as her next album bombed over there like it did over here.
Peak position #5
Hit singles
Break in the weather #5
I’ve had you #39
Zero #33
POPULAR IN 1991
One band who wasn’t as successful in NZ as they were here in Australia was Metallica, mainly for their later material where the kiwis didn’t seem to appreciate their approach to more mainstream rock and roll but also here as the singles weren’t as big over there as they were over here. The album was still huge albeit in multiple increments throughout its chart run.
Peak position #1×1
Hit singles
Enter sandman #8
The unforgiven #24
Nothing else matter #11
Sad but true #42
Wherever I may roam #8
POPULAR IN 1991
This was more of an immediate success in NZ this year as we Aussies likely felt that George Michael didn’t need to become a serious artist which was the premise of his second solo album, naturally we were won over much later where this became a huge success for him. I think this was so big initially over there due to the lead single topping the Billboard charts.
Peak position #2
Hit singles
Praying for time #8
Freedom #13
POPULAR IN 1990
Unlike in Australia where this second album was inescapable for Savage Garden, it needed to be a hit twice in NZ in order to qualify for this list given how it exited the charts entering the 00’s only to come back later in the year when the duo embarked on their highly successful world tour. They would part ways once the tour was complete the following year much to the disdain of their fans.
Peak position #3
Hit singles
The animal song #3
I knew I loved you #3
Affirmation #29
Crash and burn #19
Hold me #13
POPULAR IN 1999
Well, I guess the kiwis had grown tired of Bon Jovi by this point as this greatest hits album wasn’t nearly as successful over there as it was over here. Then again, their previous album Keep the faith was a complete failure over there despite it being a massive success here in Australia, so perhaps this greatest hits album was in fact the comeback that the band needed from being left behind in the 80’s over there.
Peak position #1×1
Hit singles
Always #4
Someday I’ll be Saturday night #45
POPULAR IN 1994
Oh, the Bloodhound gang, they certainly had a quirky sense of humour back in the day that seemed to connect with audiences. They especially connected with the kiwis as their second album managed to be a huge success over there due to the two hits that it managed to spawn for them, although this album was a complete dud here in Australia.
Peak position #3
Hit singles
Fire water burn #6
Why’s everybody always picking on me #7
I wish I was queer so I could get chicks #32
POPULAR IN 1997
This was also Simply red’s final successful album in NZ, although I would’ve thought these guys would retain their popularity going towards the new millennium given how this was a hit upon its immediate release over there as opposed to it needing to rebound on the charts here in Australia.
Peak position #3
Hit singles
Fairground #6
Remembering the first time #30
POPULAR IN 1995
While this wasn’t released in NZ until this year as opposed to it coming out here in Australia the previous year, it was still a bigger success over there than it was over here following the sudden rise in popularity that Harry Connick Jr had in the music industry due to his acting career taking off in Hollywood. He would score massive success with his next album She, although that was also delayed in NZ.
Peak position #5
POPULAR IN 1991
With all the industrial albums becoming a massive success in Australia, you’d think this one from Marilyn Manson would be a shoe in considering how “Beautiful people” managed to linger on the charts (albeit in the bottom half) for almost an entire year down under. The album was a much bigger hit over in NZ for the shock artist, no doubt setting him up for success with his next album Mechanical animals.
Peak position #5
Hit singles
The beautiful people #29
Tourniquet #41
POPULAR IN 1997
It’s interesting that this album would flop here in Australia despite Daft Punk scoring a hit from the album here considering how the exact opposite was the case in NZ where this was a massive hit despite it failing to spawn a charting single over there. Either way, it’s clear that the French duo was pipped for great things in the southern hemisphere entering the new decade which led to massive commercial disappointment for their future endeavours.
Peak position #8
POPULAR IN 1997
I guess the trade-off for Queen’s earlier entry on this list being so successful in NZ was that this wasn’t nearly as big over there as it was over here during its second run in the mainstream. This also goes for their signature track as that too failed to win over the kiwis a second time like it did for the rest of the world.
Peak position #12
Hit singles
Bohemian rhapsody (re release) #16
POPULAR IN 1991
Well, there was little chance this was going to fail in NZ considering how both girl groups and RNB were among the most popular trends of the late 90’s over there, indeed this was a huge success for All Saints likely due to them being inescapable worldwide during the last stretch of the decade.
Peak position #2
Hit singles
I know where it’s at #8
Never ever #1
Under the bridge #4
Lady marmalade #4
POPULAR IN 1998
Named after their signature track from their 1980 album Remain in light (despite that never being a commercial success anywhere in the world) this greatest hits package from Talking heads proved to be a huge hit for them over in NZ despite it being a massive flop for them here in Australia for some reason.
Peak position #3
POPULAR IN 1992
While EDM wasn’t very popular in NZ throughout the 90’s, it appears the kiwis made an exception to their rule of disallowing EDM albums to be a success by having this album from Real McCoy be a massive success over there. They would break the rules again for Aqua and the Vengaboys, however they had a gimmick to go with their music unlike these guys which were pretty straight forward with their marketing.
Peak position #1×1
Hit singles
Another night #16
Run away #6
Love and devotion #28
Come and get your love #8
Automatic lover #44
POPULAR IN 1995
This was released on the twentieth anniversary of the breakup of Simon and Garfunkel; I’m guessing this was a trend for the kiwis to make a greatest hits package a success for the duo once every ten years as another one of these albums would see huge success ten years later over there.
Peak position #1×4
POPULAR IN 1991
This was the other big hit that Sarah Brightman managed to score in NZ this year, I’m not sure why she had massive success in NZ for this year alone aside from maybe the kiwis feeling they needed to give her the respect she needed since her breakthrough role on Phantom of the opera from thirteen years prior.
Peak position #6
POPULAR IN 1999
I guess the kiwis weren’t as in love with Pretty woman as the rest of the world was, either that or the singles didn’t incentivise them to be the album save for Roxette’s ballad which wasn’t even originally written for the film to begin with. The film was still a huge success at the box office, and it was a critical daring as well due to the strong performance from its star Julia Roberts.
Peak position #2
Hit singles
Fame 90 #32
Wild women do #35
It must have been love #2
The king of wishful thinking #24
POPULAR IN 1990
While it may not have been as inescapable as Eric Clapton’s concert from earlier on this list, this concert from Mariah Carey on MTV unplugged was a rather poignant one given how it was her first live performance she made in order to silence those who thought she was a fake in the music industry.
Peak position #1×3
Hit singles
I’ll be there #1
POPULAR IN 1992
This was released at the start of the decade, although its success here makes more sense given how the Brothers Gibb had a massive comeback from earlier on this list not just in NZ but throughout the world. Audiences obviously wanted to know what they were missing out on over the last two decades given how different their material was compared to their heyday.
Peak position #5
POPULAR IN 1997
This was also a success for Chris Isaak in NZ this year, again I’m not sure why as it’s not like there was a successful project he was attached to this year aside from whatever included “Wicked game” on its soundtrack.
Peak position #3
Hit singles
Wicked game #7
Blue hotel #39
POPULAR IN 1991
This was originally a mere modest success for Ben Harper the previous year given how popular he was over there throughout the 90’s, it was given a massive boost in popularity this year due to it spawning a genuine hit for him over there which likely led to the success of his live album over in Australia of all places the following year.
Peak position #5
Hit singles
Please bleed #41
Steal my kisses #2
POPULAR IN 1999
This was set to be another flop for Robbie Williams in NZ, this is despite the fact that the lead single became a huge success for him over there upon its initial release the previous year. I don’t know what happened, but the kiwis suddenly took a sharp interest in British pop music this year which allowed the album and the subsequent singles to become massive hits over there as the decade was coming to an end.
Peak position #4
Hit singles
Millennium #3
No regrets #29
Strong #9
She’s the one #3
Win some lose some #7
POPULAR IN 1998
Well they did begin the decade with one of the biggest hits of the year in the form of its lead single in the southern hemisphere, so there was little doubt that this album from Faith no more would be as successful in NZ as it was here in Australia even if that success would dwindle throughout the decade over there for the rap rock band in favour of the likes of Rage against the machine and RHCP.
Peak position #3
Hit singles
Epic #2
Falling to pieces #16
POPULAR IN 1990
I guess the kiwis needed some persuasion into making this soundtrack to the theatrical adaptation of Evita a success given how A: it’s an Andrew Lloyd Webber adaptation which tends to be a critical and commercial failure save for this one adaptation and B: it had Madonna in the starring role who usually gives in a bad performance save for this one film.
Peak position #6
Hit singles
Don’t cry for me Argentina #6
POPULAR IN 1997
Well, this album had little issues with being a success for Toni Braxton upon its initial release in NZ, mainly because she didn’t need to wait for her big hit from the album to become as such in the UK before it crossed over there like it did here in Australia. With that said, her popularity over there dwindled rather quickly as her second album didn’t see the same level of success as it did here.
Peak position #2
Hit singles
Another sad love song #44
Breathe again #2
You mean the world to me #32
POPULAR IN 1994
This was initially a minor success for Stone temple pilots in NZ, I guess the kiwis felt there were too many alternative bands to choose from at the time and passed this up for the likes of Smashing pumpkins and R.E.M. They were won over by the album eventually likely due to how popular it was here in Australia and also due to the lack of competition it had in their alternative scene.
Peak position #3
Hit singles
Vasoline #28
Insterstate love song #47
Big empty #47
POPULAR IN 1994
This was an inevitable success for Janet Jackson in NZ given how much more popular she was over there compared to Australia, heck her popularity was still stronger over there after this came out as her next album would spawn more hits there than it did here much like the rest of her catalogue.
Peak position #1×2
Hit singles
Runaway #3
Twenty foreplay #38
POPULAR IN 1995
Although she scored a massive hit with “World in union” this year in the UK of all places, it was this album from Kiri Te Kanawa that made her a household name in her homeland this year likely due to it being a collaboration album between fellow opera singer Malcolm McNeil.
Peak position #3
POPULAR IN 1991
This was an instant success in NZ for Garbage, certainly more so than it was here in Australia where it required one of its tracks to be featured in an (in my opinion) terrible Adam Sandler comedy the following year for it to be a success. Their popularity would continue well into the new millennium, especially with their third album which finally spawned them a genuine hit on the Australian charts.
Peak position #1×3
Hit singles
Push it #15
I think I’m paranoid #19
When I grow up #24
POPULAR IN 1998
Here’s a repeat entry from the soundtrack to that long-forgotten Uma Thurman film that KD Lang provided, like Australia it was this soundtrack that catapulted her success in NZ she had with her earlier entry on this list.
Peak position #10
POPULAR IN 1993
It appears that even two decades after his death, Bob Marley could still find success with new material as his estate commissioned this duets album where some of the biggest fans of his music in the music industry made a virtual duet with him that became a success in NZ around the height of Y2K.
Peak position #6
Hit singles
Turn your lights down low #1
POPULAR IN 1999
This seemed like a good time to release a greatest hits package for Sade given how popular their (then) most recent album was worldwide, naturally it was more of a success in NZ than it was here in Australia as we Aussies at least seemed to have a limit on how many of these albums would be a success back in the day compared to the kiwis.
Peak position #5
POPULAR IN 1994
This was also the last time Michael Bolton bothered the NZ charts like he did here in Australia, although it didn’t last as long over there as it did over here likely due to his popularity never being that big over there throughout the decade.
Peak position #8
Hit singles
Can I touch you there #22
POPULAR IN 1995
This was initially a modest success for Bonnie Raitt in NZ, likely due to the kiwis not being aware of her as she had yet to truly take off in her native America when she released this. It exploded in popularity several months later due to it being a rock album released at a time where the genre had truly taken off in the mainstream worldwide.
Peak position #6
Hit singles
Something to talk about #33
I can’t make you love me #22
POPULAR IN 1991
This was released just as the 90’s was coming to an end where it was a huge hit for Shihad in their homeland, although it didn’t reach its true success until the start of the new decade where it quickly became one of the biggest albums of the 00’s over there. Naturally this sparked interest in the band from us Aussies which they achieved some degree of success throughout the decade here.
Peak position #1×1
Hit singles
My mind’s sedate #6
The general’s electric #22
Pacifier #48
POPULAR IN 1999
Well, these guys were one of the biggest bands of the 80’s with their previous album so much more so in NZ than they were in Australia, so perhaps they didn’t even require the assistance of that awful CGI music video for the lead single in order to make it big over there this year. Their popularity would quickly decline worldwide as the trends shifted away from them.
Peak position #1×1
Hit singles
Let’s get rocked #7
Make love like a man #26
Have you ever needed someone so bad #49
Two steps behind #34
POPULAR IN 1992
Although this wasn’t quite as successful in NZ as it was here in Australia (or at least it wasn’t according to ARIA) this was at least released on time over there which means that it became a success months prior to it seeing the light of day down under.
Peak position #5
POPULAR IN 1994
This was another successful opera album from the 90’s over in NZ, this time it’s from the French soprano Emma Shapplin with this album that was a huge success over there despite it failing to chart here in Australia.
Peak position #9
POPULAR IN 1998
I guess the kiwis weren’t as big a fan of this guy as we Aussies were as this was considerably less popular over there than it was over here, although its low placement on this list is due to it being a sleeper hit given how it spent most of its time charting in the lower half of their charts during its run.
Peak position #6
Hit singles
How am I supposed to live without you #10
How can we be lovers #27
When I’m back on my feet again #35
Georgia on my mind #38
POPULAR IN 1990
Regardless of how you feel about the lead single to this album, there’s no denying it brought many people comfort back in the day which no doubt checked out the album it came from which made it a massive hit for Bette Midler this year. This was no different in NZ as the kiwis were impressed with what Bette had to offer on this record.
Peak position #10
Hit singles
From a distance #3
Night and day #50
POPULAR IN 1990
Given how their second album was a complete dud in NZ two years prior, this proved to be a bit of a comeback for Silverchair likely due to the lead single receiving strong airplay which allowed it to be a minor hit over there this year.
Peak position #8
Hit singles
Anthem for the year 2000 #8
Ana’s song #34
Miss you love #43
POPULAR IN 1999
This had the same approach to its success in NZ as it did in Australia, namely it was released two years prior to deafening silence likely due to audiences being initially put off by her coming out as a lesbian (the 90’s were different people) before getting a second chance this year due to the success of a long-forgotten Uma Thurman film she provided the soundtrack to.
Peak position #1×1
POPULAR IN 1992
Neil Diamond was indeed one of the biggest names in music over in NZ during his heyday, although like Australia it had been a decade since he last troubled the charts over there prior to him scoring massive success with this greatest hits album. Unlike in Australia his 1996 effort was a flop over there.
Peak position #2
POPULAR IN 1992
These guys were fairly successful during both phases of their career at this point, as such it makes sense that this greatest hits package they released around this time would be a huge success for them. They didn’t find any further success after this as was the case for most older bands and artists in the 90’s.
Peak position #1×1
Hit singles
La la lulu #13
POPULAR IN 1995
While they were never that huge anywhere in the world, the Cult did have moderate success in NZ which even included a number one hit which was all the incentive the kiwis needed into making this greatest hits album a success for the band this year.
Peak position #1×3
POPULAR IN 1993
Aaron Neville certainly seemed to have a lot of success in NZ following his collaboration with Linda Ronstadt from the start of the decade, first with his family for the Mel Gibson film Bird on a wire and now with a solo album which spawned him his biggest hit over there in the form of its lead single.
Peak position #1×3
Hit singles
Everybody plays the fool #1
POPULAR IN 1991
This was more of a success in NZ this year, I’m guessing because the kiwis didn’t feel that the band had lost their magic like most of the world did or simply didn’t care that they had changed their sound on this album. These excuses didn’t carry over to their next album which was a flop regardless of where in the world you’re from.
Peak position #1×1
Hit singles
Salvation #7
Free to decide #19
When you’re gone #23
POPULAR IN 1996
I guess the kiwis weren’t as big of fans of Dangerous minds as we Aussies were given how the soundtrack wasn’t quite as popular over there as it was over here, this is surprising given how Coolio was already an established rapper by the time his signature track came out from the film in NZ.
Peak position #3
Hit singles
Gangsta’s paradise #1
Feel the funk #41
Curiosity #40
POPULAR IN 1995
This was a live recording of Queen’s performance at the Wembley stadium back in 1986 for their album A kind of magic, it wasn’t released at the time likely due to the band being controversial for performing at Sun city when they weren’t supposed to (and by that, I mean they legally weren’t allowed to as were any western band or artist) but it finally saw the light of day this year due to Freddie’s tragic passing.
Peak position #3
POPULAR IN 1992
There wasn’t an EDM cover of the Beastie Boy’s signature track to encourage the kiwis into checking out this album, instead it was a success over there due to the lead single being a genuine hit over there likely due to the crazy music video which played into the worlds increasing obsession with anime.
Peak position #1×3
Hit singles
Intergalactic #4
Body moving #20
POPULAR IN 1998
This was so much less successful in NZ than it was here in Australia, in fact after Shepherd moons, Enya’s popularity over there was close to non-existent as this only qualified for this list due to it having a rebound early in the year which allowed it to rack up enough points to make it on this list.
Peak position #3
POPULAR IN 1995
I’m a bit surprised this wasn’t even bigger in NZ than it was here in Australia given how much of a winning streak AC/DC were on over there compared to over here, at least it spawned a minor hit with its lead single even if it was likely more due to nostalgia than anything else.
Peak position #3
Hit singles
Highway to hell #9
Dirty deeds done dirt cheap #34
POPULAR IN 1992
This was a huge flop here in Australia, although I could say the same for many of the new entries from these greatest hits albums that have appeared on this side of my site, suggesting the kiwis were much more nostalgic for older artists around this time than we Aussies were.
Peak position #3
POPULAR IN 1992
This was a massive success for Barry White this year in NZ, similar to how a slightly different greatest hits package would be a success for him here in Australia the following year. Barry wouldn’t pass away until 2003, so I’m not entirely sure why there was a sudden rush to appreciate his music at the turn of the millennium in the southern hemisphere.
Peak position #2
POPULAR IN 1999
While it didn’t quite make it to the top of the charts in NZ, it was close enough that the album warranted such an arrogant title over there given how Van Morrison was still able to find success in certain parts of the world over thirty years into his career.
Peak position #5
POPULAR IN 1999
This soundtrack wasn’t quite as successful for Madonna over in NZ as it was here in Australia, I’m guessing because the kiwis weren’t as into the music from Dick Tracy as we Aussies were which admittedly is fair enough as it’s essentially a vaudeville album from Madonna as delivered as her character in the film Breathless Mahone.
Peak position #2
Hit singles
Vogue #1
Hanky panky #6
POPULAR IN 1990
This was a minor success for Oasis in NZ when it came out two years prior, it was given a second chance this year following the success of their earlier entry which resulted in the album finally rising up to the ranks of some of the band’s contemporaries at the time of its release. This is essentially what happened here in Australia; however, the kiwis were much kinder to the album hence its higher placement on this list.
Peak position #5
Hit singles
Supersonic #28
Live forever #43
POPULAR IN 1994
While it failed to spawn a charting single in NZ like it did here in Australia (likely because the kiwis didn’t know who Underworld were) this soundtrack to Trainspotting was nonetheless a success over there likely due to the success of the film which was one of the surprising number of non-Hollywood films to make it big worldwide throughout the 90’s.
Peak position #3
POPULAR IN 1996
This was one of those soundtrack/album hybrids that was very popular throughout the 90’s in the music industry, after all this was named after her biopic of the same name which became a box office success this year as well as a critical darling due to strong performances from Angela Bassett as Tina and Laurence Fishburne as Ike.
Peak position #6
Hit singles
I don’t wanna fight #7
Disco inferno #25
POPULAR IN 1993
Well, this album being a success in NZ was to be expected given how the lead single was arguably the biggest hit of the decade over there, although it did rebound on the charts once it was released in the UK likely because the Brits had a different album cycle for him over there which resulted in him having different hits throughout Europe that saw minor crossover success in NZ.
Peak position #3
Hit singles
Mysterious girl #1
Get down on it #1
I feel you #40
Only one #5
Flava #8
POPULAR IN 1996
This is another entry that should be higher on the list as it was a bigger success over in NZ than some of the entries that outrank it, but its success was in the lower half of the charts for the most part. It was the second album from the Mutton birds which kept rebounding on the charts whenever a new song was released from the album.
Peak position #3
Hit singles
The heater #1
In my room #14
Anchor me #10
Ngaire #19
POPULAR IN 1994
Although her previous album Heart of stone wasn’t as big a success in NZ as it was here in Australia, this third and final album from Cher’s arena rock period was certainly bigger over there than it was over here likely due to the success of the lead single which also came from her (then) latest film Mermaids. She would lose popularity throughout the decade both as a singer and actress until her comeback album Believe.
Peak position #4
Hit singles
The shoop shoop song #3
Love and understanding #25
POPULAR IN 1991
I’m not sure why the kiwis didn’t gravitate towards the Eurythmics final album We too are one, but at least they came back for Annie Lennox once she embarked on her solo career given how successful this album was over there for her. You’d think it would’ve done better though given how it was her foray towards sophistopop and how much the kiwis loved that genre throughout the 80’s.
Peak position #6
Hit singles
Why #15
Walking on broken glass #23
Little bird #33
POPULAR IN 1992
Although this saw less success in NZ than it did here in Australia, at least this was an improvement over his previous album over there given how you can blame a stiff competition from the Christmas season as to why it underperformed over there even though it came out on top of our Christmas season over here.
Peak position #2
POPULAR IN 1993
This was the second greatest hits package that Dave Dobbyn released throughout the 90’s in his homeland, this one includes the material from his two albums he released since his previous entry from six years prior which I’m guessing was enough for his fellow kiwis to check out and make a success.
Peak position #4
POPULAR IN 1999
Evidently the lead singer of Bread had a solo career even though it didn’t appeal to anyone (at least from what I can gather) that didn’t prevent him from finding success with this greatest hits album with his former band members even after the success of the band’s greatest hits album two years prior over in NZ.
Peak position #9
POPULAR IN 1996
Much like here in Australia, this album from Blur was more of a sleeper success than it was a mainstream hit which is why it appears rather low on this list despite it being a massive success overall. I’m guessing this was due to the album failing to spawn a hit single over there as “Song 2” didn’t even chart there, likely a result of it being denied a physical release due to strong airplay stats.
Peak position #3
Hit singles
Beetlebum #34
M.O.R #45
POPULAR IN 1997
Unlike here in Australia where it was more of a success upon its initial release and was a mere modest success when it rebounded in the new year, the opposite was true in NZ where it was a mere modest success upon its initial release only to reach its true success in the new year for whatever reason.
Peak position #7
Hit singles
The one #27
The last song #27
POPULAR IN 1992
Although this didn’t chart as high in NZ as it did here in Australia, the trade-off was that this lasted much longer on their charts due to it spawning several minor hits over there in addition to their one inescapable hit they had around this time. Nowadays it’s only known for two reasons, it being the launching pad for frontwoman Linda Perry’s career as a songwriter and for how hated the lead single remains to this day.
Peak position #10
Hit singles
What’s up #2
Spaceman #23
Dear Mr president #40
POPULAR IN 1993
Well, this albums success in NZ was inevitable, fans weren’t ready to say goodbye to Freddie Mercury from earlier in the decade and posthumous albums have always statistically done well in the mainstream over the years.
Peak position #1×3
Hit singles
Heaven for everyone #25
POPULAR IN 1995
Carl Doy was still able to find success in his homeland this far into the 90’s, not bad for a guy first made it big at the end of the previous decade by stealing the success that Richard Clayderman had over there.
Peak position #5
POPULAR IN 1996
This was only a success in NZ this year, not even us Aussies were interested in revisiting the classics from Pat Benatar which should give you an idea of how underrated she was back in the day as she has since found her discography on the oldie’s stations here.
Peak position #2
POPULAR IN 1994
Following the success of the Levi’s add that revived the popularity of “Should I stay or should I go,” the Clash’s former label issued a greatest hits package that became a huge success for them in NZ and their native UK as fans rediscovered the back catalogue of one of the most important punk bands of the 70’s and 80’s.
Peak position #2
Hit singles
Should I stay or should I go (reissue) #2
POPULAR IN 1992
Much like the rest of the world, the kiwis could only tolerate Billy Ray Cyrus for one album as his subsequent follow ups failed to make an impact over there despite the album popularising the line dance craze of the 90’s. The success of his singles was also largely the same as it was in Australia, although that’s only the case if you were to cut the lead singles success in half and apply that success to the second single.
Peak position #2
Hit singles
Achy breaky heart #1
Could’ve been me #7
These boots are made for walking #42
POPULAR IN 1992
I guess the kiwis were equally as impressed with the soundtrack to Godzilla this year as we Aussies were, although this was likely more due to it being a collection of alternative rock rather than for support for the film given how it was a critical disaster despite bringing in strong box office numbers.
Peak position #4
Hit singles
Come with me #3
Deeper underground #33
POPULAR IN 1998
Much like the rest of the world, this album struggled to find an audience upon its initial release on NZ due to Snap being considered to be more of a singles act much like Technotronic or Black box. However, once they embarked on a tour in the southern hemisphere, this album really took off over there which makes the failure of their subsequent material that much more tragic from later in the decade.
Peak position #2
Hit singles
The power #6
Ooops up #8
Cult of snap #15
Mary had a little boy #13
POPULAR IN 1990
There was little chance this was going to flop over in NZ this year given how Bruce Springsteen was now an academy award winning rock and roll legend, although he didn’t have any further success over there after this greatest hits album.
Peak position #1×4
POPULAR IN 1995
Well, this is a site meant to promote the positive elements of popular music from back in the day, as such I won’t dwell on all of the negative press that came from this album. Let’s just say that it being a massive critical and commercial success for Sinead O’Connor was just about the only positive story to come from its existence due to the labour of love that went into its creation and the fallout from the aftermath.
Peak position #1×4
Hit singles
Nothing compares 2 u #1
The emperor’s new clothes #23
POPULAR IN 1990
This was about as successful in NZ as it was here in Australia for Neil Finn, proving that we Aussies and kiwis wanted more material from the Split enz and Crowded house lead vocalist and were willing to take whatever he had to offer us back in the day. He would continue to release new music into the new millennium solo, with his older brother Tim and even after reforming Crowded house.
Peak position #1×3
Hit singles
She will have her way #19
POPULAR IN 1998
