- List of number-one singles in Australia during the 1980s
The following lists the number one singles on the Australian Singles Chart, along with other substantial hits, during the
1980s . The source for this decade is theKent Music Report , and theARIA Charts .1980s Australian charts
Two sets of charts ran in Australia in the late 1980s. The
Kent Music Report began publication in 1974 as Australia's official national charts. From mid-1983, theAustralian Recording Industry Association (or ARIA) licensed theKent Music Report (which was renamed the 'Australian Music Report' in 1987). ARIA commenced compiling its own charts in-house from the week ending June 26, 1988 (a Sunday). These charts ran concurrent to what was by then known as the Australian Music Report. The Australian Music Report charts ceased to be published commercially in 1999.ARIA Charts are listed below from their commencement in June 1988, in non-tabular format.
The Kent Music Report / Australian Music Report chart data (1980 - 1989) is given here in tabular format and taken from the [http://www.austchartbook.com.au "Australian Chart Book 1970-92"] , published by David Kent.
Variances in dates between the two charts are as follows:
The dates given for the Kent Music Report / Australian Music Report are Mondays.
The dates given forARIA Charts are Saturdays.1980 (
Kent Music Report )"'Other hits"'
Songs peaking at number 2 included "Key Largo" byBertie Higgins , "Believe It or Not" (Theme from "Greatest American Hero " byJoey Scarbury ), "If You Want My Love" byCheap Trick , "Our Lips Are Sealed" byThe Go-Go's , "Six Months in a Leaky Boat" bySplit Enz , "Shy Boy" byBananarama and "Ebony and Ivory" byPaul McCartney andStevie Wonder .Other hits (with peak positions shown), included "Waiting For a Girl Like You" (3) by Foreigner, "Young Turks" (3) by
Rod Stewart , "You Should Hear How She Talks About You" (4) byMelissa Manchester , "Hard to Say I'm Sorry" (4) by Chicago and "Hurts So Good" (5) by John "Cougar" Mellencamp.Hits by Australasian artists included "Forever Now" by
Cold Chisel , "Body and Soul" byJo Kennedy , "Solid Rock" by Goanna, "Great Southern Land" by Icehouse, "Dirty Creature" bySplit Enz , "Down on the Border" byLittle River Band and "Lady, What's Your Name" bySwanee .Survivor's hit "
Eye of the Tiger " was the best charting single of the year.1983 (
Kent Music Report )The hit "
We Are the World " byUSA for Africa was the best charting single of the year.1986 (
Kent Music Report )"'Other hits"'
(see below)Robert Palmer's hit "Simply Irresistible" was the best-charting single of the year, according to the Australian Music Report. The
ARIA Charts listBill Medley andJennifer Warnes ' hit "(I've Had) The Time of My Life " as the best-charting single of the year, whereas the Australian Music Report lists this as the 2nd best-charting single of the year.
=1989 (Australian Music Report)="'Other hits"'
(see below)The Bangles ' hit "Eternal Flame" was the best charting single of the year, according to the Australian Music Report. TheARIA Charts list Madonna's hit "Like a Prayer " as the best-charting single of the year, whereas the Australian Music Report lists this as the 2nd best charting single of the year.1988 (
ARIA Charts )"ARIA commenced compiling its own charts in-house from the week ending June 26, 1988. They ran concurrent to the Australian Music Report, until 1999. The variance in dates between the two charts are as follows:The Dates given for
ARIA Charts are Saturdays.The Dates given for the Australian Music Report are Mondays."#
Cheap Trick - "The Flame"
#:June 4 for 4 weeks
#Louis Armstrong - "What a Wonderful World "
#:July 2 for 1 week
#Kylie Minogue - "Got to Be Certain "
#:July 9 for 3 weeks
#John Farnham - "Age of Reason"
#:July 30 for 4 weeks
#Fairground Attraction - "Perfect"
#:August 27 for 3 weeks
# Robert Palmer - "Simply Irresistible"
#:September 17 for 5 weeks
#U2 - "Desire"
#:October 22 for 3 weeks
#Bobby McFerrin - "Don't Worry, Be Happy "
#:November 19 for 7 weeks
#The Beach Boys - "Kokomo"
#:December 31 for 1 week and 6 weeks in 1989"'Other hits"'
Songs peaking at number two included "Better Be Home Soon " byCrowded House , "Heaven Is a Place on Earth " byBelinda Carlisle , "Stutter Rap (No Sleep Til Bedtime) " byMorris Minor and the Majors and "Doctorin' the Tardis " by The Timelords.Other major hits (with peak positions noted) included "Whenever You Need Somebody" (3) and "
When I Fall in Love "/"My Arms Keep Missing You" (5) byRick Astley , "The Only Way Is Up " (3) byYazz , "Run to Paradise " (3) byThe Choirboys , "Sign Your Name " (3) byTerence Trent D'Arby , "Don't Be Cruel " (5) byCheap Trick , "Love in the First Degree " (5) and "I Want You Back" (3) byBananarama , "When Will I Be Famous?" (5) and "I Owe You Nothing " (6) byBros , "All Fired Up" (6) byPat Benatar and "I Want Your Love " (8) byTransvision Vamp .Hits by Australasian artists (with peak positions noted) also included "When a Man Loves a Woman" (3) by
Jimmy Barnes , "Nothing Can Divide Us" (3) byJason Donovan , "That's When I Think of You" (6) and "If I Could" (4) by 1927, "Heatseeker" (5) byAC/DC , "Love Is a Bridge" (11) byLittle River Band , "So Excellent"/"I Go, I Go" (8) by Kylie Mole, and "I Still Love You (Je Ne Sais Pas Pourquoi)" (11) byKylie Minogue .1989 (
ARIA Charts )#
The Proclaimers - "I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles) "
#:February 18 for 5 weeks
# Madonna - "Like a Prayer"
#:March 25 for 1 week,April 15 for 1 week,April 29 for 2 weeks andMay 20 for 1 week. Highest charting single of the year according to theARIA Charts .
#Fine Young Cannibals - "She Drives Me Crazy "
#:April 1 for 2 weeks andApril 22 for 1 week
#Mike + The Mechanics - "The Living Years"
#:May 13 for 1 week
#The Bangles - "Eternal Flame"
#:May 27 for 1 week,June 10 for 1 week andJune 24 for 1 week
#Bette Midler - "Wind Beneath My Wings "
#:June 3 for 1 week andJune 17 for 1 week
#Roxette - "The Look "
#:July 1 for 6 weeks
#New Kids on the Block - "You Got It (The Right Stuff) "
#:August 12 for 3 weeks
#Simply Red - "If You Don't Know Me by Now "
#:September 2 for 1 week
#Richard Marx - "Right Here Waiting "
#:September 9 for 5 weeks
#Cher - "If I Could Turn Back Time "
#:October 14 for 1 week andNovember 11 for 6 weeks
#Jive Bunny and the Mastermixers - "Swing the Mood "
#:October 21 for 3 weeks
#The B-52's - "Love Shack "
#:December 23 for 2 weeks and 6 weeks in 1990"'Other hits"'
Songs peaking at number two included "Bedroom Eyes" byKate Ceberano , "Batdance " by Prince, "All I Want Is You"/"Everlasting Love " byU2 , "Especially for You " byKylie Minogue andJason Donovan , "Teardrops" by Womack & Womack, and "A Groovy Kind of Love" byPhil Collins .Other major hits (with peak positions noted) included "
Baby I Don't Care " (3) byTransvision Vamp , "Poison" (3) byAlice Cooper , "Stop!" (4) by Sam Brown, "Talk It Over" (4) byGrayson Hugh , "Dressed for Success " (3) byRoxette , "You Got It " (3) byRoy Orbison , "The Best" (5) byTina Turner , and "I Don't Want a Lover " (4) Texas.Hits by Australasian artists also included "
Tucker's Daughter " (2) byIan Moss , "Ring My Bell " (5) by Collette, "She Has to Be Loved" (5) by Jenny Morris, "Rock and Roll Music " (5) byMental As Anything , "One Summer" (8) byDaryl Braithwaite , "Say Goodbye" (6) byIndecent Obsession , "Chained to the Wheel" (9) byThe Black Sorrows , and "Hand on Your Heart " (4), "Wouldn't Change a Thing " (6), "Never Too Late" (14) all byKylie Minogue .ee also
*
Music of Australia
*List of number-one singles (UK)
*List of number-one singles from the 1980s (UK)
*List of number-one hits (United States) References
* [http://www.austchartbook.com.au David Kent's Australian Chart Book: based on the Kent Music Report]
* [http://aria.com.au Australian Record Industry Association (ARIA) official site]
* [http://www.onmc.iinet.net.au/ OzNet Music Chart]
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