List of number-one albums from the 1980s (New Zealand)

This is the Recorded Music NZ list of number-one albums in New Zealand during the 1980s decade. Dire Straits' 1985 album Brothers in Arms spent a total of 21 weeks at No. 1. Split Enz's album Time and Tide was the most successful album by a New Zealand artist, spending a total of six weeks at No. 1. From September 1983 to August 1989, no albums by New Zealand artists reached No. 1.

In New Zealand, Recorded Music NZ compiles the top 40 albums chart each Monday. Over-the-counter sales of both physical and digital formats make up the data. Certifications are awarded for the number of shipments to retailers.[1] Gold certifications are awarded after 7,500 sales, and platinum certifications after 15,000.[2]

The following albums were all number one in New Zealand in the 1980s.

Number ones

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Key
 *  – Number-one album of the year[nb 1]
 †  – Album of New Zealand origin[nb 2]
 ‡  – Number-one album of the year, of New Zealand origin
 
Dire Straits spent a total of 21 weeks at number one with their album Brothers in Arms.
 
Bruce Springsteen's 1984 album Born in the USA spent 15 weeks at No. 1.
 
Eurythmics spent 10 weeks straight at No. 1 with their album Revenge.
 
Australian band Men at Work spent 10 weeks at No. 1 with their album business as usual.
 
Split Enz was the most successful New Zealand band of the decade. They had four albums reach number one, spending a total of 13 weeks at No. 1.
Artist Album Weeks at
number one
Reached number one
Summer break - no chart (2 weeks)
Pink Floyd The Wall 6 20 January 1980
Split Enz True Colours 2 2 March 1980
Pink Floyd The Wall 3 16 March 1980
Fleetwood Mac Tusk 1 6 April 1980
Easter holiday - no chart (1 week)
Gheorghe Zamfir & Harry van Hoof Music by Candlelight 3 20 April 1980
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers Damn the Torpedoes 1 11 May 1980
Gheorghe Zamfir & Harry van Hoof Music by Candlelight 1 18 May 1980
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers Damn the Torpedoes 2 25 May 1980
Mi-Sex Space Race 4 8 June 1980
Willie Nelson Stardust 6 6 July 1980
Neil Young & Crazy Horse Live Rust 1 17 August 1980
Roxy Music Flesh + Blood 2 24 August 1980
Kiss Unmasked 1 7 September 1980
Bob Marley and the Wailers Uprising 1 14 September 1980
XTC Black Sea 1 21 September 1980
Bob Marley and the Wailers Uprising 2 28 September 1980
David Bowie Scary Monsters 2 12 October 1980
Supertramp Paris 1 26 October 1980
David Bowie Scary Monsters 1 2 November 1980
Barbra Streisand Guilty 5 9 November 1980
Kenny Rogers Greatest Hits 2 14 December 1980
Summer break - no chart (1 week)
Artist Album Weeks at
number one
Reached number one
Summer break - no chart (2 weeks)
Kenny Rogers Greatest Hits 1 18 January 1981
David Bowie Chameleon 1 25 January 1981
Anne Murray Anne Murray's Greatest Hits 6 1 February 1981
John Lennon / Yoko Ono Double Fantasy 1 15 March 1981
The Nolans Making Waves 1 22 March 1981
John Lennon / Yoko Ono Double Fantasy 3 29 March 1981
Split Enz Waiata 1 19 April 1981
Easter holiday - no chart (1 week)
Split Enz Waiata 2 3 May 1981
Richard Clayderman Rêveries 2 17 May 1981
The Cure Faith 3 31 May 1981
Joy Division Unknown Pleasures 1 21 June 1981
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers Hard Promises 2 28 June 1981
Kim Carnes Mistaken Identity 3 12 July 1981
Stars On 45 Long Play Album 3 2 August 1981
The Pretenders Pretenders II 1 23 August 1981
Cliff Richard Cliff Richard 1958-1981 2 30 August 1981
The Rolling Stones Tattoo You 2 13 September 1981
Carol O'Halloran Jazzercise 4 27 September 1981
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra Hooked on Classics 2 25 October 1981
Queen Greatest Hits 5 8 November 1981
Simon & Garfunkel The Simon and Garfunkel Collection 2 13 December 1981
Summer break - no chart (1 week)
Artist Album Weeks at
number one
Reached number one
Summer break - no chart (2 weeks)
Blondie The Best of Blondie 3 17 January 1982
Men at Work Business as Usual 7 7 February 1982
Elton John Jump Up! 2 28 March 1982
Men at Work Business as Usual 1 11 April 1982
Easter holiday - no chart (1 week)
DD Smash Cool Bananas 1 25 April 1982
Split Enz Time and Tide 2 2 May 1982
Anne Murray Greatest Hits Vol. II 1 16 May 1982
Men at Work Business as Usual 2 23 May 1982
The Human League Dare 3 6 June 1982
Roxy Music Avalon 3 27 June 1982
Joan Jett and the Blackhearts I Love Rock 'n' Roll 1 18 July 1982
Roxy Music Avalon 1 25 July 1982
Split Enz Time and Tide 1 1 August 1982
Cold Chisel Circus Animals 1 8 August 1982
Roxy Music Avalon 1 15 August 1982
Split Enz Time and Tide 3 22 August 1982
ABC The Lexicon of Love 3 12 September 1982
Dire Straits Love over Gold 8 3 October 1982
The Kids from "Fame" The Kids From "Fame 1 28 November 1982
Dire Straits Love over Gold 3 5 December 1982
Summer break - no chart (1 week)
Artist Album Weeks at
number one
Reached number one
Summer break - no chart (3 weeks)
Split Enz Enz of an Era 2 23 January 1983
Icehouse Primitive Man 3 6 February 1983
Simon & Garfunkel The Concert in Central Park 2 27 February 1983
Little River Band Greatest Hits 4 13 March 1983
Easter holiday - no chart (1 week)
Dire Straits Love over Gold 1 17 April 1983
Pink Floyd The Final Cut 1 24 April 1983
David Bowie Let's Dance 5 1 May 1983
Michael Jackson Thriller 5 5 June 1983
David Bowie Let's Dance 1 10 July 1983
Bonnie Tyler Faster Than the Speed of Night 3 17 July 1983
The Police Synchronicity 2 7 August 1983
Tim Finn Escapade 1 21 August 1983
The Police Synchronicity 1 28 August 1983
Wham! Fantastic 3 4 September 1983
Spandau Ballet True 1 25 September 1983
Yazoo You and Me Both 1 2 October 1983
Robert Plant The Principle of Moments 4 9 October 1983
UB40 Labour of Love 3 6 November 1983
Culture Club Colour by Numbers 1 27 November 1983
David Bowie Let's Dance 2 4 December 1983
Duran Duran Seven and the Ragged Tiger 1 18 December 1983
Summer break - no chart (1 week)
Artist Album Weeks at
number one
Reached number one
Summer break - no chart (3 weeks)
Billy Joel An Innocent Man 1 22 January 1984
Eurythmics Touch 1 29 January 1984
Hall & Oates Rock 'n Soul Part 1 1 5 February 1984
Simple Minds Sparkle in the Rain 2 12 February 1984
U2 Under a Blood Red Sky 1 26 February 1984
Foster and Allen Maggie 2 4 March 1984
Michael Jackson Thriller 1 18 March 1984
Easter holiday - no chart (1 week)
Michael Jackson Thriller 6 1 April 1984
Thompson Twins Into the Gap 1 13 May 1984
Lionel Richie Can't Slow Down 1 20 May 1984
Thompson Twins Into the Gap 2 27 May 1984
Soundtrack Footloose 8 10 June 1984
Billy Joel An Innocent Man 2 5 August 1984
Bob Marley and the Wailers Legend 4 19 August 1984
Sade Diamond Life 2 16 September 1984
Julio Iglesias 1100 Bel Air Place 4 30 September 1984
The Cars Heartbeat City 1 28 October 1984
U2 The Unforgettable Fire 3 4 November 1984
Bruce Springsteen Born in the U.S.A. 1 25 November 1984
Sade Diamond Life 2 2 December 1984
The Cars Heartbeat City 1 16 December 1984
Summer break - no chart (2 week)
Artist Album Weeks at
number one
Reached number one
Summer break - no chart (2 weeks)
Frankie Goes to Hollywood Welcome to the Pleasuredome 2 20 January 1985
Wham! Make It Big 1 3 February 1985
Bruce Springsteen Born in the U.S.A. 2 10 February 1985
Alison Moyet Alf 1 24 February 1985
Bruce Springsteen Born in the U.S.A. 6 3 March 1985
Easter holiday - no chart (1 week)
Phil Collins No Jacket Required 1 21 April 1985
Bruce Springsteen Born in the U.S.A. 6 28 April 1985
Dire Straits Brothers in Arms 3 9 June 1985
Talking Heads Little Creatures 3 30 June 1985
Madonna Like a Virgin 3 21 July 1985
Billy Joel Greatest Hits 3 11 August 1985
Madonna Like a Virgin 5 1 September 1985
Bryan Adams Reckless 6 6 October 1985
ZZ Top Afterburner 3 17 November 1985
Dire Straits Brothers in Arms 2 8 December 1985
Summer break - no chart (2 week)
Artist Album Weeks at
number one
Reached number one
Summer break - no chart (2 weeks)
Dire Straits Brothers in Arms 3 19 January 1986
Thompson Twins Here's to Future Days 2 9 February 1986
Dire Straits Brothers in Arms 6 23 February 1986
Easter holiday - no chart (1 week)
Dire Straits Brothers in Arms 2 13 April 1986
Grace Jones Island Life 2 27 April 1986
Dire Straits Brothers in Arms 1 11 May 1986
Barbra Streisand The Broadway Album 1 18 May 1986
Dire Straits Brothers in Arms 4 25 May 1986
A-ha Hunting High and Low 2 22 June 1986
Peter Gabriel So 1 6 July 1986
Madonna True Blue 2 13 July 1986
Bryan Ferry and Roxy Music Street Life: 20 Great Hits 3 27 July 1986
Wham! The Final 7 17 August 1986
Talking Heads True Stories 5 5 October 1986
Genesis Invisible Touch 1 9 November 1986
Talking Heads True Stories 1 16 November 1986
Huey Lewis and the News Fore! 1 23 November 1986
Paul Simon Graceland 3 30 November 1986
The Police Every Breath You Take: The Singles 1 21 December 1986
Summer break - no chart (1 week)
Artist Album Weeks at
number one
Reached number one
Summer break - no chart (2 weeks)
Revenge Eurythmics 10 18 January 1987
U2 The Joshua Tree 1 29 March 1987
Pseudo Echo Funky Town 3 5 April 1987
Easter holiday - no chart (1 week)
U2 The Joshua Tree 2 3 May 1987
Alison Moyet Raindancing 2 17 May 1987
Bon Jovi Slippery When Wet 5 31 May 1987
Whitney Houston Whitney 2 5 July 1987
Bon Jovi Slippery When Wet 2 19 July 1987
Suzanne Vega Solitude Standing 2 2 August 1987
U2 The Joshua Tree 5 16 August 1987
Bon Jovi Slippery When Wet 1 20 September 1987
Michael Jackson Bad 1 27 September 1987
Chris Rea Dancing with Strangers 1 4 October 1987
Midnight Oil Diesel and Dust 6 11 October 1987
Pink Floyd A Momentary Lapse of Reason 2 22 November 1987
Midnight Oil Diesel and Dust 1 6 December 1987
Pink Floyd A Momentary Lapse of Reason 1 13 December 1987
Midnight Oil Diesel and Dust 1 20 December 1987
Summer break - no chart (1 week)
Artist Album Weeks at
number one
Reached number one
Summer break - no chart (2 weeks)
Midnight Oil Diesel and Dust 1 17 January 1988
Pink Floyd A Momentary Lapse of Reason 2 24 January 1988
Icehouse Man of Colours 2 7 February 1988
Pink Floyd A Momentary Lapse of Reason 1 21 February 1988
Soundtrack Dirty Dancing 6 28 February 1988
Easter holiday - no chart (1 week)
Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark The Best of OMD 4 17 April 1988
Andrew Lloyd Webber The Phantom of the Opera 1 15 May 1988
Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark The Best of OMD 1 22 May 1988
Tiffany Tiffany 3 29 May 1988
Prince Lovesexy 2 19 June 1988
Andrew Lloyd Webber The Phantom of the Opera 2 3 July 1988
Def Leppard Hysteria 3 17 July 1988
INXS Kick 2 7 August 1988
Andrew Lloyd Webber The Phantom of the Opera 2 21 August 1988
Kylie Minogue Kylie 6 4 September 1988
Bros Push 1 16 October 1988
Bon Jovi New Jersey 2 23 October 1988
U2 Rattle and Hum 7 6 November 1988
Summer break - no chart (1 week)
Artist Album Weeks at
number one
Reached number one
Summer break - no chart (2 weeks)
U2 Rattle and Hum 1 15 January 1989
Fleetwood Mac Greatest Hits 1 22 January 1989
Jimmy Barnes Barnestorming 2 29 January 1989
Soundtrack Cocktail 2 12 February 1989
Tracy Chapman Tracy Chapman 4 5 March 1989
Easter holiday - no chart (1 week)
Enya Watermark 2 9 April 1989
Toni Childs Union 1 23 April 1989
Poison Open Up and Say... Ahh! 1 30 April 1989
Toni Childs Union 1 7 May 1989
Andrew Lloyd Webber The Premiere Collection 3 14 May 1989
Guns N' Roses Appetite for Destruction 1 4 June 1989
Simply Red A New Flame 7 11 June 1989
Clannad Past Present 6 30 July 1989
Carl Doy Piano by Candlelight II 4 10 September 1989
Milli Vanilli All or Nothing 3 8 October 1989
Tracy Chapman Crossroads 7 29 October 1989
Milli Vanilli All or Nothing - The US Remix Album 1 17 December 1989
Summer break - no chart (2 weeks)
Artist Album Weeks at
number one
Reached number one

Notes

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  1. ^ Annual charts are sourced from the RMNZ website.
  2. ^ Whether or not a song is of New Zealand origin is determined by RMNZ

References

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  1. ^ "Chart Facts". Recording Industry Association of New Zealand. Archived from the original on 4 July 2010. Retrieved 11 July 2010.
  2. ^ "Latest Gold / Platinum Albums". RadioScope. Archived from the original on 12 August 2011. Retrieved 14 September 2010.
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