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 the Kent Music Report, and the ARIA 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, the Australian Recording Industry Association (or ARIA) licensed the Kent 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 for ARIA Charts are Saturdays.

1980 (Kent Music Report)

"'Other hits"'
Songs peaking at number 2 included "Key Largo" by Bertie Higgins, "Believe It or Not" (Theme from "Greatest American Hero" by Joey Scarbury), "If You Want My Love" by Cheap Trick, "Our Lips Are Sealed" by The Go-Go's, "Six Months in a Leaky Boat" by Split Enz, "Shy Boy" by Bananarama and "Ebony and Ivory" by Paul McCartney and Stevie 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) by Melissa 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" by Jo Kennedy, "Solid Rock" by Goanna, "Great Southern Land" by Icehouse, "Dirty Creature" by Split Enz, "Down on the Border" by Little River Band and "Lady, What's Your Name" by Swanee.

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" by USA 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 list Bill Medley and Jennifer 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. The ARIA 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" by Crowded House, "Heaven Is a Place on Earth" by Belinda Carlisle, "Stutter Rap (No Sleep Til Bedtime)" by Morris 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) by Rick Astley, "The Only Way Is Up" (3) by Yazz, "Run to Paradise" (3) by The Choirboys, "Sign Your Name" (3) by Terence Trent D'Arby, "Don't Be Cruel" (5) by Cheap Trick, "Love in the First Degree" (5) and "I Want You Back" (3) by Bananarama, "When Will I Be Famous?" (5) and "I Owe You Nothing" (6) by Bros, "All Fired Up" (6) by Pat Benatar and "I Want Your Love" (8) by Transvision 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) by Jason Donovan, "That's When I Think of You" (6) and "If I Could" (4) by 1927, "Heatseeker" (5) by AC/DC, "Love Is a Bridge" (11) by Little River Band, "So Excellent"/"I Go, I Go" (8) by Kylie Mole, and "I Still Love You (Je Ne Sais Pas Pourquoi)" (11) by Kylie 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 and May 20 for 1 week. Highest charting single of the year according to the ARIA Charts.
# Fine Young Cannibals - "She Drives Me Crazy"
#:April 1 for 2 weeks and April 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 and June 24 for 1 week
# Bette Midler - "Wind Beneath My Wings"
#:June 3 for 1 week and June 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 and November 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" by Kate Ceberano, "Batdance" by Prince, "All I Want Is You"/"Everlasting Love" by U2, "Especially for You" by Kylie Minogue and Jason Donovan, "Teardrops" by Womack & Womack, and "A Groovy Kind of Love" by Phil Collins.

Other major hits (with peak positions noted) included "Baby I Don't Care" (3) by Transvision Vamp, "Poison" (3) by Alice Cooper, "Stop!" (4) by Sam Brown, "Talk It Over" (4) by Grayson Hugh, "Dressed for Success" (3) by Roxette, "You Got It" (3) by Roy Orbison, "The Best" (5) by Tina Turner, and "I Don't Want a Lover" (4) Texas.

Hits by Australasian artists also included "Tucker's Daughter" (2) by Ian Moss, "Ring My Bell" (5) by Collette, "She Has to Be Loved" (5) by Jenny Morris, "Rock and Roll Music" (5) by Mental As Anything, "One Summer" (8) by Daryl Braithwaite, "Say Goodbye" (6) by Indecent Obsession, "Chained to the Wheel" (9) by The Black Sorrows, and "Hand on Your Heart" (4), "Wouldn't Change a Thing" (6), "Never Too Late" (14) all by Kylie 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]