Australian number-one albums of the 1980s
Triple J Hottest 100
1989
Australian top 25 singles
1980     1981     1982     1983     1984
1985     1986     1987     1988     1989
Australian top 25 albums
1980     1981     1982     1983     1984
1985     1986     1987     1988     1989
Australian top 40 charts
singles
albums

The following lists the number one albums on the Australian Albums Chart, during the 1980s. The source for this decade is the Kent Music Report up until 20 June 1988, whereafter the source is the ARIA Charts.

Key
The yellow background indicates the #1 album on the KMR/ARIA End of Year Chart
The light blue background indicates the #1 album on the KMR/ARIA End of Decade Chart

1980

Date Artist Album Weeks at number one
7 January Electric Light Orchestra ELO's Greatest Hits 4 weeks
14 January
21 January
28 January
4 February Creedence Clearwater Revival 20 Golden Greats 2 weeks
11 February
18 February The Police Reggatta de Blanc 2 weeks
25 February
3 March Pink Floyd The Wall 4 weeks
10 March
17 March
24 March
31 March Michael Jackson Off the Wall 2 weeks
7 April
14 April Split Enz True Colours 10 weeks
21 April
28 April
5 May
12 May
19 May
26 May
2 June
9 June
16 June
23 June Village People Can't Stop the Music 9 weeks
30 June
7 July
14 July
21 July
28 July
4 August
11 August
18 August
25 August Olivia Newton-John and the
Electric Light Orchestra 		Xanadu 6 weeks
1 September
8 September
15 September
22 September
29 September
6 October David Bowie Scary Monsters (And Super Creeps) 5 weeks
13 October
20 October
27 October
3 November
10 November Barbra Streisand Guilty 6 weeks
17 November
24 November
1 December
8 December
15 December
22 December John Lennon and Yoko Ono Double Fantasy 10 weeks
29 December

1981

Date Artist Album Weeks at number one
5 January John Lennon and Yoko Ono Double Fantasy 10 weeks
12 January
19 January
26 January
2 February
9 February
16 February
23 February
2 March The Police Zenyatta Mondatta 1 week
9 March AC/DC Back in Black 1 week
16 March Dr. Hook & The Medicine Show Greatest Hits 4 weeks
23 March
30 March
6 April
13 April Cold Chisel Swingshift 2 weeks
20 April
27 April Split Enz Corroboree 3 weeks
4 May
11 May
18 May The Beatles The Beatles' Ballads 7 weeks
25 May
1 June
8 June
15 June
22 June
29 June
6 July Billy Field Bad Habits 2 weeks
13 July
20 July Stars on 45 Long Play Album 2 weeks
27 July
3 August Australian Crawl Sirocco 6 weeks
10 August
17 August
24 August
31 August
7 September
14 September Various artists Hitwave '81 1 week
21 September Stevie Nicks Bella Donna 1 week
28 September The Rolling Stones Tattoo You 11 weeks
5 October
12 October
19 October
26 October
2 November
9 November
16 November
23 November
30 November
7 December
14 December The Police Ghost in the Machine 1 week
21 December Men at Work Business as Usual 9 weeks
28 December

1982

Date Artist Album Weeks at number one
4 January Men at Work Business as Usual 9 weeks
11 January
18 January
24 January
1 February Blondie The Best of Blondie 2 weeks
8 February
15 February Men at Work Business as Usual 9 weeks
22 February
1 March
8 March Cliff Richard Love Songs 2 weeks
15 March
22 March Moving Pictures Days of Innocence 7 weeks
29 March
5 April
12 April
19 April
26 April
3 May
10 May Cold Chisel Circus Animals 1 week
17 May Various Artists 1982 with a Bullet 5 weeks
24 May
31 May
7 June
14 June
21 June Split Enz Time and Tide 2 weeks
28 June
5 July Duran Duran Rio 1 week
12 July Roxy Music Avalon 3 weeks
19 July
26 July
2 August Australian Crawl Sons of Beaches 5 weeks
9 August
16 August
23 August
30 August
6 September Various Artists 1982 Out of the Blue 5 weeks
13 September
20 September
27 September
4 October
11 October Dire Straits Love over Gold 15 weeks
18 October
25 October
1 November
8 November
15 November
22 November
29 November
6 December
13 December
20 December
27 December

1983

Date Artist Album Weeks at number one
3 January Dire Straits Love over Gold 15 weeks
10 January
17 January John Lennon The John Lennon Collection 5 weeks
24 January
31 January
7 February
14 February
21 February The Carpenters The Very Best of the Carpenters 1 week
28 February Olivia Newton-John Greatest Hits Vol 3 2 weeks
7 March
14 March Cliff Richard 25 Years of Gold 3 weeks
21 March
28 March
4 April Toto IV 1 week
11 April Dire Straits Love over Gold 15 weeks
18 April Various Artists Go for It 1983 1 week
25 April David Bowie Let's Dance 1 week
2 May Men at Work Cargo 2 weeks
9 May
16 May Various Artists 1983 The Hot Ones 4 weeks
23 May
30 May
6 June
13 June Michael Jackson Thriller 11 weeks
20 June The Beatles The Number Ones 1 week
27 June Michael Jackson Thriller 11 weeks
4 July
11 July The Police Synchronicity 3 weeks
18 July
25 July
1 August Various Artists Keep On Dancing 3 weeks
8 August
15 August
22 August Original Soundtrack Flashdance 3 weeks
29 August
5 September
12 September Various Artists The Breakers '83 2 weeks
19 September
26 September Air Supply Greatest Hits 1 week
3 October Joe Cocker The Best of Joe Cocker 3 weeks
10 October
17 October
24 October Culture Club Colour by Numbers 7 weeks
31 October
7 November
14 November
21 November
28 November Various Artists 1983 ... Summer Breaks 3 weeks
5 December
12 December
19 December Various Artists Thru the Roof '83 5 weeks
26 December

1984

Date Artist Album Weeks at number one
2 January Various Artists Thru the Roof '83 5 weeks
9 January
16 January
23 January Michael Jackson Thriller 11 weeks
30 January
6 February
13 February
20 February
27 February
5 March Various Artists 1984 Shakin' 2 weeks
12 March
19 March Michael Jackson Thriller 11 weeks
26 March
2 April INXS The Swing 5 weeks
9 April
16 April
23 April Cold Chisel Twentieth Century 1 week
30 April INXS The Swing 5 weeks
7 May
14 May Various Artists Throbbin' '84 5 weeks
21 May
28 May
4 June
11 June
18 June Lionel Richie Can't Slow Down 3 weeks
25 June
2 July
9 July Elton John Breaking Hearts 3 weeks
16 July
23 July
30 July Culture Club Colour by Numbers 7 weeks
6 August
13 August Soundtrack / Prince Purple Rain 1 week
20 August Rodney Rude Rodney Rude 2 weeks
27 August
3 September Various Artists H'its Huge '84 5 weeks
10 September
17 September
24 September
1 October
8 October Jimmy Barnes Bodyswerve 2 weeks
15 October
22 October Bruce Springsteen Born in the USA 8 weeks
29 October U2 The Unforgettable Fire 1 week
5 November Midnight Oil Red Sails in the Sunset 4 weeks
14 November
19 November
26 November
3 December Various Artists Choose 1985 9 weeks
10 December
17 December
24 December
31 December

1985

Date Artist Album Weeks at number one
7 January Various Artists Choose 1985 9 weeks
14 January
21 January
28 January
4 February Wham! Make It Big 2 weeks
11 February
18 February Bruce Springsteen Born in the USA 8 weeks
25 February
4 March Various Artists 1985 Comes Alive 4 weeks
11 March
18 March
25 March
1 April Bruce Springsteen Born in the USA 8 weeks
8 April
15 April
22 April
29 April
6 May Phil Collins No Jacket Required 3 weeks
13 May
20 May
27 May Dire Straits Brothers in Arms 34 weeks
3 June
10 June
17 June
24 June
1 July Eurythmics Be Yourself Tonight 4 weeks
8 July
15 July
22 July
29 July Dire Straits Brothers in Arms 34 weeks
5 August
12 August
19 August
26 August
2 September
9 September
16 September
23 September
30 September
7 October
14 October INXS Listen Like Thieves 2 weeks
21 October
28 October Dire Straits Brothers in Arms 34 weeks
4 November
11 November
18 November
25 November
2 December
9 December
16 December Jimmy Barnes For the Working Class Man 7 weeks
23 December
30 December

1986

Date Artist Album Weeks at number one
6 January Jimmy Barnes For the Working Class Man 7 weeks
13 January
20 January
27 January
3 February Dire Straits Brothers in Arms 34 weeks
10 February
17 February
24 February
3 March
10 March
17 March
24 March
31 March
7 April
14 April
21 April Sting The Dream of the Blue Turtles 3 weeks
28 April
5 May
12 May Various Artists 1986 Way to Go 3 weeks
19 May
26 May
2 June Whitney Houston Whitney Houston 11 weeks
9 June
16 June
23 June
30 June
7 July
14 July
21 July
28 July
4 August Madonna True Blue 2 weeks
11 August
18 August Whitney Houston Whitney Houston 11 weeks
25 August
1 September Various Artists 1986 Just for Kicks 4 weeks
8 September
15 September
22 September
29 September Cyndi Lauper True Colors 4 weeks
6 October
13 October
20 October
27 October Paul Simon Graceland 5 weeks
3 November
10 November
17 November John Farnham Whispering Jack 25 weeks
24 November
1 December
8 December
15 December
22 December
29 December

1987

Date Artist Album Weeks at number one
5 January John Farnham Whispering Jack 25 weeks
12 January Various Artists Summer '87 2 weeks
19 January
26 January John Farnham Whispering Jack 25 weeks
2 February
9 February
16 February
23 February
2 March
9 March
16 March
23 March
30 March
6 April Paul Simon Graceland 5 weeks
13 April
20 April John Farnham Whispering Jack 25 weeks
27 April
4 May Various Artists 87 Hits Out 1 week
11 May John Farnham Whispering Jack 25 weeks
18 May
25 May
1 June
8 June Crowded House Crowded House 1 week
15 June John Farnham Whispering Jack 25 weeks
22 June Whitney Houston Whitney 3 weeks
29 June
6 July
13 July Bon Jovi Slippery When Wet 6 weeks
20 July
27 July
3 August
10 August
17 August
24 August Midnight Oil Diesel and Dust 6 weeks
31 August
7 September
14 September
21 September
28 September
5 October Icehouse Man of Colours 11 weeks
12 October
19 October
26 October
2 November
9 November
16 November
23 November
30 November
7 December
14 December
21 December Jimmy Barnes Freight Train Heart 5 weeks
28 December

1988

Date Artist Album Weeks at number one
4 January Jimmy Barnes Freight Train Heart 5 weeks
11 January
18 January
25 January The Twelfth Man Wired World of Sports 3 weeks
1 February
8 February
15 February Soundtrack Dirty Dancing 8 weeks
22 February
29 February
7 March
14 March
21 March
28 March
4 April
11 April Rick Astley Whenever You Need Somebody 1 week
18 April Various Artists Hit Pix '88 2 weeks
25 April
2 May Terence Trent D'Arby Introducing the Hardline According to Terence Trent D'Arby 5 weeks
9 May
16 May
23 May
30 May
6 June Soundtrack Good Morning, Vietnam 2 weeks
13 June
20 June Bananarama Wow! 1 week
27 June Various Artists '88 Kix On 4 weeks
4 July
11 July
18 July
25 July Crowded House Temple of Low Men 1 week
1 August John Farnham Age of Reason 8 weeks
8 August
15 August
22 August
29 August
5 September
12 September
19 September
26 September Various Artists 88 the Winners 4 weeks
3 October
10 October
17 October Bon Jovi New Jersey 1 week
24 October Various Artists 88 the Winners 4 weeks
31 October U2 Rattle and Hum 5 weeks
7 November
14 November
21 November
28 November
5 December Jimmy Barnes Barnestorming 3 weeks
12 December
19 December
26 December Various Artists Summer '89 2 weeks

1989

Date Artist Album Weeks at number one
2 January Various artists Summer '89 2 weeks
9 January Soundtrack by various artists Cocktail 5 weeks
16 January
23 January
30 January
6 February
13 February Traveling Wilburys Traveling Wilburys Vol. 1 2 weeks
20 February
27 February Roy Orbison Mystery Girl 4 weeks
6 March
13 March
20 March
27 March Various artists Hits of '89 Volume 1 5 weeks
3 April
10 April
17 April
24 April
1 May 1927 ...ish 3 weeks
8 May
15 May
22 May Daryl Braithwaite Edge 3 weeks
29 May
5 June
12 June John Cougar Mellencamp Big Daddy 1 week
19 June Soundtrack by Bette Midler Beaches 4 weeks
26 June
3 July
10 July Fine Young Cannibals The Raw and the Cooked 1 week
17 July Soundtrack by Bette Midler Beaches 4 weeks
24 July Def Leppard Hysteria 3 weeks
31 July
7 August
14 August Ian Moss Matchbook 3 weeks
21 August
28 August
4 September Andrew Lloyd Webber The Premiere Collection 1 week
11 September Richard Marx Repeat Offender 7 weeks
18 September
25 September
2 October
9 October
16 October
23 October
30 October John Williamson Warragul 1 week
6 November Billy Joel Storm Front 2 weeks
13 November
20 November Cher Heart of Stone 1 week
27 November Phil Collins ...But Seriously 3 weeks
4 December
11 December
18 December Jive Bunny and the Mastermixers Jive Bunny: The Album 4 weeks
25 December

See also

References

Categories