List of number-one singles in Australia (1980s)

Australian number-one singles 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 singles on the Australian Singles Chart, along with other substantial hits, during the 1980s. The source for this decade is the Kent Music Report (retitled as Australian Music Report in 1987), and the ARIA Charts.

The Australian flag marks artists of Australian origin.

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 26 June 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 "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)

Date Artist Single Weeks at number one
7 January The Buggles "Video Killed the Radio Star" 7 weeks (5 weeks in Dec. 1979)
14 January
21 January Michael Jackson "Don't Stop 'til You Get Enough" 3 weeks
28 January
4 February
11 February KC and the Sunshine Band "Please Don't Go" 2 weeks
18 February
25 February Queen "Crazy Little Thing Called Love" 7 weeks
3 March
10 March
17 March
24 March
31 March
7 April
14 April Split Enz "I Got You" 8 weeks
21 April
28 April
5 May
12 May
19 May
26 May
2 June
9 June Rocky Burnette "Tired of Toein' the Line" 2 weeks
16 June
23 June The Vapors "Turning Japanese" 2 weeks
30 June
7 July The Village People "Can't Stop the Music" 4 weeks
14 July
21 July
28 July
4 August Lipps Inc. "Funkytown" 2 weeks
11 August
18 August Genghis Khan "Moscow" 6 weeks
25 August
1 September
8 September
15 September
22 September
29 September Diana Ross "Upside Down" 4 weeks
6 October
13 October
20 October
27 October Leo Sayer "More Than I Can Say" 2 weeks
3 November
10 November Barbra Streisand "Woman in Love" 2 weeks
17 November
24 November Joe Dolce Music Theatre Australia "Shaddap You Face" 8 weeks
1 December
8 December
15 December
22 December
29 December

Other hits
Songs peaking at number two included "Xanadu" by Olivia Newton-John and Electric Light Orchestra, "Another Brick in the Wall (Part 2)" by Pink Floyd, "Brass in Pocket" by The Pretenders, "What I Like About You" by The Romantics, "Dreaming My Dreams with You" by Colleen Hewett, "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'" by Long John Baldry and Kathi McDonald, "Babooshka" by Kate Bush and "Coming Up" by Paul McCartney.

Other hits (with their peak positions noted) were "Space Invaders" by Player One (3), "Ashes to Ashes" by David Bowie (3). "He's My Number One" by Christie Allen (4), "Call Me" and "The Tide Is High" by Blondie (4), "Blame It on the Boogie" by The Jacksons (4) and "Shandi" by KISS (5).

Hits by Australasian artists included "Magic" by Olivia Newton-John, "People" by Mi-Sex, "No Secrets" by The Angels, "You Shook Me All Night Long" by AC/DC and "Can't Help Myself" and "We Can Get Together" by Flowers.

Split Enz' hit "I Got You" was the best charting single of the year.

1981 (Kent Music Report)

Date Artist Single Weeks at number one
5 January Joe Dolce Music Theatre Australia "Shaddap You Face" 8 weeks
12 January
19 January John Lennon "(Just Like) Starting Over" 4 weeks
26 January
2 February
9 February
16 February Slim Dusty Australia "Duncan" 2 weeks
23 February
2 March The Swingers "Counting the Beat" 3 weeks
9 March
16 March
23 March Adam and the Ants "Antmusic" 5 weeks
30 March
6 April
13 April
20 April
27 April Sheena Easton "9 to 5 (Morning Train)" 2 weeks
4 May
11 May Roxy Music "Jealous Guy" 4 weeks
18 May
25 May
1 June
8 June Shakin' Stevens "This Ole House" 1 week
15 June Kim Carnes "Bette Davis Eyes" 5 weeks
22 June
29 June
6 July
13 July
20 July Stars on 45 "Stars on 45 Medley" 4 weeks
27 July
3 August
10 August
17 August Devo DEV-O Live (EP) 3 weeks
24 August
31 August Rick Springfield Australia "Jessie's Girl" 1 week
7 September Devo DEV-O Live (EP) 3 weeks
14 September Shakin' Stevens "You Drive Me Crazy" 3 weeks
21 September
28 September
5 October Diana Ross and Lionel Richie "Endless Love" 4 weeks
12 October
19 October
26 October
2 November Billy Field Australia "You Weren't in Love with Me" 1 week
9 November The Rolling Stones "Start Me Up" 1 week
16 November Olivia Newton-John Australia "Physical" 5 weeks
23 November
30 November
7 December
14 December
21 December Men at Work Australia "Down Under" 6 weeks
28 December

Other hits
Songs peaking at number 2 included "Who Can It Be Now?" by Men at Work and "Louise (We Get It Right)" by Jona Lewie

"Turn Me Loose" by Loverboy, "Girls Can Get It" by Dr. Hook, "Keep on Loving You" by REO Speedwagon, "Gotta Pull Myself Together" by The Nolans and "In the Air Tonight" by Phil Collins all peaked at number 3. Other major hits (with their peak positions) were "Jesse" by Carly Simon (4), "Kids in America" by Kim Wilde (5) and "Precious to Me" by Phil Seymour (6).

Hits by Australasian artists included "If I Were a Carpenter" by Swanee, "Bad Habits" by Billy Field, "Boys in Town" by Divinyls and "State of the Heart" by Mondo Rock.

The Swingers' hit "Counting the Beat" was the best charting single of the year.

1982 (Kent Music Report)

Date Artist Single Weeks at number one
4 January Men at Work Australia "Down Under" 6 weeks
11 January
18 January
24 January
1 February Lindsey Buckingham "Trouble" 3 weeks
8 February
15 February
22 February Soft Cell "Tainted Love" 3 weeks
1 March
8 March
15 March The J. Geils Band "Centerfold" 1 week
22 March Moving Pictures Australia "What About Me" 6 weeks
29 March
5 April
12 April
19 April
26 April
3 May Joan Jett and the Blackhearts "I Love Rock 'n' Roll" 5 weeks
10 May
17 May
24 May
31 May
7 June Toni Basil "Mickey" 2 weeks
14 June
21 June Charlene "I've Never Been to Me" 6 weeks
28 June
5 July
12 July
19 July
26 July
2 August A Flock of Seagulls "I Ran (So Far Away)" 2 weeks
9 August
16 August Adam Ant "Goody Two Shoes" 2 weeks
23 August
30 August Ray Parker, Jr. "The Other Woman" 1 week
6 September Steve Miller Band "Abracadabra" 2 weeks
13 September
20 September Survivor "Eye of the Tiger" 6 weeks
27 September
4 October
11 October
18 October
25 October
1 November Dexys Midnight Runners "Come On Eileen" 5 weeks
8 November
15 November
22 November
29 November
6 December Musical Youth "Pass the Dutchie" 3 weeks
13 December
20 December
27 December Culture Club "Do You Really Want to Hurt Me" 6 weeks

Other hits
Songs peaking at number 2 included "Key Largo" by Bertie Higgins, "Believe It or Not" (Theme from The 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)

Date Artist Single Weeks at number one
3 January Culture Club "Do You Really Want to Hurt Me" 6 weeks
10 January
17 January
23 January
31 January
7 February Laura Branigan "Gloria" 7 weeks
14 February
21 February
28 February
7 March
14 March
21 March
28 March Joe Cocker and Jennifer Warnes "Up Where We Belong" 2 weeks
4 April
11 April Michael Jackson "Billie Jean" 5 weeks
18 April
25 April
2 May
9 May
16 May Redgum Australia "I Was Only 19 (A Walk in the Light Green)" 2 weeks
23 May
30 May Bonnie Tyler "Total Eclipse of the Heart" 6 weeks
6 June
13 June
20 June
27 June
4 July
11 July Irene Cara "Flashdance... What a Feeling" 7 weeks
18 July
25 July
1 August
8 August
15 August Austen Tayshus Australia "Australiana" 8 weeks
22 August Irene Cara "Flashdance... What a Feeling" 7 weeks
29 August
5 September Austen Tayshus Australia "Australiana" 8 weeks
12 September
19 September
26 September
3 October
10 October
17 October
24 October Culture Club "Karma Chameleon" 5 weeks
31 October
7 November
14 November
21 November
28 November Australian Crawl Australia "Reckless (Don't Be So)" 1 week
5 December Billy Joel "Uptown Girl" 1 week
12 December Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton "Islands in the Stream" 1 week
19 December Lionel Richie "All Night Long (All Night)" 6 weeks
26 December

Other hits
Songs peaking at number two included "Beat It" by Michael Jackson, "Every Breath You Take" by The Police, "Bop Girl" by Pat Wilson, "Twisting by the Pool" (EP) by Dire Straits, "Rain" by Dragon, "1999" by Prince, "Heartbreaker" by Dionne Warwick, "Electric Avenue" by Eddy Grant and "Let's Dance" by David Bowie.

Other major hits (with peak positions noted) included "Save Your Love" (3) by Renee and Renato, "Give It Up" (3) by KC and the Sunshine Band, "I'm Still Standing" (3) by Elton John, "You Can't Hurry Love" (3) by Phil Collins, "The Safety Dance" (5) by Men Without Hats and "Africa" (5) by Toto.

Hits by Australasian artists also included "Send Me an Angel" by Real Life, "Fraction Too Much Friction" by Tim Finn, "Shoop Shoop Diddy Wop Cumma Cumma Wang Dang" by Monte Video and the Cassettes and "Overkill" by Men at Work.

Austen Tayshus' hit "Australiana" was the best charting single of the year.

1984 (Kent Music Report)

Date Artist Single Weeks at number one
2 January Lionel Richie "All Night Long (All Night)" 6 weeks
9 January
16 January
23 January
30 January INXS Australia "Original Sin" 2 weeks
6 February
13 February Pat Benatar "Love Is a Battlefield" 5 weeks
20 February
27 February
5 March
12 March
19 March Cyndi Lauper "Girls Just Want to Have Fun" 2 weeks
26 March
2 April Nena "99 Luftballons" 5 weeks
9 April
16 April
23 April
30 April
7 May "Weird Al" Yankovic "Eat It" 1 week
14 May Kenny Loggins "Footloose" 3 weeks
21 May
28 May
4 June Lionel Richie "Hello" 3 weeks
11 June
18 June
25 June The Twelfth Man Australia "It's Just Not Cricket" 3 weeks
2 July
9 July
16 July Wham! "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go" 7 weeks
23 July
30 July
6 August
13 August
20 August Prince "When Doves Cry" 1 week
27 August Wham! "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go" 7 weeks
3 September
10 September Tina Turner "What's Love Got to Do with It" 1 week
17 September George Michael "Careless Whisper" 4 weeks
24 September
1 October
8 October
15 October Stevie Wonder "I Just Called to Say I Love You" 8 weeks
22 October
29 October
5 November
14 November
19 November
26 November
3 December
10 December Madonna "Like a Virgin" 5 weeks
17 December
24 December
31 December

Other hits
The year's best charting single was Bruce Springsteen's "Dancing in the Dark". Although it only reached number 5 on the singles chart, it remained on the charts for 40 weeks.

Songs peaking at number 2 included "The War Song" by Culture Club, "Ghostbusters" by Ray Parker Jr., "Come Said the Boy" by Mondo Rock, "Heaven (Must Be There)" by Eurogliders and "Jump" by Van Halen.

Other hits (with peak position noted) included "Calling Your Name" (3) by Marilyn, "I Can Dream About You" (3) by Dan Hartman, "Burn for You" (3) by INXS, "Against All Odds (Take a Look at Me Now)" by Phil Collins, "Thriller" (4) by Michael Jackson, "Relax" (5) and "Two Tribes" (4) by Frankie Goes to Hollywood.

Hits by Australasian artists also included "Listening" and "A Beat for You" both by Pseudo Echo, "I Send a Message" by INXS, "Soul Kind of Feeling" by Dynamic Hepnotics and "Catch Me I'm Falling" by Real Life.

1985 (Kent Music Report)

Date Artist Single Weeks at number one
7 January Madonna "Like a Virgin" 5 weeks
14 January Band Aid "Do They Know It's Christmas?" 4 weeks
21 January
28 January
4 February
11 February Foreigner "I Want to Know What Love Is" 5 weeks
18 February
25 February
4 March
11 March
18 March Murray Head "One Night in Bangkok" 1 week
25 March Tears for Fears "Shout" 1 week
1 April Jim Diamond "I Should Have Known Better" 1 week
8 April USA for Africa "We Are the World" 9 weeks
15 April
22 April
29 April
6 May
13 May
20 May
27 May
3 June
10 June Eurythmics "Would I Lie to You?" 2 weeks
17 June
24 June Madonna "Angel" / "Into the Groove" 4 weeks
1 July
8 July
15 July
22 July "Crazy for You" 4 weeks
29 July
5 August
12 August
19 August Tina Turner "We Don't Need Another Hero" 3 weeks
26 August
2 September
9 September Models Australia "Out of Mind, Out of Sight" 2 weeks
16 September
23 September Huey Lewis and the News "The Power of Love" 2 weeks
30 September
7 October Mick Jagger and David Bowie "Dancing in the Street" 2 weeks
14 October
21 October UB40 with Chrissie Hynde "I Got You Babe" 3 weeks
28 October
4 November
11 November a-ha "Take On Me" 2 weeks
18 November
25 November Jennifer Rush "The Power of Love" 2 weeks
2 December Midnight Oil Australia Species Deceases (EP) 6 weeks
9 December Jennifer Rush "The Power of Love" 2 weeks
16 December Midnight Oil Species Deceases (EP) 6 weeks
23 December
30 December

Other hits
Other major hits (with peak positions noted) included "Live It Up" by Mental As Anything (2), "Money for Nothing" by Dire Straits (4), "You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)" by Dead or Alive (3), "Born in the U.S.A." by Bruce Springsteen (2), "Neutron Dance" by Pointer Sisters (4), "What You Need" by INXS (2), "Walking on Sunshine" by Katrina and the Waves (4) and "The Heat Is On" by Glenn Frey (2).

The hit "We Are the World" by USA for Africa was the best charting single of the year.

1986 (Kent Music Report)

Date Artist Single Weeks at number one
6 January Midnight Oil Australia Species Deceases (EP) 6 weeks
13 January
20 January Starship "We Built This City" 4 weeks
27 January
3 February
10 February
17 February Feargal Sharkey "A Good Heart" 2 weeks
24 February
3 March Dionne Warwick with Gladys Knight,
Elton John & Stevie Wonder		 "That's What Friends Are For" 1 week
10 March Billy Ocean "When the Going Gets Tough, the Tough Get Going" 6 weeks
17 March
24 March
31 March
7 April
14 April
21 April Diana Ross "Chain Reaction" 3 weeks
28 April
5 May
12 May Cliff Richard and The Young Ones "Living Doll" 6 weeks
19 May
26 May
2 June
9 June
16 June
23 June Robert Palmer "Addicted to Love" 2 weeks
30 June
7 July Samantha Fox "Touch Me (I Want Your Body)" 3 weeks
14 July Whitney Houston "Greatest Love of All" 1 week
21 July Samantha Fox "Touch Me (I Want Your Body)" 3 weeks
28 July
4 August Madonna "Papa Don't Preach" 6 weeks
11 August
18 August
25 August
1 September
8 September
15 September Bananarama "Venus" 7 weeks
22 September
29 September
6 October
13 October
20 October
27 October
3 November John Farnham Australia "You're the Voice" 7 weeks
10 November
17 November
24 November
1 December
8 December
15 December
22 December Pseudo Echo Australia "Funkytown" 7 weeks
29 December

Other hits
Songs peaking at number two included "Stimulation" by Wa Wa Nee, "Take My Breath Away" by Berlin, "Stuck with You" by Huey Lewis and the News, "Dancing on the Ceiling" by Lionel Richie, "Don't Leave Me This Way" by The Communards, "You Can Call Me Al" by Paul Simon, "How Will I Know" by Whitney Houston, "Concrete and Clay" by Martin Plaza, "The Lady in Red" by Chris de Burgh and "Kiss" by Prince.

Other major hits (all peaking at number 3) included "Manic Monday" by The Bangles, "A Matter of Trust" by Billy Joel, "True Colors" by Cyndi Lauper and "Hit That Perfect Beat" by Bronski Beat.

Hits by Australasian artists also included "The Dead Heart" by Midnight Oil, "Who Made Who" by AC/DC, "Great Wall" by Boom Crash Opera, "I Could Make You Love Me" by Wa Wa Nee, "Love an Adventure" by Pseudo Echo and "Do You Wanna Be?" by I'm Talking.

Diana Ross' hit "Chain Reaction" was the best charting single of the year.

1987 (Australian Music Report)

Date Artist Single Weeks at number one
5 January Pseudo Echo Australia "Funkytown" 7 weeks
12 January
19 January
26 January
2 February
9 February The Bangles "Walk Like an Egyptian" 2 weeks
16 February Kim Wilde "You Keep Me Hangin' On" 2 weeks
23 February The Bangles "Walk Like an Egyptian" 2 weeks
2 March Kim Wilde "You Keep Me Hangin' On" 2 weeks
9 March Boris Gardiner "I Want to Wake Up with You" 1 week
16 March George Michael and Aretha Franklin "I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)" 4 weeks
23 March
30 March
6 April
13 April Paul Lekakis "Boom Boom (Let's Go Back to My Room)" 5 weeks
20 April
27 April
4 May
11 May
18 May Dave Dobbyn with Herbs "Slice of Heaven" 4 weeks
25 May
1 June
8 June
15 June Whitney Houston "I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)" 5 weeks
22 June
29 June
6 July
13 July
20 July Mel and Kim "Respectable" 1 week
27 July The Party Boys Australia "He's Gonna Step on You Again" 2 weeks
3 August
10 August Kylie Minogue Australia "The Loco-Motion" 7 weeks
17 August
24 August
31 August
7 September
14 September
21 September
28 September Los Lobos "La Bamba" 7 weeks
5 October
12 October
19 October
26 October
2 November
9 November
16 November Icehouse Australia "Electric Blue" 1 week
23 November Jimmy Barnes Australia "Too Much Ain't Enough Love" 1 week
30 November Rick Astley "Never Gonna Give You Up" 7 weeks
7 December
14 December
21 December
28 December

Other hits
Songs peaking at number two included "The Final Countdown" by Europe, "Suddenly" by Angry Anderson and "Good Times" by Jimmy Barnes and INXS.

Other major hits (with peak positions noted) included "Old Time Rock and Roll" (3) by Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band, "Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now" (3) by Starship, "Livin' on a Prayer" (3) by Bon Jovi, "Star Trekkin'" (3) by The Firm, "Bad" (4) by Michael Jackson, "What's My Scene?" by Hoodoo Gurus, "Pressure Down" by John Farnham, "Crazy" by Icehouse and "Beds Are Burning" by Midnight Oil.

Kylie Minogue's hit "The Loco-Motion" was the best charting single of the year, and of the decade of the 1980s in Australia.

1988 (Australian Music Report)

Date Artist Single Weeks at number one
4 January Rick Astley "Never Gonna Give You Up" 7 weeks
11 January
18 January George Michael "Faith" 1 week
25 January George Harrison "Got My Mind Set on You" 1 week
1 February Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes "(I've Had) The Time of My Life" 6 weeks
8 February
15 February
22 February
29 February
7 March
14 March Kylie Minogue Australia "I Should Be So Lucky" 6 weeks
21 March
28 March
4 April
11 April
18 April
25 April Billy Ocean "Get Outta My Dreams, Get into My Car" 5 weeks
2 May
9 May
16 May
23 May
30 May Cheap Trick "The Flame" 3 weeks
6 June
13 June
20 June Louis Armstrong "What a Wonderful World" 2 weeks
27 June
4 July Kylie Minogue Australia "Got to Be Certain" 4 weeks
11 July
18 July
25 July
1 August John Farnham Australia "Age of Reason" 3 weeks
8 August
15 August
22 August Fairground Attraction "Perfect" 4 weeks
29 August
5 September
12 September
19 September Robert Palmer "Simply Irresistible" 5 weeks
26 September
3 October
10 October
17 October
24 October U2 "Desire" 2 weeks
31 October
7 November Phil Collins "A Groovy Kind of Love" 1 week
14 November Bobby McFerrin "Don't Worry, Be Happy" 6 weeks
21 November
28 November
5 December
12 December
19 December
26 December The Beach Boys "Kokomo" 7 weeks

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)

Date Artist Single Weeks at number one
2 January The Beach Boys "Kokomo" 7 weeks
9 January
16 January
23 January
30 January
6 February
13 February Womack & Womack "Teardrops" 1 week
20 February The Proclaimers "I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)" 4 weeks
27 February
6 March
13 March
20 March Ian Moss Australia "Tucker's Daughter" 1 week
27 March Fine Young Cannibals "She Drives Me Crazy" 5 weeks
3 April
10 April
17 April Madonna "Like a Prayer" 4 weeks
24 April Fine Young Cannibals "She Drives Me Crazy" 5 weeks
1 May
8 May Mike + The Mechanics "The Living Years" 1 week
15 May Madonna "Like a Prayer" 4 weeks
22 May
29 May
5 June Julian Lennon "Now You're in Heaven" 1 week
12 June The Bangles "Eternal Flame" 1 week
19 June Bette Midler "Wind Beneath My Wings" 3 weeks
26 June
3 July
10 July Roxette "The Look" 5 weeks
17 July
24 July
31 July
7 August
14 August New Kids on the Block "You Got It (The Right Stuff)" 1 week
21 August Simply Red "If You Don't Know Me by Now" 3 weeks
28 August
4 September
11 September Richard Marx "Right Here Waiting" 6 weeks
18 September
25 September
2 October
9 October
16 October
23 October Jive Bunny and the Mastermixers "Swing the Mood" 3 weeks
30 October
6 November
13 November Cher "If I Could Turn Back Time" 6 weeks
20 November
27 November
4 December
11 December
18 December
25 December The B-52's "Love Shack" 8 weeks (7 weeks in 1990)

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 26 June 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."

  1. Cheap Trick – "The Flame"
    4 June for 4 weeks
  2. Louis Armstrong – "What a Wonderful World"
    2 July for 1 week
  3. Kylie Minogue – "Got to Be Certain" Australia
    9 July for 3 weeks
  4. John Farnham – "Age of Reason" Australia
    30 July for 4 weeks
  5. Fairground Attraction – "Perfect"
    27 August for 3 weeks
  6. Robert Palmer – "Simply Irresistible"
    17 September for 5 weeks
  7. U2 – "Desire"
    22 October for 3 weeks
  8. Bobby McFerrin – "Don't Worry, Be Happy"
    12 November for 7 weeks
  9. The Beach Boys – "Kokomo"
    31 December 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, "I Want Your Love" (8) by Transvision Vamp and "Fat" (11) by "Weird Al Yankovic".

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)

  1. The Proclaimers – "I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)"
    18 February for 5 weeks
  2. Madonna – "Like a Prayer"
    25 March for 1 week, 15 April for 1 week, 29 April for 2 weeks and 20 May for 1 week. Highest charting single of the year according to the ARIA Charts.
  3. Fine Young Cannibals – "She Drives Me Crazy"
    1 April for 2 weeks and 22 April for 1 week
  4. Mike + The Mechanics – "The Living Years"
    13 May for 1 week
  5. The Bangles – "Eternal Flame"
    27 May for 1 week, 10 June for 1 week and 24 June for 1 week
  6. Bette Midler – "Wind Beneath My Wings"
    3 June for 1 week and 17 June for 1 week
  7. Roxette – "The Look"
    1 July for 6 weeks
  8. New Kids on the Block – "You Got It (The Right Stuff)"
    12 August for 3 weeks
  9. Simply Red – "If You Don't Know Me by Now"
    2 September for 1 week
  10. Richard Marx – "Right Here Waiting"
    9 September for 5 weeks
  11. Cher – "If I Could Turn Back Time"
    14 October for 1 week and 11 November for 6 weeks
  12. Jive Bunny and the Mastermixers – "Swing the Mood"
    21 October for 3 weeks
  13. The B-52's – "Love Shack"
    23 December 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) by 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.

See also

References