Thirty years ago today ARIA released its very first Chart, issued on 10 July 1983.
The Chart featured Bonnie Tyler’s ‘Total Eclipse Of The Heart’ on top of the Singles Chart and Michael Jackson’s ‘Thriller’ on top of the Albums Chart.
Since that time ARIA has published over 1500 weekly ARIA Charts, resulting in 440 #1 Singles, 527 #1 Albums and in the process became the country’s authoritative guide to the music that the Australian public are buying and listening to each week.
In thirty years of ARIA Charts history, Coolio’s ‘Gangsta’s Paradise’ is the longest running #1 Single, clocking up 13 weeks, while Dire Straits ‘Brothers In Arms’ is the longest running #1 Album at 34 weeks.
Delta Goodrem’s ‘Innocent Eyes’ is the longest running Australian #1 Album at 29 weeks, while Austen Tayshus’ ‘Australiana’, Savage Garden’s ‘Truly Madly Deeply’ and Gotye’s ‘Somebody That I Used To Know’ all share the record for an Australian act at the top of the Singles Chart with 8 weeks.
Radiohead have had the most #2 albums (5) without ever hitting #1 on the ARIA Albums Chart, while Nelly Furtado has had the most #2 Singles (3) without ever reaching #1 on the ARIA Singles Chart.
The ARIA Charts have grown and diversified immensely since their inception in 1983 and as a result, physical, digital and streaming data is now collected from more than 1200 retailers and music service partners across the country.
ARIA Chairman Denis Handlin AM who was one of the leading board members initiating the Chart in 1983 commented on the 30th anniversary of the very first ARIA Chart.
“The ARIA Charts were created for artists, record companies, publishers, songwriters, retailers and fans to know what is going on with music sales right across the country. Over the years as the market has diversified, ARIA has developed a wide range of charts from the National Singles and Albums Charts to country, dance, urban, digital streaming and other genres as a part of its industry information services.
On behalf of the ARIA Board and members, our thanks go to the retailers and digital service providers that contribute their sales information and to the ARIA Chart team for their dedication in compiling the weekly charts.
The history of the singles and albums captured by the ARIA Charts not only represents brilliant recorded music but also the soundtrack to our lives. “
www.ariacharts.com.au
See the full list of ARIA Chart records from the past thirty years below:
Youngest chart-toppers
Singles: Gabrielle Cilmi – Sweet About Me (2008. 16 years, 6 months, 4 days)
Albums: Miley Cyrus – Breakout (2008. 15 years, 9 months, 23 days)
Oldest chart-toppers
Singles: Cher – Believe (1999. 52 years, 8 months)
Albums: Bob Dylan – Modern Times (2006. 65 years, 3 months)
527 #1 Albums
214: USA
149: Australia
83: UK
24: Canada
20: Ireland
1: New Zealand, Colombia, Denmark, Spain, France, Germany, Iceland, Italy, Netherlands, Puerto Rico, Sweden
27: Other
440 #1 Singles
219: USA
92: Australia
57: UK
13: Canada
8: Ireland, Sweden
6: Germany, Barbados
4: Jamaica
3: France, Colombia, Denmark, Spain
2: Italy, New Zealand
1: British Virgin Islands, South Korea, Austria, Finland, India, Netherlands, Norway, Puerto Rico, Russia
2: Other
All Releases
Most weeks at #1 – Singles Chart
Coolio: Gangsta’s Paradise – 13 weeks (1995/96)
Eminem: Lose Yourself – 12 weeks (2002/03)
Bryan Adams: Everything I Do (I Do It For You) – 11 weeks (1991)
Space Girls: Wannabe – 11 weeks (1996/1997)
Whitney Houston: I Will Always Love You – 10 weeks (1992/93)
Sandi Thom: I Wish I Was a Punk Rocker (With Flowers in My Hair) – 10 weeks (2006)
LMFAO Feat. Lauren Bennet & GoonRock: Party Rock Anthem – 10 weeks (2011)
Most weeks at #1 – Albums Chart
Dire Straits: Brothers In Arms – 34 weeks (1985/86)
Adele: 21 – 31 weeks (2011/12)
Delta Goodrem: Innocent Eyes – 29 weeks (2003/04)
John Farnham: Whispering Jack – 25 weeks (1986/87)
Shania Twain : Come On Over – 20 weeks (1999)
Australian Releases
Most weeks at #1 – Singles Chart
Austen Tayshus: Australiana – 8 weeks (1983)
Savage Garden: Truly Madly Deeply – 8 weeks (1997)
Gotye Feat. Kimbra: Somebody That I Used To Know – 8 weeks (2011)
John Farnham: You’re The Voice – 7 weeks (1986)
Pseudo Echo: Funkytown – 7 weeks (1986/87)
Kylie Minogue: Locomotion – 7 weeks (1987)
Most weeks at #1 – Albums Chart
Delta Goodrem: Innocent Eyes – 29 weeks (2003/04)
John Farnham: Whispering Jack – 25 weeks (1986/87)
Savage Garden: Savage Garden – 19 weeks (1997)
Icehouse: Man Of Colours – 11 weeks (1987)
Australian Cast: Jesus Christ Superstar – 10 weeks (1992)
Crowded House: Recurring Dream – 10 weeks (1996/97)
All Artists
Most weeks at #1 – Singles Chart
Madonna – 38 weeks
Kylie Minogue – 30 weeks
Black Eyed Peas – 30 weeks
Rihanna – 29 weeks
Eminem – 27 weeks
Most #1 Singles
Madonna – 10
Kylie Minogue – 10
Black Eyed Peas – 8
Delta Goodrem – 8
Eminem – 7
P!nk – 7
Most weeks at #1 – Albums Chart
John Farnham – 47 weeks
Dire Straits – 35 weeks
Adele – 32 weeks
Jimmy Barnes – 31 weeks
Delta Goodrem – 31 weeks
Most #1 Albums
U2 – 11
Madonna – 10
Jimmy Barnes – 9
Bon Jovi – 9
John Farnham – 8
Australian Artists
Most weeks at #1 – Singles Chart
Kylie Minogue – 30 weeks
Guy Sebastian – 15 weeks
Delta Goodrem – 12 weeks
Silverchair – 12 weeks
John Farnham – 11 weeks
Most #1 Singles
Kylie Minogue – 10
Delta Goodrem – 8
Guy Sebastian – 6
Silverchair – 3
Shannon Noll – 3
Most weeks at #1 – Albums Chart
John Farnham – 47 weeks
Jimmy Barnes – 31 weeks
Delta Goodrem – 31 weeks
Savage garden – 25 weeks
The 12th Man – 19 weeks
Most #1 Albums
Jimmy Barnes – 9
John Farnham – 8
The 12th Man – 7
Crowded House – 5
Silverchair – 5
Powderfinger – 5
www.ariacharts.com.au