Top New Zealand Albums - Year-end 1981

The best selling album in 1981 in New Zealand was MAKING MOVIES by DIRE STRAITS.

RankArtistAlbumReleased
1 DIRE STRAITS MAKING MOVIES 1980
2 RICHARD CLAYDERMAN REVERIES / TRÄUMEREIEN 1979
3 SPLIT ENZ WAIATA 1981
4 ICEHOUSE ICEHOUSE 1980
5 GHEORGHE ZAMFIR & HARRY VAN HOOF MUSIC BY CANDLELIGHT 1978
6 JOHN LENNON & YOKO ONO DOUBLE FANTASY 1980
7 ROXY MUSIC FLESH AND BLOOD 1980
8 GHEORGHE ZAMFIR CLASSICS BY CANDLELIGHT 1981
9 ULTRAVOX VIENNA 1980
10 STEVIE WONDER HOTTER THAN JULY 1980
11 QUEEN GREATEST HITS I 1981
12 STRAY CATS STRAY CATS 1981
13 ANNE MURRAY GREATEST HITS 1980
14 PHIL COLLINS FACE VALUE 1981
15 STEVE WINWOOD ARC OF A DIVER 1980
16 THE ROLLING STONES TATTOO YOU 1981
17 THE CURE FAITH 1981
18 KIM CARNES MISTAKEN IDENTITY 1981
19 RICHARD CLAYDERMAN LA MÚSICA DEL AMOR 1980
20 SPLIT ENZ TRUE COLOURS 1980
21 DEVO FREEDOM OF CHOICE 1980
22 THE CURE SEVENTEEN SECONDS 1980
23 ROYAL PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA HOOKED ON CLASSICS 1981
24 DAVID BOWIE CHAMELEON 1981
25 THE POLICE ZENYATTA MONDATTA 1980
26 THE BEATLES BEATLES BALLADS 1980
27 TOM PETTY & THE HEARTBREAKERS HARD PROMISES 1981
28 PINK FLOYD DARK SIDE OF THE MOON 1973
29 RICKIE LEE JONES PIRATES 1981
30 CAROL O'HALLORAN JAZZERCISE 1981
31 BLONDIE AUTOAMERICAN 1980
32 THE NOLANS MAKING WAVES 1980
33 ADAM AND THE ANTS KINGS OF THE WILD FRONTIER 1980
34 MOODY BLUES LONG DISTANCE VOYAGER 1981
35 JOY DIVISION UNKNOWN PLEASURES 1979
36 DR. HOOK & THE MEDICINE SHOW GREATEST HITS 1980
37 ELTON JOHN THE VERY BEST OF ELTON JOHN (1980) 1980
38 THE JAM SOUND AFFECTS 1980
39 PAT BENATAR PRECIOUS TIME 1981
40 BILLY FIELD BAD HABITS 1981
41 GRACE JONES NIGHTCLUBBING 1981
42 STEELY DAN GAUCHO 1980
43 BARBRA STREISAND GUILTY 1980
44 DIRE STRAITS DIRE STRAITS 1978
45 STARS ON 45 STARS ON LONG PLAY 1981
46 THE TUBES THE COMPLETION BACKWARDS PRINCIPLE 1981
47 SPANDAU BALLET JOURNEYS TO GLORY 1981
48 KENNY ROGERS KENNY ROGERS' GREATEST HITS 1980
49 DAVE MCARTNEY & THE PINK FLAMINGOS DAVE MCARTNEY AND THE PINK FLAMINGOS 1981
50 SIMON & GARFUNKEL THE SIMON & GARFUNKEL COLLECTION 1981

Source: Recorded Music New Zealand