1000 Australian Number Ones
Caffe` Latte` looks back on each set of 100 chart topping singles, beginning in 1940 to 2013.
Part 6: 501- 600 (1978 - 85)

As the Seventies was drawing to a close, disco was enjoying its final halcyon days, with visits to the top by dance acts such as the Village People, Chic, Patrick Hernandez, Lipps, Inc., Michael Jackson and Diana Ross. The latter was among key music legends which finally reached the chart summit in this country. Others included Billy Joel, Kenny Rogers, Elton John, Steve Miller Band, Stevie Wonder and Dolly Parton.
From the opposite end of the musical spectrum, punk group the Boomtown Rats reached the top. A few years later, its lead singer, Bob Geldof, helped create a massive charity single in "Do They Know It's Christmas?" by all-star act Band Aid. The record led to the landmark "We are the World" US response recording and one of the defining 80s moments: the Live Aid concerts in 1985. Mick Jagger & David Bowie released a duet to mark the occasion and the disc became our 600th #1.
Other new acts to reach the summit included Blondie, the Knack, the Eurythmics, Devo, Pat Benatar, Cyndi Lauper, Tears for Fears and Culture Club. In 1985, a new chart force emerged: Madonna. She was to dominate the pop landscape for decades.
Cricket and Aussie Rules gained their legendary theme songs in "C'mon Aussie C'mon" and "Up There Cazaly" which both enjoyed a reign in the top position. Men at Work gave Australia an unofficial new anthem with their #1 single "Down Under".  Another Aussie global success was "Shaddap You Face" from Joe Dolce, Local veteran Slim Dusty scored a second #1 with his sing-a-long release: "Duncan". Other Aussie chart toppers included INXS, Split Enz, Australian Crawl, Billy Field and Moving Pictures. Austen Tayshus mixed Aussie terms with comedy to produce his controversial "Australiana".
There were also songs which reflected the changing world: "Computer Games" by Misex and "Video Killed the Radio Star" from the Buggles. Following his assassination, John Lennon scored a posthumous chart topper with "(Just Like) Starting Over". Stars on 45 recorded a medley of Beatles & pop/ rock classics, which spawned several imitations. 
Lionel Richie launched his solo career, after scoring a #1 with the Commodores years earlier. George Michael did the same, as did Tina Turner and Adam Ant.
Michael Jackson cemented his place in pop history with 2 more #1 singles, one of which - "Billie Jean"- was lifted off his best selling album, 'Thriller'.
The movies provided more chart toppers, such as: "Flashdance... What a Feeling", "Eye of the Tiger", "Footloose" and "When Doves Cry".   
Nena took a song performed in German to #1 with "99 Luftballons". ABBA's male members penned a chart topper for Murray Head; "One Night in Bangkok" from their musical (with Tim Rice) "Chess".
  
                                                               MOST NUMBER ONES:
                 Artist:                                  Total #1s:   Wks at #1:

1.    Bing Crosby                            28      205

2.    Beatles                                    26      131

3.    Joe Loss                                  14      101

4.    Perry Como                             14      64

5.    Elvis Presley                           13      57

6.    Andrews Sisters                      11       68

7.    Frank Sinatra                          11      43

8.    Dinah Shore                            9       48

9.    Inkspots                                  9       42

10. Nat King Cole                        9       41

11. Sammy Kaye                          8       28

12. Eddie Fisher                           7       20

13. Vera Lynn                               6        55

14. ABBA                                     6       42

15. Dean Martin                            6       24

16. Rolling Stones                         6       18

17. Roy Orbison                            6       15

18. Dick Haymes                           5       23

19. Glenn Miller                            4        56

20. Olivia Newton-John                4       23

21. Freddy Martin                         4       22

22. Johnnie Ray                            4       18

23. Tony Bennett                          4       16

24. Donald Peers                          4       14

25. Four Aces                               4       14

26. Petula Clark                            4       11

27. Patti Page                               4       9

28. Johnny O’Keefe                     4       7

29. Kate Smith                             3         40

30. Platters                                   3       17

31. Michael Jackson                    3       16

32. Gordon Jenkins                      3       15

33. Teresa Brewer                        3       14

34. Guy Mitchell                          3       14

35. Lionel Richie                          3       13

36. Madonna                                3       13

37. Frankie Laine                         3       12

38. Louis Armstrong                    3       12

39. Carpenters                              3       12

40. Les Baxter                              3       11