Caffè Lattè looks back on:                           

The US No. 1 SINGLES by

AUSTRALIAN ACTS

ranked in order 

 

10 HOW CAN YOU MEND A BROKEN HEART

Bee Gees

 

The first Australian act to sit atop the US chart was the Bee Gees. Beginning in 1971, the trio placed a total of 9 singles at No. 1 there. “How Can You Mend A Broken Heart” spent 4 weeks at the summit. The Gibbs also penned #1 hits for the likes of Barbra Streisand, Yvonne Elliman, Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton.

9 I HONESTLY LOVE YOU

Olivia Newton-John

 

Co-written by fellow expatriate Peter Allen, “I Honestly Love You” ruled the Top 40 for 2 weeks in 1974. It was the first of 4 US number one singles for Olivia Newton-John.

 

8 JIVE TALKIN’

Bee Gees

 

When The Bee Gees started down a new musical direction in the early 1970s, the trio embarked upon its most lucrative period. “Jive Talkin’” became the first of the Gibbs’ disco #1s. It reigned for 2 weeks, preceding the global impact of ‘Saturday Night Fever’. The film’s soundtrack would later include this #1 as well as “You Should Be Dancing”.

 

7 PHYSICAL

Olivia Newton-John

 

If the closing scenes of ‘Grease’ didn’t do enough to shed the “girl next door” clean image of Olivia Newton-John, “Physical” emphasized the transition. The latter was co-written by compatriot Steve Kipner. In 1981, the single gripped the top spot for 10 weeks. Billboard Magazine named it the biggest hit song of the Eighties.

 

6 NIGHT FEVER

Bee Gees

 

Disco was running out of steam just as The Bee Gees’ music was unleashed to the masses. ‘Saturday Night Fever’ revived the genre. The Gibbs dominated the US chart. “Night Fever” was the third successive #1 single from the movie soundtrack. In 1978, the disc began its 8-week residency at the top. It was the biggest hit of that year. The parent soundtrack lasted at the top of the US Albums Chart for 24 consecutive weeks.

 

5 THE ONE THAT YOU LOVE

Air Supply

 

All of the first Aussies to reach the top in America had relocated to the U.S. in order to break that market. The Bee Gees, Olivia Newton-John, Helen Reddy and Andy Gibb had to head overseas to find success. In 1981, Air Supply showed that it was possible for an act based in Australia to not only make the charts, but to go all the way to the top. This accomplishment paved the way for INXS, Men At Work and Savage Garden.

4 YOU’RE THE ONE THAT I WANT

Olivia Newton-John (with John Travolta)

 

Few movies and songs have had as much impact on pop culture as “Grease”. The film has remained a perennial favourite. It made global superstars of John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John. The latter portrayed an Australian at school in the U.S.A. “You’re The One That I Want” was written and produced by fellow Aussie expat John Farrar. It reached the top in 1978.

3 I AM WOMAN

Helen Reddy

 

Australian acts had infrequent forays into the American market. Among the exceptions in the 1960s were The Easybeats and The Seekers. In the 1970s, Aussies began to infiltrate and, sometimes even rule the chart. This reality makes the success of “I Am Woman” even more remarkable. The song had a powerful feminist message in Reddy’s lyrics to accompany music composed by fellow Australian Ray Burton. Reflecting the shifting attitudes of society, the song swiftly became an anthem. It remains a watershed recording.

2 STAYIN’ ALIVE

Bee Gees

 

Used to optimal effect in the opening scenes from ‘Saturday Night Fever’, “Stayin’ Alive” is an indelible moment in cinema and pop culture. To this day, the song remains a floor filler. In 1978, the disc led the charts for a month. Through this single, The Gibbs would be forever linked to disco.

 

1 DOWN UNDER

Men At Work

 

As well as Australia, this single topped the charts in America, Britain, Canada, parts of Europe and New Zealand. In 1983, the public was singing along to a song filled with tongue in cheek Aussie humour and attitude. Its lyrics introduced the world to vegemite and slang terms such as ‘kombi’ and ‘chunder’. In the U.S.A., the disc spent 4 non-consecutive weeks at #1. At home, the song is almost the national anthem, but there is no doubt it helped endear people all over the world to the land down under.

Spotify playlist:

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0fvp3gQIwrRWL70AkGdKUO?si=e1ef8346bdf54961&pt=7b9ce97d3146793011fdff6b6e18b983