Each week, the Australian Top 100 charts release a new batch of potential hits into the world. Sometimes they debut high, and sometimes they just sneak in. And sometimes there’s an unsuspecting hit just waiting to happen that first appears at #100.
This list celebrates the biggest hits on the Australian Charts that entered the Top 100 at #100.
Top 100 charts have only been available in Australia since 1974, with the Australian Music Report taking over from the Go-Set charts, which were only Top 40 or Top 60s between 1965-1974. So you won’t find anything from the 50s or 60s here.
What you will find are plenty of hits from the 70s and 80s, as singles tended to enter the charts low, and make their climb from there. In fact, it was quite rare for any song to debut straight into the Top 50 until the 90s, where it soon became the norm for popular hits.
From the 90s onwards, it was truly a special feat for a single to debut in the Top 100, and later become a bit hit overall.
As Paul Kelly said, “from little things, big things grow”, so here are the most successful #100 debuting singles from the Australia pop charts world.
| 1. GLORIA Laura Branigan (1982 – HP: #1, WEEKS: 33) |
| 2. LOVE STORY Taylor Swift (2008 – HP: #1, WEEKS IN THE TOP 100: 77) *includes Taylor’s Version |
| 3. BILLIE JEAN Michael Jackson (1983 – HP: #1, WEEKS: 35) |
| 4. GOOD RIDDANCE (TIME OF YOUR LIFE) Green Day (1997 – HP: #2, WEEKS: 70) |
| 5. DON’T STOP ‘TIL YOU GET ENOUGH Michael Jackson (1979 – HP: #1, WEEKS: 39) |
| 6. THE DAY YOU WENT AWAY Wendy Matthews (1992 – HP: #2, WEEKS: 33) |
| 7. TAKE MY BREATH AWAY Berlin (1986 – HP: #2, WEEKS: 28) |
| 8. BLACK IS BLACK La Belle Epoque (1978 – HP: #1, WEEKS: 34) |
| 9. YOU CAN CALL ME AL Paul Simon (1986 – HP: #2, WEEKS: 27) |
| 10. MEANT TO BE Bebe Rexha featuring Florida Georgia Line (2017 – HP: #2, WEEKS: 69) |
| 11. 9 TO 5 (MORNING TRAIN) Sheena Easton (1981 – HP: #1, WEEKS: 21) |
| 12. DON’T GIVE UP ON US David Soul (1977 – HP: #1, WEEKS: 23) |
| 13. MASTER BLASTER (JAMMIN’) Stevie Wonder (1980 – HP: #2, WEEKS: 23) |
| 14. THE NEWCASTLE SONG Bob Hudson (1975 – HP: #1, WEEKS: 30) |
| 15. HAZARD Richard Marx (1992 – HP: #1, WEEKS: 25) |
| 16. I CAN’T STAND THE RAIN Eruption (1978 – HP: #1, WEEKS: 24) |
| 17. STAR WARS TITLE THEME Meco (1977 – HP: #3, WEEKS: 26) |
| 18. BRIGHT EYES Art Garfunkel (1979 – HP: #2, WEEKS: 24) |
| 19. 1999 Prince & the Revolution (1983 – HP: #2, WEEKS: 38) *includes New Power Generation version |
| 20. HEAVEN (MUST BE THERE) Eurogliders (1984 – HP: #2, WEEKS: 24) |
| 21. AIN’T GONNA BUMP NO MORE (WITH NO BIG FAT WOMAN) Joe Tex (1977 – HP: #2, WEEKS: 24) |
| 22. SILENCE Marshmello featuring Khalid (2017 – HP: #5, WEEKS: 55) |
| 23. STOP! Sam Brown (1988 – HP: #4, WEEKS: 37) |
| 24. BEST DISCO IN TOWN The Ritchie Family (1976 – HP: #3, WEEKS: 25) |
| 25. YOU SHOOK ME ALL NIGHT LONG AC/DC (1980 – HP: #8, WEEKS: 39) |
| 26. PLAY THAT FUNKY MUSIC Wild Cherry (1976 – HP: #5, WEEKS: 29) |
| 27. 2 TIMES Ann Lee (1999 – HP: #4, WEEKS: 29) |
| 28. CHARIOTS OF FIRE Vangelis (1981 – HP: #21, WEEKS: 64) |
| 29. ONLY SIXTEEN Dr. Hook (1976 – HP: #8, WEEKS: 38) |
| 30. KISS AND SAY GOODBYE The Manhattans (1976 – HP: #4, WEEKS: 24) |
| 31. WAITING FOR A GIRL LIKE YOU Foreigner (1981 – HP: #3, WEEKS: 26) |
| 32. GONNA MAKE YOU A STAR David Essex (1975 – HP: #4, WEEKS: 38) |
| 33. A GLASS OF CHAMPAGNE Sailor (1976 – HP: #4, WEEKS: 28) |
| 34. HOMOSAPIEN Pete Shelley (1982 – HP: #4, WEEKS: 18) |
| 35. LIFE Des’ree (1998 – HP: #8, WEEKS: 41) |
| 36. GOOD MORNING (HOW ARE YOU) The Moir Sisters (1974 – HP: #8, WEEKS: 27) |
| 37. DARLIN’ Frankie Miller (1978 – HP: #8, WEEKS: 29) |
| 38. TOO YOUNG FOR PROMISES Koo De Tah (1985 – HP: #6, WEEKS: 27) |
| 39. BREAKAWAY Big Pig (1988 – HP: #8, WEEKS: 29) |
| 40. BACK ON THE CHAIN GANG Pretenders (1982 – HP: #11, WEEKS: 23) |
| 41. WHEN YOU WALK IN THE ROOM Paul Carrack (1987 – HP: #7, WEEKS: 22) |
| 42. SAD EYES Robert John (1979 – HP: #9, WEEKS: 22) |
| 43. DREAMS Jolyon Petch (2021 – HP: #16, WEEKS: 35) |
| 44. JACK AND DIANE John Cougar (1982 – HP: #7, WEEKS: 20) |
| 45. ECHO BEACH Martha And The Muffins (1980 – HP: #6, WEEKS: 23) |
| 46. EVERY TIME I THINK OF YOU The Babys (1979 – HP: #6, WEEKS: 21) |
| 47. MERCY Duffy (2008 – HP: #26, WEEKS: 66) *includes Acoustic Performance version |
| 48. FINALLY Ce Ce Peniston (1991 – HP: #8, WEEKS: 22) |
| 49. ANYTHING FOR YOU Gloria Estefan & Miami Sound Machine (1988 – HP: #11, WEEKS: 26) |
| 50. DO TO YOU Machinations (1987 – HP: #15, WEEKS: 25) |
| 51. DON’T GIVE UP Peter Gabriel & Kate Bush (1987 – HP: #5, WEEKS: 23) |
| 52. BREAKOUT Swing Out Sister (1987 – HP: #12, WEEKS: 30) |
| 53. WORD UP Cameo (1986 – HP: #6, WEEKS: 23) |
| 54. DISARM The Smashing Pumpkins (1994 – HP: #16, WEEKS: 36) |
| 55. PUT ANOTHER LOG ON THE FIRE Bill & Boyd (1975 – HP: #23, WEEKS: 38) |
| 56. YOU DON’T KNOW ME Jax Jones featuring Raye (2017 – HP: #12, WEEKS: 28) |
| 57. THERE AIN’T NO AGE FOR ROCK ‘N’ ROLL The Veterans (1980 – HP: #6, WEEKS: 16) |
| 58. HALFWAY HOTEL Voyager (1979 – HP: #15, WEEKS: 24) |
| 59. YOU’LL ALWAYS FIND ME IN THE KITCHEN AT PARTIES Jona Lewie (1980 – HP: #21, WEEKS: 25) |
| 60. NEXT TO ME Emeli Sandé (2012 – HP: #14, WEEKS: 33) |
| 61. BOUND FOR GLORY Angry (1990 – HP: #11, WEEKS: 21) |
| 62. HANDY MAN James Taylor (1977 – HP: #13, WEEKS: 19) |
| 63. SUNCHYME Dario G (1997 – HP: #22, WEEKS: 31) |
| 64. OH L’AMOUR Erasure (1986 – HP: #13, WEEKS: 19) |
| 65. GET UP AND BOOGIE Silver Convention (1976 – HP: #19, WEEKS: 22) |
| 66. YOU GOT NOTHING I WANT Cold Chisel (1981 – HP: #12, WEEKS: 19) |
| 67. FRANKIE Sister Sledge (1985 – HP: #10, WEEKS: 16) |
| 68. CALIFORNIA GIRLS David Lee Roth (1985 – HP: #6, WEEKS: 17) |
| 69. MORE THAN A FEELING Boston (1976 – HP: #11, WEEKS: 23) |
| 70. SHAME SHAME SHAME Shirley & Company (1975 – HP: #16, WEEKS: 22) |
| 71. RHIANNON Fleetwood Mac (1976 – HP: #13, WEEKS: 22) |
| 72. DON’T GIVE ME YOUR LIFE Alex Party (1995 – HP: #13, WEEKS: 19) |
| 73. EVERYWHERE Michelle Branch (2001 – HP: #19, WEEKS: 26) |
| 74. IS SHE REALLY GOING OUT WITH HIM Joe Jackson (1979 – HP: #15, WEEKS: 19) |
| 75. DON’T LET GO Isaac Hayes (1980 – HP: #20, WEEKS: 18) |
| 76. FANTASY Earth, Wind & Fire (1978 – HP: #25, WEEKS: 24) |
| 77. I KNEW THE BRIDE (WHEN SHE USED TO ROCK AND ROLL) Nick Lowe (1986 – HP: #26, WEEKS: 32) |
| 78. HERE WE ARE Gloria Estefan (1990 – HP: #20, WEEKS: 27) |
| 79. SHE’S NOT THERE Santana (1977 – HP: #19, WEEKS: 20) |
| 80. BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE Australian Crawl (1979 – HP: #22, WEEKS: 25) |
| 81. THE RUBBERBAND MAN Spinners (1977 – HP: #20, WEEKS: 27) |
| 82. TRANS CANADA HIGHWAY Gene Pitney (1975 – HP: #14, WEEKS: 17) |
| 83. GO CHASE YOUR RAINBOW Bobby Russell (1974 – HP: #25, WEEKS: 25) |
| 84. FOOLS GOLD The Stone Roses (1990 – HP: #13, WEEKS: 21) |
| 85. HE’S THE GREATEST DANCER Sister Sledge (1979 – HP: #22, WEEKS: 19) |
| 86. I DON’T WANNA GO ON WITH YOU LIKE THAT Elton John (1988 – HP: #24, WEEKS: 17) |
| 87. TARZAN BOY Baltimora (1985 – HP: #16, WEEKS: 20) |
| 88. LET’S GET SERIOUS Jermaine Jackson (1980 – HP: #24, WEEKS: 21) |
| 89. COMING AROUND AGAIN Carly Simon (1987 – HP: #28, WEEKS: 21) |
| 90. BABY HOLD ON Eddie Money (1978 – HP: #19, WEEKS: 18) |
| 91. BUFFALO SOLDIER Bob Marley And The Wailers (1983 – HP: #18, WEEKS: 14) |
| 92. LEMON TREE Fool’s Garden (1996 – HP: #31, WEEKS: 35) |
| 93. THE BOYS LIGHT UP Australian Crawl (1980 – HP: #22, WEEKS: 19) |
| 94. PEOPLE ARE PEOPLE Depeche Mode (1984 – HP: #25, WEEKS: 20) |
| 95. STATE OF INDEPENDENCE Donna Summer (1982 – HP: #30, WEEKS: 29) |
| 96. LADY LOVE Lou Rawls (1978 – HP: #21, WEEKS: 18) |
| 97. NEW KID IN TOWN Eagles (1977 – HP: #16, WEEKS: 14) |
| 98. EVER FALLEN IN LOVE Fine Young Cannibals (1987 – HP: #20, WEEKS: 17) |
| 99. WHAT ABOUT LOVE Heart (1985 – HP: #28, WEEKS: 22) |
| 100. RUN TO THE HILLS Iron Maiden (1982 – HP: #27, WEEKS: 21) |
100 Songs 