80s in the 90s: 1986

Continuing the look at whether 80s acts succeeded in the 90s here's a look at the 1986 debutants:

The Mission: They had 5 Top 40 hits in the 80s and 6 in the 90s. None of them made the Top 10, only 3 made the Top 20 with "Butterfly On A Wheel" being one of them in Jan 1990. Interestingly they had a number 12, 30 and 32 in both decades. It almost seems as identical as you can get in terms of chart record for each decade, a couple of Top 10s in the 80s would of probably meant a miss in the 90s.

Verdict: Hit

Janet Jackson: She has a total of 37 Top 40 hits to date. None of them topped the charts but she reached number 2 twice with "The Best Things In Life Are Free" and "That's The Way Love Goes" which both came in the 90s. In the 80s she failed to reach the Top 20 with 3 of her 7 Top 40 hits, in the 90s it was 2 of her 22 Top 40 hits. This is an easy one to decide.

Verdict: Hit

Erasure: They're very much known as an 80s act but some will be surprised to learn they were having Top 40 hits as late as 2007 and their last Top 10 came in 2005. Despite keeping the hits going the reality is none of the well known ones came later than the mid-90s. They did however get their only number one in 1992 with "Abba-Esque EP" and in the early 90s they were still relevant in the Top 40.

Verdict: Hit

Sinitta: It's hard to believe she was still having Top 40 hits in the 90s but she did. There was "Hitchin' A Ride" which made number 24 in 1990 and "Shame Shame Shame" which made number 28 in 1992. A sign that her time was up once we'd reached the 90s.

Verdict: Miss

Europe: They only just qualify for this list with 4 Top 40 hits in the 80s and 1 in the 90s. Europe are a band who incorrectly get labelled as one hit wonders and the reality is apart from chart topper "The Final Countdown" they didn't really make much impact on the charts. Their sole 90s Top 40 hit "I'll Cry For You" made number 28 in 1992.

Verdict: Miss

Jesus & Mary Chain: They had 6 Top 40 hits in both the 80s and 90s and each decade gave them 1 Top 10 hit. Each decade also gave them a number 30 and 2 Top 40 hits that charted outside the Top 30. An almost identical chart record in each decade then.

Verdict: Hit

Swing Out Sister: Their Top 40 debut "Breakout" is possibly the most 80s sounding record I can think of. Follow up "Surrender" also made the Top 10 but their remaining Top 40 hits charted outside the Top 20. I'm quite surprised 1989 hit "You On My Mind" only made number 28 because I remember it very well. Likewise following single "Am I The Same Girl" only made 21 in 1992 and I remember that one very well too. No recollection of their only other 90s hit "La La (Means I Love You)" though.

Verdict: Miss

Curiosity Killed The Cat: They only just qualify for this list with 4 Top 40 hits in the 80s and 1 in the 90s. Their 1992 hit "Hang On In There Baby" was their joint highest charting single making number 3 and by this point they'd shortened their name to just Curiosity. Somehow it doesn't seem enough though.

Verdict: Miss

Bon Jovi: I remember their 1992 comeback with Jon Bon Jovi's haircut really well. The probably had the most live via satellite appearances in the 90s of Top of the Pops too. They had 9 Top 40 hits in the 80s and 15 in the 90s. Just "Livin On A Prayer" made the Top 10 in the 80s, they had 10 Top 10s in the 90s including their biggest hit "Always".

Verdict: Hit

The Pogues: Another who only just qualifies for the list. Their solitary 90s Top 40 hit "Tuesday Morning" made number 18 in 1993 and by this point Shane MacGowan had left the band. 

Verdict: Miss

Samantha Fox: It's well known that Page 3 girl Samantha Fox had a pop career in the 80s but I don't think too many people would know she managed 8 that decade. It's also a bigger surprise that she had a Top 40 hit in the 90s. This was as featured vocalist on "Santa Maria" by DJ Milano which made number 31 in 1998. 

Verdict: Miss