80s in the 90s: 1981

Continuing the look at whether 80s acts succeeded in the 90s here's a look at the 1981 debutants:

Phil Collins: His solo career is certainly something you'd place in the 80s but precisely half of his Top 40 hits came in later years. He didn't have any chart toppers in the 90s but he had 3 Top 10 hits that were all quite memorable. Additionally you have "Something Happened On The Way To Heaven" which seemed big at the time and "You'll Be In My Heart" on the Tarzan soundtrack. 

Verdict: Hit

Depeche Mode: Just over a decade ago I went to see Depeche Mode in concert. They had a new album out so that was the one that provided the most songs. The album that provided the 2nd most was 1990 album "Violator" which includes arguably their signature tune "Enjoy The Silence". Overall the concert had 9 songs from 90s albums and just 3 from 80s ones. The fact they can sell out stadiums would imply demand for their 90s material is there.

Verdict: Hit

Kid Creole & The Coconuts: They debuted in 1981 with minor hit "Me And Pop I" and then in 1982 came their 3 Top 10 hits. By 1983 they looked to be finished from a Top 40 perspective until in 1990 when they returned for the first time in 7 years with "The Sex Of It" which made number 29 and then they were finished.

Verdict: Miss

New Order: Although they were big in the 80s their Top 40 record doesn't exactly suggest this. Only "Blue Monday" and "True Faith" made the Top 10 and amazingly "Bizarre Love Triangle" didn't even made the Top 40. In 1990 they had their only number one with "World In Motion" under the name Englandneworder and had a Top 10 with "Regret" in 1993. Although their remaining 90s hits didn't have too much impact on the charts you can't really overlook a chart topper and an equal number of Top 10s for both decades.

Verdict: Hit

Duran Duran: This is a tough one to judge. They were one of the big four pop groups of the early 80s along with Wham!, Culture Club and Spandau Ballet and the popularity of all of them declined after 1986. However Duran Duran had a solitary Top 10 in the 90s with "Ordinary World" which many say was their finest moment. It's also worth noting that they were on the final episode of youth TV show The Word in 1995. On the other hand by the end of the 90s Nick Rhodes was the only original member left and it wasn't until 2001 when the classic line up reunited. If it wasn't for "Ordinary World" then it would be a miss.

Verdict: Hit

Human League: Another group whose popularity went into decline after 1986. They also had a solitary Top 10 in the 90s, "Tell Me When". It raises the question should 1 big hit equate to a successful decade? Another perspective is that in the case of Depeche Mode, New Order and Duran Duran their big 90s hits sounded like they belonged in the 90s, "Tell Me When" seems more 80s nostalgia. I'm really torn on this, I remember this big if short lived comeback at the time but it just doesn't seem quite enough.

Verdict: Miss

Kirsty MacColl: A much easier one to judge. She had 4 Top 40 hits spread between 1981 and 1989 with the biggest being "Fairytale Of New York". In 1991 she adopted the Madchester sound and had a number 23 with "Walking Down Madison" which was co-written by Johnny Marr. No more Top 40 hits followed and of her 5 Top 40 hits this ones easily the most obscure.

Verdict: Miss

Level 42: You may be thinking "Level 42 had Top 40 hits in the 90s?" They had 4 and got no higher than 17. I remember a comedy show called Early Doors where 2 characters who would of been young adults in the 80s telling a character who would of been a teenager in the 90s about Level 42 and he'd never heard of them. Although I'm a 90s teenager myself I get the point.

Verdict: Miss

U2: They had more Top 40 hits in the 90s than 80s, just. They also had 2 number ones in the 90s but only had 1 in the 80s. I don't think you ever need to look at their chart stats to figure out that they were pretty big in the 90s.

Verdict: Hit

Sharon Redd: Her biggest hit came in the 90s which should in theory make her 90s chart career a hit. However this is more to do with her 80s hits not charting particularly high. Also her solitary 90s hit was her providing vocals for the DNA cover of her Top 40 debut "Can You Handle It". 

Verdict: Miss

Bruce Springsteen: Once again we ask the question can one big hit equate to a successful decade? Bruce Springsteen had his biggest hit in 1994 with "Streets Of Philadelphia" which made number 2. It was his only Top 10 of the 90s but then he only had 3 in the 80s. Couple that with the fact his non-Top 10 90s hits include "Secret Garden" and "Human Touch" which I'd say are better remembered than his cover of "Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town" which was one of his 80s Top 10s I'd say he had a pretty successful decade.

Verdict: Hit

Kim Wilde: All I really remember about Kim Wilde in the 90s was that Chris Evans was a big fan. She did however have 3 Top 40 hits with the biggest one being the final one with her cover of "If I Can't Have You" making number 12. Not sure too many people remember that one.

Verdict: Miss

Lionel Richie: Another one who seemed done after 1986 but had a solitary big hit in the 90s. That big hit was "My Destiny". I remember being surprised when I retrospectively saw it came out in 1992 as I would of had it down as being from the 80s. I have no recollection of his 3 other 90s Top 40 hits. It's a tough one but I don't think that one hit is quite enough.

Verdict: Miss

Echo & The Bunnymen: When I hear the name I think of Chris Evans introducing them on TFI Friday. This was my introduction to them, I wasn't aware of their string of hits in the 80s at the time. "Nothing Lasts Forever" came out in 1997 and was their joint biggest hit. 2 more Top 40 hits followed but didn't have the same impact on the charts. The way they blended in with the other TFI Friday bands at the time makes me inclined to think this was a successful comeback.

Verdict: Hit