80s in the 90s: 1987

Continuing the look at whether 80s acts succeeded in the 90s here's a look at the 1987 debutants:

Public Enemy: They had 4 Top 40 hits in the 80s, all pretty well known but none of them got higher than 18 with "Don't Believe The Hype" reaching that position. In the 90s they had 5 Top 40 hits including 2 number 18s and they fared better with "He Got Game" which made 16. All their 90s Top 40 hit charted higher than their 80s hits that weren't "Don't Believe The Hype". 

Verdict: Hit

Belinda Carlisle: In the 80s Belinda Carlisle clocked up 6 Top 40 hits, 4 made the Top 10 including chart topping debut "Heaven Is A Place On Earth" and the other 2 failed to reach the Top 30. In the 90s she had 13 Top 40 hits but only 3 made the Top 10. This includes "(We Want) The Same Thing" in 1990 which is one of her better known records and enough of a reason to say she succeeded in the 90s.

Verdict: Hit

Wet Wet Wet: It originally looked as though Wet Wet Wet were finished as a chart act by 1989. Although they had Top 40 hits every year in the early 90s they failed to reach the Top 10 with any of their Top 40 hits from 1989s "Broke Away" to 1994s "Cold Cold Heart" with the exception of the 1992 chart topper "Goodnight Girl". Then in 1994 they were number 1 for 15 weeks "Love Is All Around" and they were rarely out of the Top 10 with their hits after that until they broke up in 1997.

Verdict: Hit

Heart: With 6 Top 40 hits in the 80s and 2 in the 90s they're clearly more of an 80s band. However you can't ignore that one of their 90s hits was "All I Wanna Do Is Make Love To You" which was one of their three Top 10s. It came out in March 1990 so was most likely recorded in the 80s and very much sounds like an 80s record. Their other 90s hit was "Will You Be There (In The Morning)" which made 19 in 1993. It goes without saying that wouldn't be enough to consider them a 90s act too and in the case "All I Wanna Do Is Make Love To You" it's more the 90s coming just a little too early.

Verdict: Miss

Rick Astley: He made the Top 10 with all his hits between 1987 and 1989 and they he just disappeared. Then in 1991 a now long haired Rick Astley made a comeback with a more mature sound with the hit "Cry For Help". It too made the Top 10 but this comeback was short lived. One final Top 40 hit "Hopelessly" came in 1993 and that just made number 33.

Verdict: Miss

T'Pau: They were one of my inspirations for doing these posts because of their solitary 90s hit with "Whenever You Need Me" in 1991. An example of a pop act squeezing whatever life they have left from their chart career with one final hit that nobody remembers. 

Verdict: Miss

Def Leppard: They started out in the 70s but they never had a Top 40 hit until 1987. Even then only their debut "Animal" made the Top 10 for them in the 80s. After a 3 year gap they came back in 1992 and reached number 2 with joint biggest hit "Let's Get Rocked". The 2nd time they reached number 2 was in 1995 with "When Love And Hate Collide". They had another 9 Top 40 hits in the 90s but none of them were Top 10s. Their big hits were enough though.

Verdict: Hit

WASP: They had 5 Top 40 hits in the 80s but none of them made the Top 20. Then they had their biggest hit in 1992 with "Chainsaw Charlie (Murders In The New York Morgue)" which made number 17 and then in 1993 came "Sunset And Babylon" which made 38. I think when your biggest hit only makes 17 it's more appropriate to measure in quantity.

Verdict: Miss

Luther Vandross: In the 80s Luther Vandross got no higher than number 13 in the charts with "Never Too Much". 6 of hit 8 Top 40 hits that decade failed to reach the Top 20. In the 90s he managed 2 Top 10s but both were duets, "The Best Things In Life Are Free" with Janet Jackson and "Endless Love" with Mariah Carey. His remaining 8 Top 40 hits of the 90s didn't make much impact with 7 of them charting at 20 and below. I'd say duets aside his 90s record and 80s record are pretty similar.

Verdict: Hit

Christians: They'd had a total of 10 Top 40 hits, 3 of which have "world" in the title and 2 have "word" in it. They topped the charts in 1989 as part of the collective who did "Ferry Cross The Mersey" and that same year they scored their biggest hit on their own with "Harvest For The World". In the 90s they had 2 Top 40 hits, "What's In A Word" which made 33 and "The Bottle" which made 39.

Verdict: Miss

Boy George: He topped the charts with his solo debut "Everything I Own" but never really had much impact on the charts with his other solo singles. In the 90s he had 2 Top 40 hits, "The Crying Game" which made 22 and "More Than Likely" with PM Dawn which made 40. Also he was known more for being a DJ in the 90s than an artist.

Verdict: Miss

Terence Trent D'Arby: He had 4 Top 40 hits in the 80s but did 1 better in the 90s with 5. However his 4 80s ones included his 3 Top 10s and if I asked you to name 4 Terence Trent D'Arby records then his 4 80s ones would probably be it.

Verdict: Miss

Beastie Boys: There was a 7 year gap between their 4 Top 40 hits of 1987 and their comeback Top 40 hit in 1994. That comeback single was the double a-side "Get It Together / Sabotage" which is one of their better known records. Then in 1998 came their biggest hit "Intergalactic". They had a total of 6 Top 40 hits in the 90s.

Verdict: Hit

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

80s in the 90s: 1985

Continuing the look at whether 80s acts succeeded in the 90s here's a look at the 1984 debutants:

Marc Almond: He scored his only number one in 1989 collaborating with Gene Pitney on "Something's Gotten Hold Of My Heart". He also was featured artist on "I Feel Love (medley)" by Bronski Beat which made number 3 in 1985. Aside from that he failed to make the Top 20 with any of his actual solo releases in the 80s. In the 90s he managed to make the Top 20 twice with "Jacky" and "The Days Of Pearly Spencer". I'd say that's enough.

Verdict: Hit

Go West: The only 80s year they had Top 40 hits was 1985 when they had 4 with the biggest being "We Close Our Eyes". In the 90s they also had 4 Top 40 hits and all made the Top 20 whereas 3 of their 80s hits did. However there's no getting around the fact they were widely regarded as a naff 80s band in the 90s and I'd say this overrides the stats.

Verdict: Miss

New Model Army: They had 4 Top 40 hits in the 80s and 3 in the 90s. Just one in each decade made the Top 30 though with their biggest hit coming in 1993 with "Here Comes The War" making number 25. This helped them onto peoples Top 10 bands lists at school. Then they fell off peoples lists because they were too 80s.

Verdict: Miss

A-Ha: They made the Top 10 with 8 of their first 9 Top 40 hits with the last of these coming in 1988. The next and final time we'd see them in the Top 10 would be in 2006. We're talking about the 90s though when they had 3 Top 40 hits and you can see from chart positions that the decline began towards the end of the 80s.

Verdict: Miss

Whitney Houston: Not many people can claim to have a Top 40 hit every year in the 90s but Whitney Houston can. She also had a Christmas number one that stayed at the top of the charts for weeks on end. There are other reasons one would say Whitney Houston was also a 90s chart act but we'll leave it at that.

Verdict: Hit

Pet Shop Boys: All their number ones came in the 80s and you would certainly describe them as more of an 80s act than a 90s one. However with 19 Top 40 hits in the 90s which includes "Go West" they certainly have a case for being a 90s chart act too.

Alexander O'Neal: He had 2 Top 10 hits in the 80s, "Saturday Love" and "Criticize". The others didn't have a huge impact on the charts but he clocked up 10 Top 40 hits that decade. Then in the 90s he had a further 4 Top 40 hits but again none really had much impact on the charts.

Verdict: Miss

Bryan Adams: In 1985 Bryan Adams made his Top 40 debut with "Run To You" which made number 11. A further 3 minor Top 40 hits followed that same year. He then failed to make the Top 40 with any of his singles for the rest of the decade. Then in 1991 he was back and topped the charts for 16 weeks with "(Everything I Do) I Do It For You". That alone is enough to be considered a 90s chart act without mentioning the many other Top 40 hits he had that decade.

Verdict: Hit

The Cult: They never had a Top 10 hit but clocked up 9 Top 40 hits in the 80s with the biggest of these being "Lil' Devil". Then in 1991 they had their solitary Top 40 hit that decade with "Wild Hearted Son" that made number 40. Pretty easy to give my verdict on this one.

Verdict: Miss

Simply Red: They had the biggest selling album in 1991 and 1992 with "Stars". However we're looking at the singles chart and perhaps the most significant thing from that perspective is that they had their only number one in 1995 with "Fairground". They also had more Top 40s and more Top 10s in the 90s than they did in the 80s.

Verdict: Hit

Fine Young Cannibals: Their chart peak came in 1989 with their biggest hits being "She Drives Me Crazy" and "Good Thing". However they didn't appear in the Top 40 in the 90s until 1996 when they reached number 17 with "The Flame". At the time of release singer Roland Gift had left the group and that was that.

Verdict: Miss 

80s in the 90s: 1984

Continuing the look at whether 80s acts succeeded in the 90s here's a look at the 1984 debutants:

Madonna: This is possibly the easiest verdict I have to give. Madonna kicked of the 90s with a number 1, followed by 2 number 2s followed by 3 number 3s. That alone would make for a successful 90s in the charts. She went onto have 27 Top 40 hits that decade, more Top 40 hits than anyone else in the 90s and more Top 40 hits than she had in the 80s.

Verdict: Hit

Billy Idol: A name you would associate with the 80s as a solo artist. His biggest hits came in 1985 with "White Wedding" and "Rebel Yell" both reaching number 6. He clocked up 8 Top 40 hits in the 80s and then had a further 2 in the 90s, "Cradle Of Love" which made 34 in 1990 and "Shock To The System" which made number 30 in 1993. Not really enough to be considered a 90s act too.

Verdict: Miss

ZZ Top: The 90s Top 40 chart record of ZZ Top is almost identical in the 90s to the 80s. Both decades gave them 5 Top 40 hits of which 2 made the Top 20 and 1 made the Top 10. Their Top 10 hits both made number 10, "Gimme All Your Lovin" in the 80s and "Viva Las Vegas" in the 90s. On that basis I'd say they're just as much a 90s band as an 80s one.

Verdict: Hit

George Michael: It could be argued that out of all the people who have left a band and gone solo George Michael has had the most successful solo career from a UK chart perspective. He topped the charts with his first 3 singles and then in the 90s he managed 3 number ones in a row again and had a total of 4 that decade. He had a total of 16 Top 40 hits in the 90s and 11 of them made the Top 5.

Verdict: Hit

Feargal Sharkey: He only just makes the minimum criteria for this list, 4 Top 40 hits in the 80s and a solitary Top 40 hit in the 90s. His 90s Top 40 hit was "I've Got News For You" which made number 12 which was higher than 2 of his 80s hits. However the other 2 80s hits include the chart topper "A Good Heart". He also called it a day as a singer in 1991.

Verdict: Miss

Scritti Politti: Another act who only just makes the minimum criteria for this list. The sole Scritti Politti Top 40 hit in the 90s was "She's A Woman" and was the lowest charting one. It was a collaboration with Shabba Ranks and afterwards came a lengthy hiatus from frontman Green Gartside which last almost the rest of the decade.

Verdict: Miss

Alison Moyet: She only failed to make the Top 10 once from her 7 Top 40 hits of the 80s. In the 90s she failed to reach the Top 10 with either of her hits, "This House" made number 40 and "Whispering Your Name" made number 18.

Verdict: Miss

Cyndi Lauper: It may come as a surprise to hear Cyndi Lauper had more Top 40 hits in the 90s than the 80s. She only had 4 in the 80s, "Girls Just Want To Have Fun", "Time After Time", "True Colors" and "I Drove All Night" which are all pretty well known. The same can't be said for her 7 90s hits with the biggest of these being "Hey Now (Girls Just Want To Have Fun)" which was a remake of her 80s hit and reached number 4. 4 of them charted outside the Top 30 whilst the other 2 failed to reach the Top 10. This is a difficult one but I'd say she just about gets a pass.

Verdict: Hit

Sade: The biggest Sade hit was her debut "Your Love Is King" which made number 6 and was her only Top 10. Her 2nd biggest hit was her only 90s Top 40 hit "No Ordinary Love" which made number 14. I'd say the lower charting 80s ones are better known and I wouldn't say this is enough to be considered a 90s chart act.

Verdict: Miss

Freddie Mercury: As a solo artist Freddie Mercury had 5 Top 40 hits in the 80s and 2 in the 90s. Both of his 90s ones came after he died, "In My Defence" was originally recorded in 1985 and "Living On My Own" was originally released as a single in 1985 but failed to make the Top 40. The latter gave Freddie Mercury his only solo number one. In theory a 90s number one should make you a 90s chart act. but given they were 80s records charting after his death in this case I don't think it does.

Verdict: Miss

80s in the 90s: 1983

Continuing the look at whether 80s acts succeeded in the 90s here's a look at the 1983 debutants:

Eurythmics: Between their Top 40 debut "Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This)" in 1983 and "Sisters Are Doin' It For Themselves" in 1985, Eurythmics only failed to reach the Top 10 once. After this they only reached the Top 10 once again which was with "Thorn In My Side" in 1986. They managed at least 1 Top 40 hit in the remaining years of the 80s but most didn't even make the Top 20. In 1990 they had 2 minor hits in 1990 with "The King And Queen Of America" and "Angel" before they split up. Then they came back in 1999 with "I Saved The World Today" which made number 11.

Verdict: Miss

Tina Turner: Her 80s solo career was a sort of comeback having previously been part of Ike & Tina Turner in the 60s. She had more Top 40 hits in the 90s than 80s though less Top 10s. As an 80s chart act by this definition is one that had at least 4 Top 40 hits that decade, having 4 Top 10s in the 90s which is what Tina Turner had would surely qualify you as a 90s chart act too.

Verdict: Hit

Marillion: In the 90s Marillion managed 3 Top 40 hits that peaked at number 34. Some may be surprised to learn they even had 3 Top 40 hits that decade but they actually had 7. Just "Sympathy" was a Top 20 and none were Top 10. It's however worth noting that 8 of their 12 Top 40 hits in the 80s also failed to reach the Top 20. However they did have 3 Top 10s which are the ones people remember, their 90s hits not so much.

Verdict: Miss

Paul Young: His biggest 90s hit was "Senza Una Donna (Without A Woman)" but that was as a featured singer on a Zucchero record so doesn't really count. Taking that record out of the equation all his Top 40 hits up to "Every Time You Go Away" in 1985 made the Top 10 and every Top 40 hit after didn't. He did manage 6 Top 40 hits in the 90s on his own but all of them were minor.

Verdict: Miss

Prince: He was still releasing new music and had a huge following right up to his death in 2016. From a UK charts perspective though his last original Top 40 hit came in 1997 with "The Holy River". He did however manage at least one Top 40 hit between 1983 and 1997. The 90s was when we got the New Power Generation backing him and he changed his name to a symbol. It was also the decade where he scored his only number one plus several other big hits. There's no doubt he was just as much a 90s chart act as he was an 80s one.

Verdict: Hit

Aztec Camera: Best known for the 1988 hit "Somewhere In My Heart" I would say their solitary 90s Top 40 hit "Good Morning Britain" is their 2nd best known. The question is should a number 19 in 1990 that featured another artist, in this case Mick Jones, qualify you as a 90s chart act? Doesn't really seem enough.

Verdict: Miss

Big Country: When you hear the name Big Country the 80s springs to mind to the point you wouldn't expect them to have any Top 40 hits in the 90s. They managed 3 though but the highest they managed out of those was 24. 

Verdict: Miss

Nick Heyward: He started out as singer with Haircut 100 who managed 4 Top 40 hits. He 1 better as a solo artist in the 80s with 5 Top 40 hits to his name spread across 1983 and 1984. Then he had one more Top 40 hit in 1996 with the number 37 "Rollerblade" which was his attempt at jumping on the Britpop bandwagon.

Verdict: Miss

80s in the 90s: 1982

Continuing the look at whether 80s acts succeeded in the 90s here's a look at the 1982 debutants:

Adam Ant: Adams & the Ants were huge in 1981 but they abruptly came to an end in 1982. As a result Adam Ant topped the charts with his debut solo single "Goody Two Shoes" that same year. By 1984 his solo career seemed to fizzle out but then in 1990 he returned to the Top 40 with "Room At The Top" which made number 13. Then 5 years later came his final Top 40 hit to date "Wonderful" which made 32. Not really much of a 90s chart career then.

Verdict: Miss

Tears For Fears: In 1989 Tears For Fears topped the albums chart with their "Seeds Of Love" album. The final Top 40 hit from that album "Advice For The Young At Heart" came out in early 1990 and only made number 36. Then in 1991 Curt Smith left and it effectively became a Roland Orzabal solo project under the Tears For Fears Name. 3 further Top 40 hits came in the 90s and the highest charting of these "Laid So Low (Tears Roll Down)" reached number 17.

Verdict: Miss

Bananarama: They made the Top 10 with their first 6 Top 40 hits. Then came a blip but then they were given a new lease of life by hooking up with Stock, Aitken & Waterman. Siobhan Fahey left and Jacquie O'Sullivan but that appeared to do no harm as they had their joint highest charting single in 1989 with "Help". Their first single of the 90s "Only Your Love" only made 27, follow up "Preacher Man" made 20 and was their highest charting single of the decade and then "Long Train Running" made 30. Then Jacquie O'Sullivan left and they became a duo and they released the singles "Movin' On" and "More More More" which both made number 24. The latter came in 1993 and that's the last we'd see of them in the Top 40 until 2005.

Verdict: Miss

Yazoo: This is a good example of why chart longevity isn't as simple as time between first and last hits or even setting a certain criteria. Yazoo have done the bare minimum required to make this list, 4 Top 40 hits in the 80s and a solitary Top 40 hit in the 90s. That solitary Top 40 hit "Situation" was the b-side of debut single "Only You" so was 8 years old by the time it charted. The fact is Yazoo only existed for 18 months and they never even attempted to be a successful 90s chart act.

Verdict: Miss

Simple Minds: No doubt there are people who only know Simple Minds for "Don't You (Forget About Me)". Many people would know them for several records though. Their only number one "Belfast Child" probably isn't one of them. On the other hand "New Gold Dream (81/82/83/84)" and "Theme for Great Cities" are pretty well known but neither were hits. The point is they're a band whose popularity you can't really measure by chart positions. They had 8 Top 40 hits in the 90s, 4 of which came in 1991 and despite the high chart placing of the first of these "Let There Be Love" I don't think it's that well known. One I'd say is was 1995 single "She's A River". All things considered I'd say they were successful in the 90s charts.

Verdict: Hit

Midge Ure: He's had chart success with multiple groups most notably Ultravox. All bar one of his solo Top 40 hits came before the final original Ultravox Top 40 hit with the biggest being chart topper "If I Was". That one solo Top 40 hit was his final one in 1991 with "Cold Cold Heart" which made number 17. Only 2 of his 80s Top 40 hits charted higher but that really means despite the string of hits his solo career was really about 1 song.

Verdict: Miss

Culture Club: They were one of the biggest pop acts of the early 80s and then in 1987 came Boy George's briefly successful solo career. By the 90s though he was better known for being a DJ than a singer. Then in 1998 Culture Club reunited and reached number 4 with "I Just Wanna Be Loved". This wasn't an 80s group still being relevant in the 90s though, it was nostalgia for an 80s group. The album that followed flopped and their final Top 40 hit "Your Kisses Are Charity" only made 24.

Verdict: Miss

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

80s in the 90s: 1980

In a Bee Gees documentary I once watched one of the members made a point that once a decade ends it's out with the old and in with the new in music terms i.e. if you were a successful music act in that decade you're old hat in the new one. He was referring to the Bee Gees dwindling popularly as the 70s began but in the end they had a pretty successful 70s.

It got me thinking about how 80s chart acts fared in the 90s. The 80s became uncool very early on in the 90s though there were certainly music acts who still had their credibility and chart success in the 90s and beyond.

To determine who was a hit or miss in the 90s I've come up with some rules. As this is based on the Top 40 it goes without saying each act I look at has to have Top 40 hits in both the 80s and 90s. Another rule is they need to have made their Top 40 debut in the 80s. Finally to qualify as an authentic 80s chart act you need to have at least 4 Top 40 hits in the 80s. If you made your Top 40 debut in December 1989 and then had a string of hits in the 90s then the 90s was your time really.

Determining whether they were a hit or miss in the 90s is based on the facts and not my opinions. 

I'm going to do these posts year by year beginning with 1980 so here goes:

Shakin Stevens: It could be argued that Shakin Stevens was already old hat when he made his Top 40 debut in 1980 given the 50s style music he was making. Chart wise though he managed to have a Top 40 hit every year in the 80s which included 4 number ones. However after he topped the charts in 1985 with "Merry Christmas Everyone" his Top 40 career was in decline with just 1 more Top 10 to his name. In the 90s he had 4 Top 40 hits. His biggest was "I Might" which reached 18 in 1990 followed by a long forgotten Christmas record the same year, another in 1991 and his final one of the decade was a collaboration with Roger Taylor in 1992 with "Radio" which just creeped into the Top 40 at 37. 

Verdict: Miss

Whitesnake: Although they debuted in 1980 their glory days from a chart perspective came in 1987 when they reach number 9 with both "Is This Love" and "Here I Go Again 87" which were their only Top 10s. Their 2 Top 40 hits in 1990, "The Deeper The Love" and "Now You're Gone" didn't reach the Top 30. All that remained for them in the 90s was a re-issue of "Is This Love" as a double a-side with "Sweet Lady Luck" in 1994 which made number 25.

Verdict: Miss

UB40: Like Shakin Stevens they had a Top 40 hit every year in the 80s and their music didn't exactly have that 80s sound. Whilst Shakin Stevens sound was very much 50s, UB40s sound could be any decade really and that perhaps helped them succeed in the 90s. They topped the charts in 1993 with "(I Can't Help) Falling In Love With You" and had a further 4 Top 10 hits. Several more made the lower reaches but that happened in the 80s too,

Verdict: Hit

The Cure: They're one of those bands whose chart positions don't exactly reflect the popularity of them. For example "Boys Don't Cry" only made number 22 in 1985. They finished the 80s with 13 Top 40 hits to their name with just 2 making the Top 10. They doubled their number of Top 10s in 1992 alone with "High" and "Friday I'm In Love" and that alone is a reason to say they did fare well in the 90s.

Verdict: Hit

Iron Maiden: Ask someone to name an Iron Maiden song and there is a good chance they'll say "Bring Your Daughter... To The Slaughter". That charted in 1991 and became their only chart topper thanks in part to them playing the system. They also reached number 2 with follow up "Be Quick Or Be Dead" and number 3 with prior hit "Holy Smoke" in 1990. Even the not so fondly remembered Blaze Bayley era gave them a Top 10 with "Man On The Edge".

Verdict: Hit

Robert Palmer: Although he debuted in 1980 his 3rd hit and first Top 10 didn't come until 1986 with his biggest hit "Addicted To Love". He finished the decade with 6 Top 40s of which 3 were Top 10s. In the 90s he had 4 Top 40 hits with 2 Top 10s, "I'll Be Your Baby Tonight" with UB40 and "Mercy Mercy Me - I Want You" which peaked at 6 and 9 respectively, the same numbers his other Top 40s of the 80s made. 

Verdict: Hit

Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark: They had a Top 40 hit every year between 1980 and 1986 and then nothing for the rest of the decade. However in 1991 they were back with the number 3 hit "Sailing On The Seven Seas" which became their joint highest charting single along with "Souvenir". Another Top 10 followed with "Pandora's Box". Their final 3 hits failed to make the Top 10 and they were finished Top 40 wise after 1996. This presents me with a dilemma, should a brief but successful comeback count as success in the 90s? Not always but in this instance as they managed their joint biggest hit and 2 Top 10s I'll give them a pass.

Verdict: Hit