Named after a Star Trek character, T’Pau had a huge hit in 1987 with “Heart and Soul” (off their debut album, “Bridge of Spies”) While none of their other singles were successful in the US, internationally they had top 40 success with two other songs from that album, “China In Your Hand” and “Valentine.” They […]
Tag Archives: 80’s
Simple Minds
In America at least, Simple Minds will probably forever be most identified with “Don’t You (Forget About Me),” but they also had quite a few hits before and after that song (“Waterfront,” “Promised You a Miracle,” “Alive and Kicking,” etc). Though their line-up has changed and there have been gaps between new albums, Simple Minds […]
Real Life
Australia’s Real Life had a huge synth pop hit with “Send Me An Angel” and are also known for tracks such as “Catch Me I’m Falling” and “God Tonight.” Problems with their record label led to a period of inactivity in the early/mid 1990’s, but in 1997 Real Life returned with the album “Happy,” and […]
Information Society
Information Society are best known for their freestyle hit “Running” and the synth pop classic “What’s on Your Mind (Pure Energy).” The third album, “Peace And Love, Inc” (1992) would prove to be their last with their original core line-up for over 20 years. Frontman Kurt Harland continued with the Information Society name for 1997’s […]
Spandau Ballet
While Spandau Ballet are most remembered for the pop-ballad “True,” they have also had some great up-tempo songs like “Chant No. 1,” “Instinction” and “To Cut a Long Story Short.” They were very much associated with the ‘new romantic’ style of the early 80’s, with much in common musically with acts such as ABC and […]
Men Without Hats
Canadian band Men Without Hats had a huge hit with “The Safety Dance” (off their 1982 “Rhythm of Youth” album), but they were never able to match that success. Only “Pop Goes the World” (1987) made any kind of further chart impact. The group initially disbanded in 1991 after failing to find a US label […]
Thomas Dolby
Thomas Dolby is one of many artists whose initial success was closely tied to the rise of the music video in the early 80’s. In fact, the video for his hit “She Blinded Me With Science” was actually conceived before the song. “I begged my record company to give me the budget to make a […]
Big Country
Big Country had several hits off their 1983 debut album “The Crossing,” most notably the song “In a Big Country.” While the group continued to be successful in the UK, by the 1990’s they had trouble maintaining their popularity in America. In late 2001, singer Stuart Adamson hung himself, leaving the future of Big Country […]
Bow Wow Wow
Bow Wow Wow began in 1980 when the infamous Malcolm McLaren convinced 3/4 of Adam and the Ants to leave Adam and start a new band. With the additional of vocalist Annabella Lwin, the group went on to such hits as “I Want Candy” and “Do You Wanna Hold me?”