Whether they had big hits, or small hits, maybe even no hits, the 80s was full of bands and singers who had their "15 minutes of fame" or maybe a small run of hits before calling it quits.  What are some of your favourites?


I will start with a Scottish band called H2O.  They had 2 UK Top 40 hits in 1983 with I Dream to Sleep and Just Outside of Heaven, then released their only album, Faith, in 1984.  They had no success in the US or Canada, but I learned about them thanks to the internet and my ongoing research into what the hits were in other countries.  I found I Dream to Sleep on 45 vinyl record many years ago and it's become one of my most favourite songs.  I wish this had been a hit on this side of the pond.  I listen to this one a lot!

YlKQCOucR0A

Here is another British band called Wavelength, who also went unknown in the US/Canada.  They released their only album titled Hurry Home in 1982, which produced 4 singles, the only of which charted was the title track which peaked at UK #17.  This is another group I learned about in my on going search for what the hits were in other countries and it's songs like these why I do that.  I have this one on 45 vinyl record and it's such a soothing song.  I really enjoy this one quite much!

dza9d5BNulU

Here is one more for now, another band from Scotland called Orange Juice, and once again, no success in the US or Canada.  From 1982-1984, they released 3 albums and charted 9 singles into the UK Top 75, the only one to reach the top 40 being the very catchy Rip It Up in 1983.  Despite no success over here, I hear this song quite often on the musak whenever I go to my local Value Village thrift store. 

The lead singer of this band is Edwyn Collins, who in 1995, had a world-wide hit as a solo artist with the song A Girl Like You, and many people who love that song, may not know that he started out in this band.  Rip It Up is such a catchy song!

UzPh89tD5pA