I used to automatically classify them as a late '80s-esque band, but I've sorta changed my mind after thinking about it a bit. I think they share more in common with the introspective female Lilith Fair-esque singer-songwriters or, say Amanda Marshall or other early-mid '90s AC than they do with synthpop. The only thing really tying their music to the Eighties is the layered, keyboard production sound and a sorta "innocent" feel, but the big picture was '90s. Even their videos were more basic and stripped-down.

While 1990 was closer to 1987 than to 1993 in most respects of pop culture, they were more a sign of what was to come, even if they weren't around for long themselves.

Wilson Phillips were one of the defining acts of 1990 as a year for me. Hold On was the big summer hit and what a memorable summer that was. I'd say WP were just that - early 90s contemporary music. I always think of them as the female version of Michael Bolton - that sort of music.

Their superior 2nd album "Shadows & Light" remains in my top 50 albums of all time!

I always associate them and their music with the very early 90's.

What does AC stand for?

What does AC stand for?


I think he's using it to mean adult contemporary music but I wouldn't swear to that.

I'm actually watching "Hold On" now...and I agree with your assessment that it's a precursor to '90s AC. Something about "nature imagery" is very '90s and the video (beaches, mountains) nails that on the head, along with the evocation of a more nature-centered lifestyle in fashion and pop culture in general. The layered keyboard production that you mentioned and vocal style are more akin to the late '80s, though, along with that trademark one-off electric guitar riff towards the end of "Hold On" that just SCREAMS late 1986-mid 1991.

Was it you who said every decade seems to have an A/C performer or two at its beginning who has one huge album and a big single or two then disappears?

I'm actually watching "Hold On" now...and I agree with your assessment that it's a precursor to '90s AC. Something about "nature imagery" is very '90s and the video (beaches, mountains) nails that on the head, along with the evocation of a more nature-centered lifestyle in fashion and pop culture in general. The layered keyboard production that you mentioned and vocal style are more akin to the late '80s, though, along with that trademark one-off electric guitar riff towards the end of "Hold On" that just SCREAMS late 1986-mid 1991.

Was it you who said every decade seems to have an A/C performer or two at its beginning who has one huge album and a big single or two then disappears?


Yeah, I thought about that too - the power balladesque, soft rock guitar solo is very late '80s. All their hit singles have it too.

As for the comment: I can't remember now, lol, although I may have said that. It makes sense. Christopher Cross was the Wilson Philips of 1980, albeit in a reverse way. He had a very '70s singer songwriter imagery with hints of the highly produced keyboard sound. Maybe those two artists were actually the bookends for the Eighties AC style?

I do remember in interviews from the time, that people were talking about them as something new. I think it was something (for 1990) "modern" that used a few familar sounds.

Yeah, I thought about that too - the power balladesque, soft rock guitar solo is very late '80s. All their hit singles have it too.

As for the comment: I can't remember now, lol, although I may have said that. It makes sense. Christopher Cross was the Wilson Philips of 1980, albeit in a reverse way. He had a very '70s singer songwriter imagery with hints of the highly produced keyboard sound. Maybe those two artists were actually the bookends for the Eighties AC style?

I think Vanessa Carlton, Michelle Branch, or Maroon 5 could be the 00's version of 80's Christopher Cross or 90's Wilson Philips. I mean Vanessa Carlton, and Michelle Branch didn;t sound like 2003 at all or like 2000 either. Maroon 5  of 2003 didn;t sound like 2005 at all but they didn;t sound 2001 either. All three artists did gave us a precursor to what was coming with the A/C pop sound like an artist like James Blunt ir Gavin DeGraw, or even a 2006 a/c pop influenced Nick Lachey.

I ciuld have bunched an artist like the Norah Jones of 2002 in with the Maroon 5, Vanessa Carlton, and Michelle Branch but Norah Jones is still selling alot of records while those 3 artists haven;t done anything since 2004 like Maroon 5 or 2002 I think with Michelle Branch. Maybe Vanessa Carlton had a hit in 2003 I don;t know though but she was mostly a 2002 artist as I recall I think..

I think Vanessa Carlton, Michelle Branch, or Maroon 5 could be the 00's version of 80's Christopher Cross or 90's Wilson Philips. I mean Vanessa Carlton, and Michelle Branch didn;t sound like 2003 at all or like 2000 either. Maroon 5  of 2003 didn;t sound like 2005 at all but they didn;t sound 2001 either. All three artists did gave us a precursor to what was coming with the A/C pop sound like an artist like James Blunt ir Gavin DeGraw, or even a 2006 a/c pop influenced Nick Lachey.

I ciuld have bunched an artist like the Norah Jones of 2002 in with the Maroon 5, Vanessa Carlton, and Michelle Branch but Norah Jones is still selling alot of records while those 3 artists haven;t done anything since 2004 like Maroon 5 or 2002 I think with Michelle Branch. Maybe Vanessa Carlton had a hit in 2003 I don;t know though but she was mostly a 2002 artist as I recall I think..


Maroon 5 is just in between albums, they'll be back this year I believe. It's common nowadays to take 3-4 years before coming out with a new album it seems.

I think Vanessa Carlton, Michelle Branch, or Maroon 5 could be the 00's version of 80's Christopher Cross or 90's Wilson Philips. I mean Vanessa Carlton, and Michelle Branch didn;t sound like 2003 at all or like 2000 either. Maroon 5  of 2003 didn;t sound like 2005 at all but they didn;t sound 2001 either. All three artists did gave us a precursor to what was coming with the A/C pop sound like an artist like James Blunt ir Gavin DeGraw, or even a 2006 a/c pop influenced Nick Lachey.

I ciuld have bunched an artist like the Norah Jones of 2002 in with the Maroon 5, Vanessa Carlton, and Michelle Branch but Norah Jones is still selling alot of records while those 3 artists haven;t done anything since 2004 like Maroon 5 or 2002 I think with Michelle Branch. Maybe Vanessa Carlton had a hit in 2003 I don;t know though but she was mostly a 2002 artist as I recall I think..


Michelle Branch is half of successful duo The Wreckers who had a hit with "Leave the Pieces." Branch was also featured on Santana's "I'm Feeling You," which I remember hearing on the radio fairly often despite it not charting particularly well.

Just for the heck of it, here's all the hits Wilson Philips had in their heyday before originally splitting up ...

Wilson Phillips (1990)
1990 - Hold On
1990 - Release Me
1990 - Impulsive
1991 - You're in Love
1991 - The Dream is Still Alive

Two Rooms - Celebrating the Songs of Elton John and Bernie Taupin (1991)
1992 - Daniel

Shadows and Light (1992)
1992 - You Won't See Me Cry
1992 - Give it Up
1993 - Flesh and Blood