Was it the football World Cup which had us all on the edge of our seats? Was it the hit TV shows such as Cheers, Quantum Leap and The Golden Girls?
Or was it something closer to home, such as these 11 South Tyneside scenes which we found in the Shields Gazette archives.
There was the Hedwortfield Primary School pupils who came up with an anti-smoking rap and the coffee-loving students at Mortimer Comprehensive.
You might remember the Woolworths staff who raffled a Teddy Bear for Valentine’s Day or the four-year-old trying his hand at being a Roman solider at Arbeia.
We have all this and more from 1990. Take a look.
9. A special birthday at the De La Salle
South Shields youth club, the De La Salle celebrated its 21st birthday in 1990. Here are some of the members pictured in St Oswald's Church hall during the celebrations. Photo: Shields Gazette
10. A karate club line-up
Back to December 1990 and the South Shields Kodokwa Karate Club was in the spotlight. Is there someone you know in this photo? Photo: Shields Gazette
11. Time for some face painting
Kate Irvine of Whitburn Junior Mixed and Infants School was the target of amateur artists, Catherine Nicholson and Sarah Baxter, in June 1990. Can you remember this? Photo: Shields Gazette
12. Share your own 1990 memories
It was quite a year but what do you remember about 1990? Tell us more by emailing [email protected] Photo: sg