List of Hot Country Singles number ones of 1988 explained

Hot Country Songs is a chart that ranks the top-performing country music songs in the United States, published by Billboard magazine. In 1988, 49 different songs topped the chart, then published under the title Hot Country Singles, in 53 issues of the magazine, based on playlists submitted by country music radio stations and sales reports submitted by stores.[1]

Only four songs spent more than a single week at number one in 1988: "Eighteen Wheels and a Dozen Roses" by Kathy Mattea, "I Told You So" by Randy Travis, "I'll Leave This World Loving You" by Ricky Van Shelton and "When You Say Nothing at All" by Keith Whitley. Travis and Shelton each scored two other number ones during the year to give them a total of four weeks in the top spot. This figure was matched by Rosanne Cash, who achieved three solo number ones and one in collaboration with her then-husband Rodney Crowell,[2] making her the only artist to take four different songs to number one in 1988. Highway 101, Restless Heart, George Strait and Tanya Tucker each topped the chart with three different songs.

Artists to achieve their first chart-topper in 1988 included Dwight Yoakam, who reached number one with "Streets of Bakersfield",[3] performed as a duet with Buck Owens, who had himself had a hit with the song fifteen years earlier.[4] The song marked the veteran singer's first appearance at number one since 1972.[5] The Desert Rose Band achieved the first of its two number ones with "He's Back and I'm Blue",[6] and Paul Overstreet made his first appearance at number one when he collaborated with Tanya Tucker and Paul Davis on "I Won't Take Less Than Your Love".[7] Overstreet achieved intermittent success as a singer but is better known as a songwriter, having written hit songs for many artists.[8] At the other end of the scale, Merle Haggard topped the chart for the 38th and final time with "Twinkle, Twinkle Lucky Star". At the time of Haggard's death in 2016, only Conway Twitty (40) and George Strait (44) had taken more songs to the top of the Hot Country chart since Billboard began compiling sales and airplay into a single listing in 1958.[9] Whitley's "When You Say Nothing at All" was the final number one of the year. Whitley was at the peak of his commercial success at the time, but would die less than six months later, on May 9, 1989.[10] [11]

Chart history

scope=colIssue datescope=colTitlescope=colArtist(s)scope=col class=unsortable
scope=row"Somewhere Tonight"Highway 101[12]
scope=row"I Can't Get Close Enough"Exile[13]
scope=row"One Friend"[14]
scope=row"Where Do the Nights Go"[15]
scope=row"Goin' Gone"[16]
scope=row"Wheels"Restless Heart[17]
scope=row"Tennessee Flat Top Box"[18]
scope=row"Twinkle, Twinkle Lucky Star"[19]
scope=row"I Won't Take Less Than Your Love" with Paul Davis and Paul Overstreet[20]
scope=row"Face to Face"Alabama[21]
scope=row"Too Gone Too Long"[22]
scope=row"Life Turned Her That Way"[23]
scope=row"Turn It Loose"[24]
scope=row"Love Will Find Its Way to You"[25]
scope=row"Famous Last Words of a Fool"[26]
scope=row"I Wanna Dance with You"[27]
scope=row"I'll Always Come Back"[28]
scope=row"It's Such a Small World" and Rosanne Cash[29]
scope=row"Cry, Cry, Cry"Highway 101[30]
scope=row"I'm Gonna Get You"[31]
scope=row"Eighteen Wheels and a Dozen Roses"[32]
scope=row[33]
scope=row"What She Is (Is a Woman in Love)"[34]
scope=row"I Told You So"[35]
scope=row[36]
scope=row"He's Back and I'm Blue"[37]
scope=row"If It Don't Come Easy"[38]
scope=row"Fallin' Again"Alabama[39]
scope=row"If You Change Your Mind"[40]
scope=row"Set 'Em Up Joe"[41]
scope=row"Don't We All Have the Right"[42]
scope=row"Baby Blue"[43]
scope=row"Don't Close Your Eyes"[44]
scope=row"Bluest Eyes in Texas"Restless Heart[45]
scope=row""[46]
scope=row"I Couldn't Leave You If I Tried"[47]
scope=row""Highway 101[48]
scope=row"Joe Knows How to Live"[49]
scope=row"Addicted"[50]
scope=row"We Believe in Happy Endings" with Emmylou Harris[51]
scope=row"Honky Tonk Moon"[52]
scope=row"Streets of Bakersfield" & Buck Owens[53]
scope=row"Strong Enough to Bend"[54]
scope=row"Gonna Take a Lot of River"[55]
scope=row"Darlene"[56]
scope=row"Runaway Train"[57]
scope=row"I'll Leave This World Loving You"[58]
scope=row[59]
scope=row"I Know How He Feels"[60]
scope=row"If You Ain't Lovin' (You Ain't Livin')"[61]
scope=row""Restless Heart[62]
scope=row"When You Say Nothing at All"[63]
scope=row[64]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Book: Whitburn, Joel. Joel Whitburn

    . Joel Whitburn's Top Country Songs: 1944-2005. ix. Joel Whitburn. Record Research. 2005. 9780898201659.

  2. Web site: Country Marriages, From "Golden Rings" to "D-I-V-O-R-C-E". Samantha. Rudnick. CMT. February 13, 2004. February 12, 2018. February 13, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180213195114/http://www.cmt.com/news/1485066/country-marriages-from-golden-rings-to-d-i-v-o-r-c-e/. dead.
  3. Web site: Dwight Yoakam Biography & History. AllMusic. February 12, 2018. Stephen Thomas. Erlewine. February 13, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180213080422/https://www.allmusic.com/artist/dwight-yoakam-mn0000791483/biography. live.
  4. Web site: The 10 essential Buck Owens recordings. The Bakersfield Californian. Scott B.. Bomar. March 25, 2016. February 12, 2018. February 13, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180213081632/http://www.bakersfield.com/entertainment/the-essential-buck-owens-recordings/article_d355eafb-7923-580f-9e7b-3c64e2b7ed4c.html. live.
  5. Buck Owens Chart History. Billboard. July 7, 2019. April 25, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230425043449/https://www.billboard.com/artist/buck-owens/chart-history/csi/. live.
  6. Web site: Desert Rose Band Biography & History. AllMusic. February 12, 2018. Steve. Huey. February 13, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180213080434/https://www.allmusic.com/artist/desert-rose-band-mn0000206529/biography. live.
  7. Paul Overstreet Chart History. Billboard. February 12, 2018. November 17, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211117205232/https://www.billboard.com/artist/paul-overstreet/chart-history/csi/. live.
  8. Web site: Paul Overstreet Biography & History. AllMusic. June 24, 2019. Stephen Thomas. Erlewine. June 24, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190624073604/https://www.allmusic.com/artist/paul-overstreet-mn0000749273/biography. live.
  9. Merle Haggard Notched 38 No. 1s on Billboard's Hot Country Songs Chart. Billboard. Gary. Trust. April 6, 2016. February 12, 2018. May 18, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180518112121/https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/7325446/merle-haggard-chart-history-hot-country-songs. live.
  10. Book: Dicaire, David. The New Generation of Country Music Stars: Biographies of 50 Artists Born After 1940. 25. 2008. McFarland. 9780786485598.
  11. Web site: Keith Whitley Biography & History. AllMusic. June 15, 2019. Stephen Thomas. Erlewine. June 24, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190624073333/https://www.allmusic.com/artist/keith-whitley-mn0000081561/biography. live.
  12. Hot Country Singles chart for January 2, 1988. Billboard. February 6, 2018. November 4, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20151104085348/http://www.billboard.com/charts/country-songs/1988-01-02. live.
  13. Hot Country Singles chart for January 9, 1988. Billboard. February 6, 2018. March 31, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180331100451/https://www.billboard.com/charts/country-songs/1988-01-09. live.
  14. Hot Country Singles chart for January 16, 1988. Billboard. February 6, 2018. March 29, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180329055723/https://www.billboard.com/charts/country-songs/1988-01-16. live.
  15. Hot Country Singles chart for January 23, 1988. Billboard. February 6, 2018. March 29, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180329055729/https://www.billboard.com/charts/country-songs/1988-01-23. live.
  16. Hot Country Singles chart for January 30, 1988. Billboard. February 6, 2018. March 29, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180329055740/https://www.billboard.com/charts/country-songs/1988-01-30. live.
  17. Hot Country Singles chart for February 6, 1988. Billboard. February 6, 2018. March 31, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180331100454/https://www.billboard.com/charts/country-songs/1988-02-06. live.
  18. Hot Country Singles chart for February 13, 1988. Billboard. February 6, 2018. March 31, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180331100457/https://www.billboard.com/charts/country-songs/1988-02-13. live.
  19. Hot Country Singles chart for February 20, 1988. Billboard. February 6, 2018. March 29, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180329055756/https://www.billboard.com/charts/country-songs/1988-02-20. live.
  20. Hot Country Singles chart for February 27, 1988. Billboard. February 11, 2018. March 29, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180329055801/https://www.billboard.com/charts/country-songs/1988-02-27. live.
  21. Hot Country Singles chart for March 5, 1988. Billboard. February 11, 2018. April 1, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180401100401/https://www.billboard.com/charts/country-songs/1988-03-05. live.
  22. Hot Country Singles chart for March 12, 1988. Billboard. February 11, 2018. March 29, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180329055813/https://www.billboard.com/charts/country-songs/1988-03-12. live.
  23. Hot Country Singles chart for March 19, 1988. Billboard. February 11, 2018. March 29, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180329055818/https://www.billboard.com/charts/country-songs/1988-03-19. live.
  24. Hot Country Singles chart for March 26, 1988. Billboard. February 11, 2018. March 29, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180329055823/https://www.billboard.com/charts/country-songs/1988-03-26. live.
  25. Hot Country Singles chart for April 2, 1988. Billboard. February 11, 2018. March 29, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180329055828/https://www.billboard.com/charts/country-songs/1988-04-02. live.
  26. Hot Country Singles chart for April 9, 1988. Billboard. February 11, 2018. March 29, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180329055833/https://www.billboard.com/charts/country-songs/1988-04-09. live.
  27. Hot Country Singles chart for April 16, 1988. Billboard. February 11, 2018. March 29, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180329055839/https://www.billboard.com/charts/country-songs/1988-04-16. live.
  28. Hot Country Singles chart for April 23, 1988. Billboard. February 11, 2018. March 31, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180331100506/https://www.billboard.com/charts/country-songs/1988-04-23. live.
  29. Hot Country Singles chart for April 30, 1988. Billboard. February 11, 2018. March 29, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180329055849/https://www.billboard.com/charts/country-songs/1988-04-30. live.
  30. Hot Country Singles chart for May 7, 1988. Billboard. February 12, 2018. March 29, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180329055854/https://www.billboard.com/charts/country-songs/1988-05-07. live.
  31. Hot Country Singles chart for May 14, 1988. Billboard. February 12, 2018. March 29, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180329055859/https://www.billboard.com/charts/country-songs/1988-05-14. live.
  32. Hot Country Singles chart for May 21, 1988. Billboard. February 12, 2018. March 29, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180329055905/https://www.billboard.com/charts/country-songs/1988-05-21. live.
  33. Hot Country Singles chart for May 28, 1988. Billboard. February 12, 2018. March 29, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180329055909/https://www.billboard.com/charts/country-songs/1988-05-28. live.
  34. Hot Country Singles chart for June 4, 1988. Billboard. February 12, 2018. March 29, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180329055912/https://www.billboard.com/charts/country-songs/1988-06-04. live.
  35. Hot Country Singles chart for June 11, 1988. Billboard. February 12, 2018. March 29, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180329055916/https://www.billboard.com/charts/country-songs/1988-06-11. live.
  36. Hot Country Singles chart for June 18, 1988. Billboard. February 12, 2018. March 29, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180329055921/https://www.billboard.com/charts/country-songs/1988-06-18. live.
  37. Hot Country Singles chart for June 25, 1988. Billboard. February 12, 2018. March 29, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180329055925/https://www.billboard.com/charts/country-songs/1988-06-25. live.
  38. Hot Country Singles chart for July 2, 1988. Billboard. February 12, 2018. March 31, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180331100508/https://www.billboard.com/charts/country-songs/1988-07-02. live.
  39. Hot Country Singles chart for July 9, 1988. Billboard. February 12, 2018. March 31, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180331100511/https://www.billboard.com/charts/country-songs/1988-07-09. live.
  40. Hot Country Singles chart for July 16, 1988. Billboard. February 12, 2018. March 29, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180329055942/https://www.billboard.com/charts/country-songs/1988-07-16. live.
  41. Hot Country Singles chart for July 23, 1988. Billboard. February 12, 2018. March 31, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180331100513/https://www.billboard.com/charts/country-songs/1988-07-23. live.
  42. Hot Country Singles chart for July 30, 1988. Billboard. February 12, 2018. March 31, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180331100522/https://www.billboard.com/charts/country-songs/1988-07-30. live.
  43. Hot Country Singles chart for August 6, 1988. Billboard. February 12, 2018. March 29, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180329060000/https://www.billboard.com/charts/country-songs/1988-08-06. live.
  44. Hot Country Singles chart for August 13, 1988. Billboard. February 12, 2018. March 29, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180329060006/https://www.billboard.com/charts/country-songs/1988-08-13. live.
  45. Hot Country Singles chart for August 20, 1988. Billboard. February 12, 2018. March 27, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180327210955/https://www.billboard.com/charts/country-songs/1988-08-20. live.
  46. Hot Country Singles chart for August 27, 1988. Billboard. February 12, 2018. March 29, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180329060009/https://www.billboard.com/charts/country-songs/1988-08-27. live.
  47. Hot Country Singles chart for September 3, 1988. Billboard. February 12, 2018. March 29, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180329060015/https://www.billboard.com/charts/country-songs/1988-09-03. live.
  48. Hot Country Singles chart for September 10, 1988. Billboard. February 12, 2018. March 29, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180329060021/https://www.billboard.com/charts/country-songs/1988-09-10. live.
  49. Hot Country Singles chart for September 17, 1988. Billboard. February 12, 2018. March 29, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180329060025/https://www.billboard.com/charts/country-songs/1988-09-17. live.
  50. Hot Country Singles chart for September 24, 1988. Billboard. February 12, 2018. March 29, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180329060027/https://www.billboard.com/charts/country-songs/1988-09-24. live.
  51. Hot Country Singles chart for October 1, 1988. Billboard. February 12, 2018. March 31, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180331100525/https://www.billboard.com/charts/country-songs/1988-10-01. live.
  52. Hot Country Singles chart for October 8, 1988. Billboard. February 12, 2018. March 29, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180329060038/https://www.billboard.com/charts/country-songs/1988-10-08. live.
  53. Hot Country Singles chart for October 15, 1988. Billboard. February 12, 2018. March 29, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180329060042/https://www.billboard.com/charts/country-songs/1988-10-15. live.
  54. Hot Country Singles chart for October 22, 1988. Billboard. February 12, 2018. March 31, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180331100529/https://www.billboard.com/charts/country-songs/1988-10-22. live.
  55. Hot Country Singles chart for October 29, 1988. Billboard. February 12, 2018. March 29, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180329060053/https://www.billboard.com/charts/country-songs/1988-10-29. live.
  56. Hot Country Singles chart for November 5, 1988. Billboard . February 6, 2018.
  57. Hot Country Singles chart for November 12, 1988. Billboard. February 6, 2018. March 29, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180329060102/https://www.billboard.com/charts/country-songs/1988-11-12. live.
  58. Hot Country Singles chart for November 19, 1988. Billboard. February 6, 2018. March 29, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180329060105/https://www.billboard.com/charts/country-songs/1988-11-19. live.
  59. Hot Country Singles chart for November 26, 1988. Billboard. February 6, 2018. March 29, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180329060116/https://www.billboard.com/charts/country-songs/1988-11-26. live.
  60. Hot Country Singles chart for December 3, 1988. Billboard. February 6, 2018. March 29, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180329060122/https://www.billboard.com/charts/country-songs/1988-12-03. live.
  61. Hot Country Singles chart for December 10, 1988. Billboard. February 6, 2018. March 29, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180329060125/https://www.billboard.com/charts/country-songs/1988-12-10. live.
  62. Hot Country Singles chart for December 17, 1988. Billboard. February 6, 2018. April 1, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180401100404/https://www.billboard.com/charts/country-songs/1988-12-17. live.
  63. Hot Country Singles chart for December 24, 1988. Billboard. February 6, 2018. March 29, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180329060137/https://www.billboard.com/charts/country-songs/1988-12-24. live.
  64. Hot Country Singles chart for December 31, 1988. Billboard. February 6, 2018. May 13, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180513001222/https://www.billboard.com/charts/country-songs/1988-12-31. live.

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