List of UK top-ten singles in 1988 explained

The UK Singles Chart is one of many music charts compiled by the Official Charts Company that calculates the best-selling singles of the week in the United Kingdom.[1] Before 2004, the chart was only based on the sales of physical singles.[2] [3] This list shows singles that peaked in the Top 10 of the UK Singles Chart during 1988, as well as singles which peaked in 1987 and 1989 but were in the top 10 in 1988. The entry date is when the single appeared in the top 10 for the first time (week ending, as published by the Official Charts Company, which is six days after the chart is announced).

One-hundred and fifty-five singles were in the top ten in 1988. Nine singles from 1987 remained in the top 10 for several weeks at the beginning of the year, while "Buffalo Stance" by Neneh Cherry, "Crackers International (EP)" by Erasure, "Good Life" by Inner City, "Especially for You" by Kylie and Jason and "Loco in Acapulco" by Four Tops were both released in 1988 but did not reach their peak until 1989. "Heaven is a Place on Earth" by Belinda Carlisle and "When I Fall in Love" by Nat King Cole were the singles from 1987 to reach their peak in 1988. Twenty-nine artists scored multiple entries in the top 10 in 1988. Bros, Everything but the Girl, Jason Donovan, Kylie Minogue and Salt-n-Pepa were among the many artists who achieved their first UK charting top 10 single in 1988.

The 1987 Christmas number-one, "Always on My Mind" by Pet Shop Boys, remained at number-one for the first two weeks of 1988. The first new number-one single of the year was "Heaven Is a Place on Earth" by Belinda Carlisle. Overall, twenty different singles peaked at number-one in 1988, with Kylie Minogue (2) having the most singles hit that position.

Background

Multiple entries

One-hundred and fifty-five singles charted in the top 10 in 1988, with one-hundred and forty-three singles reaching their peak this year. Nat King Cole and Rick Astley both reached the chart with versions of "When I Fall in Love" (the former entered the chart at the end of 1987 but peaked in this year).

Twenty-nine artists scored multiple entries in the top 10 in 1988. Bros and Kylie Minogue shared the record for most top 10 hits in 1988 with five hit singles each.

Fairground Attraction were one of a number of artists with two top-ten entries, including the number-one single "Perfect". Climie Fisher, Gloria Estefan, Morrissey, Salt 'N' Pepa and Whitney Houston were among the other artists who had multiple top 10 entries in 1988.

Chart debuts

Sixty-seven artists achieved their first top 10 single in 1988, either as a lead or featured artist. Of these, nine went on to record another hit single that year: Brother Beyond, Climie Fisher, Debbie Gibson, Fairground Attraction, Inner City, Jason Donovan, S-Express, Salt-n-Pepa and Taylor Dayne. Bomb the Bass, Tiffany and Yazz (two billed as Yazz and The Plastic Population) all had two more top 10 entries in 1988. Bros and Kylie Minogue both had four other entries in their breakthrough year.

The following table (collapsed on desktop site) does not include acts who had previously charted as part of a group and secured their first top 10 solo single.

ArtistNumber of top 10sFirst entryChart positionOther entries
Krush1"House Arrest"3 -
Morris Minor and the Majors1"Stutter Rap (No Sleep til Bedtime)"4 -
Joyce Sims1"Come into My Life"7 -
Climie Fisher2"Rise to the Occasion"10"Love Changes (Everything)" (2)
Tiffany3"I Think We're Alone Now"1"Could've Been" (4), "I Saw Her Standing There" (8)
Bros5"When Will I Be Famous?"2"Drop the Boy" (2), "I Owe You Nothing" (1), "I Quit" (4), "Cat Among the Pigeons"/"Silent Night" (2)
Beatmasters1"Rok Da House"5 -
Cookie Crew
Taylor Dayne2"Tell It to My Heart"3"Prove Your Love" (8)
Debbie Gibson2"Shake Your Love"7"Foolish Beat" (9)
Kylie Minogue5"I Should Be So Lucky"1"Got to Be Certain" (2), "The Loco-Motion" (2), "Je ne sais pas pourquoi" (2), "Especially for You" (1)
Jack 'N' Chill1"The Jack That House Built"6 -
Bomb the Bass3"Beat Dis"2"Megablast"/"Don't Make Me Wait" (6), "Say a Little Prayer" (10)
Coldcut1"Doctorin' the House" 6 -
Yazz & The Plastic Population3"The Only Way Is Up" (1), "Stand Up for Your Love Rights" (2)
Vanessa Paradis1"Joe le Taxi"3 -
1"Crash"5 -
Aswad1"Don't Turn Around"1 -
Taja Sevelle1"Love Is Contagious"7 -
Eighth Wonder1"I'm Not Scared"7 -
S'Express2"Theme from S-Express"1"Superfly Fly" (5)
Natalie Cole1"Pink Cadillac"5 -
Pebbles1"Girlfriend"8 -
Danny Wilson1"Mary's Prayer" 3 -
Fairground Attraction2"Perfect"1"Find My Love" (7)
Harry Enfield1"Loadsamoney"4 -
Billy Bragg1"She's Leaving Home"1 -
Cara Tivey
Liverpool F.C.1"Anfield Rap"3 -
Prefab Sprout1"The King of Rock 'n' Roll"7 -
Aztec Camera1"Somewhere in My Heart"3 -
L.A. Mix1"Check This Out"6 -
Mica Paris1"My One Temptation"7 -
1"Doctorin' the Tardis"1 -
Desireless1"Voyage, voyage"5 -
Sabrina1"Boys (Summertime Love)"3 -
Maxi Priest1"Wild World"5 -
1"Tribute (Right On)"5 -
Salt-n-Pepa2"Push It"/"Tramp"2"Twist and Shout" (4)
Tracy Chapman1"Fast Car"5 -
Glenn Medeiros1"Nothing's Gonna Change My Love for You"1 -
Everything but the Girl"1"I Don't Want to Talk About It"3 -
1"Roses Are Red"8 -
Transvision Vamp1"I Want Your Love"5 -
B.V.S.M.P.1"I Need You"3 -
Breathe1"Hands to Heaven"4 -
Brother Beyond2"The Harder I Try"2"He Ain't No Competition" (6)
All About Eve1"Martha's Harbour" 10 -
Tanita Tikaram1"Good Tradition" 10 -
Womack & Womack1"Teardrops"3 -
Yello1"The Race"7 -
Jason Donovan2"Nothing Can Divide Us"5"Especially for You" (1)
Inner City2"Big Fun"8"Good Life" (4)
Bobby McFerrin1"Don't Worry, Be Happy"2 -
Wee Papa Girl Rappers1"Wee Rule"6 -
D Mob1"We Call It Acieed"3 -
Gary Haisman
Enya1"Orinoco Flow"1 -
1"Harvest for the World"8 -
Milli Vanilli1"Girl You Know It's True"3 -
Robin Beck1"First Time"1 -
Deacon Blue1"Real Gone Kid"8 -
INXS1"Need You Tonight"2 -
Maureen1"Say a Little Prayer"10 -
Angry Anderson1"Suddenly"3 -
Neneh Cherry1"Buffalo Stance" 3 -
NotesMorrissey was lead singer in the Manchester-based group The Smiths from 1982 until they disbanded in 1987. He produced his debut solo single this year, "Suedehead", which peaked at number 5, as well as the number 9-peaking follow-up "Everyday Is Like Sunday". Narada scored his only previous top 10 single, "I Shoulda Loved Ya", under his full name Narada Michael Walden.

The Timelords scored their only hit single in 1988, "Doctorin' the Tardis", under this name - they went on to future success as The KLF, one of their several other pseudonyms. Gloria Estefan was credited as a solo artist alongside her group Miami Sound Machine for the first time in 1988. She would make her official solo top 10 debut with 1989's "Don't Wanna Lose You".

Songs from films

Original songs from various films entered the top 10 throughout the year. These included "That's the Way It Is" (from Coming to America) and "A Groovy Kind of Love", "Loco in Acapulco" and "Two Hearts" (Buster).

Charity singles

The charity double-A side single by Wet Wet Wet/Billy Bragg and Cara Tivey featured cover versions of two Beatles songs, lifted from the charity compilation album Sgt. Pepper Knew My Father which was put together in aid of Childline. Wet Wet Wet recorded "With a Little Help from My Friends", while Billy Bragg and Cara Tivey collaborated on "She's Leaving Home". The single peaked at number-one on 21 May 1988 (week ending), spending four weeks at the top spot.

Best-selling singles

Cliff Richard had the best-selling single of the year with "Mistletoe and Wine". The single spent six weeks in the top 10 (including four weeks at number one), sold over 500,000 copies and was certified gold by the BPI. "The Only Way Is Up" by Yazz & The Plastic Population came in second place, selling more than 400,000 copies and losing out by around 100,000 sales. Kylie Minogue's "I Should Be So Lucky", "Especially for You" from Kylie Minogue and Jason Donovan and "I Think We're Alone Now" by Tiffany made up the top five. Singles by Glenn Medeiros, Phil Collins, The Hollies, Wet Wet Wet/Billy Bragg with Cara Tivey and Womack & Womack were also in the top ten best-selling singles of the year.

Top-ten singles

Key
SymbolMeaning
Single peaked in 1987 but still in chart in 1988.
Single released in 1988 but peaked in 1989.
(#)Year-end top-ten single position and rank
EnteredThe date that the single first appeared in the chart.
PeakHighest position that the single reached in the UK Singles Chart.
Entered
(week ending)
Weeks
in
top
10
SingleArtistPeakPeak reached
(week ending)
Weeks
at
peak
Singles in 1987
9"China in Your Hand" ‡T'Pau15
4"When I Fall in Love" ‡Rick Astley22
5"The Way You Make Me Feel" ‡Michael Jackson33
6"Always on My Mind" ‡ Pet Shop Boys14
5"Love Letters" ‡Alison Moyet41
4"Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" ‡ 32
4"Fairytale of New York" ‡ featuring Kirsty MacColl22
2"When I Fall in Love" Nat King Cole41
7"Heaven Is a Place on Earth" Belinda Carlisle12
Singles in 1988
4"Angel Eyes (Home and Away)"Wet Wet Wet51
5"House Arrest"Krush31
4"Stutter Rap (No Sleep til Bedtime)" Morris Minor and the Majors41
3"I Found Someone"Cher51
2"All Day and All of the Night"72
4"Sign Your Name"Terence Trent D'arby21
3"Come into My Life"Joyce Sims71
3"Rise to the Occasion"Climie Fisher103
7"I Think We're Alone Now" (#5)Tiffany13
4"When Will I Be Famous?"Bros21
3"Rok da House"Beatmasters featuring Cookie Crew51
2"O L'amour"Dollar71
5"Tell It to My Heart"Taylor Dayne31
3"Shake Your Love"Debbie Gibson71
3"Candle in the Wind (Live)"Elton John51
9"I Should Be So Lucky" (#3)Kylie Minogue15
1"The Jack That House Built"Jack 'N' Chill61
6"Get Outta My Dreams, Get into My Car"Billy Ocean32
3"Say It Again"Jermaine Stewart71
5"Beat Dis"Bomb the Bass22
1"Valentine"T'Pau91
3"Suedehead"Morrissey51
3"Gimme Hope Jo'anna" Eddy Grant71
4"Together Forever"Rick Astley22
4"Doctorin' the House"Coldcut featuring Yazz & The Plastic Population61
4"Joe le taxi"Vanessa Paradis31
3"Crash"51
1"That's the Way it Is"Mel and Kim101
5"Don't Turn Around"Aswad12
2"Ship of Fools"Erasure61
1"Love Is Contagious"Taja Sevelle71
5"Drop the Boy"Bros24
3"Can I Play with Madness"Iron Maiden31
4"Could've Been"Tiffany43
2"Never"/"These Dreams"Heart81
1"I Get Weak"Belinda Carlisle101
2"Stay on These Roads"A-ha51
3"Cross My Broken Heart"Sinitta63
6"Heart"Pet Shop Boys13
3"I'm Not Scared"Eighth Wonder71
4"Love Changes (Everything)"Climie Fisher21
3"Everywhere"Fleetwood Mac41
1"Prove Your Love"Taylor Dayne81
5"Who's Leaving Who"Hazell Dean42
6"Theme from S-Express"S'Express12
3"Pink Cadillac"Natalie Cole51
5"I Want You Back"Bananarama52
1"Girlfriend"Pebbles81
4"I Want You Back '88" Michael Jackson with The Jackson 581
4"Mary's Prayer"Danny Wilson32
2"One More Try"George Michael81
6"Perfect"Fairground Attraction11
5"Blue Monday 1988" New Order31
2"Loadsamoney"Harry Enfield41
7"With a Little Help from My Friends"/"She's Leaving Home" (#9) Wet Wet Wet/Billy Bragg & Cara Tivey14
1"Alphabet St."Prince91
2"Anfield Rap" Liverpool F.C.31
5"Got to Be Certain"Kylie Minogue23
2"Divine Emotions"Narada81
3"Circle in the Sand"Belinda Carlisle41
2"The King of Rock 'n' Roll"Prefab Sprout72
4"Somewhere in My Heart"Aztec Camera31
2"Check This Out"L.A. Mix61
2"My One Temptation"Mica Paris71
1"Love Will Save the Day"Whitney Houston101
4"Doctorin' the Tardis" 11
3"Voyage, voyage"Desireless52
2"I Saw Him Standing There"Tiffany81
5"I Owe You Nothing"Bros12
5"Boys (Summertime Love)"Sabrina32
4"Wild World"Maxi Priest51
1"Everyday Is Like Sunday"Morrissey91
5"The Twist (Yo Twist)" with Chubby Checker22
3"Tribute (Right On)"51
4"In the Air Tonight ('88 Remix)" Phil Collins41
5"Breakfast in Bed"UB40 featuring Chrissie Hynde61
7"Push It"/"Tramp"Salt-n-Pepa23
4"Fast Car"Tracy Chapman51
6"Nothing's Gonna Change My Love for You" (#6)Glenn Medeiros14
4"I Don't Want to Talk About It"Everything but the Girl32
3"Roses Are Red" featuring The McCampbell Brothers82
3"Dirty Diana"Michael Jackson42
4"I Want Your Love"Transvision Vamp52
2"Foolish Beat"Debbie Gibson92
5"You Came"Kim Wilde31
4"Superfly Guy"S'Express51
9"The Only Way Is Up" (#2)Yazz & The Plastic Population15
6"The Loco-Motion"Kylie Minogue24
5"I Need You"B.V.S.M.P.31
3"The Evil That Men Do"Iron Maiden51
4"Find My Love"Fairground Attraction72
4"Hands to Heaven"Breathe42
5"The Harder I Try"Brother Beyond22
1"Martha's Harbour"All About Eve101
3"My Love"Julio Iglesias featuring Stevie Wonder 51
1"Good Tradition"Tanita Tikaram101
3"Megablast"/"Don't Make Me Wait"Bomb the Bass62
8"Teardrops" (#10)Womack & Womack32
7"A Groovy Kind of Love" (#7)Phil Collins12
6"He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother" (#8) 12
3"The Race"Yello71
2"I Quit"Bros41
4"Lovely Day (Sunshine Mix)" Bill Withers41
1"Anything for You"Gloria Estefan & Miami Sound Machine101
4"Nothing Can Divide Us"Jason Donovan51
3"Big Fun"Inner City81
3"Domino Dancing"Pet Shop Boys71
3"Desire"U211
6"One Moment in Time" Whitney Houston12
4"She Wants to Dance with Me"Rick Astley61
3"Don't Worry, Be Happy"Bobby McFerrin21
4"A Little Respect"Erasure41
4"Wee Rule"Wee Papa Girl Rappers61
3"We Call It Acieed"D Mob featuring Gary Haisman31
5"Orinoco Flow"Enya13
2"Never Trust a Stranger"Kim Wilde71
2"Harvest for the World"81
5"Je ne sais pas pourquoi"Kylie Minogue23
4"Girl You Know It's True"Milli Vanilli31
4"Stand Up for Your Love Rights"Yazz21
2"Kiss"Art of Noise featuring Tom Jones51
3"She Makes My Day"Robert Palmer61
5"First Time" Robin Beck13
3"He Ain't No Competition"Brother Beyond61
1"1-2-3"Gloria Estefan & Miami Sound Machine91
3"Real Gone Kid"Deacon Blue81
3"Need You Tonight"INXS21
4"Missing You"Chris de Burgh32
2"Twist and Shout"Salt-n-Pepa41
1"The Clairvoyant"Iron Maiden61
2"Left to My Own Devices"Pet Shop Boys41
6"Cat Among the Pigeons"/"Silent Night"Bros21
5"Two Hearts"Phil Collins62
6"Mistletoe and Wine" (#1)Cliff Richard14
2"Smooth Criminal"Michael Jackson81
1"Say a Little Prayer"Bomb the Bass featuring Maureen101
9"Especially for You" ♦ (#4)Kylie Minogue & Jason Donovan13
6"Suddenly"Angry Anderson33
9"Crackers International (EP)"Erasure23
2"Take Me to Your Heart"Rick Astley82
6"Good Life" ♦Inner City42
4"Burning Bridges"Status Quo51
2"Angel of Harlem"U291
1"Downtown '88" Petula Clark101
5"Buffalo Stance" ♦Neneh Cherry32
3"Loco in Acapulco" ♦Four Tops72

Entries by artist

The following table shows artists who achieved two or more top 10 entries in 1988, including singles that reached their peak in 1987 or 1989. The figures include both main artists and featured artists, while appearances on ensemble charity records are also counted for each artist.

EntriesArtistWeeksSingles
5Bros21"Cat Among the Pigeons"/"Silent Night", "Drop the Boy", "I Owe You Nothing", "I Quit", "When Will I Be Famous?"
29"Especially for You", "Got to Be Certain", "I Should Be So Lucky", "Je ne sais pas pourquoi", "The Loco-Motion"
411"Dirty Diana", "I Want You Back '88", "Smooth Criminal", "The Way You Make Me Feel"
14"Always on My Mind", "Domino Dancing", "Heart", "Left to My Own Devices"
11"She Wants to Dance with Me", "Take Me to Your Heart", "Together Forever", "When I Fall in Love"
310"Circle in the Sand", "Heaven Is a Place on Earth", "I Get Weak"
Bomb the Bass9"Beat Dis", "Megablast"/"Don't Make Me Wait", "Say a Little Prayer"
10"A Little Respect", "Crackers International (EP)", "Ship of Fools"
Iron Maiden7"Can I Play with Madness", "The Clairvoyant", "The Evil That Men Do"
9"Never Trust a Stranger", "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree", "You Came"
Phil Collins16"A Groovy Kind of Love", "In the Air Tonight ('88 Remix)", "Two Hearts"
Tiffany13"Could've Been", "I Saw Him Standing There", "I Think We're Alone Now"
17"Doctorin' the House", "Stand Up for Your Love Rights", "The Only Way Is Up"
2Brother Beyond8"He Ain't No Competition", "The Harder I Try"
Climie Fisher7"Love Changes (Everything)", "Rise to the Occasion"
Debbie Gibson5"Foolish Beat", "Shake Your Love"
Fairground Attraction10"Find My Love", "Perfect"
Gloria Estefan2"1-2-3", "Anything for You"
6"Big Fun", "Good Life"
8"Especially for You", "Nothing Can Divide Us"
Miami Sound Machine2"1-2-3", "Anything for You"
Morrissey4"Everyday Is Like Sunday", "Suedehead"
S'Express10"Superfly Guy", "Theme from S-Express"
Salt-n-Pepa9"Push It"/"Tramp", "Twist and Shout"
2"China in Your Hand", "Valentine"
Taylor Dayne6"Prove Your Love", "Tell It to My Heart"
U25"Angel of Harlem", "Desire"
Wet Wet Wet11"Angel Eyes (Home and Away)", "With a Little Help from My Friends"
Whitney Houston7"Love Will Save the Day", "One Moment in Time"

Notes

See also

References

General

Specific

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: The Official UK Charts Company . . 1 January 2012.
  2. Book: Roberts, David. Guinness World Records: British Hit Singles and Albums (18th edition). 2005. 1-904994-00-8. 14. Guinness World Records Limited.
  3. News: New singles formats to save the charts. BBC News. 16 October 2003 . 21 February 2010.