Top 100 Best Selling R&B Soul Songs of 1988

Below is a list of the best selling Soul R&B songs from 1988, sorted by the most popular or best selling first. Click "year" to sort by year. Place mouse on to see information about song. Click song title to play song and to read details about the song including lyrics (if available). Click checkbox to add song to playlist. Click checkbox at top of column to add all songs below it to playlist. Click label to list songs from that record label. Following on from the top 100 chart are listings of hundreds of other lesser-known Soul R&B songs from 1988.

(Songs are sorted in highest US R&B Top 100 and/or UK Top 100 chart position order)

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1 record label: Siren 111
chart position: RandB #2, UK #3, US #1, US dance #3, US AC #39
written by: Elliot Wolff
album: Forever Your Girl
comments: [dance]
 		Paula Abdul Straight Up
1988 Siren
2 record label: Jive 9678
chart position: RandB #1, UK #3, US #1, US dance #25, US AC #5
written by: Robert John
album: Tear Down These Walls
 		Billy Ocean Get Outta My Dreams, Get into My Car
1988 Jive
3 record label: EMI Manhattan 50146
chart position: RandB #11, UK #2, US #1, US AC #7
written by: Bobby McFerrin
album: Spontaneous Inventions
comments: [reggae style pop]
 		Bobby McFerrin Don't Worry, Be Happy
1988 EMI Manhattan
4 record label: Columbia 07773
chart position: RandB #1, UK #8, US #1, US AC #1
written by: George Michael
album: Faith
 		George Michael One More Try
1988 Columbia
5 record label: MCA 53383
chart position: RandB #1, US #1, UK #6, US dance #7
written by: Bobby Brown, Gene Griffin & Teddy Riley
album: Don't Be Cruel
comments: [dance]
 		Bobby Brown My Prerogative
1988 MCA
6 record label: Columbia 08092
chart position: RandB #28, UK #1, US #3, US dance #20
written by: Maurice Starr
album: Hangin' Tough
 		New Kids on the Block You Got It
1988 Columbia
7 record label: Arista 9781
chart position: RandB #3, UK #3, US #2, US dance #3
written by: Bill Pettaway Jr., Sean Spencer, Kevin Lyles, Rodney Hollaman & Ky Adeyemo
album: All or Nothing
comments: [hip hop]
 		Milli Vanilli Girl You Know It's True
1988 Arista
8 record label: Columbia 7547
chart position: RandB #6, UK #11, US #1, US dance #13, US AC #3
written by: George Michael
album: Faith
 		George Michael Father Figure
1988 Columbia
9 record label: Arista 9743
chart position: RandB #22, UK #1, US #5, US AC #1
written by: Albert Hammond & John Bettis
album: One Moment in Time: 1988 Summer Olympics Album
 		Whitney Houston One Moment in Time
1988 Arista
10 record label: Arista 9674
chart position: RandB #2, UK #14, US #1, US AC #1
written by: Chuck Jackson & Frank Wildhorn
album: Whitney
comments: [love ballad]
 		Whitney Houston Where Do Broken Hearts Go
1988 Arista
11 record label: Columbia 07941
chart position: RandB #8, US #1, UK #13, US dance #1
written by: George Michael
album: Faith
 		George Michael Monkey
1988 Columbia
12 record label: Columbia 07911
chart position: RandB #2, UK #2, US #4, US dance #23, US AC #13
written by: Terence Trent D'Arby
album: Introducing the Hardline According to Terence Trent D'Arby
 		Terence Trent D'Arby Sign Your Name
1988 Columbia
13 record label: Virgin 99231
chart position: RandB #30, UK #3, US #3, US dance #1
written by: Jamie J. Morgan, Cameron McVey (as Booga Bear), Neneh Cherry & Phillip Ramacon
album: Raw Like Sushi
comments: [hip hop]
 		Neneh Cherry Buffalo Stance
1988 Virgin
14 record label: Epic 07739
chart position: RandB #5, US #1, UK #4
written by: Michael Jackson
album: Bad
 		Michael Jackson Dirty Diana
1988 Epic
15 record label: Arista 9832
chart position: RandB #9, US #1, UK #16, US dance #10
written by: Frank Farian & B. Nail
album: All or Nothing
 		Milli Vanilli Baby Don't Forget My Number
1988 Arista
16 record label: Epic 651388
chart position: RandB #1, US #1, UK #21, US AC #2
written by: Siedah Garrett & Glen Ballard
album: Bad
 		Michael Jackson Man in the Mirror
1988 Epic
17 record label: MCA 53416
chart position: RandB #5, US #2, UK #15, US dance #2, US AC #43
written by: L.A. Reid, Babyface & Daryl Simmons
album: The Lover in Me
 		Sheena Easton The Lover in Me
1988 MCA
18 record label: Delicious Vinyl 102
chart position: RandB #3, US #2, UK #21, US dance #1
weeksinr&bchart: 19
written by: Young MC
album: Loc'ed After Dark
 		Tone Loc Wild Thing
1988 Delicious Vinyl
19 record label: Epic 07921
chart position: RandB #54, UK #9, US #3, US AC #1
written by: Gloria Estefan & Enrique Garcia
album: Let It Loose
comments: [disco dance]
 		Gloria Estefan & Miami Sound Machine 1-2-3
1988 Epic
20 record label: EMI Manhattan 50117
chart position: RandB #9, UK #5, US #5, US AC #16, US dance #1
written by: Bruce Springsteen
album: Everlasting
 		Natalie Cole Pink Cadillac
1988 EMI Manhattan
21 record label: Elektra 69371
chart position: RandB #1, US #3, UK #55, US AC #1
written by: Anita Baker, Skip Scarborough & Randy Holland
album: Giving You the Best That I Got
comments: [ballad]
 		Anita Baker Giving You the Best That I Got
1988 Elektra
22 record label: MCA 53279
chart position: RandB #1, US #2, UK #42, US dance #2
written by: Pebbles (as Perri McKissack)
album: Pebbles
comments: [dance, boogie]
 		Pebbles Mercedes Boy
1988 MCA
23 record label: Arista 9700
chart position: RandB #21, US #3, UK #41, US AC #2
written by: Jimmy George
album: Tell It to My Heart
comments: [ballad]
 		Taylor Dayne I'll Always Love You
1988 Arista
24 record label: Arista 9720
chart position: RandB #5, UK #10, US #9, US AC #10, US dance #1
written by: Toni C.
album: Whitney
comments: [disco, boogie]
 		Whitney Houston Love Will Save the Day
1988 Arista
25 record label: MCA 1233 (UK)
chart position: RandB #1, UK #8, US #5, US dance #24
written by: L.A. Reid & Babyface
album: Pebbles
comments: [disco, boogie]
 		Pebbles Girlfriend
1988 MCA
26 record label: MCA 53463
chart position: RandB #2, US #3, UK #21
written by: Babyface
album: Don't Be Cruel
comments: [beat ballad]
 		Bobby Brown Roni
1988 MCA
27 record label: Epic 07759
chart position: US #1, UK #10, US AC #1
written by: Gloria Estefan
album: Let It Loose
comments: [ballad]
 		Gloria Estefan & Miami Sound Machine Anything for You
1988 Epic
28 record label: MCA 53327
chart position: RandB #1, UK #13, US #8
written by: Babyface (as Kenneth Edmonds), L.A. Reid & Daryl Simmons
album: Don't Be Cruel
 		Bobby Brown Don't Be Cruel
1988 MCA
29 record label: AandM 623
chart position: RandB #8, UK #23, US #6, US AC #3
written by: Brenda Russell, Jeff Hull & Scott Cutler
album: Get Here
comments: [beat ballad] (featuring Joe Esposito)
 		Brenda Russell Piano in the Dark
1988 A&M
30 record label: Elektra 69412
chart position: UK #5, US #7, US AC #7, Rock #19
written by: Tracy Chapman
album: Tracy Chapman
 		Tracy Chapman Fast Car
1988 Elektra
31 record label: Rhythm King
chart position: UK #1, US Dance #1, US #91
written by: Mark Moore and Pascal Gabriel
album: Original Soundtrack
comments: [disco dance]
 		S'Express Theme from S'Express
1988 Rhythm King
32 record label: Arista 109 869
chart position: RandB #13, US #3, UK #81, US AC #2
written by: Daryl Hall
album: Ooh Yeah!
 		Hall & Oates Everything Your Heart Desires
1988 Arista
33 record label: Paisley Park 27900
chart position: RandB #3, UK #9, US #8, US dance #22
written by: Prince
album: Lovesexy
 		Prince Alphabet St.
1988 Paisley Park
34 record label: Elektra 69431
chart position: RandB #1, US #5, UK #26, US dance #38
written by: Keith Sweat & Teddy Riley
album: Make It Last Forever
 		Keith Sweat I Want Her
1988 Elektra
35 record label: Epic 08044
chart position: RandB #2, UK #8, US #7, US dance #10
written by: Michael Jackson
album: Bad
 		Michael Jackson Smooth Criminal
1988 Epic
36 record label: Columbia 07744
chart position: RandB #1, US #10, UK #68, US dance #1
written by: Johnny Kemp, Teddy Riley, Gene Griffin & Aaron Hall
album: Secrets of Flying
comments: [dance]
 		Johnny Kemp Just Got Paid
1988 Columbia
37 record label: MCA 53311
chart position: RandB #24, US #4, US AC #1
written by: Don Powell, Rick Kelly & Linda Mallah
album: Magic
comments: [love ballad]
 		The Jets Make It Real
1988 MCA
38 record label: MCA 53264
chart position: RandB #2, US #7, US dance #20, UK #94
written by: Jimmy Jam (as James Samuel Harris III) & Terry Lewis
album: N.E. Heartbreak
 		New Edition If It Isn't Love
1988 MCA
39 record label: Warner 27773
chart position: RandB #1, US #7, UK #42, US dance #5, US AC #38
written by: Babyface, L.A. Reid & Daryl Simmons
album: Karyn White
comments: [dance, boogie]
 		Karyn White The Way You Love Me
1988 Warner
40 record label: MCA 53254
chart position: RandB #5, US #6, UK #69, US dance #3
written by: Bobby Nunn
album: Magic
comments: [dance, boogie]
 		The Jets Rocket 2 U
1988 MCA
41 record label: Polydor 887 571
chart position: RandB #40, UK #2, US #16
written by: Hank Ballard
album: Coming Back Hard Again
comments: [hip hop]
 		The Fat Boys with Chubby Checker The Twist
1988 Polydor
42 record label: Warner 28192
chart position: RandB #1, US #7, UK #44, US AC #19
written by: Al B. Sure! & Kyle West
album: In Effect Mode
comments: [beat ballad]
 		Al B. Sure! Nite and Day
1988 Warner
43 record label: Solar 70015
chart position: RandB #4, US #10, US AC #21
written by: Babyface (as Kenneth Edmonds), Darnell Bristol (as Darnell
album: Eyes of a Stranger
comments: [slow jam]
 		The Deele Two Occasions
1988 Solar
44 record label: Epic 07962
chart position: RandB #1, UK #15, US #11, US dance #18, US AC #44
written by: Michael Jackson
album: Bad
comments: [disco, boogie]
 		Michael Jackson Another Part of Me
1988 Epic
45 record label: Jive 2045
chart position: RandB #19, US dance #2, US #8, UK #63
written by: Full Force
album: I Wanna Have Some Fun
comments: [disco, boogie]
 		Samantha Fox I Wanna Have Some Fun
1988 Jive
46 record label: MCA 53235
chart position: RandB #3, US #10, US dance #1, UK #81
written by: Andre Cymone & Jody Watley
album: Jody Watley
comments: [disco, boogie]
 		Jody Watley Some Kind of Lover
1988 MCA
47 record label: Island 341
chart position: RandB #45, UK #1
written by: Albert Hammond & Diane Warren
album: Distant Thunder
comments: [Reggae]
 		Aswad Don't Turn Around
1988 Island
48 record label: Epic 2
chart position: RandB #1, US #16, UK #29, US dance #21, US AC #6
written by: Sade Adu, Andrew Hale, Stuart Matthewman & Paul Spencer Denman
album: Stronger Than Pride
 		Sade Paradise
1988 Epic
49 record label: Tommy Boy 27736
chart position: RandB #64, US #9, US dance #5, US AC #15
written by: Paul Robb
album: Information Society
 		Information Society Walking Away
1988 Tommy Boy
50 record label: MCA 53210
chart position: RandB #1, US #13, UK #42, US dance #4, US AC #45
written by: Reggie Calloway
album: All Our Love
 		Gladys Knight & the Pips Love Overboard
1988 MCA
51 record label: Ten Records 221
chart position: UK #5, US #25, US AC #10
written by: Cat Stevens
album: Maxi Priest
comments: [Reggae]
 		Maxi Priest Wild World
1988 Ten Records
52 record label: Elektra 69327
chart position: RandB #1, US #14, UK #93, US AC #4
written by: Michael O'Hara, Sammy McKinney, Alex Brown
album: Giving You the Best That I Got
comments: [beat ballad]
 		Anita Baker Just Because
1988 Elektra
53 record label: MCA 53301
chart position: RandB #1, US #13, UK #61, US dance #18
written by: Babyface, L.A. Reid & Daryl Simmons
album: Messages from the Boys
 		The Boys Dial My Heart
1988 MCA
54 record label: Next Plateau 50063
chart position: UK #2, RandB #21, US dance #18
written by: Lowell Fulson (as Lowell Fulsom) & Jimmy McCracklin
album: Hot, Cool & Vicious
comments: [hip hop]
 		Salt-N-Pepa Tramp
1988 Next Plateau
55 record label: Arista 9636
chart position: RandB #15, UK #7, US #27
written by: Bunny Sigler & Carol Davis
album: Say It Again
 		Jermaine Stewart Say It Again
1988 Arista
56 record label: Columbia 68575
chart position: RandB #8, UK #5, US #52, US dance #27
written by: The Pasadenas & Pete Wingfield
album: To Whom It May Concern
 		The Pasadenas Tribute (Right On)
1988 Columbia
57 record label: Jive 9707
chart position: RandB #10, US #17, UK #65, US AC #2
written by: Wayne Anton Braithwaite, Barry Eastmond, Billy Ocean & Jolyon Skinner
album: Tear Down These Walls
comments: [love ballad]
 		Billy Ocean The Colour of Love
1988 Jive
58 record label: Island 99337
chart position: UK #3
written by: Cecil Womack and Linda Womack
album: Conscience
comments: [disco, dance]
 		Womack & Womack Teardrops
1988 Island
59 record label: Possum 104927
chart position: UK #5, US Dance #2
written by: Mark Moore and Pascal Gabriel
album: Original Soundtrack
comments: [disco dance]
 		S'Express Superfly Guy
1988 Possum
60 record label: Jive 1099
chart position: RandB #10, US #12, UK #87
written by: Will Smith, Jeff Townes & Peter Harris
album: He's the DJ, I'm the Rapper
comments: [hip hop]
 		DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince Parents Just Don't Understand
1988 Jive
61 record label: Virgin 99236
chart position: UK #4, US Dance #1, US #73
written by: Ann Saunderson, Kevin Saunderson, Paris Grey and Roy Holmon
album: Paradise
 		Inner City Good Life
1988 Virgin
62 record label: Midtown 1002
chart position: UK #3
written by: Frederick Eugene Byrd, Stevie Hill and Nathan Rodgers
album: The Best Belong Together
comments: [hip hop]
 		BVSMP I Need You
1988 Midtown
63 record label: Tabu 07646
chart position: RandB #2, UK #26, US #28
written by: Jimmy Jam (as James Harris III) & Terry Lewis
album: Hearsay
 		Alexander O'Neal & Cherrelle Never Knew Love Like This
1988 Tabu
64 record label: Island 99252
chart position: RandB #15, UK #7, US #97, US dance #36, US AC #8
written by: Mike Leeson, Peter Vale & Miles Waters
album: So Good
 		Mica Paris My One Temptation
1988 Island
65 record label: Warner 28201
chart position: RandB #1, US #23, US dance #12
written by: Morris Day, Jimmy Jam (as James Harris) & Terry Lewis
album: Daydreaming
comments: [disco funk]
 		Morris Day Fishnet
1988 Warner
66 record label: Next Plateau 50083
chart position: RandB #45, UK #4
written by: Phil Medley & Bert Russell
album: A Salt with a Deadly Pepa
comments: [hip hop]
 		Salt-N-Pepa Twist and Shout
1988 Next Plateau
67 record label: Jive 1124
chart position: RandB #9, US #15
written by: Will Smith, Jeff Townes & Peter Harris
album: He's the DJ, I'm the Rapper
comments: [hip hop]
 		DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince A Nightmare on My Street
1988 Jive
68 record label: KMS 015
chart position: US dance #1, RandB #50, UK #8
written by: Kevin Saunderson, Paris Grey, James Pennington & Arthur Forrest
album: Paradise
comments: [disco dance]
 		Inner City Big Fun
1988 KMS
69 record label: MCA 23791
chart position: RandB #1, UK #8
written by: Babyface & L.A. Reid (as L.A.)
album: The Mac Band featuring the McCampbell Brothers
comments: [disco, boogie]
 		Mac Band Roses Are Red
1988 MCA
70 record label: Epic 11
chart position: RandB #1, UK #31, US #44, US AC #12
written by: Luther Vandross & Marcus Miller
album: Any Love
comments: [beat ballad]
 		Luther Vandross Any Love
1988 Epic
71 record label: Sleeping Bag 28
chart position: RandB #10, UK #7, US dance #48
written by: Joyce Sims
album: Come into My Life
 		Joyce Sims Come Into My Life
1988 Sleeping Bag
72 record label: Profile 7186
chart position: RandB #17, UK #24, US #36
written by: Rob Base (as Robert Ginyard)
album: It Takes Two
comments: [hip hop]
 		Rob Base & DJ E-Z Rock It Takes Two
1988 Profile
73 record label: Wing 3
chart position: RandB #4, US dance #1, US #44, UK #71
written by: Kipper Jones & Rex Salas
album: The Right Stuff
 		Vanessa Williams The Right Stuff
1988 Wing
74 record label: EMI Manhattan 50115
chart position: RandB #1, US #35, US dance #23
written by: Marcus Miller & Mark Stevens
album: Livin' Large
comments: [funk]
 		E.U. Da' Butt
1988 EMI Manhattan
75 record label: Arista 111 850 (UK)
chart position: UK #7
written by: Phil Collins and Lamont Dozier
album: Indestructible
 		Four Tops Loco in Acapulco
1988 Arista
76 record label: Columbia 07996
chart position: RandB #1, US #32
written by: Curtis Bedeau, Gerard Charles, Hugh Clarke, Brian George, Lucien George & Paul George
album: Me, Myself & I
comments: [ballad]
 		Cheryl Pepsii Riley Thanks for My Child
1988 Columbia
77 record label: AandM 1255
chart position: US #9, UK #28, US AC #2, US dance #29
written by: Jackie DeShannon, Jimmy Holiday and Randy Myers
album: Scrooged: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
Annie Lennox & Al Green Put A Little Love In Your Heart
1988 A&M
78 record label: Def Jam 2 (UK)
chart position: RandB #12, UK #37, US #31
written by: LL Cool J (as James Todd Smith)
album: Walking with a Panther
comments: [hip hop]
 		LL Cool J Going Back to Cali -- Jack the Ripper
1988 Def Jam
79 record label: Mercury 870 154
chart position: US dance #1, RandB #71, US #35
written by: Steve Harvey
album: Nothin' but Trouble
comments: [dance, boogie]
 		Nia Peeples Trouble
1988 Mercury
80 record label: AandM 12280
chart position: RandB #1, US #48, US dance #6
written by: Robert Brookins, Jeffrey Osborne, Tony Haynes & Clinton
album: One Love: One Dream
 		Jeffrey Osborne She's on the Left
1988 A&M
81 record label: Columbia 07695
chart position: RandB #3, US dance #1, US #67, UK #94
written by: Wayne Vaughn & Maurice White
album: Touch the World
 		Earth, Wind & Fire Thinking of You
1988 Columbia
82 record label: Warner 7870
chart position: RandB #1, US #45, UK #70, US dance #25
written by: Al B. Sure! & Kyle West
album: In Effect Mode
 		Al B. Sure! Off On Your Own (Girl)
1988 Warner
83 record label: Island 99273
chart position: US dance #4, RandB #77, UK #14
written by: David Cole, John Coltrane & Will Downing
album: Will Downing
 		Will Downing A Love Supreme
1988 Island
84 record label: FFRR 11
chart position: RandB #4, UK #22, US dance #8
written by: Rudolph Isley, Ronald Isley & Kelly Isley (as O'Kelly Isley)
album: A Salt with a Deadly Pepa
comments: [hip hop]
 		Salt-N-Pepa Shake Your Thang
1988 FFRR
85 record label: Siren 82
chart position: UK #13, RandB #69, US dance #12
written by: Errol Brown & Simon Climie
album: Say It Again
comments: [disco dance]
 		Jermaine Stewart Get Lucky
1988 Siren
86 record label: Capitol 44171
chart position: RandB #1, UK #56, US #61
written by: Barry Eastmond & Jolyon Skinner
album: Don't Let Love Slip Away
 		Freddie Jackson Nice 'N Slow
1988 Capitol
87 record label: Capitol 490
chart position: RandB #11, US #38, US dance #14
written by: Irmgard Klarmann & Felix Weber
album: Tracie Spencer
comments: [disco dance]
 		Tracie Spencer Symptoms of True Love
1988 Capitol
88 record label: Columbia 08073
chart position: US dance #1, RandB #24, UK #28
written by: Vaughan Mason
album: Album 88
comments: [disco dance]
 		Raze Break 4 Love
1988 Columbia
89 record label: Mister Ron 121
chart position: UK #2, US dance #1
written by: Tim Simenon and Emilio Pasquez
album: Into the Dragon
 		Bomb the Bass Beat Dis
1988 Mister Ron
90 record label: Virgin 99299
chart position: RandB #1, UK #84, US dance #28, US AC #5, US rock #43
written by: Tyrone Downie & Ziggy Marley
album: Conscious Party
comments: [Reggae]
 		Ziggy Marley & the Melody Makers Tumblin' Down
1988 Virgin
91 record label: Wing 9
chart position: RandB #1, US #47, US dance #43
written by: David Foster, Thomas McElroy & Tony! Toni! Tone!
album: Who?
 		Tony! Toni! Tone! Little Walter
1988 Wing
92 record label: Motown 41723
chart position: RandB #1, UK #77, US #77, US AC #16
written by: Stevie Wonder
album: Characters
comments: [ballad]
 		Stevie Wonder You Will Know
1988 Motown
93 record label: Virgin 99329
chart position: RandB #8, UK #98, US #41, US dance #14
written by: Babyface, Daryl Simmons & L.A. Reid
album: Forever Your Girl
 		Paula Abdul Knocked Out
1988 Virgin
94 record label: Arista 9706
chart position: RandB #57, UK #55, US #35, US AC #20
written by: Michael Price (as Harvey Price) & Bobby Sandstrom
album: Indestructible
 		Four Tops Indestructible
1988 Arista
95 record label: Scotti Brothers 07783
chart position: RandB #2, UK #31, US dance #29
written by: Full Force & James Brown
album: I'm Real
comments: [funk]
 		James Brown I'm Real
1988 Scotti Brothers
96 record label: Def Jam 652833
chart position: RandB #18, UK #18, US dance #21
written by: Chuck D (as Carlton Ridenhour), Keith Shocklee & Eric Sadler (as Eric
album: It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back
comments: [hip hop]
 		Public Enemy Don't Believe the Hype
1988 Def Jam
97 record label: MCA 1256
chart position: RandB #16, UK #21, US dance #11
written by: Rakim (as William Griffin) & Eric B. (as Eric Barrier)
album: Follow the Leader
comments: [hip hop]
 		Eric B. & Rakim Follow the Leader
1988 MCA
98 record label: Motown 41883
chart position: RandB #4, UK #37, US #80
written by: Stevie Wonder
album: Characters
 		Stevie Wonder & Michael Jackson Get It
1988 Motown
99 record label: Epic 07708
chart position: RandB #1, US #85, UK #74
written by: Teena Marie and Allen McGrier
album: Naked to the World
comments: [slow jam]
 		Teena Marie Ooh La La La
1988 Epic
100 record label: Atlanta Artists 870 587
chart position: RandB #4, US #85, UK #74, US dance #45
written by: Larry Blackmon
album: Machismo
comments: [funk]
 		Cameo You Make Me Work
1988 Atlanta Artists


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