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