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. Before 2004, the chart was only based on the sales of physical singles. 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.
Artist Number of top 10s First entry Chart position Other entriesKrush1"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 CrewTaylor 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 TiveyLiverpool 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 Girl1"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 HaismanEnya1"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—
Notes Morrissey 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 rankEnteredThe date that the single first appeared in the chart.PeakHighest position that the single reached in the UK Singles Chart.