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A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z Other • Top 1000

Top R&B Songs of 1988

1987 <-

1988

-> 1989

Video playlist

Cover

Date

Title

Album

Comment

Video

07/1988

Don't Worry, Be Happy by Bobby McFerrin

from Spontaneous Inventions

402

✫1
US

7
AC

11
R&B

2
UK

[Grammy Award for Song of the Year 1989]
grammy logo

[Grammy Award for Record of the Year 1989]
[EMI/Manhattan 50146]
written by Bobby McFerrin

02/1988

Get Outta My Dreams, Get into My Car by Billy Ocean

from Tear Down These Walls

401

✫1
US

5
AC

25
dance

✫1
R&B

3
UK

[Jive 9678]
written by Robert John "Mutt" Lange & Billy Ocean

12/1988

Straight Up by Paula Abdul

from Forever Your Girl

398

✫1
US

39
AC

3
dance

2
R&B

3
UK

[Virgin 99256]
written by Elliot Wolff

07/1988

Girl You Know It's True by Milli Vanilli

from All or Nothing

362

2
US

3
dance

3
R&B

3
UK

[Arista 9781]
written by Bill Pettaway Jr., DJ Spen (as Sean Spencer), Kevin Lyles, Rodney Hollaman & Ky Adeyemo

11/1988

You Got It (The Right Stuff) by New Kids on the Block

from Hangin' Tough

361

3
US

20
dance

28
R&B

✫1
UK

[Columbia 08092]
written by Maurice Starr

09/1988

One Moment in Time by Whitney Houston

from 1988 Summer Olympics Album: One Moment in Time

361

5
US

✫1
AC

22
R&B

✫1
UK

used by NBC-TV for the 1988 Summer Olympics; produced by Narada Michael Walden
[Arista 9743]
written by Albert Hammond & John Bettis

08/1988

My Prerogative by Bobby Brown

from Don't Be Cruel

360

✫1
US

7
dance

✫1
R&B

6
UK

[MCA 53383]
written by Bobby Brown, Gene Griffin & Teddy Riley

04/1988

Dirty Diana by Michael Jackson

from Bad

356

✫1
US

5
R&B

4
UK

[Epic 07739]
written by Michael Jackson

04/1988

One More Try by George Michael

from Faith

355

✫1
US

✫1
AC

✫1
R&B

8
UK

[R]
[Columbia 07773]
written by George Michael

10.

01/1988

Sign Your Name by Terence Trent D'Arby

from Introducing the Hardline According to Terence Trent D'Arby

351

4
US

13
AC

23
dance

2
R&B

2
UK

[R]
[Columbia 07911]
written by Terence Trent D'Arby

11.

12/1988

Buffalo Stance by Neneh Cherry

from Raw Like Sushi

327

3
US

✫1
dance

30
R&B

3
UK

[Virgin 99231]
written by Jamie J. Morgan, Cameron McVey (as Booga Bear), Neneh Cherry & Phil Ramacon (as Phillip Ramacon)

12.

01/1988

Father Figure by George Michael

from Faith

327

✫1
US

3
AC

13
dance

6
R&B

11
UK

[Columbia 07682]
written by George Michael

13.

02/1988

Where Do Broken Hearts Go by Whitney Houston

from Whitney

322

✫1
US

✫1
AC

2
R&B

14
UK

produced by Narada Michael Walden
[Arista 9674]
written by Chuck Jackson & Frank Wildhorn

14.

07/1988

Monkey by George Michael

from Faith

315

✫1
US

✫1
dance

8
R&B

13
UK

[Columbia 07941]
written by George Michael

15.

02/1988

Man in the Mirror by Michael Jackson

from Bad

303

✫1
US

2
AC

✫1
R&B

21
UK

[Epic 07668]
written by Siedah Garrett & Glen Ballard

16.

02/1988

Pink Cadillac by Natalie Cole

from Everlasting

297

5
US

16
AC

✫1
dance

9
R&B

5
UK

[EMI/Manhattan 50117]
written by Bruce Springsteen

17.

06/1988

Roll with It by Steve Winwood

from Roll with It

289

✫1
US

✫1
AC

21
dance

30
R&B

✫1
rock

53
UK

[Virgin 99326]
written by Steve Winwood, Will Jennings, Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier & Eddie Holland Jr.

18.

12/1988

Baby Don't Forget My Number by Milli Vanilli

from All or Nothing

286

✫1
US

10
dance

9
R&B

16
UK

[Arista 9832]
written by Frank Farian & Brad Howell (as B. Nail)

19.

10/1988

The Lover in Me by Sheena Easton

from The Lover in Me

284

2
US

43
AC

2
dance

5
R&B

15
UK

produced by Babyface
[MCA 53416]
written by L.A. Reid, Babyface & Daryl Simmons

20.

12/1988

Wild Thing by Tone-Lōc

from Lōc'ed After Dark

273

2
US

✫1
dance

3
R&B

21
UK

charted as the double A Side Wild Thing/Loc'ed After Dark in the UK
[Delicious Vinyl 102]
written by Young MC

21.

06/1988

1-2-3 by Miami Sound Machine

from Let It Loose

266

3
US

✫1
AC

54
R&B

9
UK

as Gloria Estefan & Miami Sound Machine
[Epic 07921]
written by Gloria Estefan & Enrique Garcia

22.

03/1988

Mercedes Boy by Pebbles

from Pebbles

247

2
US

2
dance

✫1
R&B

42
UK

[MCA 53279]
written by Pebbles (as Perri McKissack)

23.

06/1988

The Twist (Yo, Twist) by The Fat Boys

from Coming Back Hard Again

232

16
US

40
R&B

2
UK

with Chubby Checker
[Tin Pan Apple 887571]
written by Hank Ballard

24.

11/1988

Smooth Criminal by Michael Jackson

from Bad

231

7
US

10
dance

2
R&B

8
UK

[Epic 08044]
written by Michael Jackson

25.

05/1988

Love Will Save the Day by Whitney Houston

from Whitney

224

9
US

10
AC

✫1
dance

5
R&B

10
UK

produced by Jellybean
[Arista 9720]
written by Toni C.

26.

11/1988

Roni by Bobby Brown

from Don't Be Cruel

220

3
US

2
R&B

21
UK

produced by Babyface
[MCA 53463]
written by Babyface

27.

10/1988

Kissing a Fool by George Michael

from Faith

213

5
US

✫1
AC

33
R&B

18
UK

[Columbia 08050]
written by George Michael

28.

04/1988

Alphabet St. by Prince

from Lovesexy

209

8
US

22
dance

3
R&B

9
UK

[Paisley Park 27900]
written by Prince

29.

09/1988

Giving You the Best That I Got by Anita Baker

from Giving You the Best That I Got

208

3
US

✫1
AC

✫1
R&B

[Elektra 69371]
written by Anita Baker, Skip Scarborough & Randy Holland

30.

11/1988

Superwoman by Karyn White

from Karyn White

207

8
US

12
AC

✫1
R&B

11
UK

produced by Babyface
[Warner 27783]
written by L.A. Reid, Babyface & Daryl Simmons

31.

06/1988

I'll Always Love You by Taylor Dayne

from Tell It to My Heart

201

3
US

2
AC

21
R&B

41
UK

[Arista 9700]
written by Jimmy George

32.

02/1988

Don't Turn Around by Aswad

from Distant Thunder

199

45
R&B

✫1
UK

[Mango 123]
written by Albert Hammond & Diane Warren

33.

02/1988

Piano in the Dark by Brenda Russell

from Get Here

193

6
US

3
AC

8
R&B

23
UK

featuring Joe Esposito
[A&M 3003]
written by Brenda Russell, Jeff Hull & Scott Cutler

34.

05/1988

Don't Be Cruel by Bobby Brown

from Don't Be Cruel

193

8
US

✫1
R&B

13
UK

produced by Babyface
[MCA 53327]
written by Babyface (as Kenneth Edmonds), L.A. Reid & Daryl Simmons

35.

04/1988

Everything Your Heart Desires by Hall & Oates

from Ooh Yeah!

193

3
US

2
AC

13
R&B

81
UK

[Arista 9684]
written by Daryl Hall

36.

07/1988

Another Part of Me by Michael Jackson

from Bad

175

11
US

44
AC

18
dance

✫1
R&B

15
UK

[Epic 07962]
written by Michael Jackson

37.

04/1988

Make It Real by The Jets [pop band]

from Magic

175

4
US

✫1
AC

24
R&B

[MCA 53311]
written by Don Powell, Rick Kelly & Linda Mallah

38.

08/1988

The Way You Love Me by Karyn White

from Karyn White

172

7
US

38
AC

5
dance

✫1
R&B

42
UK

produced by Babyface
[Warner 27773]
written by Babyface, L.A. Reid & Daryl Simmons

39.

01/1988

Rocket 2 U by The Jets [pop band]

from Magic

164

6
US

3
dance

5
R&B

69
UK

[MCA 53254]
written by Bobby Nunn

40.

11/1988

Dreamin' by Vanessa Williams [Vanessa Lynn Williams]

from The Right Stuff

159

8
US

2
AC

✫1
R&B

74
UK

[Wing 871078]
written by Lisa Montegomery & Geneva Paschal

41.

03/1988

Nite and Day by Al B. Sure!

from In Effect Mode

158

7
US

19
AC

✫1
R&B

44
UK

[Warner 28192]
written by Al B. Sure! & Kyle West

42.

05/1988

Tribute (Right On) by The Pasadenas

from To Whom It May Concern

154

52
US

27
dance

8
R&B

5
UK

[Columbia 68575]
written by Andrew Banfield, Aaron Brown, David Milliner, Michael Milliner, Hammish Seelochan & Pete Wingfield

43.

04/1988

Just Got Paid by Johnny Kemp

from Secrets of Flying

149

10
US

✫1
dance

✫1
R&B

68
UK

[Columbia 07744]
written by Johnny Kemp, Teddy Riley, Gene Griffin & Aaron Hall

44.

05/1988

Paradise by Sade

from Stronger Than Pride

145

16
US

3
AC

21
dance

✫1
R&B

29
UK

[Epic 07904]
written by Sade Adu, Andrew Hale, Stuart Matthewman & Paul Spencer Denman

45.

01/1988

Say It Again by Jermaine Stewart

from Say It Again

145

27
US

15
R&B

7
UK

[Arista 9636]
written by Bunny Sigler & Carol Davis

46.

06/1988

If It Isn't Love by New Edition

from N.E. Heartbreak

144

7
US

20
dance

2
R&B

94
UK

[MCA 53264]
written by Jimmy Jam (as James Samuel Harris III) & Terry Lewis

47.

05/1988

My Love by Julio Iglesias

from Non Stop

139

80
US

14
AC

88
R&B

5
UK

featuring Stevie Wonder
[Columbia 07781]
written by Stevie Wonder

48.

11/1988

I Wanna Have Some Fun by Samantha Fox

from I Wanna Have Some Fun

138

8
US

2
dance

19
R&B

63
UK

produced by Full Force
[Jive 1154]
written by Full Force

49.

11/1988

Twist and Shout by Salt-N-Pepa

from A Salt with a Deadly Pepa

136

45
R&B

4
UK

[Next Plateau 321]
written by Phil Medley & Bert Russell

50.

05/1988

My One Temptation by Mica Paris

from So Good

130

97
US

8
AC

36
dance

15
R&B

7
UK

[Island 99252]
written by Mike Leeson, Peter Vale & Miles Waters

51.

04/1988

Divine Emotions by Narada Michael Walden

from Divine Emotion

125

✫1
dance

21
R&B

8
UK

as Narada
[Reprise 27967]
written by Narada Michael Walden & Jeffrey Cohen

52.

09/1988

Big Fun by Inner City

from Paradise

121

✫1
dance

50
R&B

8
UK

featuring Kevin Saunderson
[Virgin 99260]
written by Kevin Saunderson, Paris Grey, James Pennington & Arthur Forrest

53.

05/1988

Roses Are Red by The Mac Band

from The Mac Band featuring the McCampbell Brothers

119

✫1
R&B

8
UK

featuring The McCampbell Brothers
[MCA 53177]
written by Babyface & L.A. Reid (as L.A.)

54.

09/1988

Dial My Heart by The Boys [US R&B quartet]

from Messages from the Boys

117

13
US

18
dance

✫1
R&B

61
UK

produced by Babyface
[MCA 53301]
written by Babyface, L.A. Reid & Daryl Simmons

55.

11/1988

Walking Away by Information Society

from Information Society

116

9
US

5
dance

64
R&B

15
alt.

[Tommy Boy 27736]
written by Paul Robb

56.

12/1988

Just Because by Anita Baker

from Giving You the Best That I Got

113

14
US

4
AC

✫1
R&B

[Elektra 69327]
written by Alex Brown, Sami McKinney & Michael O'Hara

57.

05/1988

The Colour of Love by Billy Ocean

from Tear Down These Walls

102

17
US

2
AC

10
R&B

65
UK

[Jive 9707]
written by Wayne Brathwaite (as Wayne Anton Braithwaite), Barry Eastmond (as Barry James Eastmond), Billy Ocean & Jolyon Skinner

58.

12/1988

Get on the Dance Floor by Rob Base and DJ E-Z Rock

from It Takes Two

101

✫1
dance

11
R&B

14
UK

[Profile 5239]
written by Rob Base (as Robert Ginyard), Michael Jackson (sample) & Randy Jackson [Jackson 5] (sample)

59.

10/1988

Silhouette by Kenny G

from Silhouette

13
US

2
AC

35
R&B

[instrumental]
[Arista 9751]
written by Kenny G

60.

01/1988

Never Knew Love Like This by Cherrelle

from Hearsay

28
US

2
R&B

26
UK

as Arthur Alexander featuring Cherrelle
[Tabu 07646]
written by Jimmy Jam (as James Harris III) & Terry Lewis

61.

04/1988

Parents Just Don't Understand by DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince

from He's the DJ, I'm the Rapper

12
US

10
R&B

87
UK

[Jive 1099]
written by Will Smith, DJ Jazzy Jeff (as Jeff Townes) & Peter Harris

62.

12/1988

She Won't Talk to Me by Luther Vandross

from Any Love

30
US

17
AC

18
dance

3
R&B

34
UK

[Epic 08513]
written by Luther Vandross & Hubert Eaves III

63.

04/1988

Please Don't Go Girl by New Kids on the Block

from Hangin' Tough

10
US

55
R&B

[Columbia 07700]
written by Maurice Starr

64.

09/1988

Any Love by Luther Vandross

from Any Love

44
US

12
AC

✫1
R&B

31
UK

[Epic 08047]
written by Luther Vandross & Marcus Miller

65.

04/1988

A Love Supreme by Will Downing

from Will Downing

4
dance

77
R&B

14
UK

[Island 99273]
written by David Cole, John Coltrane & Will Downing

66.

01/1988

Fishnet by Morris Day

from Daydreaming

23
US

12
dance

✫1
R&B

[Warner 28201]
written by Morris Day, Jimmy Jam (as James Harris) & Terry Lewis

67.

04/1988

Get Lucky by Jermaine Stewart

from Say It Again

12
dance

69
R&B

13
UK

[Arista 9714]
written by Errol Brown & Simon Climie

68.

07/1988

A Nightmare on My Street by DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince

from He's the DJ, I'm the Rapper

15
US

9
R&B

[Jive 1124]
written by Will Smith, DJ Jazzy Jeff (as Jeff Townes) & Peter Harris

69.

07/1988

Shake Your Thang (It's Your Thing) by Salt-N-Pepa

from A Salt with a Deadly Pepa

8
dance

4
R&B

22
UK

featuring E.U.
charted as Shake Your Thang / Spinderella's Not a Fella (But a Girl D.J.) in Australia charts
[Next Plateau 319]
written by Rudolph Isley, Ronald Isley & Kelly Isley (as O'Kelly Isley)

70.

05/1988

The Right Stuff by Vanessa Williams [Vanessa Lynn Williams]

from The Right Stuff

44
US

✫1
dance

4
R&B

71
UK

[Wing 887386]
written by Kipper Jones & Rex Salas

71.

04/1988

It Takes Two by Rob Base and DJ E-Z Rock

from It Takes Two

36
US

17
R&B

24
UK

[Profile 5186]
written by Rob Base (as Robert Ginyard) & James Brown (sample)

72.

03/1988

My Girl by Suave'

from I'm Your Playmate

20
US

3
R&B

[Capitol 44124]
written by Smokey Robinson & Ronald White

73.

09/1988

Riding on a Train by The Pasadenas

from To Whom It May Concern

73
R&B

13
UK

[Columbia 68931]
written by Andrew Banfield, Aaron Brown, David Milliner, Michael Milliner & Hammish Seelochan

74.

05/1988

Break 4 Love by Raze

from Album 88

✫1
dance

24
R&B

28
UK

[Columbia 08073]
written by Vaughan Mason

75.

07/1988

Don't Believe the Hype by Public Enemy

from It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back

21
dance

18
R&B

18
UK

[Def Jam 07934]
written by Chuck D (as Carlton Ridenhour), Keith Shocklee & Eric Sadler (as Eric "Vietnam" Sadler)

76.

01/1988

Thinking of You by Earth, Wind & Fire

from Touch the World

67
US

✫1
dance

3
R&B

94
UK

[Columbia 07695]
written by Wayne Vaughn & Maurice White

77.

07/1988

Follow the Leader by Eric B. & Rakim

from Follow the Leader

11
dance

16
R&B

21
UK

[Uni 50003]
written by Rakim (as William Griffin) & Eric B. (as Eric Barrier)

78.

12/1988

Respect by Adeva

from Adeva!

21
dance

84
R&B

17
UK

[Cooltempo 43329]
written by Otis Redding

79.

02/1988

Going Back to Cali / Jack the Ripper by LL Cool J

from Walking with a Panther

31
US

12
R&B

37
UK

[Def Jam 07679]
written by LL Cool J (as James Todd Smith)

80.

06/1988

Off on Your Own (Girl) by Al B. Sure!

from In Effect Mode

45
US

25
dance

✫1
R&B

70
UK

[Warner 27870]
written by Al B. Sure! & Kyle West

81.

07/1988

She's on the Left by Jeffrey Osborne

from One Love: One Dream

48
US

6
dance

✫1
R&B

[A&M 1227]
written by Robert Brookins, Jeffrey Osborne, Tony Haynes & Clinton "Spud" Blanson

82.

08/1988

Tumblin' Down by Ziggy Marley & the Melody Makers

from Conscious Party

28
dance

✫1
R&B

43
rock

5
alt.

84
UK

[Virgin 99299]
written by Tyrone Downie & Ziggy Marley

83.

02/1988

Goodgroove by Derek B

from Bullet from a Gun

61
R&B

16
UK

[Profile 5214]
written by Berry Gordy, Fonce Mizell (as Alphonso Mizell), Freddie Perren, Dennis Lussier & Derek B (as Derek Boland)

84.

02/1988

Da' Butt by E.U.

from Livin' Large

35
US

23
dance

✫1
R&B

[EMI/Manhattan 50115]
written by Marcus Miller & Mark Stevens

85.

06/1988

Another Weekend by Five Star

from Rock the World

23
R&B

18
UK

[RCA 8853]
written by Leon Sylvers III

86.

09/1988

Thanks for My Child by Cheryl Pepsii Riley

from Me, Myself & I

32
US

✫1
R&B

[Columbia 07996]
written by Curtis Bedeau, Gerard Charles, Hugh Clarke, Brian George, Lucien George & Paul George

87.

05/1988

I'm Real by James Brown

from I'm Real

29
dance

2
R&B

31
UK

featuring Full Force
[Scotti Brothers 07783]
written by Full Force & James Brown

88.

04/1988

Trouble by Nia Peeples

from Nothin' but Trouble

35
US

✫1
dance

71
R&B

[Mercury 870154]
written by Steve Harvey

89.

07/1988

Nice 'N Slow by Freddie Jackson

from Don't Let Love Slip Away

61
US

✫1
R&B

56
UK

[Capitol 44171]
written by Barry Eastmond & Jolyon Skinner

90.

01/1988

You Will Know by Stevie Wonder

from Characters

77
US

16
AC

✫1
R&B

77
UK

[Motown 1919]
written by Stevie Wonder

91.

04/1988

Walk Away by Joyce Sims

from Come into My Life

11
dance

56
R&B

24
UK

[Sleeping Bag 40136]
written by Geezer Butler, Ronnie James Dio, Tony Iommi, Joyce Sims & Bill Ward

92.

04/1988

Get It by Stevie Wonder & Michael Jackson

from Characters

80
US

4
R&B

37
UK

[Motown 1930]
written by Stevie Wonder

93.

04/1988

Supersonic by J.J. Fad

from Supersonic

30
US

10
dance

22
R&B

co-produced by Dr. Dre
[Ruthless 99328]
written by MC J.B. (as Juana Burns), Baby D (as Dania Birks), Anna Cash, Juanita Lee & Fatima Shaheed

94.

04/1988

Little Walter by Tony! Toni! Toné!

from Who?

47
US

43
dance

✫1
R&B

co-produced by David Foster
[Wing 887385]
written by Denzil Foster, Thomas McElroy, Tim Christian, D'Wayne Wiggins & Raphael Saadiq (as Raphael Wiggins)

95.

10/1988

I Wish U Heaven by Prince

from Lovesexy

18
R&B

24
UK

[Paisley Park 27745]
written by Prince

96.

07/1988

Missed Opportunity by Hall & Oates

from Ooh Yeah!

29
US

8
AC

68
R&B

[Arista 9727]
written by Sara Allen, Daryl Hall & John Oates

97.

05/1988

Knocked Out by Paula Abdul

from Forever Your Girl

41
US

14
dance

8
R&B

98
UK

produced by Babyface
[Virgin 99329]
written by Babyface, Daryl Simmons & L.A. Reid

98.

08/1988

Indestructible by Four Tops

from Indestructible

35
US

20
AC

57
R&B

55
UK

[Arista 9706]
written by Michael Price (as Harvey Price) & Bobby Sandstrom

99.

12/1988

Can You Stand the Rain by New Edition

from N.E. Heartbreak

44
US

✫1
R&B

[MCA 53464]
written by Jimmy Jam (as James Samuel Harris III) & Terry Lewis

100.

07/1988

Hold On to What You've Got by Evelyn King

from Flirt

5
dance

8
R&B

47
UK

[EMI-Manhattan 50142]
written by Leon Sylvers III (as Leon F. Sylvers III) & Gene Dozier

I like MVF

US charts info based on Billboard (www.billboard.com) charts • UK charts info based on The Official UK Charts Company's charts

Music VF.com, music hits charts • Rock VF.com, rock music hits charts • Music VF.fr, tous les tubes •