1988 in music

This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1988.

            List of years in music       (table)
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Art . Archaeology . Architecture . Literature . Music . Philosophy . Science +...

Events

January–March

April–June

July–September

October–December

Also in 1988

Bands formed

Bands disbanded

See Musical groups disestablished in 1988

Albums released

January – March

Date Album Artist Notes
J
A
N
U
A
R
Y
4 B'Sides Themselves Marillion B-sides compilation
L.A. Guns L.A. Guns -
11 The Road: Live The Kinks Live
18 Blow Up Your Video AC/DC Australia
If I Should Fall from Grace with God The Pogues -
19 So Far, So Good... So What! Megadeth -
Tell It to My Heart Taylor Dayne -
25 Shove It The Cross -
26 Skyscraper David Lee Roth -
? Never Die Young James Taylor -
State of Mind Front Line Assembly -
Tear Down These Walls Billy Ocean -
F
E
B
R
U
A
R
Y
2 Ain't Misbehavin' UFO mini-album
I'm Your Man Leonard Cohen -
Lita Lita Ford -
Live+1 Frehley's Comet Live EP +1 studio track
4 Space Wrangler Widespread Panic Debut Album
16 All About Eve All About Eve -
Nada como el sol Sting EP
Starfish The Church -
17 Making Trouble Geto Boys -
23 Goin' Off Biz Markie -
29 The Frenz Experiment The Fall -
Now and Zen Robert Plant -
? Children The Mission -
Falling Up Kevin Ayers -
Hard Machine Stacey Q -
Idlewild Everything but the Girl -
If You Can't Lick 'Em...Lick 'Em Ted Nugent -
Pinker and Prouder Than Previous Nick Lowe -
Prison Bound Social Distortion -
The Whitey Album Ciccone Youth -
M
A
R
C
H
1 The Seventh One Toto -
7 Past Masters The Beatles Compilation
8 Racing After Midnight Honeymoon Suite
14 From Langley Park to Memphis Prefab Sprout -
Viva Hate Morrissey UK
15 Naked Talking Heads -
16 Green Thoughts The Smithereens -
21 Now That's What I Call Music 11 (UK series) Various Artists Compilation
Surfer Rosa Pixies UK
23 Chalk Mark in a Rain Storm Joni Mitchell -
25 Heart Attack Krokus -
The World's Greatest Entertainer Doug E. Fresh -
28 Out of the Silent Planet King's X -
29 Lefty Art Garfunkel -
? On Target Fastway -
The Pictorial Jackson Review Felt -
Push Bros -
Tattooed Beat Messiah Zodiac Mindwarp and the Love Reaction -

April – June

Date Album Artist Notes
A
P
R
I
L
5 Conscious Party Ziggy Marley & The Melody Makers -
He's the DJ, I'm the Rapper DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince -
Stronger Than Pride Sade UK
8 Odyssey Yngwie Malmsteen -
11 Hairway to Steven Butthole Surfers -
Seventh Son of a Seventh Son Iron Maiden -
This Note's for You Neil Young and the Bluenotes -
12 Color Various Artists Soundtrack
Even Worse "Weird Al" Yankovic -
Lap of Luxury Cheap Trick -
13 Diamond Sun Glass Tiger -
15 Tracy Chapman Tracy Chapman -
16 Savage Amusement Scorpions -
18 Barbed Wire Kisses The Jesus and Mary Chain Compilation
Eden Alley Timbuk3 -
The Innocents Erasure -
Reba Reba McEntire -
20 History of a Time to Come Sabbat -
25 Hang Time Soul Asylum -
The Xenon Codex Hawkwind -
26 Guitar Frank Zappa Live
Racing after Midnight Honeymoon Suite -
27 Flirt Evelyn King -
? Ainsi soit je... Mylène Farmer -
Aliens Ate My Buick Thomas Dolby -
All That Jazz Breathe -
Crossroads Eric Clapton Box Set
Fur Jane Wiedlin -
Heart of Gold Sofia Rotaru -
I Am Kurious Oranj The Fall -
In Effect Mode Al B. Sure! -
Life's Too Good The Sugarcubes -
The Mona Lisa's Sister Graham Parker -
North and South Gerry Rafferty -
Over the Edge Hurricane -
M
A
Y
1 The First of a Million Kisses Fairground Attraction -
2 Melissa Etheridge Melissa Etheridge -
3 The Madness The Madness -
Open Up and Say... Ahh! Poison -
Operation: Mindcrime Queensrÿche -
Scenes from the Southside Bruce Hornsby and the Range -
Stay on These Roads a-ha -
Vivid Living Colour -
5 The New Order Testament -
10 Joy Teddy Pendergrass -
Lovesexy Prince -
12 Invisible Lantern Screaming Trees -
16 You Can't Do That on Stage Anymore, Vol. 1 Frank Zappa Live
17 Battalions of Fear Blind Guardian -
In the City of Angels Jon Anderson -
Ram It Down Judas Priest -
18 Golden Throats: The Great Celebrity Sing Off Various Artists Compilation
21 Long Cold Winter Cinderella -
23 Out of Order Rod Stewart -
Up Your Alley Joan Jett and the Blackhearts -
24 OU812 Van Halen -
Our Beloved Revolutionary Sweetheart Camper Van Beethoven -
Second Sighting Frehley's Comet -
30 Down in the Groove Bob Dylan -
31 By All Means Necessary Boogie Down Productions -
? The Abbey Road E.P. Red Hot Chili Peppers EP
A Bell Is a Cup Wire -
Live 1980/86 Joe Jackson Live
People Hothouse Flowers -
Perfect Machine Herbie Hancock -
Power Metal Pantera -
Total Devo Devo -
J
U
N
E
1 Close Kim Wilde -
6 Britny Fox Britny Fox -
Sur la Mer The Moody Blues -
7 Strictly Business EPMD -
12 In Battle There Is No Law Bolt Thrower -
13 Ain't Complaining Status Quo -
Conscience Womack and Womack -
Forever Your Girl Paula Abdul -
Survive Nuclear Assault -
17 Open All Night The Georgia Satellites -
19 Let It Bee Voice of the Beehive -
Outrider Jimmy Page -
20 Chicago 19 Chicago -
Confessions of a Pop Group The Style Council -
Don't Be Cruel Bobby Brown -
Instinct Iggy Pop -
21 Information Society Information Society -
Long Live the Kane Big Daddy Kane -
Lullaby Book of Love -
Roll with It Steve Winwood -
22 Heavy Nova Robert Palmer -
24 Fearless Eighth Wonder -
Reg Strikes Back Elton John -
27 20 Years of Jethro Tull Jethro Tull Box Set
Riders Radio Theater Riders in the Sky -
28 In God We Trust Stryper -
It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back Public Enemy -
Lead Me On Amy Grant -
30 Indispensable: The Best of Michael Franks Michael Franks Compilation
? Coming Back Hard Again The Fat Boys -
Dream of Life Patti Smith -
Nobody's Perfect Deep Purple Live
Outside the Gate Killing Joke -
Provision Scritti Politti -
Small World Huey Lewis and the News -
Tighten Up Vol. 88 Big Audio Dynamite -
Y Kant Tori Read Y Kant Tori Read featuring Tori Amos

July – September

Date Album Artist Notes
J
U
L
Y
4 Kylie Kylie Minogue -
5 South of Heaven Slayer -
11 Substance Joy Division Compilation
UB40 UB40 -
Wild Wild West The Escape Club -
Wings of Heaven Magnum -
12 Brian Wilson Brian Wilson -
23 Now That's What I Call Music 12 (UK series) Various Artists Compilation
25 View from the House Kim Carnes -
? The Best of Thompson Twins: Greatest Mixes Thompson Twins -
Cocktail Various Artists Soundtrack
Imaginos Blue Öyster Cult -
The Indescribable Wow Sam Phillips -
Let It Roll Little Feat -
Reek of Putrefaction Carcass -
Temple of Low Men Crowded House -
Train Above the City Felt -
Wide Awake in Dreamland Pat Benatar -
A
U
G
U
S
T
2 Buenas Noches from a Lonely Room Dwight Yoakam -
Greatest Hits Live Carly Simon Live
A Salt with a Deadly Pepa Salt-n-Pepa -
4 Follow the Leader Eric B & Rakim -
8 Don't Be Afraid of the Dark Robert Cray -
Dragon's Kiss Marty Friedman Debut
Straight Outta Compton N.W.A. -
What Good Is Grief to a God? D.I. -
9 Out of This World Europe -
10 Winger Winger Debut
12 Leprosy Death -
15 Short Sharp Shocked Michelle Shocked -
Soul Searchin' Glenn Frey -
23 Dangerous Age Bad Company -
Nothing's Shocking Jane's Addiction -
Two Nuns and a Pack Mule Rapeman -
24 Young Man Running Corey Hart -
25 ...And Justice for All Metallica -
27 So Good Mica Paris -
28 Keeper of the Seven Keys, Pt. 2 Helloween -
30 Chameleon Days Yanni -
Other Roads Boz Scaggs -
? 16 Lovers Lane The Go-Betweens -
Chimes of Freedom Bruce Springsteen Live EP
Danzig Danzig -
Interior Design Sparks -
Revolutions Jean Michel Jarre -
Sunshine on Leith The Proclaimers -
Viva Santana! Santana Compilation with unreleased tracks
S
E
P
T
E
M
B
E
R
5 Peepshow Siouxsie and the Banshees -
Rank The Smiths Live
6 Hangin' Tough New Kids on the Block -
8 Suffer Bad Religion -
11 Hell-O GWAR -
12 VIVIsectVI Skinny Puppy -
13 Ancient Heart Tanita Tikaram -
Eazy-Duz-It Eazy-E -
How Will I Laugh Tomorrow When I Can't Even Smile Today Suicidal Tendencies -
Power Ice-T -
See the Light Jeff Healey Band -
Them King Diamond -
Truth and Soul Fishbone -
16 Spirit of Eden Talk Talk -
Tougher Than Leather Run-D.M.C. -
19 Blow My Fuse Kix -
Blue Bell Knoll Cocteau Twins -
New Jersey Bon Jovi -
State of Euphoria Anthrax -
Tender Prey Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds -
Watermark Enya -
20 Any Love Luther Vandross -
BulletBoys BulletBoys -
Workers Playtime Billy Bragg -
21 Pound for Pound Anvil -
25 Lincoln They Might Be Giants -
26 Boingo Alive Oingo Boingo Compilation + Live
28 Let's Get It Started MC Hammer Capitol re-release of 1987 debut
No Rest for the Wicked Ozzy Osbourne Epic/CBS
? Big Time Tom Waits Live
Buster Phil Collins et al. Soundtrack
It Takes Two Rob Base and DJ E-Z Rock -
La pistola y el corazón Los Lobos -
Land of Dreams Randy Newman -
Metal Rhythm Gary Numan -
Peace in Our Time Big Country -
Staring at the Sun Level 42 UK
Vixen Vixen -

October – December

Date Album Artist Notes
O
C
T
O
B
E
R
1 Breakwater Lennie Gallant -
3 Flying Colours Chris de Burgh -
Talk Is Cheap Keith Richards -
4 Critical Beatdown Ultramagnetic MCs -
Silhouette Kenny G -
10 Barcelona Freddie Mercury and Montserrat Caballé -
Imagine: John Lennon John Lennon et al. Soundtrack
Rattle and Hum U2 Soundtrack; Studio + Live
11 Introspective Pet Shop Boys -
The Land of Rape and Honey Ministry -
Touch Sarah McLachlan Arista Records re-release
14 Broadway the Hard Way Frank Zappa -
15 Nö Sleep at All Motörhead Live
17 Copperhead Road Steve Earle -
New Light Through Old Windows Chris Rea Remixes
18 Big Thing Duran Duran -
Everything The Bangles -
Giving You the Best That I Got Anita Baker -
Negotiations and Love Songs Paul Simon Compilation
21 Look Sharp! Roxette -
24 The Serpent's Egg Dead Can Dance -
Traveling Wilburys Vol. 1 Traveling Wilburys -
25 Till I Loved You Barbra Streisand -
You Can't Do That on Stage Anymore, Vol. 2 Frank Zappa Live
28 Living Years Mike + The Mechanics -
31 Bug Dinosaur Jr. -
Choba B CCCP Paul McCartney USSR-only release
Ultramega OK Soundgarden Debut
? Amnesia Richard Thompson -
California American Music Club -
Daydream Nation Sonic Youth -
Greatest Hits of All Times – Remix '88 Boney M. Remix
Fisherman's Blues The Waterboys -
In the Spirit of Things Kansas -
Money for Nothing Dire Straits Compilation
My Nation Underground Julian Cope -
QR Quiet Riot -
Rage T'Pau U.K.
N
O
V
E
M
B
E
R
1 20 Harry Connick, Jr. -
American Dream Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young -
Flag Yello -
The Great Adventures of Slick Rick Slick Rick -
Oasis Roberta Flack -
Shaday Ofra Haza -
3 Reach for the Sky Ratt -
7 The Memphis Sessions Wet Wet Wet -
8 Green R.E.M. -
Straight out the Jungle The Jungle Brothers -
15 Greatest Hits Fleetwood Mac Compilation
Greatest Hits Journey Compilation
The Live Album Robert Earl Keen -
Smashes, Thrashes & Hits Kiss Compilation Remixed +2 new tracks
16 Beast from the East Dokken Live
Goodbye Girl Miyuki Nakajima -
18 Kings of Metal Manowar -
21 Isn't Anything My Bloody Valentine Debut
Now That's What I Call Music XIII (UK series) Various Artists Compilation
22 Beaches Bette Midler Soundtrack
CK Chaka Khan -
Delicate Sound of Thunder Pink Floyd Live
23 Ancient Dreams Candlemass -
26 Hold Me in Your Arms Rick Astley UK
29 G N' R Lies Guns N' Roses -
? All or Nothing Milli Vanilli Debut, Europe
Bummed Happy Mondays -
Gems Aerosmith Compilation
Hold an Old Friend's Hand Tiffany -
Mademoiselle chante... Patricia Kaas -
Tucker Joe Jackson -
D
E
C
E
M
B
E
R
6 Almost Acoustic Jerry Garcia Live
9 Empnefsi! Anna Vissi -
? The Best Years of Our Lives Neil Diamond -
Sub Pop 200 Various Artists -

Release date unknown

Biggest hit singles

The following songs achieved the highest chart positions in the charts of 1988.

# Artist Title Year Country Chart Entries
1 Phil Collins A Groovy Kind of Love 1988 United Kingdom UK 1 – Sep 1988, US BB 1 – Sep 1988, Netherlands 1 – Sep 1988, Switzerland 1 – Oct 1988, Poland 1 – Sep 1988, Éire 1 – Sep 1988, Norway 2 – Sep 1988, Italy 2 of 1988, Germany 3 – Jan 1989, Sweden 4 – Sep 1988, Austria 6 – Nov 1988, South Africa 11 of 1989, Australia 23 of 1988, US BB 26 of 1988, US CashBox 29 of 1988, POP 65 of 1988, Germany 103 of the 1980s, RYM 193 of 1988
2 Bobby McFerrin Don't Worry Be Happy 1988 United States US BB 1 – Aug 1988, Austria 1 – Nov 1988, Germany 1 – Jan 1989, Australia 1 for 7 weeks May 1989, Grammy in 1988, UK 2 – Sep 1988, Netherlands 2 – Oct 1988, Switzerland 2 – Oct 1988, Norway 5 – Oct 1988, South Africa 5 of 1989, Sweden 13 – Oct 1988, Poland 13 – Sep 1988, POP 13 of 1988, Germany 23 of the 1980s, US CashBox 28 of 1988, Scrobulate 92 of happy, RYM 94 of 1988, Italy 97 of 1989, RIAA 301
3 Pet Shop Boys Always On My Mind 1988 United Kingdom UK 1 – Dec 1987 (3 weeks), Sweden 1 – Dec 1987 (8 weeks), Switzerland 1 – Jan 1988 (18 weeks), Poland 1 – Jan 1988 (20 weeks), Germany 1 – Jan 1988 (4 months), Canada RPM 1 for 2 weeks – May 1988, Europe 1 for 5 weeks – Jan 1988, Germany 1 for 6 weeks – Jan 1988, Austria 2 – Feb 1988 (5 weeks), Belgium 2 – Dec 1987 (11 weeks), Netherlands 3 – Dec 1987 (10 weeks), Norway 3 – Jan 1988 (10 weeks), US Billboard 4 – Mar 1988 (15 weeks), UK Gold (certified by BPI in Jan 1988), Germany Gold (certified by BMieV in 1988), South Africa 11 of 1988, Switzerland 15 of 1988, KROQ 18 of 1988, RYM 33 of 1987, POP 38 of 1988, Italy 58 of 1988, US Radio 69 of 1988 (peak 4 7 weeks), Germany 136 of the 1980s (peak 1 11 weeks)
4 Belinda Carlisle Heaven is a Place On Earth 1988 United States UK 1 – Dec 1987, US BB 1 – Oct 1987, Sweden 1 – Jan 1988, Switzerland 1 – Jan 1988, Norway 1 – Jan 1988, New Zealand 1 for 4 weeks Feb 1988, Germany 4 – Jan 1988, South Africa 4 of 1988, Netherlands 7 – Jan 1988, Austria 10 – Mar 1988, Australia 10 of 1988, Poland 15 – Nov 1987, US BB 17 of 1987, Italy 31 of 1988, RYM 53 of 1987, POP 72 of 1987, Germany 344 of the 1980s
5 Rick Astley Take Me To Your Heart 1988 United States UK 1 – Oct 1988, Netherlands 1 – Nov 1988, Switzerland 1 – Nov 1988, Éire 1 – Oct 1988, Scrobulate 1 of new age, Poland 2 – Dec 1988, Germany 1 – Jan 1989, Sweden 1 – Nov 1988, Norway 1 – Nov 1988, Austria 1 – Dec 1988, France 1 – Oct 1988, RYM 18 of 1988, US BB 24 – Mar 1989, POP 34 of 1989, Germany 242 of the 1980s

U.S. best selling singles

The following singles achieved the highest chart positions in the U.S. in 1988.

Position Song Title Artist Highest Position weeks at #1
1 Faith George Michael 1 4
2 Need You Tonight INXS 1 1
3 Got My Mind Set On You George Harrison 1 1
4 Together Forever Rick Astley 1 2
5 Spotlight Madonna 1 2

Top selling albums of the year in the US

  1. George MichaelFaith
  2. MadonnaYou Can Dance
  3. Michael JacksonBad
  4. Guns N' RosesAppetite for Destruction

Top hits

Classical music

Concerto for Piano four hands and Orchestra
Piano Quartet
Symphony No. 5 (Concerto Grosso No. 4)
Klingende Buchstaben

Opera

Musical theater

Musical films

Births

Deaths

Awards

Grammy Awards

Eurovision Song Contest

Charts

See also

References

  1. Persall, Steve (June 16, 1988). "A Pair of Sixxes?". Rolling Stone (Straight Arrow Publishers, Inc.) (528): 30.
  2. "Jackson Rules Charts". Rolling Stone (Straight Arrow Publishers, Inc.) (525): 22. May 5, 1988.
  3. DeCurtis, Anthony (June 16, 1988). "McGhee Placed on Probation". Rolling Stone (Straight Arrow Publishers, Inc.) (528): 29.
  4. Pond, Steve (June 30, 1988). "Atlantic's Birthday Bash". Rolling Stone (Straight Arrow Publishers, Inc.) (529): 48–50, 66.
  5. Ressner, Jeffrey (August 11, 1988). "Motown Records Sold". Rolling Stone (Straight Arrow Publishers, Inc.) (532): 17.
  6. "August". Rolling Stone (Straight Arrow Publishers, Inc.) (541/542): 84. December 15, 1988.
  7. Ressner, Jeffrey (November 3, 1988). "James Brown Arrested After Car Chase". Rolling Stone (Straight Arrow Publishers, Inc.) (538): 27.
  8. Dietmar N. Schmidt (ed.): Das Theater von Alvar Aalto in Essen. Baedeker, Essen 1988, ISBN 3-920138-03-1
  9. About Cairo Opera House. Accessed 7 March 2013
  10. 10.0 10.1 Goldberg, Michael (January 12, 1989). "Fogerty Wins Unusual Self-Plagiarism Suit". Rolling Stone (Straight Arrow Publishers, Inc.) (543): 15.
  11. Dörte Schmidt, "Ruzicka, Peter", The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians, second edition, edited by Stanley Sadie and John Tyrrell (London: Macmillan Publishers, 2001).
  12. Alan Blyth, "Davis, Sir Andrew (Frank)", The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians, second edition, edited by Stanley Sadie and John Tyrrell (London: Macmillan Publishers, 2001).
  13. magle.dk. "Frederik Magle - Scrapbook". Retrieved 29 June 2012.

External links