1988 Number One Songs UK
This is more like it – for me, anyway. I was 14 when the 1988 number one songs UK topped the singles charts, so I had a pretty keen interest in music by then.
As in 1987, there were 20 1988 number ones in the UK. The list includes, as usual, a few one hit wonders – in fact more than in previous years. One I guess was inspired by the previous year’s novelty hit.
Some of the other highlights – or should I say lowlights – among the number ones of 1988 include one of the cheesiest singles of the entire 1980s (and yes, the pun on dairy slices is intentional).
At the time, I was also often told I looked like the artist who had the second number one song of 1988. As for a certain Australian soap star, I’ll always be green-eyed with envy because she dated my beloved Michael Hutchence between 1989 and 1991.
For then, though, it was the summer of ’88 that sent me wild over Bros. Yep, I know. But yes, I fell hook, line and sinker for the Goss twins and Craig Logan during the late 80s. (Even though there were much better 1988 songs out there, I realise now.)
The 1988 Olympic theme song also made the charts this year, when they were held during summer in Seoul, South Korea.
The 20 1988 number one songs in the UK
Pet Shop Boys – Always On My Mind
2 weeks at number one in January 1988
Belinda Carlisle – Heaven Is A Place On Earth
2 weeks at number one in January 1988
Tiffany – I Think We’re Alone Now
3 weeks at number one in January & February 1988
Kylie Minogue – I Should Be So Lucky
5 weeks at number one in February & March 1988
Aswad – Don’t Turn Around
2 weeks at number one in March & April 1988
Pet Shop Boys – Heart
3 weeks at number one in April 1988
S Express – Theme From S Express
2 weeks at number one in April & May 1988
Fairground Attraction – Perfect
1 week at number one in May 1988
Wet Wet Wet – With A Little Help From My Friends / Billy Bragg – She’s Leaving Home
4 weeks at number one in May & June 1988
Doctorin’ The Tardis – The Timelords
1 week at number one in June 1988
Bros – I Owe You Nothing
2 weeks at number one in June & July 1988
Glenn Medeiros – Nothing’s Gonna Change My Love For You
4 weeks at number one in July & August 1988
Yazz & The Plastic Population – The Only Way Is Up
5 weeks at number one in August & September 1988
Phil Collins – A Groovy Kind Of Love
2 weeks at number one in September 1988
The Hollies – He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother
2 weeks at number one in September & October 1988
U2 – Desire
1 week at number one in October 1988
Whitney Houston – One Moment In Time
2 weeks at number one in October 1988
Enya – Orinoco Flow (Sail Away)
3 weeks at number one in October & November 1988
Robin Beck – First Time
3 weeks at number one in November & December 1988
Cliff Richard – Mistletoe And Wine
4 weeks at number one in December 1988
What do you think of the 1988 number one songs?
Until I started writing articles like this 1988 top songs piece, I underestimated just how popular the Pet Shop Boys were in the 80s. Not that I noticed, as I only had eyes for Matt Goss…
Who’d have thought that a Coca-Cola tune would top the charts – or that the public would keep on buying the singles by Cliff Richard or Glenn Medeiros? Yet they were among the biggest 1988 hit songs.
Marcy x
Related posts:
Discover all the number one singles from the rest of the 80s here:
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