1988 in British music
Encyclopedia
This is a summary of 1988 in music
in the United Kingdom
, including the official charts from that year.
was evident in the charts by the start of 1988, with many songs of this genre becoming big hits, such as "House Arrest
" by Krush
, "Beat Dis" by Bomb the Bass
and "Rok Da House" by The Beatmasters. The Acid House
band S'Express
had three Top 10 hits this year including a number 1 in April with the song "Theme from S'Express
", but the biggest dance hit of the year came from London singer Yazz
, who had first had a big hit with producers Coldcut
on the song "Doctorin' The House". Still with Coldcut but now with her name billed as the lead artist, her song "The Only Way Is Up
" topped the chart for five weeks and was the second biggest-selling single of the year, and paved the way for a successful solo career, including the follow-up "Stand Up For Your Love Rights" which hit No.2 in October.
One of the biggest successes of the year was 19-year-old Kylie Minogue
, well known to the public from her role in the Australian soap opera
Neighbours
. Signed to the production trio Stock Aitken Waterman
, her debut song "I Should Be So Lucky
" was number 1 for five weeks, and all of her other solo releases this year - "Got to Be Certain
", "The Locomotion
" and "Je Ne Sais Pas Pourquoi
" - reached number 2. Her album "Kylie
" was also number 1 for six weeks, the biggest-selling album of the year and the fifth best-selling album of the entire decade. All Kylie's hits were produced by Stock Aitken Waterman
who continued to score hit after hit this year. The production powerhouse also scored Top 10's with Mel and Kim
("That's The Way It Is", No.10, February) Sinitta ("Cross My Broken Heart", No.6, March), Rick Astley
("Together Forever", No.2, March and "Take Me to Your Heart", No.8, November), Bananarama
("I Want You Back", No.5, April), Hazell Dean
("Who's Leaving Who", No.4, April), Brother Beyond
("The Harder I Try", No.2, August and "He Ain't No Competition", No.6, November). In September, another star from Neighbours
- Minogue's co-star Jason Donovan
- debuted with his Stock Aitken Waterman-produced hit "Nothing Can Divide Us" which reached number 5 and he would go on to outsell even Kylie the following year.
Popular teenage acts other than Minogue to emerge this year included the American singer Tiffany
who scored three Top 10 hits including the No.1 "I Think We're Alone Now" while fellow American teenage star Debbie Gibson also crossed over to the British Charts and had four Top 20 hits. Gibson's biggest hit was the 80's-compilation staple "Shake Your Love" which reached number 7 in January while her first American chart-topper "Foolish Beat
" peaked at number 9 in October. Meanwhile, from Italy came Sabrina
whose infamous appearances in skimpy swimsuits became tabloid-fodder throughout the year as her pan-European smash hit "Boys (Summertime Love)" hit number 3 in June and the Stock Aitken Waterman
-produced follow-up "All of Me" peaked at number 25 six months later.
New British boyband Bros
took five singles into the Top 5 this year including "When Will I Be Famous?
" and their only number 1 "I Owe You Nothing
", a re-issue of their first single originally released in 1987. Wet Wet Wet
scored the first number 1 of their long run of hits with a cover of "With A Little Help From My Friends
" which held the top position for 3 weeks.
Also making their chart debuts this year was nineteen-year old Tanita Tikaram
who launched her career with the critically acclaimed debut album Ancient Heart
which contained the Top 10 hit "Good Tradition
" and perhaps her most remembered song, the intriguing "Twist In My Sobriety
" which peaked at number 22 in October. Eddi Reader
also rose to prominence during 1988 as the lead-singer of Fairground Attraction
. The band made number 1 with the song "Perfect" and followed it up with another Top 10 hit, "Find My Love" and number 2 album The First of a Million Kisses
.
Making chart comebacks after long-absences were Cher
, re-launching her music career with "I Found Someone
", a number 5 hit written and produced by Michael Bolton
. Belinda Carlisle
revived her career this year with three Top 10's including the number 1 "Heaven is a Place on Earth
" while Kim Wilde
scored a career-best three successive Top 10's with "You Came" (No.3), "Never Trust a Stranger (No.7) and "Four Letter Word" (No.6). Pop duo Dollar
scored their ninth and final Top 20 hit with comeback hit "Oh L'amour
", a self-produced cover of an early Erasure
single, which made number 7 in April, and also making a chart comeback was the song "A Groovy Kind Of Love
", originally a hit in 1965 for The Mindbenders, it hit number 1 in September for Phil Collins
, taken from the film Buster
in which Collins also starred.
Some of the more unusual hits of the year included a remix of the theme tune from the popular television series Doctor Who
, by "The Timelords", who would go on to have huge success in the early 1990s under the name The KLF
. Their song "Doctorin' The TARDIS" (a play on Coldcut's "Doctorin' The House") was number 1 for a week in June. A television advertisement for Miller Lite
beer used the 1969 song "He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother
" by The Hollies
, which became a number 1 in September 19 years after its original release, and an advert for Coca-Cola
gave Robin Beck
a number 1 with the ballad "First Time
". Film and Television actress Patsy Kensit
, a teenager in 1988, also reached the Top 10 this year in the band Eighth Wonder
. Their Pet Shop Boys
-produced UK debut "I'm Not Scared
" slowly climbed up the Top 40 and peaked at number 7 in May. The band were more popular in Italy and Japan where they scored several number 1 hits.
The race for Christmas number one was a battle between Cliff Richard
, with a career stretching back to the 1950s and his seasonal song "Mistletoe and Wine
", and new star Kylie Minogue
with "Especially for You
", a duet with her Neighbours co-star Jason Donovan
which coincided with their characters' on-screen Wedding in Neighbourson BBC 1. The winner was "Mistletoe and Wine", giving Cliff Richard the biggest-selling song of the year, but "Especially for You" hung on at number 2 all month and climbed to number 1 in the new year of 1989, staying there for three weeks, eventually selling just short of 1 million copies.
New classical works by British composers included oboe and trumpet concertos from Peter Maxwell Davies
and Michael Finnissy
's Red Earth for orchestra. Devotional works included Nicholas Jackson's Variations on ‘Praise to the Lord, the Almighty’ and John Tavener
's The Akathist of Thanksgiving. Russian pianist Evgeny Kissin
made his Proms debut during the 1988 season, whilst Sir Andrew Davis
gave up his role as conductor of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra
to become director of Glyndebourne
.
Issue Date
Issue Date
winners were:
1988 in music
This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1988.-January-March:* January 1 – André Rieu's Johann Strauss Orchestra plays its first concert....
in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, including the official charts from that year.
Summary
The growing popularity of House MusicHouse music
House music is a genre of electronic dance music that originated in Chicago, Illinois, United States in the early 1980s. It was initially popularized in mid-1980s discothèques catering to the African-American, Latino American, and gay communities; first in Chicago circa 1984, then in other...
was evident in the charts by the start of 1988, with many songs of this genre becoming big hits, such as "House Arrest
House Arrest (song)
"House Arrest" is a hit single by British group Krush who hailed from Nottingham. It was believed that the vocalist Ruth Joy was Ann Saunderson however this has been proven to be incorrect...
" by Krush
Krush
Krush were a UK dance music group, who had a crossover hit single with "House Arrest" in 1987.-Career:The group consisted of musicians Mark Gamble, Cassius Campbell and record producers Mark Brydon and Robert Gordon. Their second single "Walking On Sunshine" was a club hit in 1992, and peaked at...
, "Beat Dis" by Bomb the Bass
Bomb the Bass
Bomb the Bass is the umbrella title for the output of British musician and producer, Tim Simenon. The band, which has evolved its style over the years, has been classed as electronic or dance....
and "Rok Da House" by The Beatmasters. The Acid House
Acid house
Acid house is a sub-genre of house music that emphasizes a repetitive, hypnotic and trance-like style, often with samples or spoken lines rather than sung lyrics. Acid house's core electronic squelch sounds were developed around the mid-1980s, particularly by DJs from Chicago who experimented with...
band S'Express
S'Express
S'Express were a British dance music act from the late 1980s, who had one of the earliest commercial successes in the acid house genre."Theme from S'Express", based on Rose Royce's "Is It Love You're After", was also one of the earliest recordings to capitalize on a resurgence of sampling culture...
had three Top 10 hits this year including a number 1 in April with the song "Theme from S'Express
Theme from S'Express
"Theme from S-Express" is an acid house song by English dance music band S'Express from their album Original Soundtrack. It is widely regarded as a pivotal moment in dance music history and is notable for introducing acid house culture to the UK's charts....
", but the biggest dance hit of the year came from London singer Yazz
Yazz
Yazz is a British pop singer, who remains best known for her successful 1988 dance track, "The Only Way Is Up". Some of her records were credited to Yazz & The Plastic Population...
, who had first had a big hit with producers Coldcut
Coldcut
Coldcut are an English dance music duo, comprising Matt Black and Jonathan More. Their signature style is electronic dance music, featuring cut up samples of hip hop, breaks, jazz, spoken word and various other types of music, as well as video and multimedia.-1980s:In 1986, computer programmer Matt...
on the song "Doctorin' The House". Still with Coldcut but now with her name billed as the lead artist, her song "The Only Way Is Up
The Only Way Is Up
"The Only Way Is Up" is a song written by George Jackson and Johnny Henderson and originally released 1980 as single by soul singer Otis Clay. In 1988, it became a chart-topping single for Yazz and the Plastic Population.-Yazz version:...
" topped the chart for five weeks and was the second biggest-selling single of the year, and paved the way for a successful solo career, including the follow-up "Stand Up For Your Love Rights" which hit No.2 in October.
One of the biggest successes of the year was 19-year-old Kylie Minogue
Kylie Minogue
Kylie Ann Minogue, OBE - often known simply as Kylie - is an Australian singer, recording artist, songwriter, and actress. After beginning her career as a child actress on Australian television, she achieved recognition through her role in the television soap opera Neighbours, before commencing...
, well known to the public from her role in the Australian soap opera
Soap opera
A soap opera, sometimes called "soap" for short, is an ongoing, episodic work of dramatic fiction presented in serial format on radio or as television programming. The name soap opera stems from the original dramatic serials broadcast on radio that had soap manufacturers, such as Procter & Gamble,...
Neighbours
Neighbours
Neighbours is an Australian television soap opera first broadcast on the Seven Network on 18 March 1985. It was created by TV executive Reg Watson, who proposed the idea of making a show that focused on realistic stories and portrayed adults and teenagers who talk openly and solve their problems...
. Signed to the production trio Stock Aitken Waterman
Stock Aitken Waterman
Stock Aitken Waterman, sometimes known as SAW, were a UK songwriting and record producing trio consisting of Mike Stock, Matt Aitken and Pete Waterman. They had great success during the mid to late 1980s and early 1990s...
, her debut song "I Should Be So Lucky
I Should Be So Lucky
"I Should Be So Lucky" is a pop-dance song performed by Australian singer Kylie Minogue. The song was written and produced by Stock Aitken Waterman for Minogue's debut album Kylie .The song was released as the album's second single in December 1987...
" was number 1 for five weeks, and all of her other solo releases this year - "Got to Be Certain
Got to Be Certain
"Got to Be Certain" is a dance-pop song written and produced by British songwriting team Stock, Aitken and Waterman And included on Minogue's debut studio album Kylie . The song had been originally written for singer Mandy Smith, but her recording was never released until 2005. The song received a...
", "The Locomotion
The Locomotion
The Locomotion may refer to:*The Loco-Motion; a 1962 song by R&B singer Little Eva and covered by several artists*Locomotion No 1; an early railway locomotive...
" and "Je Ne Sais Pas Pourquoi
Je Ne Sais Pas Pourquoi
"Je Ne Sais Pas Pourquoi" is a pop song written by British production team Stock Aitken and Waterman for Kylie Minogue's debut album Kylie . It was produced by Stock, Aitken and Waterman, and received a mixed reception from music critics...
" - reached number 2. Her album "Kylie
Kylie (album)
Kylie is the debut album by Australian singer and songwriter Kylie Minogue, released by PWL on 4 July 1988. Stock, Aitken and Waterman produced and wrote eight of the ten tracks on the album....
" was also number 1 for six weeks, the biggest-selling album of the year and the fifth best-selling album of the entire decade. All Kylie's hits were produced by Stock Aitken Waterman
Stock Aitken Waterman
Stock Aitken Waterman, sometimes known as SAW, were a UK songwriting and record producing trio consisting of Mike Stock, Matt Aitken and Pete Waterman. They had great success during the mid to late 1980s and early 1990s...
who continued to score hit after hit this year. The production powerhouse also scored Top 10's with Mel and Kim
Mel and Kim
Mel and Kim were a British pop duo, comprising sisters Melanie and Kim Appleby. They achieved success between 1986 and 1988 before Melanie succumbed to cancer.-Biography:...
("That's The Way It Is", No.10, February) Sinitta ("Cross My Broken Heart", No.6, March), Rick Astley
Rick Astley
Richard Paul "Rick" Astley is an English singer-songwriter, musician, and radio personality. He is known for his 1987 song, "Never Gonna Give You Up", which was a #1 hit single in 25 countries...
("Together Forever", No.2, March and "Take Me to Your Heart", No.8, November), Bananarama
Bananarama
Bananarama are an English female pop duo who have had success on the pop and dance charts since 1982. Rather than relying on a two part harmony, the duo generally sings in unison, as do their background vocalists. Although there have been line-up changes, the group enjoyed their most popular...
("I Want You Back", No.5, April), Hazell Dean
Hazell Dean
Hazell Dean is a British dance-pop singer, who achieved her biggest success in the 1980s as a leading Hi-NRG artist. She is best known for the top ten hits "Searchin' ", "Whatever I Do " and "Who's Leaving Who"...
("Who's Leaving Who", No.4, April), Brother Beyond
Brother Beyond
Brother Beyond were a British boy band / pop group who had mainstream success in the late 1980s.-Biography:The group's first four singles, "I Should Have Lied", "How Many Times", "Chain-Gang Smile" , and an early version of "Can You Keep a Secret?" , were all written by band members Eg White...
("The Harder I Try", No.2, August and "He Ain't No Competition", No.6, November). In September, another star from Neighbours
Neighbours
Neighbours is an Australian television soap opera first broadcast on the Seven Network on 18 March 1985. It was created by TV executive Reg Watson, who proposed the idea of making a show that focused on realistic stories and portrayed adults and teenagers who talk openly and solve their problems...
- Minogue's co-star Jason Donovan
Jason Donovan
Jason Donovan is an Australian actor and singer. He initially achieved fame in the Australian soap opera Neighbours, before beginning a career in music in 1988. In the UK he has sold over 3 million records, and his début album Ten Good Reasons was one of the highest-selling albums of 1989...
- debuted with his Stock Aitken Waterman-produced hit "Nothing Can Divide Us" which reached number 5 and he would go on to outsell even Kylie the following year.
Popular teenage acts other than Minogue to emerge this year included the American singer Tiffany
Tiffany (singer)
Tiffany Renee Darwish , known popularly as Tiffany, is an American singer and former teen icon. She is most notable for her 1987 cover version of "I Think We're Alone Now", originally recorded by Tommy James and the Shondells in 1967. Released as the second single from her eponymous album, Tiffany,...
who scored three Top 10 hits including the No.1 "I Think We're Alone Now" while fellow American teenage star Debbie Gibson also crossed over to the British Charts and had four Top 20 hits. Gibson's biggest hit was the 80's-compilation staple "Shake Your Love" which reached number 7 in January while her first American chart-topper "Foolish Beat
Foolish Beat
"Foolish Beat" is the fourth single, and the first ballad release, from American singer-songwriter-actress Deborah Gibson...
" peaked at number 9 in October. Meanwhile, from Italy came Sabrina
Sabrina
-People:*Sabrina , a feminine given name *Sabrina , British entertainer*Sabrina *Sabrina *Sabrina Salerno , Italian pop singer aka Sabrina...
whose infamous appearances in skimpy swimsuits became tabloid-fodder throughout the year as her pan-European smash hit "Boys (Summertime Love)" hit number 3 in June and the Stock Aitken Waterman
Stock Aitken Waterman
Stock Aitken Waterman, sometimes known as SAW, were a UK songwriting and record producing trio consisting of Mike Stock, Matt Aitken and Pete Waterman. They had great success during the mid to late 1980s and early 1990s...
-produced follow-up "All of Me" peaked at number 25 six months later.
New British boyband Bros
Bros
Bros were a British band active in the late 1980s and early 1990s, consisting of twin brothers Matt Goss and Luke Goss along with Craig Logan...
took five singles into the Top 5 this year including "When Will I Be Famous?
When Will I Be Famous?
When Will I Be Famous? was a British variety television show hosted by Graham Norton which first aired on BBC One on Saturday 3 February 2007.-Format:The show was presented live and centered around various entertainment acts by -often unknown- performers...
" and their only number 1 "I Owe You Nothing
I Owe You Nothing
"I Owe You Nothing" is a popular single by Bros.Written by Nicky Graham and Tom Watkins and produced by Watkins, "I Owe You Nothing" was boyband Bros's sole UK number one single, spending two weeks at the top in June 1988....
", a re-issue of their first single originally released in 1987. Wet Wet Wet
Wet Wet Wet
Wet Wet Wet are a Scottish pop rock band that formed in the 1980s. They scored a number of hits in the British charts and around the world. The band is composed of Marti Pellow , Tommy Cunningham , Graeme Clark and Neil Mitchell...
scored the first number 1 of their long run of hits with a cover of "With A Little Help From My Friends
With a Little Help from My Friends
-Joe Cocker version:Joe Cocker's version was a radical re-arrangement of the original, in a slower, 6/8 meter, using different chords in the middle eight, and a lengthy instrumental introduction...
" which held the top position for 3 weeks.
Also making their chart debuts this year was nineteen-year old Tanita Tikaram
Tanita Tikaram
Tanita Tikaram is a British pop/folk singer-songwriter, best known for the hits "Twist in My Sobriety" and "Good Tradition" from her 1988 debut album, Ancient Heart...
who launched her career with the critically acclaimed debut album Ancient Heart
Ancient Heart
Ancient Heart is a 1988 album by Tanita Tikaram. The album had huge success and was a hit globally, launching Tanita's mainstream career. Guest musicians included Rod Argent, Mark Isham, Peter Van Hooke, Paul Brady and Brendan Croker...
which contained the Top 10 hit "Good Tradition
Good Tradition
"Good Tradition" is a song, written and originally recorded by Tanita Tikaram and released as the first single in 1988 from the album Ancient Heart.-Story:...
" and perhaps her most remembered song, the intriguing "Twist In My Sobriety
Twist in My Sobriety
"Twist in My Sobriety" is a song written and recorded by Tanita Tikaram. Released as a single in 1988 from her debut album Ancient Heart, it was a top ten hit in many European countries, peaking at #2 in Austria and Germany, though it achieved only moderate success in the US and Australia.In 1996,...
" which peaked at number 22 in October. Eddi Reader
Eddi Reader
Eddi Reader MBE is a Scottish singer-songwriter, known both for her work with Fairground Attraction and for an enduring solo career. She is the recipient of three BRIT Awards and has topped both the album and singles charts...
also rose to prominence during 1988 as the lead-singer of Fairground Attraction
Fairground Attraction
Fairground Attraction were a British acoustic pop band. They are best known for their hit single "Perfect", and for helping to launch the career of lead vocalist Eddi Reader.-Career:...
. The band made number 1 with the song "Perfect" and followed it up with another Top 10 hit, "Find My Love" and number 2 album The First of a Million Kisses
The First of a Million Kisses
The First of a Million Kisses was the first album by Fairground Attraction, released in 1988.The album was a characteristic blend of folk, jazz, country, and Cajun elements . Released in May 1988, it followed the success of the band's first single, "Perfect," by entering the album chart at number...
.
Making chart comebacks after long-absences were Cher
Cher
Cher is an American recording artist, television personality, actress, director, record producer and philanthropist. Referred to as the Goddess of Pop, she has won an Academy Award, a Grammy Award, an Emmy Award, three Golden Globes and a Cannes Film Festival Award among others for her work in...
, re-launching her music career with "I Found Someone
I Found Someone
"I Found Someone" is the name of a chart single originally written and composed for Laura Branigan by Michael Bolton and Touch keyboardist Mark Mangold...
", a number 5 hit written and produced by Michael Bolton
Michael Bolton
Michael Bolton is an American singer and songwriter. Bolton originally performed in the hard rock and heavy metal genres from the mid 1970s to the mid 1980s, both on his early solo albums and those recorded as the frontman of the band Blackjack...
. Belinda Carlisle
Belinda Carlisle
Belinda Jo Carlisle is an American singer who gained worldwide fame as the lead vocalist of the Go-Go's, one of the most successful all-female bands and the first such group whose members wrote their own songs and played their own instruments...
revived her career this year with three Top 10's including the number 1 "Heaven is a Place on Earth
Heaven is a Place on Earth
"Heaven Is a Place on Earth" is the title of a song recorded by Belinda Carlisle, the lead singer of The Go-Go's. Written by Rick Nowels and Ellen Shipley, and interpolating the aria "Schlafe, mein Liebster, genieße der Ruh'" from Johann Sebastian Bach's Christmas Oratorio, it hit number one on the...
" while Kim Wilde
Kim Wilde
Kim Wilde is an English pop singer, author and television presenter who burst onto the music scene in 1981 with the number 2 UK Singles Chart new wave classic "Kids in America". In 1987 she had a major hit in the United States when her version of The Supremes' classic "You Keep Me Hangin' On"...
scored a career-best three successive Top 10's with "You Came" (No.3), "Never Trust a Stranger (No.7) and "Four Letter Word" (No.6). Pop duo Dollar
Dollar
The dollar is the name of the official currency of many countries, including Australia, Belize, Canada, Ecuador, El Salvador, Hong Kong, New Zealand, Singapore, Taiwan, and the United States.-Etymology:...
scored their ninth and final Top 20 hit with comeback hit "Oh L'amour
Oh L'amour
"Oh L'amour" is a song by English synth pop duo Erasure, released in April 1986 as their third single.It was issued by Mute Records in the UK and Sire Records in the U.S. to herald the June release of Erasure's debut album Wonderland, but became the third consecutive commercial failure for the band...
", a self-produced cover of an early Erasure
Erasure
Erasure are an English synthpop duo, consisting of songwriter and keyboardist Vince Clarke and singer Andy Bell. Erasure entered the music scene in 1985 with their debut single "Who Needs Love Like That"...
single, which made number 7 in April, and also making a chart comeback was the song "A Groovy Kind Of Love
A Groovy Kind of Love
"A Groovy Kind of Love" is a pop song written by Toni Wine and Carol Bayer for the Screen Gems music publishing company. It is heavily based on the Rondo movement of Sonatina in G major, op. 36 no. 5 by Muzio Clementi...
", originally a hit in 1965 for The Mindbenders, it hit number 1 in September for Phil Collins
Phil Collins
Philip David Charles "Phil" Collins, LVO is an English singer-songwriter, drummer, pianist and actor best known as a drummer and vocalist for British progressive rock group Genesis and as a solo artist....
, taken from the film Buster
Buster
-Works:* Buster , a film starring Phil Collins** Buster , the soundtrack to the film* "Buster", theme song by Nanna Lüders Jensen for the Danish television show Busters verden-Characters and mascots:...
in which Collins also starred.
Some of the more unusual hits of the year included a remix of the theme tune from the popular television series Doctor Who
Doctor Who
Doctor Who is a British science fiction television programme produced by the BBC. The programme depicts the adventures of a time-travelling humanoid alien known as the Doctor who explores the universe in a sentient time machine called the TARDIS that flies through time and space, whose exterior...
, by "The Timelords", who would go on to have huge success in the early 1990s under the name The KLF
The KLF
The KLF were one of the seminal bands of the British acid house movement during the late 1980s and early 1990s....
. Their song "Doctorin' The TARDIS" (a play on Coldcut's "Doctorin' The House") was number 1 for a week in June. A television advertisement for Miller Lite
Miller Lite
Miller Lite is a 4.2% abv pale lager brand sold by MillerCoors of Chicago, Illinois, United States. Sibling beers include Miller Genuine Draft and Miller High Life.-History:...
beer used the 1969 song "He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother
He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother
"He Ain't Heavy... He's My Brother" is a popular music ballad written by Bobby Scott and Bob Russell. Originally recorded by Kelly Gordon in 1969, the song became a worldwide hit for The Hollies later that year and again for Neil Diamond in 1970....
" by The Hollies
The Hollies
The Hollies are an English pop and rock group, formed in Manchester in the early 1960s, though most of the band members are from throughout East Lancashire. Known for their distinctive vocal harmony style, they became one of the leading British groups of the 1960s and 1970s...
, which became a number 1 in September 19 years after its original release, and an advert for Coca-Cola
Coca-Cola
Coca-Cola is a carbonated soft drink sold in stores, restaurants, and vending machines in more than 200 countries. It is produced by The Coca-Cola Company of Atlanta, Georgia, and is often referred to simply as Coke...
gave Robin Beck
Robin Beck
Robin Beck is an American singer. She topped the singles chart in the UK in 1988, and Germany in 1989 with her single "First Time", which had come to the public's attention via its use in a Coca-Cola commercial....
a number 1 with the ballad "First Time
First Time (Robin Beck song)
"First Time" is singer Robin Beck's first significant chart hit, released in 1988. It was originally recorded for a Coca-Cola commercial the same year and subsequently released as a single...
". Film and Television actress Patsy Kensit
Patsy Kensit
Patricia Jude Francis "Patsy" Kensit is an English actress, singer, model and former child star, known for her television and film appearances. Her films include Lethal Weapon 2 and she has been married to rock stars Jim Kerr and Liam Gallagher, as well as herself fronting the band Eighth Wonder...
, a teenager in 1988, also reached the Top 10 this year in the band Eighth Wonder
Eighth Wonder
Eighth Wonder were a British pop band in the 1980s. They formed in 1983 and enjoyed major success in Japan and Italy between 1985 and 1987, before having hit singles in the UK and across Europe in 1988.-Early years:...
. Their Pet Shop Boys
Pet Shop Boys
Pet Shop Boys are an English electronic dance music duo, consisting of Neil Tennant, who provides main vocals, keyboards and occasional guitar, and Chris Lowe on keyboards....
-produced UK debut "I'm Not Scared
I'm Not Scared
I'm Not Scared is a 2003 film directed by Gabriele Salvatores. Francesa Marciano and Niccolo Ammaniti wrote the script based on Niccolò Ammaniti's successful 2001 Italian novel Io non ho paura...
" slowly climbed up the Top 40 and peaked at number 7 in May. The band were more popular in Italy and Japan where they scored several number 1 hits.
The race for Christmas number one was a battle between Cliff Richard
Cliff Richard
Sir Cliff Richard, OBE is a British pop singer, musician, performer, actor, and philanthropist who has sold over an estimated 250 million records worldwide....
, with a career stretching back to the 1950s and his seasonal song "Mistletoe and Wine
Mistletoe and Wine
"Mistletoe and Wine" is a popular single by Cliff Richard.Written by Jeremy Paul, Leslie Stewart and Keith Strachan, it was originally performed as part of the musical Scraps at the Orange Tree Theatre, Richmond, London in 1976...
", and new star Kylie Minogue
Kylie Minogue
Kylie Ann Minogue, OBE - often known simply as Kylie - is an Australian singer, recording artist, songwriter, and actress. After beginning her career as a child actress on Australian television, she achieved recognition through her role in the television soap opera Neighbours, before commencing...
with "Especially for You
Especially for You
"Especially for You" was the fifth international single released from singer Kylie Minogue in time for the Christmas 1988 market and is a duet with Jason Donovan. It did not appear on her debut album but was included on Jason Donovan's 1989 debut album Ten Good Reasons. The track did appear on the...
", a duet with her Neighbours co-star Jason Donovan
Jason Donovan
Jason Donovan is an Australian actor and singer. He initially achieved fame in the Australian soap opera Neighbours, before beginning a career in music in 1988. In the UK he has sold over 3 million records, and his début album Ten Good Reasons was one of the highest-selling albums of 1989...
which coincided with their characters' on-screen Wedding in Neighbourson BBC 1. The winner was "Mistletoe and Wine", giving Cliff Richard the biggest-selling song of the year, but "Especially for You" hung on at number 2 all month and climbed to number 1 in the new year of 1989, staying there for three weeks, eventually selling just short of 1 million copies.
New classical works by British composers included oboe and trumpet concertos from Peter Maxwell Davies
Peter Maxwell Davies
Sir Peter Maxwell Davies, CBE is an English composer and conductor and is currently Master of the Queen's Music.-Biography:...
and Michael Finnissy
Michael Finnissy
Michael Finnissy is an English composer and pianist. His music is characterised by the range of extremes often found in his work; opposing binary structures are found commonly, often seen as juxtaposing textures, register and tempi...
's Red Earth for orchestra. Devotional works included Nicholas Jackson's Variations on ‘Praise to the Lord, the Almighty’ and John Tavener
John Tavener
Sir John Tavener is a British composer, best known for such religious, minimal works as "The Whale", and "Funeral Ikos"...
's The Akathist of Thanksgiving. Russian pianist Evgeny Kissin
Evgeny Kissin
Evgeny Igorevitch Kissin is a Russian classical pianist and former child prodigy. He has been a British citizen since 2002. He is especially known for his interpretations of the works of the Romantic repertoire, particularly Frédéric Chopin and Franz Liszt.-Biography:Kissin was born in Moscow to...
made his Proms debut during the 1988 season, whilst Sir Andrew Davis
Andrew Davis (conductor)
Sir Andrew Frank Davis CBE is a British conductor.Born in Ashridge, Hertfordshire to Robert J. Davis and his wife Florence J. née Badminton, Davis grew up in Chesham, Buckinghamshire, and in Watford. Davis attended Watford Boys' Grammar School, where he studied classics in his sixth form years...
gave up his role as conductor of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra
Toronto Symphony Orchestra
The Toronto Symphony Orchestra is a Canadian orchestra based in Toronto, Ontario.-History:The TSO was founded in 1922 as the New Symphony Orchestra, and gave its first concert at Massey Hall in April 1923. The orchestra changed its name to the Toronto Symphony Orchestra in 1927. The TSO...
to become director of Glyndebourne
Glyndebourne
Glyndebourne is a country house, thought to be about six hundred years old, located near Lewes in East Sussex, England. It is also the site of an opera house which, with the exception of its closing during the Second World War, for a few immediate post-war years, and in 1993 during the...
.
Number-one singles
| Song | Artist(s) | |
|---|---|---|
| 2 January | "Always on My Mind" | Pet Shop Boys Pet Shop Boys Pet Shop Boys are an English electronic dance music duo, consisting of Neil Tennant, who provides main vocals, keyboards and occasional guitar, and Chris Lowe on keyboards.... |
| 9 January | ||
| 16 January | "Heaven Is a Place on Earth Heaven is a Place on Earth "Heaven Is a Place on Earth" is the title of a song recorded by Belinda Carlisle, the lead singer of The Go-Go's. Written by Rick Nowels and Ellen Shipley, and interpolating the aria "Schlafe, mein Liebster, genieße der Ruh'" from Johann Sebastian Bach's Christmas Oratorio, it hit number one on the... " | Belinda Carlisle Belinda Carlisle Belinda Jo Carlisle is an American singer who gained worldwide fame as the lead vocalist of the Go-Go's, one of the most successful all-female bands and the first such group whose members wrote their own songs and played their own instruments... |
| 23 January | ||
| 30 January | "I Think We're Alone Now" | Tiffany Tiffany (singer) Tiffany Renee Darwish , known popularly as Tiffany, is an American singer and former teen icon. She is most notable for her 1987 cover version of "I Think We're Alone Now", originally recorded by Tommy James and the Shondells in 1967. Released as the second single from her eponymous album, Tiffany,... |
| 6 February | ||
| 13 February | ||
| 20 February | "I Should Be So Lucky I Should Be So Lucky "I Should Be So Lucky" is a pop-dance song performed by Australian singer Kylie Minogue. The song was written and produced by Stock Aitken Waterman for Minogue's debut album Kylie .The song was released as the album's second single in December 1987... " | Kylie Minogue Kylie Minogue Kylie Ann Minogue, OBE - often known simply as Kylie - is an Australian singer, recording artist, songwriter, and actress. After beginning her career as a child actress on Australian television, she achieved recognition through her role in the television soap opera Neighbours, before commencing... |
| 27 February | ||
| 5 March | ||
| 12 March | ||
| 19 March | ||
| 26 March | "Don't Turn Around Don't Turn Around "Don't Turn Around" is a popular song written by Diane Warren and Albert Hammond. It was originally recorded by Tina Turner as the B-side to the single "Typical Male" in 1986. Warren is said to have been disappointed that Turner's record company treated the song as a B-side and never included it on... " | Aswad |
| 2 April | ||
| 9 April | "Heart Heart (Pet Shop Boys song) "Heart" is a song recorded by Pet Shop Boys which reached #1 on the UK Singles Chart for three weeks in April 1988 . This is also their last number 1 song to date... " | Pet Shop Boys |
| 16 April | ||
| 23 April | ||
| 30 April | "Theme from S-Express" | S'Express S'Express S'Express were a British dance music act from the late 1980s, who had one of the earliest commercial successes in the acid house genre."Theme from S'Express", based on Rose Royce's "Is It Love You're After", was also one of the earliest recordings to capitalize on a resurgence of sampling culture... |
| 7 May | ||
| 14 May | "Perfect Perfect (Fairground Attraction song) "Perfect" is the title to Fairground Attraction's first single, released in March 1988.The single reached number one on the 9 May 1988 UK Singles Chart, where it stayed for one week, and stayed in the chart for thirteen weeks. It also reached number one in South Africa as well as in Australia for... " | Fairground Attraction Fairground Attraction Fairground Attraction were a British acoustic pop band. They are best known for their hit single "Perfect", and for helping to launch the career of lead vocalist Eddi Reader.-Career:... |
| 21 May | "With a Little Help from My Friends With a Little Help from My Friends -Joe Cocker version:Joe Cocker's version was a radical re-arrangement of the original, in a slower, 6/8 meter, using different chords in the middle eight, and a lengthy instrumental introduction... " / "She's Leaving Home She's Leaving Home "She's Leaving Home" is a song credited to Lennon–McCartney and released in 1967 on The Beatles album Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. McCartney wrote and sang the verse and Lennon the chorus... " | Wet Wet Wet Wet Wet Wet Wet Wet Wet are a Scottish pop rock band that formed in the 1980s. They scored a number of hits in the British charts and around the world. The band is composed of Marti Pellow , Tommy Cunningham , Graeme Clark and Neil Mitchell... / Billy Bragg Billy Bragg Stephen William Bragg , better known as Billy Bragg, is an English alternative rock musician and left-wing activist. His music blends elements of folk music, punk rock and protest songs, and his lyrics mostly deal with political or romantic themes... |
| 28 May | ||
| 4 June | ||
| 11 June | ||
| 18 June | "Doctorin' the Tardis" | The Timelords |
| 25 June | "I Owe You Nothing I Owe You Nothing "I Owe You Nothing" is a popular single by Bros.Written by Nicky Graham and Tom Watkins and produced by Watkins, "I Owe You Nothing" was boyband Bros's sole UK number one single, spending two weeks at the top in June 1988.... " | Bros Bros Bros were a British band active in the late 1980s and early 1990s, consisting of twin brothers Matt Goss and Luke Goss along with Craig Logan... |
| 2 July | ||
| 9 July | "Nothing's Gonna Change My Love For You Nothing's Gonna Change My Love For You "Nothing's Gonna Change My Love For You" is a popular song by Gerry Goffin and Michael Masser. It was originally recorded by George Benson for his 1984 album 20/20.... " | Glenn Medeiros Glenn Medeiros Glenn Alan Medeiros is a Hispanic Hawaiian singer and rapper who was a teenage star in the 1980s.-Biography:... |
| 16 July | ||
| 23 July | ||
| 30 July | ||
| 6 August | "The Only Way Is Up The Only Way Is Up "The Only Way Is Up" is a song written by George Jackson and Johnny Henderson and originally released 1980 as single by soul singer Otis Clay. In 1988, it became a chart-topping single for Yazz and the Plastic Population.-Yazz version:... " | Yazz and the Plastic Population |
| 13 August | ||
| 20 August | ||
| 27 August | ||
| 3 September | ||
| 10 September | "A Groovy Kind of Love A Groovy Kind of Love "A Groovy Kind of Love" is a pop song written by Toni Wine and Carol Bayer for the Screen Gems music publishing company. It is heavily based on the Rondo movement of Sonatina in G major, op. 36 no. 5 by Muzio Clementi... " | Phil Collins Phil Collins Philip David Charles "Phil" Collins, LVO is an English singer-songwriter, drummer, pianist and actor best known as a drummer and vocalist for British progressive rock group Genesis and as a solo artist.... |
| 17 September | ||
| 24 September | "He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother "He Ain't Heavy... He's My Brother" is a popular music ballad written by Bobby Scott and Bob Russell. Originally recorded by Kelly Gordon in 1969, the song became a worldwide hit for The Hollies later that year and again for Neil Diamond in 1970.... " | The Hollies The Hollies The Hollies are an English pop and rock group, formed in Manchester in the early 1960s, though most of the band members are from throughout East Lancashire. Known for their distinctive vocal harmony style, they became one of the leading British groups of the 1960s and 1970s... |
| 1 October | ||
| 8 October | "Desire" | U2 U2 U2 are an Irish rock band from Dublin. Formed in 1976, the group consists of Bono , The Edge , Adam Clayton , and Larry Mullen, Jr. . U2's early sound was rooted in post-punk but eventually grew to incorporate influences from many genres of popular music... |
| 15 October | "One Moment in Time One Moment in Time "One Moment in Time" is an Emmy Award winning song written by Albert Hammond and John Bettis, and recorded by American singer Whitney Houston for the 1988 Summer Olympics and the 1988 Summer Paralympics held in Seoul, South Korea.-History:... " | Whitney Houston Whitney Houston Whitney Elizabeth Houston is an American singer, actress, producer and a former model. Houston is the most awarded female act of all time, according to Guinness World Records, and her list of awards include 1 Emmy Award, 6 Grammy Awards, 30 Billboard Music Awards, 22 American Music Awards, among... |
| 22 October | ||
| 29 October | "Orinoco Flow (Sail Away) Orinoco Flow "Orinoco Flow " is a 1988 single written and recorded by Enya. It also featured on her second studio album, Watermark.-Background:... " | Enya Enya Enya is an Irish singer, instrumentalist and songwriter. Enya is an approximate transliteration of how Eithne is pronounced in the Donegal dialect of the Irish language, her native tongue.She began her musical career in 1980, when she briefly joined her family band Clannad before leaving to... |
| 5 November | ||
| 12 November | ||
| 19 November | "First Time First Time (Robin Beck song) "First Time" is singer Robin Beck's first significant chart hit, released in 1988. It was originally recorded for a Coca-Cola commercial the same year and subsequently released as a single... " | Robin Beck Robin Beck Robin Beck is an American singer. She topped the singles chart in the UK in 1988, and Germany in 1989 with her single "First Time", which had come to the public's attention via its use in a Coca-Cola commercial.... |
| 26 November | ||
| 3 December | ||
| 10 December | "Mistletoe and Wine Mistletoe and Wine "Mistletoe and Wine" is a popular single by Cliff Richard.Written by Jeremy Paul, Leslie Stewart and Keith Strachan, it was originally performed as part of the musical Scraps at the Orange Tree Theatre, Richmond, London in 1976... " | Cliff Richard Cliff Richard Sir Cliff Richard, OBE is a British pop singer, musician, performer, actor, and philanthropist who has sold over an estimated 250 million records worldwide.... | 17 December |
| 24 December | ||
| 31 December |
Number-one albums
| Song | Artist(s) | |
|---|---|---|
| 2 January | Now That's What I Call Music 10 | Various Artists |
| 9 January | ||
| 16 January | Popped In Souled Out Popped In Souled Out Popped In Souled Out is the debut album by Wet Wet Wet. It was released on 28 September 1987. Its offspring singles were "Wishing I Was Lucky", "Sweet Little Mystery", "Angel Eyes " and "Temptation". Upon release, it reached #2 in the UK album chart, held off top spot by Michael Jackson's Bad... | Wet Wet Wet Wet Wet Wet Wet Wet Wet are a Scottish pop rock band that formed in the 1980s. They scored a number of hits in the British charts and around the world. The band is composed of Marti Pellow , Tommy Cunningham , Graeme Clark and Neil Mitchell... |
| 23 January | Turn Back the Clock | Johnny Hates Jazz Johnny Hates Jazz Johnny Hates Jazz is an Anglo-American Pop/Rock band, formed in 1986 by Clark Datchler , Mike Nocito , and Calvin Hayes... |
| 30 January | Introducing the Hardline According to Terence Trent D'Arby Introducing the Hardline According to Terence Trent D'Arby Introducing the Hardline According to Terence Trent D'Arby is Terence Trent D'Arby's debut album. It was released in July 1987 on Columbia Records, and became an instant number-one smash in the UK and spending a total of nine weeks at the top of the UK Album Chart and eventually being certified 5x... | Terence Trent D'Arby |
| 6 February | ||
| 13 February | ||
| 20 February | ||
| 27 February | ||
| 5 March | ||
| 12 March | ||
| 19 March | ||
| 26 March | Viva Hate Viva Hate Viva Hate is Morrissey's debut solo album, released on 14 March 1988 by HMV Records. The album was considered a very strong foray into Morrissey's solo career, as he utilised his traditional lyrical style and retained the basic sound that The Smiths had developed by the time they broke up. It... | Morrisey |
| 2 April | Now That's What I Call Music 11 | Various Artists |
| 9 April | ||
| 16 April | ||
| 23 April | Seventh Son of a Seventh Son Seventh Son of a Seventh Son Seventh Son of a Seventh Son is the seventh studio album by British heavy metal band Iron Maiden, released in 1988 by EMI in Europe and its sister label Capitol Records in the US... | Iron Maiden Iron Maiden Iron Maiden are an English heavy metal band from Leyton in east London, formed in 1975 by bassist and primary songwriter Steve Harris. Since their inception, the band's discography has grown to include a total of thirty-six albums: fifteen studio albums; eleven live albums; four EPs; and six... |
| 30 April | The Innocents The Innocents (album) After releasing The Two Ring Circus, a remix album in 1987, The Innocents was the third proper studio release from Erasure, released in 1988... | Erasure Erasure Erasure are an English synthpop duo, consisting of songwriter and keyboardist Vince Clarke and singer Andy Bell. Erasure entered the music scene in 1985 with their debut single "Who Needs Love Like That"... |
| 7 May | Tango in the Night Tango in the Night Tango in the Night is the 14th studio album by the British-American band Fleetwood Mac. Released in April 1987, it is the fifth and final studio album from the line-up of Lindsey Buckingham, Stevie Nicks, Christine McVie, John McVie and Mick Fleetwood.... | Fleetwood Mac Fleetwood Mac Fleetwood Mac are a British–American rock band formed in 1967 in London.The only original member present in the band is its eponymous drummer, Mick Fleetwood... |
| 14 May | ||
| 21 May | Lovesexy Lovesexy Lovesexy is the tenth studio album by Prince, released on May 10, 1988. Lovesexy was issued as a substitute record after the release of the infamous The Black Album had been suddenly cancelled. The Black Album and Lovesexy almost act as companion pieces, sharing the song "When 2 R in Love", but... | Prince Prince (musician) Prince Rogers Nelson , often known simply as Prince, is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and actor. Prince has produced ten platinum albums and thirty Top 40 singles during his career. Prince founded his own recording studio and label; writing, self-producing and playing most, or all, of... |
| 28 May | Tango in the Night | Fleetwood Mac |
| 4 June | Flite Nite | Various Artists |
| 11 June | ||
| 18 June | ||
| 25 June | ||
| 2 July | Tracy Chapman Tracy Chapman (album) Tracy Chapman is the self-titled debut album by singer-songwriter Tracy Chapman, released in 1988.-History:Tracy Chapman hit #1 on both the US & UK album charts. The album was critically acclaimed and helped to launch the 1990s female singer-songwriter movement, which included artists like Tori... | Tracy Chapman Tracy Chapman Tracy Chapman is an American singer-songwriter, best known for her singles "Fast Car", "Talkin' 'bout a Revolution", "Baby Can I Hold You", "Give Me One Reason" and "Telling Stories". She is a multi-platinum and four-time Grammy Award-winning artist.-Biography:Tracy Chapman was born in Cleveland,... |
| 9 July | ||
| 16 July | ||
| 23 July | Now That's What I Call Music 12 | Various Artists |
| 30 July | ||
| 6 August | ||
| 13 August | ||
| 20 August | ||
| 27 August | Kylie Kylie (album) Kylie is the debut album by Australian singer and songwriter Kylie Minogue, released by PWL on 4 July 1988. Stock, Aitken and Waterman produced and wrote eight of the ten tracks on the album.... | Kylie Minogue Kylie Minogue Kylie Ann Minogue, OBE - often known simply as Kylie - is an Australian singer, recording artist, songwriter, and actress. After beginning her career as a child actress on Australian television, she achieved recognition through her role in the television soap opera Neighbours, before commencing... |
| 3 September | ||
| 10 September | ||
| 17 September | ||
| 24 September | Hot City Nights | Various Artists |
| 1 October | New Jersey New Jersey (album) New Jersey is Bon Jovi's fourth album, released on September 19, 1988. The album charted at #1 on The Billboard 200. New Jersey was particularly notable for producing five Billboard Hot 100 Top 10 singles, the most top ten hits to date for a hard rock album.-Unreleased songs:The album was... | Bon Jovi Bon Jovi Bon Jovi is an American rock band from Sayreville, New Jersey. Formed in 1983, Bon Jovi consists of lead singer and namesake Jon Bon Jovi , guitarist Richie Sambora, keyboardist David Bryan, drummer Tico Torres, as well as current bassist Hugh McDonald... |
| 8 October | ||
| 15 October | Flying Colours Flying Colours (Chris de Burgh album) Flying Colours is singer Chris de Burgh's 9th studio album, released by A&M Records in 1988. Notably, the single "Missing You" peaked at No. 3 on the UK Singles Chart, and No.1 in Ireland in Dec 1988 .-Track listing:All tracks composed by Chris de Burgh.... | Chris de Burgh Chris de Burgh Chris de Burgh is a British/Irish singer-songwriter. He is most famous for his 1986 love song "The Lady in Red".-Early life:... |
| 22 October | Rattle and Hum Rattle and Hum Rattle and Hum is the sixth studio album by rock band U2 and companion rockumentary directed by Phil Joanou, both released in 1988. The film and the album feature live recordings, covers, and new songs... | U2 U2 U2 are an Irish rock band from Dublin. Formed in 1976, the group consists of Bono , The Edge , Adam Clayton , and Larry Mullen, Jr. . U2's early sound was rooted in post-punk but eventually grew to incorporate influences from many genres of popular music... |
| 29 October | Money for Nothing Money for Nothing (album) Money for Nothing is a greatest hits album by Dire Straits released in 1988. It features highlights from the band's first five albums. The vinyl edition omits "Telegraph Road" and has a different running order, with "Tunnel of Love" placed between "Money for Nothing", the title track, and "Brothers... | Dire Straits Dire Straits Dire Straits were a British rock band active from 1977 to 1995, composed of Mark Knopfler , his younger brother David Knopfler , John Illsley , and Pick Withers .Dire Straits' sound drew from a variety of musical influences, including jazz, folk, blues, and came closest... |
| 5 November | ||
| 12 November | ||
| 19 November | Kylie | Kylie Minogue |
| 26 November | ||
| 3 December | Now That's What I Call Music 13 | Various Artists |
| 10 December | ||
| 17 December | ||
| 24 December | Private Collection 1979-88 | Cliff Richard Cliff Richard Sir Cliff Richard, OBE is a British pop singer, musician, performer, actor, and philanthropist who has sold over an estimated 250 million records worldwide.... |
| 31 December |
Top 50 Singles of 1988
| Position | Song Title | Artist | Sales | Highest Position |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mistletoe And Wine | Cliff Richard Cliff Richard Sir Cliff Richard, OBE is a British pop singer, musician, performer, actor, and philanthropist who has sold over an estimated 250 million records worldwide.... |
750,000 | 1 |
| 2 | The Only Way Is Up | Yazz and the Plastic Population | 1 | |
| 3 | I Should Be So Lucky | Kylie Minogue Kylie Minogue Kylie Ann Minogue, OBE - often known simply as Kylie - is an Australian singer, recording artist, songwriter, and actress. After beginning her career as a child actress on Australian television, she achieved recognition through her role in the television soap opera Neighbours, before commencing... |
672,568 | 1 |
| 4 | I Think We're Alone Now | Tiffany Tiffany (singer) Tiffany Renee Darwish , known popularly as Tiffany, is an American singer and former teen icon. She is most notable for her 1987 cover version of "I Think We're Alone Now", originally recorded by Tommy James and the Shondells in 1967. Released as the second single from her eponymous album, Tiffany,... |
1 | |
| 5 | Nothing's Gonna Change My Love For You | Glenn Medeiros Glenn Medeiros Glenn Alan Medeiros is a Hispanic Hawaiian singer and rapper who was a teenage star in the 1980s.-Biography:... |
1 | |
| 6 | Especially for You | Kylie Minogue Kylie Minogue Kylie Ann Minogue, OBE - often known simply as Kylie - is an Australian singer, recording artist, songwriter, and actress. After beginning her career as a child actress on Australian television, she achieved recognition through her role in the television soap opera Neighbours, before commencing... and Jason Donovan Jason Donovan Jason Donovan is an Australian actor and singer. He initially achieved fame in the Australian soap opera Neighbours, before beginning a career in music in 1988. In the UK he has sold over 3 million records, and his début album Ten Good Reasons was one of the highest-selling albums of 1989... |
1 | |
| 7 | A Groovy Kind Of Love | Phil Collins Phil Collins Philip David Charles "Phil" Collins, LVO is an English singer-songwriter, drummer, pianist and actor best known as a drummer and vocalist for British progressive rock group Genesis and as a solo artist.... |
1 | |
| 8 | He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother | The Hollies The Hollies The Hollies are an English pop and rock group, formed in Manchester in the early 1960s, though most of the band members are from throughout East Lancashire. Known for their distinctive vocal harmony style, they became one of the leading British groups of the 1960s and 1970s... |
1 | |
| 9 | With a Little Help from My Friends/She's Leaving Home | Wet Wet Wet Wet Wet Wet Wet Wet Wet are a Scottish pop rock band that formed in the 1980s. They scored a number of hits in the British charts and around the world. The band is composed of Marti Pellow , Tommy Cunningham , Graeme Clark and Neil Mitchell... / Billy Bragg Billy Bragg Stephen William Bragg , better known as Billy Bragg, is an English alternative rock musician and left-wing activist. His music blends elements of folk music, punk rock and protest songs, and his lyrics mostly deal with political or romantic themes... |
1 | |
| 10 | Teardrops | Womack & Womack | 3 | |
| 11 | The Loco-Motion The Loco-Motion "The Loco-Motion" is a 1962 pop song written by American songwriters Gerry Goffin and Carole King. The song is notable for appearing in the American Top 5 three times – each time in a different decade: for Little Eva in 1962 ; for Grand Funk Railroad in 1974 ; and for Kylie Minogue in 1988 "The... |
Kylie Minogue Kylie Minogue Kylie Ann Minogue, OBE - often known simply as Kylie - is an Australian singer, recording artist, songwriter, and actress. After beginning her career as a child actress on Australian television, she achieved recognition through her role in the television soap opera Neighbours, before commencing... |
439,575 | 2 |
| 12 | First Time | Robin Beck Robin Beck Robin Beck is an American singer. She topped the singles chart in the UK in 1988, and Germany in 1989 with her single "First Time", which had come to the public's attention via its use in a Coca-Cola commercial.... |
1 | |
| 13 | Perfect | Fairground Attraction Fairground Attraction Fairground Attraction were a British acoustic pop band. They are best known for their hit single "Perfect", and for helping to launch the career of lead vocalist Eddi Reader.-Career:... |
1 | |
| 14 | One Moment in Time | Whitney Houston Whitney Houston Whitney Elizabeth Houston is an American singer, actress, producer and a former model. Houston is the most awarded female act of all time, according to Guinness World Records, and her list of awards include 1 Emmy Award, 6 Grammy Awards, 30 Billboard Music Awards, 22 American Music Awards, among... |
1 | |
| 15 | Push It Push It (Salt-N-Pepa song) "Push It" is a song by the group Salt-N-Pepa, released as a single in 1986. It peaked at number 19 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1987 and has been certified Platinum by the RIAA... / Tramp |
Salt 'N' Pepa | 2 | |
| 16 | Heaven Is A Place On Earth | Belinda Carlisle Belinda Carlisle Belinda Jo Carlisle is an American singer who gained worldwide fame as the lead vocalist of the Go-Go's, one of the most successful all-female bands and the first such group whose members wrote their own songs and played their own instruments... |
1 | |
| 17 | Orinoco Flow | Enya Enya Enya is an Irish singer, instrumentalist and songwriter. Enya is an approximate transliteration of how Eithne is pronounced in the Donegal dialect of the Irish language, her native tongue.She began her musical career in 1980, when she briefly joined her family band Clannad before leaving to... |
1 | |
| 18 | Theme From S-Express | S-Express | 1 | |
| 19 | Suddenly Suddenly (Angry Anderson song) "Suddenly" is a power ballad by Angry Anderson from his debut solo album Beats From A Single Drum. Released in 1988,the song became the biggest hit for Angry Anderson, reaching number 1 in the ARIA Singles Chart, and number 3 in the UK Singles Chart.Part of the song's chart success is due... |
Angry Anderson Angry Anderson Gary Stephen "Angry" Anderson AM is an Australian rock singer, television presenter/reporter, actor and conservative political activist. He is best known as the vocalist with the hard rock band Rose Tattoo since 1976 but he is also recognised for his acting roles and his charity work... |
3 | |
| 20 | Je Ne Sais Pas Pourquoi Je Ne Sais Pas Pourquoi "Je Ne Sais Pas Pourquoi" is a pop song written by British production team Stock Aitken and Waterman for Kylie Minogue's debut album Kylie . It was produced by Stock, Aitken and Waterman, and received a mixed reception from music critics... |
Kylie Minogue Kylie Minogue Kylie Ann Minogue, OBE - often known simply as Kylie - is an Australian singer, recording artist, songwriter, and actress. After beginning her career as a child actress on Australian television, she achieved recognition through her role in the television soap opera Neighbours, before commencing... |
315,201 | 2 |
| 21 | Got to Be Certain | Kylie Minogue Kylie Minogue Kylie Ann Minogue, OBE - often known simply as Kylie - is an Australian singer, recording artist, songwriter, and actress. After beginning her career as a child actress on Australian television, she achieved recognition through her role in the television soap opera Neighbours, before commencing... |
278,000 | 2 |
| 22 | The Harder I Try The Harder I Try "The Harder I Try" is a single by British boyband Brother Beyond. It was released in 1988 and is considered their breakthrough single.-Background:... |
Brother Beyond Brother Beyond Brother Beyond were a British boy band / pop group who had mainstream success in the late 1980s.-Biography:The group's first four singles, "I Should Have Lied", "How Many Times", "Chain-Gang Smile" , and an early version of "Can You Keep a Secret?" , were all written by band members Eg White... |
232,000 | 2 |
| 23 | Tell It to My Heart Tell It to My Heart "Tell It to My Heart" is a song recorded by dance-pop vocalist Taylor Dayne, released as her first single from her debut album of the same name in late 1987. The single was Dayne's first major exposure, and she soon became known for her up-tempo, dance-oriented music.-Background and writing:The... |
Taylor Dayne Taylor Dayne Taylor Dayne was born Leslie Wunderman on March 7, 1962 before later adopting her current stage name. She is an American pop vocalist, songwriter, and dance artist. Overall, she has had eighteen individual hit songs reach the top ten in Billboard magazine... |
3 | |
| 24 | I Owe You Nothing | Bros Bros Bros were a British band active in the late 1980s and early 1990s, consisting of twin brothers Matt Goss and Luke Goss along with Craig Logan... |
1 | |
| 25 | Heart | Pet Shop Boys Pet Shop Boys Pet Shop Boys are an English electronic dance music duo, consisting of Neil Tennant, who provides main vocals, keyboards and occasional guitar, and Chris Lowe on keyboards.... |
1 | |
| 26 | Get Outta My Dreams, Get Into My Car Get Outta My Dreams, Get into My Car "Get Outta My Dreams, Get into My Car" is a number one single by singer Billy Ocean. Part of its popularity lay in its cutting-edge video, which featured cartoon mixed with live-action sequences. The song went to number one on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and the Hot Black Singles chart. It also... |
Billy Ocean Billy Ocean Billy Ocean is a Trinidad-born English Grammy Award winning popular music performer who had a string of rhythm and blues international pop hits in the 1970s and 1980s. He was the most popular British-based R&B singer / songwriter of the early to mid-1980s... |
3 | |
| 27 | Don't Turn Around | Aswad | 1 | |
| 28 | Nothing Can Divide Us | Jason Donovan Jason Donovan Jason Donovan is an Australian actor and singer. He initially achieved fame in the Australian soap opera Neighbours, before beginning a career in music in 1988. In the UK he has sold over 3 million records, and his début album Ten Good Reasons was one of the highest-selling albums of 1989... |
5 | |
| 29 | Beat Dis Beat Dis "Beat Dis" is a track by British act Bomb the Bass, a studio production formed by producer Tim Simenon, from the act's album Into the Dragon. It, like other hits of the era such as "Pump Up the Volume" by M|A|R|R|S and "Theme from S'Express" by S'Express, largely consisted of samples.The single was... |
Bomb The Bass Bomb the Bass Bomb the Bass is the umbrella title for the output of British musician and producer, Tim Simenon. The band, which has evolved its style over the years, has been classed as electronic or dance.... |
2 | |
| 30 | Drop the Boy | Bros Bros Bros were a British band active in the late 1980s and early 1990s, consisting of twin brothers Matt Goss and Luke Goss along with Craig Logan... |
2 | |
| 31 | Sign Your Name Sign Your Name "Sign Your Name" is the name of a famous song written and performed by Terence Trent D'Arby .Released in his 1987 album Introducing the Hardline According to Terence Trent D'Arby, it was an international success, reaching number two on the UK Singles Chart in early 1988 and number four on the US... |
Terence Trent D'Arby | 2 | |
| 32 | Crackers International Crackers International Crackers International is an EP released by Erasure in 1988, in between the albums The Innocents and Wild!.- History :The EP appeared in several different versions. The original UK release by Mute Records consisted of four original, self-produced tracks... (EP) |
Erasure Erasure Erasure are an English synthpop duo, consisting of songwriter and keyboardist Vince Clarke and singer Andy Bell. Erasure entered the music scene in 1985 with their debut single "Who Needs Love Like That"... |
2 | |
| 33 | The Twist The Twist (song) "The Twist" is a twelve bar blues song that gave birth to the Twistdance craze. The song was written and originally released in 1959 by Hank Ballard and the Midnighters as a B-side but his version was only a moderate 1960 hit, peaking at 28 on the Billboard Hot 100... (Yo Twist) |
The Fat Boys The Fat Boys The Fat Boys are a successful African American hip-hop music trio from Brooklyn, New York City, that emerged in the early 1980s. Briefly, the group was known originally as the Disco 3.-Members:*Mark Morales a.k.a. "Prince Markie Dee"... & Chubby Checker Chubby Checker Chubby Checker is an American singer-songwriter. He is widely known for popularizing the twist dance style, with his 1960 hit cover of Hank Ballard's R&B hit "The Twist"... |
2 | |
| 34 | When Will I Be Famous When Will I Be Famous? (song) "When Will I Be Famous?" was a single by UK boyband Bros, released as a single in 1987 and later appearing on their 1988 album Push. The verses are sung from the viewpoint of an agent or talent scout and the chorus is sung by the viewpoint of the person asking when they will be famous. The song... |
Bros Bros Bros were a British band active in the late 1980s and early 1990s, consisting of twin brothers Matt Goss and Luke Goss along with Craig Logan... |
2 | |
| 35 | Boys (Summertime Love) Boys (Summertime Love) "Boys " is a 1987 song performed by Italian singer Sabrina. It is the third single from her eponymous album and achieved a great success in many countries, including Spain, Switzerland, France and Italy, where it was a number-one single. It was Sabrina's first single to be released in the UK... |
Sabrina Sabrina Salerno Sabrina Salerno , also known in her singing career as Sabrina, is an Italian singer, television hostess, model, actress and record producer... |
3 | |
| 36 | House Arrest House Arrest (song) "House Arrest" is a hit single by British group Krush who hailed from Nottingham. It was believed that the vocalist Ruth Joy was Ann Saunderson however this has been proven to be incorrect... |
Krush Krush Krush were a UK dance music group, who had a crossover hit single with "House Arrest" in 1987.-Career:The group consisted of musicians Mark Gamble, Cassius Campbell and record producers Mark Brydon and Robert Gordon. Their second single "Walking On Sunshine" was a club hit in 1992, and peaked at... |
3 | |
| 37 | You Came You Came "You Came" is the second single from the Kim Wilde album Close.The single became one of the biggest hits of her long career. Although it did not continue her US success, it topped charts throughout Europe and reached #3 in the UK Singles Chart.... |
Kim Wilde Kim Wilde Kim Wilde is an English pop singer, author and television presenter who burst onto the music scene in 1981 with the number 2 UK Singles Chart new wave classic "Kids in America". In 1987 she had a major hit in the United States when her version of The Supremes' classic "You Keep Me Hangin' On"... |
3 | |
| 38 | Lovely Day Lovely Day (song) "Lovely Day" is a song by American soul and R&B singer Bill Withers. Published in 1977 , the song was written by Withers and Skip Scarborough and appears on Withers' 1978 album Menagerie.... (Sunshine Mix) |
Bill Withers Bill Withers William Harrison "Bill" Withers, Jr. is an American singer-songwriter and musician who performed and recorded from 1970 until 1985. Some of his best-known songs are "Lean on Me", "Ain't No Sunshine", "Use Me", "Just the Two of Us", "Lovely Day", and "Grandma's Hands"... |
4 | |
| 39 | I Need You | B.V.S.M.P. B.V.S.M.P. B.V.S.M.P. were a U.S. hip hop group, formed in the 1980s. B.V.S.M.P. was short for Baby Virgo - Shocking Mister P, and the band consisted of Percy Nathan Rodgers, Calvin Williams and Frederick Eugene Byrd.... |
3 | |
| 40 | Girl You Know it's True Girl You Know It's True (song) "Girl You Know It's True" is a song written by Bill Pettaway, Sean Spencer, Kevin Lyles, Rodney Holloman, and Ky Adeyemo. They recorded it as Numarx, but the song failed to make much impact until it was covered by Milli Vanilli and released as their lead single from the album Girl You Know It's... |
Milli Vanilli Milli Vanilli Milli Vanilli was a pop/dance music project formed by Frank Farian in Germany in 1988, visually fronted by Fab Morvan and Rob Pilatus. The group's debut album achieved international success and earned them a Grammy Award for Best New Artist on Feb. 21, 1990. Milli Vanilli became one of the most... |
3 | |
| 41 | Stand Up for Your Love Rights Stand Up for Your Love Rights "Stand Up for Your Love Rights" is a 1988 single performed by Yazz. The song was particularly successful in Ireland and the UK, where it was respectively #1 and #2.-Track listings:7"single# "Stand Up for Your Love Rights" — 4:21... |
Yazz Yazz Yazz is a British pop singer, who remains best known for her successful 1988 dance track, "The Only Way Is Up". Some of her records were credited to Yazz & The Plastic Population... |
2 | |
| 42 | Hands to Heaven Hands to Heaven "Hands to Heaven" is the title of a popular song released in 1987 and peaking on the charts in 1988 by the British pop group Breathe... |
Breathe Breathe (band) Breathe were a London based group formed in the early 1980s.-Career:Originally a larger, five-person band called Catch 22, all the members were actually childhood friends who went to Yateley School together in Hampshire where they lived. They later trimmed down to a quartet. Phill Harrison left to... |
4 | |
| 43 | Don't Worry, Be Happy Don't Worry, Be Happy "Don't Worry, Be Happy" is a song by musician Bobby McFerrin. Released in September 1988, it became the first a cappella song to reach number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, a position it held for two weeks. On the UK Singles Chart, the song reached number 2 during its fifth week on the chart... |
Bobby McFerrin Bobby McFerrin Robert "Bobby" McFerrin, Jr. is an American vocalist and conductor. He is best known for his 1988 hit song "Don't Worry, Be Happy". He is a ten-time Grammy Award winner.-Life:... |
2 | |
| 44 | Desire | U2 U2 U2 are an Irish rock band from Dublin. Formed in 1976, the group consists of Bono , The Edge , Adam Clayton , and Larry Mullen, Jr. . U2's early sound was rooted in post-punk but eventually grew to incorporate influences from many genres of popular music... |
1 | |
| 45 | A Little Respect A Little Respect American band Wheatus released the song in July 2001 as their second single from their debut album. The single peaked at number three in the United Kingdom, while reaching number 19 in Austria and number 41 in New Zealand.-Critical reception:... |
Erasure Erasure Erasure are an English synthpop duo, consisting of songwriter and keyboardist Vince Clarke and singer Andy Bell. Erasure entered the music scene in 1985 with their debut single "Who Needs Love Like That"... |
4 | |
| 46 | Big Fun Paradise (Inner City album) Paradise is the debut album by Detroit-based house music duo Inner City, released in 1989. The album was a great success in the UK and in US clubs, and was one of the first house-music albums to cross over to the mainstream charts, particularly in Europe... |
Inner City Inner City Inner City is an American house and techno group, formed in Detroit, Michigan in 1987. The group is composed of the record producer and composer Kevin Saunderson and the Chicago, Illinois native Paris Grey... |
8 | |
| 47 | Love Changes (Everything) (remix) | Climie Fisher Climie Fisher Climie Fisher were a UK pop duo formed by vocalist Simon Climie and former Naked Eyes keyboardist Rob Fisher... |
2 | |
| 48 | Together Forever | Rick Astley Rick Astley Richard Paul "Rick" Astley is an English singer-songwriter, musician, and radio personality. He is known for his 1987 song, "Never Gonna Give You Up", which was a #1 hit single in 25 countries... |
2 | |
| 49 | Cat Among the Pigeons/Silent Night | Bros Bros Bros were a British band active in the late 1980s and early 1990s, consisting of twin brothers Matt Goss and Luke Goss along with Craig Logan... |
2 | |
| 50 | Doctorin' the Tardis | The Timelords The KLF The KLF were one of the seminal bands of the British acid house movement during the late 1980s and early 1990s.... |
1 |
Top 10 Albums of 1988
| Position | Song Title | Artist | Sales | Highest Position |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kylie - The Album Kylie (album) Kylie is the debut album by Australian singer and songwriter Kylie Minogue, released by PWL on 4 July 1988. Stock, Aitken and Waterman produced and wrote eight of the ten tracks on the album.... |
Kylie Minogue Kylie Minogue Kylie Ann Minogue, OBE - often known simply as Kylie - is an Australian singer, recording artist, songwriter, and actress. After beginning her career as a child actress on Australian television, she achieved recognition through her role in the television soap opera Neighbours, before commencing... |
1 | |
| 2 | Private Collection 1979-88 | Cliff Richard Cliff Richard Sir Cliff Richard, OBE is a British pop singer, musician, performer, actor, and philanthropist who has sold over an estimated 250 million records worldwide.... |
1 | |
| 3 | Bad Bad (album) Bad is the seventh studio album by American songwriter and recording artist Michael Jackson. The album was released on August 31, 1987 by Epic/CBS Records, nearly five years after Jackson's previous studio album, Thriller, which went on to become the world's best-selling album... |
Michael Jackson Michael Jackson Michael Joseph Jackson was an American recording artist, entertainer, and businessman. Referred to as the King of Pop, or by his initials MJ, Jackson is recognized as the most successful entertainer of all time by Guinness World Records... |
1 (in 1987) | |
| 4 | Push | Bros Bros Bros were a British band active in the late 1980s and early 1990s, consisting of twin brothers Matt Goss and Luke Goss along with Craig Logan... |
2 | |
| 5 | Now That's What I Call Music 13 | Various Artists | 1 | |
| 6 | Popped In Souled Out Popped In Souled Out Popped In Souled Out is the debut album by Wet Wet Wet. It was released on 28 September 1987. Its offspring singles were "Wishing I Was Lucky", "Sweet Little Mystery", "Angel Eyes " and "Temptation". Upon release, it reached #2 in the UK album chart, held off top spot by Michael Jackson's Bad... |
Wet Wet Wet Wet Wet Wet Wet Wet Wet are a Scottish pop rock band that formed in the 1980s. They scored a number of hits in the British charts and around the world. The band is composed of Marti Pellow , Tommy Cunningham , Graeme Clark and Neil Mitchell... |
1 | |
| 7 | Tango in the Night Tango in the Night Tango in the Night is the 14th studio album by the British-American band Fleetwood Mac. Released in April 1987, it is the fifth and final studio album from the line-up of Lindsey Buckingham, Stevie Nicks, Christine McVie, John McVie and Mick Fleetwood.... |
Fleetwood Mac Fleetwood Mac Fleetwood Mac are a British–American rock band formed in 1967 in London.The only original member present in the band is its eponymous drummer, Mick Fleetwood... |
1 | |
| 8 | Rattle and Hum Rattle and Hum Rattle and Hum is the sixth studio album by rock band U2 and companion rockumentary directed by Phil Joanou, both released in 1988. The film and the album feature live recordings, covers, and new songs... |
U2 U2 U2 are an Irish rock band from Dublin. Formed in 1976, the group consists of Bono , The Edge , Adam Clayton , and Larry Mullen, Jr. . U2's early sound was rooted in post-punk but eventually grew to incorporate influences from many genres of popular music... |
1 | |
| 9 | Tracy Chapman Tracy Chapman (album) Tracy Chapman is the self-titled debut album by singer-songwriter Tracy Chapman, released in 1988.-History:Tracy Chapman hit #1 on both the US & UK album charts. The album was critically acclaimed and helped to launch the 1990s female singer-songwriter movement, which included artists like Tori... |
Tracy Chapman Tracy Chapman Tracy Chapman is an American singer-songwriter, best known for her singles "Fast Car", "Talkin' 'bout a Revolution", "Baby Can I Hold You", "Give Me One Reason" and "Telling Stories". She is a multi-platinum and four-time Grammy Award-winning artist.-Biography:Tracy Chapman was born in Cleveland,... |
1 | |
| 10 | Introducing The Hardline According To Terence Trent D'Arby Introducing the Hardline According to Terence Trent D'Arby Introducing the Hardline According to Terence Trent D'Arby is Terence Trent D'Arby's debut album. It was released in July 1987 on Columbia Records, and became an instant number-one smash in the UK and spending a total of nine weeks at the top of the UK Album Chart and eventually being certified 5x... |
Terence Trent D'Arby | 1 | |
- Michael Jackson's album, Bad, reached number 1 in the album chart in September of the previous year (1987), where it remained for five weeks, but the album was still the third biggest-selling of 1987.
BRIT Awards
The 1988 BRIT AwardsBrit Awards
The Brit Awards are the British Phonographic Industry's annual pop music awards. The name was originally a shortened form of "British", "Britain" or "Britannia", but subsequently became a backronym for British Record Industry Trust...
winners were:
- Best British producer: Stock Aitken WatermanStock Aitken WatermanStock Aitken Waterman, sometimes known as SAW, were a UK songwriting and record producing trio consisting of Mike Stock, Matt Aitken and Pete Waterman. They had great success during the mid to late 1980s and early 1990s...
- Best classical recording: Ralph Vaughan WilliamsRalph Vaughan WilliamsRalph Vaughan Williams OM was an English composer of symphonies, chamber music, opera, choral music, and film scores. He was also a collector of English folk music and song: this activity both influenced his editorial approach to the English Hymnal, beginning in 1904, in which he included many...
- "Symphony No. 5Symphony No. 5 (Vaughan Williams)Symphony No. 5 by English composer Ralph Vaughan Williams was written between 1938 and 1943. In style it represents a shift away from the violent dissonance of the Fourth Symphony, and a return to the more romantic style of the earlier Pastoral Symphony...
" - Best international solo artist: Michael JacksonMichael JacksonMichael Joseph Jackson was an American recording artist, entertainer, and businessman. Referred to as the King of Pop, or by his initials MJ, Jackson is recognized as the most successful entertainer of all time by Guinness World Records...
- Best Music Video: New OrderNew OrderNew Order are an English rock band formed in 1980 by Bernard Sumner , Peter Hook and Stephen Morris...
- "True FaithTrue Faith"True Faith" is a 1987 track from New Order, produced by Stephen Hague. It was the first New Order single since their debut "Ceremony" to be issued in the UK as two separate 12" singles. The second 12" single features two remixes of "True Faith" by Shep Pettibone. Both versions of the 12" also...
" - Best soundtrack: "The Phantom of the OperaThe Phantom of the Opera (1986 musical)The Phantom of the Opera is a musical by Andrew Lloyd Webber, based on the French novel Le Fantôme de l'Opéra by Gaston Leroux.The music was composed by Lloyd Webber, and most lyrics were written by Charles Hart, with additional lyrics by Richard Stilgoe. Alan Jay Lerner was an early collaborator,...
" - British album: Sting - "Nothing Like the Sun"
- British breakthrough act: Wet Wet WetWet Wet WetWet Wet Wet are a Scottish pop rock band that formed in the 1980s. They scored a number of hits in the British charts and around the world. The band is composed of Marti Pellow , Tommy Cunningham , Graeme Clark and Neil Mitchell...
- British female solo artist: Alison MoyetAlison MoyetAlison Moyet , is an English singer, songwriter and performer noted for her bluesy voice.Her UK album sales have reached a certified 2.3 million, with 800,000 singles sold, all in the UK, where all seven of her studio albums and three compilation albums have charted in the Top 40 UK Album Chart,...
- British group: Pet Shop BoysPet Shop BoysPet Shop Boys are an English electronic dance music duo, consisting of Neil Tennant, who provides main vocals, keyboards and occasional guitar, and Chris Lowe on keyboards....
- British male solo artist: George MichaelGeorge MichaelGeorge Michael is a British musician, singer, songwriter and record producer who rose to fame in the 1980s when he formed the pop duo Wham! with his school friend, Andrew Ridgeley...
- British single: Rick AstleyRick AstleyRichard Paul "Rick" Astley is an English singer-songwriter, musician, and radio personality. He is known for his 1987 song, "Never Gonna Give You Up", which was a #1 hit single in 25 countries...
- "Never Gonna Give You UpNever Gonna Give You UpA group of London dance producers, called The Rickrollerz made a house music cover version of "Never Gonna Give You Up" on that day, and in honor of that event....
" - International breakthrough act: Terence Trent D'Arby
- International group: U2U2U2 are an Irish rock band from Dublin. Formed in 1976, the group consists of Bono , The Edge , Adam Clayton , and Larry Mullen, Jr. . U2's early sound was rooted in post-punk but eventually grew to incorporate influences from many genres of popular music...
- Outstanding contribution: The WhoThe WhoThe Who are an English rock band formed in 1964 by Roger Daltrey , Pete Townshend , John Entwistle and Keith Moon . They became known for energetic live performances which often included instrument destruction...