The UK Albums Chart is one of many music charts compiled by the Official Charts Company that calculates the best-selling albums of the week in the United Kingdom. Before 2004, the chart was only based on the sales of physical albums. This list shows albums that peaked in the Top 10 of the UK Albums Chart during 1988, as well as albums which peaked in 1987 and 1989 but were in the top 10 in 1988. The entry date is when the album appeared in the top ten for the first time (week ending, as published by the Official Charts Company, which is six days after the chart is announced).
The first new number-one album of the year was Popped In Souled Out by Wet Wet Wet. Overall, eighteen different albums peaked at number-one in 1988.
Top-ten albums Key SymbolMeaning‡Album peaked in 1987 but still in chart in 1988.♦Album released in 1988 but peaked in 1989.EnteredThe date that the album first appeared in the chart.PeakHighest position that the album reached in the UK Albums Chart.
Entered (week ending)Weeksintop10 Single ArtistPeak Peakreached (week ending)WeeksatpeakAlbums in 1987 7Give Me the ReasonLuther Vandross 3 2 13Raindancing ‡Alison Moyet 2 2 38Tango in the Night ‡Fleetwood Mac 1 5 23Whitney ‡Whitney Houston 1 6 23Introducing the Hardline According to Terence Trent D'Arby ‡Terence Trent D'Arby 1 9 5HearsayAlexander O'Neal 4 1 38Bad ‡Michael Jackson 1 5 15Actually ‡Pet Shop Boys 2 1 31Popped In Souled OutWet Wet Wet 1 1 4Tunnel of Love ‡Bruce Springsteen 1 1 13The Christians ‡The Christians 2 2 18Bridge of Spies ‡T'Pau 1 1 9The Singles ‡The Pretenders 6 1 8Faith ‡George Michael 1 1 9All the Best! ‡Paul McCartney 2 2 15Whenever You Need Somebody ‡Rick Astley 1 1 7Now That’s What I Call Music! 10 ‡Various artists 1 6 6Hits 7 ‡ 2 2Albums in 1988 12Turn Back the ClockJohnny Hates Jazz 1 1 9Heaven on EarthBelinda Carlisle 4 1 4Jack Mix '88: The Best of MirageMirage 7 1 1Life in the Fast LaneVarious artists 10 1 2If I Should Fall from Grace with GodThe Pogues 3 1 5Come into My LifeJoyce Sims 5 1 8KickINXS 9 5 2Blow Up Your VideoAC/DC 2 1 2TiffanyTiffany 5 1 1All About EveAll About Eve 7 1 1ChildrenThe Mission 2 1 9The Best of OMDOrchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark 2 3 3Unforgettable – 18 Classic Songs of LoveVarious artists 5 1 1Now and ZenRobert Plant 10 1 2Tear Down These WallsBilly Ocean 3 1 1Who's Better, Who's BestThe Who 10 1 2Viva HateMorrissey 1 1 2NakedTalking Heads 3 1 1From Langley Park to MemphisPrefab Sprout 5 1 7Now That’s What I Call Music! 11Various artists 1 3 1The Story of the Clash, Volume 1The Clash 7 1 2Tina Live in EuropeTina Turner 8 1 16PushBros 2 3 1Wings of HeavenMagnum 5 1 1LovelyThe Primitives 6 1 1Distant ThunderAswad 10 1 19Dirty Dancing: Original Soundtrack from the Vestron Motion PictureVarious artists 4 1 4Hip Hop and Rapping in the House 5 1 2Seventh Son of a Seventh SonIron Maiden 1 1 11The InnocentsErasure 1 2 1Barbed Wire KissesThe Jesus and Mary Chain 9 1 2Stay on These RoadsA-ha 2 1 7Stronger Than PrideSade 3 2 6More Dirty Dancing: More Original Music from the Hit Motion PictureVarious artists 3 1 2LovesexyPrince 1 1 1Now That's What I Call Quite GoodThe Housemartins 8 1 7Nite FliteVarious artists 1 4 10The First of a Million KissesFairground Attraction 2 3 4Motown Dance PartyVarious artists 3 1 1LoveAztec Camera 10 1 1PeopleHothouse Flowers 2 1 1ProvisionScritti Politti 8 1 16Tracy ChapmanTracy Chapman 1 3 10Idol Songs: 11 of the BestBilly Idol 2 1 3Roll with ItSteve Winwood 4 2 3The CollectionBarry White 5 1 2Jack Mix in Full EffectMirage 7 1 29KylieKylie Minogue 1 6 9Now That’s What I Call Music! 12Various artists 1 5 1SubstanceJoy Division 7 1 5Hits 8Various artists 2 2 1It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us BackPublic Enemy 8 1 5The Greatest Ever Rock 'N' Roll MixVarious artists 8 1 4The Best of EaglesEagles 8 3 6Hot City NightsVarious artists 1 1 2So GoodMica Paris 6 1 6Rap TraxVarious artists 3 2 1RankThe Smiths 2 1 1...And Justice for AllMetallica 4 1 2Sunshine on LeithThe Proclaimers 6 1 2Buster: The Original Motion Picture SoundtrackVarious artists 6 1 5ConscienceWomack & Womack 4 1 3New JerseyBon Jovi 1 2 3Staring at the SunLevel 42 2 2 3RevolutionsJean-Michel Jarre 2 1 1Peace in Our TimeBig Country 9 1 2Flying ColoursChris de Burgh 1 1 1Pop ArtTransvision Vamp 4 1 2Ones on 1Various artists 10 2 4Rattle and HumU2 1 1 5IntrospectivePet Shop Boys 2 1 2To Whom It May ConcernThe Pasadenas 3 1 12The Greatest Hits Collection ♦Bananarama 3 1 13Money for NothingDire Straits 1 3 2Any LoveLuther Vandross 3 1 4New Light Through Old WindowsChris Rea 5 1 1Giving You the Best That I GotAnita Baker 9 1 11WatermarkEnya 5 1 2RageT'Pau 4 1 4Smash Hits Party '88Various artists 6 1 3Greatest HitsThe Human League 3 1 4Soft MetalVarious artists 7 1 2The Memphis SessionsWet Wet Wet 3 1 9Private Collection: 1979–1988Cliff Richard 1 2 7The Ultimate CollectionBryan Ferry and Roxy Music 6 2 4WantedYazz 3 1 6The Premiere Collection: The Best of Andrew Lloyd WebberAndrew Lloyd Webber 3 1 6Now That’s What I Call Music! 13Various artists 1 4 11Greatest HitsFleetwood Mac 3 3 1Get EvenBrother Beyond 9 1 2Hold Me in Your ArmsRick Astley 8 1 4The Hits Album 9 ♦Various artists 5 1 9The Legendary Roy Orbison ♦Roy Orbison 1 3
See also 1988 in British music List of number-one albums from the 1980s (UK)
References General
Specific
External links 1988 album chart archive at the Official Charts Company (click on relevant week)