List of UK top-ten singles in 1988

Nine singles from 1987 remained in the top 10 for several weeks at the beginning of the year, while "Buffalo Stance" by Neneh Cherry, "Crackers International (EP)" by Erasure, "Good Life" by Inner City, "Especially for You" by Kylie and Jason and "Loco in Acapulco" by Four Tops were both released in 1988 but did not reach their peak until 1989.

"Heaven is a Place on Earth" by Belinda Carlisle and "When I Fall in Love" by Nat King Cole were the singles from 1987 to reach their peak in 1988.

Bros, Everything but the Girl, Jason Donovan, Kylie Minogue and Salt-n-Pepa were among the many artists who achieved their first UK charting top 10 single in 1988.

Climie Fisher, Gloria Estefan, Morrissey, Salt 'N' Pepa and Whitney Houston were among the other artists who had multiple top 10 entries in 1988.

Of these, nine went on to record another hit single that year: Brother Beyond, Climie Fisher, Debbie Gibson, Fairground Attraction, Inner City, Jason Donovan, S-Express, Salt-n-Pepa and Taylor Dayne.

The following table (collapsed on desktop site) does not include acts who had previously charted as part of a group and secured their first top 10 solo single.

The Timelords scored their only hit single in 1988, "Doctorin' the Tardis", under this name - they went on to future success as The KLF, one of their several other pseudonyms.

Gloria Estefan was credited as a solo artist alongside her group Miami Sound Machine for the first time in 1988.

Cliff Richard (pictured in 2013) had the best-selling single of 1988 with " Mistletoe and Wine ", his twelfth UK number-one single, which topped the chart for four weeks and became the year's Christmas number-one .
Kylie Minogue (pictured in 2014) went to number-one in February with her debut single " I Should Be So Lucky ", which stayed at the top spot for five weeks. The Australian singer had a total of five top 10 singles in the UK this year.
Phil Collins (pictured in 2005) secured three top 10 singles in 1988, the highest-charting of which was his cover of " A Groovy Kind of Love ", taken from the soundtrack of the film Buster , which remains his last UK number-one single to date.
U2 (frontman Bono pictured in 2000) scored their first UK number-one single this year with " Desire ", taken from the album Rattle and Hum .
Climie Fisher had two UK top singles in 1988, including their best known song, " Love Changes (Everything) ", which reached number two in April.
Bobby McFerrin (pictured in 1994) became a one-hit wonder in the UK this year with his song " Don't Worry, Be Happy ", which peaked at number two in October.
Italian pop singer Sabrina (pictured in 2010) reached number three in June 1988 with her one and only UK top 10 hit, " Boys (Summertime Love) ".