Billboard #1 Soul Songs Of 1988 Rankdown (COMPLETE)

[Soulsista]

The year that new jack swing started to take hold...that's right, it's 1988's turn in the spotlight. And the high turnover rate will continue, as there are 34 songs for you to rank:

Love Overboard - Gladys Knight & The Pips
I Want Her - Keith Sweat
Girlfriend - Pebbles
You Will Know - Stevie Wonder
Fishnet - Morris Day
Man In The Mirror - Michael Jackson
Wishing Well - Terence Trent D'Arby
Ooo La La La - Teena Marie
Get Outta My Dreams, Get Into My Car - Billy Ocean
Da Butt - E.U.
Nite And Day - Al B. Sure!
Mercedes Boy - Pebbles
Just Got Paid - Johnny Kemp
Little Walter - Tony! Toni! Tone!
One More Try - George Michael
Joy - Teddy Pendergrass
Paradise - Sade
Roses Are Red - The Mac Band feat. The McCampbell Brothers
Don't Be Cruel - Bobby Brown
Off On Your Own (Girl) - Al B. Sure!
Loosey's Rap - Rick James feat. Roxanne Shante
Nice N' Slow - Freddie Jackson
Another Part Of Me - Michael Jackson
She's On The Left - Jeffrey Osborne
Addicted To You - LeVert
My Prerogative - Bobby Brown
The Way You Love Me - Karyn White
Any Love - Luther Vandross
Giving You The Best That I Got - Anita Baker
Thanks For My Child - Cheryl "Pepsii" Riley
Hey Lover - Freddie Jackson
Dial My Heart - The Boys
Everything I Miss At Home - Cherrelle
Tumblin' Down - Ziggy Marley & The Melody Makers


Final rankings will use an inverse point system.

You may rank whichever version you prefer (single edit, remix, etc.)

Submissions are tentatively due April 30.


YouTube Playlist


Links to previous rankdowns:
1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987

SPOILER: Click to show

{Tags}@antigonerising Az Paynter bat1990 Linnethia Monique boysilver400 castleoblivion26 cedric stunnedout CF15 Choco George Zinc. g8erboi tim LBTrocks craziaskowboi Glove Slap Ling-Ling Crimsonio 🅳🅸🆂🅲🅾 Fancy filthy Ivy Leegue™ Troublemaker singingrulebritannia God newpower Hashtag Pow Sambalada .indulgecountry Me. I Am Justin... born Kanenrá:ke Juanca jtd Thee Stallion Zeebz Ky 🇯🇲 dollybaby 🇯🇲  lyhom  @mirza Mayman Caviar SHOOTER owenlovesmusic @pma2015 sergejdordij stallie tallen2001 tanooki tinawina toomuchboy Leigh trilogy Ty B-Boy walt91 Relaxing Cup wavey. mako willapted33 Janhova's Witness @jazzysoul47 Exclusive Me. I Am l!nk!nfan815... anitabakerfan jenglisbe @gabingston Doc Indie Party Rock #LisaRinna gonecountry Mirago rowellfarm490 Red wyckyd annoymous1 Nick Private Dancer Unhinged mamooshka anthony11554 Verisimilitude peacebone Jay D83 divasummer legend1982 back2blk

[Private Dancer]

Another bloodfest, I am ready!!!!

[gonecountry]

Damn, there's some really good stuff in here. I know most everything here. It will take a real wild card to top my disdain for Billy Ocean's major pile of cow dung. I do like a good bit of his stuff, not this...

[🇯🇲 dollybaby 🇯🇲]

Yaaay! The year that I was born!

[#LisaRinna]

Come through Ms. Baker!!

[Jay D83]

I mean y’all gone do “Da Butt” all kinds of wrong but okay, I guess.

[craziaskowboi]

FISHNET... BLACK PANTY HOSE... BIG LEGS... SHOW THROUGH THE HOLES...

[Soulsista]

Kicking off the extras is a double feature by this female hip hop act. Their breakthrough hit on the Hot 100 reached #19. On the soul chart, it peaked at #28.

Push It - Salt-N-Pepa

---

The lead single from their sophomore album A Salt With a Deadly Pepa was their first Top 10 on the soul chart, peaking at #4.

Shake Your Thang - Salt-N-Pepa feat. E.U.

[jenglisbe]

Mar 20, 2021 6:54:36 GMT -5 Jay D83 said:

I mean y’all gone do “Da Butt” all kinds of wrong but okay, I guess.

I'm glad it's okay!

There are like 8 songs I want to be #1. Hmmm....

[Soulsista]

Today's extras are a couple of hip hop classics. First up, the first charted single in the US by this rapper from NYC. It peaked at #53 on the soul chart and samples Heatwave's "Ain't No Half Steppin'" and "Blind Alley" by The Emotions.

Ain't No Half Steppin' - Big Daddy Kane

---

Next, a song by this rapper from Brooklyn who became the first solo female rapper to release a full-length album. It samples "17 Days" by Prince, "I'm Glad You're Mine" by Al Green, "Shining Star" by Earth, Wind & Fire, and interpolates the chorus from the Ray Charles classic "Hit The Road Jack".

Paper Thin - MC Lyte

[Soulsista]

Today's extra was one of her last Top 10 hits on the soul chart, peaking at #3.

Flirt - Evelyn "Champagne" King

[SHOOTER]

Y'all better do right by my birth year!!

[Soulsista]

Today's extra is a double feature by this former Laker Girl. Her debut single peaked at #8 on the soul chart and almost made the Top 40 on the Hot 100, peaking at #41. Produced by L.A. Reid and Babyface and features Pebbles on backing vocals.

Knocked Out - Paula Abdul

---

The follow-up was another Top 10 on the soul chart, rising to #10. It initially stalled at #88 on the Hot 100, but was re-released the following year and fared much better, peaking at #3.

(It's Just) The Way That You Love Me - Paula Abdul

[Soulsista]

WEEKLY REMINDER!

Participants:
1. Soulsista
2. Private Dancer
3. craziaskowboi
4. SHOOTER

SPOILER: Click to show

{Tags}@antigonerising Az Paynter bat1990 Linnethia Monique boysilver400 castleoblivion26 cedric stunnedout CF15 Choco George Zinc. g8erboi tim LBTrocks craziaskowboi Glove Slap Ling-Ling Crimsonio 🅳🅸🆂🅲🅾 Fancy filthy Ivy Leegue™ Troublemaker singingrulebritannia God newpower Hashtag Pow Sambalada .indulgecountry Me. I Am Justin... born Kanenrá:ke Juanca jtd Thee Stallion Zeebz Ky 🇯🇲 dollybaby 🇯🇲  lyhom  @mirza Mayman Caviar SHOOTER owenlovesmusic @pma2015 sergejdordij stallie tallen2001 tanooki tinawina toomuchboy Leigh trilogy Ty B-Boy walt91 Relaxing Cup wavey. mako willapted33 Janhova's Witness @jazzysoul47 Exclusive Me. I Am l!nk!nfan815... anitabakerfan jenglisbe @gabingston Doc Indie Party Rock #LisaRinna gonecountry Mirago rowellfarm490 Red wyckyd annoymous1 Nick Private Dancer Unhinged mamooshka anthony11554 Verisimilitude peacebone Jay D83 divasummer legend1982 back2blk

[divasummer]

Keep tagging me. (thanks)
I'll submit right around April 30th.
Can't wait to revisit some of these favorites.
It's going to be a hard one. I was 11 at the time and finding out about the music I liked besides for Donna Summer (obsessed) and a lot of these songs are top all time favorites.

[Soulsista]

Today's extra is a double feature by this rapper-turned-actor who recently won a Grammy for Best Metal Performance with his band Body Count. His first charted single was from the movie of the same name. It peaked at #77 on the soul chart and #70 on the Hot 100.

Colors - Ice-T

---

Next, his biggest hit on the soul chart. Peaking at #13 soul, this anti-drug song samples the Curtis Mayfield song "Pusherman".

I'm Your Pusher - Ice-T

[Soulsista]

Got a couple more hip hop classics. Up first, the first charted single by this duo from Harlem. Peaking at #17 on the soul chart and #36 on the Hot 100, it samples the Lyn Collins song "Think (About It)".

It Takes Two - Rob Base & DJ E-Z Rock


Sadly, DJ E-Z Rock passed away in 2014 from a diabetic seizure.

---

Next, the biggest hit for this all-female hip hop group from California. It was first recorded a year earlier by the original lineup, which was a quintet. Three of the members then left due to disagreements, so the remaining two added another member and continued forward as a trio. This lineup re-recorded this song and released it as a single, sending it to #22 soul and #30 on the Hot 100. It would later be sampled in Fergie's hit "Fergalicious".

Supersonic - J.J. Fad

[Soulsista]

Today's extra is considered the signature song for this singer from Yonkers who at one time was a member of The Village People. It peaked at #10 on the soul chart.

I've Been a Fool For You - Miles Jaye


Fun fact: his full name is Miles Jaye Davis.

[Soulsista]

Today's extra is the biggest hit for this singer from NYC. It peaked at #3 on the AC chart, #8 on the soul chart, and #6 on the Hot 100.

Piano In The Dark - Brenda Russell feat. Joe Esposito


Alternate music video:

[Soulsista]

WEEKLY REMINDER!

Participants:
1. Soulsista
2. Private Dancer
3. craziaskowboi
4. SHOOTER
5. back2blk
6. singingrulebritannia
7. legend1982

SPOILER: Click to show

{Tags}@antigonerising Az Paynter bat1990 Linnethia Monique boysilver400 castleoblivion26 cedric stunnedout CF15 Choco George Zinc. g8erboi tim LBTrocks craziaskowboi Glove Slap Ling-Ling Crimsonio 🅳🅸🆂🅲🅾 Fancy filthy Ivy Leegue™ Troublemaker singingrulebritannia God newpower Hashtag Pow Sambalada .indulgecountry Me. I Am Justin... born Kanenrá:ke Juanca jtd Thee Stallion Zeebz Ky 🇯🇲 dollybaby 🇯🇲  lyhom  @mirza Mayman Caviar SHOOTER owenlovesmusic @pma2015 sergejdordij stallie tallen2001 tanooki tinawina toomuchboy Leigh trilogy Ty B-Boy walt91 Relaxing Cup wavey. mako willapted33 Janhova's Witness @jazzysoul47 Exclusive Me. I Am l!nk!nfan815... anitabakerfan jenglisbe @gabingston Doc Indie Party Rock #LisaRinna gonecountry Mirago rowellfarm490 Red wyckyd annoymous1 Nick Private Dancer Unhinged mamooshka anthony11554 Verisimilitude peacebone Jay D83 divasummer legend1982 back2blk

[#LisaRinna]

Submitted!

[Jay D83]

I'm lazy. I'll get this done next week.

[Private Dancer]

Apr 1, 2021 10:29:36 GMT -5 Soulsista said:

Today's extra is the biggest hit for this singer from NYC. It peaked at #3 on the AC chart, #8 on the soul chart, and #6 on the Hot 100.

Piano In The Dark - Brenda Russell feat. Joe Esposito


Alternate music video:

THIS MY SOOOOOOOOOONNGGGG!

[Soulsista]

Today's extras are two more hip hop classics. One of two Top 10 hits by the guy dubbed "The Human Beat Box", it peaked at #4 on the soul chart. Samples Keni Burke's 1982 song "Risin' To The Top".

Keep Risin' To The Top - Doug E. Fresh & The Get Fresh Crew

---

Next, the breakthrough hit on the soul chart for this Long Island-based group, peaking at #18.

Don't Believe The Hype - Public Enemy

[Soulsista]

Today's extra is a double feature by this hip hop duo from West Philadelphia. Their breakthrough hit peaked at #10 on the soul chart and #12 on the Hot 100. It also won a Grammy for Best Rap Performance.

Parents Just Don't Understand - DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince

---

The follow-up to "Parents Just Don't Understand" was also a hit, reaching #9 soul and #15 on the Hot 100. It contains a sample of the musical motif from A Nightmare On Elm Street.

A Nightmare On My Street - DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince

[Agent Yoncé]

I am here for this!

[craziaskowboi]

Apr 1, 2021 10:29:36 GMT -5 Soulsista said:

Piano In The Dark - Brenda Russell feat. Joe Esposito

For what it's worth, I ranked this song #4 on the Billboard Top 100 Hits of 1988 rankdown.

[Soulsista]

Today's extra is a double feature by this former Miss America. Her first charted single topped the dance chart and peaked at #4 on the soul chart. It was also nominated for a Grammy for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance.

The Right Stuff - Vanessa Williams

---

The follow-up to "The Right Stuff" was another Top 10 on the soul chart, peaking at #10

(He's Got) The Look - Vanessa Williams

[Verisimilitude]

^ A legend! Can't wait til we get to next year!

[Soulsista]

Today's extra was the first single released by this band after the exits of Reggie and Vincent Calloway. Featuring Ecstasy of Whodini, it peaked at #3 on the soul chart and contains an interpolation of Kellee Patterson's 1977 song "If It Don't Fit Don't Force It".

Don't Rock The Boat - Midnight Star