Billboard #1 Soul Songs Of 1988 Rankdown (COMPLETE)

[jenglisbe]

My favorite Bobby Brown songs are "Every Little Step" and "On Our Own" lol.

[Soulsista]

Here we go...the conclusion of the Billboard #1 Soul Songs Of 1988 Rankdown!

Leaving us now is a song with 2 #1s. Fourteen others will say goodbye to a Top 10, while three others will lose a bottom 5.

SPOILER: Click to show

{Soul Class Of '88}Private Dancer craziaskowboi SHOOTER back2blk singingrulebritannia legend1982 #LisaRinna wyckyd ccarter1023 divasummer rowellfarm490 Mirago jenglisbe jtd Thee Stallion @antigonerising mamooshka 🇯🇲 dollybaby 🇯🇲 Jay D83 gonecountry annoymous1 Ivy Leegue™ .indulgecountry Ty Ky

[Jay D83]

May 14, 2021 10:00:16 GMT -5 jenglisbe said:

My favorite Bobby Brown songs are "Every Little Step" and "On Our Own" lol.

"On Our Own" is definitely my favorite Bobby song and may be my favorite New Jack Swing song.

[Soulsista]

5. Paradise - Sade

"Paradise" was the biggest hit on the soul chart for this British band. It also reached the Top 5 on the AC chart and the Top 20 on the Hot 100.

Apologies to rowellfarm490 and Mirago...


Stats
Chart Entry: May 14, 1988
Peak Date: July 9, 1988
Weeks At #1: 1
Weeks In Top 10: 5
Weeks On Chart: 14
Hot 100 Peak: #16

Points: 601
Average: 9.96
Standard Deviation: 8.903 (8th highest)

rowellfarm490 - 1
Mirago - 1
craziaskowboi - 2
singingrulebritannia - 2
#LisaRinna - 3
@antigonerising - 3
Ty - 3
wyckyd - 4
.indulgecountry - 4
mamooshka - 5

SHOOTER - 6
🇯🇲 dollybaby 🇯🇲 - 6
Ivy Leegue™ - 8
back2blk - 9
ccarter1023 - 9
gonecountry - 10

Soulsista - 13
jtd Thee Stallion - 13
jenglisbe - 14
legend1982 - 15

Private Dancer - 22
divasummer - 28
Jay D83 - 28
annoymous1 - 30

Observing
Ky

The next reveal has 3 #1s...but it was a last place ranking that kept it out of the Top 3.

[Mirago]

That bass line alone is like Paradise

[legend1982]

Surprised this is Sade's biggest hit on the soul chart. It's definitely my least favorite single from Stronger than Pride. And with album tracks like Keep Looking and Clean Heart, it's middle of the pack for me.

[Soulsista]

4. Nite And Day - Al B. Sure!

Born in Boston and raised in Mount Vernon, he turned down a football scholarship to focus on music. His career got a boost when he was chosen as the winner of the Sony Innovators Talent Search by none other than Quincy Jones. Al's first charted single became his biggest hit, topping the soul chart and reaching the Top 10 of the Hot 100. It also received a Grammy nomination for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance. The song was notably sampled in the original version of LL Cool J's "Loungin'".

Apologies to craziaskowboi, singingrulebritannia, and jenglisbe...


Stats
Chart Entry: March 12, 1988
Peak Date: April 30, 1988
Weeks At #1: 3
Weeks In Top 10: 7
Weeks On Chart: 18
Hot 100 Peak: #7

Points: 621
Average: 9.13
Standard Deviation: 9.186 (5th highest)

craziaskowboi - 1
singingrulebritannia - 1
jenglisbe - 1
wyckyd - 2
rowellfarm490 - 2
Mirago - 2
Soulsista - 3
SHOOTER - 3
back2blk - 3
jtd Thee Stallion - 4
🇯🇲 dollybaby 🇯🇲 - 4
Ty - 4
legend1982 - 5
Jay D83 - 6
@antigonerising - 8
Private Dancer - 10

Ivy Leegue™ - 11
mamooshka - 16
#LisaRinna - 17
divasummer - 17
gonecountry - 17
ccarter1023 - 18


gonecountry - 30
annoymous1 - 34

Observing
Ky


We'll lose 3 more #1s with the next reveal. Everyone ranked this in their Top 20.

[Soulsista]

3. Giving You The Best That I Got - Anita Baker

"Giving You The Best That I Got" was Anita's biggest hit, topping the soul and AC charts and hitting the Top 5 on the Hot 100. It was nominated for 4 Grammys, winning 2: Best R&B Song and Best Female R&B Vocal Performance. The other categories it was nominated in were Record Of The Year and Song Of The Year.

Apologies to back2blk, #LisaRinna, and wyckyd...


Stats
Chart Entry: September 24, 1988
Peak Date: November 12, 1988
Weeks At #1: 2
Weeks In Top 10: 7
Weeks On Chart: 19
Hot 100 Peak: #3

Points: 622
Average: 9.08
Standard Deviation: 5.845 (9th lowest)

back2blk - 1
#LisaRinna - 1
wyckyd - 1
Private Dancer - 2
Ty - 2
legend1982 - 3
@antigonerising - 4
jenglisbe - 5
🇯🇲 dollybaby 🇯🇲 - 5
annoymous1 - 5
SHOOTER - 9
Mirago - 10

ccarter1023 - 11
Ivy Leegue™ - 12
.indulgecountry - 12
mamooshka - 13
gonecountry - 13
singingrulebritannia - 14
divasummer - 14
Jay D83 - 14
craziaskowboi - 15
rowellfarm490 - 15
jtd Thee Stallion - 17
Soulsista - 20

Observing
Ky

[Soulsista]

vs.




Who will prevail? The final 2 will be revealed shortly!

SPOILER: Click to show

{Soul Class Of '88}Private Dancer craziaskowboi SHOOTER back2blk singingrulebritannia legend1982 #LisaRinna wyckyd ccarter1023 divasummer rowellfarm490 Mirago jenglisbe jtd Thee Stallion @antigonerising mamooshka 🇯🇲 dollybaby 🇯🇲 Jay D83 gonecountry annoymous1 Ivy Leegue™ .indulgecountry Ty Ky

[annoymous1]

MJ most likely

[Soulsista]

But first, a couple of extras. Up first, the follow-up to their #1 soul hit "Paradise". It peaked at #3 on the soul chart.

Nothing Can Come Between Us - Sade

---

Next, a song that made him the first artist to produce 7 Top 5 hits on the soul chart from a single album. Peaking at #2 soul, it also was a Top 10 hit on the Hot 100, climbing to #7.

Smooth Criminal - Michael Jackson

[back2blk]

back2blk - 1
#LisaRinna - 1
wyckyd - 1

Let's get out of here. Clearly we're not wanted here.

[Private Dancer]

Man in the Mirror should not be this high!

But anyways...and I love the way you love me...

[Soulsista]

As with "Giving You The Best That I Got", everyone had the final 2 in their Top 20.



2. The Way You Love Me - Karyn White

"The Way You Love Me" was the first single from Karyn's self-titled debut album. Produced and co-written by L.A. Reid and Babyface, it became her first soul charttopper, as well as her first Top 10 hit on the Hot 100. It was also certified gold.


Stats
Chart Entry: August 20, 1988
Peak Date: October 29, 1988
Weeks At #1: 1
Weeks In Top 10: 6
Weeks On Chart: 25
Hot 100 Peak: #7

Points: 630
Average: 8.75
Standard Deviation: 4.945 (4th lowest)

divasummer - 1
.indulgecountry - 1
wyckyd - 3
Soulsista - 4
back2blk - 4
Private Dancer - 5
Ivy Leegue™ - 5
ccarter1023 - 6
rowellfarm490 - 6
annoymous1 - 6
jenglisbe - 7
legend1982 - 8
Jay D83 - 8
mamooshka - 9
@antigonerising - 10

craziaskowboi - 11
Ty - 11
#LisaRinna - 12
singingrulebritannia - 13
jtd Thee Stallion - 14
🇯🇲 dollybaby 🇯🇲 - 16
gonecountry - 16
SHOOTER - 17
Mirago - 17

Observing
Ky

---

1. Man In The Mirror - Michael Jackson

"Man In The Mirror" was MJ's fourth #1 on the pop and soul charts from the Bad album. Featuring backing vocals from Siedah Garrett, The Winans, and the Andrae Crouch Choir, it received a Grammy nomination for Record Of The Year.


Stats
Chart Entry: February 6, 1988
Peak Date: March 26, 1988
Weeks At #1: 1
Weeks In Top 10: 5
Weeks On Chart: 14
Hot 100 Peak: #1 (2 weeks)

Points: 667
Average: 7.21
Standard Deviation: 5.838 (8th lowest)

ccarter1023 - 1
Jay D83 - 1
Ty - 1
jtd Thee Stallion - 2
annoymous1 - 2
Mirago - 3
jenglisbe - 3
mamooshka - 3
Ivy Leegue™ - 3
legend1982 - 4
divasummer - 4
gonecountry - 4
back2blk - 5

#LisaRinna - 6
singingrulebritannia - 8
Soulsista - 9
craziaskowboi - 9
rowellfarm490 - 9

.indulgecountry - 13
wyckyd - 14
🇯🇲 dollybaby 🇯🇲 - 15
Private Dancer - 17
@antigonerising - 17
SHOOTER - 20

Observing
Ky


And that concludes the Billboard #1 Soul Songs Of 1988 Rankdown. Thanks again to everyone who participated as well as to those who have shown support for this series.

1989 is in the background...and it's heading this way!

[annoymous1]

Although a predictable #1 thanks Soulsista for doing/hosting this rankdown.

[🇯🇲 dollybaby 🇯🇲]

Love the song, but never really thought Karyn White would make it into the top 2, tbh. Honestly shocked. Thought it would be either Bobby Brown, Keith Sweat, or even Al B. Sure!

[gonecountry]

Thanks Soulsista for another great rankdown and all the work you put into the extras.  Not surprised in the slightest to see Man in the Mirror win it all, it is probably one of MJ's top 3 most iconic songs.   Looking forward to 1989!

[gonecountry]

Oh, I just peeked. 1989 is gonna be tough. There are some great songs, by some incredibly classy men and women including the lovely Roberta Flack. I do see what is likely my last place song, but I'll be fair and listen to everything first.

Cant wait!

[ccarter1023]

Thank you Soulsista for a very entertaining rankdown. Thoroughly enjoyed it!

[back2blk]

Acceptable top 2. Each were in my top 5!

Fun ranking.

[Jay D83]

I finally got a #1!!!!!! 1989 is gonna be a bloodbath, though.

[#LisaRinna]

I love Karyn and "Man in the Mirror" is a classic, but Miss Baker deserved #1 with THAT song.

Thank you Soulsista!!

[divasummer]

I'm kind of surprised Karyn White made it as far as she did even though it was my num.1. Cool!
A lot of songs in my Top 20 were very close so a num.20 position looks bad but it was still a loved song on my list.
Looking forward to 1989 and hopefully discovering a few new gems..

[Soulsista]

Perfect Rankings:

@antigonerising - 4
ccarter1023 / Ivy Leegue™ / Private Dancer / jtd Thee Stallion - 3
SHOOTER / singingrulebritannia / rowellfarm490 / jenglisbe / mamooshka / legend1982 / back2blk / Jay D83 / Ty - 2
.indulgecountry / Soulsista / wyckyd / divasummer / annoymous1 / craziaskowboi / 🇯🇲 dollybaby 🇯🇲 - 1
#LisaRinna / Mirago / gonecountry - 0


I'll leave you with two final extras. First, one of their 4 Top 10 hits on the soul chart, peaking at #10. They would sample it in 1993 for their song "Down With The King".

Run's House - Run-DMC


This was also used as the theme to the MTV reality series of the same name.

---

Next, a song by a group that featured future NWA members Dr. Dre and DJ Yella. Peaking at #30 soul, it also features a then-unknown teenage singer named Michel'le.

Turn Off The Lights - World Class Wreckin' Cru

[Ivy Leegue™]

Wow. I did pretty well, all things considered. I am SO happy Karyn got to #2, as her debut album is one of my fave R&B albums EVER. Thanks, soulsistagirl!

[Jay D83]

May 14, 2021 15:12:03 GMT -5 Soulsista said:

Next, a song by a group that featured future NWA members Dr. Dre and DJ Yella. Peaking at #30 soul, it also features a then-unknown teenage singer named Michel'le.

Turn Off The Lights - World Class Wreckin' Cru

[/div][/quote]

YAASSSSS, let's get drunk and slow drag. I love this song!

I'm a helluva woman, and for me it takes a helluva man, so don't you dare turn off the lights, unless this you understand!

[#LisaRinna]

nnnn @ zero perfect rankings!

[mamooshka]

Soulsista - As always, that was entertaining. Thanks for hosting this.

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