Top 39 Music Albums of 1988 by slatsheit

• Chart updated: 04/04/2025 08:15
• (Created: 11/29/2024 02:42).
• Chart size: 39 albums.

There are 0 comments for this chart from BestEverAlbums.com members and Top 39 Music Albums of 1988 has an average rating of 87 out of 100 (from 1 vote). Please log in or register to leave a comment or assign a rating.

• Summary
• Composition
• Ratings
• Favourites
• Comments
• Your feedback

View the complete list of 56,000 charts on BestEverAlbums.com from The Charts page.

Sort by

• Overall Rank
• Num. Charts
• Avg. Rating
• Num. Ratings
• Release Date
• Title
• Artist
• Date Added

1. (=)

Live 1980/86 
Live

 Joe Jackson

Buy album

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• #Sponsored

2nd-best live album of all-time, after ABB's Live at Fillmore East. [First added to this chart: 11/28/2024]

Year of Release:

1988

Appears in:

13 charts

Rank Score:

136

Rank in 1988:

129

Rank in 1980s:

1,313

Overall Rank:

8,955

Average Rating:

 75 (16 votes)

Comments:

1

2. (=)

The First Of A Million Kisses 

 Fairground Attraction

Buy album

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• #Sponsored

As I have said elsewhere, one of this site's most underrated albums. [First added to this chart: 11/28/2024]

Year of Release:

1988

Appears in:

24 charts

Rank Score:

78

Rank in 1988:

201

Rank in 1980s:

1,997

Overall Rank:

14,519

Average Rating:

 71 (23 votes)

Comments:

0

3. (=)

Substance 
Compilation

 Joy Division

Buy album

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• #Sponsored

This is old music, but here in the States, their stuff was only available as hard-to-get imports, and being a CD guy, there was no way to get their singles on disc before this. So this was my entree to the rock era's second greatest pound-for-pound champion after Nick Drake - the most masterpiece tracks in a brief catalog by a short-lived artist. Of course the Sinatra version of "Love Will Tear Us Apart," "Transmission," the 12" version of "She's Lost Control," and "Atmosphere" are worth the price of admission alone, and there are several other great tracks here. Once again, as freaking always, the CD version. [First added to this chart: 11/28/2024]

Year of Release:

1988

Appears in:

224 charts

Rank Score:

1,298

Rank in 1988:

22

Rank in 1980s:

213

Overall Rank:

1,341

Average Rating:

 82 (376 votes)

Comments:

16

4. (=)

Past Masters • Volume One 
Compilation

 The Beatles

Buy album

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• #Sponsored

[First added to this chart: 04/03/2025]

Year of Release:

1988

Appears in:

43 charts

Rank Score:

146

Rank in 1988:

115

Rank in 1980s:

1,241

Overall Rank:

8,400

Average Rating:

 81 (266 votes)

Comments:

6

5. (=)

Past Masters • Volume Two 
Compilation

 The Beatles

Buy album

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• #Sponsored

This is this low because I don't include the first four songs in my evaluation of it, but rather Rubber Soul and Revolver, since there's no way those wouldn't have been included in those albums had they been released any time after '68. If they were included, this would absolutely be #1 for the year, which would hardly be fair... [First added to this chart: 04/03/2025]

Year of Release:

1988

Appears in:

59 charts

Rank Score:

201

Rank in 1988:

90

Rank in 1980s:

945

Overall Rank:

6,466

Average Rating:

 84 (396 votes)

Comments:

16

6. (=)

Starfish 

 The Church

Buy album

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• #Sponsored

Love this band. This album was a huge change-up from their earlier stuff, with its greater sense of foreboding and mystery provided by the West Coast production, but the combination worked. I saw this band live in '88, but the experience was at least partly ruined by Marty Willson-Piper battling with his roadie and the crowd like a prima donna. Wouldn't come out for the encore. But I love the man's guitar work. Best track here is my all-time favorite Church song - "North, South, East and West." [First added to this chart: 11/28/2024]

Year of Release:

1988

Appears in:

234 charts

Rank Score:

1,514

Rank in 1988:

19

Rank in 1980s:

189

Overall Rank:

1,167

Average Rating:

 78 (226 votes)

Comments:

12

7. (=)

Blue Bell Knoll 

 Cocteau Twins

Buy album

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• #Sponsored

I usually say that '84-'86 was the Cocteaux' heyday - and they were the gem of mid-'80s, along with '82-'86 R.E.M. - but this more lightweight but gorgeous album was a fantastic victory lap. [First added to this chart: 11/28/2024]

Year of Release:

1988

Appears in:

203 charts

Rank Score:

1,064

Rank in 1988:

24

Rank in 1980s:

249

Overall Rank:

1,614

Average Rating:

 77 (238 votes)

Comments:

9

8. (=)

Watermark 

 Enya

Buy album

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• #Sponsored

I know most here probably hate this sort of music, and a lot of her stuff is just candyfloss, but "Cursum Perficio," "The Longships," and "Na Laetha M'Oige" have an emotional weight that far outstrips the rest of her catalog. The last 5-star album (yes, this is a 5-star in my book) here. [First added to this chart: 11/28/2024]

Year of Release:

1988

Appears in:

189 charts

Rank Score:

929

Rank in 1988:

29

Rank in 1980s:

284

Overall Rank:

1,810

Average Rating:

 73 (239 votes)

Comments:

12

9. (=)

Green Thoughts 

 The Smithereens

Buy album

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• #Sponsored

The Smithereens are unsung heroes of this time period. Their first two LPs had a songwriting heft and resonance that they sadly lost after this. My favorite song here, and in their catalog, is the title track, with its fantastic "Whoa-whoa-whoa" backing vocal hook, especially in the coda chorus. Great Rickenbacker tone from Jim Babjack throughout. [First added to this chart: 11/28/2024]

Year of Release:

1988

Appears in:

40 charts

Rank Score:

132

Rank in 1988:

136

Rank in 1980s:

1,339

Overall Rank:

9,149

Average Rating:

 75 (37 votes)

Comments:

1

10. (=)

If I Should Fall From Grace With God 

 The Pogues

Buy album

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• #Sponsored

These guys are extremely underrated in retrospect as well, although their decline - or, to be honest, Shane's decline - was so rapid after this that perhaps it's not surprising no one remembers them as being as great as they were at their stratospheric peak (Rum, Sodomy & the Lash). P.S. - Thanks, Kirsty!!! [First added to this chart: 11/28/2024]

Year of Release:

1988

Appears in:

308 charts

Rank Score:

1,760

Rank in 1988:

15

Rank in 1980s:

156

Overall Rank:

1,002

Average Rating:

 78 (343 votes)

Comments:

19

• « prev
• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• next »

Total albums: 39. Page 1 of 4

Don't agree with this chart? Create your own from the My Charts page!

Top 39 Music Albums of 1988 composition

Artist	Albums	%
The Beatles	2	5%
Everything But The Girl	1	3%
Let's Active	1	3%
Fairground Attraction	1	3%
The House Of Love	1	3%
Pixies	1	3%
R.E.M.	1	3%
Show all

Country	Albums	%
	15	38%
	15	38%
	3	8%
	2	5%
	2	5%
	1	3%
	1	3%

Top 39 Music Albums of 1988 chart changes

Top 39 Music Albums of 1988 similarity to your chart(s)

Other year charts by slatsheit

Title	Source	Type	Published	Country
Top 32 Music Albums of 1989	slatsheit	1989 year chart	2025
Top 39 Music Albums of 1988	slatsheit	1988 year chart	2025
Top 45 Music Albums of 1987	slatsheit	1987 year chart	2025
Top 37 Music Albums of 1986	slatsheit	1986 year chart	2025
Top 41 Music Albums of 1985	slatsheit	1985 year chart	2025
Top 52 Music Albums of 1984	slatsheit	1984 year chart	2025
Top 43 Music Albums of 1983	slatsheit	1983 year chart	2025
Top 47 Music Albums of 1982	slatsheit	1982 year chart	2025
Top 49 Music Albums of 1981	slatsheit	1981 year chart	2025
Top 66 Music Albums of 1980	slatsheit	1980 year chart	2025

Top 39 Music Albums of 1988 ratings

Showing all 1 ratings for this chart.

Sort ratings

• Rating
• Date updated
• Member

Rating	Date updated	Member	Chart ratings	Avg. chart rating
100/100	12/19/2024 18:17	Rhyner	1,443	99/100

• Related links:
• Top charts

Please log in or register if you want to be able to leave a rating

Top 39 Music Albums of 1988 comments

Please log in or register if you want to be able to add a comment

Your feedback for Top 39 Music Albums of 1988

Let us know what you think of this chart by adding a comment or assigning a rating below!