* = dance/semi dance (100-120 bpm)
** = funk/soul/hiphop/swingbeat/jazz/reggae/world/ska/or combinations
no stars = something else
# = guilty pleasures

My top 36 of favorite songs of the year 1988 (out of 48 listed here):

1. Inner City – Big fun *
2. Living Colour – Glamour boys
3. Ultramagnetic MC’s – Ease back **
4. Mecano – Hijo de la luna (note: 2 years later a Dutch hit)
5. Inner City – Good life *
6. The Art Of Noise ft. Tom Jones – Kiss *
7. Fairground Attraction – Perfect
8. Fine Young Cannibals – Good thing
9. U2 – Desire
10. Kraze – The party *
11. Timelords/KLF – Doctorin’ the tardis *
12. R.e.m. – Pop song ’89
13. Tracy Chapman – Fast car
14. Mano Negra – Pas Assez De Toi **
15. UB40 ft. Africa Bambaata – Reckless **
16. Hithouse – Jack to the sound of the underground *
17. Mano Negra – Mala vida **
18. The Bangles – Eternal flame
19. Yazz – The only way is up *
20. Salt ‘N Pepa – Push it *
21. The Pasadenas – Tribute (right on) **
22. Krush – House arrest *
23. The Pasadenas – Riding on a train **
24. Stetsasonic – Talkin’ all that jazz **
25. R.e.m. – Orange crush
26. Marc Almond – Tears run rings
27. The Pogues – Fiesta **
28. Bam Bam – Give it to me *
29. Joe Jackson – Is she really going out with him? (live)
30. Rob Base & EZ Rock – It takes two *
31. Tanita Tikaram – Twist in my sobriety
32. Womack & Womack – Teardrops
33. Bobby Brown – My Prerogative **
34. Matt Bianco – Don’t blame it on that girl **
35. Sam Brown – Stop!
36. Mano Negra – Patchanka **

My other favorites, the ‘subtop’ part (above is the potential ‘all time top 500′ stuff):

• Enya – Orinoco flow
• Johnny Hates Jazz – Heart of gold
• Kon Kan – I beg your pardon
• Maurice – This is acid (K&T Mix) *
• Paco – Amor de mis amores #
• Reese & Santonio – Force field *
• R.e.m. – Stand
• Slick Rick – Children’s story **
• 2 In A Room – Somebody in the house say yeah *
• Ultramagnetic MC’s – Ego trippin’ **
• Wee Papa Girl Rappers – Wee rule */#
• Womack & Womack – Life’s just a ballgame