The golden age of hip hop gives us classics by The Fresh Prince, Big Daddy Kane and more.
Not to mention The Pogues’ classic “Fairytale of New York,” a stand-out debut from My Bloody Valentine, Jane’s Addiction’s hit “Jane Says,” Tracy Chapman’s “Fast Car,” Dinosaur Jr.’s first big single and supergroup The Traveling Wilburys.
The Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame had a big year, inducting Bob Dylan, The Beatles, The Supremes, The Drifters and The Beach Boys.
Was 1988 the Greatest Year in Music? Let us know in the comments below or across social media with #XPNGreatestYear.
Albums:
He’s the DJ, I’m the Rapper – DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince
If I Should Fall From Grace with God – The Pogues
I’m Your Man – Leonard Cohen
Bug – Dinosaur Jr.
Starfish – The Church
Introspective – Pet Shop Boys
Goin’ Off – Biz Markie
A Bell Is a Cup – Wire
Out of Order – Rod Stewart
Fisherman’s Blues – The Waterboys
Hairway to Steven – Butthole Surfers
Stronger Than Pride – Sade
Vivid – Living Colour
Joy – Teddy Pendergrass
Lovesexy – Prince
Scenes from the Southside – Bruce Hornsby and the Range
Peepshow – Siouxsie and the Banshees
Melissa Etheridge – Melissa Etheridge
Don’t Be Cruel – Bobby Brown
Everything – The Bangles
You Can’t Do That on Stage Anymore, Vol. 2 – Frank Zappa
The Traveling Wilburys Vol. 1 – The Traveling Wilburys
Now and Zen – Robert Plant
Copperhead Road – Steve Earle
Forever Your Girl – Paula Abdul
People – Hothouse Flowers
Brian Wilson – Brian Wilson
Buenas Noches from a Lonely Room – Dwight Yoakam
Tracy Chapman – Tracy Chapman
Sunshine on Leith – The Proclaimers
Roll with It – Steve Winwood
It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back – Public Enemy
Land of Dreams – Randy Newman
Let’s Get it Started – MC Hammer
Long Live the Kane – Big Daddy Kane
Temple of Low Men – Crowded House
Blue Bell Knoll – Cocteau Twins
Idlewild – Everything but the Girl
16 Lovers Lane – The Go-Betweens
The Innocents – Erasure
Nothing’s Shocking – Jane’s Addiction
Any Love – Luther Vandross
Watermark – Enya
Tender Prey – Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds
Prison Bound – Social Distortion
New Jersey – Bon Jovi
From Langley Park to Memphis – Prefab Sprout
Viva Hate – Morrissey
Naked – Talking Heads
Green Thoughts – The Smithereens
Surfer Rosa – Pixies
Shadowland – kd lang
All or Nothing – Milli Vanilli
Hold Me in Your Arms – Rick Astley
Isn’t Anything – My Bloody Valentine
Green – REM
Oasis – Roberta Flack
Amnesia – Richard Thompson
A Salt With a Deadly Pepa – Salt-N-Pepa
