Best-selling albums of 1988

According to the BSA Ranking, the best-selling album released in 1988 is GREATEST HITS by JOURNEY, with over 18.6 million copies sold. The sales figures throughout this ranking include physical album sales as well as digital track downloads and audio and video streaming, converted into album-equivalent units using industry-standard formulas. For more information, see the certification criteria used in different countries.

★ Highlights:
GREATEST HITS by JOURNEY leads both the compilation and group categories among albums released in 1988.
With over 14.6 million copies sold, TRACY CHAPMAN by TRACY CHAPMAN ranks first across the debut, female solo and studio categories among 1988 releases.
RATTLE AND HUM by U2 is the best-selling soundtrack album released in 1988, with over 9.17 million copies sold.
DON'T BE CRUEL by BOBBY BROWN is the best-selling male solo album released in 1988, with over 7.97 million copies sold.
The best-selling live album released in 1988 is DELICATE SOUND OF THUNDER by PINK FLOYD, with over 3.56 million copies sold.

Please note that this ranking reflects the cumulative sales of albums released in 1988, from their original release to date. It does not represent the best-selling albums during the calendar year itself. For annual worldwide best-seller lists, see the IFPI Global Album Charts, published since 2001.

№	Album	Total Sales	BSA Ranking
1	GREATEST HITS JOURNEY 1988	18,607,000	Rank in 1988 Rank in 1980s Overall rank 1 10 45
2	TRACY CHAPMAN TRACY CHAPMAN 1988	14,626,249	Rank in 1988 Rank in 1980s Overall rank 2 18 77
3	GREATEST HITS FLEETWOOD MAC 1988	10,984,280	Rank in 1988 Rank in 1980s Overall rank 3 32 165
4	HANGIN' TOUGH NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK 1988	9,958,817	Rank in 1988 Rank in 1980s Overall rank 4 39 198
5	NEW JERSEY BON JOVI 1988	9,662,952	Rank in 1988 Rank in 1980s Overall rank 5 40 207
6	AND JUSTICE FOR ALL METALLICA 1988	9,660,441	Rank in 1988 Rank in 1980s Overall rank 6 41 208
7	RATTLE AND HUM U2 1988	9,179,134	Rank in 1988 Rank in 1980s Overall rank 7 49 238
8	FOREVER YOUR GIRL PAULA ABDUL 1988	8,196,090	Rank in 1988 Rank in 1980s Overall rank 8 55 294
9	WATERMARK ENYA 1988	8,104,264	Rank in 1988 Rank in 1980s Overall rank 9 58 302
10	DON'T BE CRUEL BOBBY BROWN 1988	7,979,110	Rank in 1988 Rank in 1980s Overall rank 10 61 310
11	A FRESH AIRE CHRISTMAS MANNHEIM STEAMROLLER 1988	6,050,000	Rank in 1988 Rank in 1980s Overall rank 11 95 517
12	G N' R LIES GUNS N' ROSES 1988	5,916,320	Rank in 1988 Rank in 1980s Overall rank 12 102 539
13	COCKTAIL SOUNDTRACK 1988	5,770,000	Rank in 1988 Rank in 1980s Overall rank 13 108 558
14	OPEN UP AND SAY ... AHH POISON 1988	5,515,000	Rank in 1988 Rank in 1980s Overall rank 14 117 603
15	MORE DIRTY DANCING SOUNDTRACK 1988	5,407,500	Rank in 1988 Rank in 1980s Overall rank 15 122 623
16	MONEY FOR NOTHING DIRE STRAITS 1988	4,890,945	Rank in 1988 Rank in 1980s Overall rank 16 142 744
17	STRONGER THAN PRIDE SADE 1988	4,661,657	Rank in 1988 Rank in 1980s Overall rank 17 149 787
18	THE TRAVELING WILBURYS VOLUME 1 TRAVELING WILBURYS 1988	4,399,903	Rank in 1988 Rank in 1980s Overall rank 18 163 862
19	OU812 VAN HALEN 1988	4,133,370	Rank in 1988 Rank in 1980s Overall rank 19 183 956
20	SILHOUETTE KENNY G 1988	4,115,030	Rank in 1988 Rank in 1980s Overall rank 20 186 960
21	THE HITS REO SPEEDWAGON 1988	4,074,000	Rank in 1988 Rank in 1980s Overall rank 21 192 990
22	LOOK SHARP! ROXETTE 1988	4,029,454	Rank in 1988 Rank in 1980s Overall rank 22 195 1,003
23	BEACHES (SOUNDTRACK) BETTE MIDLER 1988	3,595,000	Rank in 1988 Rank in 1980s Overall rank 23 209 1,116
24	DELICATE SOUND OF THUNDER PINK FLOYD 1988	3,566,195	Rank in 1988 Rank in 1980s Overall rank 24 211 1,126
25	KYLIE KYLIE MINOGUE 1988	3,425,841	Rank in 1988 Rank in 1980s Overall rank 25 218 1,188
26	STRAIGHT OUTTA COMPTON N.W.A. 1988	3,300,033	Rank in 1988 Rank in 1980s Overall rank 26 225 1,242
27	LONG COLD WINTER CINDERELLA 1988	3,225,000	Rank in 1988 Rank in 1980s Overall rank 27 232 1,285
28	XOU DA XUXA 3 XUXA 1988	3,216,000	Rank in 1988 Rank in 1980s Overall rank 28 234 1,291
29	GIVING YOU THE BEST THAT I GOT ANITA BAKER 1988	3,100,000	Rank in 1988 Rank in 1980s Overall rank 29 252 1,401
30	HE'S THE DJ, I'M THE RAPPER DJ JAZZY JEFF & FRESH PRINCE 1988	3,100,000	Rank in 1988 Rank in 1980s Overall rank 30 253 1,402
31	NOW AND ZEN ROBERT PLANT 1988	3,100,000	Rank in 1988 Rank in 1980s Overall rank 31 254 1,403
32	MELISSA ETHERIDGE MELISSA ETHERIDGE 1988	2,850,000	Rank in 1988 Rank in 1980s Overall rank 32 291 1,607
33	OUT OF ORDER ROD STEWART 1988	2,822,850	Rank in 1988 Rank in 1980s Overall rank 33 294 1,613
34	GREEN R.E.M. 1988	2,557,500	Rank in 1988 Rank in 1980s Overall rank 34 314 1,742
35	HIKARU GENJI HIKARU GENJI (光GENJI) 1988	2,496,610	Rank in 1988 Rank in 1980s Overall rank 35 321 1,804
36	ROLL WITH IT STEVE WINWOOD 1988	2,366,190	Rank in 1988 Rank in 1980s Overall rank 36 341 1,905
37	ANCIENT HEART TANITA TIKARAM 1988	2,313,667	Rank in 1988 Rank in 1980s Overall rank 37 351 1,952
38	OLD 8 X 10 RANDY TRAVIS 1988	2,200,000	Rank in 1988 Rank in 1980s Overall rank 38 374 2,139
39	TELL IT TO MY HEART TAYLOR DAYNE 1988	2,150,000	Rank in 1988 Rank in 1980s Overall rank 39 386 2,213
40	NO REST FOR THE WICKED OZZY OSBOURNE 1988	2,135,000	Rank in 1988 Rank in 1980s Overall rank 40 388 2,239
41	LET'S GET IT STARTED MC HAMMER 1988	2,126,050	Rank in 1988 Rank in 1980s Overall rank 41 390 2,252
42	THE PREMIERE COLLECTION ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER 1988	2,115,000	Rank in 1988 Rank in 1980s Overall rank 42 395 2,272
43	SMASHES, THRASHES AND HITS KISS 1988	2,112,490	Rank in 1988 Rank in 1980s Overall rank 43 397 2,275
44	VIVID LIVING COLOUR 1988	2,107,500	Rank in 1988 Rank in 1980s Overall rank 44 399 2,296
45	SHOOTING RUBBERBANDS AT THE STARS EDIE BRICKELL & NEW BOHEMIANS 1988	2,100,000	Rank in 1988 Rank in 1980s Overall rank 45 406 2,361
46	GREATEST HITS THE JUDDS 1988	2,100,000	Rank in 1988 Rank in 1980s Overall rank 46 407 2,362
47	НА КОНЦЕРТАХ ВЛАДИМИРА ВЫСОЦКОГО – 3 : МОСКВА - ОДЕССА ВЛАДИМИР ВЫСОЦКИЙ (VLADIMIR VYSOTSKY) 1988	2,052,110	Rank in 1988 Rank in 1980s Overall rank 47 434 2,471
48	IN EFFECT MODE AL B. SURE! 1988	2,000,000	Rank in 1988 Rank in 1980s Overall rank 48 454 2,768
49	EAZY-DUZ-IT EAZY-E 1988	2,000,000	Rank in 1988 Rank in 1980s Overall rank 49 455 2,769
50	GUY GUY 1988	2,000,000	Rank in 1988 Rank in 1980s Overall rank 50 456 2,770

1988 albums ranked by sales