February 1988 -- The Good, the Bad, and the Boring

We're entering that dreadful period at the end of the 80's, and the DJs even acknowledged it today. Some highlights, as in any countdown, but I did an unusual amount of skipping through the today.

On the boring side, check out all the middle-of-the-road stuff...especially in the top 10:  Paul Carrack, Foreigner (long past peak), Eric Carmen.  Throw in an actor (Patrick Swayze) and you've got it complete....but add in Richard Marx who was considered cool back then and Michael Bolton talented.  Yawn!

Some otherwise good artists had some snoozers here too -- Gloria Estefan beginning a long string of very similar ballads, Bangles had a mystery hit, Fleetwood Mac (Zzzz), and Sting's snoozer was even a major award nominee.

On the bad side was a string from #33 up to #29.  Rocket 2 U was embarrassing, as was Billy Ocean.  Plus Debbie Gibson and Tiffany were very popular.

On the plus side, this was the time for a big breakout for Cher and Def Leppard, David Lee Roth had a solid followup, and Rick Astley hits the top 10.  George Michael and Michael Jackson were in the middle of record-setting runs with their albums.   Two iconic hip hop records were breaking through (which generated momentum for changing the pop charts!) -- Salt n' Pepa and MARRS.  R&B Icon Keith Sweat had his first top 40 hit, and legend Gladys Knight had her last.

And at #1, Expose, in their only week ever atop the chart despite 7 top 10s in a row.  Not my favorite of theirs, but a solid ballad.

Unheralded favorite:  Twilight World, the 2nd and last top 40 hit by Swing Out Sister, but Top song of the week -- Cher's triumphal comeback, "I Found Someone," despite being written and produced by Michael Bolton!

1 2 SEASONS CHANGE –•– Expose – 13 (1)
2 5 WHAT HAVE I DONE TO DESERVE THIS? –•– Pet Shop Boys & Dusty Springfield – 11 (2)
3 1 COULD’VE BEEN –•– Tiffany – 13 (1)
4 12 FATHER FIGURE –•– George Michael – 6 (4)
5 4 HUNGRY EYES –•– Eric Carmen – 16 (4)
6 8 SAY YOU WILL –•– Foreigner – 12 (6)
7 10 SHE’S LIKE THE WIND –•– Patrick Swayze Featuring Wendy Fraser – 10 (7)
8 11 NEVER GONNA GIVE YOU UP –•– Rick Astley – 10 (8)
9 9 DON’T SHED A TEAR –•– Paul Carrack – 15 (9)
10 3 I WANT TO BE YOUR MAN –•– Roger – 15 (3)

11 16 CAN’T STAY AWAY FROM YOU –•– Gloria Estefan & Miami Sound Machine – 14 (11)
12 18 I GET WEAK –•– Belinda Carlisle – 6 (12)
13 17 PUMP UP THE VOLUME –•– M/A/R/R/S – 13 (13)
14 6 NEED YOU TONIGHT –•– INXS – 18 (1)
15 7 HAZY SHADE OF WINTER –•– The Bangles – 15 (2)
16 19 I FOUND SOMEONE –•– Cher – 14 (16)
17 14 EVERYWHERE –•– Fleetwood Mac – 13 (14)
18 23 JUST LIKE PARADISE –•– David Lee Roth – 6 (18)
19 21 PUSH IT –•– Salt-N-Pepa – 14 (19)
20 26 ENDLESS SUMMER NIGHTS –•– Richard Marx – 5 (20)

21 13 TUNNEL OF LOVE –•– Bruce Springsteen – 12 (9)
22 27 LOVE OVERBOARD –•– Gladys Knight & The Pips – 7 (22)
23 15 I LIVE FOR YOUR LOVE –•– Natalie Cole – 16 (13)
24 33 OUT OF THE BLUE –•– Debbie Gibson – 4 (24)
25 31 BE STILL MY BEATING HEART –•– Sting – 6 (25)
26 34 I WANT HER –•– Keith Sweat – 6 (26)
27 36 MAN IN THE MIRROR –•– Michael Jackson – 3 (27)
28 35 HYSTERIA –•– Def Leppard – 5 (28)
29 30 BECAUSE OF YOU –•– The Cover Girls – 13 (29)
30 20 POP GOES THE WORLD –•– Men Without Hats – 17 (20)

31 37 (SITTIN’ ON) THE DOCK OF THE BAY –•– Michael Bolton – 5 (31)
32 40 ROCKET 2 YOU –•– The Jets – 5 (32)
33 32 853-5937 –•– Squeeze – 10 (32)
34 42 TWILIGHT WORLD –•– Swing Out Sister – 10 (34)
35 49 GET OUTTA MY DREAMS, GET INTO MY CAR –•– Billy Ocean – 2 (35)
36 25 GOT MY MIND SET ON YOU –•– George Harrison – 18 (1)
37 24 THE WAY YOU MAKE ME FEEL –•– Michael Jackson – 14 (1)
38 22 I COULD NEVER TAKE THE PLACE OF YOUR MAN –•– Prince – 15 (10)
39 28 TELL IT TO MY HEART –•– Taylor Dayne – 20 (7)
40 41 LIVE MY LIFE –•– Boy George – 9 (40)