Australian Albums Chart For 1988

inxs kick

These are the songs that Australians were listening to in 1988. Here is the Australian Albums Chart for 1988 based on sales.

Top selling Australian albums for 1988

*Denotes Australian artist

  1. Kick – INXS*
  2. Dirty Dancing Soundtrack – Various Artists
  3. Freight Train Heart – Jimmy Barnes*
  4. Whenever You Need Somebody – Rick Astley
  5. The Lonesome Jubilee – John Cougar Mellencamp
  6. Man Of Colours – Icehouse*
  7. Tracey Chapman – Tracey Chapman
  8. Introducing The Hardline According To… Terence Trent D’Arby
  9. Push – Bros
  10. Whispering Jack – John Farnham*
  11. Faith – George Michael
  12. Tour Of Duty Soundtrack – Various Artists
  13. Age Of Reason – John Farnham*
  14. Temple Of Low Men – Crowded House*
  15. Good Morning Vietnam Soundtrack – Various Artists
  16. Open Up And Say Ahh! – Poison
  17. Kylie – Kylie Minogue*
  18. A Momentary Lapse Of Reason – Pink Floyd
  19. Bonk – Big Pig*
  20. Lap Of Luxury – Cheap Trick
  21. Big Bad Noise – Choirboys*
  22. Wow – Bananarama
  23. Heavy Nova – Robert Palmer
  24. Cloud Nine – George Harrison
  25. Wired World Of Sports – The Twelfth Man*

And here are the top Australian Albums of 1988

  1. Kick – INXS
  2. Freight Train Heart – Jimmy Barnes
  3. Man Of Colours – Icehouse
  4. Whispering Jack – John Farnham
  5. Age Of Reason – John Farnham
  6. Temple Of Low Men – Crowded House
  7. Kylie – Kylie Minogue
  8. Bonk – Big Pig
  9. Big Bad Noise – Choirboys
  10. Wired World Of Sports – The Twelfth Man

Gibbo’s pick for 1988 is Jimmy Barnes’ album, Freight Train Heart. The track is drivin’ Wheels. Enjoy!

3 Comments

  1. Lisa on July 17, 2019 at 4:40 pm

    Hi Gibbo,
    Great work on compiling all this information. I’m curious, are you going to to a singles chart for 88 and 89?
    Between my sister and I we had 5 of the Australian top 10 Albums that year and boy did they get a thrashing on the old record player. Ah memories!
    She had Frieght Train Heart and I have Kick, Man of Colours, Whispering Jack and Age of Reason. I also have Pseudo Echo’s Love an Adventure and Kids In The Kitchen – Shine, which I think were either 87 or 88 releases.
    We played Funkytown 12″ repeatedly at my 17th Birthday that year ??
    Great Memories Thanks.

  2. Mark Gibson on July 17, 2019 at 5:39 pm

    Hi Lisa, nice to hear from you.

    There is an 88 chart here: https://australianmusichistory.com/australian-singles-chart-for-1988/ and an 89 chart here: https://australianmusichistory.com/australian-singles-chart-for-1989/

    I hope that helps. 🙂

  3. Paul R on October 8, 2023 at 12:59 pm

    Loved seeing this. I started buying my own music in late 86 and was in my buying peak in early high school around 88 / 89. Out of this list I have 14 of the albums.

    My radio shows and streams run a good amount of Aussie tracks and also a fair bit of material from the late 80s as well.

Leave a Comment