The 25 best Classic Rock albums of 1988

18 October 2025, 20:00

By Radio X

@RadioX

Cast your mind back to the days of GN'R Lies, New Jersey, And Justice For All and the arrival of the Traveling Wilburys.

1. Megadeth - So Far, So Good... So What!: release date 19th January 1988

   The third album from the thrash metal act included their cover Anarchy In The UK, In My Darkest Hour and Mary Jane.

   

2. David Lee Roth - Skyscraper: release date 25th January 1988

   The former Van Halen frontman's second full-length album included the singles Just Like Paradise, Stand Up and Damn Good.

   

3. AC/DC - Blow Up Your Video: release date 1st February 1988

   The Aussie rock titan's eleventh studio album included the singles Heatseeker and That's The Way I Wanna Rock 'N' Roll.

   

4. Lita - Lita Ford: release date 2nd February 1988

   The former Runaways guitarist issued her third album included the singles Kiss Me Deadly, Close My Eyes Forever and Falling In And Out Of Love.

   

5. Robert Plant - Now & Zen: release date 29th February 1988

   The former Led Zeppelin frontman's fourth solo album included the singles Heaven Knows, Tall Cool One and Ship Of Fools.

   

6. Talking Heads - Naked: released 15th March 1988

   The eighth and final studio album from the influential art rock band - David Byrne, Tina Weymouth, Chris Frantz and Jerry Harrison - included guest appearances from Johnny Marr, Kirsty MacColl and many more.

   

7. Iron Maiden - Seventh Son Of A Seventh Son: release date 11th April 1998

   The seventh (!) album from Maiden included the hits Can I Play With Madness and The Evil That Men Do. The band played Monsters Of Rock at Castle Donington that summer.

   

8. Poison - Open Up And Say... Ahh!: release date 27th April 1988

   The second album from the glam metal heroes included Nothin' But A Good Time, Fallen Angel and the UK Top 20 hit Every Rose Has Its Thorn.

   

9. Joan Jett & The Blackhearts - Up Your Alley: release date 2nd May 1988

   The sixth album from the former Runaway included the singles I Hate Myself For Loving You and Little Liar.

   

10. Living Colour - Vivid: release date 2nd May 1988

    The debut album from the New York metal funk outfit included the singles Cult Of Personality, Glamour Boys and Middle Man.

    

11. Queensryche - Operation: Mindcrime: release date 3rd May 1988

    The Washington DC heavy metal band's third album was a conceptual affair that included the singles Eyes Of A Stranger and I Don't Believe.

    

12. Steve Winwood - Roll With It: release date 20th June 1988

    The former Spencer Davis Group and Traffic man's fifth solo album was the follow-up to the successful Chronicle collection. It included the singles Don't You Know What The Night Can Do?, Holding On and the title track.

    

13. Iggy Pop - Instinct: release date 20th June 1988

    The eighth album from the former Stooges man included further collaborations with Sex Pistol Steve Jones and the single Cold Metal would wind up in the Brit sci-fi horror Hardware.

    

14. Robert Palmer - Heavy Nova: release date 22nd June 1988

    Palmer's follow-up to the hugely successful Riptide album gave the world another set of hits, including Change His Way, She Makes My Day and Simply Irresistible.

    

15. Pat Benatar - Wide Awake In Dreamland: release date 4th July 1988

    Benatar's seventh album included the UK hits Don't Walk Away, One Love and All Fired Up.

    

16. Cinderella - Long Cold Winter: release date 5th July 1988

    The Pennsylvanian glam metal group's second album spawned the hits Gypsy Road, Don't Know What You Got (Til It's Gone) and Coming Home.

    

17. Jane's Addiction - Nothing's Shocking: release date 23rd August 1988

    The debut album from Perry Farrell and Dave Navarro's alt.rock legends include Jane Says, Mountain Song and Ocean Size.

    

18. Metallica - ...And Justice For All: released 25th August 1988

    The band's fourth album saw the introduction of new bassist Jason Newsted and included the hit single One, plus the fan favourite Harvester Of Sorrow.

    

19. Bon Jovi - New Jersey: release date 19th September 1988

    The follow-up to the huge hit Slippery When Wet included Bad Medicine, I'll Be There For You and Lay Your Hands On Me.

    

20. U2 - Rattle And Hum: released 10th October 1988

    Bono issued a double album of live material from their Joshua Tree tour and new tracks like the No 1 hit Desire. The accompanying film and media onslaught led many to accuse the band of losing the plot, leading the Irish group to reconvene and come up with more innovative Achtung Baby.

    

21. Ozzy Osbourne - No Rest For The Wicked: release date 28th September 1988

    Ozzy's fifth solo album included the single Crazy Babies, Breakin' All The Rules and Miracle Man. The LP also featured the debut of guitarist Zakk Wylde.

    

22. Keith Richards - Talk Is Cheap: release date 3rd October 1988

    It wasn't until the Stones went on a hiatus after their underwhelming Dirty Work album that Keef decided to attempt a solo LP. Stones men Mick Taylor and saxphone player Bobby Keys make appearances, as does Bootsy Collins. Tunes include Take It So Hard, Struggle and You Don't Move Me, reputedly a bitter rant about his old colleague Mr Jagger.

    

23. Steve Earle - Copperhead Road: release date 17th October 1988

    The country rock musician's third solo album featured a number of politically-charged songs, inclduing the title track and Snake Oil, plus a duet with Maria McKee, Nothing But A Child.

    

24. The Traveling Wilburys - Traveling Wilburys Vol. 1: release date 18th October 1988

    The Wilburys was a supergroup featuring George Harrison, Bob Dylan, Roy Orbison, Tom Petty and ELO man Jeff Lynne. This debut album spawned two worldwide hits: Handle With Care and End Of The Line.

    

25. Guns N'Roses - GN'R Lies: release date 29th November 1988

    The follow-up to the mammoth Appetite For Destruction was half the previously-released Live ?!*@ Like A Suicide EP and half acoustic tunes, including the single Patience, Used To Love Her and the controversial One In A Million.