Republican George Bush defeats Democrat Michael Dukakis in the 1988 presidential election as the republicans take 40 states.

• Top movies of the year include Rain Man,  Bull Durham,  A Fish Called Wanda & The Last Emperor.

• CD's outsell vinyl records for the first time in history.

• U2's The Joshua Tree is released propelling the band to super stardom.

# 1 Need You Tonight- Inxs
# 2 Look Away- Chicago
# 3 Roll With It- Steve Windwood
# 4 Every Rose Has Its Thorn-Poison
# 5 Got My Mind Set On You- George Harrison
# 6 So Emotional- Whitney Houston
# 7 Seasons Change- Expose
# 8 Baby, I Love Your Way / Freebird Melody- Will To Power
# 9 Could've Been- Tiffany
# 10 Never Gonna Give You Up-Rick Astley

• Baseball: The Los Angeles Dodgers shocked the world and defeated the powerful Oakland A's to win the world series four games to two

• Football: The Washington Redskins defeated the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl XXII in a 42 to 10 route.

• Basketball: Magic Johnson and the Los Angeles Lakers defeat the Detroit Pistons in a thriller seven game series.

• Hockey: The Edmonton Oilers swept the Boston Bruins to capture the Stanley Cup.

Musicians Roy Orbison and Chet Baker were amongst the notable deaths of 1988.