October 31, 2022

Close but No Cigar: The No. 2 Hits of 1988 — Part 3

Second place is respectable—unless you’re a pop song staring up at No. 1. Our “Close but No Cigar” series returns for a third journey through the songs that peaked at No. 2 in 1988. This time, we revisit hits from Robert Palmer, Elton John, Pebbles and more—and try to understand how each one climbed within touching distance of the top before running out of chart. Were they blocked by an unstoppable smash? Did they simply peak at the wrong moment? Or does a No. 2 finish sometimes say more about timing than musical quality? Join us as we celebrate another collection of songs that were almost the biggest hits in America.

Also available on Apple Podcasts ↗