| CASH BOX Top R&B Singles | ||||||
| Green square = bullet (strong upward move) | Week ending MARCH 4, 1989 | |||||
| TW | TITLE | Artist (Label) | LW | 2WK | 3WK | WKS | |
| 1 | JUST BECAUSE Anita Baker (Elektra 69327) | 4 | 7 | 8 | 11 | |
| 2 | STRAIGHT UP Paula Abdul (Virgin 99256) | 5 | 11 | 22 | 7 | |
| 3 | DREAMIN’ Vanessa Williams (Wing 871 078) | 1 | 5 | 7 | 15 | |
| 4 | SKIN I’M IN Cameo (Atlanta Artists 872 314) | 8 | 10 | 17 | 12 | |
| 5 | GIRL YOU KNOW IT’S TRUE Milli Vanilli (Arista 9781) | 22 | 26 | 29 | 10 | |
| 6 | JUST COOLIN’ Levert (Atlantic 88959) | 16 | 20 | 33 | 6 | |
| 7 | SO GOOD Al Jarreau (Reprise 27664) | 2 | 3 | 4 | 16 | |
| 8 | WILD THING Tone Loc (Delicious Vinyl 102) | 3 | 4 | 6 | 12 | |
| 9 | TEDDY’S JAM Guy (Uptown/MCA 53462) | 6 | 8 | 11 | 12 | |
| 10 | SNAKE IN THE GRASS Midnight Star (Solar 44284) | 10 | 12 | 19 | 12 | |
| 11 | BEING IN LOVE AIN’T EASY Sweet Obsession (Epic 08521) | 15 | 23 | 26 | 12 | |
| 12 | HEAVEN BeBe & CeCe Winans (Capitol 44261) | 12 | 17 | 23 | 15 | |
| 13 | CLOSER THAN FRIENDS Surface (Columbia 08537) | 17 | 28 | 32 | 7 | |
| 14 | JOY AND PAIN Donna Allen (Oceana 99244) | 20 | 34 | 43 | 7 | |
| 15 | YOU AND I GOT A THANG Freddie Jackson (Capitol 44283) | 21 | 25 | 28 | 7 | |
| 16 | I’M GONNA GIT YOU SUCKA Gap Band (Arista 9788) | 13 | 14 | 16 | 12 | |
| 17 | LUCKY CHARM Boys (Motown 1952) | 25 | 29 | 35 | 7 | |
| 18 | TEENAGE LOVE Slick Rick (Def Jam/Columbia 08105) | 24 | 27 | 31 | 11 | |
| 19 | ME, MYSELF AND I Cheryl Pepsii Riley (Columbia 08508) | 26 | 31 | 39 | 7 | |
| 20 | ALL I WANT IS FOREVER James “J.T.” Taylor & Regina Belle (Epic 68540) | — | — | — | 1 | |
| 21 | STILL IN LOVE Troop (Atlantic 88974) | 18 | 21 | 25 | 11 | |
| 22 | MORE THAN FRIENDS Jonathan Butler (Jive 1174) | 30 | 33 | 40 | 7 | |
| 23 | TWICE THE LOVE George Benson (Warner Bros. 27658) | 19 | 22 | 24 | 14 | |
| 24 | I’LL BE THERE FOR YOU Ashford & Simpson (Capitol 44326) | 28 | 30 | 38 | 5 | |
| 25 | STRUCK BY YOU Bar-Kays (Mercury 872 102) | 34 | 36 | 41 | 6 | |
| 26 | GENTLY Ready For The World (MCA 53469) | 35 | 38 | 46 | 7 | |
| 27 | SHE WON’T TALK TO ME Luther Vandross (Epic 08513) | 7 | 1 | 2 | 13 | |
| 28 | AFFAIR Cherrelle (Tabu 68568) | 29 | 46 | 58 | 5 | |
| 29 | ANOTHER WEEKEND Five Star (RCA 8853) | 31 | 35 | 49 | 5 | |
| 30 | 4 U Vesta (A&M 1263) | 36 | 51 | 61 | 5 | |
| 31 | THIS TIME Kiara (with Shanice Wilson) (Arista 9772) | 9 | 2 | 9 | 16 | |
| 32 | REAL LOVE El DeBarge (Motown 1948) | 38 | 42 | 67 | 4 | |
| 33 | WE’VE SAVED THE BEST FOR LAST Kenny G (featuring Smokey Robinson) (Arista 9785) | 41 | 48 | 53 | 5 | |
| 34 | WITH EACH BEAT OF MY HEART Stevie Wonder (Motown 1953) | 40 | 45 | 50 | 7 | |
| 35 | CAN YOU STAND THE RAIN New Edition (MCA 53464) | 11 | 6 | 1 | 13 | |
| 36 | GIRL I GOT MY EYES ON YOU Today (Motown 1954) | 48 | 53 | 62 | 6 | |
| 37 | CAN U READ MY LIPS Z’Looke (Orpheus 72654) | 14 | 9 | 3 | 18 | |
| 38 | TURN MY BACK ON YOU Sade (Epic 08503) | 23 | 13 | 14 | 15 | |
| 39 | BABY DOLL Tony! Toni! Tone! (Wing 871 108) | 27 | 19 | 13 | 16 | |
| 40 | SOMETHING’S GOT A HOLD ON ME Radiant (Columbia 68545) | 47 | 50 | 56 | 5 | |
| 41 | FIND AN UGLY WOMAN Cash Money & Marvelous (Sleeping Bag 40143) | 53 | 70 | — | 3 | |
| 42 | RONI Bobby Brown (MCA 53463) | 32 | 16 | 5 | 15 | |
| 43 | LOVE SAW IT Karyn White (Warner Bros. 27538) | 71 | — | — | 2 | |
| 44 | THAT’S THE WAY LOVE IS Ten City (Atlantic 88963) | 51 | 60 | 65 | 5 | |
| 45 | TWIST AND SHOUT Salt-N-Pepa (Next Plateau 321) | 60 | 72 | — | 3 | |
| 46 | MORE THAN PHYSICAL Christopher Max (EMI 50174) | 57 | 73 | 80 | 4 | |
| 47 | SLEEP TALK Alyson Williams (Def Jam/Columbia 68555) | 66 | 80 | — | 3 | |
| 48 | LIFE Loose Ends (MCA/Virgin 53503) | 55 | 67 | — | 3 | |
| 49 | IMAGINE Tracie Spencer (Capitol 44268) | 59 | 69 | 76 | 4 | |
| 50 | NEVER TOO LATE Will Clayton (Polydor 871 417) | 50 | 54 | 68 | 5 | |
| 51 | SELF DESTRUCTION Stop The Violence Movement (Jive 1178) | 56 | — | — | 2 | |
| 52 | SUPERWOMAN Karyn White (Warner Bros. 27783) | 33 | 15 | 10 | 15 | |
| 53 | I WANT TO BE YOUR LOVER Aleese Simmons (Orpheus 72656) | 37 | 18 | 12 | 16 | |
| 54 | NOTICE ME Sandee (Fever 1919) | 58 | 78 | 88 | 4 | |
| 55 | TRUE OBSESSION Lia (Virgin 99243) | 70 | 77 | — | 3 | |
| 56 | EVERY LITTLE STEP Bobby Brown (MCA 53618) | 68 | — | — | 2 | |
| 57 | FROM PAIN TO JOY Betty Wright (Ms. B 4505) | 39 | 43 | 54 | 6 | |
| 58 | CRUCIAL New Edition (MCA 53500) | — | — | — | 1 | |
| 59 | YOU AND ME Jamm (Epic 68539) | 64 | 76 | 86 | 4 | |
| 60 | WALKING AWAY Information Society (Tommy Boy/Reprise 27736) | 72 | 83 | 90 | 4 | |
| 61 | LOVESICK (The Cure) Z’Looke (Orpheus 72650) | 81 | — | — | 2 | |
| 62 | MOVE ON YOU Lateasha (Rawsome 3333) | 67 | 82 | — | 3 | |
| 63 | DON’T TAKE MY MIND ON A TRIP Boy George (Virgin 99272) | 76 | — | — | 2 | |
| 64 | 24/7 Dino (4th & B’way 7471) | 86 | — | — | 2 | |
| 65 | ARE YOU MY BABY Wendy & Lisa (Columbia 68557) | 80 | — | — | 2 | |
| 66 | KISSES DON’T LIE Evelyn “Champagne” King (EMI-Manhattan 50164) | 42 | 24 | 15 | 16 | |
| 67 | START OF A ROMANCE Skyy (Atlantic 88932) | — | — | — | 1 | |
| 68 | BIRTHDAY SUIT Johnny Kemp (Columbia 68569) | 82 | — | — | 2 | |
| 69 | THE CLUB Marcus Lewis (Aegis 08517) | 69 | 56 | 42 | 11 | |
| 70 | NEVER SAY GOODBYE TO LOVE Rene Moore (Polydor 871 618) | — | — | — | 1 | |
| 71 | I’LL TAKE YOU THERE Big Daddy Kane (Cold Chillin’ 27708) | 74 | 86 | — | 3 | |
| 72 | KILLING ME SOFTLY Al B. Sure! (Warner Bros. 27772) | 43 | 32 | 18 | 13 | |
| 73 | THE R Eric B. & Rakim (Uni 50014) | 73 | 84 | — | 3 | |
| 74 | CUTTIE PIE L’ Trimm (Atlantic 88973) | 44 | 44 | 48 | 6 | |
| 75 | YOU LAID YOUR LOVE ON ME Gerald Alston (Motown/TAJ 1957) | 85 | — | — | 2 | |
| 76 | TAKE ME WHERE YOU WANT TO Gerald Alston (Motown/TAJ 1951) | 46 | 39 | 20 | 18 | |
| 77 | ROLLIN’ WITH KID ’N PLAY Kid ’N Play (Select 2001) | — | — | — | 1 | |
| 78 | WE WANT EAZY Eazy-E (Ruthless/Priority 57108) | 49 | 49 | 55 | 5 | |
| 79 | YOU GOT IT (The Right Stuff) New Kids On The Block (Columbia 08092) | 45 | 37 | 21 | 13 | |
| 80 | STICKS AND STONES Grady Harrell (RCA 8870) | — | — | — | 1 | |
| 81 | DON’T STOP YOUR LOVE Keith Sweat (Vintertainment/Elektra 69359) | 54 | 41 | 30 | 18 | |
| 82 | THOUGHT OF YOU A LITTLE TOO MUCH Dells (Veteran 101) | 61 | 61 | 64 | 7 | |
| 83 | HIGH ROLLERS Ice-T (Sire 27574) | — | — | — | 1 | |
| 84 | I WANT MORE OF YOU Candy (ACA 3290) | 62 | 62 | 69 | 7 | |
| 85 | BABY ME Chaka Khan (Warner Bros. 27541) | — | — | — | 1 | |
| 86 | I WANNA HAVE SOME FUN Samantha Fox (Jive 1154) | 63 | 47 | 34 | 14 | |
| 87 | IT’S MY PARTY Chaka Khan (Warner Bros. 27678) | 65 | 55 | 37 | 17 | |
| 88 | THE LOVER IN ME Sheena Easton (MCA 53416) | 52 | 40 | 27 | 19 | |
| 89 | PULL OVER Levert (Atlantic 88987) | 75 | 52 | 36 | 17 | |
| 90 | SWEET, SWEET LOVE Vesta Williams (A&M 1247) | 77 | 57 | 44 | 23 | |
| 91 | TOUGH ACT TO FOLLOW Starpoint (Elektra 69319) | — | — | — | 1 | |
| 92 | HIM OR ME Today (Motown 1944) | 78 | 59 | 47 | 21 | |
| 93 | DIAL MY HEART Boys (Motown 53301) | 79 | 63 | 52 | 24 | |
| 94 | I DON’T WANT 2 BE ALONE Georgio (Motown 1949) | 83 | 64 | 51 | 14 | |
| 95 | THE SPIRIT OF LOVE Average White Band (Track 58831) | 84 | 65 | 57 | 11 | |
| 96 | HEY TON’I Kirby Coleman (Next Plateau/Tandem 50086) | 89 | 68 | 70 | 6 | |
| 97 | THIS IS AS GOOD AS IT GETS Deniece Williams (Columbia 08507) | 87 | 58 | 45 | 13 | |
| 98* | WHERE IS THE LOVE Robert Brookins (featuring Stephanie Mills) (MCA 53283) | 92 | 75 | 66 | 16 | |
| 99 | I JUST WANNA STOP Angela Bofill (Capitol 44169) | 88 | 66 | 59 | 21 | |
| 100 | FLASHIN’ BACK Tyrone Davis (Future 204) | 90 | 71 | 60 | 10 | |
| *On the original published chart, position #98 was skipped, but “Where Is The Love” was shown with that number in the alphabetical song title listing in that issue. |
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