# Paula Abdul discography

The discography of American singer and dancer Paula Abdul consists of three studio albums, one remix album, five compilation albums, eight video albums, sixteen singles, and seven other appearances. Having found success as a choreographer for artists such as Janet Jackson, Abdul launched her own music career with the release of her debut studio album Forever Your Girl (1988). The album topped the Billboard 200 chart, and to date holds the record for the longest climb to number one for an album. The project spawned a number of successful singles, and is one of only nine albums to have four singles top the Billboard Hot 100 chart. It went on to earn a seven-times platinum certification from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).
Abdul released the Shut Up and Dance: Mixes (1990) remix album to a positive commercial reaction, earning a platinum certification from the RIAA. She continued to find success with the release of Spellbound (1991), her second studio album. It debuted at number five on the Billboard 200, climbing to the top soon after it was released. The album's first two singles both topped the Hot 100 chart with the first, "Rush Rush" becoming first number-one single in six years to spend more than four weeks on top. Third single "Blowing Kisses in the Wind" reached the top ten. Despite the album's achievements, it failed to match the success of its predecessor. Following a musical hiatus while dealing with personal issues, Abdul returned with the release of Head over Heels (1995), her third and final studio effort. The album and coinciding singles were deemed commercial failures, and were met with a mixed reaction from critics. Following the release of the album, Abdul entered a second musical hiatus.
Abdul released the single "Dance Like There's No Tomorrow" (2008) with Randy Jackson, her first single in twelve years. She later released "I'm Just Here for the Music" (2009) the following year. Throughout her career, she has sold over 50 million records worldwide. Billboard listed her as the 92nd Greatest Artist of all Time. She is recognized as the reigning "Dance-pop Princess" by the media while others says she is the original "Pop Princess" of her generation. According to RIAA, She has sold 11.5 million certified albums in the United States.

## Albums
### Studio albums

List of studio albums, with selected details, chart positions, sales, and certifications :
| Title | Album details | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Certifications |
| Title | Album details | US | AUS | CAN | FRA | GER | JPN | NLD | NZ | SWE | UK | Certifications |
| Forever Your Girl | Released: June 15, 1988 Label: Virgin (#90943) Formats: LP, CD, cassette | 1 | 1 | 1 | 12 | 24 | 95 | 19 | 19 | 6 | 3 | RIAA: 7× Platinum ARIA: Platinum BPI: Platinum MC: 7× Platinum RMNZ: Platinum |
| Spellbound | Released: May 14, 1991 Label: Virgin (#91611) Formats: LP, CD, cassette | 1 | 3 | 6 | 36 | 17 | 12 | 45 | 14 | 6 | 4 | RIAA: 3× Platinum ARIA: Gold BPI: Gold MC: 2× Platinum |
| Head over Heels | Released: June 13, 1995 Label: Virgin (#40525) Formats: LP, CD, cassette | 18 | 27 | 21 | — | — | 32 | 74 | — | — | 61 | RIAA: Gold |
| "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory. |||||||||||||

### Compilation albums

List of compilation albums, with selected details and chart positions :
| Title | Album details | Peak chart positions |
| Title | Album details | US R&B |
| The Greatest | Released: 1998 Label: Virgin (#VJCP 51044) Formats: CD | — |
| Greatest Hits | Released: September 26, 2000 Label: Virgin (#48980) Formats: CD | — |
| Greatest Hits: Straight Up! | Released: May 8, 2007 Label: Virgin (#90527) Formats: CD, digital download | 86 |
| 10 Great Songs | Released: June 14, 2011 Label: Virgin (#83249) Formats: CD, digital download | 46 |
| Icon | Released: October 8, 2013 Label: Virgin (#B0018870-02) Formats: CD | — |
| "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory. |||

### Remix albums

List of remix albums, with selected details, chart positions, and certifications :
| Title | Album details | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Certifications |
| Title | Album details | US | AUS | CAN | FRA | GER | NLD | NZ | SWE | UK | Certifications |
| Shut Up and Dance: Mixes | Released: May 8, 1990 Label: Virgin (#91362) Formats: LP, CD, cassette | 7 | 16 | 14 | 44 | 37 | 29 | 4 | 24 | 40 | RIAA: Platinum MC: Platinum RMNZ: Gold |

### Video albums

List of video albums, with selected details and certifications :
| Title | Album details | Certifications |
| Straight Up | Released: 1989 Label: Virgin (#VVD 639) Formats: VHS | RIAA: 2× Platinum CRIA: Gold |
| Captivated: The Video Collection '92 | Released: June 29, 1992 Label: Virgin (#VIR 769) Formats: VHS, LD | RIAA: Gold |
| Get Up and Dance! | Released: August 22, 1995 Label: Artisan (#) Formats: VHS, DVD | |
| Under My Spell: Live | Released: February 27, 1996 Label: Virgin (#6523) Formats: VHS | |
| Cardio Dance | Released: November 24, 1998 Label: Anchor Bay (#) Formats: VHS, DVD | |
| Zoe's Dance Moves | Released: March 4, 2003 Label: Sesame Street (#) Formats: VHS, DVD | |
| Video Hits | Released: January 11, 2005 Label: Virgin (#9771) Formats: DVD | |
| Cardio Cheer | Released: December 26, 2006 Label: Trinity Home (#) Formats: 5×DVD (box set) | |

## Extended plays

List of extended plays with selected details :
| Title | EP details |
| The Singles | Released: January 1992 Label: Virgin (#VJCP 14038) Formats: CD (Japan exclusive) |

## Singles

List of singles as lead artist, with selected chart positions and certifications, showing year released and album name :
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Certifications | Album |
| Title | Year | US | AUS | CAN | FRA | GER | IRL | NLD | NZ | SWE | UK | Certifications | Album |
| "Knocked Out" | 1988 | 41 | 82 | 27 | 45 | — | 17 | — | — | — | 21 | | Forever Your Girl |
| "(It's Just) The Way That You Love Me" | 1988 | 3 | 76 | 5 | — | — | — | — | 12 | — | 74 | RIAA: Gold | Forever Your Girl |
| "Straight Up" | 1988 | 1 | 27 | 2 | 12 | 3 | 6 | 2 | 6 | 2 | 3 | RIAA: 2× Platinum BPI: Silver GLF: Gold MC: platinum | Forever Your Girl |
| "Forever Your Girl" | 1989 | 1 | 51 | 1 | — | 17 | 21 | 13 | 11 | — | 24 | RIAA: Gold | Forever Your Girl |
| "Cold Hearted" | 1989 | 1 | 68 | 2 | 33 | 38 | — | 63 | 25 | — | 46 | RIAA: Platinum MC: Gold | Forever Your Girl |
| "Opposites Attract" (with the Wild Pair) | 1989 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 23 | 14 | 8 | 4 | 6 | 11 | 2 | RIAA: Gold ARIA: 2× Platinum BPI: Silver MC: Gold | Forever Your Girl |
| "Rush Rush" | 1991 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 24 | 12 | 11 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 6 | RIAA: Platinum ARIA: Gold GLF: Gold | Spellbound |
| "The Promise of a New Day" | 1991 | 1 | 31 | 2 | — | 86 | — | 39 | 26 | 37 | 52 | | Spellbound |
| "Blowing Kisses in the Wind" | 1991 | 6 | — | 7 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | | Spellbound |
| "Vibeology" | 1991 | 16 | 63 | 19 | — | — | 29 | 20 | 50 | — | 19 | | Spellbound |
| "Will You Marry Me?" | 1992 | 19 | 54 | 6 | — | 74 | — | — | — | — | 73 | | Spellbound |
| "My Love Is for Real" | 1995 | 28 | 7 | 20 | — | 87 | — | — | 20 | — | 28 | | Head over Heels |
| "Crazy Cool" | 1995 | 58 | 76 | 49 | — | 89 | — | — | — | — | — | | Head over Heels |
| "Ain't Never Gonna Give You Up" | 1996 | — | 110 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | | Head over Heels |
| "Dance Like There's No Tomorrow" (with Randy Jackson) | 2008 | 62 | — | 68 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | | Randy Jackson's Music Club, Vol. 1 |
| "I'm Just Here for the Music" | 2009 | 87 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | | Non-album single |
| "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory. ||||||||||||||

### Promotional singles

List of promotional singles, showing year released and album name :
| Title | Year | Album |
| "Dream Medley" | 2012 | Non-album single |

### Charity singles

List of charity singles, showing year released and album name :
| Title | Year | Album |
| "Check Yourself" | 2014 | Non-album single |

## Other appearances

List of songs, showing year released and album name :
| Title | Year | Album |
| "Anytime at All" | 1991 | Confessions |
| "Bend Time Back Around" | 1992 | Beverly Hills, 90210: The Soundtrack. |
| "Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah" | 1993 | For Our Children: The Concert |
| "So Free" | 2012 | Non-album single |

## Music videos

List of music videos, showing year released and directors :
| Title | Year | Director(s) |
| "Knocked Out" (2 versions) | 1988 | Daniel Kleinman (original version) |
| "Knocked Out" (2 versions) | 1988 | Candace Reckinger and Michael Patterson (remix) |
| "(It's Just) The Way That You Love Me" (2 versions) | 1988 | David Fincher |
| "Straight Up" | 1989 | David Fincher |
| "Forever Your Girl" | 1989 | David Fincher |
| "Cold Hearted" | 1989 | David Fincher |
| "Opposites Attract" | 1989 | Candace Reckinger and Michael Patterson |
| "1990 Medley Mix" | 1990 | — |
| "Skat Strut" (by MC Skat Kat) | 1991 | — |
| "Rush Rush" | 1991 | Stefan Würnitzer |
| "The Promise of a New Day" | 1991 | Big TV! |
| "Blowing Kisses in the Wind" | 1991 | Big TV! |
| "Vibeology" (2 versions) | 1992 | Stephen Wurnitzer |
| "Will You Marry Me?" | 1992 | Big TV! |
| "My Love Is for Real" | 1995 | Michael Haussman |
| "Crazy Cool" | 1995 | Matthew Rolston |
| "Ain't Never Gonna Give You Up" | 1996 | Matthew Rolston |
| "Dance Like There's No Tomorrow" | 2008 | Paula Abdul |