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The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits
Provides complete, cross-referenced information for all songs and artists to make the Top Forty of Billboard's Hot 100 singles chart from 1955 to today.
880 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1985
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
June 23, 2019
It is too hard to say mean things about this significant chunk of data. I have an earlier edition, the "confetti" cover
that runs only through 1988, but it still is a wonderful resource to have. The emphasis is on quantitative measurement, not qualitative opinion, so you won't find reviewers praising or panning these hits, but you will read about how long a song stayed on the charts and how high it rose, and often a few words or a couple of sentences about a band's history. While it is not perfect (Del-Vikings has only one "l," Billboard) it is useful and all but indispensable for those of us who treasure American's history of popular music from the mid-Fifties on out. Another useful volume, and less dry: Wayne Jancik's The Billboard Book of One-Hit Wonders.
that runs only through 1988, but it still is a wonderful resource to have. The emphasis is on quantitative measurement, not qualitative opinion, so you won't find reviewers praising or panning these hits, but you will read about how long a song stayed on the charts and how high it rose, and often a few words or a couple of sentences about a band's history. While it is not perfect (Del-Vikings has only one "l," Billboard) it is useful and all but indispensable for those of us who treasure American's history of popular music from the mid-Fifties on out. Another useful volume, and less dry: Wayne Jancik's The Billboard Book of One-Hit Wonders.
September 1, 2018
I ' m Read a lot about all kind Music Books from Rock n Roll Country, Pop,
ect.
ect.
July 13, 2014
LOVE this book, I've learned so much about music from paging through it. It tells you essential info about an artist and the dates are really significant to the evolution (if you want to call it that) of music. I'll be going to this book for years to come.
June 16, 2008
great, all-encompassing book of all hits to the the Billboard pop top 40 charts since 1955.
June 26, 2008
You might think the Internet can tell you everything about your music but this book is a much more concise way to get the information. It contains detail and statistics on every top 40 hit.
October 22, 2008
Indispensable reference book.
July 3, 2010
my 2nd Bible to go to.
June 9, 2012
The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits, I owned was a much earlier edition ~ 1955 - 1984.
I can not say I read every word in this reference book, but I bet I came close to doing exactly that. I used this book so often, I had to tape the cover back on (not hardcover). I wrote in the book, adding hits by favorite artists as the years passed. I also made notes, such as every artist I located with the same birth day as my own.
After a man loaned me one of his books, I felt obligated when he asked if he could borrow my Billboard Book. When I was moving, I went to collect it. He was just leaving his apartment for work and said he would give it to a mutual friend to return it.
Of course, that was the last I saw of one of my best loved books, and I actually mourned its loss for many years to come. I have checked out other editions of this book from the local library, but still miss my original, which I felt was much better than newer editions.
I can not say I read every word in this reference book, but I bet I came close to doing exactly that. I used this book so often, I had to tape the cover back on (not hardcover). I wrote in the book, adding hits by favorite artists as the years passed. I also made notes, such as every artist I located with the same birth day as my own.
After a man loaned me one of his books, I felt obligated when he asked if he could borrow my Billboard Book. When I was moving, I went to collect it. He was just leaving his apartment for work and said he would give it to a mutual friend to return it.
Of course, that was the last I saw of one of my best loved books, and I actually mourned its loss for many years to come. I have checked out other editions of this book from the local library, but still miss my original, which I felt was much better than newer editions.
April 8, 2012
This book is gospel for the pop music industry. I picked it up in the late eighties and since have read it cover to cover along with it's subsequent updated editions. I have tens of thousands of the recordings summarized in this book along with many of my own compilations of the music. The book covers the period starting January 1, 1955 and gives information on every pop song that entered the Billboard top40 along with information on how long and high high they charted. A monumental statiscal effort, but it also includes a great deal of personal information on the performers and the music. The Billboard charts started officially in the summer of 1940, but to get the information from prior to 1955 you have to contact Billboard magazine or use other sources.
October 20, 2020
This exciting catalogue lists all major popular music artists, alphabetically, with vital information and a list of their biggest hits. All top 40 hits are included chronologically with their ranks. This is a great resource for finding out more about your favorite singers and groups. I like how this volume is organized, and its easy to find long-lost songs.
March 3, 2008
I've had all of the editions since the mid-80s. The bible of all radio talent and anyone who enjoys music.
April 23, 2013
I first read whatever version of this was available in 1985, and purchased the new versions as they came out. Great argument settler, too, for who recorded a song or when it came out.
May 15, 2014
Outstanding reference book. Use it extensively for Music Trivia
Read
September 10, 2017Very informative if you really like Rock n' Roll.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews