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BuzzJack Music Forum _ UK Charts _ The Official ... Book Series

Posted by: Robbie Apr 16 2019, 07:43 PM

Hope kingofskiffle doesn't mind me posting this here. This is a copy and paste of a thread he has started at ukmix

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The Official Charts Company has started publishing proper chart books once again, and I really mean proper. They have gone to Graham Betts, who some of you may remember published his own Singles and Albums books about 12 years ago or so. I'm going to give information about this new book series but not review, as I have had the ability to check these in advance and offer corrections, which Graham has been receptive to. As such, I feel I can't review them.

The Official Charts Company is producing these via Amazon Print On Demand, which reduce their costs, but does increase the price a little. Around 20 volumes are being produced over the course of the next 12-18 months (time scale varies) and they will cover the Official Singles, Albums and Compilation Albums charts from 1952 through to today in decade form.

The first three volumes have just been released and they are all about 500 pages each, and retail for £20 in the UK. Links are below, with some images. They have decided to begin with the 1980's, so I'll talk later about what is happening with other decades.

The Official Singles Charts: The Eighties

www.amazon.co.uk/Official-Singles-Charts-Eighties/dp/1724491857

This volume details the weekly Top 75 Singles charts from January 1980 through December 1989, one per page. These are the as published charts, with last week positions, weeks on chart so far, artist, title, label and catalogue number. An image is below from the copy I now own www.dropbox.com/s/d6i70avutu6y9x2/IMG_1032.jpeg?dl=0

Charts larger than a Top 40 have never been officially published, and the chart size was only Top 75 during the 1980's (Bubblers are excluded as far as this listing goes). The charts here reflect what was printed at the time, with errors in printing at the time removed (so correct week counts, etc are present from the start in 1952).


The Official Albums Charts: The Eighties

www.amazon.co.uk/Official-Albums-Charts-Eighties/dp/1724487086/

This volume is the same as the Singles, only for Album Charts which have never had their own volume of printed weekly charts before. These cover the Top 75 (later Top 100 in this volume) from 1980-1989 www.dropbox.com/s/dhgusa0vfub7r9s/IMG_1030.jpeg?dl=0 , together with the Top 20 Compilation Album charts from 1989 (presented at the rear). www.dropbox.com/s/h4wp4381i83fxhg/IMG_1031.jpeg?dl=0

The Official Eighties Hits Book

www.amazon.co.uk/Official-Eighties-Hits-Book/dp/1727147022/

Lastly, we have the Guiness Hits style listing book for the decade. This is the book I wanted when I started collecting charts as not only does it list all Singles and Albums (And Compilation Albums) to make the charts during the decade, it lists all EP and Album tracks.

www.dropbox.com/s/7m5c1wrlrp8e7wp/IMG_1027.jpeg?dl=0

www.dropbox.com/s/bcm8gttmda9or3r/IMG_1028.jpeg?dl=0

I've added some images to show pages above.

Each artist has a biography, which is up-to-date to April 2019 with Births and deaths, etc. Some information is never before been published and lists the correct information as to artist credits (Graham has contacted the manager of some artists to get the proper lineup).

The books are a brilliant series, and will, when all released complete a set focusing on all the charts from the 1950's to today.

The plan is for the next volume to be the 1960's (2 books, one for charts one for the Hits listing), with volumes for the 1950's (one combined volume for charts and Hits), the 1970's (3 volume as for the 1980's), the 1990's (4 volumes, as compilations get their own book), the 2000's (again 4 volumes) and finally in very early 2020 the 2010's (4 volume). Please note this is all subject to change. These are planned as the definitive collection for each decade, and the feel of the books from the quality of the paper to the care taken to produce them, in my opinion, shows this.

I have been fortunate to see the manuscripts before release and offer corrections (and more for the 1960's volumes but thats for when that is issued).

The Official Charts Company are planning a proper press release, but as the books are available on Amazon, I thought I'd share with you all here.

I hope you buy a copy - they are also available in other countries Amazon stores (Notable America for $25.17 www.amazon.com/Official-Eighties-Hits-Book/dp/1727147022

Posted by: Robbie Apr 16 2019, 07:44 PM

Depending on my finances and how often the books are published I intend to buy every one of them. I've bought The Official Singles Charts: The Eighties today and that book should be with me on Thursday so I'll report back how good the book is. I'm expecting it to be good though. Even though the charts are now all available on the OCC website it's still good to have them in printed form.

If you like the idea of the books and have the money please consider buying at least some of the books. They are printed on demand and I'm sure if there's enough interest in what is available to buy it will encourage Graham and the OCC to make more books available.

Posted by: Dannyboy Apr 16 2019, 07:49 PM

I love anything like this but I’m holding out for an American version with single/album chart runs

Posted by: AcerBen Apr 16 2019, 09:13 PM

Oh my goodness, I've been really craving a Guinness/Virgin-style update book in the last couple of weeks. So excited to buy these!

Well, I'll probably only get the 90s onwards. But amazing they'll go up to the end of the 10s!


Posted by: kingofskiffle Apr 16 2019, 10:13 PM

QUOTE(Dannyboy @ Apr 16 2019, 07:49 PM) *
I love anything like this but I’m holding out for an American version with single/album chart runs

What do you mean by American version? Curious smile.gif I have the Whitburn US books and they don’t have chart runs.

Posted by: simonf Apr 16 2019, 10:38 PM

I've been reading my old chart books recently so looking forward to these. I will definitely get the 00s and 10s single ones. Though I may ask to get some for Christmas/Birthday later in the year (depending on when they all come out). Obviously the 10s one will be last and out next year.

Posted by: Dannyboy Apr 16 2019, 11:07 PM

QUOTE(kingofskiffle @ Apr 16 2019, 11:13 PM) *
What do you mean by American version? Curious smile.gif I have the Whitburn US books and they don’t have chart runs.


I seem to remember a thread a month or so ago about someone creating something that had the USA album/single chart runs

Posted by: kingofskiffle Apr 17 2019, 05:45 AM

QUOTE(Dannyboy @ Apr 16 2019, 11:07 PM) *
I seem to remember a thread a month or so ago about someone creating something that had the USA album/single chart runs


Yes. That’s me I think. It’s called the chart book weekly. Check out the website www.thchartbook.co.uk and look for the chart book weekly.

Posted by: fiesta Apr 17 2019, 06:31 PM

Definatley be getting singles book for this decade! Whitburns pop annual 1955 -1999 has chart runs

Posted by: kingofskiffle Apr 17 2019, 07:00 PM

QUOTE(fiesta @ Apr 17 2019, 06:31 PM) *
Definatley be getting singles book for this decade! Whitburns pop annual 1955 -1999 has chart runs

Only for the number one or the top 10 though sad.gif

Posted by: Robbie Apr 18 2019, 09:26 PM

My copy of "The Official Singles Charts: The Eighties" arrived today. It's well worth every penny. One chart per page is much better than previous books of a similar nature which have had two or more charts per page. The book is well laid out with clear print and as all the charts are in chronological order it's easy to navigate.

In addition I notice today that the book has been reduced in price, from £20 (which is what I paid) to £17.82. The other two 80s chart books in the series are still £20.

Posted by: Jay1982 Apr 19 2019, 01:48 AM

I’ve been waiting a long long time for this.


Posted by: mick745 May 21 2020, 08:56 AM

I have ordered my copies of the three 1980s books.

The only question i have is why have they chosen to print the top 10 only of the compilation album chart as when it started in 1989 it was a top 20. Is this rectified in the later books?

Posted by: kingofskiffle May 21 2020, 11:16 AM

QUOTE(mick745 @ May 21 2020, 08:56 AM) *
I have ordered my copies of the three 1980s books.

The only question i have is why have they chosen to print the top 10 only of the compilation album chart as when it started in 1989 it was a top 20. Is this rectified in the later books?


Hi Mick, They did print the full top 20 in this book.

Posted by: mick745 May 21 2020, 12:44 PM

Many thanks for confirming this.

Excited about receiving them.

Posted by: mick745 May 23 2020, 10:07 AM

I always feel i am in a small minority for being interested in the compilation charts. To have a set of books which prints the compilation chart in full and has track listing too!

All my wishes coming true.

Posted by: AcerBen May 23 2020, 10:19 AM

QUOTE(mick745 @ May 23 2020, 11:07 AM) *
I always feel i am in a small minority for being interested in the compilation charts. To have a set of books which prints the compilation chart in full and has track listing too!

All my wishes coming true.


Could you possibly post a couple screenshots of the insides of the compilations chart book please? The Amazon listings seem to suggest the charts themselves are in the Albums book, is that right?

Posted by: kingofskiffle May 24 2020, 07:44 AM

QUOTE(AcerBen @ May 23 2020, 10:19 AM) *
Could you possibly post a couple screenshots of the insides of the compilations chart book please? The Amazon listings seem to suggest the charts themselves are in the Albums book, is that right?
. Yes it is right, the compilation charts are at the end of the albums book for the 1980's only. The Hit section is at the end of the 1980's hits book.
Of course.

Below is the final weekly Top 100 of the 1980's volume, together with the next page which shows the start of the Top 20's. That is all that is present in the Albums volume -the weekly charts and nothing else.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/po5tipt3k0k19h9/2020-05-24%2008.31.09.jpg?dl=0

In the Hits volume for the 1980's, right at the end, is this section listing the compilation albums for the Top 20 compilation chart for 1989.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/zvs87ykay6f0ub3/2020-05-24%2008.31.35.jpg?dl=0

When we reach the 1990's volume, the compilation charts get their own volume. That volume contains the charts
https://www.dropbox.com/s/g42tjpiylprq56p/2020-05-24%2008.31.56.jpg?dl=0
as well as the associated Hit Albums section specifically for those albums.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/3oodx0vzay1icpv/2020-05-24%2008.32.03.jpg?dl=0

Hope that helps.

Posted by: Darrenj May 24 2020, 09:51 AM

Got my copies of them all a few weeks ago. Excellent stuff.

Posted by: AcerBen May 24 2020, 12:01 PM

thanks for the pics

Posted by: gooddelta May 24 2020, 02:28 PM

I've got five of these books and they are fantastic resources.

There are a few mistakes on first glance in the nineties compilations book though. It's good to have the tracklistings for all of the compilations that charted but a few are wrong, such as Smash Hits 2000 (which charted in late 1999 but features a tracklisting for another Smash Hits album from the following year, easy mistake to make I guess). There was at least one more that was incorrect too but I can't remember which it was off the top of my head.

Posted by: AcerBen May 24 2020, 03:42 PM

Very minor thing, but does anyone know what the reason for the lack of punctuation is in the biographies? It'll say something like

"XXX born in London on January 28th 1975 he first came to prominence..."

I'm guessing there must be some technical reason for it?

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