kingofskiffle

Yes and I am even adding the actual BBC chart from the 1955-1969 period thats is never more spoken about.... The charts are official. You can utilise points within to make your own and you can (as a platinum user) add your own charts (so if you wanted to add a personal chart) but otherwise these are all proper. (Adding own charts is there but coming in 2027 once I get some more testing done on it).

But they are? I thought I had been clear that these are the correct charts just in a much better format than the official websites list them. And listen, people absolutely do not have to pay if they choose not to. What your paying for is basically a much better formatted chart experience and much more data around the records such as duration, composers, images etc and proper chart histories and track listings which the official websites do not do. Hence why I'm doing this.

I understand but actually this is no different from buying a book which is likewise 'behind a paywall' (you have to pay to read about the chart data within the book). The free tier is there for people to explore and see but the time and effort to work through the data and produce and curate is what is being paid for. I get some may not like that but there are clear costs involved in the data and I can't put this up without some sort of paywall.

I'm in the process of adding in 1954 UK Singles which should go live some time today. For Billboard fans I've also added the Juke Box Race chart from 1945, an early R&B chart. I want to mention that the term "race records" was coined in 1922 by Okeh Records. In hindsight, the term 'race record' may seem derogatory but at the time the African-American press routinely used the term the Race to refer to African Americans as a whole and race man or race woman to refer to an African-American individual who showed pride in and support for African-American people and culture.

Hahah I know what you mean! Looking at the stats for that week will be amazing as they leap up the data. Okay, as your the second person in about 20 minutes to ask for the UK 1960's charts I'll add 1954-1969 UK next. :)

Melody Charts Online – Finally Here! After three years of work I’m launching Melody Charts Online, a new chart database designed specifically for chart enthusiasts. The goal is simple: make it easy to explore chart history, artist chart careers and chart runs and record releases in ways that traditional chart listings don’t allow. You can explore it here: https://melodychartsonline.co.uk Over the last few months I’ve spent virtually all my spare time building the architecture behind the site, and I’m now at the stage where I can begin opening it up to the world. The database has been built with chart fans in mind — the aim is to get you directly to the information you want and allow you to explore the relationships between artists, releases and chart history. What makes Melody Charts Online different • Composer data for virtually every charting song • Full track listings for albums, singles and EPs • Fully linked data so you can see how tracks appear across different releases and albums • Automatic chart statistics which update whenever a new chart week is added • Historical charts typed directly from original magazines and archive scans One of the key things that sets the database apart is the depth of the linking. Composer data, track listings and chart data are all connected, allowing you to explore how songs and releases appear across multiple artists and albums. Click an artist see their history and click on a track from an album or go directly to a weekly chart with that album included. All at your fingertips. ⸻ Current database coverage The database is constantly being expanded and updated. As you will appreciate there is a lot of data to add in and this is not an easy migration as I want to ensure accuracy. At present it includes: • Most 2026 singles charts from the UK and USA • Early Billboard charts from 1940-41 (1942-45 currently being checked) • Early Billboard album charts from 1945 • UK charts from 1952–53 • Release images and track durations (some are still to be added but most are in and this is the bottleneck for adding new records) • Chart statistics which automatically update when new chart weeks are added More charts are being added regularly as I continue entering historical data. If there is a specific chart you would like prioritised, feel free to let me know and I will try to move it up the list. Subscription Details Subscriptions are handled securely through PayPal, and you can sign up either direct or using a debit or credit card. Plans are available monthly or yearly (with discounts for annual subscriptions). Any issues at all please email me and I will do my best to put it right Free Features • No adverts or pop-ups • Access to Top 10 only for:  • UK Singles Chart  • UK Albums Chart  • Billboard Hot 100  • Billboard Top LPs • Search titles and artists (Top 10 entries only) • Artist history limited to those four charts and Top 10 entries Note: some early charts before 1960 contain fewer than 10 entries. Silver £7.45 per month £86.90 per year Features • Unlimited chart searches • All charts available to full depth • Full database search of titles and artists • Complete artist chart histories • Track listings for albums, EPs and singles • Weekly charts visible 4 weeks after being added • Artist history and release pages display full chart runs Gold (Most Popular) £9.95 per month £112.80 per year Includes all Silver features plus: • Filter charts by genre • Edit genre tags on tracks and releases • Export chart data as PDF • Composer and producer information where available • Composer currently available for around 90% of entries • Producer data available for most albums • Charts visible 1 week after being added Full access costs £9.95 per month — about 33p per day, roughly the price of three coffees a month. Platinum £14.95 per month £164.45 per year Includes all Gold features plus: • Historical UK Singles and Albums sales data  Coverage mainly 1973–1994 but note this is not yet in the database • Ability to add charts to the database (planned feature expected in 2027)  Available after bespoke training given for free to ensure data accuracy • Charts visible immediately after being added • Ability to request priority chart additions • Priority email support for database issues  Typical response time around 48 hours Why it isn’t free This is probably the question I get asked most often. The data in the database has been gathered over more than 27 years, and obtaining it has involved thousands of pounds spent on books, magazines, archive access and other sources. Because of that, it simply isn’t possible to make everything freely available. The subscription cost is kept intentionally modest considering the scale of the data available. Currently Melody Charts Online contains: • 46,000+ chart positions • 67 charts • 3,400+ releases And more to come! The main database being migrated into the site contains over 6.5 million chart positions, plus another 5 million album entries, all of which will gradually be added over the next few years. Importantly, the plan is not to increase prices as the database grows. Things you can try on the site • Look up an artist and view their complete chart runs • Explore early Billboard charts from the 1940s tracking bands and multiple versions of different tracks. • Browse composer credits across charting songs • View full track listings for albums and singles • Export chart data as PDF (subject to tier) If you enjoy digging into chart history, spotting chart run patterns or exploring the data behind releases, this site was built for exactly that kind of chart obsession. If you’d like to take a look, you can access and subscribe here: https://melodychartsonline.co.uk I’ll also be sharing more about what the database can do over the coming days.

As long requested, I have finally prepared two new UK Singles Annuals. They are for 2023 and 2025. Both contain the same information - but for their respective years. I have added 7 UK Singles charts (including the one compiled by Billboard and three streaming charts). Each book is about 3,000 pages and covers each one of the chart weeks for the calendar year 2023 or 2025. This Singles Annual contains 7 charts - These are The UK Singles Chart The Official Digital Download Chart The Audio Streaming Chart The Video Streaming Chart The All Streaming Chart The Big Top 40 Billboard UK Songs All charts exist in full - as far as has been published - and contains all of the data that is covered within the 70 Years series. The volume contains the following sections for each chart Chart Age – Top 130 Weeks Chart Age – Bottom 130 Weeks Number 1’s Most Weeks By Artist – Top 500 Most Weeks By Artist – New Entries Most Weeks By Artist – Top 500 – Top 75 Only (Main UK Singles only) Most Weeks By Artist – Top 500 – 2020’s Decade Most Weeks By Artist Most Weeks By Title The Annual Artist History Details The Artist Analysis Weekly Charts Top 150 Highest New Entries Top 150 Highest Re-Entries Top 150 Biggest Falls Within The Chart Top 150 Biggest Climbs Within The Chart Top 150 Biggest Falls From The Chart Top 150 Artists With The Most Hits Top 150 Longest Runner On Chart Top 150 Longest Runner On Chart (By Chart Run) Hit Log – All Entries With Images Hit Log – Compressed view (Various sizes based on the chart size that exists) Alphabetical Title Listing All this in full colour, with the listings including BPI Awards and composers, as well as full Catalogue number and label details. All re-entries listed in detail. All yours for £4! To purchase, please go to my website here - 2023: https://www.thechartbook.co.uk/2026/01/16/the-uk-singles-annual-2023/ 2024: https://www.thechartbook.co.uk/2025/02/01/the-uk-singles-annual-2024/ 2025: https://www.thechartbook.co.uk/uk-singles-annual-2025/ I added the link for 2024 should you not have yet purchased this volume. Please note - the book is supplied as a Dropbox link and is supplied via email rather than automatically due to the size. Please allow up to 24 hours for delivery, although the volume is usually issued within a few minutes of cleared payment being received. And if you would like to view a selection of pages from the issue, please look at the advert for it here which is for the 2024 volume - 2023 and 2025 are the same layout.

Delighted to say that I have been lucky enough to have a copy of this book and it is a fascinating read. When I got it, I said to myself that I would put it down and read it over Christmas.... I did not do this as I simply could not put it down and have now read over half of it! If, like me, you enjoy charts, music, the 1980's, random trivia and excellently written commentary, then this is the book for you. Absolutely buy a copy! Your will not be disappointed.

Those on the Record Research mailing list will have got the below email today. I think this is looking like the end is nigh, sadly, but they are looking for investors. So if you have deep pockets... The email: If you’re like us, the black and white print on our pages evoke memories associated with melodies from your life’s soundtrack. Producing these pages has never been just a job for us. It’s a labor of love. For more than a half century, Joel Whitburn’s Record Research has created the data trusted by history buffs and music preservationists worldwide. We’ve self-published 174 research books, authored the Billboard Top 40 Hits book series which spawned Billboard Books, created the Billboard Hits series of music books with Hal Leonard, and initiated and produced 125 separate Billboard Top Hits music compilations with Rhino Records. We’ve weathered bad economies, the rise and fall of multiple recording configurations, record labels, and music industry magazines, the coming and going of weekly Top 40 countdowns, the upheaval of radio, the advent of streaming, the wholescale shift of data from print to internet, and so on. What began as a one-man hobby in the mid-1960s, became a thriving small business. By the early 1990s, we employed a healthy staff able to field a variety of projects. Downturns in the music industry eventually affected our business. We cut back on projects, then on staff through attrition. Enter the 2000s and everything about how music was discovered and enjoyed changed. Extensive market research narrowed radio playlists diminishing the number of stations that played the whole Top 40 (or even the Top 10). Streaming algorithms introduced new music. And only a handful of record shops kept their doors open. Gone were the days when a collector would check out the chart posted in the shop for new releases, so fewer and fewer music lovers developed a heart for the charts. As our customer base aged, so did their enthusiasm for new music and its stats. Sales of new editions declined. We introduced our online database, the MusicVault. But its time and expense outpaced customer involvement. Despite increasing demands on our remaining staff of four -- Joel, Kim, Paul and Brent, we soldiered on. And then Fran’s accident in 2017. Kim became her primary caregiver, cutting into her RR workload; Brent assisted Joel with daily chores. Still, we kept going through COVID, boosted by music fans spending more time with their collections and craving info from our books. But, the resulting shutdowns and supply-chain issues eventually sent our production costs soaring. On more than a few occasions, Joel mulled that it was time to close up shop. In the three years since Joel’s passing, followed by Fran’s, Record Research has published three books, further streamlined, and wished Brent the best on his retirement after 47 years as a Record Researcher. Kim and Paul, the last two standing, have been fielding a lot of questions from our readers. And, so that we are not further inundated, here are our best answers to the most common queries. Where is the Billboard Hot 100 Charts: 2010-2019 book? It most likely will not be published. In early 2023, Kim created a one-page format for the chart which covered two and then three pages over the decade in Billboard’s print issue. We intended to reverse engineer the chart from our weekly positions data and Paul was set to proof. However, delayed permissions and rising production costs made it unattainable. Will you publish new editions of ….? Not likely. The current costs associated with creating, printing, storing, packaging, and shipping are too heavy; the books would incur an even higher price tag, which is insurmountable in this climate of declining interest. Don’t wait to buy a book that we’ve had in stock for years. It’s disconcerting to hear customers demand, “You have to reprint that book! I was waiting for it to go on sale and now you don’t have it! And you expect me to pay over $300 for a used copy on eBay?” No, we don’t. Buy in-stock books now. Will future books be released as print-on-demand? Again, it’s not likely due to time and expense involved. Can I buy PDFs or spreadsheets of your work? No, reports generated by our custom-designed database require edits when transferred to PDF. The database does not readily lend itself to the creation of spreadsheets. Will there be further eBook versions of your print work? This remains to be seen as the two of us are doing all we can. Will you be bringing your database online (like you did with the MusicVault)? See answer above. Since Joel’s passing, is there still interest in maintaining Record Research? Kim and Paul are deeply proud of the unique work they’ve done. Kim has been behind the scenes of Record Research her whole life, beginning in her crib next to Joel in 1965 — when he began his research with a pack of index cards and the “Hot 100” chart of 8/4/58 — to her first after-school job at age 11, to coming aboard in a professional capacity in 1987. Paul, a lifelong, serious chart enthusiast, made the move from a radio career and signed on as a Record Researcher in 1992. We maintain that ours have been the most stalwart of hearts for the charts, absorbing losses in an effort to keep creating and delivering our music history facts and stats to you. What’s next? Record Research has a tremendous database, stock on several titles, and strong support from music lovers worldwide, like you, for which we are immensely grateful. To move forward and initiate new projects requires an influx of capital from those with deep pockets who concurrently have a desire to take up the mantle and enjoy the myriad of possibilities awash within our goldmine of data. If not, it looks as if the days of this mom ‘n pop shop are numbered. Only serious endeavors with the means to build on this work will be entertained at info@recordresearch.com. Please direct all other inquiries or encouragement to comment@recordresearch.com. In the meantime, don’t miss out on your chance to keep our lights burning for a bit longer and build your library for less!

I've just made available the new book the decade series of the 1990's - but this time as a Top 200. This already existed as a Top 100, but no has been re-made as a Top 200. This contains the Gallup data from 1990-5 Feb 1994 (with sales data and all starred out position shown) and then from then on we list the Compressed Top 200. A special section at the back lists the Uncompressed chart data, derived from Hit Music and lists the charts as they listed them (which is not entirely correct as you will see when you read the volume notes). The ChartBook WebsiteUK Singles Decade SeriesOver the years I have created various books which cover the main UK Singles chart, broken down by decade. Each of these books are available below, together with details of their content. Contents E…[URL="https://usercontent.one/wp/www.thechartbook.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Decade_1990_Gallup200_Advert.pdf?media=1740600311"]You can see the Sample pages here.[/URL] The book is simply huge, clocking in at almost 8,000 pages, and a file size of 90Mb, so I do hope that it does not cause any issues for readers. If it does, then I will have to split the book into two volumes. It costs £20 because of the size.

Sorry for the delayed reply - had issues logging into the forum since the re-make. The book is being made and I've just had a Quick Look through for Graham to do some checks. It should be out quite soon.

Thousands.... it all depends of course on what you consider a typo and whether it's one that was intentional. Sometimes an act will be mis-typed - an act in 1992 called Sole was credited as Soul. Catalogue numbers where sometimes mis-typed with the Z becoming a 2 I've just been adding the 1992 Gallup Top 200's to the database and you get 2 or three per month where the chart title is a little off form the record title it should be.

Due to exclusion rules at the time for 76-100, it's actually correct for 76-100. The records moving up are 62-75, with a different record at 75. The correct chart is as printed in Music Week. https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/pnr1fk5kbk8g...iyxsu1&dl=0

That's actually a printing error in both the book and the OCC database. The original chart was correct. What happened is that some sales of one format were accidentally separated out. This happened at some stage after 1995 and before 2001, when the files where sent to ChartsPlus. I noticed and queried and the OCC database now seems to have bene updated. If you look further down the chart you will see a new entry at 61 that week, thus 10 THE GIFT OF CHRISTMAS CHILDLINERS LONDON LONCD376 61 THE GIFT OF CHRISTMAS CHILDLINERS LONDON LOCDP376 The lower entry should be combined, which is enough sales to increase the 10 to a 9 position. This is correct in the Graham Betts chart book as he utilised Music Week as printed, which was correct. I had hoped the OCC website would be updated when they updated it recently. Clearly not.... Their website has many errors and should not be relied upon.

I have just issued another new chart book to add to the UK Chart collection. This one covers the weekly charts for the Top 40 from 1952-18 July 2024, and updates the old Guiness and Virgin Top 40 Charts books, long since out of print (although I do still find the odd copy in bookshops). https://www.thechartbook.co.uk/2024/07/14/u...-top-40-charts/ Full details of the 2,114 page £20 volume are on the website as well as a sample. It's by far my largest book yet, and one I hope you will consider adding to your collection.

Well it's difficult to separate out Wales and Scotland :) It's a way of being distinct from America.

I'm writing this on behalf of poster kobyhadrian, form another forum. He has asked me to see if anybody here knows anything in relation to a query he is looking into. He is trying to find if there might be any books or dedicated research by anybody into the careers of the following artists... with SPECIFIC regard to their record sales in Great Britain. From the 50s: Guy Mitchell/Mario Lanza/Jo Stafford From the 50s/60s: Everly Brothers/Connie Francis And lastly, from the 60s: Rolling Stones. Any bits of information that you would have - or ideas as to where to locate such - would be greatly appreciated, as these people/acts who all were major record sellers in the UK.

FLASH SALE! I've decided to celebrate the end of Winter with my first flash sale on the website. Virtually all the books currently on sake are included, with a couple of items not included. This is a fantastic time to increase your collection or pick up the missing volume you have always wanted! What's The Offer? The offer is that you purchase one book and get a second absolutely free! The book bought must be of equal or greater value than the book being requested as free. The only exclusions are forthcoming books - such as 1973 Billboard 85 Years Series volume or later volumes and the Billboard 85 Years Subscription. How does it work? Select the book you want and purchase. At checkout you should be able to send me a note and in that note tell me the volume you want as your free gift. Example: Purchase the 1950 Billboard Decade Series (for £25) and type in the box at checkout that you want to purchase the 1960 Billboard Decade as your free gift (That's also £25, and so included). Head to http://www.thechartbook.co.uk and happy spending!

The Budget Album chart is presented each week in ChartsPlus as a Top 50. Prior to 2003 it was a Top 10, bi-weekly in Music Week. It is based on sales and streaming, to an extent today, but of lower value - hence Budget - albums.

It is currently being produced. I would imagine a few weeks.

I think it is mid 2010 that ChartsPlus begins to print in the charts as a separate entity. Prior, from about 2003, they were alongside the Top 200. If you go here https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/scott...rt/20050515/41/ for example the chart is printed in order, but without the positions printed. Some of the charts above are not ones present some time before, in the previous iteration of the OCC database. Under that version I did save the weekly charts that exist from 1994-2017, so 1, 196 weekly charts are presented in the link below. https://www.dropbox.com/s/w2275bw3ze0z64c/S...ingles.zip?dl=0

AI is brilliant at code writing if you check it afterwards. I used it to write a set of mock exam answers and gave it to my class and asked them to find the problems. I think it got one answer right. I wanted them to understand that whilst it can do some things it is a tool and no more and does not replace human thought.

Thank god for that. Now can we all please get behind a campaign to get a good Christmas song to number one now that Mariah and Wham both had a chance? What would be your favourite not Christmas number one? I’d like to see White Christmas by Bing at the top just cos it would be fun.

For those who wish to have all of the 1980's charts - including the complete Top 200 - I have just launched a new book on the website covering the Gallup Top 200 form 1983-1989 and the weekly BMRB charts for 1980-82. To purchase the £15, 4,000 page book head over to the website. A sample set of pages is also presented. https://www.thechartbook.co.uk/2023/10/22/t...-200-1983-1989/ I have been wanting to do this book for a long time, and now, finally, I can! This volume – my largest book yet – contains over 4,000 pages with the BMRB charts for 1980-1982, and then the complete Gallup Top 200 charts from 1983-1989, complete with panel sales. The book covers all Top 200 charts and lists the full weekly charts – including the starred out records, removed via exclusion rules, in there proper place. The book adds up the panel sales for the chart run and is, quite simply, my favourite chart book. This book does come a little more expensive, at £15, but I think you will agree that the huge page count makes it worth it. The book is delivered as a link, as the book is over 50Mb in size, due to the huge wealth of information. Virtually all entires include full B-Side listings, label, catalogue number and duration, although of course some entries do miss this due to the inability to locate the records concerned. Some of the data has been posted on the forum UKMix, and I am very grateful to both Robbie and of course kobyhadrian for supplying the original Top 200 data.

I have all the others so would absolutely recommend getting this one!