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Music Chronicle

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  1. Music Chronicle posted a post in a topic in UK Charts
    413 pages Available on eBay. Or directly from the publisher, which is recommended for buyers outside the UK, because eBay's fees are high for international shipping. Contact musicchronicle@yahoo.com Now down to the last 3 copies.
  2. Music Chronicle posted a post in a topic in UK Charts
    As per page 359 of The Music Chronicle Christmas:- Paul McCartney has 16 Christmas number ones, comprising 7 singles, 1 EP and 8 albums, including his contributions as a member of The Beatles, Wings, Band Aid 20 and Justice Collective. Melanie C and Ladbaby are 6th= on the list, with 5 Christmas number ones. Just four copies of The Music Chronicle Christmas left:- The Music Chronicle Christmas
  3. Music Chronicle posted a post in a topic in UK Charts
    The Music Chronicle 1983 The latest book in the highly acclaimed series looks in detail at 1983, documenting the best sellers, the major festivals and tours, the award winners, the films and television shows, the technological developments, the industry’s financials, the headline news stories and the unlikely trivia which go together to create the vibrant and diverse British music scene. Across 275 pages, The Music Chronicle 1983 presents over 200 lists, graphics and short articles collecting everything you need to know about the British music scene and its place in music history. In time for the 40th anniversary, The Music Chronicle 1983 shines a spotlight on Culture Club, Thriller, Paul Young, Tracey Ullman, Blue Monday, David Bowie, British reggae, Now That’s What I Call Music, Richard Clayderman, goth rock, Spandau Ballet, Halloween hits, Joan Armatrading, Toto, Duran Duran, musicians from New Zealand, Steve Lillywhite, Eurythmics, Gallup compiling the charts, John Peel’s wit, Arthur Baker, the British invasion of America, Winifred Atwell, Kool & The Gang, 12” singles, The Brixton Academy, 10cc, The Flying Pickets, Muddy Waters, the first Icelandic hits, and much more, in this entertaining, informative and detailed book. Who were the biggest selling songwriters and producers of 1983 ? Which tours and festivals attracted the most attention ? What were the critics’ favourite albums of the year ? What were the biggest American hits that failed to chart in the UK ? What were the biggest British hits abroad ? Which artists sold more records in 1983 than they did in any other year ? Which future superstars flopped in 1983 ? Which single sold 100,000 copies without ever reaching the Top 60 ? What are the nine best selling ninth albums of all-time ? Did 1983 have a lost number one single ? What is a pinkillu ? And what exactly is a fried-out Kombi ? Why was Now That’s What I Call Music so successful ? Why did the Portuguese government cancel a Julio Iglesias concert ? What did John Peel think was delicious with white wine ? Which chart topper sampled Star Wars without permission ? Whose music career only happened because of a chance encounter in a hairdresser’s ? How did an anthropology graduate manage to demonstrate his knowledge in a hit single ? Which British group won the Seoul Song Festival in 1983 ? All of these questions are answered amongst the wealth of information that builds to tell the complete story of popular music in 1983.
  4. Music Chronicle posted a post in a topic in UK Charts
    The fifth book in The Music Chronicle series is now available. The cheapest way to buy The Music Chronicle 1983, for £8.99 plus £2.70 p+p (UK), is by sending an e-mail to musicchronicle@yahoo.com. We will then send you our bank account details so you can make a direct transfer. We will dispatch the book as soon as the payment is received. Alternatively, the book is available on eBay for £9.99 plus postage. Follow this link. The Music Chronicle 1983 Buyers outside the UK are strongly recommended to purchase the book directly by sending an e-mail to musicchronicle@yahoo.com, because we will charge postage at cost, unlike eBay. For those who missed it, there are a few copies of The Music Chronicle Christmas left, at the same price as The Music Chronicle 1983. Here is the eBay link. The Music Chronicle Christmas There is also a free 12 page print-at-home supplement to The Music Chronicle Christmas available, covering 2021. Simply send an e-mail to musicchronicle@yahoo.com and we’ll send you a pdf file.
  5. In the same Music Week report, Alan Jones stated that Toto's "Africa" was the 114th track to pass 2 million sales in the 21st century. Here is a full list. The dates signify the year each track passed 2 million. Note there are 115 tracks on the list. Either "Halo" or "See You Again" hasn't quite yet reached this milestone.
  6. Yesterday's Music Week sales report, penned by Alan Jones, noted that Bastille's "Pompeii" was the 22nd most popular track of the 21st century, with sales of 2,940,258. The table below shows the probable 21st Century Top 40 Tracks.
  7. Thank you very much. From such an informed and interesting contributor to this forum, your comments are especially appreciated. Have a great Christmas.
  8. Music Chronicle posted a post in a topic in UK Charts
    An extract from page 51 of The Music Chronicle Christmas, which tells the controversial and record-breaking story of Jingle Bell Rock. The Music Chronicle Christmas
  9. Page 378 of The Music Chronicle Christmas lists the best selling Christmas songs in the UK. Here is an extract from that list.
  10. The Music Chronicle Christmas lists all of the Christmas-, New Year- and Winter-themed best sellers. It shows original sales and digital sales separately, and together. For recurring hits, it shows their chart position and sales for each year. And it lists all hits, not just #1s. However, it doesn't cover Christmas #1s which weren't seasonal, such as Bohemian Rhapsody and I Want To Hold Your Hand. The Music Chronicle Christmas
  11. The Music Chronicle 1982 devotes two pages to telling the story of the launch of the compact disc. Given how lucrative the format turned out to be in the 1990s and 2000s, it is perhaps surprising to read of the industry hostility which initially greeted Philips and Sony's efforts. And if you've ever wondered how a compact disc is manufactured, then look to page 155 which provides a step-by-step summary. The Music Chronicle 1982
  12. Thank you very much. I hope you enjoy the two new ones as much as the 1980 and 1981 books.
  13. Music Chronicle posted a post in a topic in UK Charts
    The Music Chronicle 1981 explains, over two pages, with a year-by-year breakdown, how Queen's Greatest Hits has sold anything between 5,375,000 copies and 8,475,000 in the UK, depending on what you include and what you don't.
  14. The encouragement that you, and many others, have given me will keep me going ! Thanks very much for your comments Gambo.
  15. Very kind of you to say this Scazzman. But I'm sorry I've stymied your own Christmas book, I'm sure it would have been excellent.
  16. Note to anyone who might want to buy any of the Music Chronicles, but lives outside the UK and Ireland. The international postage rates are set by eBay and not by me. I've just learnt, from a comment on another forum, that the price quoted to the USA looks really high. If the postage rate looks exorbitant to you, please send me an e-mail at musicchronicle@yahoo.com and I will propose an alternative.
  17. Hi Steve, The sources and credits in the book list over 80 different publications, including music papers and magazines written at the time, reference books printed over the past 40 years, and websites. BuzzJack is credited as follows:- "...especially strong on British popular music, contains a wealth of fascinating information and hosts some healthy conversations." A number of posters here at BuzzJack are thanked by name. Despite drawing from a wealth of sources, every word of the books is written by me, and all of the hundreds of tables, charts and graphs have been prepared by me, exclusively for The Music Chronicles. The 1980, 1981 and 1982 books are a labour of love, take many months to write, and aim to present the most accurate, detailed and expansive summary of each year ever compiled. I believe The Music Chronicle Christmas book is unique, in the way it examines every single seasonal-themed hit single and album there has ever been, and tells the story of each alongside a rigorously researched set of facts. I'd like to think that even the most knowlegeable pop music enthusiastics might say to themselves "I never knew that", or "I didn't realise they were linked", or "I've never seen this data analysed and presented that way".
  18. Here are some of the comments we received about The Music Chronicle 1980 and The Music Chronicle 1981, on this forum and others:- “The Music Chronicles for 1980 and 1981 are brilliant.” “Received today and they really are superb.” “Well researched and well worth the price! It's full of good facts” “You've done great work with those Sean, a real labour of love. I've learnt a lot.” “…genuine social history matters inside… causing me to take a fresh look at things.” “A great addition to my music book library. The content is outstanding. I'll happily recommend it to people.” “I just thought I would get in touch to say how much I enjoyed the music chronicle from 1980 and 1981. They are both fantastic books I keep returning to, time and again, and I find something new every time I do!” “Sean seems to have covered all the important and interesting musical facts and events of the year very well. I get the feeling I may be referring to this book often in the future and look forward to seeing other years in the series.” “It's great for browsing through, and it's the little things that make you go wtf?” “I’m very impressed with the detail and work that has gone into these books.” “I think what I like best about it is not the pure stats. The book eschews what you can find on the internet. The joy is in the value added. So some rather intriguing lists.” “I study the UK Charts avidly, but there were many details in the book that I was unaware of. I cannot praise the book enough.” “Well done Sean on such well constructed books.” “It really is a fantastic source of information for the price.” “Amazing value and hours of reading and digesting! Couldn't even begin to imagine how much work went into this!” “Keep up the fantastic work and look forward to hopefully more of these books being published which I will certainly buy.” “The 1980 Book is excellent. I highly recommend it, as it is well worth its price. I urge every UK chart fan to buy the 1980 book. It is a great addition to any chart books collection.”
  19. The Music Chronicle 1982 The third book in the highly acclaimed series looks in detail at 1982, documenting the best sellers, the major festivals and tours, the award winners, the films and television shows, the industry’s financials, the headline news stories and the unlikely trivia which go together to create the vibrant and diverse British music scene. With 26 more pages than The Music Chronicle 1981, the latest edition in the series presents over 200 lists, graphics and short articles collecting everything you need to know about the British music scene and its place in music history. In time for the 40th anniversary, The Music Chronicle 1982 shines a spotlight on Dexys Midnight Runners, ABC, Yazoo, The Kids From Fame, Elkie Brooks, WOMAD, Iron Maiden, The Tube, Madness, Duran Duran’s videos, Survivor, Eddy Grant, Shalamar, Pigbag, German music, Discline, The Jam’s split, legal disputes, Haircut One Hundred, Clive Langer & Alan Winstanley, ZE Records, the launch of the compact disc, The Young Ones, pioneer rappers, Our Price, chart manipulation, The Falklands War, fitness records, Julien Temple and much more, in this entertaining, informative and detailed book. Who were the biggest selling songwriters and producers of 1982 ? Which tours and festivals attracted the most attention ? What were the critics’ favourite albums of the year ? What were the biggest American hits that failed to chart in the UK ? What were the biggest British hits abroad ? Which artists sold more records in 1982 than they did in any other year ? What breakthrough technologies were launched that year ? Who was involved in legal disputes in 1982 ? Which Greatest Hits album contained the most hits ? Which big rock hit was a recycled sitcom theme tune ? Which chart topping performer had to be tracked down to a north London sweet shop ? Who scored their first hit single with their 23rd release ? Which former chart topper issued a single to welcome the Pope to Britain ? Which German cities have produced the most chart stars ? What proportion of the first 20 rappers to appear on a British hit came from New York ? Who links Starship and Heart to A Song For Europe ? What mishaps occurred while Duran Duran were shooting their exotic videos ? Which music star is the most successful motor racer ? Who bit the head off Ozzy Osbourne ? All of these questions are answered amongst the wealth of information that builds to tell the complete story of popular music in 1982.
  20. The Music Chronicle Christmas The British public adores Christmas music. In the past 80 years there have been over 400 seasonal singles and 200 festive albums, and The Music Chronicle Christmas tells the story of every one of them. It presents the background, the facts and the trivia behind the songs you know well, and unearths those records that have long been consigned to history. From Vera Lynn and Bing Crosby to Jess Glynne and Justin Bieber, chronologically, and from Wham! and Mariah Carey to the most obscure one-hit wonders, every Christmas-, New Year- and winter-themed hit is here. This informative, entertaining and meticulously researched 412 page book is illustrated with over 100 specially prepared lists, charts and graphics. It sets out the best sellers, the oldest songs and the multiple hit makers, identifies historic trends and passing fads, and tells heart-breaking and heart-warming stories. Which million selling Christmas single was first issued as a B-side ? Which popular favourite had to be released six times before it became a hit ? What alternative names were considered for Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer ? Which popular carol’s lyricist is the model in a Tate Gallery painting ? Which number one started life in a musical performed above a London pub ? Who came up with one of the catchiest lyrics while having a shower in Memphis ? Which was the most star-studded Band Aid line-up ? Which big hit was written by a former radar engineer ? Whose first release was as an uncredited singer on R2D2 We Wish You A Merry Christmas ? Who grew up on a Christmas tree farm ? Which Christmas hit makers were born on Christmas Day ? Which 1970s hit was supposedly composed by dancing angels ? Which hits were created by the people who also wrote the themes for Grandstand, Gladiators and Who Wants To Be A Millionaire ?
  21. The third and fourth books in The Music Chronicle series are now available. To buy The Music Chronicle Christmas & The Music Chronicle 1982 together, saving money on postage, follow this link:- https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/133609252190 The Music Chronicle Christmas is available here:- https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/133265515801 The Music Chronicle 1982 is available here:- https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/133587645081 If you missed The Music Chronicle 1980 and The Music Chronicle 1981, then you can buy all four books together here:- https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/133938581613
  22. I will do a full reveal with pricing and ordering details when the book is ready. But I can say now that page for page it will be much cheaper than the OCC book.
  23. A few weeks earlier than I had planned, but here is a tempter for the first of two Music Chronicles that will be available in November. The book is 413 pages long. I am proof checking it at the moment, and expect it will be on sale via eBay in about 5 weeks time. Here are two sample pages:-
  24. Trends – 21st Century Perennials If tracks from the 1970s are in decline, then this graph clearly shows that the 21st century has yielded some new classics, whose popularity is undoubtedly in the ascendancy. • Michael Bublé’s take on “It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas” seems to be going from strength to strength in a manner that is not replicated by any of the other tracks from his Christmas album. (Although both “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)” and “Santa Claus Is Coming To Town” are one OCC Top 100 appearance away from becoming the 50th and 51st tracks to appear four times as digital era Festive re-entries). • Leona Lewis has certainly recorded a new Christmas classic, but Ariana Grande and Kelly Clarkson have both surpassed her song’s chart performance recently. What is notable about all three of these tracks is that they are new songs. Bublé aside, it seems the British public is not at all responsive to contemporary stars churning out Christmas albums where they unimaginatively plough through the same old standards. But, there is definitely a market for newly minted seasonal singles if they are strong enough, and properly promoted. Time will tell whether Sia’s “Santa’s Coming For Us”, Katy Perry’s “Cozy Little Christmas” and Taylor Swift’s “Christmas Tree Farm” join these ranks. • Both Coldplay and Justin Bieber looked like they might have created modern Noel classics, but their songs have both drifted in recent years. • The Darkness’ tongue-in-cheek single is fading out of fashion. • There hasn’t been much to choose between the showing of Eartha Kitt’s 1953 original of “Santa Baby” and Kylie’s 2000 makeover in recent years. Between 2016 and 2019 they were always within 10 places of each other on the Festive Perennials Chart, with Eartha claiming honours lst year, but Kylie ahead this week.
  25. Trends – Golden Oldies Trying to decipher trends from this graph is a serious challenge. • But what stands out is the ascent of Brenda Lee’s “Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree”. Having debuted at #15 in 2006, and then floundered to #24 in 2007, this song has been placed in the Top 12 ever since, peaking at #5 in 2017. • The rest seem to fluctuate quite randomly. But it should be remembered that there are typically only a few hundred chart sales between adjacent positions on the Festive Perennials list by the time we get down to the tracks below #20. • What is more remarkable, in our opinion, is the enduring popularity of all of these songs. Every one of them has been re-recorded by other artists many times since the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s, and yet it is these older versions which endure. This cannot be attributable to people who grew up with them picking them out for downloading and streaming, and must be due to new generations of people latching on to the nostalgic, sentimental sounds at a time of year when people look for home comforts and enjoy traditions.