The Billboard Book of Number One Rhythm & Blues Hits [Paperback]

Adam White (Author), Fred Bronson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1993

Similar in format to the "Billboard Book of Number One Hits" and "The Billboard Book of Number One Country Hits", this book traces the history of soul and R&B music by focusing on the songs that topped Billboard's Top R&B Singles chart over the past 40 years. All the great Motown hits are covered as are the classic tunes by such non-Motown stalwarts as Sam Cooke, James Brown, Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin, Otis Redding, and Sam and Dave, as well as contemporary stars like Prince and Michael Jackson. Arranged chronologically, the book looks at the each number-one hit and probes the stories behind the songs, providing trivia, key biographical information on artists and songwriters, and basic chart data. Taken as a whole, "The Billboard Book of Number One Rhythm & Blues Hits" amounts to a detailed overview of an immensely popular musical genre - a genre that has been enjoying a huge historical reassessment in recent years, with soul artists finally getting their due and being recognised as having been every bit as important as Elvis and the Beatles in shaping the course of modern rock and roll.

Product Details

• Paperback: 506 pages
• Publisher: Billboard Books; First Edition edition (October 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0823082857
• ISBN-13: 978-0823082858
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.9 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,585,317 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The story behind 25 years of hit singles., June 9, 2000

By 

John F. Miller (Birmingham, Alabama, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Billboard Book of Number One Rhythm & Blues Hits (Paperback)

"Being With You," the highest charting hit of Smokey Robinson's solo career, was originally written for pop singer Kim Carnes, who had recently scored a hit cover of the Miracles' "More Love." However, when Smokey presented the song to Carnes' producer, George Tobin, he learned that Tobin was no longer acting in that capacity. Tobin, however, saw a hit and in an attempt to show Smokey his good faith in the song, agreed to pay for the recording sessions.

Upon release, "Being With You" shot to the top of both the R&B and Hot 100 charts, achieving the top spot in the R&B category. However, the song failed to reach the top spot on the Hot 100 and stalled at number two. What song kept it from reaching number one? Kim Carnes' "Bette Davis Eyes."

Such behind the scene details form the backbone of THE BILLBOARD BOOK OF NUMBER ONE RHYTHM AND BLUES HITS. From smooth Motown soul to gritty Memphis funk, this book tells the fascinating stories behind twenty-five years of hit singles on the Billboard Charts. More than a mere collection of music business anecdotes, this book also serves as a very readable history of some of the most memorable pop music of this century. Highly recommended.