Chicago Top 40 Charts 1970-1979 [Paperback]

Ronald P. Smith (Compiler)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 13, 2001

Chicago Top 40 Charts 1970-1979 examines the Windy City's top hits as documented by the weekly record store surveys issued by radio station WLS. As rock 'n' roll music entered its third decade, it was finding itself increasingly fragmented, which challenged the ratings dominance top 40 radio had exhibited throughout the 1960s. But while FM listening overtook AM in the rest of the country by the decade's end, Chicago was the exception. WLS managed to stave off its competition with their commitment to playing Chicago's favorite music- regardless of genre. That music is documented in this book. Chicago Top 40 Charts 1970-1979 lists every song to reach the WLS survey alphabetically by title and artist, with debut and peak dates, highest position reached and number of weeks on the charts. The top songs of each year and for the entire decade are ranked as well. As an added bonus, it features the "Big 89 Artists of the 1970s". For those who grew up listening to Chicago radio as well as for record collectors from anywhere, Chicago Top 40 Charts 1970-1979 will be a valued addition to their music reference libraries.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Ron Smith is a 30-year veteran of oldies radio as a disk jockey, program and music director. He served for more than eight years as Music Director of WJMK-FM, Oldies 104.3 in Chicago and was Senior Music Programmer of Internet Radio for RadioWave.com in the Windy City. Since 1995, he has delighted fans of 50s, 60s and 70s music with the Internet's premiere oldies Web site- www.oldiesmusic.com.He is also the author of Chicago Top 40 Charts 1960-1969. He resides in suburban Chicago with his vast music and book libraries.

Product Details

• Paperback: 168 pages
• Publisher: iUniverse (November 13, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0595206220
• ISBN-13: 978-0595206223
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #911,503 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Ron Smith has been involved in Oldies radio for nearly 40 years as a Disk Jockey, Program and Music Director, most recently as the Music Director and Evening DJ at Real Oldies 1690 in Chicago. He also served for more than eight years as Music Director of WJMK-FM, Oldies 104.3 in the Windy City. He was Senior Music Programmer of Internet Radio for Radiowave.com and created and hosted streaming channels for MusicNow.com, including the Net's only all-Elvis station. His '50s Hits and '60s Hits channels are currently enjoyed on Slacker.com. And, since 1995, he has delighted fans of '50s, '60s and '70s music with the Internet's premiere Oldies web site- www.oldiesmusic.com. Smith is the author of four reference books of Chicago music charts. He resides in suburban Chicago with his vast music and book libraries.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Essential reference with one quibble, February 2, 2002

By 

R. Riis "rriis" (NY) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Chicago Top 40 Charts 1970-1979 (Paperback)

I've docked this book a star from the author's own review (is that kosher?) and given it four stars for one striking omission. Smith does identify every tune to reach Chicago's WLS weekly music survey by title and artist, along with the debut and peak dates, highest position reached and weeks on the survey, along with the top songs of each year and the entire decade, as well as the top 89 artists of the 70s. What is missing is a listing of the number ones week-by-week or at the very least some indication of how many weeks a given number one hit spent at the top. Still, this is an essential reference for those whose interest in the charts extends beyond merely the national Hot 100. I hope Mr. Smith puts out a 1980s volume, and that some other people with access to source material get the same idea and do similar works on some of the other regional markets.

3 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another Magical Mystery Tour!, January 3, 2002

By 

Ronald Smith "Radio & Internet programmer & a... (Chicago, IL USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Chicago Top 40 Charts 1970-1979 (Paperback)

For those who enjoyed my first book, Chicago Top 40 Charts 1960-1969, this book continues the musical journey. As a broadcaster for the past 30 years, I know that a set of Joel Whitburn's Billboard chart books are indispensible. But often, it was the local and regional hits that drove popular music. In Chicago Top 40 Charts 1970-1979, I identify every tune to reach the WLS weekly music survey by title and artist, along with the debut and peak dates, highest position reached and weeks on the survey. There's also the top songs of each year and the entire decade, as well as the top 89 artists of the 70s. I've attempted to bring to a local music chart the professional research Whitburn brings to his Billboard books. For record collectors or radio enthusiasts, this book should bring back incredible music memories.

2 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Yawn, April 10, 2004

By 

Mitchell Cassman (BUFFALO GROVE, IL United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Chicago Top 40 Charts 1970-1979 (Paperback)

This book would have been a lot more interesting if it included reproductions of every survey.
As I said before, A monkey could have compiled these lists.