Customer Reviews

Chicago Top 40 Charts 1970-1979

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
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1 star:		(1)

 

 

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.

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.

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.