A perennial bestseller in its newest expanded edition, this unparalleled resource provides complete, cross-referenced information for all songs and artists to make the Top 40 of Billboard's Hot 100 singles chart from 1955 through 1999. Every artist entry opens with biographical information, followed by the date for each Top 40 single hit, its highest position and number of weeks on the chart, and its original label name and catalog number. Alphabetical lists by artist and by song title are followed by an extensive "Record Holders" section that details the top 100 singles of 1955-1999, with separate charts for that period showing the top 100 artists and top singles by decade. These exhaustive lists and 300 new photos with their fact-filled expanded captions will be valued by record collectors, pop music enthusiasts, and anyone who works in the music industry.
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
Review
"An essential reference that can quickly tell you everything from how many No. 1 hits Roy Orbison had (two) to the name of the group that did "I'm Too Sexy" (Right Said Fred)." - Boston Herald; "I love paging through it, looking for songs I know and songs I should know." - Keyboard"
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
About the Author
Joel Whitburn, the foremost authority on charted music, has published nearly eighty books based on Billboard charts both for the trade market and for his own mail-order company, Record Research, based in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
27 of 28 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
It was during my pop music Renaissance in high school that I encountered the concept of how all those singles that I had been awakened to were on Billboard's Hot 100 charts, and those that entered the Top 40. It was my buddy Keith Webster who turned me onto that concept and how Casey Kasem's American Top 40 was aired every Sunday on our local radio station. Then of course, the highlight was finding out who the Top Ten were, and finally, at the end of the show, who was the new No. 1 or still at No. 1. There was this horserace dynamic going on. Yes, having any Billboard book may make one a music nerd, but I consider that epithet a compliment.
Of the two Billboard tomes I consider essential to any pop music buff, not having Joel Whitburn's Billboard Book of Top 40 hits, revised every now and then, is tantamount to having green tea leaves and no hot water and cup. I cannot stress how vital this tome is. Whitburn's book consists of all singles that hit the Top 40 from Bill Haley's "Rock Around The Clock," up through 2003, when Outkast's "Hey Ya" was at the top of the charts. The book is lexically indexed by artist or group, with a brief blurb of the group, including members, instruments they played, DOB, and info on if any of them died, or if any entered the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
From there, the columns under each artist/group consists of when the song debuted on the Top 40, its peak position, its duration in the Top 40, the title of the song, and the song's record label and number. If a single hit the Top Ten, it is highlighted in bold so one can count how many Top Ten hits a particular artist had. A round bullet to the left of the song title means the song went gold (sold a million copies), whereas a triangular bullet indicates platinum status (sold two million copies or above). To use the masterpiece of my favourite group the Beatles, "Hey Jude," it debuted on the charts on 14 September 1968, nearly three months after my birth, it was a #1 single for 9 weeks (yay!), spent 19 weeks on the Top 40, it went 4 times platinum, and the single was Apple 2276, the first Top 40 single from Apple Records, by the way.
I must've spent years peering through but not buying this book due to the price, and it's only after twenty odd years that it's in my collection of vital reference books. In closing, I offer this tidbit for those who might feel miffed that a song they particularly liked either didn't make the Top 40, didn't stay at #1 longer than it should have, or reached #2 when it should've reached #1, or songs they didn't think deserve to reach #1, and believe you me, there are quite a few of those on my list. The phrase "It ain't No. 1 till it's No. 1 on Billboard" is touted by Billboard. The Hot 100 and Top 40 are well, just a way of measuring a song's sales and airplay, and those in turn play a part in how high a song reaches the charts. But in the final run, it all comes down to how much you like a song. After all, what's in a number?
Of the two Billboard tomes I consider essential to any pop music buff, not having Joel Whitburn's Billboard Book of Top 40 hits, revised every now and then, is tantamount to having green tea leaves and no hot water and cup. I cannot stress how vital this tome is. Whitburn's book consists of all singles that hit the Top 40 from Bill Haley's "Rock Around The Clock," up through 2003, when Outkast's "Hey Ya" was at the top of the charts. The book is lexically indexed by artist or group, with a brief blurb of the group, including members, instruments they played, DOB, and info on if any of them died, or if any entered the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
From there, the columns under each artist/group consists of when the song debuted on the Top 40, its peak position, its duration in the Top 40, the title of the song, and the song's record label and number. If a single hit the Top Ten, it is highlighted in bold so one can count how many Top Ten hits a particular artist had. A round bullet to the left of the song title means the song went gold (sold a million copies), whereas a triangular bullet indicates platinum status (sold two million copies or above). To use the masterpiece of my favourite group the Beatles, "Hey Jude," it debuted on the charts on 14 September 1968, nearly three months after my birth, it was a #1 single for 9 weeks (yay!), spent 19 weeks on the Top 40, it went 4 times platinum, and the single was Apple 2276, the first Top 40 single from Apple Records, by the way.
I must've spent years peering through but not buying this book due to the price, and it's only after twenty odd years that it's in my collection of vital reference books. In closing, I offer this tidbit for those who might feel miffed that a song they particularly liked either didn't make the Top 40, didn't stay at #1 longer than it should have, or reached #2 when it should've reached #1, or songs they didn't think deserve to reach #1, and believe you me, there are quite a few of those on my list. The phrase "It ain't No. 1 till it's No. 1 on Billboard" is touted by Billboard. The Hot 100 and Top 40 are well, just a way of measuring a song's sales and airplay, and those in turn play a part in how high a song reaches the charts. But in the final run, it all comes down to how much you like a song. After all, what's in a number?
17 of 17 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
What is America? How does one go about comprehending the "American Ideal"? Where would you send a foreigner who sought to gain a tangible understanding of the most influential and powerful nation on Earth over the course of these last two hundred and thirty years? Me, I'd send him to three written sources: The Declaration Of Independence; The U.S. Constitution; and THE BILLBOARD BOOK OF TOP 40 HITS. The first one explains the premise upon which this country was founded. The second illustrates the dynamic system under which it was organized. The third recounts the progression (or regression) that the country experienced under the world's longest-running Republican form of government.
OK, OK! Maybe I have overestimated the social importance of this tome, but why not aim as high as we can, and see if we can't make some of it stick? (Besides, some suckers will fall for ANYTHING!) Truth is, I almost feel a little embarrassed writing a review for a book like this, but then - to borrow a line from those old geezers who really do seem to "gather no moss" - I know it's only Rock 'N' Roll, but I like it!
Of course, it's not really ONLY Rock 'N' Roll. American Pop music encompasses a wide range of musical styles: There's FOLK ('The City Of New Orleans' by Arlo Guthrie. #18 in '72); COUNTRY ('Good Hearted Woman' by Waylon and Willie. #25 in '76); BLUES ('The Thrill Is Gone' by B.B. King. #15 in '70); JAZZ ('Take Five' by Dave Brubeck. #25 in '61); SOUL ('I'll Be Doggone' by Marvin Gaye. #8 in '65); DISCO ('Hot Stuff' by Donna Summer. #1 in '79); and RAP...Oh, never mind. Don't get me started! And of course, it's not really ONLY American either. Afterall, those four blokes from Liverpool were from...well...Liverpool.
THE BILLBOARD BOOK OF TOP 40 HITS is one of those mysterious, time-sucking publications. You pull it off the shelf to look up one little item and the next thing you know, you realize that you've floated from ABBA to ZAPPA and 40 minutes have passed!
The book has been beautifully organized by the premier music charting-impresario, JOEL WHITBURN. The broadcaster Bruce Morrow's blurb on my back cover says, "Joel Whitburn's books are as much a part of my radio stations as my transmitters. Any time I buy or build a radio station, the first two pieces of equipment I purchase are Joel's book and my Billboard subscription." If you're waiting for a BETTER recommendation, our Republic will be defunct by the time it arrives! I own the 6th Edition (1955-1995), but since my real interest in American Pop music extended only as far as about 1984, this one suits me fine.
Although naturally, the book provides information on all of the music that cracked the Top 40 - its date, highest postion reached, and the amount of weeks it retained its Top 40 status - I find the charts toward the back perhaps the book's most interesting feature. Whitburn has concocted a point system formula utilizing info on chart position & weeks charted from which he determines the top songs and artists. He then presents these outcomes to us by decade and overall career position. While each reader might want to tweak the system by making an adjustment here or there according to how he or she prioritizes, I can't imagine that the results would be markedly different. These charts illustrate some surprising findings. For instance...
Did you know that BOYZ II MEN (Whoever they are. I'm 46!) are responsible for 3 of the Top 10 singles of ALL-TIME?
Did you know that despite the overwhelming perception of their One-hit Wonder status, TONY ORLANDO AND DAWN actually rank as the 16th most popular artist of the 1970s?
Because of their "un-cool" persona, it was rare to find a teenager in the '70s willing to publicly confess to being a Carpenters fan. And yet, the Pop duo was the 4th most popular music-maker of that decade. They sure sold a lot of records for a group that no one claimed to like!
Here's the fact that REALLY surprised me: Having been a teenager in the 1970s, I can attest that by then the consensus was that ELVIS PRESLEY was a has-been. Led Zeppelin ruled our world, and 'Stairway To Heaven' was the teen national anthem. I don't think most of us even knew that Elvis was still alive. He seemed as far removed from the contemporary American scene as Washington and Jefferson did. And yet, I learn from Whitburn that "The King" was the 11th most popular artist of the decade! I LIVED through it, and that STILL astounds me!
And by the way, the next time you hear someone refer to ELVIS as "THE KING OF ROCK 'N' ROLL", don't make the mistake of thinking that's a contestable opinion. According to Whitburn's calculations, Elvis scores 8,002 total lifetime points. The "Fab Four" come in a DISTANT second with 4,549; followed by Elton John and Stevie Wonder with 4,103 and 3,685 respectively. I was never a fan of his, but I'll concede that Elvis is still "The King."
Yeah, you probably should acquire a copy of THE BILLBOARD BOOK OF TOP 40 HITS. Without it, how would you ever know that...
* Only one month after the plane crash that killed BUDDY HOLLY, he collected his last Top 40 hit, appropriately titled, 'It Doesn't Matter Anymore.'
* STEVIE WONDER (real name: Steveland Morris) had just turned 13 years old when he scored his first #1 hit song.
* On the day that the United States Of America celebrated its bicentennial, the song at the apex of the Pop music chart was "LOVE HANGOVER" by Diana Ross. Which begs this question: Were George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, and George Mason tapping their toes in their pine boxes, or were they turning over in their graves?
OK, OK! Maybe I have overestimated the social importance of this tome, but why not aim as high as we can, and see if we can't make some of it stick? (Besides, some suckers will fall for ANYTHING!) Truth is, I almost feel a little embarrassed writing a review for a book like this, but then - to borrow a line from those old geezers who really do seem to "gather no moss" - I know it's only Rock 'N' Roll, but I like it!
Of course, it's not really ONLY Rock 'N' Roll. American Pop music encompasses a wide range of musical styles: There's FOLK ('The City Of New Orleans' by Arlo Guthrie. #18 in '72); COUNTRY ('Good Hearted Woman' by Waylon and Willie. #25 in '76); BLUES ('The Thrill Is Gone' by B.B. King. #15 in '70); JAZZ ('Take Five' by Dave Brubeck. #25 in '61); SOUL ('I'll Be Doggone' by Marvin Gaye. #8 in '65); DISCO ('Hot Stuff' by Donna Summer. #1 in '79); and RAP...Oh, never mind. Don't get me started! And of course, it's not really ONLY American either. Afterall, those four blokes from Liverpool were from...well...Liverpool.
THE BILLBOARD BOOK OF TOP 40 HITS is one of those mysterious, time-sucking publications. You pull it off the shelf to look up one little item and the next thing you know, you realize that you've floated from ABBA to ZAPPA and 40 minutes have passed!
The book has been beautifully organized by the premier music charting-impresario, JOEL WHITBURN. The broadcaster Bruce Morrow's blurb on my back cover says, "Joel Whitburn's books are as much a part of my radio stations as my transmitters. Any time I buy or build a radio station, the first two pieces of equipment I purchase are Joel's book and my Billboard subscription." If you're waiting for a BETTER recommendation, our Republic will be defunct by the time it arrives! I own the 6th Edition (1955-1995), but since my real interest in American Pop music extended only as far as about 1984, this one suits me fine.
Although naturally, the book provides information on all of the music that cracked the Top 40 - its date, highest postion reached, and the amount of weeks it retained its Top 40 status - I find the charts toward the back perhaps the book's most interesting feature. Whitburn has concocted a point system formula utilizing info on chart position & weeks charted from which he determines the top songs and artists. He then presents these outcomes to us by decade and overall career position. While each reader might want to tweak the system by making an adjustment here or there according to how he or she prioritizes, I can't imagine that the results would be markedly different. These charts illustrate some surprising findings. For instance...
Did you know that BOYZ II MEN (Whoever they are. I'm 46!) are responsible for 3 of the Top 10 singles of ALL-TIME?
Did you know that despite the overwhelming perception of their One-hit Wonder status, TONY ORLANDO AND DAWN actually rank as the 16th most popular artist of the 1970s?
Because of their "un-cool" persona, it was rare to find a teenager in the '70s willing to publicly confess to being a Carpenters fan. And yet, the Pop duo was the 4th most popular music-maker of that decade. They sure sold a lot of records for a group that no one claimed to like!
Here's the fact that REALLY surprised me: Having been a teenager in the 1970s, I can attest that by then the consensus was that ELVIS PRESLEY was a has-been. Led Zeppelin ruled our world, and 'Stairway To Heaven' was the teen national anthem. I don't think most of us even knew that Elvis was still alive. He seemed as far removed from the contemporary American scene as Washington and Jefferson did. And yet, I learn from Whitburn that "The King" was the 11th most popular artist of the decade! I LIVED through it, and that STILL astounds me!
And by the way, the next time you hear someone refer to ELVIS as "THE KING OF ROCK 'N' ROLL", don't make the mistake of thinking that's a contestable opinion. According to Whitburn's calculations, Elvis scores 8,002 total lifetime points. The "Fab Four" come in a DISTANT second with 4,549; followed by Elton John and Stevie Wonder with 4,103 and 3,685 respectively. I was never a fan of his, but I'll concede that Elvis is still "The King."
Yeah, you probably should acquire a copy of THE BILLBOARD BOOK OF TOP 40 HITS. Without it, how would you ever know that...
* Only one month after the plane crash that killed BUDDY HOLLY, he collected his last Top 40 hit, appropriately titled, 'It Doesn't Matter Anymore.'
* STEVIE WONDER (real name: Steveland Morris) had just turned 13 years old when he scored his first #1 hit song.
* On the day that the United States Of America celebrated its bicentennial, the song at the apex of the Pop music chart was "LOVE HANGOVER" by Diana Ross. Which begs this question: Were George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, and George Mason tapping their toes in their pine boxes, or were they turning over in their graves?
16 of 16 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I have purchased each new edition of this book and have never been disappointed. The 7th edition chronicles every Top 40 hit through the end of the millenium. I'm not in the music business, but love seeing what hits each artist has had and how how they went on the chart. This book does a great job of cross-referencing songs, so if a song is officially credited to Puff Daddy featuring Mase, then it is listed in this book under both artists. This is incredibly helpful given the recent proliferation of guest artists on chart singles. Whenever I hear an unknown oldies hit on the radio, I can't help but look it up in this book and find out the artist. A must for every fan of music.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
Read carefully.....
This is not the latest edition. I stupidly ordered it and then realized the 9th edition was out. Gave it to a friend. Read more
Published 17 months ago by JAMES E BORDNER
The Good and the Bad
I fell in love with the first edition of this book, and every few years a new edition is released.
My interest in Top 40 music ended sometime around 1980, and the later... Read more
My interest in Top 40 music ended sometime around 1980, and the later... Read more
Published 18 months ago by Danny Hughes
They came through
I found this older version of "The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits." It was exactly what I was looking for, because nearly all my research involves older music. Read more
Published 20 months ago by Bill
Top 40 Book
The book is in good shape. Not as good as stated, a little dirty and marked up on the edges.
Published 21 months ago by Jim
Pure gold!
I want Joel on my trivia team!!! I've worn out 2 previous editions and can't wait for the 9th. So much info you'll be blown away!
Published 21 months ago by J. Johnson
Excellent Reference Tool With a Few Errors
This book does contain a few errors: Danny's Song was not originally by Loggins & Messina but by Gator Creek a short-lived group Kenny Loggins was in. Read more
Published 23 months ago by Catherine Goltz
behind the music
Great info on pop acts. A fun trip down memory lane and a lot of stuff you've forgotten or didn't even know. Read more
Published on February 26, 2010 by Stephen Golesworthy
EXTRA FAST SERVICE
I ORDERED THESE BOOKS AS CHRISTMAS PRESENTS FOR BOTH MY BOYS WHO ARE VERY INTERESTED IN MUSIC, ONE BEING A PROFESSIONAL MUSICIAN. Read more
Published on December 23, 2009 by Joe From Austin
excellent!!
book is full of facts and trivia. a must for anyone intrested in music.we have been using this book every day!! love it!!
Published on November 13, 2009 by Edward E. Robinson
Billboard Pop Music Chart
This book is very interesting for those who like Pop music. It was fun just leafing through the book and looking at favorite artists record listings and favorite songs.
Published on October 27, 2009 by M. Greene
Inside This Book
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First Sentence:
The seventh edition of Top 40 Hits features America's most popular songs and artists from the beginning of the rock era through 1999. Read the first page Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
New York, Los Angeles, Album Rock, United Art, New Jersey, Modern Rock, San Francisco, The Vocal, New Orleans, North Carolina, Orchestra Born, The Female, Stevie Wonder, Long Island, South Carolina, Love Atlantic, Bobby Born, The Beatles, Elton John, Johnny Born, Scotti Brothers, Frank Sinatra, Tommy Boy, John Lennon, Michael Jackson New!
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Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
The seventh edition of Top 40 Hits features America's most popular songs and artists from the beginning of the rock era through 1999. Read the first page Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
New York, Los Angeles, Album Rock, United Art, New Jersey, Modern Rock, San Francisco, The Vocal, New Orleans, North Carolina, Orchestra Born, The Female, Stevie Wonder, Long Island, South Carolina, Love Atlantic, Bobby Born, The Beatles, Elton John, Johnny Born, Scotti Brothers, Frank Sinatra, Tommy Boy, John Lennon, Michael Jackson New!
Books on Related Topics | Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
Citations (learn more)
This book cites 56
books:
See all 56 books this book cites
28
books
cite this book:
See all 28 books citing this book
- Rock and Roll: The 100 Best Singles by Paul Williams on 5 pages
- Take Me Home by John Denver on page 182, page 629, and Index
- Who's Sorry Now? by Connie Francis on page 255, and Index
- Top Pop Singles: Nineteen Fifty-Five to Nineteen Eighty-Six by Joel Whitburn on page 3, and page 4
- Little Green Apples: God Really Did Make Them! by O. C. Smith on page 614, and Index
See all 56 books this book cites
- Philosophy at 33 1/3 rpm: Themes of Classic Rock Music by James Harris in Back Matter (1), Back Matter (2), and Back Matter (3)
- Rock And Roll: A Social History by Paul Friedlander in Back Matter (1), and Back Matter (2)
- The Wicked Game: Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods, and the Story of Modern Golf by Howard Sounes in Back Matter
- The Mobile DJ Handbook, Second Edition: How to Start & Run a Profitable Mobile Disc Jockey Service by Stacy Zemon in Back Matter
- Homeward Bound: American Families In The Cold War Era by Elaine Tyler May in Back Matter
See all 28 books citing this book
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