Customer Reviews

Top Pop Singles, 1955-2006, 11th Edition

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I just updated this replacement hardcover book from my earlier version of 1955-1986. It's my reference bible for songs and artists. I have a large collection of 45 rpm's (mostly from the 1950s and 1960s) and the only way I can inventory them is by referring to this book. I'm also purchasing more current MP3 songs online on Amazon.com of course. The book also lists song titles when I can't remember the artists group or name. A must have book if you want to be completely organized about your music collection. Thank you Mr. Joel Whitburn!

I first became acquainted with Joel Whitburn and his impressive series of music reference books way back in the late 1970's. Over the years I have purchased a good many of them. Whether you are someone who earns a living as a disc jockey or just an avid collector like myself then Joel Whitburn's books are indespensible to what you do. The granddaddy of all of Whitburn's books is the Top Pop Singles series. This latest edition, released in 2007, lists every single tune that has appeared on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart over the past 52 years! Incredible!
"Top Pop Singles 1955-2006" lists complete chart information for each and every song including such information as the date the tune debuted on the charts, the records peak position and how many weeks the song remained on the charts. The book is arranged in alphabetical order by artist and aside from listing each and every charted single for that particular artist there is biographical information about the artist as well. These books are a treasure trove of information and each time the books are updated more and more information is included. Looking to find out who sang a particular song? No problem. In the back of the book every single song is listed by title in alphabetical order. Thus, you are able to find the answer to your query in a flash. In addition to "Top Pop Singles 1955-2006" there are books covering a number of other genres including the pre-rock and roll era 1940-1954, country music, soul/rhythm & blues, and albums. I have found each and every one of Joel Whitburn's books to be invaluable to me as I pursue my favorite hobby.
Now if you would like to sneak a peek at "Top Pop Singles 1955-2006" to see what I am talking about just go to Joel Whitburn's website at recordresearch.com. There you can view some sample pages from this and other Joel Whitburn books. These books are not cheap but believe me they are worth every penny. They have greatly enhanced my enjoyment of collecting over the past three decades. Very highly recommended.

This the only complete reference book, updated every four years. I ONLY buy the hardcover version, and even that is falling apart by the time the newest version is published. I have purchased his books since 1978! Simply the best!

This is a reference book whose depth of information is staggering. One thing I really like is how Joel Whitburn has continually tried to make each volume even more in-depth than the one before. According to [...], the 12th edition, due in August 2009 and including all chart hits through December 2008, will have all "Bubbling Under" singles included - which used to be available only in a separate volume. The only thing I can think of that Whitburn has removed over the years that I found very useful, was the granular sales/airplay peak positions for singles from 1984 to the present, in addition to the overall Hot 100 peak position. Example: Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit" hit #6 on the Hot 100, and peaked at #1 for 2 weeks on the sales chart, but only reached #41 on the airplay chart. This info is rather interesting, and tells a much fuller story about the single than just knowing that it peaked at #6. I still keep my 1955-1996 edition because it has this info, and current editions do not. But I am nitpicking - this book is the best music reference on my shelf, and I cannot recommend it highly enough.

I really love this book! Its so comprehensive, it helps me find songs I've been looking for over many years! I also like the categories it broken down into. Like top sellers, top average sellers and with the more popular groups tells you how a total of weeks they've been on the charts. Its also current which makes it even better. I love reading about groups and their songs, also finding out what the number one songs were for each year.

If you are looking for something that is comprehensive in covering the music top 100, this is it!

This is the definitive book for the Billboard Hot 100 chart from 1955 thru 2006. Every charted song, every charted artist. The bible of the radio industry. Indexed by artist or song title....a great argument solver. I've been buying Joel Whitburn's books since the 70's.

If you need to know about the last half century of pop music, is necesary to buy this book because is all in one.

Let's get the obvious out of the way quickly. There is no competition for this data. If you want it, you must buy this book. Most record collectors and rock historians will want it. It contains a lot of good info. On the whole it's worth having but there are things that need improved or otherwise restructured.
Because of the following infirmities, I would not have replaced my 2 edition old copy if it weren't falling apart.

First, and in no order, I wonder why the practice of giving an estimated monetary value has disappeared. Like Osborne or anyone else putting that valuation out there, it was only an educated guess and not any guarantee. I don't remember seeing any explanation so without a valid one I want that feature returned.

Secondly, Joel, where did you learn how to alphabetize? You're methodology is seriously flawed. The book contains many of these erroniously alphabetized entries so let me just give just one example. There is a space between Van and Halen. To most working minds that indicates they are 2 words. Vangelis is one word. Since Van Halen is 2 words the proper location for it is with the rest of the Vans and NOT after Vangelis simply because the H in Halen is after g in the alphabet. I get irritated so often by this screw up. (Look at Nu Shooz coming after Numan if proper names throw you for a loop.)

Thirdly, and this is a biggie, you can't compile lists of the "best" or "longest" or "most", etc without a system to even out the playing field. Ever since the record companies de-emphasized the single, and radio stations became exceptionally gutless, the charts took a totally different complexion. Songs stay on the Hot 100 for many more more weeks than they ever would in the 50s, 60s, 70s for example. There's no way Nickleback stays on the charts twice as long as the Beatles in head to head competition but Whitburn would have you believe they would. This is because no system weighting the eras exists in the date presented. If Whitburn doesn't want to create one, then draw an educated line (say 1990) and create 2 separate lists. [The 5/3/08 Hot 100 has three songs with over 40 weeks on the chart, none of which (Caillat, Swift, Finger Eleven) are going to be radio staple three years from now or on later day compilation releases.] Yet they appear on the same list of longevity as any other era's songs. Radio just won't walk away from tried and worn songs because there is a dirth of new (and read good) releases so charts based upon airplay will be forever misleading. SEPARATE THEM.
While I'm on this misleading data roll, there should be an asterisk beside every double album sales amount in Whitburn's LP books. Since the RIAA gives 2 sales for a double the number of people buying these discs are only 1/2 the total. (This explains how "The Wall" has sold(?) more copies than the ubiquitous "Dark Side of the Moon.) The RIAA's purported logic behind this is that double albums are priced higher. Rarely are they priced double a single disc. Then there are those massive ego artists that build up their stats to make themselves look like bigger sellers. A great example of this as well as distorting other stats, so as to make him look better on one of Whitburn's lists, is the double live disc released years ago by Garth (I still don't make enough money) Brooks. He priced the double below the price of one and released it during a Billboard chart switch over period that added an extra few days to the week of release. Looks good on paper but it's a lie. Does Whitburn point that out? NO. Currently Brooks is at it again as are the Eagles. Brooks has a low priced double + DVD that Billboard is carrying at 5 million where in reality 2.5 have bought it and god knows most of them already own most of the songs so it's the DVD that is the driving force. Please point that out Joel. As for the Eagles, "Long Road out of Eden" is priced below the price of a single disc so the 7 million should become 3.5 based upon the RIAA's own explanation.

Quit resting on your laurels Joel and do some actual work instead of simply compliling data from a magazine. Then and only then will these books be worth the large price they carry.

Whitburn has abandoned his practice of listing only "Hot 100" titles, particularly songs from the late 1990s. Consider "Torn" by Natalie Imbruglia, which peaked at #42 on the Hot 100. Whitburn neglects this statistic altogether, but credits the song with 11 WEEKS AT #1 because it fared better on the "Hot 100 Airplay" chart. Its true Hot 100 position is nowhere to be found. This is misleading and is inconsistent with the methodology of previous editions.

As with most Whitburn updates, for the serious music collector, this book is essential but flawed.

wow this book is a great addition to my collection. no such book is available of the uk singles chart in such depth.it came second hand but look new thanks to all concerned.