UPDATE: This series was completed between Feb 2022 and June 2023. Subscriptions are now closed, and so subscription details are removed. However, you can still purchase either a single issue or a decade, using the details below.
I am delighted to announce the launch of a new book series – 70 Years Of The UK Singles Charts.
Each volume covers a full calendar year with one each from 1952 to 2022.
In December 2018 I began to rebuild my database with precisely this anniversary in mind and now, three years later, the database is ready to launch the series. After 70 years and 60,000 charting records (in the full Top 200 where appropriate) this year’s anniversary is a point I was never going to miss.
Each issue will include a full chart history for that year, but will also include a wealth of other information derived from the database. Each book includes some brand new information, never before calculated in this level of detail.
- Chart History
- As appropriate, chart rule changes are highlighted. It’s not always easy to know what was and was not allowed and sometimes odd records appear and then vanish, so this section will bring together as much information as possible about how the charts were compiled at the time.
- Milestones
- These are a listing of the important chart changes, such as frozen weeks, chart size changes, etc.
- Chart Age
- A new metric, looking at the average age of each week’s chart. This is found by adding up the weeks on chart column and dividing by how many records are present. This has been calculated to answer the question ‘What is the age of this week’s chart?’ and ‘Is this the youngest/oldest chart?’ Only the Top 130 and Bottom 130 chart weeks are shown as we have about 3650 chart weeks from 1952 to 2022 .
- Number 1’s
- Number 1 lists are always shown in books about the UK charts, but this listing is different as it will showcase an image of the record cover for the first time.
- The Top 500 Artists
- One of the things I enjoyed twenty years ago was buying the new Guinness Book Of British Hit Singles and looking at where my favourite artists had moved to in the list of Top artists. Each issue will present a list of the artists and their ranking to date, with where the artist was on the previous years’ listing. Equally, from 1960 decade listings will be presented showing where the artists line up per decade.
- Full Chart History
- As usual, the full chart history will be presented in alphabetical order by artist showing entry date, weeks on chart, peak position, title, composers, b-side, label, catalogue number and duration. From 1973 the BPI awards will also be shown. Full listings showcase all re-entries, even if the record only dropped off the chart for one week.
- The Annual
- This is a listing of the records by peak position within the year, and shows all records that charted during the calendar year. This listing type has been created for the USA, but not for the UK.
- Weekly Charts
- The full weekly charts are presented here, so that readers can see in full the accurate and complete charts for each week.
- The Hit Log
- This is also something never before published – a listing of all records to chart but in the order in which they first entered the charts, together with a picture of the entry.
- BPI Awards (from 1973) / Disc Awards (for 1959-1973)
- The BPI began listing awards for records from 1973 and these are now listed alongside the chart entries and weekly charts, showing the highest award granted to that point. A listing is also presented of the awards by award date here, using the best available information to assign full details to the records. Disc also listed awards and these are also included.
Sample
A sample of the 1953 volume – with low quality images to reduce file size – is attached here.
I also attach here a link to view a sample from 1961. You can therefore see how the issues evolve. Please note that some of the features below are unique to the 1960’s decade, due to the nature of the chart at the time.
Free Gifts!
At the end of each decade subscribers to that decade will receive a copy of the decade series book associated with that decade at no extra cost.
Purchasing
There are numerous ways to purchase:
You can use the buttons below to purchase a set of issues (broken down by decade). Each decade costs £25 (1950’s decade costs £20 and the final ‘decade’ of 2020, 2021 and 2022 costs £7.50) and subscribers will get a free gift at the end of their decade subscription (Subscribers to the 2020 Decade set will not get a free gift for those three years).
Finally, you can opt to purchase individual years at £4 each. These do not come with any free gifts.
Order by Decade
The 1950’s (Covering 1952-1959) (Costs £20 and consists of 8 issues and free gift of the Decade Series volume for this decade.)
The 1960’s (Covering 1960-1969) (Costs £25 and consists of 10 issues and free gift of the Decade Series volume for this decade.)
The 1970’s (Covering 1970-1979) (Costs £25 and consists of 10 issues and free gift of the Decade Series volume for this decade.)
The 1980’s (Covering 1980-1989) (Costs £25 and consists of 10 issues and free gift of the Decade Series volume for this decade.)
The 1990’s (Covering 1990-1999) (Costs £25 and consists of 10 issues and free gift of the Decade Series volume for this decade.)
The 2000’s (Covering 2000-2009) (Costs £25 and consists of 10 issues released weekly – issue dates in the table below – and free gift of the Decade Series volume for this decade.)
The 2010’s (Covering 2010-2019) (Costs £25 and consists of 10 issues released weekly – issue dates in the table below – and free gift of the Decade Series volume for this decade.)
The 2020’s (Covering 2020-2022) (Costs £7.50 and consists of 3 issues released weekly – issue dates in the table below)
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Final Notes
I reserve the right to amend the dates above so that issues may be released later than the dates given. Notice will endeavour to be given of any delay, but sometimes issues arise outside my control that may mean notice is not possible.
In the event of significant delay (i.e. more than one calendar month) options will be discussed with individuals affected.
If purchasing a single issue in advance, notice will be provided via email to acknowledge that the payment has been made and the issue will be delivered on the date listed above. Please note that the issue will be provided in line with the caveat above in relation to delays.
Those wishing to cancel their subscription can do so, but no refunds will given for issues provided.
It is the customers responsibility to ensure they provide an email address that can receive email attachments as issues are provided as email attachments. Whilst every attempt will be made to contact, no refunds will be made for incorrect email addresses. However, subscriptions will be cancelled so further payments will not be taken beyond the initial payment.