New RR #101-#150 book out next month!

Yes, the book ONLY contains those songs that didn't chart on Billboard (and it WAS advertised as such). We simply didn't have the time nor the resources to print a book covering the entire chart (see the 4th paragraph in Joel's author's note).

Believe me, I'd love to see the full research some day (and I believe it'll eventually get done). But for now, we felt it important to get these new charted titles accounted for first.

But Paul--- this book shouldn't cost #50.00 for half of the songs. In my opinion it's a little steep.

Gordon, when I first saw the "official blurb" on this new book (BSN
maybe?), it was instantly apparent to me exactly what its contents were.
My bad for not including that link in my initial post. I didn't mean to give
you a bum steer, old buddy, but as Paul said, it ain't perfect, and there
was "full disclosure." Nonetheless, I'm sure Paul will "make it right", if you
expected different contents.

Bondy and djjohn, you are both very new to Pat's board. Therefore,
nothing personal, but your opinions don't carry much credibility with me
yet. All I can say is that I am *positive* that neither of you have ever
published a "research" book yourselves. Research takes *forever!!!*. One
of my best friends just published a 400-page book on 60's garage music.
It took him 21 *years!* And he, too, got some of these same "money grab"
comments, for his own $99.95 price. I saw what this guy went through
with fact-checking, etc. and I know those "money grab" "words were both
hurtful to him, are SO not true! Choose to pass on these books if you like,
but my lawyer just told me this week he's upped his fee to $300 an
*hour!*. Perspective, anyone? Guys, RR didn't just go through old Record
Worlds, and "cherry pick" the previously-RR-unpublished songs. You think
the "flip sides" of all these songs were also listed in the mag? No. RR came
up with them. You think the fact that "The Kings Ransom" was from
Allentown, PA was found in RW? No. RR dug it up. And that the 45 showed
no "apostrophe" for the word "Kings?" No. Again, RR. *That's* what takes
all the time to research. I also know first hand that RW's listed label and
catalog # info was, by far, the least accurate of all the trade mags. For
that, RR had to ignore whatever it saw and re-research it all, I'm sure.

Bondy and djjohn, I do not work for Record Research. And I assure you, I
have also had the occasional "issue" with RR over the years. John says that
he'd now have to use two books at times. I admit, it's not perfect. But at
least there IS a book now, to use in tandem. Like anything, I guess, folks
can choose to see things as "cup half full", or "cup half empty." I just felt
that your RR criticisms were unfair, in this case. Thanks for reading, and I
look forward to future posts from you both.

Edited by jimct

jimct wrote: I'm sure Paul will "make it right", if you expected different contents.

Well, I'm not sure how Paul can "make it right". I was expecting all the chart #'s. And yes, I did read the blurb but I thought that was just one of the advertised points, like ... "think of all the non-Billboard charting songs you'll find in THIS book because this is RW's charts!" I didn't think it meant it was the ONLY songs in the book.

Still, being a "glass half full" person, I'm glad the books came out and I'd still rather have them than not. But boy, would I have liked to see all the RW peaks!!!

It'll probably be a week before I receive these Record World books, so let me get a heads up on what to expect (what's in the book and what's missing). Are you saying:

... that the 101-150 book contains no songs that peaked in Billboard's Bubbling Under charts and HOT 100? What if they peaked in the AC, R&B or country books?

... the top 100 book contains no songs that peaked in Billboard's Hot 100 or Bubbling Under? ... or country or AC or country or rock charts?

Can there be many top 5 hits in the Record World top 100 book at all? I can't even imagine there'd be any top 10 RW hits that didn't make at least #100 or #125 in Billboard... (other than an occasional obvious payola record.... Didn't we see Wayne Newton or someone had a top 5 pop hit in the 1982 (!) in Cashbox or Radio & Records?)

UPDATE: Unless it was a typo like ABBA'S "When All Is Said and Done", in Cashbox Wayne reached #1 in 1992 (!) with a single on Curb Records. Hmmmm :) I don't remember that one.

Edited by EdisonLite

Gordon, here's what's in the books.

The original Hit Records 1954-82 book contains EVERYTHING that charted on the Music Vendor/Record World Top 100 charts, even if it also hit Billboard (the ones that never charted in Billboard are marked with a special symbol, and there are lots of those too). The only real caveat to that statement is if the same song was done by multiple artists, then we only researched the first title listed each week. This was quite common during the 1950s, with all the different cover versions. Unlike Billboard, MV/RW lumped all versions together, with the most popular version listed first.

The Hit Records #101-150 book ONLY contains those titles that did not get a peak position on either the Billboard Hot 100 or Bubbling Under charts. There are LOTS of titles that hit Billboard's R&B, Country, AC, etc and those ARE included in the book.

I hope that clears things up for you.

If you have any other questions/concerns, please feel free to PM me or give me a call at Record Research. We want satisfied customers!

Edited by Paul Haney