- Paperback: 720 pages
- Publisher: Guinness World Records Limited; 20Rev Ed edition (2 Jun 2006)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 1904994105
- ISBN-13: 978-1904994107
- Product Dimensions: 26 x 19.4 x 4.4 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
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Amazon Bestsellers Rank:
206,503 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #49 in Books > Reference > Consumer Guides > Music
- #75 in Books > Reference > Almanacs & Yearbooks > Almanacs
- See Complete Table of Contents
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More About the Author
Product Description
New Musical Express
Almost as indispensable as NME
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Product Description
Over 2.5 million copies sold to date. Universally recognised and respected by the public as the official publisher of the UK charts. The must have gift purchase for any music fan. What's new? No. 1s timeline; at a glance guide to No. 1 singles and albums day by day, top 10s from key dates in recent history, top 100 albums of all time - the ultimate pop poll as voted by readers of BHS&A and NMW.com. We reveal the true history of singles and albums sales since the 1950s.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
37 of 38 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This is the 19th edition (next year marks the 30th anniversary of the first) of the UK pop chartwatcher's "bible". These days it no longer has the field to itself, but for all the historical information you're likely to need, in a clear, easy to read style, in one volume, and at a reasonable price, this is still The One to get.
They have tinkered slightly with the layout of the main listings this year. Artist headings and albums are now printed in a fetching shade of blood orange, to give a better contrast with the biographical information and singles. The albums are now mixed in with the singles, to give one chronological list for each act.
At the foot of each page runs a "No 1s timeline" to show every week's No 1 single and album from the start in November 1952 (album chart started July 1956) and the end of last year. The usual review of last year is at the start of the book and the index of song titles at the end; dotted throughout the main A-Z listings are numerous featurettes (eg Oscar-winning songs) of doubtful importance but fascinating, none the less.
Paper, print quality and overall clarity are the usual high standard and if last year's volume fitted on your bookshelf this one will also - at 720 pages it has just two more!
It could be argued that, in the face of declining music sales and the availability of much of the information over the internet (at a price), the relevance of this yearly publication is also diminishing. However, its strength lies in its historical depth:- most people hear songs on the radio and can't remember who they were, or wonder how old they were, (and DJs and presenters aren't and never have been very informative when you want them to be). This book provides the quickest way of finding out; it has also been known to settle arguments. It may no longer be the essential purchase it once was, but it is still highly useful, and all-round, it is still the best.
They have tinkered slightly with the layout of the main listings this year. Artist headings and albums are now printed in a fetching shade of blood orange, to give a better contrast with the biographical information and singles. The albums are now mixed in with the singles, to give one chronological list for each act.
At the foot of each page runs a "No 1s timeline" to show every week's No 1 single and album from the start in November 1952 (album chart started July 1956) and the end of last year. The usual review of last year is at the start of the book and the index of song titles at the end; dotted throughout the main A-Z listings are numerous featurettes (eg Oscar-winning songs) of doubtful importance but fascinating, none the less.
Paper, print quality and overall clarity are the usual high standard and if last year's volume fitted on your bookshelf this one will also - at 720 pages it has just two more!
It could be argued that, in the face of declining music sales and the availability of much of the information over the internet (at a price), the relevance of this yearly publication is also diminishing. However, its strength lies in its historical depth:- most people hear songs on the radio and can't remember who they were, or wonder how old they were, (and DJs and presenters aren't and never have been very informative when you want them to be). This book provides the quickest way of finding out; it has also been known to settle arguments. It may no longer be the essential purchase it once was, but it is still highly useful, and all-round, it is still the best.
35 of 37 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This fantastic book is an absolute must for music lovers of all ages. Packed with information regarding the UK music charts, "British Hit Singles and Albums" leaves no stone unturned. As well as listing every single and album to have entered the charts since 1952 and 1956 respectively, this book gives you each single and album's peak chart position, total weeks spent on chart, date of entry, catalogue number, record label... I am in absolute awe of Guinness. How much effort must go into creating these beautiful paving slabs every year?
And this edition is the biggest slab yet, containing 720 pages and having grown to a larger height than usual. This, of course, has permitted the inclusion of a multitude of special features, such as various artists' Top 10 singles and albums, chart milestones, a "Body Parts Chart", the "Pop Premier League" (giving football clubs all over the UK a chance to shine as pop stars), the customary pop review of the year, and most notably, the extensive section at the back of the book celebrating 1000 UK no. 1 singles.
The information you desire is clearly laid out and, consequently, is easy to find. Guinness have painstakingly added up each act's total weeks on the UK singles and albums charts and have constructed a Top 500 list of acts according to their totals, so in addition to simply discovering everything you will ever need to know about a certain single or album, you will also find a biography of those acts making it into this Top 500. The Top 100 acts are listed in all their glory over two pages in the book, and I could not help but be astounded at the incredible chart week totals clocked up by Elvis Presley and Cliff Richard, as well as the Beatles, Queen, Michael Jackson, Abba and U2 to name but a few.
In my opinion, "British Hit Singles and Albums" reigns supreme over its fairly new rivals, and if there is one book that I swear by as a music lover, this is certainly it.
18 of 20 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This fantastic book is an absolute must for music lovers of all ages. Packed with information regarding the UK music charts, "British Hit Singles and Albums" leaves no stone unturned. As well as listing every single and album to have entered the charts since 1952 and 1956 respectively, this book gives you each single and album's peak chart position, total weeks spent on chart, date of entry, catalogue number, record label... I am in absolute awe of Guinness. How much effort must go into creating these beautiful paving slabs every year?
And this edition is one of the biggest slabs yet, containing 720 pages and having grown to a larger height than usual. This, of course, has permitted the inclusion of a multitude of special features, such as the customary pop review of the year, Oscar-winning songs, artists with the most UK no. 1 albums, a celebratory page dedicated to the 30th anniversary of the first punk hit by the notorious Sex Pistols, and much more besides.
The information you desire is clearly laid out and, consequently, is easy to find. Guinness have painstakingly added up each act's total weeks on the UK singles and albums charts and have constructed a Top 500 list of acts according to their totals, so in addition to simply discovering everything you will ever need to know about a certain single or album, you will also find a biography of those acts making it into this Top 500. The Top 100 acts are listed in all their glory over two pages in the book, and I could not help but be astounded at the incredible chart week totals clocked up by Elvis Presley and Cliff Richard, as well as the Beatles, Queen, Michael Jackson, Abba and U2 to name but a few.
In my opinion, "British Hit Singles and Albums" reigns supreme over its fairly new rivals, and if there is one book that I swear by as a music lover, this is certainly it.
And this edition is one of the biggest slabs yet, containing 720 pages and having grown to a larger height than usual. This, of course, has permitted the inclusion of a multitude of special features, such as the customary pop review of the year, Oscar-winning songs, artists with the most UK no. 1 albums, a celebratory page dedicated to the 30th anniversary of the first punk hit by the notorious Sex Pistols, and much more besides.
The information you desire is clearly laid out and, consequently, is easy to find. Guinness have painstakingly added up each act's total weeks on the UK singles and albums charts and have constructed a Top 500 list of acts according to their totals, so in addition to simply discovering everything you will ever need to know about a certain single or album, you will also find a biography of those acts making it into this Top 500. The Top 100 acts are listed in all their glory over two pages in the book, and I could not help but be astounded at the incredible chart week totals clocked up by Elvis Presley and Cliff Richard, as well as the Beatles, Queen, Michael Jackson, Abba and U2 to name but a few.
In my opinion, "British Hit Singles and Albums" reigns supreme over its fairly new rivals, and if there is one book that I swear by as a music lover, this is certainly it.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
Much missed, with no US equivalent
I hold with any of the most positive reviews here. The crucial ingredient is the understanding that singles and albums represent the whole picture of popular music (too bad the EPs... Read more
Published 1 day ago by paul pirate
Guinness Hit Singles RIP
It's a great pity this excellent reference work is no longer produced, I can't imagine why.
It has all the correct info about re-issues, remixes, chart re-entries and... Read more
It has all the correct info about re-issues, remixes, chart re-entries and... Read more
Published 12 months ago by Robert Hitchcock
Beware of buying second hand books!
I bought the above book a few months ago from one of the second-hand book market-sellers. The condition of the book was described as 'good'. Read more
Published 17 months ago by E. L. Stoney
When is the next being released?
This book is amazing. It's been four years since the last one, when is the next edition coming out??
Published 20 months ago by Rob Thompson
British Hit singles
Very Very good book for Quiz's etc. I am 72 I did get the early ones, I have always been interested in these books, brilliant thankyou.
Published 23 months ago by Mrs. NA REDMAN
Music Mad Son, Christmas present
This was exactly what my son wanted. It will be perused from cover to cover until it falls apart! excellent value.
Published on 9 May 2010 by Snowflake
Book contents was GREAT but the packaging wasn't
I bought this for my Dads birthday, Couldn't find it anywhere else except on here (RRP £18.99 and we paid roughly £100). Read more
Published on 6 July 2009 by C. M. Holman
Overpriced
As much as I enjoy looking at who's who in music, £49.99 is way over the top. I'll buy it in bargain books next year for less than £10
Published on 7 April 2009 by Mr. D. Maughan
A bible for all music and chart fans - massively useful
Barcode: 9781904994107
I've lost track of how many times i've dipped in and out of the this book for information. Read more
I've lost track of how many times i've dipped in and out of the this book for information. Read more
Published on 22 Feb 2008 by L. Green
why cant u buy this in the shops
haveing to buy this book online could not buy it in no shops in town where i live cant understand why the book shops dont sell this they couldent even order it had to buy it online... Read more
Published on 15 Feb 2008 by paul miles
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