Product Overview
The Essential Reference Guide to Americas Most Popular Songs and Artists Spanning More than Fifty Years of Music
Beginning with Bill Haley & His Comets seminal Rock Around the Clock all the way up to Lady Gaga and her glammed-out Poker face, this updated and unparalleled resource contains the most complete chart information on every artist and song to hit Billboards Top 40 pop singles chart all the way back to 1955. Inside, youll find all of the biggest-selling, most-played hits for the past six decades. Each alphabetized artist entry includes biographical info, the date their single reached the Top 40, the songs highest position, and the number of weeks on the charts, as well as the original record label and catalog number. Other sectionssuch as Record Holders, Top Artists by Decade, and #1 Singles 1955-2009make The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits the handiest and most indispensable music reference for record collectors, trivia enthusiasts, industry professionals and pop music fans alike.
Did you know?
Beyoncs 2003 hit Crazy in Love spent 24 weeks in the Top 40 and eight of them in the #1 spot.
Billy Idol has had a total of nine Top 40 hits over his career, the last being Cradle of Love in 1990.
Of Madonnas twelve #1 hits, her 1994 single Take a Bow held the spot the longest, for seven weeksone week longer than her 1984 smash Like a Virgin.
Marvin Gayes song Sexual Healing spent 15 weeks at #3 in 1982, while the same song was #1 on the R&B chart for 10 weeks.
Male vocal group Boyz II Men had three of the biggest chart hits of all time during the 1990s.
The Grateful Dead finally enjoyed a Top 10 single in 1987 after 20 years of touring.
Janet Jackson has scored an impressive 39 Top 40 hitsone more than her megastar brother Michael!
