Discusses the popular hit singles that never reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100, offering a history of each song and commenting on its significance in the history of pop music.

The Essential Reference Guide to America’s 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 Billboard’s Top 40 pop singles chart all the way back to 1955. Inside, you’ll 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 song’s highest position, and the number of weeks on the charts, as well as the original record label and catalog number. Other sections—such as “Record Holders,” “Top Artists by Decade,” and “#1 Singles 1955-2009”—make 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? • Beyoncé’s 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 Madonna’s twelve #1 hits, her 1994 single “Take a Bow” held the spot the longest, for seven weeks—one week longer than her 1984 smash “Like a Virgin.” • Marvin Gaye’s 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 hits—one more than her megastar brother Michael!

Music industry pros and legions of fans wanting to know more about their favorite artists will find authoritative answers in this indispensable reference source.

The Billboard Guide to Writing and Producing Songs that Sell unveils the secrets to climbing the charts and reaching success in today’s ultracompetitive music industry. Eric Beall supplies his firsthand knowledge of today’s record business, as well as interviews with successful writers, producers, and executives from the worlds of pop, hip-hop, country, adult contemporary, and R&B. The result: a proven approach to constructing songs that open doors, create careers, and communicate to listeners around the world. Key areas explored include: •How does a song become a hit? •What makes a song a single? •Is there a formula for creating a hit? Fun and practical exercises provide opportunities to hone skills and expose specific talents, helping songwriters combine their unique voices to the demands of the commercial marketplace. Filled with fresh ideas that will spark beginners and veterans alike, this book will lead the way toward the industry’s ultimate challenge: the creation of that chart-topping hit song.

Documents the history of rhythm and blues music by examining every song to top the Billboard R & B singles chart between 1965 and 1990 and offers inside stories from the singers, musicians, songwriters, arrangers, and producers who created the hits.

Every artist of the rock & roll era who had only one single in the Top 40, covering songs from the 50s to the 80s.

The updated edition of the only chart book that lists both singles and albums in one volume. A new 'statistics' section has been added to include most number ones, most top ten hits, most weeks at number one, most weeks in the chart, one hit wonders and much more.

A descriptive list of top 40 hits with information on the performers, the names of their hits, number of weeks on the charts, and accompanying record labels.

From Arctic Monkeys and ABBA to the Zutons and Ziggy Stardust, from 'Anarchy in the UK' to 'Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah' - and over 30,000 hit singles in between - this collector's must-have contains everything you could possibly want to know about every single to reach the charts since 1952. Packed full of charts, lists, facts and timelines as well as up-to-date information, extensive cross references and analysis from Martin Roach this is the perfect book for music buffs, downloaders glued to iPods and budding Mark Ronsons. This new edition, previously published by Guinness World Records, is the first to be published under the Virgin brand with a whole new look. With new feature material covering a huge range of areas, bands and history from industry-insider Martin Roach, it's an essential part of any serious music fan's collection.

In this comprehensive artist-by-artist listing, you'll find the more than 2,200 artists and 17,800 songs that debuted on Billboard's country singles charts from 1944-2001. Not only does it cover the complete chart careers of legendary country greats such as Johnny Cash, Tammy Wynette, Merle Haggard, Waylon Jennings, Alan Jackson, Garth Brooks and Reba McEntire, it also introduces fresh country voices like Brad Paisley, Rascal Flatts, Cyndi Thomson, Tammy Cochran, Chris Cagle, Phil Vassar and Trick Pony. This unique country compilation is a priceless gold mine of stats and facts, all presented in a handy, easy-to-use format!