"Cash Box Pop Hits 1952-1996" Book Coming in 2014

[HolidayGuy]

Joel Whitburn/Record Research plans to issue this book early next year:

www.recordresearch.com

For those unaware, Cash Box, at one time, was a main rival to Billboard. It ceased publication in late 1996.

There are chart archives online, but it will be nice to have a new reference book (I believe there had been one out some years back). In the 90s, there were some years that had more than just the one frozen chart week- i.e. in 1993, there were 12 weeks that a new chart wasn't published. And then in 1994, there were seven (things were better in 1995- just two).

Infamously, there was a No. 1 in the 90s that didn't even appear on the Hot 100- Wayne Newton's "The Letter." And, another infamous incident occurred when there was a murder tied to the chart (someone talking about how positions were bought- these were for non-major charts, apparently).

The company probably will put out other non-Billboard books in the future- i.e. Record Research, Variety charts, etc.

[Deleted]

The 50's Hot 100 charts book that is also coming out seems more interesting

[Deleted]

Just one small correction, the Cash Box chart book actually goes from 1952 to 1996.

[HolidayGuy]

^Thanks- for some reason, it looked like a 7 when I was typing.

I'm not sure how these were exactly compiled- I believe it was sales-based for a time, and then mixed airplay and sales data, a la Billboard. At times, there were some notable differences- i.e. tracks hitting No. 1 here that didn't on Billboard, and vice versa. As well as other portions of the chart. And there also were a bunch of singles that made the Cash Box 100 that didn't appear on the Hot 100 or Bubbling Under charts.

No chart compiler/system is flawless, and this gives another look at popular records in chart history. As said, this wasn't rinky-dink compiler; hence, why it's known as "The Legendary Cash Box Charts." :)

[WolfSpear]

Nov 7, 2013 22:45:21 GMT -5 @2m said:

The 50's Hot 100 charts book that is also coming out seems more interesting

Truth be told, I'd say the same thing.

I don't know, these non-Billboard books are interesting in a sense. Still wouldn't mind coverage on Latin Songs or even Mainstream Top 40...

[surreallife]

I have already ordered mine. I also have the "Record World" book that was released earlier this year. I like comparing Cashbox, Record World and Billboard. For many years Cashbox's charts were solely based on sales which makes an interesting comparison to Billboard.

I personally find Cashbox's year-end charts more accurate than Billboard's. They actually line up with the calendar year! So "You Light Up My Life" by Debby Boone was Billboard's #3 song of 1978 despite hitting #1 in October 1977. On Cashbox's year-end chart it was the #1 song of 1977 (which makes sense, it was a massive hit).

All the Cashbox charts are on the internet for free, so this book is just a nice summary of information that is already readily available.