Customer Reviews
bible of pop - By: , 15 Feb 2005 
the best got even better. despite attempts to copy the format, this blows alll competitors out of the water. best layout, best info, best photos.....forget the rest, stick with the best...
Worth the money! - By: CJ, 14 Jan 2005 This is the third book of this series that i own & the reason that its so much better than previous editions is because it now features both the single & album listings, giving you each artists complete discography in the one book! This obviously means that the Guinness Book now includes many more album-based artists that weren't placed highly in previous editions, & therefore definately gives a better overview of the real music industry, especiallly due to album sales seemingly taking over at the moment! It makes a start with a Top 10 Dvds list which will probably be made more prominent in future editions due to increasing sales, gives chronological lists of alll number one albums since the 1950s, & also gives information on top selling film soundtracks, stage musicals & much much more!
If you've ever been interested in music releases or ever asked someone "what was that song callled?" then this is the book for you!
Two for the price of one - By: , 08 Aug 2004 I've bought numerous previous hit singles books & a few hit albums too. But putting them in one book is much easier. Plenty of extra info, well worth the money.
POP Bible just got bigger than life! - By: MBC, 08 Jun 2004 The 17th edition proudly states: "Two Books In One Volume" & believe me, you get 10 for the price of one (even if you order from outside EU & get severely taxed like me!). This edition FINALLY features the albums which are listed in red right after the singles for every act which is different than I thought but it works better!
This is surely the best chart book in the world in a beautiful green cover & for the first time it doesn't bring any negative surprises but the joy of a "smart buy" feeling. Enjoy!
The original, and still the best - By: Mr. R. B. Ager, 05 Jun 2004 This "bible" of facts on the pop charts from their inception to date used to have the field to itself & its publication every two years was eagerly awaited. Recently it has had competition, this year from two other publishers, & in response it has become an annual issue and, this year, they have added in album chart details (there used to be a separate Albums book, last issued eight years ago).
This means that the book increases in size by some 160 pages; they have not, however, compromised on paper or print quality, & although this does mean that it is quite a weighty tome it is no heavier than, say, the Radio Times Guide to Films, & should fit snugly on most bookshelves.
They have not altered the layout of the listings, which are clear & concise. For each artist/band the singles are listed first in black & then the albums in red; I suppose there may be a slight problem for anyone who is colour-blind but the print used is bold & I would say that it's as good as you're going to get. Only artist albums have been included, not various artist compilations such as "Now", although there are lists of the No 1 compilations & those based on TV shows & soundtracks.
As usual the top 500 chart acts are flagged, & a short description of them given. Because albums are included this time some famous names previously excluded from this "club" have been catapulted in; for example it now includes Led Zeppelin & James Last!
The only change in format is that the features & extra statistical information that used to be at the front of the book is now scattered throughout; this does help break up any artistic monotony one might feel the listings pages have.
All in alll it's still the best reference work for those thousands of us who have an interest in the pop charts, who take part in or compile fiendishly obscure quizzes, or who can't remember when Wendy Richard was No 1 (with Mike Sarne) & want to satisfy their curiosity.
