Re: [ARSCLIST] Billboard Charts

[David Lewis <davlew@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

In the 1924 edition of the Rainbow Records catalogue, Homer Rodeheaver
listed the top selling 20 records or so from the label. Judging from the
frequency of certain surviving Rainbows versus the lack of it for others, I
think his list is pretty accurate. Of course, that's one person, reporting
from data collected from his own sales records kept on his own label.
Considerably different from what Billboard was trying to do.

The "Columbia D Series" discography does contain sales figures on many 1920s
records.

David N. Lewis
Assistant Classical Editor, All Music Guide
1168 Oak Valley Dr.
Ann Arbor, MI 48108
734 887 8145
 
My life is the clearest proof that if you have talent, determination and
luck, you will make it in the end: Never Give Up. - Sir Georg Solti

-----Original Message-----
From: Association for Recorded Sound Discussion List
[mailto:ARSCLIST@xxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Andrew Brown
Sent: Wednesday, June 21, 2006 4:05 PM
To: ARSCLIST@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Re: [ARSCLIST] Billboard Charts

Billboard magazine began "charting the hits" starting with the October 12, 
1935 issue. This was planned as a feature within a new section entitled 
"Weekly Music Notes." Below the headline "10 Best Records," the explanation 
was given that these charts represented "ten 'best sellers' for automatic 
phonograph operators reported this week by record firms. These weekly 
reports enable the operator to check on the very latest hits. Due to the 
rush in starting the music department, the list is naturally incomplete this

week." The lists were grouped by label (10 best sellers for Bluebird, 10 
best on Brunswick, etc) and divided under separate "Chicago List" and "New 
York" lists.

My question is: was this the earliest known attempt to "chart" the best 
selling records, or do earlier examples exist, e.g. in magazines like 
Talking Machine World?

--Andrew Brown