# The Virgin Book of Top 40 Charts

The Virgin Book of Top 40 Charts collects UK singles chart entries from 1960 onwards, with a history of charts before 1960. It is a substantial reference for looking up chart positions and the records, artists and labels behind them.

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- Market: UK
- Language: en-GB
- Currency: GBP
- Category: Books, Music & Hobbies > Books, Music & Movies > Books & Comics
- Price: 24.99 GBP
- Previous price: 32.00 GBP
- Discount: 22%
- Price checked: 2026-11-14T09:49:43.773Z
- Rating: 4.6 / 5
- Reviews: 142

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## At a glance

- Lists Top 40 singles charts from 1960 onwards, alongside a history of pre-1960s charts.
- Entries include song title, act, record label and total weeks on the chart.
- The listing says the chart data comes from the Official Charts Company.
- At 1,056 pages and 1.53 kg, this is a sizeable reference book rather than a light, compact guide.

## Pros

- The extensive chart-by-chart coverage can help readers trace changes in chart performance over time.
- Listing both the act and record label with each song makes the entries more useful for music research than a title-only list.
- Customer feedback describes the book as a comprehensive and useful reference, including for finding chart-topping songs to build playlists.

## Cons

- Its 1.53 kg listed weight may make it less convenient to carry than a slim music guide.

## Specifications

### Publication
- Publisher: Virgin Books
- Publication date: 5 Nov. 2009
- Language: English
- Print length: 1056 pages
- ISBN-10: 0753522004
- ISBN-13: 978-0753522004
### Dimensions and installation
- Weight listed: 1.53 kg
- Dimensions: 15.5 x 5.5 x 23.3 cm
### Coverage and contents
- Chart coverage: With every Top 40 singles chart from 1960 to the present day
- Earlier chart history: a detailed history of the pre-1960s charts
- Listed for each single: the song title, act, record label and total number of weeks on chart
- Data attribution: Published using data from the Official Charts Company.

## Before you buy

- The description says coverage runs from 1960 to the present day, but the book was published on 5 Nov. 2009. Treat the coverage wording as applying to the edition's publication period and check the edition if you need later chart years.

## A good fit for

- Music fans researching UK singles chart history.
- Readers looking up songs, artists, labels and chart longevity from individual weekly charts.
- People seeking a substantial reference for chart-themed playlists or music trivia.

## Less suited to

- Readers who need chart data published after this 2009 edition.
- Buyers looking for a light, portable book rather than a 1,056-page reference.

## Customer feedback

Customer feedback highlights the book as a comprehensive, useful chart reference, with a specific mention of its weekly Top 40 listings and its use for finding number-one singles for playlists. That makes the detail relevant to readers researching chart history or assembling music lists. Ratings are mostly in the higher star categories, though a small share are lower, and ratings alone do not indicate why readers differed.
- Positive themes: Customer feedback describes the book as a comprehensive reference and values its detailed weekly chart content.
- Positive themes: One reported use is finding number-one singles to create playlists.

## Frequently asked questions

### What chart years does the book cover?
The listing describes every Top 40 singles chart from 1960 to the present day and includes a detailed history of pre-1960s charts. It was published in 2009, so do not assume it covers charts after that edition's publication.
### What information is given for each single?
The description says entries include the song title, act, record label and total number of weeks on the chart.
### Is this a portable reference?
It is a substantial 1,056-page book with a listed weight of 1.53 kg, so it is better suited to reference use than frequent carrying.
### What do customers report about the book?
Customer feedback praises its breadth and usefulness as a chart reference, including for finding number-one singles for playlists. The aggregate ratings are generally favourable, but they do not establish how current the edition's chart coverage is.

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## Add-ons

- [The Virgin Book of British Hit Singles: Volume 2](https://bargainpostbox.co.uk/visit/virgin-book-top-40-charts)
- [The Virgin Book of British Hit Albums](https://bargainpostbox.co.uk/visit/virgin-book-top-40-charts)

## Images

![The Virgin Book of Top 40 Charts — 1](https://bargainpostbox.co.uk/i/k-__ndUWM-Dr3n1QiojrVCSdiKfkLooRqmpO01KG5NcqDNs3dIwmc5hdI85sPyz5xTrWnqIKkPXEJWdHkAgtvIBeik2EtpPyWzBT9Z1YAe8aqEHtX6Pl.jpg)