Product guide

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.

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.

Price

£24.99Save 22%

Reference price: ~~£32.00~~

Price checked: 14 Nov 2026

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Often bought together

The Virgin Book of British Hit Singles: Volume 2

£30.33

The Virgin Book of British Hit Albums

£37.51

Pros and cons

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.

Technical specifications

12 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.

What to know before buying

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.

Who is it for?

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 reviews on Amazon

4.6 / 5 · 142 ratings

5 stars76%76%
4 stars16%16%
3 stars6%6%
2 stars0%0%
1 star2%2%

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.
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.