Chicago Top 40 Charts 1980-1990

Rating:
Summary: Third in a recommended set
Review: Ron Smith's third volume in his highly-recommended set of Chicago chart books, following the 1960-1969 and 1970-1979 volumes. Again, though, I've given this must-have book four stars for one striking omission. Smith does identify every tune to reach Chicago's WLS weekly music survey through the end of the charts in mid-1990 by title and artist, along with the debut and peak dates, highest position reached and weeks on the survey, along with the top songs of each year and the entire decade. What is missing is a listing of the number ones week-by-week or at the very least some indication of how many weeks a given number one hit spent at the top. Still, this is an essential reference for those whose interest in the charts extends beyond merely the national Hot 100. Here's hoping that some other people with access to source material get the same idea and do similar works on some of the other regional markets.