Featured In
New release
The Ultimate Country book
Country is back and better than ever
Shop Our Best Sellers
The Record Research Story
A lifetime spent preserving the heartbeat of the charts.
Founded by Joel Whitburn, Record Research has spent over half a century documenting every chart, every hit, and every artist that shaped popular music. It is the definitive source for chart data. From collectors and DJs to historians and music superfans, Record Research remains the trusted authority on music-chart research. Music Isn’t Just Data. It’s Memory. Behind every song is a story worth keeping.
240
Books Published
135+
Years Researched
1970
Joel’s creation of chart data becomes the foundation for a new kind of music reference book.
1980s
Collaborations with Billboard Books, Hal Leonard, & Rhino Records produce the "Top 40 Hits" series, sheet music, & 159 "Top Hits" music compilations.
Today
Record Research continues to preserve chart history for collectors, researchers, libraries, & music fans.
Our Story
Joel Whitburn at the desk where chart history became a reference library.
WHY THE BOOKS MATTER
A Better Way to Own the History.
Shop by the way you collect.
GUESTBOOK
Welcome to the wall — approved notes will appear here after you add them to the Guestbook Signatures collection.
Jon from the archive desk
Record Research
This is my family's favorite book to look at when we are hanging out or discussing new music! Thank you for all the memories
Ken
Top Pop Singles 1990-2022
I bought my first Top Country Singles 1944-1988 back in 1989. Everytime a new Country Edition was published I bought one. As I host a weekly Country Radio Program the book contains valuable information. Thank you for publishing.
Frick
Top Country Singles 1944-1988
The Record Research books have always been my go-to bibles ever since I started collecting records at the age of 13. I got my very first Top 40 chart book when I was 14 and was hooked. Other kids were reading "Sweet Valley High" and I was reading the chart history of my records and the artists who sang them. These books have been extremely valuable to me over the years as my collection has grown! I've now got all the major Record Research titles and I've used them not only to learn the chart data, but also to find song titles and settle the occasional argument over whether a certain song went to number one or not. So the Record Research books are an important part of my collection!
Kimberly
So excited to receive the New Country Top Singles book. I could not order it fast enough. I so look forward to reading all the new updates since the 1944-2017 book
Robert
Top Country Singles 1955-2025
Your note is sent for review first. Approved notes are added to the wall!