Number One Songs - The First Twenty Years - 1956 - 1975 by Larry Irons is a unique look at all the songs that reached the number one position on the Billboard charts between 1956 and 1975. What makes this book so unique, is that it is written in poem form, and is a personal, informative, historical and at times humorous look at the 436 songs, in order, by year, that made it to number one in Billboard during rock and roll's formative years.
It begins in 1956 when Billboard still used a three chart system: Most Songs Sold In Stores; Most Airplay; and Most Played On Jukeboxes. In November of that year it evolved into the Top 100, and from there to what we still know today: The Hot 100. This chart was made up of songs from many genres, including jazz, soul, R&B, blues, gospel, standards, rock and roll and country. The radio format known as Top 40, was simply the 40 songs from number 1 to number 40 on this chart.
From the first number one song in 1956, "Memories Are Made Of This", by Dean Martin, to 1975's "Let's Do It Again" by The Staple Singers, Number One Songs - The First Twenty Years is an entertaining, memory evoking journey through the greatest hits of all time.
The book has been endorsed by many in both radio and record promotion, including Steve Resnik, Co-Founder of RAMP (a daily newsletter for Radio And Music Professionals); Dave Sholin, former Top 40 editor of the Gavin Report and former Music/Program Director of KFRC San Francisco; Guy Zapoleon, Senior VP with iHeartMedia; Jon Zellner, Senior VP Programming with iHeartMedia; Sean Ross, RossOnRadio Newsletter; Mike Huckabee, Fox News Host, former governor of Arkansas and former disc jockey; and Mike Martucci, former VP with Roulette Records.
"Larry Irons' book is a wonderful look back at the Top 40 songs I grew up with and played on my radio show. As a radio station music survey collector myself,Number One Songs - The First Twenty Years is a must have for anybody who loves rock and roll."
"In the ‘60s and ‘70s, rock and roll’s No. 1 hits had something to say, and Larry Irons finds something to say about all of them. A massive labor of love." - Sean Ross, “Ross On Radio” newsletter
"Larry Irons has given us a gift. It’s the gift of an incredibly brilliant and creative poem that takes us through those 20 years of number one songs and in doing so, reminds us of the music, the mood, and the movements that were our lives. This is a great and pleasurable read for music fans of all ages as Larry puts you in the passenger seat and lets you live the best music of a generation—the music that made it to number one on the charts. His unique way of tracing the songs in one amazing poem is absolutely entertaining in itself, but if you don’t wax nostalgic as you travel with Larry down this road, then you either didn’t live during that time, or just can’t appreciate the role music played in shaping America. Buy a copy—you’ll love it. Buy several more—your friends will thank you for sharing it with them. And buckle up and take a spin with Larry Irons through the memories of our music!"
"Number One Songs - The First Twenty Years", a poem by Larry Irons, is an informative, insightful, humorous and all together pleasurable read. Grab a copy and relive the birth of rock and roll in 1956, to the start of the disco era in 1975. It's a memorable look at all the number one songs from those years from the Billboard Hot 100 chart. I highly recommend it!"
