New logo & site updates

While I'm unable to give a definitive date, I think we are getting close to rolling out a site update to the paid database. The update won't be drastic, but it will have a better design and added fields that we will be working to add information. When the update rolls out, the new fields will likely be blank until we have a chance to do a lot of data entry, but here's what I'm hoping we will see in the near future:

- Data displayed in columns
- Added "year" field to indicate what year the CD was released
- Added "country" field to indicate which country the CD was released in
- Added "CD type" field to indicate if the CD is a full-length album, V/A comp, CD single, etc.
- A table to summarize song versions and run times
- A filter system to filter database entries by song version

With these new fields, I'm also hoping that we can start adding at least some imports and CD singles, especially when the database does not list any US CDs with the 45 version of a particular song.

Also, I'm open to adding the missing Billboard Top 40 hits, as I think many of us have wanted to see those included. Furthermore, I'm open to adding lower charting songs that might be of interest, such as songs by a major artist that missed the top 40 or songs that have become legitimate "hits" over the years despite not charting well upon release.

Finally, our own forum member, vanmeter, who specializes in graphic design, was very kind to create a fresh new logo for us, which you now see displayed here on the forum.

Thank you for being a contributor to this forum and a special thanks if you've been a paid subscriber. While the membership fee isn't huge, it has helped to pay my web developer for the upcoming changes you'll see.

Edited by aaronk

The new logo looks great!

Nice artwork, vanmeter! :)

Re: lower-charting hits, how will we nominate those, and will Pat's collection be checked in order to seed the database entries?

Aaron I hate to say this but the CD releases from the last 2 years on have been almost all digital. CD releases for new stuff are few and far between other then Sabrina C, Adele, K. Lamar and Taylor most albums do not come out on CD they are released to Tidal, Qobuz, Itunes etc and of course listening via streaming.

I think non-top 40 hits that are extremely well known (Romantics - What I Like About You) deserve a place but then where do you draw the line. Plenty of songs that never charted are immensely popular (Stairway to Heaven, Gimme A Man After Midnight etc) too.

Plus there are radio edits for a lot of hits that are simply not on CD still but need to be noted in the database correctly. As you correctly pointed out some import CD's should be added in instances where the 45 or edit made CD but it is not a US release (Hold On To My Love by Jimmy Ruffin for example).

As far as vinyl sources how would that work? That part is a bit confusing to me. Otherwise as I told you I am working on creating a radio edit spreadsheet that would help with the Top 40 releases....

Edited by PopArchivist

PopArchivist wrote: Plenty of songs that never charted are immensely popular (Stairway to Heaven, Gimme A Man After Midnight etc) too.

"Gimme, Gimme, Gimme" by Abba is a great example of something that could be added. Even though it didn't chart, it was relased as a US 45, and there is a 45 version that differs from the album version. That's something I think our members would be interested in knowing, don't you?

"Stairway To Heaven" is not as interesting since there weren't any 45s released in 1972, other than a promo that has the full-length album version. I'm not against adding it, though.

Edited by aaronk

If we are allowing certain non top 40 entries, I think they should be represented by different font color to keep them differentiated
from selections that made the top 40.

I have to say, I enjoy the new logo although I admittedly miss the zero in "40" being a compact disc. Fairly small criticism.
This is a true massive undertaking and I applaud the efforts thus far.

As I stated earlier for Top 40 entries I am working on every existing top 40 radio edit being identified and given to Aaron so that while it many not have made CD someone can know that it exists. How you want to handle this in the database is up to you.

I will add one thing that always bothered me about what Pat did. If the site truly wants to be "Top 40 music on CD" the promo and maxi-singles need some kind of mention. For all purposes they are "on CD" and released in the US. I realize how long it would take to update the database with the promo information but for instance if you were looking for Carly Simon's Let The River Run you can have a listing for the promo version since it is on a CD. Takes a minute to update the database like that and now when I go to search I can now seek out that edit version on the promo since I now know it exists.

These additions help make for a better "CD" database when we already know that the top 40 has went all digital each year for years now. I mean I get it if you don't want to include CD Maxi or CD promo single running times but they are just as much a part of a complete "Top 40 Music on CD" as anything else out there.

Looks great Aaron. So different.

Everything feels the same so far, just a bit more colorful. :) Happy 20 years!