Canadian Chart Books

I also only became aware of the existence of Brian Tarling's
publications quite recently. I wish I had known about them
sooner, as it would have spared me many, many, many hours of
research!

I have mentioned before (and I hope Pat won't mind me
mentioning again) the thread on the Steve Hoffman board in
which a conglomerate of us have been discussing and posting
every 'Canadian Content' song that made either the main RPM
chart or the separate 'Canadian Content' chart that RPM
periodically published (the latter chart is not covered by
Brian's publications):

https://forums.stevehoffman.tv/threads/every-rpm-canadian-
content-1-single-discussion-thread-1964-2000.987585/

The thread's initiator originally intended it to be a
discussion only of songs that reached #1 on the 'Canadian
Content' chart, but it quickly evolved into a discussion of
every 'Canadian Content' charted song up to the year we have
currently reached, 1985. There are only two 'Canadian
Content' songs that made the main RPM chart that we have not
yet been able to find, both from 1966, "Soup Time" by James
& The Bondsmen (#97) and "Do You Remember" by Jimmy Dybold
(#74).

There are many songs that were not yet on YouTube when they
were initially discussed but that were posted to the thread
at a later date. So if you do a search, you should be able
to find almost every song.

In order to post songs to the Hoffman thread, I created my
own YouTube channel to which I have uploaded more than 300
'Canadian Content' songs that made either the main RPM chart
or its 'Canadian Content' chart (as well as 'Canadian
Content' songs that reached #1 on the country or AC chart)
and that were not previously on YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/@rpmcanadahits2315

The vast, vast majority of these songs have never been
issued on anything other than the original 45s. The vast,
vast majority are straight dubs from my 45s. I have made no
attempt to 'clean up' the sound.

One caveat I must mention is the Nor-Va-Jak situation, an
issue you will see brought up often in the Hoffman thread.
Quite a few Canadian acts recorded at the studio of the late
producer Norman Petty in Clovis, New Mexico (Wes Dakus,
Barry Allen, Willie & The Walkers, Gainsborough Gallery,
Happy Feeling, Joe Popiel, The Preachers). Petty's company,
Nor-Va-Jak, still owns the masters and they vigourously
object to any of these recordings being posted online.
(Because of their objections, I have had a 'strike' issued
against me by YouTube.) About the only Nor-Va-Jak recordings
you will find on YouTube have been posted by Nor-Va-Jak
themselves.

Another caveat is to take the RPM charts with a grain of
salt, especially in the early years when the entire
publication was assembled every week by at most two people,
its founders, Walt Graelis and Stan Klees. Graelis managed a
number of acts and Klees ran a number of labels. Songs
associated with these two gentlemen at times did
surprisingly well on the RPM chart.

I got a response from Brian regarding the made-on-demand books he was
talking about doing, since his original printed books ran out. The response
isn't great. But I think there were others on here interested in ordering
CHUM & RPM 90-2000:

My plan was to use Amazon's print on demand. If it worked, it would have
been
a win-win, as Amazon would only print one book when the order came in
and
Amazon would do the shipping.
However, it turns out that Amazon limits the number of pages to 250, and
all
my books are well over this limit.
I then asked for a quote for the Chum book from my regular printer, but it
was too high given that I was about to order my latest book, RPM's POP
CHARTED ALBUMS Jan 1967 to November 2000.
I hoped I could cut a deal by ordering the two books at the same time.
However, it turned the 889 pages in my new Album's book was too many for
my
regular printer to handle.

I have since received the copies of my new book from another printer (same
one that printed RPM's Pop Charted songs). The cost was too high for me
to
also order my Chum Book Or RPM HIT TRACKS.
My new book will go online on my site probably around mid to late August.

If the sales for my new book are reasonable, I will then order the CHUM
book.

So, at present the CHUM book and RPM Hit Tracks are on standby, pending
on
the success of my new Album's, book.

I have received a few requests for the CHUM book, so I'm hopeful, it will
come to pass.

Thanks for your interest in my books

Newsflash: Christmas is now !! Brian Tarling has finished his Canadian "RPM's Pop Charted Albums 1967-2000" book, and it's now available for order. Another massive book, 8.5 x 11, 889 pages. And like his other awesome books, this is 2 books in 1, the regular 'record by artist' stuff, plus a 'peak position by year' annual. Great googly moogly !!

Price including shipping to the US is $95 Canadian = $70.16 US. Operators are standing by, so don't bee shy.

Brian Tarling Canadian chart books

P.S. Depending on the success of this book, he'll then work on getting his 2 sold out books back in print, his "CHUM's Charted Songs 1957-86", and his "RPM's Pop Charted Tracks 1990-2000". It turns out that Amazon print-on-demand is back on the table as an option, as the page count is NOT limited to just 250 pages.

Rock on !!

Edited by RoknRobnLoxley

I received Brian Tarling's book "RPM's Pop Charted Albums 1967-2000" the other day. Most impressive I must say. Especially the annual section with LPs listed by year and peak. Meticulous notes section. Get yours today, see my link 2 posts up.

FYI, Brian said he only has 8 copies left of his RPM singles book "Pop Charted Songs 1964-1990" so don't hesitate and bee lost, ha. Muchos nachos...

The latest update on Brian Tarling's Canadian chart books : 2 more previously sold-out books are now available from
Amazon "print-on-demand" :

--RPM's Pop Charted Tracks : Hit Songs From Across Canada 1990-2000.
[ This continues from the previous RPM singles volumes 1964-1990. ] Since this book didn't go over the Amazon page limit,
it contains both the records-by-artist section, and the pop annual records-by-year-and-peak-position section, plus the
index, plus the intro with all the meticulous details on the RPM charts and Brian's methodology. 2 great books in 1 !!
Great googly moogly !!

--Toronto radio station CHUM’s Charted Songs 1957-1986.

Just go to your favorite Amazon, and search for "Brian Tarling" under "books". And/or see my above post. Rock on !!





Edited by RoknRobnLoxley