Here's something you fellow chart-collectors might enjoy ...
It's a collection of WLS weekly surveys, 1960 - 1990, put together by Rich Gardner and spread out over nine volumes of books.
In fact, Rich was recently a guest on Bob Sirott's radio program ...
And you can listen to that segment, too, via the link below ...
(Bob, of course, was one of MY favorite jocks back in the day ... he made listening to the radio fun and interesting!)
From Rich:
Hello Kent,
I just found https://forgottenhits60s.blogspot.com/2025/ and love the site, along with all the playlists and insights into the charts.
I was looking up Ed Erxleben, who was noted as a Chicago chart contributor on the ARSA survey site.
You might be interested in listening to an interview I did with Bob Sirott last week about the 9-book series I have published.
Rich
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Author Rich Gardner Joins WGN's Bob Sirott to Discuss New Book and Chicago's Golden Age of Radio.
Listeners Are Encouraged to Stream the Full Interview Online
Author and music historian Rich Gardner joined legendary host Bob Sirott on WGN Radio on Monday, June 30, 2025, for an in-depth discussion about his latest book, ‘WLS Music Survey Vol. 5 1973 - 1975,’ and the vibrant history of Chicago’s music and radio scene.
The interview gave listeners a nostalgic trip back to the 1970s, a time when Top 40 radio stations like WLS were the epicenter of musical culture. Gardner, a self-proclaimed music fanatic, shared the story of how his teenage hobby of collecting weekly music surveys from local record stores blossomed into a series of books dedicated to preserving this important data. He and Sirott discussed the incredible diversity of the charts in that era, where rock, folk, pop, and novelty songs all shared the airwaves.
"It was an absolute honor to speak with Bob, who is such an integral part of Chicago radio history himself," said Gardner. "To be able to share my passion for these surveys and reminisce about the music that defined a generation was a fantastic experience. These charts are more than just lists; they are cultural snapshots, and preserving them is preserving a piece of our collective memory."
Throughout the segment, Gardner detailed the significance of the WLS surveys, their accuracy for the Chicago market, and the joy of rediscovering the music that so many grew up with. He also touched upon his quest to locate "lost" surveys that had never been widely distributed.
Listeners who missed the live broadcast can now hear the full interview online. The segment, along with a written summary and transcript by Julian Saldierna, is available on the WGN Radio website.
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Old music radio surveys still hold value in 2025 Rich Gardner is an author and self proclaimed music fanatic joins Bob Sirott to discuss some of the latest publications in his catalog of books documenting the best selling records, top charts and hits played on WLS. ‘WLS Music Survey Vol. 5 1973 - 1975‘ is just one of these books and Rich tells us all about […] wgnradio.com |
You can listen to the full interview here: https://wgnradio.com/bob-sirott/old-music-radio-surveys-still-hold-value-in-2025/
‘WLS Music Survey Vol. 5 1973 - 1975’ and other volumes from Gardner’s catalog can be purchased online at Amazon.com and through his website, www.poptoptunes.com
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Book & Photo Scanning Media (Video & Audio) Conversion Services |
The book is also available for purchase locally at Beverly Phono Mart and Beverly Records in Chicago.
About Rich Gardner: Rich Gardner is an author and music historian dedicated to preserving the history of popular music and radio — his catalog of books documents best-selling records, chart data, and the iconic WLS music surveys. A lifelong collector, Gardner turned his hobby into a passion to share the rich musical heritage of Chicago and beyond.
Rich Gardner
poptoptunes, LLC. –
Media Conversation
3055 W. 103rd St., Suite 2S
Chicago, IL 60655
312.982.5240
https://poptoptunes.com%20]https://poptoptunes.com
Ed Erxleben has been a Forgotten Hits Reader / Contributor since day one ... over 25 years now ... and has a complete collection of ALL of the local charts ... he's even put together a collection of music charted on WLS that never made the Billboard Hot 100 ... some obscure tracks LONG forgotten in the annals of time. Great guy.
Here are a couple of sample pages from Volume 9, 1960 - 1963:
Rich's book series now encompasses all of the charts that WLS produced between 1960 and 1990. He's also got a commemorative WLS Coin available thru his website that you might be interested in ...
https://poptoptunes.com/wls-silver-dollar-coin#9bbbfc98-1739-4872-b99d-15a26676d423
Coins are available now. (kk)
Do I say a "Penny for your thoughts" or should I say "$20 for your Big 89" coin?
I saw this on the Forgotten Hits blog and HAD TO HAVE ONE!
Yeah, I know, not everyone is a Big 89 fan (sacrilege!), but IF you are ...
... here's a little something you might enjoy owning! It DOES cost $20, but I kinda like it! You can buy with paypal, too.
It has the great photo from the WLS album released in 1962 with the original 60s jocks. Sadly, Ron Riley was just after this.
First-Ever WLS Silver Dollar Commemorative Coin!
There's lots of WLS books of surveys in different configurations on the site, too, if you want. Kinda pricey for me and I have most all anyway.
While I have your attention, don't forget Carl Mann's excellent survey book of 1965-70 charts is now for sale too!
All six of Carl's books are must haves for radio fanatics!
Carl Mann: books, biography, latest update
AND finally, IF you get to Cincinnati, ya gotta try this place! I grew up on Jim LaBarbara and Dusty Rhodes on Cincy radio and they are a big part of this brand new exhibit in Cincinnati! IF you go, please let me know your thoughts!
Cincinnati radio legends to help Voice of American Museum open exhibit
Lastly, for anyone waiting for my next record sale list, it will be coming at the end of the month, hopefully. You did not miss any, I just have not gotten it done. Good luck and keep that dial tuned!
Clark Besch (WLSClark)
EDITOR'S NOTE: Please be advised that there are some charts missing from these books ... Rich is still in the process of building a complete collection ... but the visuals give you a pretty good idea as to the music scene here in Chicago during The Top 40 era.
Be sure to listen to Rich's interview on the Bob Sirott show!
https://wgnradio.com/bob-sirott/old-music-radio-surveys-still-hold-value-in-2025/ (kk)
THIS JUST IN ...
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