The Joel Whitburn Archive

Imagine stepping out of a time machine and walking into a record shop in the Bronx, New York, on Saturday, June 3, 1961.  The new vinyl 45 displayed on the counter features “Can’t Help Lovin’ That Girl Of Mine,” written by Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein for the Show Boat theater musical of 1927 (with “Girl” replacing “Man” of the original title and lyrics).  The classic is covered by doo-wop groups and the rendition you hold in your hands was recorded by local boys, The Excels, on RSVP 111.  You shell out some 50-odd cents and hop back to the present.  Referencing Record Research, you discover that the song appeared at the very bottom of  Billboard magazine’s Hot 100 chart for one week.  And, you have the commercial release, not a promotional copy, re-release or re-recording on another label.  It’s the record that was indeed available during its specific time in history. 

If you made that trip tens of thousands of times spanning the past century, across the country, and purchased dozens of original recordings on each trip, you would have the Joel Whitburn Archive.  It is the world’s only time capsule of music popular on America’s charts.  Joel Whitburn spent seven decades  assembling this complete collection containing recorded music of multiple configurations (wax, vinyl, cassette, CD, digital) and charts (AC, Country, Pop, R&B, Rock) from various music industry publications (Billboard, Cash Box, Gavin Report, Radio & Records, Record World/Music Vendor).  

All of these musical artifacts exist together in Joel’s Archive, a detailed and rich tapestry of America’s musical history.  Enter below ….