Halo Sheet Music: Joel Whitburn Presents Songs and Artists 2007: The Essential Music Guide for Your iPod and Other Portable Music Players (Joel Whitburn Presents Songs & Artists) [Paperback] Review

Joel Whitburn Presents Songs and Artists 2007: The Essential Music Guide for Your iPod and Other Portable Music Players [Paperback]

Perhaps I should have taken the cover blurb to heart: "Featuring over 14,500 of the most popular songs and artists from 1955 to present", because that is exactly what you get, a list of popular artists and their greatest hits.This is not unuseful for a quick reference, but you could glean the same information yourself from artists' "Greatest Hits" CD listings, artist profiles on your favorite music service (iTunes, Rhapsody,...), Billboard and Rolling Stone lists and other widely available sources.

You don't get any surprises or hidden gems, just big hits.Nor is there much subjective analysis; dreck or not, if the song was popular, it is listed.Does *anyone* want Paul Anka's "Having My Baby" on their iPod? Ew!

I wouldn't use the term "essential" in the subtitle, essential implies that some analysis was applied, it doesn't appear so.

I'm well aware that any list is limited by space - and that any list automatically inspires argument - but I would have much preferred lists with some unexpected gems alongside the obvious.

Some examples of songs I might have included:
The Allman Brothers Band: Stormy Monday Blues or Southbound
Merle Haggard: Footlights
John Mellencamp: Last Chance
Don McLean: Empty Chairs
Amazing Rhythm Aces: Who Will The Next Fool Be?
Bob Dylan: Every Grain of Sand
Emmylou Harris: Defying Gravity or Icy Blue Heart

How about anything by Nanci Griffith or Fred Neil?

You get the idea.

The back cover indicates what this book is good for:

"I know that song, but who recorded it?"
"I know that band, but what's that song?"
"What are my favorite artist's top hits?"

If that is what you need fine, but don't expect anything deeper.And besides, the above questions are easily answered online.

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Product Description:
Record expert lists over 15,000 popular songs in this annual. This book is the perfect companion handbook for an iPod or other portable MP3 player. It lists over 15,000 significant songs and essential hits of the past half-century, from 1955 to the present. Joel Whitburn and Record Research have been highlighting the hits, archiving the artists and tracking the trends longer and more definitively than anyone else in the business, so there's no better source to bring you the book on the hottest new trend in recorded music! This is the only guide that gives the biggest hits in all genres all shown in an easy-to-use A-Z artist listing. There's also a convenient A-Z song title cross-reference section and playlists of each half-decade's biggest hits. The book also includes complete playlist compilation suggestions for many types of events, activities and moods, including road trips, stadium/sports, weddings, workouts, Christmas and various musical genres, including British Invasion, surf/hot rod, Motown sound, new wave/punk, dance party, classic rock, and much more. "Here are my personal playlist picks for your portable MP3 players - the must-have tracks for every artist of the last 50 years. Dive in, download and enjoy!" - Joel Whitburn New edition features: * Over 1000 new songs; * 20 more playlists; * New artists that charted in 2005-06.