New Zealand Top 20 Singles of The Sixties (Compiled) by Warwick Freeman

The third book on this subject by New Zealand's leading chart historian, this is a fun, fact-filled book suitable for casual music lovers and historians alike. The book takes a comprehensive look at what the New Zealand national charts would have looked like from an era which, as we know, had no official NZ Chart. This book is designed to give you fair indication on the popularity of music in New Zealand from 1960 to 1969. The first official charts only started in New Zealand in March 1966. These few years were based on a voting system, where subscribers would send in their own personal selections, and hence the 'official' top 20 was created and published in 'The Listener' magazine.

Although not perfect, this did give a fairly accurate guide to New Zealand's favourite songs. Before March 1966 we relied on local radio stations, television, record stores and other sources who compiled their own charts. A few of these charts were published, and in many cases lost, but others were simply written down in scrapbooks by keen listeners as the countdown was played on the radio or TV.

The charts used in this book for the time leading up to March 1966 are a merger of the numerous pop charts gathered from the various sources throughout New Zealand during this era. Essentially on a week by week basis from 1960 to early 1966. Also included is local sales data as compiled at the time by our own Billboard correspondant Fred Gebbie. The charts available were 'tossed' into a computer program which utilised a point system to create an overall top 20 for every week. Overall the final outcome appears remarkably consistent, and in line with what was played on the radio during this period.

Lists include:
Artist Order (688 acts)
Song Order (1747 songs)

Statistics:
The Number One Songs of the Sixties
Song: Most weeks at number One
Artist: Most no. 1's
Artist: Most weeks at number 1
Song: The Top 25 Songs for each year
Song: Top 100 Songs of the Sixties
Song: Most weeks on chart
Artist: The Top 25 Artists for each year
Artist: The Top 50 Artists of the Sixties
Artist: Most Hits
Artist: Most weeks on chart
A top 5 week by week listing for the whole sixties era (January 7 1960 to December 25 1969 - 521 weeks).