Saturday 22 August 2020

Hit Parade France 1959-1969

Track-list Hit Parade France no missing tracks

Up to 1969, the multitude of hit parades were produced in France, compiled on the basis of telephone calls to dealers or radio aiplay. Then, various classifications appeared, compiled by enthusiasts of French music. The ranking used is based on:

  • Top-France, monthly Top 20/15 charts from Oct. 1961 to Dec. 1969, based solely on actual 45 rpm sales, noted in the royalties departments of record companies, during the writing of the book "40 Years of Tubes" by Fabrice Ferment for SNEP, http://www.top-france.fr/index.htm
  • Monthly Top 20/30 charts from Jan. 1959 to Dec. 1969, based on airplay radio rankings, compiled in the book “Hit Parades 1950-1998” by Daniel Lesueur, http://www.infodisc.fr/Plan.php

These charts use different criteria and they differ a lot. Ferment’s compilation entries are the primary ones - they are denoted by suffix F. Lesueur’s compilation entries are included only if a song is not present in Top-France charts - they are denoted by suffix L. 
In France, during most of the sixties, songs were usually released on EPs rather than on singles. Then, only chart entries are included, also some other EP tracks, denoted as flips. 
All spoken and some LP tracks are omitted. If OST (BOF) charted, then only main track is included. 
In the 50s and early 60s actually song titles charted. If the song was performed by few artists (Interpretes Multiples), then the chart version is included, also some other versions, denoted as A(lternate). 
Charts of two popular music magazines, Disco Revue and Salut Les Copains, are not taken into account for two reasons: 1) they focus on rock ‘n’ roll artists, 2) there are no book references available. SLC published two charts, songs in French and songs in English. Some entries of these charts, not present in the above book compilations, are included and they are denoted as U(ncharted).
Please remember, that some great French songs are not included, if they also entered US, UK or Italian charts!

4 comments:

Tumbleweed said...

Hi professor,

thanks a lot for starting the French series. I appreciate your work a lot

Tumbleweed (Okefenokee)

Professor RnR said...

Thanks Okefenokee, I need words of support, I need to know that my work is appreciated.
Preparation of French HP was extremely difficult as official French charts from the 60s do not exist.

Yves Claie said...

Merci pour votre travail remarquable.Il existait dans les années 60 une revue intitulée "Disco Revue" qui je crois tenait un classement.il existait également "Salut les Copains" et "Age Tendre et tête de bois" .Age Tendre et tête de bois était à l'origine le titre d'une chanson du Grand Gilbert Bécaud.

Professor RnR said...

Disco Revue was launched in September 1961 and was limited to rock and roll. Salut Les Copains started in July 1962 and was split into French and English songs. No book compilations exist for these two charts. Also in Internet, only reprints of individual charts can be found. Then, I have decided to take two book references, the only book compilations that exist so far.