| Queen Archivist 17.09.2008 07:04 |
This is no doubt going to be about as popular as a fat and/or unattractive person in an episode of CSI Miami or Desperate Housewives (or indeed any American drama where only the beautiful people are seen), I know that, but I'll ask it anyway... I have been trying to establish for ages, two years or more, the Queen singles and album chart positions in countries such as France, Spain, Germany, Hungary, Portugal, Yugoslavia, New Zealand, etc. At this moment in time we cannot determine, for example, if ONE YEAR OF LOVE was a top 40 hit in Spain and France, or not, or if PRINCES OF THE UNIVERSE made the Australian top 40, and this seems crazy in these days of the www. What number did MUSTAPHA get to in Germany?? Did it even chart?? And so on.... Here in the UK we have a well known book, updated annually, called THE GUINESS BOOK OF HIT RECORDS, and it holds details of every UK hit album or single from the 1950s right up to date. Thus, it's very easy to see what number each disc achieved in any given year. Surely there must have been similar publications, in some form or other, in Spain, France, Germany, Hungary, etc??? Music newspapers with the full chart listings for every given week, such as NME and MM here in the UK. Surely there must be Queen fans in those territories who collected those things throughout the 70s and 80s???? There are literally hundreds of such people here in the UK, but none, apparently, in Spain, France, Germany, Portugal, Australia, etc. It's very peculiar, and rather illogical it seems to me. Can anyone throw any light on this? How difficult can it be to determine basic facts and figures that would certainly have been public domain information at the time - if not now? I've asked EMI in those territories... but they don't retain that kind of data.... so they say. Thanks |
| Togg 17.09.2008 07:35 |
I don't suppose the fan club has any info? I seem to remember reading chart positions around the world in something sent out from them years ago.. |
| cmsdrums 17.09.2008 07:57 |
Probably a stupid, obvious thing to say, but have you already tried Brian's personal catalogue of info? He is renowned for collecting items, stats etc.. It's unbelievable isn't it that the record companies didn't track chart positions etc... overseas; how on earth did they track sales numbers then, and therefore pay correct royalties to performers, producers etc..? Alas I don't have this info, but hopefully someone will - maybe Jacky at the Fan Club, or Jim Jenkins are good starting points. Maybe John Reid etc(as manager) would have some data from the 70's?? Wouldn't it be even slightly amusing if the singles box sets, archives sets, memorabilia books etc are all released, then years later it turns out that good old John Deacon has a loft absolutely crammed full of stats, newspaper cuttings, demos, live tracks etc... that none of the others have?!!? Serious point here Greg - has anyone asked John if he has anything for these projects??? |
| YourValentine 17.09.2008 08:53 |
In Germany the singles charts are compiled and archived by media control link Scroll dow on the page and click on email. They will compile a list of Queen chart positions for you. I suppose they will charge something but surely you can ask that yourself. |
| niall 17.09.2008 08:55 |
Greg, There may be some information found by joining here... link |
| Queen Archivist 17.09.2008 09:05 |
cmsdrums wrote: Probably a stupid, obvious thing to say, but have you already tried Brian's personal catalogue of info? He is renowned for collecting items, stats etc.. GB: WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF LOGGING ALL THAT STUFF RIGHT NOW. BUT THERE ARE NO FRENCH, SPANISH, HUNGARIAN CHART LISTINGS... ONLY THE ENGLISH MATERIAL GATHERED BY BRIAN AND HIS PARENTS.... MOSTLY ANYWAY. I'M SURE THERE WILL BE THE ODD AUSTRALIAN, NZ, CANADIAN ONE, THAT'LL BE USEFUL. YOU SEE... IMAGINE IF WE FOUND A LIST FROM FRANCE, 1986, THAT HAS ONE YEAR OF LOVE AT NO 41. DID IT CLIMB HIGHER IN SUBSEQUENT WEEKS???? I DON'T KNOW. MAYBE. BUT IF WE CAN'T PROVE IT, WE CAN'T USE IT, AND THAT'D BE A SHAME... AND POSSIBLY A BIG ERROR TOO. It's unbelievable isn't it that the record companies didn't track chart positions etc... overseas; how on earth did they track sales numbers then, and therefore pay correct royalties to performers, producers etc..? GB: YES. IT HAS REALLY SURPRISED ME. BUT YOU SEE, LIKE ALL LARGE COMPANIES, PEOPLE COME AND GO THRU THE YEARS; RECORDS/FILES GET THROWN OUT AFTER X NUMBER OF YEARS, NO-ONE THINKS TO KEEP IT. OFFICES MOVE, BOXES GET LOST OR DESTROYED. NO -ONE THINKS THAT THIS INFO WILL EVER HAVE ANY USE 10 OR 20 YEARS DOWN THE LINE... MUCH LIKE THE BBC RECORDING OVER CLASSIC OLD EPISODES OF DR WHO, STEPTOE, HANCOCK, ETC. WHO WOULD HAVE THOUGHT IN 1986 THAT CHART DETAILS OF 'ONE YEAR OF LOVE' IN FRANCE AND SPAIN WOULD BE USEFUL IN 2008????? SHAME THOUGH. Alas I don't have this info, but hopefully someone will - maybe Jacky at the Fan Club, or Jim Jenkins are good starting points. Maybe John Reid etc(as manager) would have some data from the 70's?? NO. NOTHING FRENCH, SPANISH, HUNGARIAN, ETC. ONLY THE COMMON STUFF YOU'D EXPECT. Wouldn't it be even slightly amusing if the singles box sets, archives sets, memorabilia books etc are all released, then years later it turns out that good old John Deacon has a loft absolutely crammed full of stats, newspaper cuttings, demos, live tracks etc... that none of the others have?!!? GB: I WOULDN'T BE THAT AMUSED. I'D SEE THE IRONY THOUGH. BUT I TAKE YOUR POINT. I'M JUST TRYING TO BE AS THOROUGH AS I CAN, NOT LEAST BECAUSE THERE ARE SERIOUS IMPLICATIONS HERE FOR THE QUEEN SINGLES BOXES. DO WE PUT 'MUSTAPHA' AND 'PRINCESS OF THE UNIVERSE' AND 'ONE YEAR OF LOVE' ON THEM? ONLY IF THEY CHARTED BETTER THAN NO 40, WE DO. Serious point here Greg - has anyone asked John if he has anything for these projects???I DON'T KNOW. MAYBE I WILL ASK. |
| Micrówave 17.09.2008 10:58 |
Perhaps a call to the producers, engineers, graphic designers, or anyone else outside the realm of the band. I would think that they would use that info as resume material. |
| Mkls 17.09.2008 11:44 |
link for Holland/Australia/Japan - Andy Youngs list is still online, this was compiled in the early 1990s from accurate sources as far as i know. |
| PieterMC 17.09.2008 11:57 |
Australian Chart Positions(pre 1989): 24-Mar-75*HP-24*WI-30 - Killer Queen 19-Jan-76*HP-01*WI-30 - Bohemian Rhapsody (2 weeks at No.1) 31-May-76*HP-40*WI-17 - You're My Best Friend 29-Nov-76*HP-15*WI-21 - Somebody to Love 18-Apr-77*HP-47*WI-09 - Tie Your Mother Down 21-Nov-77*HP-08*WI-22 - We Are the Champions/We Will Rock You 27-Nov-78*HP-25*WI-13 - Fat Bottomed Girls/Bicycle Race 04-Feb-80*HP-01*WI-21 - Crazy Little Thing Called Love (7wks) 19-May-80*HP-76*WI-07 - Save Me 04-Aug-80*HP-85*WI-03 - Play the Game 13-Oct-80*HP-05*WI-24 - Another One Bites the Dust 06-Apr-81*HP-16*WI-19 - Flash's Theme 09-Nov-81*HP-06*WI-19 - Under Pressure (w/ David Bowie) 17-May-82*HP-23*WI-12 - Body Language 30-Jan-84*HP-02*WI-19 - Radio Ga Ga 30-Apr-84*HP-08*WI-21 - I Want to Break Free 30-July-84*HP-65*WI-12 - It's a Hard Life 13-May-85*HP-69*WI-04 - Hammer to Fall 23-Dec-85*HP-34*WI-12 - One Vision 28-Apr-86*HP-25*WI-17 - A Kind of Magic 18-Aug-86*HP-32*WI-10 - Princes of the Universe |
| pittrek 17.09.2008 12:00 |
link |
| Penetration_Guru 17.09.2008 12:47 |
Queen Archivist wrote:If, as stated, the info is used to ensure payments are correct, then there will be two copies - one at EMI (long since lost), but surely one sent to QPL too? I've always wondered if this may be true of pressing records (ie, how many of x promo CD were made) too, but can imagine that you will be right about such info being chucked.cmsdrums wrote: . It's unbelievable isn't it that the record companies didn't track chart positions etc... overseas; how on earth did they track sales numbers then, and therefore pay correct royalties to performers, producers etc..?GB: YES. IT HAS REALLY SURPRISED ME. BUT YOU SEE, LIKE ALL LARGE COMPANIES, PEOPLE COME AND GO THRU THE YEARS; RECORDS/FILES GET THROWN OUT AFTER X NUMBER OF YEARS, NO-ONE THINKS TO KEEP IT. OFFICES MOVE, BOXES GET LOST OR DESTROYED. NO -ONE THINKS THAT THIS INFO WILL EVER HAVE ANY USE 10 OR 20 YEARS DOWN THE LINE... I do recall that this kind of subject has come up before, and I remember trawling round looking for info myself, as I too find it quite interesting (although wouldn't appreciate fat people on Desperate Housewives..). Is there a finite list of countries you're interested in, or would it be truer to say there a finite list of countries you're confident you have covered? |
| junketerQ2 17.09.2008 18:22 |
From memory I can confirm 2 New Zealand chart positions, from newspaper clippings I have. I may have others but would have to dig through my archive!: I Want It All - #3 Innuendo - #10 |
| Donna13 17.09.2008 19:04 |
Have you tried billboard.com? link Click on Biz Tools, then Research Services. That will bring you to: link Billboard Research 770 Broadway New York, NY 10003 Phone: 646-654-4633 Fax: 646-654-4671 or 4672 Email: research@billboard.com They charge pretty high fees it seems, but it might be worth it if they could provide the exact information you are looking for. And if they don't have the international historical lists, maybe they could refer you to other sources. Good luck. |
| Pal72 18.09.2008 05:57 |
Hi Greg, just to let you know: here in Hungary there were no "official" charts when Queen made records. The association of the Hungarian record companies (MAHASZ) started to issue official charts in the beginning of the 90's. You can find their archives here: link But it is in Hungarian...:( I made a quich search for you, and I found these after 1990: ALBUMS: - Greatest Hits: 18 weeks, No. 12 - Greatest Hits II: 78 weeks, No. 1 - Greatest Hits III: 16 weeks, No. 7 - Innuendo: 32 weeks, No. 3 - Live at Wembley '86: 20 weeks, No. 3 - The Miracle: 2 weeks, No. 36 DVD: - Greatest Video Hits I: 7 weeks, No. 8 - Greatest Video Hits: 5 weeks, No. 16 - Live At Wembley: 12 weeks, No. 7 - Live In Europe (it seems to be a bootleg...): 4 weeks, No. 7 - On Fire: 27 weeks, No. 5 - Return Of The Champions: 3 weeks, No. 17 SINGLES: - QUEEN VS THE MIAMI PROJECT: ANOTHER ONE BITES THE DUST: 4 weeks, No. 2. (it was a surprise for me...) Let me know if you need further info from me. I'll try to help. (BTW: I could add some interesting info regarding the '86 Budapest concert for the next edition of your great Queen Live book...:))) Greetings, Pal |
| oh-ja 18.09.2008 16:16 |
cmsdrums wrote: Probably a stupid, obvious thing to say, but have you already tried Brian's personal catalogue of info? Alas I don't have this info, but hopefully someone will - maybe Jacky at the Fan Club, or Jim Jenkins are good starting points. Maybe John Reid etc(as manager) would have some data from the 70's??so these are some brilliant suggestions greg most probably would never have thought of ... |
| Queen Archivist 23.09.2008 12:34 |
Many thanks for the info. |
| ferdy 23.09.2008 14:47 |
Hi Greg these are italian charts. I'm not sure if the upper limit is 40 but very likely... ciao ferdy number after# means of course chart position Italy single 1977 Somebody to love - Queen [#10] 1980 Another one bites the dust - Queen [#10, 1980/81] 1981 Another one bites the dust - Queen [#25] 1982 Body language - Queen [#16] 1984 Radio ga ga - Queen [#2] 1989 I want it all - Queen [#4] 1991 Innuendo - Queen [#4] 1992 The Show must go on - Queen [#10, 1991/92] 1993 Dear friends - George Michael & Queen [#26] 1995 Heaven for everyone - Queen [#4] Italy LP 1980 The game Queen EMI #10 1982 Hot space Queen EMI #9 1984 The works Queen EMI #4 1986 A kind of magic Queen EMI #13 1989 The miracle Queen Parlophone #3 1991 Innuendo Queen PARLOPHONE #1 1992 Greatest hits II Queen PARLOPHONE #1 Live at Wembley '86 Queen PARLOPHONE #1 Greatest hits [1981] Queen PARLOPHONE #17 1993 Five live George Michael EMI #6 1995 Made in heaven Queen PARLOPHONE #1 |