Talk:You've Got a Habit of Leaving

Chart position

I am just now listening to Atlantic Oldies 2NG, doing Richard Todd's Retro Countdown show, containing a BBC Pick of the Pops's Top 40 from February 26th, 1966. BBC Charts from way back then were comparison charts, comparing Record Retailer's, NME's an sheet music charts. "You've got a habit of leaving" apparently made #40 on that charts. I don't suspect Richard Todd to reverse history on purpose, so maybe anyone wanting to sort this out? 83.87.140.201 (talk) 18:15, 1 March 2012 (UTC)

Richard Todd's Retro Countdown's programme producer Dave Taylor replied on my Talk page:

David Bowie's first single to make the chart, was "Can't Help Thinking About Me". This was the track, Richard Todd played. He didn't play "You've Got a Habit of Leaving".

"Can't Help Thinking About Me" went to #32 in Melody Maker, I think. That's probably why it was #40 on Richard's excellent show. This uses an Average chart, I believe. Based on positions from Melody Maker, NME, Disc & Music Echo & Record Retailer. David Bowie's record didn't make the Record Retailer chart.

During the 60s, lots of organisations used an average, because there was no Official chart anywhere. Averages were used by EMI, Cashbox Magazine, BFBS (Worldwide) & the BBC.

If anyone has changed Chart History, it's these books & websites.

In percentage terms, this was the accuracy of 60s Music Papers:

Melody Maker 48%

NME 40%

Disc & Music Echo 6%

Record Retailer 6%

Add the lot together, as an average & you get 100%. So, all these books & websites only give you 6% of the story for the 60s & even get number one records wrong... — Preceding unsigned comment added by 90.194.133.111 (talk) 10:40, 2 March 2012 (UTC)

Thanks for clearing, Dave! 83.87.140.201 (talk) 01:30, 5 March 2012 (UTC)