http://www.jsonline.com/business/joel-w ... 72691.html

I've been a fan of his since the 1980's when I had a Billboard subscription but never knew he is a Wisconsin guy until today. I figure many on this board know who he is; but if not, probably will still enjoy the article (and drool over the thought of his vault!).

I have a slew of his books (I'm counting 9 of them on the shelf right above my computer). I've been a chart fan since I was 14.

I've been a fan of Joel and his Record Research books since around 1974 when a disc jockey friend introduced me to a copy of Top Pop Singles. On the shelves to my right I see 32 Whitburn/Billboard books, not counting all the older versions I have donated to the local public library.

I started buying Joel's books in 1975, have several shelf loads full of them. I do like it that he's branched out and recently published the singles chart books for Cash Box and Record World magazines, they give you the history of the alternate / parallel universe, plus they list probably thousands of records that never hit the Billboard chart.

Also started getting various UK chart books, they're a slightly different animal in that they had about 5 major chart publishers up to 1969, 3 for the 70s and 80s (1 "official" and 2 others), down to just 2 for the 90s and beyond (1 "official", 1 competitor). Something like that. Very kool to see how the British invasion bands charted in the UK vs. the US...