Record Research, the music chart reference publisher founded by Joel Whitburn, has launched its first podcast, A Heart for the Charts. The series debuted October 6 with Thelma Houston and The Fleetwoods’ Gretchen Christopher discussing what it took to reach No. 1—and what happened afterward.
The opening episode, “The Day I Went to Number One,” follows Houston’s years of work leading up to “Don’t Leave Me This Way,” her first time hearing the song on the radio, and the promotional campaign that followed. Christopher revisits The Fleetwoods’ high school beginnings and the success of “Come Softly to Me,” along with the group’s later chart milestones.
Take a listen:
Five hosts bring research and industry experience to the conversations: longtime Billboard reporter Fred Bronson; former Billboard Director of Charts Michael Ellis; Record Research Head Researcher Paul Haney; Second Disc label founder Joe Marchese; and Motown historian Andy Skurow.
Founded in 1970, Record Research has published more than 240 reference books documenting chart history across genres and publications. The podcast extends that archival work into conversations with the people behind the records.
Produced by Benztown, with Record Research CEO Vinnie Freda serving as executive producer, A Heart for the Charts is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube.
