Here’s a look at how the Ramsey Lewis album Tequila Mockingbird fared in various publications:
| 1977-78 | |||
| Date | Billboard Jazz (40) | Billboard 200 | Cashbox 200 |
| Dec 24 | 15 | 150 | |
| Dec 31 | 191 | ||
| Jan 7 | 122 | 186 | |
| Jan 14 | 9 | 116 | 179 |
| Jan 21 | 114 | 170 | |
| Jan 28 | 5 | 111 | 166 |
| Feb 4 | 111 | 161 | |
| Feb 11 | 3 | 183 | 154 |
| Feb 18 | 183 | 148 | |
| Feb 25 | 6 | 148 | |
| Mar 11 | 6 | ||
| Mar 25 | 11 | ||
| Apr 8 | 12 | ||
| Apr 22 | 20 | ||
| May 13 | 25 | ||
| May 27 | 40 |
REVIEWS:
| Rolling Stone Jazz & Blues Album Guide: | ★★★ |
| Virgin Encyclopedia of Jazz: | ★★★ |
Here’s a look at how Spyro Gyra’s album Incognito fared in various publications:
| 1982 | ||||||
| Date | Billboard Jazz (50) |
Billboard 200 | Cash Box 200 | Cash Box Jazz (30) |
Radio & Records Jazz (30) |
Rolling Stone 100 |
| Oct 16 | 138 | 18 | 21 | |||
| Oct 23 | 18 | 73 | 119 | 8 | 12 | |
| Oct 30 | 61 | 103 | 1 | 6 | ||
| Nov 6 | 3 | 51 | 81 | 1 | 5 | |
| Nov 13 | 48 | 69 | 1 | 1 | ||
| Nov 20 | 3 | 46 | 64 | 2 | 1 | 66 |
| Nov 27 | 46 | 63 | 2 | 1 | ||
| Dec 4 | 3 | 56 | 61 | 2 | 2 | 56 |
| Dec 11 | 69 | 88 | 2 | 2 | ||
| Dec 18 | 3 | 80 | 107 | 5 | 2 | 56 |
| Dec 25 | 80 | 112 | 5 | 2 | ||
| 1983 | ||||||
| Jan 1 | 80 | 112 | 2 | 2 | 63 | |
| Jan 8 | 2 | 94 | 112 | 5 | 3 | |
| Jan 15 | 94 | 125 | 3 | 3 | 63 | |
| Jan 22 | 2 | 109 | 129 | 3 | 4 | |
| Jan 29 | 109 | 136 | 3 | 5 | 66 | |
| Feb 5 | 2 | 117 | 158 | 4 | 5 | |
| Feb 12 | 133 | 167 | 5 | 5 | ||
| Feb 19 | 3 | 148 | 187 | 4 | 9 | |
| Feb 26 | 148 | 199 | 5 | 9 | ||
| Mar 5 | 3 | 148 | 6 | 9 | ||
| Mar 12 | 146 | 7 | 9 | |||
| Mar 19 | 3 | 146 | 7 | 9 | ||
| Mar 26 | 184 | 8 | 13 | |||
| Apr 2 | 3 | 13 | 23 | |||
| Apr 9 | 18 | |||||
| Apr 16 | 10 | 17 | ||||
| Apr 23 | 21 | |||||
| Apr 30 | 11 | 23 | ||||
| May 7 | 24 | |||||
| May 14 | 17 | 24 | ||||
| May 21 | 22 | |||||
| May 28 | 12 | 27 | ||||
| June 4 | 29 | |||||
| June 11 | 12 | 26 | ||||
| June 18 | 25 | |||||
| June 25 | 22 | 25 | ||||
| July 2 | 24 | |||||
| July 9 | 40 | 28 | ||||
| July 16 | 30 | |||||
| July 23 | 38 | 29 | ||||
| July 30 | ||||||
| Aug 6 | 32 | |||||
| Aug 13 | ||||||
| Aug 20 | 29 | |||||
| Aug 27 | ||||||
| Sept 3 | 29 | |||||
| Sept 10 | ||||||
| Sept 17 | 41 | |||||
| Sept 24 | ||||||
| Oct 1 | 40 | |||||
| Oct 8 | ||||||
| Oct 15 | 44 |
REVIEWS:
Billboard, October 9, 1982
| Rolling Stone Jazz & Blues Album Guide: | ★½ |
| Virgin Encyclopedia of Jazz: | ★★ |
Here’s a look at how David Sanborn’s album Heart to Heart fared on the various Billboard and Cash Box charts:
| 1978 | ||||
| Date | Billboard 200 |
Cash Box 200 |
Billboard Jazz (50) |
Cash Box Jazz (40) |
| June 3 | 175 | 30 | ||
| June 10 | 165 | 23 | 23 | |
| June 17 | 155 | 174 | 23 | 18 |
| June 24 | 151 | 155 | 17 | 16 |
| July 1 | 159 | 150 | 17 | 14 |
| July 8 | 193 | 148 | 18 | 14 |
| July 15 | 147 | 20 | 16 | |
| July 22 | 163 | 20 | 19 | |
| July 29 | 199 | 16 | 21 | |
| Aug 5 | 19 | 25 | ||
| Aug 12 | 21 | 29 | ||
| Aug 19 | 28 | 30 | ||
| Aug 26 | 33 | 31 | ||
| Sept 2 | 33 | 33 | ||
| Sept 9 | 36 | 34 | ||
| Sept 16 | 37 | |||
| Sept 23 | 40 | |||
| Sept 30 | 41 | |||
| Oct 7 | 47 | |||
| Oct 14 | 50 |
Starting in 1987, Billboard switched from having one “Top Jazz Albums” chart with forty chart positions to having two jazz albums charts: 1) the existing “Top Jazz Albums” chart was reduced to 15 chart positions, and 2) a new “Top Contemporary Jazz Albums” chart premiered with 25 positions. Here’s a chart of the #1 Top Contemporary Jazz Albums of 1989:
| Week Ending | Album | Artist(s) |
|---|---|---|
| January 7 | Silhouette | Kenny G |
| January 21 | Heart’s Horizon | Al Jarreau |
| February 4 | ||
| February 18 | ||
| March 4 | ||
| March 18 | ||
| April 1 | ||
| April 15 | ||
| April 29 | Spellbound | Joe Sample |
| May 13 | ||
| May 27 | ||
| June 10 | ||
| June 24 | ||
| July 8 | ||
| July 22 | ||
| August 5 | Amandla | Miles Davis |
| August 19 | Letter from Home | Pat Metheny |
| September 2 | ||
| September 16 | ||
| September 30 | ||
| October 14 | ||
| October 28 | ||
| November 11 | At Last | Lou Rawls |
| November 25 | Migration | Dave Grusin |
| December 9 | ||
| December 23 | Time Out of Mind | Grover Washington, Jr. |
#1 Jazz Albums:
1970 · 1971 · 1972 · 1973 · 1974 · 1975 · 1976 · 1977 · 1978 · 1979
1980 · 1981 · 1982 · 1983 · 1984 · 1985 · 1986 · 1987 · 1988 · 1989
In 1972, Billboard published a Jazz Album list monthly with 20 albums ranked through June. Beginning in July, the chart expanded to 25. Here’s a chart of the #1 jazz albums of 1972:
| Week Ending | Album | Artist(s) |
|---|---|---|
| January | Shaft Soundtrack | Isaac Hayes |
| February | ||
| March | Smackwater Jack | Quincy Jones |
| April | ||
| May | ||
| June | ||
| July | ||
| August | Push Push | Herbie Mann |
| September | Upendo Ni Pamoja | Ramsey Lewis Trio |
| October | ||
| November | All the King’s Horses | Grover Washington, Jr. |
| December | On the Corner | Miles Davis |
#1 Jazz Albums:
1970 · 1971 · 1972 · 1973 · 1974 · 1975 · 1976 · 1977 · 1978 · 1979
1980 · 1981 · 1982 · 1983 · 1984 · 1985 · 1986 · 1987 · 1988 · 1989
Starting in 1987, Billboard switched from having one “Top Jazz Albums” chart with forty chart positions to having two jazz albums charts: 1) the existing “Top Jazz Albums” chart was reduced to 15 chart positions, and 2) a new “Top Contemporary Jazz Albums” chart premiered with 25 positions. Here’s a chart of the #1 Top Jazz Albums of 1989:
| Week Ending | Album | Artist(s) |
|---|---|---|
| January 7 | Talkin’ ‘Bout You | Diane Schuur |
| January 21 | ||
| February 4 | ||
| February 18 | ||
| March 4 | Michel Camilo | Michel Camilo |
| March 18 | ||
| April 1 | ||
| April 15 | ||
| April 29 | Chick Corea Akoustic Band | Chick Corea Akoustic Band |
| May 13 | The Truth is Spoken Here | Marcus Roberts |
| May 27 | ||
| June 10 | Chick Corea Akoustic Band | Chick Corea Akoustic Band |
| June 24 | ||
| July 8 | ||
| July 22 | ||
| August 5 | In a Sentimental Mood | Dr. John |
| August 19 | ||
| September 2 | Tenderly | George Benson |
| September 16 | ||
| September 30 | ||
| October 14 | ||
| October 28 | ||
| November 11 | “When Harry Met Sally” Soundtrack | Harry Connick, Jr. |
| November 25 | ||
| December 9 | Waiting for Spring | David Benoit |
| December 23 |
#1 Jazz Albums:
1970 · 1971 · 1972 · 1973 · 1974 · 1975 · 1976 · 1977 · 1978 · 1979
1980 · 1981 · 1982 · 1983 · 1984 · 1985 · 1986 · 1987 · 1988 · 1989
In 1973, Billboard published a Jazz Album list sporadically for the first three months of the year with 25 albums ranked. Beginning in April, a list of 40 albums was published every two weeks. Here’s a chart of the #1 jazz albums of 1973:
| Week Ending | Album | Artist(s) |
|---|---|---|
| January 13 | Chicago V | Chicago |
| January 27 | ||
| February 24 | Strange Fruit | Billie Holiday |
| March 24 | Prelude | Deodato |
| April 7 | ||
| April 21 | ||
| May 5 | ||
| May 19 | The 2nd Crusade | The Crusaders |
| June 2 | ||
| June 16 | ||
| June 30 | Black Byrd | Donald Byrd |
| July 14 | ||
| July 28 | ||
| August 11 | You’ve Got it Bad Girl | Quincy Jones |
| August 25 | ||
| September 8 | Black Byrd | Donald Byrd |
| September 22 | Soul Box | Grover Washington, Jr. |
| October 6 | 2 | Deodato |
| October 20 | ||
| November 3 | Black Byrd | Donald Byrd |
| November 17 | ||
| December 1 | ||
| December 15 | Spectrum | Billy Cobham |
| December 29 |
#1 Jazz Albums:
1970 · 1971 · 1972 · 1973 · 1974 · 1975 · 1976 · 1977 · 1978 · 1979
1980 · 1981 · 1982 · 1983 · 1984 · 1985 · 1986 · 1987 · 1988 · 1989
#1 Contemporary Jazz Albums:
1987 · 1988 · 1989
In 1971, Billboard published a Jazz Album list weekly for the first half of the year, then monthly for the remainder of the year. Twenty albums were ranked in each chart. Here’s a chart of the #1 jazz albums of 1971:
| Week Ending | Album | Artist(s) |
|---|---|---|
| January 2 | To Be Continued | Isaac Hayes |
| January 9 | ||
| January 16 | ||
| January 23 | ||
| January 30 | ||
| February 6 | ||
| February 13 | ||
| February 20 | ||
| February 27 | Miles Davis at Fillmore | Miles Davis |
| March 6 | To Be Continued | Isaac Hayes |
| March 13 | ||
| March 20 | ||
| March 27 | Bitches Brew | Miles Davis |
| April 3 | ||
| April 10 | To Be Continued | Isaac Hayes |
| April 17 | Bitches Brew | Miles Davis |
| April 24 | ||
| May 1 | To Be Continued | Isaac Hayes |
| May 8 | ||
| May 15 | Bitches Brew | Miles Davis |
| May 22 | ||
| May 29 | To Be Continued | Isaac Hayes |
| June 5 | ||
| June 12 | ||
| June 19 | ||
| June 26 | Second Movement | Eddie Harris & Les McCann |
| July | ||
| August | ||
| September | ||
| October | ||
| November | Shaft | Isaac Hayes |
| December |
#1 Jazz Albums:
1970 · 1971 · 1972 · 1973 · 1974 · 1975 · 1976 · 1977 · 1978 · 1979
1980 · 1981 · 1982 · 1983 · 1984 · 1985 · 1986 · 1987 · 1988 · 1989
#1 Contemporary Jazz Albums:
1987 · 1988 · 1989
In 1975, Billboard published a Jazz Album list in the second and fourth issues each month with forty albums ranked. Here’s a chart of the #1 jazz albums of 1975:
| Week Ending | Album | Artist(s) |
|---|---|---|
| January 11 | Pieces of Dreams | Stanley Turrentine |
| January 25 | Southern Comfort | The Crusaders |
| February 8 | Pieces of a Dream | Stanley Turrentine |
| February 22 | Bad Benson | George Benson |
| March 8 | Sun Goddess | Ramsey Lewis |
| March 22 | ||
| April 12 | Mister Magic | Grover Washington, Jr. |
| April 26 | ||
| May 10 | ||
| May 24 | ||
| June 14 | ||
| June 28 | ||
| July 12 | ||
| July 26 | ||
| August 9 | ||
| August 23 | ||
| September 13 | ||
| September 27 | Chain Reaction | The Crusaders |
| October 11 | ||
| October 25 | Mellow Madness | Quincy Jones |
| November 8 | ||
| November 22 | Man-Child | Herbie Hancock |
| December 13 | Feels So Good | Grover Washington, Jr. |
| December 27 |
#1 Jazz Albums:
1970 · 1971 · 1972 · 1973 · 1974 · 1975 · 1976 · 1977 · 1978 · 1979
1980 · 1981 · 1982 · 1983 · 1984 · 1985 · 1986 · 1987 · 1988 · 1989
#1 Contemporary Jazz Albums:
1987 · 1988 · 1989
Starting in 1987, Billboard switched from having one “Top Jazz Albums” chart with forty chart positions to having two jazz albums charts: 1) the existing “Top Jazz Albums” chart was reduced to 15 chart positions, and 2) a new “Top Contemporary Jazz Albums” chart premiered with 25 positions. Here’s a chart of the #1 Top Jazz Albums of 1988:
| Week Ending | Album | Artist(s) |
|---|---|---|
| January 9 | Diane Schuur and The Count Basie Orchestra | Diane Schuur and The Count Basie Orchestra |
| January 23 | ||
| February 6 | ||
| February 20 | ||
| March 5 | ||
| March 19 | ||
| April 2 | ||
| April 16 | ||
| April 30 | ||
| May 14 | ||
| May 28 | ||
| June 11 | ||
| June 25 | John Patitucci | John Patitucci |
| July 9 | Ella in Rome – The Birthday Concert | Ella Fitzgerald |
| July 23 | ||
| August 6 | ||
| August 20 | ||
| September 3 | ||
| September 17 | Look What I Got | Betty Carter |
| October 1 | ||
| October 15 | ||
| October 29 | Talkin’ ‘Bout You | Diane Schuur |
| November 12 | ||
| November 26 | ||
| December 10 | ||
| December 24 |
#1 Jazz Albums:
1970 · 1971 · 1972 · 1973 · 1974 · 1975 · 1976 · 1977 · 1978 · 1979
1980 · 1981 · 1982 · 1983 · 1984 · 1985 · 1986 · 1987 · 1988 · 1989
#1 Contemporary Jazz Albums:
1987 · 1988 · 1989
