"IT'S FINALLY HERE! BLACK 40"

[at40petebattistini]

Here's an advertisement (you'll need to click on the link and scroll down to the bottom of the page) from a May 1973 edition of Billboard announcing a new radio program, Black 40.

books.google.com/books?id=OwkEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA30&lpg=PA30&dq=%22black+40%22+radio&source=bl&ots=TJ9o8anEj5&sig=DHJGHMvqrGgP3bqOlPmk9-Ki0Cg&hl=en&ei=exs6TtiWFsPUgQfn0aHPBg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=6&ved=0CDAQ6AEwBQ#v=onepage&q=%22black%2040%22%20radio&f=false

Apparently -- and unfortunately -- this show didn't last. I remember seeing the ads at this point in time but, like the sometimes elusive AT40, I wasn't able to hear it.

The Top 40 Soul singles...what a great show that would've been. I don't suppose anybody knows anything about this program...

[dukelightning]

I will second that opinion....what a great show this would have been....if you had seen that ad at the time Pete, you should have gone down to that address in Chicago and gotten the details. I hope someone on this board does remember that countdown and can shed some light on it.

[bestmusicexpert]

Never heard of it! As a huge fan of Soul, Funk and Motown, I'd have LOVED to hear this show!

[albe]

Maybe someone who was affiliated to WGRT could shed some light....any links there PETE

[dougray2]

Sorry I never heard of this show. However, there was a countdown that aired on sunday nights in the late 70s on AT40 affiliate Z93 in Winston-Salem NC. DJ Ernie C counted down the top 30 soul songs of the week according to Billboard. I believe the show was called Soul Countdown, but it was a locally produced show and was not syndicated. However, I listened to it every week along with AT40. Use To Be My Girl by the OJays was #1 on the first show I heard.

[40fan]

I've long wondered why, after the success of AT40 and American Country Countdown, Watermark never did a soul countdown show. Maybe the short life of this show was a factor.

BTW, do a search for BLACK 40 and some of the first results are:
a UK metal band
a line of cufflinks by Nordstrom
a Canon ink cartrige (which reminds me, I need a new one)