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Charles Waring

Charles has battled with vinyl addiction since he was a teenager, when David Bowie’s The Jean Genie single got him hooked on wax. After glam, he got a taste for prog and punk before a deep appreciation for soul, jazz and funk kicked in. He began writing about music in the 90s for Blues & Soul magazine before becoming a contributor to Mojo and Record Collector in the early 2000s. He has written liner notes for almost 400 albums and, in 2020, he co-authored funk singer Marva Whitney’s memoir, God, The Devil & James Brown.

Articles by Charles Waring

Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree: The Story Behind The Classic Song

In Depth

Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree: The Story Behind The Classic Song

An evergreen Christmas song, Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree is a shiny Yuletide bauble that has inspired a sleigh-full of cover versions.

Santa Claus Is Comin’ To Town: The Story Behind The Christmas Song

In Depth

Santa Claus Is Comin’ To Town: The Story Behind The Christmas Song

Originally a 30s dance-band number, Santa Claus Is Comin’ To Town has become one of the most beloved Christmas songs of all time.

Best Christmas Carols: 20 Singalong Celebrations Of Faith And Festivity

List & Guides

Best Christmas Carols: 20 Singalong Celebrations Of Faith And Festivity

Songs of good cheer with serious messages to impart, the best Christmas carols are winter warmers that never fail to lift the spirits.

Best Michael Bublé Songs: 20 Of The Canadian Crooner’s Finest Moments

List & Guides

Best Michael Bublé Songs: 20 Of The Canadian Crooner’s Finest Moments

The best Michael Bublé songs reveal a velvet-voiced artist who is both stylishly retro and coolly contemporary.

Kiss From A Rose: How Seal Came Into Bloom With Just One Song

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Kiss From A Rose: How Seal Came Into Bloom With Just One Song

Initially dismissed as an embarrassing ‘experiment’, Kiss From A Rose made the London-born singer Seal a global star.

How Seal’s 1994 Album Sealed His Success With A Kiss

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How Seal’s 1994 Album Sealed His Success With A Kiss

Released in 1994, Seal’s second self-titled album spawned his most successful song, the Grammy-winning Kiss From A Rose.

When Tina Turner Broke A World Record In Rio De Janeiro, 1988

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When Tina Turner Broke A World Record In Rio De Janeiro, 1988

Performing to a sold-out crowd of 180,000, Tina Turner’s 1988 concert in Rio De Janeiro put her name in the ‘Guinness Book Of Records’.

Why Michael Bublé’s Christmas Album Is The Gift That Keeps On Giving

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Why Michael Bublé’s Christmas Album Is The Gift That Keeps On Giving

In emulating his crooner heroes with the ‘Christmas’ album, Michael Bublé created a cracker of his very own.

Best Jazz Saxophonists: 20 Icons Who Blew Their Way Into History

List & Guides

Best Jazz Saxophonists: 20 Icons Who Blew Their Way Into History

Using their instruments to tell stories of love, loss and life, the best jazz saxophonists express what it is to be human…

Best Jazz Musicians: 20 Revolutionary Talents That Changed The World

List & Guides

Best Jazz Musicians: 20 Revolutionary Talents That Changed The World

From dazzling hornblowers to soulful singers and visionary composers, the best jazz musicians were innovators who expanded the genre.