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Mark Elliott

Mark Elliott balances a passion for all things pop with a day-job managing the content and commercial fortunes of one of Britain’s largest specialist magazine publishers. His career has taken him from the boardroom of Time Out London (where he was Managing Director) to the publishing hotseat at brands such as Closer and Empire. All of this interesting career stuff pales in comparison besides his – frankly ridiculous – record-collecting habit (how many overseas variant covers of Like A Virgin does anyone really need?) and The Ministry Of Pop, his book on Stock Aitken Waterman, published in 2017.

Articles by Mark Elliott

Ordinary World: How Duran Duran Created A Manifesto For The Future

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Ordinary World: How Duran Duran Created A Manifesto For The Future

With the hit song Ordinary World, Duran Duran engineered a career reignition that propelled them into a new era.

Like A Virgin: The Story Behind Madonna’s Career-Making Song

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Like A Virgin: The Story Behind Madonna’s Career-Making Song

Like A Virgin was a game-changing song: its catchy pop hooks and transformative video gave Madonna her first megahit.

Don’t Cry For Me Argentina: The Story Behind Madonna’s ‘Evita’ Anthem

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Don’t Cry For Me Argentina: The Story Behind Madonna’s ‘Evita’ Anthem

The song that made the musical ‘Evita’, Don’t Cry For Me Argentina would prove to be one of the greatest challenges of Madonna’s career…

Material Girl: The Story Behind Madonna’s Richly Satirical Hit Song

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Material Girl: The Story Behind Madonna’s Richly Satirical Hit Song

One of Madonna’s most famous songs, Material Girl helped define the 80s. But everything wasn’t quite what it seemed – deliberately so.

Justify My Love: Is This Madonna’s Most Controversial Song?

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Justify My Love: Is This Madonna’s Most Controversial Song?

Madonna’s most provocative single to date, Justify My Love was a sex-positive anthem that shocked the world.

‘East Of The Sun, West Of The Moon’: a-ha’s New Creative Dawn

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‘East Of The Sun, West Of The Moon’: a-ha’s New Creative Dawn

With the ‘East Of The Sun, West Of The Moon’ album, a-ha took a grittier rock approach which supported their growing confidence on stage.

Erotica: The Story Behind Madonna’s Wildly Controversial Song

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Erotica: The Story Behind Madonna’s Wildly Controversial Song

Issued in 1992, Erotica, the lead song from Madonna’s album of the same name, faced a barrage of controversy not entirely of its own making…

Everybody: The Story Behind Madonna’s Universally Great Debut Song

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Everybody: The Story Behind Madonna’s Universally Great Debut Song

Madonna’s debut single, Everybody, still packs dancefloors. ‘I remember the feeling when I heard it on the radio,’ says ‘The Queen Of Pop’.

‘Light Years’: How Kylie Minogue Found Her Future In Disco

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‘Light Years’: How Kylie Minogue Found Her Future In Disco

Released in the year 2000, ‘Light Years’ reset Kylie Minogue’s career in spectacular fashion. It remains the ultimate comeback album.

True Blue: The Story Behind Madonna’s Insightful Hit Song

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True Blue: The Story Behind Madonna’s Insightful Hit Song

A slick 50s/60s pop homage, the song True Blue was another smash-hit single for Madonna, but few had seen it coming…