The Story of the Christmas No. 1

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Marc Burrowsexplores the peculiarly British cultural phenomenon of the Christmas single's chart. The festive top spot was something that, prior to 1973, wasn't particularlyimportant but has since become a cornerstone of the December news cycle and,for years, an annual cultural moment ... that may have reached the end of itslife. He tracesthe origins of the concept, through the Beatles andthe-years-when-it-wasn't-really-a-thing, the Glam rock boom, Band Aid, noveltyrecords, the X-Factor years and the awful Sausage Roll charity records of the2020s, supported by interviews with figures involved in some of the most iconichits and notable chart battles of the past half century and obsessive, in-depthresearch. He explores the sometimes fascinating and sometimes weird andunlikely stories behind some of the most beloved (and some of the most utterlyloathed) songs in British musical history. The Story of the Christmas No. 1 is more than just a nostalgic music book. It subtly explores pop culture and social history, examining our relationshipwith Christmas, how our national identity is reflected in the music we listento together, and how the music industry has changed. It also reveals how theChristmas No. 1 reflects the current social reality of today and how technologyand culture have reshaped the way music is consumed.
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