Books / Marc Burrows
New book ‘Mistletoe and Vinyl’ tells the story of the Christmas No. 1
A former Londoner who has made his home in Bristol, Marc Burrows is an undeniably prolific writer (The Independent, Big Issue, The New Statesman), comedian, musician, and voracious devourer of culture.
His books include biographies of David Bowie and Marc Bolan (The London Boys), Nirvana, as well as collections of his music journalism and early fanzines of the Manic Street Preachers.
His award-winning 2020 biography The Magic of Terry Pratchett went on to become a stage show that he toured around the UK; it was followed up with a companion book Turtles All The Way Down.
Now, Burrows has turned his attention to a peculiarity of the UK music scene: the Christmas No. 1.
Book cover for Mistletoe & Vinyl, The Story of The Christmas No. 1 – photo: Marc Burrows
His new book Mistletoe and Vinyl tells the story of the phenomenon that has captured the national imagination for so many years.
“From glam rock giants to Band Aid, from novelty records to X-Factor domination, and more recently charity sausage rolls – each year the competition captures headlines, divides households, and shapes festive playlists”, he asserts.
In a book brimming with nostalgia, Burrows analyses what’s behind “the songs we love, the ones we loathe”, and asks “why the tradition may now be on life support”.
Marc Burrows – photo: Alexis Dubus
Phil Jupitus has written the foreword, in which he writes: “Marc Burrows plunges headfirst into the icy waters of the wackiest of races.
“This book is an essential guide for those of us who hate or indeed love this annual struggle for artistic commercial dominance.”
Currently touring the UK, Burrows will be visiting Bristol Central Library on December 11 to give a free lunchtime talk about the book.
Photo: Marc Burrows
Lunchtime Talk: The Story of the Christmas No.1: Mistletoe and Vinyl is at Bristol Central Library on December 11 at 12.30pm. Tickets are free and can be reserved at the library website. Follow Marc Burrows @20thcenturymarc.
Main photo: Alexis Dubus
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