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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

‘Erotica’: How Madonna’s Playful Tease Of An Album Climaxed In All-Out Provocation

In Depth

‘Erotica’: How Madonna’s Playful Tease Of An Album Climaxed In All-Out Provocation

A journey through a range of sexually-charged fantasies, the ‘Erotica’ album found Madonna at the frontline of gender politics.

Introspective: Inside Pet Shop Boys’ “Most Imperial Album”

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Introspective: Inside Pet Shop Boys’ “Most Imperial Album”

Magnificently bridging the gap between dance and pop music, ‘Introspective’ found Pet Shop Boys doing ‘as we liked’.

Scoundrel Days: How a-ha Signalled Their Pop Years Were Over

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Scoundrel Days: How a-ha Signalled Their Pop Years Were Over

A reaction to the fame brought on by Take On Me, the ‘Scoundrel Days’ album found a-ha forging a darker symphonic statement.

‘Fever’: When Kylie Minogue Hit Boiling Point

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‘Fever’: When Kylie Minogue Hit Boiling Point

With her ‘Fever’ album, Kylie Minogue consolidated her grip on the global charts, satisfying both her creative drive and her fans’ demands.

Best Nile Rodgers Songs: 10 Classics From Chic’s Floor-Filling Freak

List & Guides

Best Nile Rodgers Songs: 10 Classics From Chic’s Floor-Filling Freak

He made his name with Chic, but the best Nile Rodgers songs can be found scattered across records by Bowie, Madonna and more…

Music: Making The People Come Together Over Madonna In The 2000s

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Music: Making The People Come Together Over Madonna In The 2000s

With the ‘Music’ album, Madonna proved the new queens on the block had little chance of catching her critical and commercial momentum.

Can’t Get You Out Of My Head: Behind Kylie’s Unforgettable Comeback

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Can’t Get You Out Of My Head: Behind Kylie’s Unforgettable Comeback

The high point of Kylie Minogue’s dancefloor reinvention in the early 2000s, Can’t Get You Out Of My Head almost overwhelms her whole career.

Actually: How Pet Shop Boys Became Pop Revolutionaries

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Actually: How Pet Shop Boys Became Pop Revolutionaries

Determined to shape things their own way, Pet Shop Boys’ sophomore album, ‘Actually’, was an even bigger success than their first.

Bilingual: How Pet Shop Boys Caught The Latin-Pop Wave First

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Bilingual: How Pet Shop Boys Caught The Latin-Pop Wave First

With ‘Bilingual’, Pet Shop Boys took their time and looked further afield for the most diverse album of their career to date.

Best Madonna Songs: 20 Classics To Help You Get Into The Groove

List & Guides

Best Madonna Songs: 20 Classics To Help You Get Into The Groove

The best Madonna songs prove the Queen Of Pop to be the ultimate chameleon, turning out classic tracks while effortlessly staying on-trend.