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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

‘Memorial Beach’: Was This Album a-ha’s Epitaph, Or A Critical Safety Valve?

In Depth

‘Memorial Beach’: Was This Album a-ha’s Epitaph, Or A Critical Safety Valve?

With the world at their feet, a-ha let musical and creative tensions lead the way for ‘Memorial Beach’, their most surprising album.

Love At First Sight: All Eyes On Kylie’s Dance-Pop Makeover

In Depth

Love At First Sight: All Eyes On Kylie’s Dance-Pop Makeover

Part of an unstoppable commercial reboot, Love At First Sight proved Kylie’s early 2000s renaissance was no fluke.

Madonna Album Covers: All 14 Studio Artworks, Ranked And Reviewed

List & Guides

Madonna Album Covers: All 14 Studio Artworks, Ranked And Reviewed

As chameleonic as any of her contemporaries, the best Madonna album covers stand as some of the most recognisable artworks in the world.

‘Fundamental’: Behind Pet Shop Boys’ Boldest, Most Political Album

In Depth

‘Fundamental’: Behind Pet Shop Boys’ Boldest, Most Political Album

Described by Neil Tennant as “the most extreme example of us going from one extreme to another”, ‘Fundamental’ was impossible to pigeonhole.

Stay On These Roads: When a-ha Took A New Creative Track

In Depth

Stay On These Roads: When a-ha Took A New Creative Track

Signalling a major change up ahead, the ‘Stay On These Roads’ album found a-ha turning away from the pop formula that brought them fame.

West End Girls: Behind Pet Shop Boys’ Cinematic Signature Song

West End Girls: Behind Pet Shop Boys’ Cinematic Signature Song

Inspired by hip-hop and ‘the pressure of living in a modern city’, West End Girls kick-started one of the most successful careers in pop.

Please: Why We Should All Give Thanks For Pet Shop Boys’ Debut Album

In Depth

Please: Why We Should All Give Thanks For Pet Shop Boys’ Debut Album

Defining Pet Shop Boy’s pop-art manifesto right from the start, ‘Please’ was a rich, confident debut album.

Like A Prayer: The Album That Elevated Madonna To Pop-Deity Status

In Depth

Like A Prayer: The Album That Elevated Madonna To Pop-Deity Status

Pushing the boundaries of what was considered a Madonna album, ‘Like A Prayer’ found the singer heeding the call of her artistic ambitions.

Journeys To Glory: The Start Of Spandau Ballet’s Flight To The Top

In Depth

Journeys To Glory: The Start Of Spandau Ballet’s Flight To The Top

Spandau Ballet’s debut album, ‘Journeys To Glory’, was a revolution in sound and style that helped kick-start the 80s.

Ray Of Light: Behind Madonna’s Shining Late 90s Reinvention

In Depth

Ray Of Light: Behind Madonna’s Shining Late 90s Reinvention

Bolstered by producer William Orbit’s experimental electronica, the ‘Ray Of Light’ album made it possible to imagine a 21st-century Madonna.