Marc Burrows, with his tongue and cheek humour and extensive music knowledge explores the peculiarly British cultural phenomenon of the Christmas chart, something that, prior to 1973, wasn’t particularly important 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 its life. 

He traces the origins of the concept, through the Beatles and the-years-when-it-wasn’t-really-a-thing, the glam boom, Band Aid, novelty records, the X-Factor years and the awful Sausage Roll charity records of the 2020s, supported by interviews with figures involved in some of the most iconic hits and notable chart battles of the past half century and obsessive, in-depth research. He explores the sometimes fascinating and sometimes weird and unlikely stories behind some of the most beloved (and some of the most utterly loathed) songs in British musical history. 

Ostensibly a nostalgic music book, Tinsel & Fire will also, quietly, serve as a pop culture social history, examining our relationship with Christmas itself, the way our national identity is reflected in the music we come together to listen to, the way the music industry has changed, the way the Christmas number one reflects the social reality of the day, and also what it shows us about how technology and culture has changed the way music is consumed.

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