“Each song selection has a unique back story…a cornucopia of surprising details about songs and artists” – Ugly Things magazine

“A wealth of information about each song’s inspiration, creation, chart performance legacy and cover versions…well written and researched” – Classic Pop magazine

“Through 21 songs, from The Rubettes’ ‘I Can Do It’ to ‘It Must Be Love’ by Madness, Fiona McQuarrie offers delicious deep dives into the stories behind some of pop’s most loved hits from the era of Walkmans and tape decks, when “home recording was killing music” and a mixtape could cement a friendship or declare undying love.” – Greg Healey, author of Not In Front of the Children: Hidden Histories in Kids’ TV

“A burning enthusiasm for the music leaps from every page. This world is a level playing field in which Steely Dan, Talking Heads and Roxy Music rub shoulders with The Rubettes, and David Lee Roth at his goofiest receives as much consideration as Kate Bush at her most cerebral. Here are the revelatory histories of songs which are so vividly realised that they play in your head, at gratifying volume, as you’re reading.” – Marco Rossi, writer for Shindig! magazine and Record Collector magazine

MIXTAPE: 21 SONGS FROM 10 YEARS (1975-1985) is published by New Haven Publishing and is available in print, Kindle eBook, and Kobo ebook. Mixtape can be purchased from retailers around the world through the links posted here.

Mixtape can also be purchased through most independent bookshops. The  ISBN number to use for bookshop orders is 978-1912587704. Please support your local independent bookshop!

LIST OF CHAPTERS

I Can Do It – Rubettes

Love Is the Drug – Roxy Music

Kid Charlemagne – Steely Dan

Love Is Alive – Gary Wright

Be Good To Yourself – Frankie Miller

I Knew the Bride – Dave Edmunds

Trans Europe Express – Kraftwerk

Burning Down The House – Talking Heads

Ain’t Living Long Like This – Rodney Crowell

I Love The Nightlife – Alicia Bridges

Too Bad – Doug and the Slugs

Romeo And Juliet – Dire Straits

Johnny and Mary – Robert Palmer

It Must Be Love – Madness

Der Kommissar – Falco

Come Back And Stay – Paul Young

Owner of A Lonely Heart – Yes

One Night In Bangkok – Murray Head

The Whole Of The Moon – The Waterboys

Just A Gigolo/I Ain’t Got Nobody – David Lee Roth

Running Up That Hill – Kate Bush