Book on Peel's Festive Fifty

From Mark Whitby, the author of The Festive Fifty:

"You won't be surprised to hear that The Fall feature heavily in my recent book The Festive Fifty, or that they claim more records than any other band in the Records and Statistics section of the book. Records include Mark E. Smith's feat of featuring in Festive Fifties with five different bands, and The Fall's unique achievement of recording the only Peel Session in history from which all four tracks made the Festive Fifty (the session broadcast in June 1985). Five other Fall sessions produced three entries each. And did you realise that 17 consecutive Fall albums featured a track (at least) in the Festive Fifty? The closest anyone else can manage is PJ Harvey with 7.

The book is published via the independent Nevin Publishing and Fall fans may be interested in ordering a copy from:

Nevin Publishing
PO Box 194
Widnes
Cheshire
WA8 7WU

People can also ask at bookshops (the ISBN is 0-9548317-0-5). At the moment, there's a limited print run due to the publisher being a small scale operation, but the ISBN should help the shop to track it down.

The book covers:

A complete history of the Festive Fifty, with commentary on each year and entries of particular interest

A complete alphabetical list of every band to appear, with details of personnel who took part

The top fifty bands to appear in the Festive Fifty, with biography

The top fifty albums in terms of tracks placed in the Festive Fifty

A comprehensive records and statistics section, with everything from bands with most entries down to most successful session tracks, cover versions, electronic/dance tracks, all-female tracks, long tracks, short tracks, continental European tracks, tracks from outside Europe and North America, record labels, etc."

The book is 217 pages in length and A4 size.

Available directly from the publisher for £12.00 + £2.95 postage = £14.95 WITHIN THE UK ONLY.

Mark is also selling some copies on ebay for overseas buyers.

Order form is below to print & cut out:

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Here's the front cover:

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Oh I want one of these...not only for The Fall stuff...trouble is the uk only thing...where do I look on ebay?

Did anyone get one of these books? Can you tell us what it's like?

It's good .. especially if you like lists and you like to see the fall at the top of those lists!

Thanks Bombast. Stephen, this sounds like just your sort of thing matey!

I can highly recommend this book. Dave should have my review of it in the next issue of the Pseud Mag fanzine.

Yes it is in issue 5 for sure.

Not advertising, honest! Just thought I'd finally log on to this forum and thank all Fans fans who've bought a copy of my book on the Festive Fifty. Fall fans currently outnumber fans of other bands by about 2 to 1 in terms of how many have bought the book (at least where I can identify this). Wedding Present fans are catching up, but only very slowly.

And thanks to Conway for putting it on here in the first.

Thanks...some incredible reseach in the book...well worth it!!

It's so good I bought it twice!!!!

It is great though, not only good to see the Fall statisticly recognised but also a testament to the Festive 50. I vote Chumbawamba/ Credit To The Nation!

any copies left?

Hi
Book looks great but I am from Ireland so how do I get one?

No copies on ebay.

The postage to Ireland isn't normally much more than UK rates - should be around £4 / £4.50 instead of £2.95

I can send you a Sterling Bank Draft as payment.

Can we do business?

nlg -

Yes, please send one to the publisher's address for that amount. The book is available on Amazon, by the way.

Thanks.