Into the Groove

THE ARTS DESK – BEST BOOKS OF 2025

An epic compendium of stories and trivia from the 80s music scene

Its almost indecently entertainingThe Mail on Sunday

Justin Lewis tells pops never-ending story brilliantlyDavid Quantick

The eighties was one of the most innovative periods in the history of pop music – and even forty years on remains one of the best-loved, championed by radio, television, advertisements, theatre and films, with many of the acts still performing and recording.

Into the Groove is a tale of pop and circumstance. It charts the global story of pop music month by month from January 1980 to December 1989, highlighting a variety of events and tracing the career paths of many noteworthy pop acts around the world, including Annie Lennox, A-ha, Roxette, Prince, Madonna, Kraftwerk, David Bowie, Whitney Houston, Sugarcubes – and many more. It celebrates genres of all kinds – the enduring and the faddish, the mainstream and the underground, from post-punk to acid house, from heavy rock to electronic, from hip hop to teen pop – showcasing many of the decades key recordings, figures and events, while also revealing plenty of intriguing lesser-known stories to create a wry and diverse musical tapestry.

The perfect gift for any music lover or eighties aficionado, Into the Groove is an endlessly entertaining homage to the 1980s music scene.

A treasure chest of pop riches ... I loved this book! Samira Ahmed

Forensic, forthright and downright unputdownableIan Wade

REVISIT THE ULTIMATE DECADE IN MUSIC HISTORY

· 1980: Blondies Debbie Harry sings Call Me with the Muppets on their TV variety series.

· 1981: Kicking off with Video Killed the Radio Star by Buggles, MTV in the US becomes the first 24-hour TV music station in the world.

· 1982: Newcomers Culture Club replace an unavailable Shakin Stevens for their Top of the Pops debut.

· 1983: The compact disc and the karaoke machine are launched in the UK.

· 1984: Rick Rubins new Def Jam record label specialises in a mix of hip hop and rock, introducing LL Cool J and the Beastie Boys.

· 1985: Duran Duran, Madonna, Phil Collins and U2 are among the dozens of artists appearing at Live Aid for Africa, which raises millions to ease famine relief.

· 1986: Love Cant Turn Around and Jack Your Body become the first House records from Chicago to cross over into the mainstream.

· 1987: In Australia, Neighbours actor Kylie Minogue records her first single – with a cover of The Loco-Motion.

· 1988: Seventeen-year-old MC Lyte, with Lyte as a Rock, becomes the first ever female rapper to release a full album.

· 1989: Members of New Order, The Smiths and Pet Shop Boys join forces for Electronics single Getting Away with It.