Smash Hits Magazine – 19 June to 2 July 1996 – Mariah Carey Cover

Original UK Smash Hits Magazine dated 19 June – 2 July 1996, featuring a striking full-cover photograph of Mariah Carey, alongside articles about Boyzone, Tina Turner, Gabrielle, Robert Miles, Def Leppard and other major music stars of the mid-1990s.

This vintage issue captures an exciting period in popular music, combining American chart stars, British and Irish pop groups, dance music, celebrity interviews, original photographs, music reviews and the magazine's distinctive colourful editorial style.

The magazine also includes its regular songword section, celebrity features, reader correspondence, competitions and entertainment news.

An appealing original publication for collectors of Mariah Carey, 1990s pop music and vintage Smash Hits memorabilia.

Front Cover – Mariah Carey

The front cover is dominated by a large, close-up portrait of Mariah Carey, photographed with long, flowing light-brown hair and looking towards the camera.

The photograph uses warm golden tones against a rich purple-blue background, creating an attractive and instantly recognisable mid-1990s pop magazine cover.

The main headline reads:

"The Tonsil-Tastic Rags-to-Riches Rise of... Mariah Carey – She Talks to the Hits"

The cover promotes a major interview exploring Mariah's extraordinary rise to international success.

By June 1996, Mariah Carey was already one of the world's biggest recording artists, following the success of albums including Music Box and Daydream.

This magazine dates from the period when songs such as Always Be My Baby were enjoying international popularity.

The cover also advertises:

• Boyzone and Eternal – The Truth, Inside!

• Robert Miles

• Def Leppard

• Tina Turner in Holland

• A special feature on the richest people in pop

• A songword pull-out

• Euro 96 competitions and prizes

The bottom of the cover features a montage of male pop stars against a background of illustrated pound coins, accompanying the headline:

"Who Are the Richest People in Pop? The Top 20 Revealed Inside!"

The original UK cover price is 90p.

Mariah Carey – World Exclusive Interview – Page 14

One of the magazine's principal features is an interview with Mariah Carey, beginning on page 14.

The contents page describes the article as a World Exclusive, highlighting the magazine's access to the American superstar.

The feature explores her rise to fame and presents a contemporary look at her career during the successful Daydream era.

This is an interesting collectible for Mariah Carey fans because it dates from her original 1990s recording career rather than a later retrospective publication.

The front-cover photograph is particularly attractive for display, with Mariah's portrait occupying almost the entire cover.

Emma's Letter – Mariah Carey Interview

An unusual feature of this issue is the opening editorial page headed "Emma's Letter".

The page includes a photograph of the Statue of Liberty and an editorial discussing a recent trip to New York.

The editor describes meeting Mariah Carey for an interview and comments on her appearance, personality and the experience of speaking with her.

This gives readers an additional behind-the-scenes perspective on the main cover feature.

The page also discusses other contemporary pop stars and the magazine's regular celebrity coverage.

For Mariah Carey collectors, the combination of the front-cover photograph, exclusive interview and introductory editorial makes this a particularly interesting issue.

The Richest People in Pop – Page 27

A major feature advertised on the front cover examines the financial success of famous musicians.

The article is titled "The Richest People in Pop".

The contents page specifically mentions George Michael and Gary Barlow while introducing the magazine's ranking of wealthy pop stars.

The cover advertises a top-20 countdown, offering a snapshot of how music-industry wealth was reported in 1996.

This is an entertaining historical feature reflecting the enormous commercial success of pop music during the decade.

Cannes Film Festival – Page 12

The magazine includes coverage of the Cannes Film Festival, beginning on page 12.

The contents page describes the festival's celebrities, glamorous atmosphere and film-world excitement.

An accompanying photograph shows a formally dressed couple attending an event.

This feature provides additional celebrity and entertainment coverage beyond the magazine's usual music articles.

Gabrielle – Page 38

British singer Gabrielle appears in a feature beginning on page 38.

The contents describe the singer's return to the music scene.

Gabrielle was one of Britain's prominent soul and pop singers during the 1990s, known for her distinctive voice and successful chart releases.

This contemporary feature will appeal to collectors of British soul and R&B memorabilia.

Shane Lynch – Boyzone – Page 40

Shane Lynch, a member of Irish boy band Boyzone, appears in a dedicated feature beginning on page 40.

The contents advertise the second part of an in-depth series about the singer.

The feature discusses Shane's experiences with fame and the public attention surrounding Boyzone.

A black-and-white promotional photograph of Shane appears on the contents page.

Boyzone were among the biggest pop groups in Britain and Ireland during 1996, making this a desirable period feature for fans of the band.

The front cover also advertises Boyzone and Eternal in a separate entertainment story.

Tina Turner – Page 42

One of the standout features of this issue is its coverage of legendary singer Tina Turner.

The contents page advertises an article beginning on page 42, following Tina during a concert appearance in Holland.

A large colour photograph shows Tina performing on stage.

She is pictured singing into a handheld microphone while wearing a sparkling stage outfit.

Her distinctive hairstyle, energetic pose and dramatic stage presence are clearly captured.

The photograph occupies a prominent position on the contents page and reflects the spectacular live performances for which Tina Turner was famous.

The article provides a contemporary record of Tina's touring career during the mid-1990s.

Particularly interesting for collectors of Tina Turner concert and music memorabilia.

Robert Miles – Page 46

Italian electronic musician and DJ Robert Miles appears in a feature beginning on page 46.

The contents describe the artist's growing popularity and include a small promotional photograph.

Robert Miles was enjoying major international success in 1996, particularly through his influential electronic music.

This article provides a contemporary snapshot of the European dance music scene during one of its most commercially successful periods.

Original Eight-Page Songword Pull-Out

The photographs clearly show the opening page of the magazine's eight-page Smash Hits Songword Pull-Out.

The section features British pop-rock group Let Loose, with a large colour photograph of the band's three members.

The group are pictured together against a blue background.

The headline reads:

"Let Loose – Let Down Their Guard"

The visible songword cover lists the following artists and songs:

• Let Loose: Make It With You

• Black Grape: England's Irie

• Simply Red: We're in This Together

• Mariah Carey: Always Be My Baby

• Maxi Priest & Shaggy: That Girl

• Gabrielle: Forget About the World

This printed section is a nostalgic reminder of the period when Smash Hits regularly published lyrics to popular chart singles.

The photographed opening page remains present, although the complete eight-page section has not been individually checked.

Advertised Celebrity Posters

The magazine's contents page clearly includes a dedicated poster section.

The advertised poster subjects are:

Mariah Carey

A Mariah Carey poster is listed, making this issue particularly relevant to fans who collect her original 1990s magazine appearances.

Backstreet Boys

The American boy band Backstreet Boys are included among the advertised poster subjects.

This dates from the early period of the group's international success.

Let Loose

British pop-rock group Let Loose are listed as another poster subject, complementing their appearance in the songword section.

Shane Lynch

Boyzone member Shane Lynch is also included in the advertised poster selection.

Important: These poster subjects are confirmed by the photographed contents page. However, the individual poster pages have not been photographed or checked for completeness, so their presence and condition cannot be guaranteed.

Additional Features and Regular Sections

What's The Story? – Page 4

Six pages of contemporary entertainment and pop news.

The contents reference Boyzone, Eternal, the Spice Girls, Patsy Kensit and other celebrities.

Mystic Mag – Page 25

The magazine's regular horoscope and astrology feature.

Fanbase – Page 48

Reader information, fan club addresses, celebrity contact information and fan correspondence.

Letters – Page 52

Reader letters discussing popular musicians, celebrity news and entertainment topics.

Reviews – Pages 54–58

Original reviews of singles, albums and films.

The contents reference music from Black Grape, Babylon Zoo, Ash, Dana Dawson, Louise, Dodgy and other contemporary performers.

The Biscuit Tin – Page 60

A humorous celebrity feature involving Caroline Quentin and Lesley Ash from the television comedy Men Behaving Badly.

The contents page features a large promotional image of the two actresses.

Can You Handle It? – Page 63

A celebrity interview feature involving Joe Elliott of Def Leppard.

The contents describe a humorous discussion relating to Jarvis Cocker.

Euro 96 and Original Competitions

This issue was published during the UEFA Euro 1996 football tournament, held in England.

The magazine includes several competitions and promotional features linked to the tournament.

The contents advertise opportunities to win Euro 96 tickets and other prizes.

There is also a promotional reference to England's semi-final appearance and a feature involving the Three Lions.

These advertisements are interesting examples of how football and popular music overlapped during the summer of 1996.

The contents page also shows a Smash Hits Scratch Hits Game advertisement.

Any original scratchcards or separate promotional materials are not included unless clearly shown in the photographs.

All original competitions and promotional offers have expired.

Collector Interest

This issue is particularly appealing because it combines several major musical personalities from different genres.

Mariah Carey represents the international pop and R&B scene, while Boyzone and Backstreet Boys reflect the popularity of 1990s boy bands.

Tina Turner provides classic rock and soul appeal, while Robert Miles represents the electronic dance music boom.

The issue also includes British pop and alternative artists such as Black Grape, Let Loose, Simply Red and Gabrielle.

The magazine is suitable for collectors of:

• Mariah Carey memorabilia

• Original 1990s Smash Hits magazines

• Boyzone and Shane Lynch

• Backstreet Boys

• Tina Turner

• Robert Miles

• Def Leppard and Joe Elliott

• Gabrielle

• Let Loose

• British and international 1990s pop music

• Euro 96 popular culture memorabilia

Condition – Please Read Carefully

Condition: Pre-owned vintage magazine with visible signs of age, handling and storage.

The photographs show the actual magazine being offered.

Front Cover

The main Mariah Carey photograph remains colourful and clearly visible.

The original cover design, lettering and promotional headlines are still easily readable.

Visible imperfections include:

• Noticeable rubbing and wear along the left-hand spine.

• Small scuffs and areas of colour loss around the spine edge.

• Light creasing and surface marks on the front cover.

• Minor scratches and handling marks, particularly visible against the darker background.

• Some wear and bending around the corners and outer edges.

• Small age-related marks and general storage wear.

The cover remains attractive despite these imperfections.

Spine and Binding

The spine shows visible signs of handling, including creasing, rubbing and edge wear.

The magazine opens sufficiently to display the photographed contents and songword pages.

The photographed pages appear attached, although the complete binding has not been individually checked.

Interior Pages

The photographed interior pages retain their original printed photographs, text and colourful layouts.

The editorial introduction, contents pages and opening songword page are visibly present.

There is some light page curling and normal handling wear.

The interior photographs remain clear and colourful.

No major tears are apparent in the photographed interior sections, although pages not shown have not been individually inspected.

Overall Assessment

Good vintage condition with visible spine wear, minor cover creasing, edge rubbing and general age-related handling marks.

This is an original magazine from 1996 and should not be considered mint or unread.

Please examine all supplied photographs carefully before purchasing.

Original Free Gifts and Promotional Items

Any original loose free gifts, scratchcards, detachable promotional items, separate supplements or other extras that may originally have accompanied the magazine are no longer included unless clearly visible in the photographs.

The opening page of the eight-page songword section is visibly present.

The completeness of any advertised poster or detachable section has not been individually verified.

The sale is for the original magazine and the printed material remaining within it, as photographed.

Publication Details

Magazine: Smash Hits
Issue Date: 19 June – 2 July 1996
Original UK Cover Price: 90p
Publication Frequency: Fortnightly
Main Cover Star: Mariah Carey
Other Featured Artists: Boyzone, Tina Turner, Robert Miles, Def Leppard, Gabrielle, Backstreet Boys, Let Loose, Simply Red and Black Grape
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Language: English
Format: Original printed music magazine
Condition: Pre-owned
SKU: 1570

Packaging and Delivery

UK Orders: The magazine will be carefully packaged and sent in a protective hardback envelope to help minimise bending and damage during transit.

International Orders: The magazine will be carefully packaged in a sturdy cardboard mailing-size box for additional protection during international delivery.

Please inspect all supplied photographs carefully, as they form part of the description and show the actual magazine you will receive.