'No Wonder Its Called Boxing Day!'

Well peeps, I sincerely hope you had a better Christmas than I did this year! Christmas Day wasn't so bad... after starting with a row, coming home to find my Dads garage lock had been vandalised so he couldn't put the car away, a fight over the road from where I live - complete with shouting, an ambulance and the police and being unable to sleep! My only solace was that I finished the day by watching 'Scrooge' with Alastair Sim again. I always watch that film at some point during Christmas and left it rather late this time. No matter how many times I see it the film always makes me blub and helps to make my own life , which is far from perfect at the moment, seem better.

Boxing Day added even more misery to the pot though and was like one of Jeremy Beadle's pranks! After working for half an hour on a review for Amazon.com I was just checking it out to make sure the wording was fine when BOOM! the Internet went down... To add to my misery, the telephone connection was also down and so I was left with no way of contacting anyone, writing a blog or doing ANYTHING pretty much!

As is traditional for me on Boxing Day, I then turned my attention to the Racing and the King George at Kempton. Now I know that having a bet at Christmas time is asking for trouble but I used to gamble EVERY DAY and now only allow myself certain days on the calendar to 'have a go' so its actually quite a source of excitement and pleasure for me to 'take on the old enemy' on Boxing Day. To be honest, I really fancied my chances this year (always fatal!) and was quietly confident of a win. Well, to say that things didn't work out would be an understatement! My nap of the day ran in the first race at Kempton and I rushed home eager to watch it...only to find that Channel 4 were not showing that race!
When I heard the result my horse was nowhere! What made it even more annoying was that the 'main danger' I had made a note of WON and at 12/1! HA HA 

I tell you, whenever as a gambler you get a start like that you just know its not going to be your day. In the end I failed to get a single winner. One of my horses bolted and was withdrawn at the start, one made a bad mistake at the last and threw victory away and two others were pulled up - it was just one of those days!

Add to all this 'jollity' my Dad constantly going on about what he'd like to do to the person who keeps vandalising his garage ( this is the 4th time they have damaged the lock) and my Mum whining about stuff and you have an idea of how CRAP yesterday was! It really does tickle me sometimes how my luck at Christmas always seems to run out. I guess thats why watching 'A Christmas Carol' is such a tonic because it puts all these minor - but INCREDIBLY annoying things into perspective. It seems to me that the more you love something and are determined to enjoy it the more life does to kick you where it hurts.

Today though I will get to see how TRULY lucky I am in spite of another dysfunctional Christmas. I am going to 'Surviving Christmas' this afternoon to entertain the homeless people. My voice is not likely to be that great to be honest as I haven't sung for quite a while but all I can do is do my best. My friend, Sally, goes every year and has roped me in today. I have genuine fears (realistic ones too!) of ending up homeless myself in the near future so I will be facing a few fears by helping out today. Still, I am sure the experience will be character building and if I manage to make even one persons Christmas a bit brighter I will be fulfilled. I really shouldn't complain about my lot but it would be SO LOVELY if just once I managed to have the kind of happy Christmas I so wish for...

Oh well, roll on 2014!

'Merry Christmas!'

Well, todays the day! I hope you all have something fabulous lined up to make the day a memorable one. My Christmas is not going to be a spectacular event this year but at least I am not flooded out like a lot of poor souls and spending quality time with loved ones is never time wasted...

Funnily enough though I have been thinking about the years I spent Christmas on holiday the last day or two. Its always refreshing to travel and see a bit of the world but as my Christmas holiday to Kufstein in Austria proved, the grass (or snow in this case) is not always greener on the other side.

A department store in Kufstein. Typically for my luck they were closed while I was there!

I was going through a bit of a depression in 2007 and so decided that the best thing I could do was to book up a Christmas  break and head off to the land of snow and mountains. At that time I was in work at a music merchandise company called 'Masons Music Ltd' and the workload up until Christmas there was always incredible. Virtually every day would involve doing some overtime and the amount of phone calls we used to get was amazing. It was hard work and very tiring but my boss was a great bloke and was always very generous to us all at the end of it. He used to take us all out for a meal, give us extra wages AND let us take a present from the warehouse so putting in so much effort was never difficult just tiring.

Anyway, with all that work ahead of me I knew that I needed something to look forward to and so a holiday to 'Kufstein' in Austria in a 4 star hotel seemed ideal. Snow, snow, slopes, fairy lights, carols and MORE snow was I felt sure to be on the agenda and a 4 star hotel should be quite a swanky place to stay as well! To be pampered and to be forced to be jolly and make new friends seemed like the ideal remedy to my woes...

Snowless Kufstein - Nice lights though!

As ever, however, things did not quite go to plan! Sure, Austria had all the snow anyone could want but Kufstein itself was almost snow free. My idea of soft, crunchy, fluffy snow also went out of the window as an excursion to Kitzbuhel on Boxing Day proved when all I found there was a wet and quite dirty looking place where no where was open! Salzburg was lovely but it was just one day out of seven and the 4 days of traveling there and back on a coach almost killed me...

Worst of all though was my 4 star hotel. The 'luxury' I expected to find turned out so bad in fact that I made the following two videos to upload on Youtube when I got home...

Things did not start out well from the minute we arrived at the hotel. My name and the names of another couple were not on the guest list and because of that I think they and I ended up getting the 'spare rooms' usually designated for our drivers. The fact that neither of our drivers ended up staying at the hotel seems to back this up though they might not have chosen to do so  because they'd been there before!

A friend of mine always tells me that I become very funny whenever I get depressed. The upside of this story is that both of the videos above turned out to be huge hits on Youtube. Because of this I really got the bug for making films and as of now have over 240 on my Maybrick44 channel! I wouldn't want to put you off going to Austria for Christmas because it is a beautiful place but if you do go make sure you go for longer than 7 days if you are traveling by coach because for three days actually there the traveling spoils it. If you can, stay in Salzburg because it has a lot of winter charm and is full of festive atmosphere. Be VERY careful where you stay though and make sure you check out your hotel online BEFORE you book up.

I DID get my 'revenge' on the hotel staff though because I had packed a complete Father Christmas outfit into my case and came down Christmas Day dressed up in it. I went in to where they were holding the disco, took over the mic and made a few speeches/had a few jokes with the people I knew from my coach. NO ONE realised who the hell I was so it was quite hilarious really - the staff did not know whether to grab me and throw me out or not!!!

Me as Father Christmas in Kufstein, Austria 2007

This Christmas story does have a happy ending though. Aside from gaining a new interest in making films I got some great footage and pictures of Salzburg and the Von Trappe Mansion (The Sound Of Music?) which I subsequently used for the artwork of my 'In Words, In Music...Of Life, Of Death' poetry/music album. Some of the other footage I got on that holiday went into my videos for 'Its Christmas Time' and my latest festive song 'A Winters Tale' so all in all it wasn't a disaster just not the uplifting experience I hoped for at the time...

Merry Christmas! xxxx 

'The Magic Of Candlelight'

We suffered a power cut at home last night due to the weather. One minute I was browsing the Internet on my laptop in my bedroom - the next I was plunged into total darkness bar the light from my computer screen...

The power came on again but then went off once more and so I lit a candle, turned off my laptop and just sat back and soaked up the atmosphere. With the wind howling away outside and the draft from my slightly ajar bedroom window making the flame of my candle dance and cast creepy shadows everywhere I felt just as if I had been transported back in time to the days of Ebeneezer Scrooge.

Was I too about to be visited by three ghosts? There was no use in hiding under the bedclothes like old Scrooge that was for sure! I got out my camera and took a few pictures of my candle burning bright in its brand new 'Wizzard' candle holder. I bought that during my visit to Seaford earlier this year as a present for someone else. As usual, however, in the end I bought them something different but (for once!) was quite happy that I did because I had wanted to keep it for myself all along!


'Hubble, bubble, toil and trouble' my little Wizzard looked just like the 70's television character 'Catweazle' with a hat on! I met the actor who played "Catweazle', Geoffrey Bayldon, earlier this year when I attended the 'Catweazle Fan Club' weekend get-together in East Horsley. The residue from the fallout of that weekend haunted me for some time actually as the fan club objected to a series of films I made of my time there for my Youtube channel. When I refused to take them off the net I was banned and thrown out of the club so my happiness at sharing in something dear to me and at meeting my hero was short-lived. Its a pity there isn't a ghost of 'hindsight' because we could all do with being visited by him or her regularly!

I can see now why people associate candlelight with relaxation. There is something natural, almost primeval about a flickering flame as opposed to modern lighting. I HATE the new bulbs anyway! They take an AGE to get bright, are full of Mercury and look ugly yet we are being forced to use them by the E.U. I won't start off about The E.U. and my hatred of it here as this is a Christmas blog  but lets just say that its very existence is one of the things that makes me such a retro loving person. Sure, 'the good old days' were never as good as we remember them but the modern day could certainly learn a lot from the past in my humble opinion.

One of my Christmas fantasies revolves around having the money to start up a business re-creating 'A Victorian Christmas'. How cool would it be to be able to go and stay in a HUGE mansion over Christmas bedecked in all of the traditional decorations! Not only that but I would BAN mobile phones, Laptops etc. 'Guests' would be picked up at an agreed location by hansom cab complete with black horses and driver and kitted out with Victorian costumes to wear during their time at the mansion on arrival. I would hire a combination of ordinary staff and actors to help re-create an authentic feel to things and entertainments would revolve around parlour games, masked balls and story telling. The cost of doing all this would of course be horrendous but if I won the lottery I'd gladly do it at least once just to have the experience of it myself!

Oh well, enough dreaming for one day. Have a cracking Christmas Eve - whatever the weather xx

'The Twelve Days Of Christmas'

'The Twelve Days Of Christmas' is a traditional song that warms the heart of both young and old. With its simple lyrics it is one of those songs that is fun to sing with all the family at Christmas. You don't have to be a great singer to take part and if you have a bit of imagination you can even 'adapt' the song to suit your own personal subject.

This is exactly what Shorelink Community Writers decided to do a few years back for part of their Christmas show. The video from the performance has long been a source of amusement within Shorelink because some of those who had taken part in rehearsals couldn't make it on the day and so the remaining 'players' had to make do and fill in here and there. Well, as you can see from this video, we were all doing a sterling job until about half way through the song and then all hell started to break loose!

I'm sorry that the quality of the video is so poor but the film was shot on a proper video camera and the footage needs to be converted into another format before I can load it into my Mac and edit it. This has just not happened  up until now and so I simply played it on my laptop and filmed it from there. The picture isn't great but you can see and hear whats going on and thats good enough for something that I hope will give you a festive laugh (or three)...

It is blowing a gale and peeing with rain here AGAIN so I venture that watching silly videos like this is going to be as near as I get to enjoying myself at present!

'Nearly There!'

Well, we are nearly at the finishing line for this years Christmas build up. It hasn't been the most memorable of Christmas run ins this year for me as the weather (will it EVER stop raining!) has been far from anything you imagine when thinking of a 'Winter Wonderland'. My luck hasn't been that great either as far as my camera letting me down TWICE on visits to Battle and my unavailability because of a writing festival in London to be able to attend my favourite Christmas Fair...

The papers though have cheered me up a bit with a few Christmassy stories and my old pal, Charles Dickens, would be well chuffed with teenager, Jordan Cox, who according to THE SUN used a selection of promotional vouchers to 'buy' £572.16 worth of food from Tesco's for 4p and then gave the lot to the charity, Doorstep. Now THATS the Christmas spirit old 'Charlie boy' was hoping to conjure up in all of us!

Old 'Charlie boy' Mr Charles Dickens and GOD BLESS his cotton socks!

Christmas is such a special time of the year but it is also a time when loneliness, financial worries, frustrations and thoughts of the past/missing loved ones strike home hardest. This Christmas please make sure that those you know who are alone are made aware of how loved and cherished they are. We all tend to get carried away with the hullabaloo that surrounds us at Christmas and often many amongst us who are sad, lost or are suffering are made to feel more so by the happiness of others. Christmas is a time to open your eyes as well as your heart and that is a part of the Christmas message I will always mention at this time no matter how many years (or not) I write this blog...

We all have unfulfilled dreams, we all 'wish' for pipe dreams but equally we all fail to see what a wonderful life we ALREADY HAVE. People are the most important thing on Dec 25th not money, not presents, not television, people and as a single guy myself I know that only too well. 

Me with my friend, Sally Patricia Gardner at our writing club Christmas meal.

I am not going to get all maudlin on you though, my GOD no! HA HA I am a 'bouncing off the walls' person at Christmas and so I will continue to spend the festive season in good cheer and complete with my Elf costume! The world cannot handle the festive cheer I pump out to others in December each year and I never tire of peoples looks of 'nutter' when I stumble across a member of the 'Bah Humbugian Sect'. Dear old Ebeneezer (the former) shall never dampen a TONY MAY CHRISTMAS no matter how hard they try!

No, no, no, be HAPPY over Christmas whatever you do PLEASE - but just be aware of the other side of the coin for others and make sure you always have a spare glass of wine/sherry and a mince pie for the less fortunate as well...

Love to all , xxxx

'I Say! Have A Discomknockeratingly Merry Christmas!'

Thinking back to the days of innocent, gloriously daft and incredibly silly humour leads my mind straight to the door of one of this countries best loved comics - Ken Dodd. I used to love 'The Diddymen' and really wish it was possible today to buy some of their television series on DVD. Amazingly, seeing how popular Ken still is today, as far as I can tell not one such DVD exists? Whether Ken owns the rights and is holding back for some reason or whether the shows were 'wiped' years ago and have been lost to history I don't know but for those of us who loved the little stereotypical chaps its a real downer!

Take a listen to this classic diddy song from 1967 and tell me that it isn't enough to make you 'rush out into the middle of the street in broad daylight and mercilessly attack your local vicar with your tickling stick while singing 'Nearer my God to Thee'! HA HA HA

See what I mean? One mention of dear Ken and his little diddypals and all of my inhibitions have flown out of the window - along with probably three or four years of my life if the local constabulary hear of my treatment of the vicar -...

In a way its amazing that I remember 'The Diddy Men' at all. I was born in 1965 sure but most of my earliest memories are not until much later. I don't actually remember ANY individual incidents from my very early years but instead have a great connection with my overall feeling of happiness from that period. Don't you think that's strange? Its like loving someone unconditionally whom you cannot recall a single special time with, isn't it? I think that either says a lot about me and my retrogressive mindset these days  or proves what a sentimental old twit I am for holding on to the past for dear life...

Ken Dodd & The Diddy Men Audio Fun

I saw an interview with Ken on television the other morning. Fern Britton is always worth watching and she interviewed Ken in his beloved Liverpool. Ken came across very well I thought. He is obviously a fiercely private person ( he mentioned disliking 'nosey parkers' to Fern at one point in the interview which made her blush a bit!) but for all that he loves to keep himself to himself when Ken Dodd the performer, comedian, actor or singer takes to the streets or the stage he gives everything of himself to us all. THANK YOU for that Ken - we do appreciate it. Mind you, your revelation that you sometimes wear socks in bed may go against your eventual legacy! HA HA HA

In fact, Christmas was made for Ken Dodd. What better time of year could there possibly be to encourage people to laugh their socks off while tickling someone under the armpit whose juggling? HA HA

If you see this Ken, have a merrytattifabulous, slightly discomknockerating and extremely Turkey marmalising Christmas!

'Best Dressed Christmas Windows'

One of the loveliest places to visit if ever you are in Hastings is The Old Town. With its ancient, characterful buildings, the smell of the sea and its good old fashioned tight-knit community I think its an example to the rest of us at Christmas of just how a sense of togetherness can spread happiness. 

In fact, a lot of the things that take place in Hastings & St Leonards throughout the year only happen because of the old towners. The Carnival, The Beach Festival, The Bonfire Society all are indelibly connected to the Old Town and thrive from the sense of community spirit that lives there. 

Bearing this in mind, it is no surprise then to find that along the Old Town the sense of Christmas as it used to be still hangs heavy in the air. There are some fantastic window displays and so much that goes a long way to make outsiders like me feel the warmth of a Dickens like Christmas. I took the pictures you see here today to give you a few examples of the kind of thing I'm talking about...

... yes, along The Old Town its not just about fairy lights or anything to do with corporate commercialism its about celebrating the fun that is Christmas, spreading a little happiness and making the festive season seem like something special, which, it no longer seems to be in the hearts and minds of many today.

So, go on, take a good look at and into this festive window and imagine what a wonderful country we could all enjoy if we all made as much effort to express the joy of the season to others as this householder has.

Merry Christmas and a big THANK YOU to all in The Old Town of Hastings and especially those who live at 'Pub View'. You made a real 'Christmas person' very happy today!

'Zat You, Santa Claus?'

You know the more I listen to my copy of 'Cool Yule - A 50's Christmas' the more I love it! If I haven't convinced you to get yourself a copy yet then maybe this post will spur you into action. Louis Armstrong was a real enigma with his totally unique voice and with Jazz being all the rage in the 50's its amazing really that 'Satchmo' was only an occasional visitor to the U.K. charts during the decade.

'Zat You, Santa Claus?' (1953) by the great man is proving to be one of my favourite tracks from 'Cool Yule' and Louis sense of timing is just so brilliant on the track! Fun lyrics and that cool, groovy feel make the song the ultimate Christmas song. I have no idea whether the song was ever released here as a single but if it was it wasn't a hit. How often does that happen though? That an artists best work either fails to chart or is never released as a single, I mean? But then, in these days of downloads the 'single' format as we knew and loved it has been made redundant for now every track on any album is effectively a single and able to get into the charts if it sells enough copies...

Old fashioned me really HATES that, you know? There was something really exciting as a kid in the 70's about discovering your favourite artist or band had a new single out. The joys of discovering a great track on the 'b side' was all part of the fun as well and then, of course, there was the picture sleeve and (if the artist you loved was big enough) the excitement of seeing a new interview pop up in 'Record Mirror', 'Jackie', 'Popswap', 'Disco 45', 'Look-In' or other magazines/musical newspapers. Once the song was in the charts you could even delight in getting the lyrics in 'Disco 45' so you could sing a long yourself!

Sadly, all of that has now gone out of the window. Who really ever bothers putting together a CD single anymore? If they do chances are that it has only tracks on it from the parent album... There isn't anything for kids to collect anymore, tacky badges, sticker collections, picture discs have all passed away leaving only maybe a T Shirt or a 'Deluxe Edition' of an album to encourage anyone to take more than a casual listening interest in an artist.

So, I guess if I was able to get a message to old 'Satchmo' up in heaven today I would send him warm Christmas greetings and thank him for reminding me in 2013 of, the simple, innocent things in life and of my precious childhood. I know my inclusion of a Gary Glitter magazine cover is controversial here but I grew up loving Gary, his style and his music and however badly things have turned out since, I cannot simply re-write my whole life nor stop loving someone who is part of the very fabric of who I am. After all, as Christmas itself often proves to us all, loving someone does not always mean that you get on with them, understand them or can communicate with them, does it?
   

'Christmas U.K. Hit Singles'

This post is one for all you 'music anoraks' out there!

I have been doing a lot of research into Christmas
U.K. hit singles of late and the following is as definitive a list of festive U.K. chart records as you will find anywhere on the Internet! Starting from when the first official U.K. pop charts began (in 1952) I have worked my little cotton socks off to try and compile a list of ALL U.K. Christmas hits so far. Obviously, I am bound to have missed a few along the way so please get in touch if you spot a glaring omission...

I will say though that a few records listed in lists on the Internet elsewhere have been discounted because in my opinion they should not count as Christmas hits. 'New Year' (2000) by The Sugababes (which only entered the chart AFTER Christmas) and 'I Have Forgiven Jesus' (2004) by Morrissey (though why in the hell anyone ever thought of that as a Christmas single I don't know!) and 'I Have A Dream' by Abba (1979) do NOT appear in my list because in my opinion they are either NOT Christmas singles or are highly debatable as such. Begrudgingly, I HAVE included 'The Power Of Love' by Frankie Goes To Hollywood'...

Well, if you are into all this anorak stuff or will simply get a kick out of remembering some of these old chestnuts, enjoy reading down this list. It would be great for me to be able to add one or two of my own Christmas compositions to it one day!

 U.K. Christmas Hit Singles By Year

1952

Silent Night – Bing Crosby No 8

White Christmas – Mantovani No 6

1953

I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus – Jimmy Boyd No 3

I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus – Beverley Sisters No 6

1954

Santo Natale (Merry Christmas – David Whitfield No 2

1955

Christmas Alphabet – Dickie Valentine No 1

Never Do A Tango With An Eskimo – Alma Cogan No 6

1956

Christmas And You – Dave King No 23

Christmas Island – Dickie Valentine No 8

I’m Walking Backwards For Christmas/Bluebottle Blues – The Goons No 4

1957

Footprints In The Snow – Johnny Duncan & The Blue Grass Boys No 27

Mary’s Boy Child – Harry Belafonte No 1

Santa Bring My Baby Back To Me – Elvis Presley No 7

Snowbound For Christmas – Dickie Valentine No 28

White Christmas – Pat Boone No 29

1958

Mary’s Boy Child – Harry Belafonte (Re-Entry) No 10

Son Of Mary – Harry Belafonte No 18

Winter Wonderland – Johnny Mathis No 17

1959

Jingle Bell Rock – Max Bygraves No 7

Little Donkey – Beverley Sisters No 14

Little Drummer Boy – Beverley Sisters No 6

Little Drummer Boy – Harry Simeone Chorale No 13

Mary’s Boy Child – Nina & Frederik No 26

Mary’s Boy Child – Harry Belafonte (Re- Entry) No 30

Snow Coach – Russ Conway No 7

1960

Little Donkey – Nina & Frederik No 3

Lonely Pup (In A Christmas Shop) – Adam Faith with the Children No 4

Must Be Santa – Tommy Steele No 40

Onward Christian Soldiers – Harry Simeone Chorale No 35

1961

Baby’s First Christmas – Connie Francis No 30

Bambino – The Springfields No 16

It Must Be Santa – Joan Regan No 42 IN JAN

Onward Christian Soldiers – Harry Simeone Chorale (Re-Entry) No36

1962

I’m Gonna Be Warm This Winter – Connie Francis No 48

Onward Christian Soldiers – Harry Simeone Chorale (Re-Re Entry) No 38

Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree – Brenda Lee No 6

1963

All I Want For Christmas Is A Beetle – Dora Bryan No 20

Run Run Rudolph – Chuck Berry No 36

1964

Blue Christmas – Elvis Presley With The Jordanaires No 11

Christmas Will Be Just Another Lonely Day – Brenda Lee No 25

I Understand – Freddie & The Dreamers No 5

Pretty Paper – Roy Orbison No 6

1965

Merry Gentle Pops – The Barron Knights No 9

1966

If Every Day Was Like Christmas – Elvis Presley With The Jordanaires & Imperials Quintet No 9

My Mind’s Eye – Small Faces No 4

1970

Amazing Grace – Judy Collins No 5

1972

Happy Christmas (War Is Over) – John Lennon & The Plastic Ono Band With The Harlem Community Choir No 4

Merry Christmas Darling – The Carpenters No 45

Santa Claus Is Coming To Town – Jackson 5 No 43

1973

Gaudete – Steeleye Span No 14

I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday – Wizzard No 4

Merry Christmas Everybody – Slade No 1

Step Into Christmas – Elton John No 24

1974

Christmas Song – Gilbert O’Sullivan No 12

Hey Mr. Christmas – Showaddywaddy No 13

Lonely This Christmas – Mud No 1

The Inbetweenies/Father Christmas Do Not Touch Me – The Goodies No 7

Wombling Merry Christmas – The Wombles No 2

1975

Christmas In Dreadland/ Come Outside – Judge Dread No 14

Happy Christmas (War Is Over) – John Lennon & The Plastic Ono Band With The Harlem Community Choir  (Re-Issue) No 48

I Believe In Father Christmas – Greg Lake No 2

It’s Gonna Be A Cold Cold Christmas – Dana No 4

Make A Daft Noise For Christmas – The Goodies No 20

Renta Santa – Chris Hill No 10

Santa Claus Is Comin’ To Town – The Carpenters No 37

White Christmas – Freddie Starr No 41

1976

Bionic Santa – Chris Hill No 10

Grandma’s Party – Paul Nicholas No 9

Ring Out Solstice Bells E.P. – Jethro Tull No 28

When A Child Is Born (Soleado) – Johnny Mathis No 1

1977

White Christmas – Bing Crosby No 5

1978

Christmas In Smurfland – Father Abraham & The Smurfs No 19

Hokey Cokey/ Jingle Bells – Judge Dread No 64

Lick A Smurp For Christmas (All Fall Down) – Father Abraphart & The Smurps No 58

Mary’s Boy Child – Oh My Lord – Boney M No 1

Please Come Home For Christmas – The Eagles No 30

1979

Christmas Rappin’ – Kurtis Blow No 30

It Won’t Seem Like Christmas (Without You) – Elvis Presley No 13

Wonderful Christmas Time – Paul McCartney No 6

 1980

December Will Be Magic Again – Kate Bush No 29

Happy Christmas (War Is Over) – John Lennon & The Plastic Ono Band With The Harlem Community Choir (Re-Issue) No 2

Merry Christmas Everybody – Slade & The Reading Choir No 70

Never Mind The Presents – The Barron Knights No 17

Santa Claus Is Back In Town – Elvis Presley No 41

Stop The Cavalry – Jona Lewie No 3

1981

Christmas On 45 – Holly & The Ivys No 40

Happy Christmas (War Is Over) – John Lennon & The Plastic Ono Band With The Harlem Community Choir (Re-Issue) No 28

Hokey Cokey – The Snowmen No 18

One Nine For Santa – Fogwell Flax & The Anklebiters From Frehold Junior School No 68

I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday – Wizzard (Re-Issue) No 41

Jingle Bells Laughing All The Way/Gesundheit – Hysterics No 44

Merry Christmas Everybody – Slade (Re-Issue) No 32

When A Child Is Born – Johnny Mathis & Gladys Knight No 74

1982

A Winters Tale – David Essex No 2

Christmas Rapping – Dizzy Heights No 49

Christmas Wrapping – The Waitresses No 45

Happy Christmas (War Is Over) – John Lennon & The Plastic Ono Band With The Harlem Community Choir (Re-Issue) No 56

I Believe In Father Christmas – Greg Lake (Re-Issue) No 72

Little Town – Cliff Richard No 11

Merry Christmas Everybody – Slade (Re-Issue) No 67

Peace On Earth/Little Drummer Boy – David Bowie & Bing Crosby No 3

Singalong-A-Santa – Santa Claus & The Christmas Trees No 19

The Shakin’ Stevens EP (Blue Christmas) No 2

Xmas Party – The Snowmen No 44

1983

2000 Miles – The Pretenders No 15

Christmas Countdown – Frank Kelly No 26

Christmas Spectre – Jingle Belles No 37

Cold As Christmas – Elton John No 33

I Believe In Father Christmas – Greg Lake (Re-Issue) No 65

Merry Christmas Everybody – Slade (Re-Issue) No 20

Pipes Of Peace – Paul McCartney No 1

Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree – The Jets No 62

Singalong- A-Santa Again – Santa Claus & The Christmas Trees No 39

1984

All Join Hands – Slade No15

Another Rock N’ Roll Christmas – Gary Glitter No 7

Christmas Countdown – Frank Kelly (Re-Entry) No 54

Do They Know Its Christmas? – Band Aid No 1

I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday – Wizzard (Re-Issue)

No 23

I’m A Little Christmas Cracker – Bouncing Czecks No 72

Last Christmas/Everything She Wants – Wham! No 2

Merry Christmas Everybody – Slade (Re-Issue) No 47

So Near To Christmas – Alvin Stardust No 29

Thank God Its Christmas – Queen No 21

The Power Of Love – Frankie Goes To Hollywood No 1

1985

Christmas Medley/Auld Lang Syne - Weekend No 47

Christmas Time – Bryan Adams No 55

Do They Know Its Christmas? – Band Aid (Re-Entry) No 3

Last Christmas – Wham! (Re-Issue) No 6

Lonely This Christmas – Mud (Re-Issue) No 61

Merry Christmas Everybody – Slade (Re-Re Issue) No 48

Merry Christmas Everyone – Shakin’ Stevens No 1

Santa Claus Is Comin’To Town/My Hometown – Bruce Springsteen no 9

Walking In The Air – Peter Auty & The Sinfonia Of London No 42

Walking In The Air – Aled Jones No 5

White Christmas – Bing Crosby (Re-Issue) No 69

1986

A Spaceman Came Travelling/The Ballroom Of Romance – Chris De Burgh No 40

A Winter Story – Aled Jones No 51

Last Christmas – Wham! (Re -Re-Issue) No 45

Merry Christmas Everybody – Slade (Re-Re-Issue) No 71

Merry Christmas Everyone – Shakin’ Stevens No 58

Santa Claus Is On The Dole/First Atheist Tabernacle Choir – Spitting Image No 22

The Meaning Of Christmas – Boris Gardiner No 69

1987

Christmas In Hollis – Run DMC No 56

Fairytale Of New York – The Pogues featuring Kirsty MaColl No 2

Joys Of Christmas – Chris Rea No 67

Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree – Mel Smith & Kim Wilde

No 3

Walking In The Air – Peter Auty & The Sinfonia Of London (Re-Issue) No 37

1988

Cat Amongst The Pigeons/Silent Night – Bros No 2

Driving Home For Christmas E.P. – Chris Rea No 53

Imagine/ Jealous Guy/Happy Christmas (War Is Over) – John Lennon & The Plastic Ono Band With The Harlem Community Choir – No 45

Megamix/Mary’s Boy Child (Remix) – Boney M No 52

Mistletoe & Wine – Cliff Richard No 1

The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting On An Open Fire)/Thank You For A Good Year – Alexander O’ Neal No 30

1989

Coldcut’s Christrmas Break – Coldcut No 67

December – All About Eve No 34

Do They Know Its Christmas? – Band Aid 11 No 1

Let’s Party – Jive Bunny & The Mastermixers No 1

White Christmas – Max Bygraves No 71

1990

Merry Christmas Darling/(They Long To Be) Close To You – The Carpenters No 25

Saviour’s Day – Cliff Richard No 1

The Best Christmas Of Them All – Shakin’ Stevens No 19

This One’s For The Children – New Kids On The Block No 9

1991

Another Blooming Christmas – Mel Smith No 59

Fairytale Of New York – The Pogues featuring Kirsty MaColl (Re-Issue) No 36

I’ll Be Home This Christmas – Shakin’ Stevens No 34

Silent Night – Sinead O’Connor No 60

The Christmas Song – Nat ‘King’ Cole No 69

We Should Be Together – Cliff Richard No 10

1992

All Alone On Christmas – Darlene Love No 31

Miami Hit Mix/Christmas Through Your Eyes – Gloria Estefan No 8

Santa Claus Is Coming To Town – Bjorn Again No 55

 1993

I Was Born On Christmas Day – Saint Etienne No 37

The Perfect Year – Dina Carroll No 5

The Power Of Love – Frankie Goes To Hollywood (Re-Issue) No 10

Remembering Christmas – Exeter Bramdean Boy’s Choir No 46

Winter Wonderland/Frosty The Snowman – Cocteau Twins No 58

1994

All Alone On Christmas – Darlene Love (Re-Entry) No 72

All I Want For Christmas Is You – Mariah Carey No 2

Please Come Home For Christmas – Bon Jovi No 7

Stay Another Day – East 17 No 1

1995

A Winters Tale – Queen No 6

Christmas In Blobbyland – Mr Blobby No 36

Every Year, Every Christmas – Luther Vandross No 43

The Gift Of Christmas – Childliners No 9

1996

Rockin’ Good Christmas – Roy ‘Chubby’ Brown No 51

Your Christmas Wish – Smurfs No 8

1997

I Want An Alien For Christmas – Fountains Of Wayne No 36

1998

Cruise Into Christmas Medley – Jane McDonald No 10

Last Christmas – Alien Voices feat The Three Degrees No 54

Merry Christmas Everybody ’98 Remix – Slade No 30

Naughty Christmas (Goblin In The Office) – Fat Les No 21

White Christmas – Bing Crosby (Re-Re-Issue) No 29

1999

A Christmas Kiss – Daniel O’ Donnell No 20

Baby, Its Cold Outside – Tom Jones & Cerys Matthews No 17

Mr. Hankey Christmas Poo – Mr Hankey No 4

The Millennium Prayer – Cliff Richard No 1

2000

At This Time Of Year – Craig No 14

I Wish It Could Be A Wombling Merry Christmas Everyday – The Wombles With Roy Wood – No 22

The Power Of Love – Frankie Goes To Hollywood (Remix) No 6

2001

I Believe In Christmas – The Tweenies No 9

2003

Christmas Is All Around – Billy Mack No 26

Christmas Time (Don’t Let The Bells End) – The Darkness No 2

Have A Cheeky Christmas – The Cheeky Girls No 10

Happy Christmas (War Is Over) – John Lennon & The Plastic Ono Band With The Harlem Community Choir (Re-Release) No 33

I Love Christmas – Fast Food Rockers No 25

Proper Christmas – Bo Selecta No 4

Santa’s List – Cliff Richard No 5

2004

Do They Know Its Christmas? – Band Aid 20 No 1

Fifty Grand For Christmas – Paul Holt No 35

Give U One 4 Christmas – Hot Pantz No 64

2005

Christmas Time (Don’t Let The Bells End) – The Darkness (Re-Issue) No 58

Do They Know Its Christmas? – Band Aid 20 (Re-Entry) No 52

Fairytale Of New York – The Pogues featuring Kirsty MaColl (Re-Re-Issue) No 3

Under The Tree – Water Babies No 27

2006

21^st Century Christmas/Move It – Cliff Richard No 2

Christmas My A*se – Ricky Tomlinson No 25

December Brings Me Back To You – Andy Abraham & Michael Underwood No 18 (DL)

Fairytale Of New York – The Pogues featuring Kirsty MaColl (Re-Re-Issue Re-Entry) No 6

Merry Christmas Everybody – Slade No 21 (DL)

Snow (Hey Ho) – Red Hot Chilli Peppers No 16

2007

All I Want For Christmas Is You – Mariah Carey No 4 (DL)

Do They Know Its Christmas? – Band Aid No 24 (DL)

Don’t Shoot Me Santa – The Killers No 34

Driving Home For Christmas – Chris Rea No 33 (DL)

Fairytale Of New York – The Pogues featuring Kirsty MaColl (Re-Re-Issue Re-Entry) No 4

Hallelujah – Jeff Buckley No 65 (DL)

Happy Christmas (War Is Over) – John Lennon & The Plastic Ono Band With The Harlem Community Choir No 40 (DL)

I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday – Wizzard (Re-Issue)

No 16 (DL)

Its Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas – Perry Como (DL)

Its the Most Wonderful Time Of The Year – Andy Williams No 21 (DL)

Last Christmas – Wham! No 14 (DL)

Mary’s Boy Child – Oh My Lord – Boney M No 47 (DL)

Merry Christmas Everybody – Slade No 20 (DL)

Merry Christmas Everyone – Shakin’ Stevens No 22 (DL)

Mistletoe & Wine – Cliff Richard No 68 (DL)

Peace On Earth/Little Drummer Boy – David Bowie & Bing Crosby No 73 (DL)

Santa Claus Is Comin’ To Town/My Hometown – Bruce Springsteen No 60 (DL)

Step Into Christmas – Elton John – No 53 (DL)

Stop The Cavalry – Jona Lewie No 48 (DL)

The Christmas Song – Nat ‘King’ Cole No 51 (DL)

Walking In The Air – Aled Jones No 72 (DL)

White Christmas – Bing Crosby (Re-Re-Issue-Re-Entry) No 42

Wonderful Christmas Time – Paul McCartney No 44 (DL)

2008

All I Want For Christmas Is You – Mariah Carey No 12 (DL)

Do They Know Its Christmas? – Band Aid No 54 (DL)

Driving Home For Christmas – Chris Rea No 53 (DL)

Fairytale Of New York – The Pogues featuring Kirsty MaColl (Re-Re-Issue Re-Entry) No 12

Hallelujah – Alexandra Burke No 1 (DL)

Hallelujah – Jeff Buckley No 2 (DL)

Happy Christmas (War Is Over) – John Lennon & The Plastic Ono Band With The Harlem Community Choir No 67 (DL)

I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday – Wizzard (Re-Issue)

No 31 (DL)

Its Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas – Perry Como No 47 (DL)

Its Christmas Time – Status Quo No 40 (DL)

Its the Most Wonderful Time Of The Year – Andy Williams No 63 (DL)

Is This Christmas? – The Wombats No 49

Jingle Bells (Bass) – Basshunter No 35

Last Christmas – Wham! No 26 (DL)

Little Drummer Boy-Peace On Earth – Bandaged No 3 (DL)

Merry Christmas Everybody – Slade No 32 (DL)

Merry Christmas Everyone – Shakin’ Stevens No 36 (DL)

Once Upon A Christmas Song – Geraldine No 5 (DL)

Warm This Winter – Gabriella Cilmi – No 22

2009

All I Want For Christmas Is You – Mariah Carey No 18 (DL)

December Song (I Dreamed Of Christmas) – George Michael No 14 (DL)

Do They Know Its Christmas? – Band Aid No 50 (DL)

Driving Home For Christmas – Chris Rea No 40 (DL)

Fairytale Of New York – The Pogues featuring Kirsty MaColl (Re-Re-Issue Re-Entry) No 12

Hallelujah – Alexandra Burke No 70 (DL) IN OCT

I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday – Wizzard (Re-Issue)

No 45 (DL)

It Doesn’t Often Snow At Christmas – Pet Shop Boys No 40

Last Christmas – Wham! No 34 (DL)

Merry Christmas Everybody – Slade No 35 (DL)

Merry Christmas Everyone – Shakin’ Stevens No 47 (DL)

Silver Bells/Me And My Teddy Bear – Terry Wogan & Aled Jones No 27

2010

All I Want For Christmas Is You – Mariah Carey No 22 (DL)

Christmas Lights – Coldplay No 13 (DL)

Do They Know Its Christmas? – Band Aid No 54 (DL)

Fairytale Of New York – The Pogues featuring Kirsty MaColl (Re-Re-Issue Re-Entry) No 17

I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday – Wizzard (Re-Issue)

No 46 (DL)

Last Christmas – Wham! No 57 (DL)

Merry Christmas Everybody – Slade No 50 (DL)

Merry Christmas Everyone – Shakin’ Stevens No 68 (DL)

Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree – Brenda Lee No 70 (DL)

X-M@$ – Corey Taylor No 37

2011

All I Want For Christmas Is You – Mariah Carey No 11 (DL)

Christmas Baby Please Come Home – Michael Buble No 47 (DL)

Christmas Lights – Coldplay No 65 (DL)

Dominick The Donkey – Lou Monte No 3 (DL)

Do They Know Its Christmas? – Band Aid No 34 (DL)

Driving Home For Christmas – Chris Rea No 67(DL) in JAN

Driving Home For Christmas – Chris Rea No 36 (DL) In DEC

Fairytale Of New York – The Pogues featuring Kirsty MaColl No 13 (DL)

I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday – Wizzard (Re-Issue)

No 28 (DL)

Last Christmas – Wham! No 26 (DL)

Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow! – Dean Martin No 70 (DL)

Merry Christmas Everybody – Slade No 33 (DL)

Merry Christmas Everyone – Shakin’ Stevens No 42 (DL)

Mistletoe – Justin Bieber No 21 (DL)

Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree – Brenda Lee No 62 (DL)

Step Into Christmas – Elton John – No 64 (DL)

Wonderful Christmas Time – Paul McCartney No 72 (DL)

2012

All I Want For Christmas Is You – Mariah Carey No 20 (DL)

Do They Know Its Christmas? – Band Aid No 37 (DL)

Driving Home For Christmas – Chris Rea No 36 (DL)

Fairytale Of New York – The Pogues featuring Kirsty MaColl No 12 (DL)

I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday – Wizzard (Re-Issue)

No 29 (DL)

Last Christmas – Wham! No 34 (DL)

Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow! – Dean Martin No 69 (DL)

Merry Christmas Everybody – Slade No 35 (DL)

Merry Christmas Everyone – Shakin’ Stevens No 46 (DL)

Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree – Brenda Lee No 54 (DL)

Step Into Christmas – Elton John – No 75 (DL)

The Power Of Love – Frankie Goes To Hollywood No 42 (DL)

Debatable Tracks

I Have A Dream – Abba (1979) No 2