'The Top Selling U.K. Christmas Hits Of All Time'

I spent a happy afternoon the other day in front of the telly watching a 2010 (I think?) programme about the top selling U.K. Christmas hits of all time. I did not agree with the inclusion of one or two of the songs myself (on the grounds that they are not Christmas songs just songs which happened to be a hit in December) but hearing the story behind each hit and listening to snippets of the 65 songs featured was a very Christmassy experience and was three hours well spent.

I could not bear to delete the programme from my Sky box without making a note of the list and for posterity (and anyone interested in Christmas hits or U.K. chart history) am now going to reproduce it here for you to gaze and wonder at. Personally, I would disqualify St Winnifred's School Choir (what a meanie! HA HA) and there would also have to be a long, drawn out 'Steward's Enquiry' into the inclusion of the Frankie Goes To Hollywood number but, hey ho, that's just my view...

Look out for a few Christmas video's to watch along the way as well - like this one from 'Dana'...

U.K. Top Selling Christmas Hits Of All Time (Up Until 2010)

65 - Santa Claus Is On The Dole - Spitting Image (1986) 43,000
64 - The Christmas Song - Nat King Cole (1946) 46,000
63 - So Near To Christmas - Alvin Stardust (1984) 47,000
62 - Have A Cheeky Christmas - The Cheeky Girls (2003) 47,000
61 - The Best Christmas Of Them All - Shakin' Stevens (1990) 50,000
60 - A Christmas Kiss - Daniel O' Donnell (1999) 52,000
59 - Santa Baby - Earth Kitt (1953) 55,000
58 - Merry Christmas Darling - The Carpenters (1990) 59,000 (A Re-Issue)
57 - Naughty Christmas (Goblin In The Office) - Fat Les 60,000
56 - Baby, It's Cold Outside - Tom Jones & Cerys (1999) 65,000
55 - Thank God It's Christmas - Queen (1984) 75,000
54 - Christmas Lights - Coldplay (2010) 85,000
53 - Cruise Into Christmas - Jane McDonald (1998) 100,000
52 - Once Upon A Christmas Song - Geraldine (2008) 105,000 (Peter Kay in drag)
51 - Step Into Christmas - Elton John (1973) 110,000
50 - I Believe In Christmas - Tweenies (2001) 112,000

49 - Driving Home For Christmas - Chris Rea (1988) 115,000
48 - 2000 Miles - The Pretenders (1983) 117,000
47 - Your Christmas Wish - The Smurfs (1996) 120,000
46 - A Winters Tale - David Essex (1982) 125,000
45 - Please Come Home For Christmas - Bon Jovi (1995) 148,000
44 - Little Donkey - Nina & Frederick (1960) 150,000
43 - Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town - Bruce Springsteen (1985) 151,000
42 - Hey Mr Christmas - Showaddywaddy (1974) 152,000
41 - Gaudette - Steeleye Span (1973) 160,000
40 - I'm Walking Backwards For Christmas - The Goons (1956) 160,000
39 - Bionic Santa - Chris Hills (1976) 170,000
38 - Little Town - Cliff Richard (1982) 180,000
37 - Another Rock N' Roll Christmas - Gary Glitter (1984) 180,000
36 - Walking In The Air - Aled Jones (1985) 181,000
35 - Santo Natale - David Whitfield (1954) 190,000

34 - In Dulci Jubilo - Mike Oldfield (1975) 200,000
33 - Pretty Paper - Roy Orbison (1964) 200,000
32 - Mr Hankey The Christmas Poo - Mr Hankey (1999) 201,000
31 - Proper Crimbo - Bo' Selecta (2003) 202,000
30 - Father Christmas Do Not Touch Me - The Goodies (1974) 205,000
29 - Silent Night - Bros (1988) 210,000
28 - Peace On Earth/Little Drummer Boy - David Bowie & Bing Crosby (1982) 212,000
27 - It's Gonna Be A Cold, Cold Christmas - Dana (1975) 230,000
26 - Wonderful Christmastime - Paul McCartney (1983) 260,000
25 - Saviour's Day - Cliff Richard (1990) 300,000
24 - Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree - Mel & Kim (1987) 310,000
23 - Pipes Of Peace - Paul McCartney (1983) 370,000
22 - Blue Christmas - Shakin' Stevens (1982) 400,000
21 - Christmas Time (Don't Let The Bells End) - The Darkness (2003) 410,000
20 - Stop The Cavalry - Jona Lewie (1980) 420,000

19 - Wombling Merry Christmas - The Wombles (1974) 460,000
18 - I Believe In Father Christmas - Greg Lake (1975) 470,000
17 - There's No One Quite Like Grandma - St Winnifred's School Choir (1980) 550,000
16 - I Wish it Could Be Christmas Everyday - Wizzard (1973) 590,000
15 - The Power Of Love - Frankie Goes To Hollywood (1984) 660,000
14 - Merry Christmas Everyone - Shakin' Stevens (1985) 700,000
13 - All I Want For Christmas Is You - Mariah Carey (1994) 750,000
12 - Stay Another Day - East 17 (1994) 770,000
11 - Lonely This Christmas - Mud (1974) 810,000
10 - A Fairytale Of New York - The Pogues feat Kirsty Maccoll (1987) 815,000

9 - Happy Xmas (War Is Over) John & Yoko (1972) 860,000
8 - Mistletoe & Wine - Cliff Richard (1988) 865,000
7 - When A Child Is Born - Johnny Mathis (1976) 890,000
6 - The Millennium Prayer - Cliff Richard (1999) 910,000
5 - White Christmas - Bing Crosby (1942) 990,000
4 - Merry Christmas Everybody - Slade (1973) 1,150,000
3 - Last Christmas - Wham (1984) 1,610,000
2 - Mary's Boy Child - Boney M (1978) 1,840,000
1 - Band Aid - Do They Know It's Christmas (1984) 3,650,000

Well, that's the list done folks! Let the debate, discussions and arguments begin on whether this record or that record should or shouldn't be in there! HA HA Personally, I think a few of these are 'dodgy' qualifiers as Christmas songs but this list was compiled by The Official Charts Company so it is the 'official word' on the subject so to speak. After typing all this guff, I'm too tired right now to discuss the implications of what such a chart means as far as the music business and pop music goes suffice to say that most of the chart is comprised of records from the 1970's and 80's. 1974, it seems, being perhaps the pinnacle of the success of 'the Christmas single'...

Merry Christmas!