'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

'Nelson Mandela - I Have A Dream'

'I Have A Dream' by Abba has always been a rather debatable song to include in any list of U.K. Christmas chart hits. Its not really about Christmas, has no sleigh bells or Christmassy instrumentation on it yet it does capture the spirit of hope that we all feel for a harmonious world each Christmas. I guess because of that the song seems like the perfect tribute and so I would like to dedicate this post today to Nelson Mandela...

 As news of his death arrived this morning and I sat at home reading streams of comments about him on Facebook I thought a lot about the importance of hope. Nelson suffered horrendously for many years but he never gave up on hope and eventually became the instigator of real, positive change for all in South Africa (and around the world). The job may not be 100% complete but any man to going to his grave having achieved what Nelson achieved would surely rest in peace safe in the knowledge he did not waste his time on earth.

The beacon of hope can never again now be carried by Nelson Mandela but his memory will continue to inspire others to carry it on long into the future. The world may have lost an amazing man but it has gained a legend that shall be told for many centuries to come. 

Lots of love all of Nelson's friends and family and a BIG hug to all in South Africa of from South Africa about the world. The Special A.K.A. wanted us to 'Free Nelson Mandela' in the 1980's well now he is free - free of pain and suffering.

God Bless xx

'Merry Christmas Everybody!'

'Merry Christmas Everybody' by Slade surely has to be the No 1 U.K. Christmas record of all time. Recorded  in late summer 1973 the song has sold well over a million copies in the U.K. and has charted  every year here since 2006 thanks to Christmas download sales. There is something impossibly jolly and festive about the record that just doesn't allow you to ignore it and with its jaunty, slightly ZZ Top 'Gimmie All Your Lovin', bouncy rock n' roll melody its the perfect record to get the whole family up and dancing.

Ironically, the song came out at a time when there was much political unrest here in the U.K. Christmas 1973 was not a happy time for many as the miners, led by Joe Gormley, were on strike and many homes and stores were having to make do with candlelight. Prime minister, Ted Heath and his government were having a torrid time and the country as a whole was far from harmonious. It is typical though of the British people that whenever adversity strikes a general determination to 'overcome' seems to rise to the surface. 'Merry Christmas Everybody' was thus the ultimate 'up yours' to a world which it seemed had decided to dampen spirits and Slade with their sparkling glam rock outfits and platform shoes put the fun and festive back into Christmas.

The biggest selling Christmas record of all time globally is of course 'White Christmas' by Bing Crosby but even Bing's warm hearted and romantic Christmas classic cannot match 'Merry Christmas Everybody' for its 'one for all and all for one' appeal. Mums and Dads, Nans and Grandads, kids and even toddlers all start to shake and wobble along to the Slade but 'White Christmas' is more for adults only.

Surprisingly, Slade only ever made one more Christmas single. 'All Join Hands' was an admirable sing-a-long song and it did have a kind of 'Auld Lang Syne' participation appeal but it only made No 15 at Christmas 1984 and has never seen the light of the festive chart since. I think for me 'Merry Christmas Everybody' and 'I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday' by Wizzard (more about that later) have to be the top two Christmas U.K. hits of all time but then I am biased because I associate so many happy childhood memories with the early 70's and simply LOVED all the glam glitter and dressing up of the Glam rock era. 

Whatever the case, what is certain is that 'Merry Christmas Everybody' is a Christmas classic that will be with us every Christmas for many years to come yet...  




MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYBODY!!!!!!

'Renta Santa' Really Puts Time Into Perspective.

Whenever I think of 1975 I always think of it as 'just a few years back'. With so many of the artists I still love listening to now originating from that period I still hold a familiarity with the way I felt back then and that makes it all seem 'closer to home', if you know what I mean?

Well, the other day I went off in search on the Internet of 'Renta Santa', a top 10 Christmas hit from Chris Hill. try as I might, though I remembered its title I could not recall how the song went nor 'Bionic Santa' his top 10er from Christmas 76.

As usual, Youtube was the place to re-discover the song and I was soon listening to it. Both hits turned out to be rather silly but unique comedy pieces. I say pieces because really they are no more than collages of spoken words and excerpts from other peoples hits. 

To think that something so amateurish could have made the top ten two years running in different guises sounds amazing these days but the 'songs' are both typical of the kind of thing Radio 1 DJ's would have played on the radio back then for a bit of fun. What is really comical to me about both records is that Chris Hill sounds a lot to me like a cross between Jools Holland and Chris Evans! If I didn't know better I'd swear the two of them were involved!

What re-discovering these old time pieces did for me though was put into perspective just how long ago 1975/6 is. How far has mixing etc come on since then - it is astonishing now to think that 'Renta Santa' would have been thought really cleverly done back then...

I think Chris carried on releasing '.....Santa' records at Christmas for a few years after 'Bionic Santa' was his second and last hit. There was I believe a 'Disco Santa' in 1978 but by then the novelty appeal of his kind of 'schoolboy humour' montages had worn off. This all said, the world very much needs a few more Chris Hills these days. A sense of humour and a cheeky quip or two are also becoming a thing of the past as the E.U. machine and todays litigation conscious society turns us all into robots.  We Brits would not be British without leg pulling so God knows where the current trend towards perfect politeness with ABSOLUTELY NO personality will lead us?

Merry Christmas Mr. Hill if you are still out there!  

'Tony May's 'All Things Christmas' Festive Favourites 2013'

I have really got the Mixpixie bug! What a great website! The selection of music available is pretty impressive and putting together custom made CD's takes me back to the days when I was forever compiling my own cassette compilations. In light of the amount of fun it is putting a great compilation together and in line with the fact that I am currently researching the U.K chart to try and make a definitive list of all of the U.K.'s Christmas hits, I have put together a special Christmas collection named after this blog!

D.J. John Peel was renowned for his end of year 'festive 50' and so I thought I'd have a go at starting a trend myself! After much head scratching I came up with the following 10 Christmas songs in the following running order for this years collection. 

Christmas Countdown - Frank Kelly
Walking In The Air - Peter Auty
A Spaceman Came Travelling - Chris De Burgh
December - All About Eve
Merry Christmas Darling - The Carpenters
Christmas Song - Gilbert O' Sullivan
I Was Born On Christmas Day - Saint Etienne
Christmas Rappin' - Kurtis Blow
Christmas In Hollis - Run DMC
X-M@S - Corey Taylor

I reckon John would approve of my 'eclectic' selection. There's certainly something there for everyone and ALL of the songs were U.K. Christmas hits though many would come under the banner of 'forgotten festivities' these days. I would have extended the CD to about 14 songs if it was up to me but you can only buy 10 at a time on a Mixpixie CD. Still, I will look forward to putting Vol 2 together next year about this time!