Comments

Xmas is a time many of us turn sentimental and slushy so it's not surprising that record companies (job: sell records) tune into that mood to, err...., sell us records.

The Cliff one is a stinker as is Aled Jones' "Walking In The Air"; Johnny Mathis' "When A Child Is Born"; and Boney M's "Mary's Boy Child." Sadly, two of the greatest pop songwriters ever were not immune from Xmas mishaps: Lennon's "Happy Xmas War Is Over" and McCartney's "Pipes Of Peace" both suffer from the 'nice idea but corny and sloppy lyric allied to slushy arrangement' problem.

But look at the good ones to add to the Slade classic (and surprisingly, there's lots of them): Pogues / MacColl "FairyTale of New York"; Mel & Kim "Rockin' Around The Xmas Tree"; Wham "Last Xmas"; Elton John "Step Into Xmas"; Roy Wood "I Wish It Could Be Xmas Everyday"; The Waitresses "Xmas Wrapping"; Chris Rea "Driving Home For Xmas"; Mud "Lonely This Xmas"; the entire "Phil Spector Xmas Album"; and Sinead O'Connor's terrific version of "Silent Night."

My favourite: Yoko Ono "Listen, The Snow Is Falling."

Posted by Mark JF at December 21, 2005 3:04 AM

No competition - Slade every time

Probably one of the most under-rated bands in the world - 6 #1 hits - 3 straight in at number one (a feat only exceeded by the Beatles I believe) and if you can get beyound the "Noize" suprisingly creative lyrics

It's CHRISTMAS!!!!!!!!

Posted by PaulH at December 21, 2005 3:23 AM

As a transplant to Europe from New York, it's taken me more than 6 years [of living in Ireland] to realise several things:

1. Cadburrys is much better quality chocolate than Hershey's

2. Fairytale of New York [by the Pogues] is most certainly the best Christmas Song ever recorded.

Posted by Tom O'Leary at December 21, 2005 6:54 AM

as usually: i have to agree with paulh: slade is the best of xmas in pop/rock - ever.

a great piece: "last christmas" by jimmy eat world - the designer's choice!

and of course the best song of all time: silent night (best when sung along with your local parish choir - loud and wrong if you must - go ahead - and dare ...to make mistakes - and if you have to - at least make them fast, loud and with JOY)

have yourself some wonderful holidays

Posted by jens at December 21, 2005 9:31 AM

Worst ever Christmas Number One? 'Long haired lover from Liverpool' by Jimmy Osmond - I remember singing that in pubs in my youth at Christmas - I must have been drunk because I actually enjoyed it!! Best ever Number One? - No question it has to be Band Aid - 'Do they know its Christmas'

HAPPY CHRISTMAS TO ALL AT TOM PETERS AND ALL FELLOW BLOGGERS!!!

Posted by Trevor Gay at December 21, 2005 9:51 AM

Close call for the best btetween Fairytale in New York, The Pogues and 2000 Miles, The Pretenders. Worst has to be Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree, Mel and Kim.

Have a top Chrismas and go easy on the 'shampoo'

Posted by David Pilbeam at December 22, 2005 4:47 AM

Rick,
My favourite is the Pogues, Fairytale of New York. Worst EVER is anything sung by Sir Cliff Richard at Christmas.

Happy Christmas, all!

Posted by Chris Nel at December 22, 2005 4:47 AM

All time favourite is White Christmas, Bing Crosby really does it for me!!!!!
All time really aweful song for me that comes back every Christmas is Bohemian Rapsody, eeeeeeek oh no .... not again!

Posted by hilary at December 22, 2005 4:50 AM

Well I have to agree with David, Fairytail in New York is a corker but, I have to say for pure cheese factor (and I do think that Christmas gathers a vast amount of cheese) that Wham and Last Christmas gets my thumbs up!

Merry Christmas everyone x

Posted by Vicki at December 22, 2005 4:55 AM

Got to say Slade 'WISH IT COULD BE CHRISTMAS EVERYDAY' makes it Christmas for me...

Posted by Ruth at December 22, 2005 4:55 AM

Vicki. There is something to be said for cheese factor this time of year. And my wife would certainly agree with you about Wham being a good choice!

But Fairytale of New York just never fails to get me in the mood for festivity!

Posted by Tom O'Leary at December 22, 2005 6:50 AM

Darlene Love - Christmas (Baby...) - and a staple for David Letterman's Christmas show every year...

Bruce Springsteen & The E-Street Band - LIVE - with "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town" - that just goes on and on - and you don't want it to stop....

and of course a song that is so bad - that it is GOOD:

Hall & Oates version of "Jingle Bells"

And all the Brian Setzer Orchestra XMas songs - performed by 20 plus band that keeps Christmas rocking and swinging !!

Posted by ovlas at December 24, 2005 1:23 AM

Ah yes, Slade. The song has charted seven times now in its original form and grazed the charts again when covered by The Metal Gurus a few years ago. Noddy Holder helped out on vocals, but for those who aren't familiar with the name of the band, The Metal Gurus did have quite a few tunes in the charts under their other name- The Mission...

Interesting that there's no mention of Greg Lake's I Believe In Father Christmas on her! It's still one of the all time classics, but one song that was a hit at Christmas over here in the UK appears to have been forgotten about by radio stations.

Hands up those UK bloggers who remember Nellie The Elephant by The Toy Dolls...

Have a good Christmas and New Year!

Cheers

Keith

PS The store I manage hasn't played its company approved Christmas tape this year - something that our customers have been very grateful of! It will however get an outing on the morning of April 1st.

Posted by Keith Rickaby at December 25, 2005 6:05 PM

Also... The Boss - Bruce Springsteen - "Merry Christmas Baby" - YEAH.

Posted by John Malone at December 25, 2005 6:55 PM

Okay OVLAS - you are on the money when you say Darlene Love's Christmas (Baby Please Come Home).

Saw her on Letterman a few days ago (we get it on delayed broadcast here) - and she was amazing. Something like her 12th or 13th appearance on the show....... she sang it better than ever! Unbelievable rendition of her own classic from the 60's.

Even more so...... she is something like 67 or 68 years of age !!! Hit every single note. AMAZING.

I am now proclaiming - "IT AIN'T CHRISTMAS WITHOUT DARLENE LOVE !!"

This from her bio:

She is one of David Letterman's favorite singers. Every December 23, she appears on "The Late Show With David Letterman" to sing her classic, "Christmas, Baby Please Come Home." In one memorable appearance, her rendition was broadcast live to USA Servicemen and Servicewomen stationed overseas. As David Letterman says, "It is just not Christmas without Darlene Love."

AMEN.......

Posted by Kelly Clark at December 28, 2005 9:23 PM