Advent stories
IT'S CHRISTMAS!
Nobody does Christmas like Slade. But according to a poll in 2012, Merry Christmas Everybody was only the third best rated Christmas tune, behind Fairy tale of New York and I wish it could be Christmas every day. What do polls know?
Born from an old set of lyrics written in the 60’s, the tune came together and was recorded at the height of their fame.
Half a million advance orders and then 350,000 bought on its release and over 500,000 after the first week, entering the charts at number one on 15th December 1973, Slade’s sixth and final number one single. It remained number one into the middle of January.
The song has taken on a life of its own. Released every decade since the 70’s and played on every radio show in the run up to Christmas. But it is also heard in Supermarkets, nightclubs and just about everywhere.
The song is credited with starting the race for the Christmas number one. Noddy Holder, who co-wrote the tune with Jim Lea, describes the tune as his own pension plan, due to the continuing royalties of about £500,000 the song still generates each year
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