THE LAST TURKEY

At number three is Slade and Merry Christmas Everybody. This song is more Chrismassy than Christmas itself. It is unimaginable to think that prior to 1973 this song was never heard during the most wonderful time of the year.

It's Chriiiiiiist-maaaaaaaaaaas!!

"Merry Xmas Everybody" is a single by the English glam-rock band Slade. Written by Noddy Holder and Jim Lea, and produced by Chas Chandler, it was the band's sixth and final number one single in the UK. It held the coveted UK Christmas Number One slot in December 1973, beating Wizzard's "I Wish It Could Be Christmas Every Day" into fourth place, and was still number one in mid-January. In fact, it did not leave the top 40 until after Valentine's Day. It is affectionately held in similar regard by UK residents as Bing Crosby's "White Christmas" is by Americans. The song is particularly memorable for frontman Noddy Holder's typically screeching delivery of the line “It's Chriiiiiiist-maaaaaaaaaaas" towards the song's close.

The song was first written in 1967 with different lyrics. Its original title was "Buy Me a Rocking Chair". In a 2003 article by Chris Hunt of Q magazine, Noddy Holder described the genesis of the song: “It was one of the first bits of melody I ever wrote, dating back to 1967. We’d written it in the psychedelic days – the original lyrics were ‘Buy me a rocking chair to watch the world go by/won’t you buy me a looking glass to look you in the eye’. Six years later we used the melody and changed the lyric.” The lyric was completed by Holder in a writing session through the night at his mother's house.

Despite the song's association with British working class Christmases it was actually recorded in New York in mid 1973. The band initially had trouble capturing the right feel for the song. In an adjoining studio, John Lennon was working on his album Mind Games. The ex-Beatle had recorded his own Christmas single in 1971, and had contributed to 7 Beatles Christmas records. Slade manager/producer Chas Chandler: "We just couldn't get the sound right. Then John Lennon turned up with a harmonium he was about to use in the studio next door. It was just the sound we wanted.

Noel Gallagher (of Oasis) performed an acoustic cover called Merry Christmas Everyone for The Royle Family's Christmas Special, and the song was later released.