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| The Biggest Selling UK Christmas Singles, Britain`s biggest ever Christmas hits (updated page 3) |
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 2nd December 2007, 10:50 PM
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#1
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 BuzzJack Regular
Joined: 5 October 2007
Posts: 496 User: 4,459 
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Note: I will be updating weekly for 2008, in tribute to Trevs last year (Starting on page 3<No Page 3 girls, though)!!!...Dave (23rd Nov 2008)
As we are now well into Advent, lets take this whole week, to feature the best selling Christmas singles of all time. This used to be compiled every Christmas from 1984 - 1992. In 1984, the late Roy Castle, counted them down on Radio 2, in a Christmas Eve special. Then, over following years, the Independant Radio network, were supplied the list by MRIB. Paul Burnett did a countdown, of this every year between 1990 - 92, on Capital Radio. Also, various other independant stations, did their own local countdowns, similar to the Network Chart, over the Christmas period. Some records may not feature here, if they are not directly Christmas related, for instance although EAST 17, had a number one, in 1994, and it had bells on it. it wasn`t directly Christmas related. If that makes sense! We have also excluded MARY HAD A LITTLE BOY - SNAP 1990, WALKING IN THE AIR - ALED JONES 1985, A WINTER`S TALE - DAVID ESSEX 1982, ALL AROUND MY HAT - STEELEYE SPAN 1975, SAM - KEITH WEST 1967, and SNOW COACH - RUSS CONWAY 1959. They were all December hits but, although there are references to Winter and snow, and somebody else called Mary, they are not exactly Christmas hits. Here are numbers 60 - 41, all based on over the counter sales...This was last year (2007) remember, the update for 2008 starts on page 3! 60 GAUDETTE - STEELEYE SPAN 1973 59 THE CHRISTMAS SONG (I`M NOT DREAMING OF A WHITE CHRISTMAS) - GILBERT O` SULLIVAN 1974 58 BLUE CHRISTMAS - ELVIS PRESLEY 1964 57 RENTA SANTA - CHRIS HILL 1975 56 BIONIC SANTA - CHRIS HILL 1976 55 WHITE CHRISTMAS/WINTER WONDERLAND/SANTA CLAUS IS COMIN` TO TOWN (MEDLEY) - JANE MCDONALD 1998 54 IF EVERY DAY WAS LIKE CHRISTMAS - ELVIS PRESLEY 1966 53 JINGLE BELL ROCK - MAX BYGRAVES 1959 52 THE GIFT OF CHRISTMAS - CHILDLINERS 1995 51 I SAW MOMMY KISSING SANTA CLAUS - BEVERLY SISTERS 1953 50 I SAW MOMMY KISSING SANTA CLAUS - JIMMY BOYD 1953 49 CHRISTMAS THROUGH YOUR EYES - GLORIA ESTEFAN 1995 48 JINGLE BELLS - CRAZY FROG 2005 47 SLEIGH RIDE - S. CLUB JUNIORS 2002 46 MERRY GENTLE POPS - BARRON KNIGHTS 1965 45 21ST CENTURY CHRISTMAS - CLIFF RICHARD 2006 44 HAPPY CHRISTMAS (WAR IS OVER) - THE IDOLS 2003 43 PROPER CRIMBO - BO SELECTA 2003 42 PLEASE COME HOME FOR CHRISTMAS - BON JOVI 1994 41 I`M WALKING BACKWARDS FOR CHRISTMAS - GOONS 1956 This post has been edited by davetaylor: 23rd November 2008, 06:46 PM |
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3rd December 2007, 07:39 AM
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BuzzJack Legend
Joined: 7 March 2006
Posts: 22,001 User: 53
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Thanks for this. Very interesting.
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3rd December 2007, 09:35 AM
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Imma gonz Blue Waffle ya up bitch!
Joined: 7 March 2006
Posts: 24,143 User: 30
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Don't know many of those
 I would guess Band Aid for #1? 
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3rd December 2007, 12:12 PM
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Poet and Storyteller
Joined: 11 March 2006
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Despite the coincidental title, was Snap's Mary Had a Little Boy anything to do with Christmas? Listening to the lyrics I'd say definitely not!
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3rd December 2007, 04:28 PM
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BuzzJack Regular
Joined: 5 October 2007
Posts: 496 User: 4,459
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Let`s carry on with numbers 40 - 31...
40 FATHER CHRISTMAS DO NOT TOUCH ME - THE GOODIES 1974 39 SANTA CLAUS IS COMING TO TOWN - BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN 1985 38 SANTA BRING MY BABY BACK TO ME - ELVIS PRESLEY 1957 37 ROCKIN` AROUND THE CHRISTMAS TREE - BRENDA LEE 1962 36 SILENT NIGHT - BROS 1988 35 ANOTHER ROCK N` ROLL CHRISTMAS - GARY GLITTER 1984 34 PRETTY PAPER - ROY ORBISON 1964 33 LITTLE DRUMMER BOY - BEVERLY SISTERS 1958/9 32 SANTO NATALE - DAVID WHITFIELD 1954 31 MR HANKY (THE CHRISTMAS POO) - SOUTH PARK/ISAAC HAYES 1999 What a nice way to end that selection! We will carry on with the first part of the top 30, tomorrow...but let`s go through some more Christmas hits that just missed the top 60 of all time, starting with 1950 - 59.... JINGLE BELLS ETC. - SINGING DOGS 1955, got to number 15, that year LITTLE DONKEY - BEVERLY SISTERS 1959 got to number 13, that year LITTLE DRUMMER BOY - HARRY SIMEONE CHORALE 1959 number 14, in February! WINTER WONDERLAND/SLEIGH RIDE - JOHNNY MATHIS 1958 number 16, that year THE SON OF MARY - HARRY BELAFONTE 1958 number 17, that year CHRISTMAS ISLAND - DICKIE VALENTINE 1956 number 16, that year THE VERY FIRST CHRISTMAS OF ALL - RUBY MURRAY 1955 number 12, that year I SAW MOMMY KISSING SANTA CLAUS - BILLY COTTON 1953 number 11, that year WHITE CHRISTMAS - MANTOVANI 1952 number 6, that year RUDOLPH THE RED-NOSED REINDEER - GENE AUTRY 1950, number 1, that year Note: the GENE AUTRY record is the biggest selling version, of RUDOLPH THE RED-NOSED REINDEER, but it was released before the record charts, began. It was a sheet music number one, and would almost certainly, been a 78rpm single number one, as well. As it it is very difficult, to get accurate sells, of the record, we can`t include it in the top 60. This is a shame because, it would, most certainly, be up in the top 15, biggest sellers. This post has been edited by trevs: 17th December 2007, 11:39 PM |
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 3rd December 2007, 04:51 PM
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BuzzJack Platinum Member
Joined: 15 November 2007
Posts: 5,272 User: 4,817
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Good ol' Brenda Lee.
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3rd December 2007, 08:05 PM
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BuzzJack Enthusiast
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QUOTE(trevs @ Dec 3 2007, 04:29 PM)  RUDOLPH THE RED-NOSED REINDEER - GENE AUTRY 1950, number 1, that year Note: the GENE AUTRY record is the biggest selling version, of RUDOLPH THE RED-NOSED REINDEER, but it was released before the record charts, began. It was a sheet music number one, and would almost certainly, been a 78rpm single number one, as well. As it it is very difficult, to get accurate sells, of the record, we can`t include it in the top 60. This is a shame because, it would, most certainly, be up in the top 15, biggest sellers. It was no.1 this exact week back in 1950, here is the top ten from that week. Week ending 9th December 1950 1 1 Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer Gene Autry 2 2 Goodnight Irene Weavers & Gordon Jenkins & His Orchestra 3 3 Mona Lisa Nat King Cole 4 6 Christmas In Killarney Bing Crosby 5 NE I Taut I Taw A Puddy Tat Mel Blanc 6 4 Sam's Song Bing & Gary Crosby 7 NE Beloved Be Faithful Teddy Johnson 8 7 Autumn Leaves Artie Shaw & His Orchestra 9 5 Silver Dollar Eve Young 10 10 Orange Coloured Sky Nat King Cole & Stan Kenton |
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3rd December 2007, 09:22 PM
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BuzzJack Regular
Joined: 5 October 2007
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QUOTE(fiesta @ Dec 3 2007, 08:06 PM) It was no.1 this exact week back in 1950, here is the top ten from that week. Week ending 9th December 1950 1 1 Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer Gene Autry 2 2 Goodnight Irene Weavers & Gordon Jenkins & His Orchestra 3 3 Mona Lisa Nat King Cole 4 6 Christmas In Killarney Bing Crosby 5 NE I Taut I Taw A Puddy Tat Mel Blanc 6 4 Sam's Song Bing & Gary Crosby 7 NE Beloved Be Faithful Teddy Johnson 8 7 Autumn Leaves Artie Shaw & His Orchestra 9 5 Silver Dollar Eve Young 10 10 Orange Coloured Sky Nat King Cole & Stan Kenton Thanks for that one Fiesta. If I remember correctly, RUDOLPH had a 6 week run at the top, from November 1950 to early January 1951. How about a December top 10, from 1951? It may fill a gap in the fifties charts. If you have them from the late 40s too, it would be even more interesting 
This post has been edited by trevs: 3rd December 2007, 09:24 PM |
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4th December 2007, 12:48 PM
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BuzzJack Enthusiast
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QUOTE(trevs @ Dec 3 2007, 09:23 PM) Thanks for that one Fiesta. If I remember correctly, RUDOLPH had a 6 week run at the top, from November 1950 to early January 1951. How about a December top 10, from 1951? It may fill a gap in the fifties charts. If you have them from the late 40s too, it would be even more interesting I only have the charts back to 1950, though I have sheet music number ones going back to 1945. Week ending 8th December 1951 1 1 Longing For You Sammy Kaye & His Orchestra 2 5 I Love The Sunshine Of Your Smile Four Knights 3 2 Because Of You Nat King Cole 4 3 Tulips And Heather Perry Como 5 6 The Loveliest Night Of The Year Mario Lanza 6 4 Too Young Nat King Cole 7= 7 Belle Belle My Liberty Belle Guy Mitchell 7= 9= Rosaline Teddy Johnson 8 8 Longing For You Teresa Brewer 9 9= A Beggar In Love Guy Mitchell 10 NE Allentown Jail Lita Roza Xmas number ones 1945-1951 1945-I'm in love with my two sweethearts Issy Bonn 1946-Five minutes more Frank Sinatra 1947-Apple blossom wedding Lou Preager 1948-Buttons & bows Dinah Shore 1949-You're breaking my heart Ink Spots 1950-Rudolph the red nosed raindeer Gene Autry 1951-Longing for you Teddy Johnson This post has been edited by fiesta: 4th December 2007, 12:49 PM |
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4th December 2007, 09:00 PM
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BuzzJack Regular
Joined: 5 October 2007
Posts: 496 User: 4,459
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Let`s go to the top 30...
30 ROCKIN` AROUND THE CHRISTMAS TREE - MEL SMITH, KIM WILDE and GRIFF RHYS JONES 1987 29 LONELY PUP (IN A CHRISTMAS SHOP) - ADAM FAITH 1960 28 WONDERFUL CHRISTMASTIME - PAUL MCCARTNEY 1979 27 IT`S GONNA BE A COLD COLD CHRISTMAS - DANA 1975 26 LITTLE DONKEY - NINA AND FREDERICK 1960 25 PEACE ON EARTH-LITTLE DRUMMER BOY - DAVID BOWIE AND BING CROSBY 1982 24 CHRISTMAS TIME - THE DARKNESS 2003 23 BLUE CHRISTMAS E.P. - SHAKIN` STEVENS 1982 22 WOMBLING MERRY CHRISTMAS - WOMBLES 1974 21 FAIRYTALE OF NEW YORK - POGUES/KIRSTY MCCOLL 1987/94/07 This post has been edited by davetaylor: 23rd November 2008, 01:46 PM |
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4th December 2007, 10:13 PM
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BuzzJack Regular
Joined: 5 October 2007
Posts: 496 User: 4,459
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QUOTE(abc1 @ Dec 4 2007, 09:51 PM) Have you ironed out, the mistakes completely now Trevs? I was wondering, if you could perhaps list, some more of the older singles, pre 1950? I remember my Grandad used to own a 10inch record, of Jingle Bells, sung by Bing Crosby, and some girls. Who were they?  JINGLE BELLS if I remember correctly, was BING CROSBY and the ANDREWS SISTERS (who used to pop up, in many early Abbott and Costello films, in the 40s). The song was recorded by Bing in 1943. So, your Grandad, had a very old 78, there! Here are some other Christmas records from 1935 - 1950... SILENT NIGHT - BING CROSBY 1935 I`LL BE HOME FOR CHRISTMAS - BING CROSBY 1943 HAVE YOURSELF A MERRY LITTLE CHRISTMAS - JUDY GARLAND 1944 LET IT SNOW LET IT SNOW LET IT SNOW - VAUGHN MONRO 1945 CHRISTMAS ISLAND - GUY LOMBARDO AND THE ROYAL CANADIANS 1946 CHRISTMAS SONG (CHESTNUTS ROASTING) - NAT KING COLE 1946 HERE COMES SANTA CLAUS - GENE AUTRY 1947 MERRY CHRISTMAS BABY - CHARLES BROWN 1947 ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS IS MY TWO FRONT TEETH - SPIKE JONES/CITY SLICKERS 1948 BOOGIE WOOGIE SANTA CLAUS - MABEL SCOTT 1948 FROSTY THE SNOWMAN - GENE AUTRY 1949 I YUST GO NUTS AT CHRISTMAS - YOGI YORGESON 1949 SLEIGH RIDE - ARTHUR FIEDLER/BOSTON POPS ORCHESTRA 1949 CHRISTMAS IN KILLARNEY - BING CROSBY 1950 SANTA CLAUS GOT STUCK IN MY CHIMNEY - ELLA FITZGERALD 1950 I have never heard CHARLES BROWN, or YOGI YORGESON. We used to sing the ELLA FITZGERALD one, at school! Here are some hits, that bubble under our top 60, from the 60s and 70s... BAMBINO - THE SPRINGFIELDS 1961 number 25 ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS IS A BEATLE - DORA BRYAN 1963 number 19 LITTLE DRUMMER BOY - ROYAL SCOTS DRAGOON GUARDS 1972 number 13 HEY MISTER CHRISTMAS - SHOWADDYWADDY 1974 number 13 CHRISTMAS IN DREADLAND - JUDGE DREAD 1975 number 14 MAKE A DAFT NOISE FOR CHRISTMAS - THE GOODIES 1975 number 20 CHRISTMAS IN SMURFLAND - FATHER ABRAHAM/THE SMURFS 1978 number 19 IT WON`T SEEM LIKE CHRISTMAS WITHOUT YOU - ELVIS PRESLEY 1979 number 13 A bit of a shortage of Christmas hits 1967 - 71! This post has been edited by davetaylor: 23rd November 2008, 06:45 PM |
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4th December 2007, 11:08 PM
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BuzzJack Legend
Joined: 7 March 2006
Posts: 22,001 User: 53
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Ah wondered if Dana would pop up. One of my faves, remember it well, that NEVER appears on any Christmas compilation CD. In fact don't think it's ever been on CD.
This post has been edited by Crazy Chris: 4th December 2007, 11:09 PM |
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4th December 2007, 11:17 PM
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BuzzJack Regular
Joined: 5 October 2007
Posts: 496 User: 4,459
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QUOTE(Crazy Chris @ Dec 4 2007, 11:09 PM) Ah wondered if Dana would pop up. One of my faves, remember it well, that NEVER appears on any Christmas compilation CD. In fact don't think it's ever been on CD. My favourite too, Chris. It brings back memories of 1975, for me, because I remember, it was the first time, my sister had a cassette recorder, and she recorded the BBC top 20, with Tom Browne. I remember Dana, going from 18 - 4, then she got stuck, behind Queen, Greg Lake, and Laurel and Hardy! I have never seen it, on any compilation, apart from Dana`s Greatest hits. I still have the original single. What a great song, to download too.
This post has been edited by trevs: 4th December 2007, 11:49 PM |
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5th December 2007, 12:38 PM
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BuzzJack Platinum Member
Joined: 26 February 2007
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QUOTE(Crazy Chris @ Dec 4 2007, 11:09 PM) Ah wondered if Dana would pop up. One of my faves, remember it well, that NEVER appears on any Christmas compilation CD. In fact don't think it's ever been on CD. http://www.amazon.co.uk/All-Time-Greatest-...m/dp/B000056ASL |
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5th December 2007, 06:58 PM
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BuzzJack Regular
Joined: 5 October 2007
Posts: 496 User: 4,459
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Here comes part 4...into the top 20!
20 SAVIOURS DAY - CLIFF RICHARD 1990 19 CHRISTMAS ALPHABET - DICKIE VALENTINE 1955 18 ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS IS YOU - MARIAH CAREY 1994 17 MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE - SHAKIN` STEVENS 1985 16 STOP THE CALVARY - JONA LEWIE 1980 * 15 LET`S PARTY - JIVE BUNNY AND THE MASTERMIXERS 1989 14 I WISH IT COULD BE CHRISTMAS EVERYDAY - WIZZARD 1973 13 I BELIEVE IN FATHER CHRISTMAS - GREG LAKE 1975 12 DO THEY KNOW IT`S CHRISTMAS - BAND AID II 1989 11 LONELY THIS CHRISTMAS - MUD 1974 *Why have I got an asterix, by JONA LEWIE? Well, I remember Jona, being interviewed on the MULTI-COLOURED SWAP SHOP in 1980. He stated that this was not a Christmas record. It was a story, of the 2nd World War..."Hey Mr Churchill come`s over here", being the opening lyric. An anti-war song infact. The only mention of Christmas, is the line, "Wish I was at home for Christmas". It was not included, in the 1984 countdown, with Roy Castle, or the Capital Gold shows, with Paul Burnett. However, a local station in the Berkshire/Hampshire area, did feature it in 1991. I could argue, with Dave Taylor, that it probably still shouldn`t really be in there! Another radio station, in the Surrey/Sussex area used to play the record, all year round, too! To comment further, the record was released in October 1980. So, it was maybe not actually meant to hang around into Christmas, at all! Although, it is heavily featured on Christmas compilations, and was the MRIB/RECORD BUSINESS number one on the 20th Dec 1980. Should it be included, or not? What does the team think? By the way, we think that the GENE AUTRY 1950 hit should be around number 12, but we have no complete figures, to confirm that. The top ten tomorrow! Here are some records bubbling under the top 60, from the 1980s and 1990s... NEVER MIND THE PRESENTS - BARRON KNIGHTS 1980 number 17 (I reckon, the best Christmas comedy record) LITTLE TOWN - CLIFF RICHARD 1982 number 11 (the 62nd biggest seller) SINGALONG-A-SANTA - SANTA CLAUS AND THE CHRISTMAS TREES 1982 number 19 2000 MILES - THE PRETENDERS 1983 number 15 THANK GOD IT`S CHRISTMAS - QUEEN 1984 number 21 SANTA CLAUS IS ON THE DOLE - SPITTING IMAGE 1986 number 22 THE BEST CHRISTMAS OF THEM ALL - SHAKIN` STEVENS 1990 number 19 WE SHOULD BE TOGETHER (FOR CHRISTMAS) - CLIFF RICHARD 1991 number 10 LAST CHRISTMAS - WHIGFIELD 1995 number 21 YOUR CHRISTMAS WISH - THE SMURFS 1996 number 13 NAUGHTY CHRISTMAS - FAT LES 1998 number 21 A CHRISTMAS KISS - DANIEL O` DONNELL 1999 number 20 This post has been edited by trevs: 13th December 2007, 12:02 AM |
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5th December 2007, 07:01 PM
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Cœur poids plume
Joined: 3 November 2007
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Mr Hanky The Christmas Poo
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5th December 2007, 07:01 PM
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i would beg to disagree but begging disagrees with me
Joined: 14 June 2007
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Thanks forn posting all this Trevs, much appreciated.
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5th December 2007, 09:52 PM
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BuzzJack Regular
Joined: 5 October 2007
Posts: 496 User: 4,459
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QUOTE(abc1 @ Dec 5 2007, 08:59 PM) Thanks for the info on Bing and the Andrew Sisters, Trevs. I was thinking about Stop the Calvery. Its very similar to Paul McCartney`s Pipes of Peace, isn`t it  It`s weird that Jive Bunny is at 15, and Wizzard are at 14, because the Jive Bunny hit, heavily features Wizzard, Slade, and Gary Glitter. What is the piece of music, at the beginning of the Jive Bunny track?It`s March of the Mods, by Joe Loss, which went to number 30, in the EMI chart in November 1964. |
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5th December 2007, 10:06 PM
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BuzzJack Gold Member
Joined: 4 April 2006
Posts: 3,445 User: 366
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I'm expecting Band Aid to be #1 with perhaps Boney M, Wham, Slade and perhaps Bing making up the rest of the top 5...
I don't really class "Stop The Cavalry" as being a bona-fide Christmas song but the mention of Christmas in the lyrics coupled with the fact it was #3 at Christmas (and was number 3 for a total of five weeks) means that it is seen as a holiday season song by most people. Incidentally, the release date for the song was Friday November 21, 1980. Sales of the song on the Friday and Saturday were enough to enable the song to chart at #69 in the new chart published a few days later. Perhaps it was intended to be released in October but was held back? |
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5th December 2007, 10:23 PM
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BuzzJack Regular
Joined: 5 October 2007
Posts: 496 User: 4,459
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QUOTE(Robbie @ Dec 5 2007, 10:07 PM) I'm expecting Band Aid to be #1 with perhaps Boney M, Wham, Slade and perhaps Bing making up the rest of the top 5... I don't really class "Stop The Cavalry" as being a bona-fide Christmas song but the mention of Christmas in the lyrics coupled with the fact it was #3 at Christmas (and was number 3 for a total of five weeks) means that it is seen as a holiday season song by most people. Incidentally, the release date for the song was Friday November 21, 1980. Sales of the song on the Friday and Saturday were enough to enable the song to chart at #69 in the new chart published a few days later. Perhaps it was intended to be released in October but was held back? I believe that, you are correct Robbie. Certainly, remember Noel Edmonds, saying that it was going to be released on Friday 24th Oct. It was also played by Dale Winton, back in October this year (2007), as a new release on Pick of the Pops! So, you could well be right, with that info. Think it`s pretty obvious that if John Lennon, had not been shot, Jona, would have had an Official number one, on Tuesday 6th Jan 1981! Can you remember, when singles ceased to be released on Fridays? Late 80s, was it? This post has been edited by trevs: 5th December 2007, 10:29 PM |
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