List of Christmas hit singles (UK)
The following is an incomplete list of Christmas songs (hit singles and tracks) recorded by well known and obscure artists, which have hit on various charts in the United Kingdom. A year indicates the first year of release for that artist's recorded version of the single or track, which may not necessarily be the first year the artist's version charted on one or more popular music charts by various music trade publications.
Further information: Christmas music
| Title | Artist | Year | Additional Information |
|---|---|---|---|
| "All I Want for Christmas Is You" (1) | Foghat | 1981 | |
| "All I Want for Christmas Is You" (2) | Mariah Carey | 1994 | Written by Walter Afanasieff and Mariah Carey. Peaked at #2 on the UK singles chart in December 1994. Charted again in 2007 (#4), 2008 (#12), 2009 (#18) and 2010 (#22). The band My Chemical Romance also recorded a version of the song. |
| "All Join Hands" | Slade | 1984 | Reached the Top 20 on both the UK and Swedish charts. |
| "Another Rock N' Roll Christmas" | Gary Glitter | 1984 | Hit #7 in the UK Singles Chart in 1985. From the album Boys Will Be Boys. |
| "At This Time of Year" | Craig Phillips | 2000 | Big Brother winner's Christmas charity single for Downs Syndrome Association. Reached #14 after being in the top 40 for 3 weeks. Phillips also appeared in the videos for Bo Selecta's Proper Crimbo (2003), and Ricky Tomlinson's Christmas My Arse (2006). |
| "Baby, It's Cold Outside" | Tom Jones & Cerys Matthews | 1999 | Written in 1944 by Frank Loesser and featured in the 1949 film Neptune's Daughter starring Esther Williams. The song was a #17 pop hit single in the UK in 1999. |
| "Best Christmas of Them All" | Shakin' Stevens | 1990 | Reached #19 on the UK Singles Chart. From the album Merry Christmas Everyone. |
| "Cashing in on Christmas" | Bad News | 1992 | |
| "Christmas Alphabet" | Dickie Valentine | 1955 | A Christmas #1 single on the UK singles chart in 1955. Covered in the US by The McGuire Sisters. |
| "Christmas Day" (1) | Squeeze | 1979 | |
| "Christmas Day" (2) | Dido | 2000 | |
| "Christmas in the Sun" | Rolf Harris and Rick Parfitt | 2009 | Harris said the song took 20 years to write[1] and was inspired by memories of growing up in Western Australia in the 1930s. The final chorus features lyrics from "Whatever You Want", a song by Parfitt's band Status Quo.[2] |
| "Christmas Is All Around" | Billy Mack | 2003 | Recorded for the film Love Actually. Reached #23 on the chart. |
| "A Christmas Kiss" | Daniel O'Donnell | 1999 | |
| "Christmas Lights" | Coldplay | 2010 | Digital download track which peaked at #13 on the British pop singles chart, for the week of 12 December 2010. |
| "Christmas My Arse" | Ricky Tomlinson | 2006 | Video features Craig Phillips, first winner of TV's Big Brother series in the UK. |
| "Christmas Round at Ours" | Girls Aloud | 2005 | |
| "Christmas Song" | Gilbert O'Sullivan | 1974 | A #12 pop hit single in the UK in 1974. |
| "Christmas Time (Don't Let the Bells End)" | The Darkness | 2003 | Peaked at #2 on the UK Singles Chart. |
| "Christmas Wrapping" | The Waitresses | 1981 | Peaked on # 45 on the UK Singles Chart in December 1982. First appeared on the 1981 various artists holiday compilation album A Christmas Record (Ze Records). Covered in 1998 by the Spice Girls and released as a B-side on their single "Goodbye". |
| "Coldcut's Christmas Break" | Coldcut | 1989 | |
| "Cruise Into Christmas Medley" | Jane McDonald | 1998 | |
| "December Brings Me Back to You" | Andy Abraham featuring Michael Underwood | 2006 | The GMTV Christmas single for host Michael Underwood, written and sung with X Factor star Andy Abraham. Charted at #18 in the UK Singles Chart. |
| "December Will Be Magic Again" | Kate Bush | 1979 | Not released until the Christmas season of 1980. The single peaked at #29 on the UK Singles Chart. |
| "Ding Dong Merrily on High" | Celtic Woman | 2006 | |
| "Do They Know It's Christmas?" | Band Aid | 1984 | A benefit recording by an all-star group to assist famine relief in Ethiopia; organized by Bob Geldof of the Irish rock band The Boomtown Rats. Written by Geldof and Midge Ure of the British rock band Ultravox. A Christmas #1 single on the UK singles chart in 1984, and re-recorded on two other separate occasions: Band Aid II in 1989 and Band Aid 20 in 2004. |
| "Driving Home for Christmas" | Chris Rea | 1988 | |
| "Fairytale of New York" | The Pogues featuring Kirsty MacColl | 1987 | Written by Jem Finer and Shane MacGowan. Reached #1 on the Irish singles chart (where it continues to be the most popular Christmas song), but to many people's amazement was beaten to #1 in the UK, by the Pet Shop Boys' "Always on My Mind". |
| "Feels Like Christmas" | The Feeling | 2008 | Released as a download-only single. Went to #139 in the UK Charts. |
| "Fifty Grand for Christmas" | Paul Holt | 2004 | |
| "Gaudete" | Steeleye Span | 1972 | Didn't become a chart hit in the UK until December 1973. |
| "The Ghost of Christmas" | Manic Street Preachers | 2007 | A free download made available through the band's website. |
| "Give U One 4 Christmas" | Hot Pantz | 2005 | Peaked at #64 in the UK Singles Chart.[3] |
| "Happy Xmas (War Is Over)" | John and Yoko and The Plastic Ono Band with the Harlem Community Choir | 1971 | Written by John Lennon and Yoko Ono. Originally charted on the UK singles chart in December 1972, peaking at #4. Reached a new peak of #2 on the UK singles chart in December 1980 after the death of Lennon. Later covered by Melissa Etheridge in 1994, The Polyphonic Spree, Celine Dion in 1997, The Idols, The Alarm, Neil Diamond, the Street Drum Corps ft. Bert McCracken of The Used, and most recently by Sarah McLachlan in 2006. |
| "I Believe in Christmas" | The Tweenies | 2001 | |
| "I Believe in Father Christmas" | Greg Lake | 1975 | Written by Greg Lake and Peter Sinfield. Major hit in Britain, placed in US Top 100. |
| "I Wanna Kiss You So (Christmas in a Nutshell)" | Girls Aloud | 2005 | |
| "I Was Born on Christmas Day" | Saint Etienne co-starring Tim Burgess | 1993 | |
| "I Wish It Could Be a Wombling Merry Christmas Everyday" | The Wombles with Roy Wood | 2000 | |
| "I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday" | Wizzard | 1973 | Featuring backing vocals by the Suedettes, plus the Stockland Green Bilateral School First Year Choir, with additional noises by Miss. Snob and Class 3C. Re-recorded by the writer, Wizzard frontman Roy Wood, with his Roy Wood Big Band as a live single in 1995. Later covered by the A*Teens, Girls Aloud and Wilson Phillips (whose version reached #14 on the Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks chart in December 2010). |
| "Is This Christmas?" | The Wombats | 2008 | |
| "It Doesn't Often Snow at Christmas" | Pet Shop Boys | 1997 | |
| "It's Christmas Time" | Status Quo | 2008 | |
| "It's Gonna Be A Cold Cold Christmas" | Dana | 1975 | A #4 pop hit single in the UK in 1975. |
| "Just for Now" | Imogen Heap | 2004 | |
| "Last Christmas" | Wham! | 1984 | Written by George Michael and first released in late 1984, when it reached #2 on the UK singles chart. The single was re-released in 1985. Rumored to have been written for Easter, but later changed to Christmas to boost sales. |
| "Let's Party" | Jive Bunny & the Mastermixers | 1989 | A medley of three Christmas hits: "Merry Xmas Everybody" by Slade, "I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday" by Wizzard and finally "Another Rock and Roll Christmas" by Gary Glitter. The song was remixed again in 2004, replacing Gary Glitter with Mariah Carey singing "All I Want for Christmas Is You". This mix is only available to DJs. |
| "Lonely Pup (In a Christmas Shop)" | Adam Faith with the Children | 1960 | Reached #4 on the UK Singles chart in 1960. |
| "Lonely This Christmas" | Mud | 1974 | A Christmas #1 single on the UK singles chart in 1974. |
| "Mary's Boy Child" | Harry Belafonte | 1957 | Written by Jester Hairston. A UK #1 for 7 weeks at the end of 1957. The reissue one year later reached the Top 10. Also a Top 40 hit for Nina & Frederik in 1959. |
| "Mary's Boy Child - Oh My Lord" | Boney M. | 1978 | A disco medley. The previous entry combined with a new song written by Frank Farian and Fred Jay. The UK Christmas #1 of 1978. |
| "Merry Christmas Everyone" | Shakin' Stevens | 1985 | Produced by Dave Edmunds. A Christmas #1 single on the UK singles chart in 1985. |
| "Merry Xmas Everybody" | Slade | 1973 | Written by Noddy Holder and Jim Lea. A Christmas #1 single on the UK singles chart in 1973. Covered by Dexys Midnight Runners in 1982, Steps, Noel Gallagher, and then Tony Christie in 2005. Has also been reissued by Slade on several occasions, most recently in 2006. |
| "Mistletoe" | Justin Bieber | 2011 | Peaked at #21 on the UK singles chart in 2011. |
| "Mistletoe and Wine" | Cliff Richard | 1988 | A Christmas #1 single on the UK singles chart in 1988. |
| "My Favourite Time of Year" | The Florin Street Band | 2010 | |
| "Naughty Christmas (Goblin in the Office)" | Fat Les | 1998 | |
| "New Year" | Sugababes | 2000 | |
| "Peace on Earth/Little Drummer Boy" | David Bowie and Bing Crosby | 1982 | Peaked at # 3 on the UK Singles chart in December 1982. Recorded on 11 September 1977 for Crosby's UK holiday television special, Bing Crosby's Merrie Olde Christmas. The song wasn't released as a commercial single until 1982, and a video clip of their duet from the TV special became an MTV staple for the remainder of the 1980s. |
| "Proper Crimbo" | Bo' Selecta! | 2003 | The video features guest appearances from various celebrities including Edith Bowman, Chris Moyles, Bob Geldof, Mel B, Christine Hamilton, Craig Phillips and Jimmy Carr. |
| "Santa's List" | Cliff Richard | 2003 | |
| "Saviour's Day" | Cliff Richard | 1990 | A Christmas #1 single on the UK singles chart in 1990. |
| "Silent Night" | Bros | 1988 | A double A-side ("Cat Among the Pigeons" was on the flip). The single reached #2 on the UK singles chart in December 1988. |
| "Six White Boomers" | Rolf Harris & the Chris Gage Trio | 1961 | Written by Rolf Harris & John D. Brown. The original 1961 version was released on 20th Century Fox Records. An updated version was recorded in 1963 on Epic Records, with the artist listed solely as "Rolf Harris". |
| "A Spaceman Came Travelling" | Chris de Burgh | 1975 | Originally released on Chris de Burgh's second studio album, Spanish Train and Other Stories (1975). Became a top 40 pop hit single in the UK in December 1986 following the success of de Burgh's UK #1 pop hit, "The Lady in Red". |
| "Step Into Christmas" | Elton John | 1973 | The B-side of the 1973 single contained another holiday tune by Elton titled "Ho Ho Ho (Who'd Be a Turkey at Christmas)". The British indie-rock band The Wedding Present recorded a cover of "Step Into Christmas" that appeared on the 1991 various artists holiday compilation A Lump of Coal. |
| "Stop the Cavalry" | Jona Lewie | 1980 | Peaked at #3 in the UK Singles Chart in December 1980. |
| "Thank God It's Christmas" | Queen | 1984 | |
| "Thanks for Christmas" | The Three Wise Men | 1983 | The group is actually the British rock band XTC. |
| "2000 Miles" | Pretenders | 1983 | Peaked at # 15 in the UK Singles Chart in December 1983. |
| "Under the Tree" | The Water Babies | 2005 | |
| "Walking in the Air" | Peter Auty and the Sinfonia of London | 1982 | From the 1982 film adaptation of The Snowman. Later recorded by Aled Jones in 1985, and Nightwish in 1999. |
| "What Are We Gonna Get 'Er Indoors" (Interpolating "In The Bleak Mid-Winter") | George Cole and Dennis Waterman | 1983 | A one-off single, a spin-off from the popular British TV series Minder, it was based musically on a piece by Gustav Holst, who for copyright reasons was given a joint co-composing credit on the label alongside the two performers. It reached #21 on the chart. |
| "When a Child Is Born" | Johnny Mathis | 1976 | A Christmas #1 single on the UK singles chart in 1976. Originally recorded by Michael Holm and released in 1974. |
| "A Winter's Tale" | David Essex | 1982 | #2 on the UK singles chart in January 1983. |
| "A Winter's Tale" | Queen | 1995 | |
| "Wombling Merry Christmas" | The Wombles | 1974 | |
| "Wonderful Christmastime" | Paul McCartney | 1979 | Reached #6 on the UK singles chart in December 1979. Backed with the B-side "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reggae" (an instrumental cover of "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer"). |
See also
- Christmas music
- List of Christmas carols
- List of Christmas/holiday hit singles in the United States
- Best-selling Christmas/holiday singles in the United States
- List of Christmas number one music downloads (UK)
- List of Christmas number one singles (UK)
- UK Singles Chart
References
- ^ "Rolf's Aussie Christmas rocks UK". Daily Telegraph. 10 December 2009. http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/rolfs-aussie-christmas-rocks-uk/story-e6freeuu-1225809085319.
- ^ "Christmas in the Sun". http://www.bestmanagement.com.au/library/Best_Management_Press_Release_Christmas_In_the_Sun.pdf.
- ^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 260. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
Notes
- British Hit Singles and Albums (Guinness 19th Edition) by David Roberts
- Complete UK Hit Singles by Graham Betts
- Complete Guide to the British Charts by Neil Warwick
