As the festive season approaches, we have taken a look back at our most popular holiday records, drawing on our own sales data to reveal our customers' top Christmas song picks.
From East 17 to The Pogues, dive into our countdown to see if your favourite made the cut!
10 - East 17 - Stay Another Day
Released 21st November 1994, "Stay Another Day" has become a Christmas classic. This picture disc version originally came with a 'Christmas greetings card from East 17' featuring handwritten notes from the band over a blue backdrop with snowflakes. Controversially, YouGov polled the British public on the matter and found that 34% of respondents believe it isn't a Christmas song, with its lyrics making no mention of Christmas or related festivities. Considering the design of the original vinyl release(s), we're more than happy to add this to our Christmas vinyl list.
9 - Band Aid - Do They Know It's Christmas?
With 'Merry Christmas' etched in the runouts of the 12" edition, there have been quite a number of different pressings of this 80s Christmas classic. The most notable that we've seen has got to be the shaped picture disc, above. The song was written by Bob Geldof (Boomtown Rats) and Midge Ure to raise money for the 1983-85 famine in Ethiopia. Around forty artists performed on the track, including Phil Collins, Boy George, Sting and Paul Weller.
8 - Slade - Merry Xmas Everybody
With a remarkable quantity of different 7" picture sleeve variants, this Christmas single was first released in 1973. The first non promo UK picture sleeve version didn't come out until a year or two later, with a few more designs being released through the years until 1990. We've featured one of our favourites above, which is a 1989 reissue made to look like a wrapped gift.
7 - Elvis Presley - Santa Claus Is Back In Town
Written in 1957 and first recorded the same year by Elvis Presley, this Christmas tune has become a real Christmas standard. It has found its way back into the charts on numerous occasions over the years, most notably in 1980 when the version we've shown above was released.
6 - Wizzard - I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday
A glam rock contribution to this list, this Wizzard single was kept from reaching number one in 1973 by Slade's "Merry Xmas Everybody." The original backing vocals were sung by first-year pupils from Stockland Green School in Birmingham. Thanks to digital streaming, the song re-entered the top 10 in 2019 for the first time since initial release.
5 - The Pogues - Fairytale Of New York
The most-played Christmas song of the 21st century in the United Kingdom, "Fairytale Of New York" was also voted the nation's favourite Christmas song in 2012. It has entered the top 75 every December since 2005 and is the fifth most charted song of all time. A 2023 reissue was released to commemorate the life of frontman Shane MacGowan, with proceeds going to charity.
4 - Paul McCartney - Wonderful Christmastime
Released in 1979, "Wonderful Christmastime" has hit the charts in a number of countries as well as being covered by artists including Kylie Minogue and Diana Ross. McCartney recorded the song entirely on his own during the sessions for his solo project, McCartney II, his second solo album.
3 - Frankie Goes To Hollywood - The Power Of Love
The band's third single to be released, "The Power Of Love" is one of the more controversial songs on this list, having had its 'Christmas song' status debated many times over the years. Despite containing no Christmas lyrics, the single artwork features a painting by Titian of the Assumption of Mary and the music video for the song features the Nativity of Jesus. The 12" release of the song also features a Christmas message from the band.
2 - Wham! - Last Christmas
Released in 1984, "Last Christmas" spent five weeks at number two in the UK singles chart. It was held from the top spot by "Do They Know It's Christmas?" which was featured earlier in this list. George Michael performed on both tracks! The Christmas single is now the eighth best-selling single of all time in the UK.
1 - John Lennon & Yoko Ono - Happy Xmas (War Is Over)
Hitting our number one spot... is Happy Xmas (War Is Over) by John Lennon and Yoko Ono. We have sold many copies of this release, and the green 7" version always catches our eye. Lennon and Ono released the single after more than two years of peace activism, mostly against the Vietnam War. The song was originally released in December 1971 in the US, but was delayed to November 1972 in the UK.
