When the Snowman Brings the Snow...

Keeping with the musical sentiments of the Christmas season, here is an offering of a slightly different kind..  Drifting away from classical and traditional fare, I thought it would be good to post some more modern tunes; tunes that have become just as familiar as carols in the UK at this time of the year.

I have already covered some of the "Glam Rock" bands and hits, but here are some Yuletide biggies from some of the best British bands of the 1970's.

Wizzard - I Wish it Could be Christmas Every Day

Despite having charted on eleven separate occasions, the highest Roy Wood's

classic reached was Number 4 on its initial release in 1973.

The Wombles - Wombling Merry Christmas

A novelty musical group using the characters from the children's television show

(based on Elisabeth Beresford's books), the Wombles had a number of Top 20 hits.

This seasonal song made it to Number 2 in 1974.

Showaddywaddy - Hey Mr Christmas

A 1970's band specialising in 1950's Rock 'n' Roll (including a number of excellent

covers), the Leicester-based Showaddywaddy had no fewer than ten Top 10 hits.

This wasn't one of them, but it did peak at Number 13 in 1974.

Slade - Merry Xmas Everybody

Perhaps the greatest of all British rock Christmas hits, this topped the chart in 1974.  It was

the last of Slade's six Number 1's, but easily their most successful and enduring!