Jim Lea tells the origins of the song!
7th December 1973
Polydor Records 2058 422
This was the band's sixth and final Number One single and it remained in the charts for nine weeks, until February, 1974.
But, - it would return to the charts.....
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| The French Picture Cover |
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| The Dutch Picture Cover |
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| Belgium - Polydor - 1973. |
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| Germany - Polydor - 1973. |
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| Italy - Polydor - 1973. |
Portugal - Polydor - 1973.
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| Spain - Polydor - 1973. |
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| Turkey - Polydor - 1973. |
Singapore - "Merry Xmas Everybody" - 1973.
The 1974 UK Reissue
The 1978 Reissue
5th November 1980
Cheapskate Records CHEAP 11
For the Christmas of 1980, Slade released the live version of Merry Xmas Everybody that they had performed earlier that same year at the Reading Festival. It charted at Number 70 as Merry Xmas Everybody by Slade And The Reading Choir, although it was actually a three track EP, called "Xmas Ear Bender"!
The 1981 Reissue
THE OFFICIAL VIDEO!
Belgium - Polydor - 1983.
22nd November 1985
Polydor Records POSP 780
The 12" Single
Polydor Records POSPX 780
12" Promo
Polydor Records POSPX 780DJ
November 1989
Receiver Records BOYZ 4
The CD Single
Receiver Records CDBOYZ 4
December 1989
Music Factory Dance Records MFD 003
Also, in 1989, the song was sampled as part of a medley by Jive Bunny And The Mastermixers and reached Number 1 in the charts.
November 1990
Mercury Records GURU 1
In 1990, the song was covered by The Metal Gurus (The Mission with Noddy Holder) and reached Number 55 in the charts. Noddy Holder and Jimmy Lea produced both sides of the single.
1990 - (4 Track CD Single)
Phonogram - GURCD 1
2. Metal Guru
3. Mama Weer All Crazee Now
4. Gudbye T' Jane (This Track Vocals by Noddy Holder)
26th November 1990
Polydor Records PO 112
The 12" Single
Polydor Records PZ 112
Netherlands, 1991 - CD Single
Polydor 879 268-2
Germany, 1993 - CD Single
Polydor 855 199-2
UK, 1998 - CD Single
Polydor 563 353-2 / SLADE 25
Slade VS Flush
The 12" Single
Polydor SLADEX 25
Poldor FLUSH 1
2006 CD Single, Asda exclusive! (Asda were using "Merry Xmas Everybody" on their TV adverts that year!)
Universal 1713754
December, 2006 - CD Single
Universal 1713753
Some other notable cover versions of the song have been by Rose Marie, Noel Gallagher,
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| Oasis (Noel Gallagher) is Track 7 on this charity CD! |
The Smurfs, Steps and Tony Christie, where he sings the lyrics, "Does he turn up on his sleigh?" (Perhaps he wasn't familiar with "ton-up boys"?)
And an interesting segue here from Noddy Holder and Karine Polwart!
Finally, if you have ever wondered what it would have been like, had the song have been written about Easter, rather than Christmas, look at this clip from The Grimleys.
My thanks to Chris 'The Historian' Selby for his relentless research. It is said, in certain circles, that Walsall Archives have a seat reserved specifically for him and that Wolverhampton archives consult him when searching the Express & Star.
Buy Me A Rocking Chair / Merry Xmas Everybody
( Noddy Holder & Jimmy Lea )
( "Buy Me A Rocking Chair" )
Sitting here all alone and blue
I'm waiting for the psychedelic hue
Multi coloured rainbows
Are hanging overhead
I'm lying here all alone in bed
.....'So, won't you buy me a rocking chair to watch the world go by, buy me a looking glass and look me in the eye - eye - eye' -
What will the grey clouds do
When they see the sun and moon come shining through?
Aha - ah,
Aha - ah.
(Jimmy's Demo Verse )
Why does everybody need to settle down?
Because everybody wants to move around
Not a time for going quickly
But a time for going slow
When the time is saying stop then you say go.
Merry Xmas Everybody
( Noddy Holder & Jimmy Lea )
Are you hanging up a stocking on your wall?
It's the time that every Santa has a ball
Does he ride a red-nosed reindeer ?
Does a ton-up on his sleigh?
Do the fairies keep him sober for a day?
[Chorus:]
So here it is, Merry Christmas
Everybody's having fun
Look to the future now
It's only just begun
Are you waiting for the family to arrive?
Are you sure you've got the room to spare inside?
Does your granny always tell you
That the old songs are the best?
Then she's up and rock 'n' rolling with the rest
[Chorus:]
So here it is, Merry Christmas
Everybody's having fun
Look to the future now
It's only just begun
What will your daddy do
When he sees your momma kissing Santa Claus?
Aaah ah aaah aahh
Are you hanging up a stocking on your wall?
Are you hoping that the snow will start to fall?
Do you ride on down the hillside
In a buggy you have made?
When you land upon your head
Then you've been "sleighed"!
[Chorus:]
So here it is, Merry Christmas
Everybody's having fun
Look to the future now
It's only just begun
So here it is, Merry Christmas
Everybody's having fun
Look to the future now
It's only just begun
So here it is, Merry Christmas
Everybody's having fun
Look to the future now
It's only just begun
So here it is, Merry Christmas
Everybody's having fun
(IT'S CHRISTMAS!)
Look to the future now
It's only just begun
( Radio One Jingles : - )
" So here it is, Noel Edmonds..."
" So here it is, Bruno Brookes..."
" So here it is, Merry Christmas
Everybody's having fun
Here's to the future now
On National Radio One. "
Don't Blame Me
(Noddy Holder & Jimmy Lea)
Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!
I got a heart and a soul, I gotta mind of my own
And my spine ain't weak, I gotta lazy streak
Lately, I said I been a winner, ladies they all cook my dinner
I'm set free, I said don't blame me, so don't blame me
We save silver and gold, to show how many we sold
They look good when they shine, my mama polishes mine, yeah
I remember a time when we hadn't a penny
I thought we'd never have any
I'm set free, I said don't blame me, I said a don't blame me
I said a don't blame me, I said a don't blame me
I got a heart and a soul, I gotta mind of my own
And my spine ain't weak, I gotta lazy streak
Lately, I said I been a winner, ladies they all cook my dinner
I'm set free, I said don't blame me, so don't blame me
I remember a time when we hadn't a penny
I thought we'd never have any
I'm set free, I said a don't blame me, I said a don't blame me
Lately, I been a winner, ladies they all cook my dinner
I'm set free, I said don't blame me
( Noddy Holder & Jimmy Lea )
( "Buy Me A Rocking Chair" )
Sitting here all alone and blue
I'm waiting for the psychedelic hue
Multi coloured rainbows
Are hanging overhead
I'm lying here all alone in bed
.....'So, won't you buy me a rocking chair to watch the world go by, buy me a looking glass and look me in the eye - eye - eye' -
What will the grey clouds do
When they see the sun and moon come shining through?
Aha - ah,
Aha - ah.
(Jimmy's Demo Verse )
Why does everybody need to settle down?
Because everybody wants to move around
Not a time for going quickly
But a time for going slow
When the time is saying stop then you say go.
Merry Xmas Everybody
( Noddy Holder & Jimmy Lea )
Are you hanging up a stocking on your wall?
It's the time that every Santa has a ball
Does he ride a red-nosed reindeer ?
Does a ton-up on his sleigh?
Do the fairies keep him sober for a day?
[Chorus:]
So here it is, Merry Christmas
Everybody's having fun
Look to the future now
It's only just begun
Are you waiting for the family to arrive?
Are you sure you've got the room to spare inside?
Does your granny always tell you
That the old songs are the best?
Then she's up and rock 'n' rolling with the rest
[Chorus:]
So here it is, Merry Christmas
Everybody's having fun
Look to the future now
It's only just begun
What will your daddy do
When he sees your momma kissing Santa Claus?
Aaah ah aaah aahh
Are you hanging up a stocking on your wall?
Are you hoping that the snow will start to fall?
Do you ride on down the hillside
In a buggy you have made?
When you land upon your head
Then you've been "sleighed"!
[Chorus:]
So here it is, Merry Christmas
Everybody's having fun
Look to the future now
It's only just begun
So here it is, Merry Christmas
Everybody's having fun
Look to the future now
It's only just begun
So here it is, Merry Christmas
Everybody's having fun
Look to the future now
It's only just begun
So here it is, Merry Christmas
Everybody's having fun
(IT'S CHRISTMAS!)
Look to the future now
It's only just begun
( Radio One Jingles : - )
" So here it is, Noel Edmonds..."
" So here it is, Bruno Brookes..."
" So here it is, Merry Christmas
Everybody's having fun
Here's to the future now
On National Radio One. "
Don't Blame Me
(Noddy Holder & Jimmy Lea)
Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!
I got a heart and a soul, I gotta mind of my own
And my spine ain't weak, I gotta lazy streak
Lately, I said I been a winner, ladies they all cook my dinner
I'm set free, I said don't blame me, so don't blame me
We save silver and gold, to show how many we sold
They look good when they shine, my mama polishes mine, yeah
I remember a time when we hadn't a penny
I thought we'd never have any
I'm set free, I said don't blame me, I said a don't blame me
I said a don't blame me, I said a don't blame me
I got a heart and a soul, I gotta mind of my own
And my spine ain't weak, I gotta lazy streak
Lately, I said I been a winner, ladies they all cook my dinner
I'm set free, I said don't blame me, so don't blame me
I remember a time when we hadn't a penny
I thought we'd never have any
I'm set free, I said a don't blame me, I said a don't blame me
Lately, I been a winner, ladies they all cook my dinner
I'm set free, I said don't blame me
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