In the 1970s Slade

Based on single sales only this group would be the most successful band of the 1970s. Slade were so big, that they seem to actually appear on Top Of The Pops every week during the early 1970s. They were bashing out glam rock hit after hit after hit. The group formed in Wolverhampton by lead singer Noddy Holder

The group in 1970 were a well-known live band on the circuit, and so they released a song from their tour called Get Down And Get With It on Polydor which actually charted on the BBC charts. The follow up hit was the deliberate misspelt hit called Coz I Luv You written by Noddy Holder and co band member Dave Lea, it was written in thirty minutes and became a huge hit.

The misspelt hits continued with Look Wat You Dun got to No.4  and Tak MeBak Home  got to No.1.

Also Mama Weer All Crazee Now was a huge European No.1

The last hit of 1972 was Gudbuy T Jane which was a huge worldwide hit, well not everywhere as the U.S. managed to get it only to number 68. 1973 and Slade release a single called Cum On Feel TheNoize which entered the chart at No.1. The next single was called Sqweeze Me Pleeze Me which amazingly entered the chart AGAIN at number ONE. This had never been done by two singles in concession, and now SLADE were a worldwide phenomenon, well everywhere but the U.S.The single was a hit, but Slade did not really want to release it, and they hardly ever played it afterwards.

The next hit was My Friend Stan, but the record that you will hear for ever more was Merry Xmas Everybody, where Noddy shouts out “Merry Christmas” at the end of the song. This has made Noddy the writer a very rich man. The song is played all over the world, and has become as part of Christmas as Little Drummer Boy has.

70s Music Christmas 1973

The 70s music Christmas charts were so important in the 1970s, with not only the prestige of getting a Christmas hit, but a NUMBER One Christmas hit was the icing on the cake, the Christmas Cake.

During this 70s music Christmas Season we look at the music of Christmas Day 1971 and highlight those Christmas records to stir the memory of the 70s music.

Having to use a bit of editorial control here to decide what was a Christmas hit, so if it does not match your criteria, apologies.

This chart comes from the 22nd December 1973.

No.4
Wizzard and I wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday

Roy Wood from the 1960s group The Move , was the glam rock front man of this Christmas Classic record, a long way from his time with the ELO too.
The song was in a battle with Slade to see who would get to the highest position of that year, and this then became the start of the battle for No.1 at Christmas. Wizzard lost the battle, but this record remains a huge favourite at festive time for British audiences.

Wizzard were not alone , as they were joined on this record by by backing group called The Suedettes and The Stockland Green Bilateral School (First Year), and it works well, just listen.

 

The record that got to No.1 is the daddy of them all really, it is played EVERY year and heralds Christmas time in the UK.

 Slade and Merry Xmas Everybody

More Glam rock now with the fun group Slade from Wolverhampton, who in the 70s were the original FUN band that it was great to like, despite being eight or eighty, they were led by Noddy Holder, who's pension is huge because of this record.

The single was written by Noddy and another band member Jim Lea, and was loosely based on some old writings from many years before they originally discarded.