I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday
Encyclopedia
"I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday" is a popular Christmas song
, first released in 1973
by the English glam rock
band Wizzard
.
It reached number four in the UK singles chart
. The song was famously beaten to Christmas number one by Slade
's "Merry Xmas Everybody
" which remained there for nine consecutive weeks, from December 1973 to February 1974. As with most Wizzard songs it was written and produced by Roy Wood
.
The song features the lead vocals of frontman Roy Wood but also contains backing vocals by "The Suedettes" as well as the choir of The Stockland Green
Bilateral School First Year (arranged by pianist Bill Hunt, who was the brother-in-law of the school Maths teacher), with additional noises being produced by "Miss Snob and Class 3C", as credited on the sleeve. The single was actually recorded in the August so to create a wintry feeling, engineer Steve Brown decorated the studio with Christmas decorations and turned the air conditioning down to its coldest setting. Singer Roy Wood wore a woollen hat found in Lost Property.
The first issue of the single was on Warner Brothers, as they had signed with them at the end of 1973, but this single proved to be the last EMI single, so the single was immediately issued on Harvest with the same picture sleeve.
Although Wood had arranged for the members of the Stockland Green school choir to sing at the Top Of The Pops
television recording, their place was taken by children provided by a local London stage school.
(only reaching #41) and then again in 1984
, this time with an additional extended 12" version and getting as far as #23.
As downloads as well as physical sales became eligible for the weekly Top 75 as from January 2007, and with the help of additional exposure thanks to an Argos
television advertisement later in the year using an excerpt of the song for a soundtrack, it was one of several Christmas oldies to chart again in November and December 2007. This time it reached #16, despite the absence of a physical release in the shops. In December 2008 it reappeared in the chart at #31. As at week commencing 14 December 2009, the song had returned to the chart, at no. 45. As at week commencing 13th December 2010, it is at No. 46 in the UK charts.
The song was also spoofed in 2000
when it was re-released as "I Wish It Could Be A Wombling Christmas" by The Wombles
with Roy Wood
.
Christmas music
Christmas music comprises a variety of genres of music normally performed or heard around the Christmas season, which tends to begin in the months leading up the actual holiday and end in the weeks shortly thereafter.-Early:...
, first released in 1973
1973 in music
-January–April:*January 9 – Mick Jagger's request for a Japanese visa is rejected on account of a 1969 drug conviction, putting an abrupt end to The Rolling Stones' plans to perform in Japan during their forthcoming tour.*January 14...
by the English glam rock
Glam rock
Glam rock is a style of rock and pop music that developed in the UK in the early 1970s, which was performed by singers and musicians who wore outrageous clothes, makeup and hairstyles, particularly platform-soled boots and glitter...
band Wizzard
Wizzard
Wizzard was a Birmingham-based band formed by Roy Wood, former member of The Move and co-founder of Electric Light Orchestra. The Guinness Book of 500 Number One Hits states, "Wizzard was Roy Wood just as much as Wings were Paul McCartney."-Biography:...
.
It reached number four in the UK singles chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
. The song was famously beaten to Christmas number one by Slade
Slade
Slade are an English rock band from Wolverhampton, who rose to prominence during the glam rock era of the early 1970s. With 17 consecutive Top 20 hits and six number ones, the British Hit Singles & Albums names them as the most successful British group of the 1970s based on sales of singles...
's "Merry Xmas Everybody
Merry Xmas Everybody
"Merry Xmas Everybody" is a 1973 song by the English rock band Slade. Written by lead vocalist and guitarist Noddy Holder and bassist Jim Lea, and produced by Chas Chandler, it was the band's sixth number-one single in the UK...
" which remained there for nine consecutive weeks, from December 1973 to February 1974. As with most Wizzard songs it was written and produced by Roy Wood
Roy Wood
Roy Adrian Wood is an English singer-songwriter and musician. He was particularly successful in the 1960s and 1970s as member and co-founder of the bands The Move, Electric Light Orchestra, and Wizzard. As a songwriter, he contributed a number of hits to the repertoire of these bands.-Career:Wood...
.
The song features the lead vocals of frontman Roy Wood but also contains backing vocals by "The Suedettes" as well as the choir of The Stockland Green
Stockland Green
Stockland Green is an area of Birmingham, England.It gives its name to a ward which is part of the Erdington formal district, and which comprises the south-western part of Erdington including areas such as Stockland Green itself and Gravelly Hill....
Bilateral School First Year (arranged by pianist Bill Hunt, who was the brother-in-law of the school Maths teacher), with additional noises being produced by "Miss Snob and Class 3C", as credited on the sleeve. The single was actually recorded in the August so to create a wintry feeling, engineer Steve Brown decorated the studio with Christmas decorations and turned the air conditioning down to its coldest setting. Singer Roy Wood wore a woollen hat found in Lost Property.
The first issue of the single was on Warner Brothers, as they had signed with them at the end of 1973, but this single proved to be the last EMI single, so the single was immediately issued on Harvest with the same picture sleeve.
Although Wood had arranged for the members of the Stockland Green school choir to sing at the Top Of The Pops
Top of the Pops
Top of the Pops, also known as TOTP, is a British music chart television programme, made by the BBC and originally broadcast weekly from 1 January 1964 to 30 July 2006. After 25 December 2006 it became a radio program, now hosted by Tony Blackburn...
television recording, their place was taken by children provided by a local London stage school.
Re-releases
With the failure of its first release to reach #1 in 1973 - it was kept from number one by Slade's 'Merry Christmas Everybody' - it was re-released in 19811981 in music
See also:* Timeline of musical eventsThis is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1981.-January–April:*January 10 – A revival of the Gilbert and Sullivan operetta The Pirates of Penzance opens at Broadway's Uris Theatre, starring Linda Ronstadt and Rex Smith.*January 24 –...
(only reaching #41) and then again in 1984
1984 in music
This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1984.-Janury-March:*January 21 – "Relax" by Frankie Goes to Hollywood reaches number one in the UK singles chart, despite being banned by the BBC; it spends a total of forty-two weeks in the Top 40.*January 27 – Michael Jackson's...
, this time with an additional extended 12" version and getting as far as #23.
As downloads as well as physical sales became eligible for the weekly Top 75 as from January 2007, and with the help of additional exposure thanks to an Argos
Argos (retailer)
Argos is the largest general-goods retailer in the United Kingdom and Ireland with over 800 stores. It is unique amongst major retailers in the UK in that it is a catalogue merchant...
television advertisement later in the year using an excerpt of the song for a soundtrack, it was one of several Christmas oldies to chart again in November and December 2007. This time it reached #16, despite the absence of a physical release in the shops. In December 2008 it reappeared in the chart at #31. As at week commencing 14 December 2009, the song had returned to the chart, at no. 45. As at week commencing 13th December 2010, it is at No. 46 in the UK charts.
Covers
"I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday" has since been covered by many artists including:- Roy Wood Big BandRoy WoodRoy Adrian Wood is an English singer-songwriter and musician. He was particularly successful in the 1960s and 1970s as member and co-founder of the bands The Move, Electric Light Orchestra, and Wizzard. As a songwriter, he contributed a number of hits to the repertoire of these bands.-Career:Wood...
in 19951995 in musicThis is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1995.- January–February :*January 18 – Jerry Garcia crashes his rented BMW into a guard rail near Mill Valley, California, USA, but is not injured in the accident....
, (UK #58) - Die Toten HosenDie Toten HosenDie Toten Hosen is a German punk band from Düsseldorf. They have enjoyed decades-long mass appeal in Germany.The band's name literally means "The Dead Pants" in English, although the phrase "tote Hose" is a German expression meaning "nothing going on" or "boring"...
in 1998 on Wir warten auf's Christkind...Wir warten auf's Christkind...Wir warten auf's Christkind... or Wir warten auf's Christkind is a christmas album by the German punk band Die Toten Hosen, released under the alias Die Roten Rosen .For Australia, a version with an English language title Waiting for Santa Claus... or... - The A*Teens in 2001
- Girls AloudGirls AloudGirls Aloud are a British and Irish pop girl group based in London. They were created through the ITV1 talent show Popstars The Rivals in 2002. The group consists of Cheryl Cole , Nadine Coyle, Sarah Harding, Nicola Roberts and Kimberley Walsh. They are signed to Fascination Records, a Polydor...
- Spice GirlsSpice GirlsThe Spice Girls were a British pop girl group formed in 1994. The group consisted of Victoria Beckham , Melanie Brown, Emma Bunton, Melanie Chisholm and Geri Halliwell. They were signed to Virgin Records and released their debut single, "Wannabe" in 1996, which hit number-one in more than 30...
- WestlifeWestlifeWestlife are an Irish boy band established on 3 July 1998. They are to disband in 2012. The group's line-up was Nicky Byrne, Kian Egan, Mark Feehily, Shane Filan, and Brian McFadden . The group are the only act in British and Irish history to have their first seven singles peak at number one...
- El VezEl VezEl Vez is the stage name of Robert Lopez, a Mexican-American rock and roll artist, who performs and records original material and covers classic rock songs...
in 2002 - Sam NixonSam NixonSam Nixon is an English singer and television presenter. He came third on the Pop Idol television series in 2003 and is now one half of the duo Sam & Mark, with the other being Mark Rhodes.-Early life:...
on Pop Idol 2 in 2003 - AshAsh (band)Ash are an alternative rock band that formed in Downpatrick, Northern Ireland in 1992. The band has sold 8 million albums worldwide.-Band beginning, Trailer and 1977 :...
- All Star UnitedAll Star UnitedAll Star United is a Christian rock band that was formed by solo artist Ian Eskelin in 1996. The band is known for clever and sometimes sarcastic lyrics, as they frequently use their songs as vehicles to lampoon perceived excesses in Western culture...
on Happy Christmas Vol. 2 (BEC Recordings) - Les FradkinLes FradkinLes Fradkin is a guitarist, keyboardist, songwriter, composer and record producer. He is best known for being a member of the original cast of the hit Broadway show Beatlemania...
on his 2006 Holiday CD: Spirit Of Christmas - Sarah BrightmanSarah BrightmanSarah Brightman is an English classical crossover soprano, actress, songwriter and dancer. She is famous for possessing a vocal range of over 3 octaves and singing in the whistle register...
in 2008 on her album A Winter Symphony - Connie TalbotConnie TalbotConnie Talbot is an English child singer from Streetly, Aldridge, in the Metropolitan Borough of Walsall, West Midlands. She rose to fame in 2007 when she reached the final of the television talent show Britain's Got Talent, where she was runner-up to Paul Potts...
(2008) - Eoghan QuiggEoghan QuiggEoghan Quigg is an Irish pop singer and occasional actor from Dungiven in Northern Ireland, who finished third in the fifth series of the British television music talent contest The X Factor in 2008...
also covered the song in 2008 on the final of The X Factor (UK Series 5)The X Factor (UK series 5)The fifth UK series of The X Factor was broadcast on ITV in 2008. The series started on 16 August and was won by Alexandra Burke on 13 December, with new judge Cheryl Cole emerging as the winning mentor. Auditions in front of producers were held in April/May, with callbacks in front of the judges... - The SaturdaysThe SaturdaysThe Saturdays are a British and Irish pop girl group based in London, United Kingdom. The group consists of five members Una Healy, Mollie King, Frankie Sandford, Vanessa White and Rochelle Wiseman. In 2007 the band were formed through Fascination Records which gave them an instant record deal with...
in 2009 performing it on GMTVGMTVGMTV was the national Channel 3 breakfast television contractor, broadcasting in the United Kingdom from 1 January 1993 to 3 September 2010. It became a wholly owned subsidiary of ITV plc. in November 2009. Shortly after, ITV plc announced the programme would end... - Wilson PhillipsWilson Phillips-Studio albums:-Compilation albums:-Singles:-Other charted songs:-Awards and nominations:...
in 2010 on their album Christmas in HarmonyChristmas in HarmonyChristmas in Harmony is the fourth studio album by American pop group Wilson Phillips. A Christmas album, it is their first in six years, after their 2004 covers album California...
The song was also spoofed in 2000
2000 in music
See also:* 2000 in music Record labels established in 2000-Events:*January – Gary Glitter is released from jail, two months before his sentence for sexual offences ends.*January 1**John Tavener is knighted in the New Year's Honours List....
when it was re-released as "I Wish It Could Be A Wombling Christmas" by The Wombles
The Wombles
The Wombles are fictional pointy-nosed, furry creatures that live in burrows, where they help the environment by collecting and recycling rubbish in useful and ingenious ways. Wombles were created by author Elisabeth Beresford, originally appearing in a series of children's novels from 1968...
with Roy Wood
Roy Wood
Roy Adrian Wood is an English singer-songwriter and musician. He was particularly successful in the 1960s and 1970s as member and co-founder of the bands The Move, Electric Light Orchestra, and Wizzard. As a songwriter, he contributed a number of hits to the repertoire of these bands.-Career:Wood...
.