Christmas Number One
Mystery of the missing fifth chart topper
A Christmas Number One single has always been the Holy Grail of the UK record industry. Even in 2023 it is a topic of national conversation.
In the early 60s, competition was especially fiercer, with Santa’s sleigh overloaded with the 45s demanded on his British Christmas lists. Conventional wisdom was that you needed to appeal across the generations to outsell your rivals.
Crooners had a head start, as did weepy ballads. Danny William’s (‘Britain’s Johnny Mathis’) was the surprise winner in 1961. In 1962 Elvis picked up the pace and the prize with the mid-tempo Return to Sender.
1963: I Want to Hold Your Hand
The Beatles first Christmas number one demolished conventional wisdom.
‘I Want to Hold Your Hand’was not a soothing ballad or an easy listening toe tapper. It wasn’t designed to please granny and grandchild alike. It was an explosion of youthful energy.
1964: I Feel Fine
The Beatles returned to the Christmas Number One spot the following year. Again their approach was groundbreaking.
Despite its title and upbeat hook, I Feel Fine was what Macdonald describes as a ‘mutated blues’ the joy expressed in the lyric (I’m so glad…She’s so glad) set in a blues chord progression. With no conventional rhythm guitar — and Lennon and Harrison sharing the the lead riff, the sound is daringly experimental.
Lennon would later claim that I Feel Fine was the first recording to incorporate guitar feedback. This is stretching a point as Townshend pioneered the technique, albeit on stage. But that opening bass A certainly rattled the Christmas crockery, when it kicked into gear on family dansettes across the UK.
1965: Day Tripper/We Can Work it Out
Another Christmas, another turn at the top of the chart but this time with a double A side. This was not the initial intention and is an early sign of creative tension in the main songwriting team.
Day Tripper, another electric riff based track, was recorded first. It generated mild controversy with a lyric that contained sexual suggestion and a nod (from Lennon) to the counter culture.
The central problem, however, was not the risque references (‘She’s a big teaser’ etc) but the pedestrian melodic shape.
We Can Work it Out, in contrast, was an extraordinary achievement. Setting a new record for studio time — eleven hours, longer than either of the first two albums it was:
a classic instance of Lennon and McCartney collaborating as equals. McCartney wrote the words and music to the eight bar verse/chorus…Lennon the sixteen-bar middle. Ian Macdonald
The lyric is centred on Paul’s fractious relationship with Jane Asher. John Lennon was later proud of his contribution but at the time lobbied hard for Day Tripper to remain the single.
The new concept, the ‘double A side was the agreed compromise and this proved wise as public demand was far stronger for We Can Work It Out. Perhaps its message had more resonance for the season and around family Christmas dinner tables.
1966: Green, Green Grass of Home
The Beatles did not have a number one single at Christmas in the UK in 1966. They did not even have a single in the top 50. This is because they did not release a single between August 1966 and February 1967.
It was a decision that seems inexplicable in commercial terms and contrary to the business instincts of Brian Epstein. A symptom perhaps malaise that had set in following their miserable final tour.
There absence enabled Tom Jones to take the top spot with The Green Green Grass of Home, a comeback for the old-school big ballad.
1967: Hello Goodbye
The death of Brian in August 1967 cast a shadow that seemed unlikely to result in another Christmas chart topper. Paul, however, was determined to keep the band going and sent The Beatles back to the top of the charts in December 1967.
Poignantly, Hello Goodbye had exactly the sound that had initially entranced Brian. The upbeat, energised Beatles sub-consciously paying tribute to their late manager in further establishing their credentials as the most successful pop act of all time.
The Beatles did issue seven special Christmas greeting flexi discs to members of their UK fan club — full story here
