Have you been enjoying some Christmas songs yet? If you haven't, Tameside Radio presenter Dave Sweetmore's latest column will certainly get you in the mood to listen to some...

There is no definitive answer to which the best Christmas record of all time is, as everybody has their own favourite. 

Since the British pop charts began in 1952, the band to have the most number ones at Christmas is The Beatles who had four singles reach the top spot on December 25 in various years, although none were actual Christmas songs. 

The most successful Christmas single in terms of chart history is Slade, who’s 1973 anthem ‘Merry Xmas Everybody’ is now as much a Christmas tradition as turkey and tinsel. 

Sadly the charts generally mean less now than they have ever done, although the Christmas number one spot is still a coveted position to hold. 

Last week radio stations all over the UK began their Christmas playlists, and although quite often it’s the same handful of Christmas songs that get repeated over and over, we are lucky to have a station like Tameside Radio that really does play a much wider selection of songs than most stations. 

I wouldn’t normally think Christmas records have always over excited me, but the first single I ever owned was Jona Lewie’s ‘Stop The Cavalry’, which although when released wasn’t intended as a festive song quickly became one.

The first album I ever owned was ‘Christmas With The Chipmunks’, which perhaps tells me that maybe I do have a soft spot for them more than I realise!

Last year, during the pandemic, it felt like more new Christmas songs were recorded and released than ever, and the majority of them were really good songs.

It was as if our musical heroes wanted to help liven our spirits and make it feel as much like a normal Christmas as possible.

This year we will no doubt hear the usual Mariah Carey, The Pogues, and Wham Christmas songs everywhere we go, which is great, and the new Elton John and Ed Sheeran Christmas release will also be a big contender for Christmas number one.

But with the way we can find music now on apps such as Spotify and ITunes, means we can really delve further into the library of Christmas songs that exists, not just from recent chart history, but from when recorded music began, when Christmas songs were all about families being around an upright piano near the fireplace, turkey in the oven, with thick snow outside and no social media or no electronic devices in sight. That sounds like a much more picturesque scene to me! 

There will no doubt be many new bands also having a go at Christmas songs this year, which I’d love people to support, but two I’d really suggest checking out are new indie heroes The Lathums latest single ‘Krampus’, and one of Manchester’s favourite musical daughter’s Jess Kemp, with her song ‘Leave A Chair Out’.

Whatever your favourite Christmas song is, let’s make the most of it.

We missed a normal Christmas last year, so let’s make sure we make up for it with our festive favourites this year!

You can listen to Dave on Tameside Radio 103.6FM on Monday evenings from 7pm to 9pm. Click here to subscribe and catch up on previous shows.

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