Wombling Merry Christmas

"Wombling Merry Christmas" is a Christmas song written by Mike Batt,[1] and recorded by British band The Wombles. Released in November 1974, the song rose to a peak of #2 in the UK Singles Chart in December that year, spending 8 weeks in the chart.[2] The song was also released in West Germany, but failed to chart.

"Wombling Merry Christmas"
Single by The Wombles
from the album Keep On Wombling
B-side"Madame Cholet"
ReleasedNovember 1974
GenreGlam rock, Christmas, Children's
Length3:18
LabelCBS
Songwriter(s)Mike Batt
Producer(s)Mike Batt
The Wombles singles chronology
"Remember You're A Womble"
(1974)		 "Wombling Merry Christmas"
(1974)		 "Wombling White Tie And Tails"
(1975)
Music video
"Wombling Merry Christmas" on YouTube

Music video

The video was recorded in 2011 as part of a re-release that year, and shows the Wombles dancing to the song.[3] The band also appeared on Top of the Pops performing the song over Christmas 1974.

Reception

Despite significant success, the song was widely mocked on release. However, the song, labelled as 'innocent',[4] and likened to 'golden tears falling from heaven'[5] was liked by many, and was described in 2011 as 'actually sound[ing] good this time around'.[6] Bob Stanley described it as having 'more bonhomie than a dozen boxes of crackers'.[7]

Later on, Mike Batt remarked on this criticism of the song, saying '...I wrote Wombling Merry Christmas, so I'm not scared of cliches',[8] and that 'back in the 1970s people were more in tune with the spirit of these songs'.[9]

I Wish It Could Be A Wombling Merry Christmas Every Day

In 2000, the song was used as part of a medley with Wizzard's 'I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday', creating 'I Wish It Could Be A Wombling Merry Christmas Every Day'. This song was described by Batt as a 'very silly record',[10] however it proceeded to reach #22 in the UK Singles Chart, staying in the chart for 3 weeks.[11]

2011 rerelease and Christmas number one campaign

In December 2011, after the Wombles performed at the Glastonbury Festival, Dramatico released a CD single of 'Wombling Merry Christmas', and this was set for the Christmas number one, hoping to beat the X Factor winner.

Track Listing
  1. Wombling Merry Christmas
  2. The Wombles Warning
  3. Miss Adelaide (She's Got a Lot of Knowledge
  4. The Jungle Is Jumping (download only)


The release failed to reach the Christmas number one spot, which was achieved by the Military Wives Choir with Wherever You Are.

Chart performance

'Wombling Merry Christmas'
Chart (1975) Peak position
UK Singles Chart (BMRB) 2

The song was prevented from reaching #1 by Mud's 'Lonely This Christmas' which (combined with a poor marketing campaign on behalf of The Wombles) 'more than halved' sales.[12] The song is also widely believed to have prevented Ralph McTell's 'Streets of London' from reaching #1 in the UK Singles Chart.[13]

'I Wish It Could Be A Wombling Merry Christmas Every Day'
Chart (2000) Peak position
UK Singles Chart (BMRB) 22
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References
  1. "Elisabeth Beresford". The Times. 2010-12-27. p. 48. ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 2018-01-01.
  2. "wombling-merry-christmas | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". Retrieved 2018-01-01.
  3. Corner, Lewis (2011-11-11). "Wombles debut new Xmas video - watch". Digital Spy. Retrieved 2018-01-01.
  4. Sexton, Paul (2010-12-24). "Christmas No1? Don't bet on it". The Times. p. 4. Retrieved 2018-01-01.
  5. Hann, Michael (2011-11-17). "Readers' Reviews". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2018-01-01.
  6. Hodgkinson, Will (2011-12-23). "All I want for Christmas is a No 1 smash hit". The Times. p. 43.
  7. Potton, Ed (2006-12-23). "Get the party started". The Times. p. 24.
  8. Rogers, Jude (2011-12-18). "The Xmas factor: what makes a great Christmas song?". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2018-01-01.
  9. Paphides, Pete (2008-12-05). "Give me a rhyme for pudding". The Times. p. 14.
  10. "Wizzard, it's the Wombles". BBC News. 2000-11-20. Retrieved 2018-01-01.
  11. "i-wish-it-could-be-a-wombling-christmas | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". Retrieved 2018-01-01.
  12. Perry, Andrew (2011-06-15). "The Wombles at Glastonbury 2011: interview". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 2018-01-01.
  13. Denselow, Robin (2006-10-06). "CD: Ralph McTell, The Journey: Recordings 1965-2006". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2018-01-01.
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