Wombling Merry Christmas


"Wombling Merry Christmas" is a Christmas song written by Mike Batt, 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. The song was also released in West Germany, but failed to chart.

Music video

The video was recorded in 2011 as part of a re-release that year, and shows the Wombles dancing to the song. 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', and likened to 'golden tears falling from heaven' was liked by many, and was described in 2011 as 'actually sound good this time around'. Bob Stanley described it as having 'more than a dozen boxes of crackers'.
Later on, Mike Batt remarked on this criticism of the song, saying '...I wrote Wombling Merry Christmas, so I'm not scared of cliches', and that 'back in the 1970s people were more in tune with the spirit of these songs'.

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', however it proceeded to reach #22 in the UK Singles Chart, staying in the chart for 3 weeks.

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
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'

The song was prevented from reaching #1 by Mud's 'Lonely This Christmas' which 'more than halved' sales. The song is also widely believed to have prevented Ralph McTell's 'Streets of London' from reaching #1 in the UK Singles Chart.

'I Wish It Could Be A Wombling Merry Christmas Every Day'