Yeah yeah, I hear you: another “cash in” Christmas album, can’t wait for it to be over, all this commercial crap, Christmas telly is awful and we’re sick of Simon Cowell telling us what to do. You’re probably coming back from Christmas shopping, where you’ve been hit by several trolleys, kids and huge bellies stocking on Christmas puddings and cheese boards, you had to buy presents for your neighbour you hate, knowing he’ll get you something obnoxious that will end straight in the bin; on the way back, you got frozen at the bus stop and then stuck in traffic for two hours, with an unbearable need to pee; when you got off, it started raining. You’re bitter. I get it. But the truth is, now that it’s all done you can relax and look forward to parties, get together with people you hardly see for the rest of the year and a few days away from the office, not to mention sex, drugs, rock´n´roll and unlimited booze. Families reunite, TV dinners are left in the freezer in favour of home cooked feasts, and the city is finally silent. The snow outside is no longer an annoying obstacle, but a soothing white blanket softly covering the roofs. Out of a stereo, the notes of ‘Merry Xmas Everybody’ paint a picture of smiles, toasts and colourful trees.

Christmas is not all that bad after all, and neither is this Slade Greatest Hits album. “Merry Xmas Everybody” starts with the homonymous festive anthem and merry ‘Santa Claus is coming to town,’ then takes you through seventeen more Slade party hits that will get even the grumpiest old men and women in the mood and back to seasonal cheer with closing ‘Here’s to... (the New Year)’.


Slade are an underrated reality in the British music tradition, and if their Christmas song is what it takes to get younger people to discover their flamboyant feel good repertoire, so be it. “Merry Christmas Everybody” is all you need for your Christmas party, and it’s something you’ll keep listening to well after that, maybe skipping two or three tracks after the decorations are back in the loft, but there are still plenty to choose from, more than you get on most albums nowadays. You will recognize most of them, also from recent covers, and if you don’t, chance is you’re trapped in a basement with no telly, radio or a sound card on your computer.

Either you’re into pop or rock, organising a Christmas party or just looking for that last minute present, I suggest you download “Merry Christmas everybody” now. Then put your feet up, treat yourself to a glass of mulled wine while waiting for your friends and family to arrive and... ‘Let the good times roll’!


Track list:
1. Merry Xmas Everybody
2. Santa Claus Is Coming To Town
3. Mama Weer All Crazee Now
4. Let The Good Times Roll / Feel So Fine
5. Coz I Love You
6. Gudbuy T'Jane
7. We're Really Gonna Raise The Roof
8. C'Mon Feel The Noize
9. My Baby Left Me But That’s Alright Mama
10. Skweeze Me, Pleeze Me
11. Let's Have A Party
12. Hey Ho Wish You Well
13. Let's Dance
14. I'm A Rocker
15. My Oh My (Swing Version)
16. Standin' On The Corner
17. Do You Believe In Miracles
18. All Join Hands
19. Okey Cokey
20. Here's To... (The New Year)