The Christmas Number Ones prior to 1952 are based on sheet music sales.
The artists listed for those hits are the ones mainly responsible for popularising the song.

1945: Issy Bonn... I'm In Love With Two Sweethearts
1946: Frank Sinatra... Five Minutes More
1947: Lou Preager.. Jimmy Leach... An Apple Blossom Wedding
1948: Dinah Shore..Evelyn Knight... Buttons And Bows
1949: Anton Karas... The Harry Lime Theme
1950: Gene Autry.. Bing Crosby... Rudoph The Red-Nosed Reindeer
1951: Teddy Johnson ..Teresa Brewer ...Longing For You

LILAC ( ) = week ending date it topped the charts / date announced
GREEN ( ) = weeks at number one

1950's
1952: Hear In My Heart - Al Martino (Nov 16th) (9) First ever track in the UK charts + million seller + USA No1 .
1953: Answer Me - Frankie Laine 9 (Nov 13th) (8)
1954: Lets Have Another Party - Winifred Atwell (Dec 3rd) (5)
1955: Christmas Alphabet - Dicky Valentine (Nov 16th) (3)
1956: Just Walking In The Rain - Johnnie Ray (Nov 16th) (7)
1957: Marys Boy Child - Harry Belafonte (Nov 22nd ) (7) + million seller
1958: Its Only Make Believe - Conway Twitty (Dec 19th) (5) + No.1 in USA
1959: What Do You Want To Make Those Eyes At Me For - Emile Ford and The Checkmates (Dec 18th) (6)

1960's
1960: I Love You - Cliff Richard & The Shadows (Dec 29th) (2)
1961: Moon River - Danny Williams ( Dec 28th) (2)
1962: Return To Sender - Elvis Presley (Dec 13th) (3)
1963: I Want To Hold Your Hand - Beatles ( Dec12th) (5) +US No.1 + Million Seller
1964: I Feel Fine - Beatles (Dec 10th) (5) +US No.1 + Million Seller
1965: Day Tripper / We Can Work It Out - Beatles (Dec16) (5) +EP was a Million Seller + Day Tripper No.1 in USA
1966: Green Green Grass Oh Home - Tom Jones (Dec 1st) (7) +Million Seller
1967: Hello Goodbye - Beatles (Dec 6th) (7) + US No1
1968: Lily The Pink - Scaffold (Dec 11th) (3)
1969: Two Little Boys - Rolf Harris (Dec 20th) (6)

1970's
1970: I Hear You Knockin' - Dave Edmunds (Nov 28th) (6)
1971: Ernie (The Fastest Milkman In The West) - Benny Hill (Dec 11th) (4)
1972: Long Haired Lover From Liverpool - Little Jimmy Osmond (Dec23rd) (5)
1973: Merry Xmas Everybody - Slade (Dec15th) (5) + UK entry at No.1 + Million Seller
1974: Lonely This Christmas - Mud (Dec 21st) (4)
1975: Bohemian Rhapsody - Queen (Nov 29th) (9) + million seller
1976: When A Child Is Born - Johnny Mathis (Dec 25th) (3)
1977: Mull Of Kintyre / Girls' School - Wings (Dec 3rd) (9) + million seller
1978: Mary's Boy Child / Oh My Lord - Boney M (Dec 9th) (4)
1979: Another Brick In The Wall ( Part 2 ) - Pink Floyd (Dec 15th) (5) + Million seller + USA No1. + UK entry at No1.

1980's
1980: There's No-One Quite Like Grandma - St. Winifred's School Choir (Dec 27th) (2)
1981: Don't You Want Me - Human League (Dec 12th) (5) + million seller + USA No1
1982: Save Your Love - Renée and Renato (Dec 18th) (4)
1983: Only You - Flying Pickets (Dec 10th) (5)
1984: Do They Know It's Christmas? - Band Aid (Dec 15th) (5) + million seller + UK entry at No1.
1985: Merry Christmas Everyone - Shakin' Stevens (Dec 28th) (2)
1986: Reet Petite - Jackie Wilson (Dec 27th) (4)
1987: Always On My Mind - Pet Shop Boys (Dec 19th) (4)
1988: Mistletoe And Wine - Cliff Richard (Dec 10th) (4)
1989: Do They Know It's Christmas ? - Band Aid II (Dec 23rd) (3) + UK entry at No1

1990's
1990: Saviour's Day - Cliff Richard (Dec 29th) (1)
1991: Bohemian Rhapsody / These Are The Days Of Our Lives - Queen (Dec 21st) (5) + million seller + UK entry at No.1.
1992: I Will Always Love You - Whitney Houston (Dec 5th) (10) + million seller + USA No.1.
1993: Mr. Blobby - Mr. Blobby (Dec 25th) (2)
1994: Stay Another Day - East 17 (Dec 10th) (5)
1995: Earth Song - Michael Jackson (Dec 9th) (6) + million seller + UK entry at No.1.
1996: 2 Become 1 - Spice Girls (Dec 28th) (3) + million seller + UK entry at No.1.
1997: Too Much - Spice Girls (Dec 27th) (2) + UK entry at No.1.
1998: Goodbye - Spice Girls (Dec 26th) (2) + UK entry at No.1.
1999: I Have A Dream / Seasons In The Sun - Westlife (Dec 25th) (1) + UK entry at No.1.

2000's
2000: Can We Fix It - Bob The Builder (Dec 22) (3)
2001: Somethin' Stupid - Robbie Williams & Nicole Kidman (Dec 23) (3)
2002: Sound Of The Underground - Girls Aloud (Dec 28) (4)
2003: Mad World - Michael Andrews featuring Gary Jules (Dec 27) (3)
2004: Do They Know It's Christmas -Band Aid 20 (Dec 11) (4) (Band Aid 1984, Band Aid 11 1989)
2005: That's My Goal - Shayne Ward (Dec 31) (4) (UK X Factor winner)
2006: A Moment Like This - Leona Lewis (Dec 30) (4) (UK X Factor winner)
2007: When You Believe - Loen Jackson (Dec 29) (3) (UK X Factor winner)
2008: Hallelujah - Alexandra Burke (28 Dec) (3) (UK X Factor winner)
2009: Killing In The Name - Rage Against the Machine .. w/e 26 Dec (1)
(U.S. rap-metal band "Rage Against The Machine" took the coveted Christmas Number One in British pop charts on Sunday after an Internet campaign to keep the winner of the "X Factor" TV talent show from the top spot. The band's 1992 single "Killing in the Name" sold more than 500,000 download copies in the past week, enough to beat Joe McElderry's "The Climb," which managed sales of 450,000 by downloads and in the shops, the Official Charts Company (OCC) said.)

2010's
2010: Matt Cardle - When We Collide w/e 25 Dec (3) (UK X Factor winner)
2011: Wherever You Are - Military Wives with Gareth Malone w/e Dec 31 (1)
'Wherever You Are' sold a staggering 556,000 copies in the past week, more than the rest of the Top 12 combined. The Military Wives track becomes the 60th Official Christmas Number 1 of all time and winners of the first ever Official Singles Chart Number 1 Award.Official Charts Company managing director Martin Talbot says, "Many congratulations to the Militay Wives and Gareth Malone, who have made this year's race for the Official Christmas Number 1 one of the greatest of all time. To have achieved more than 500,000 sales in a week without the backing of a vast promotional operation over many weeks, like X Factor, is truly remarkable. It is hard to think of a more deserving winner in 60 years of Christmas Number 1s. And their victory should prompt all of us to think of the many wives and families of servicemen who are not home this Christmas."
2012: The Justice Collective - He Ain't Heavy He's My Brother .. Dec 29 (?)
The Justice Collective, includes Robbie Williams, Paul Heaton, Paloma Faith, Paul McCartney, Gerry Marsden, Kenny Dalglish, Alan Hansen, Rebecca Ferguson, Beverley Knight and many other artists and musicians for various charities associated with the Hillsborough disaster.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *

USA CHRISTMAS
No.1's
"EVERY CHRISTMAS USA No.1 HIT"
SINGLES
1955 ~ 2012

2012: Bruno Mars - "Locked Out Of Heaven"
2011: Rihanna - "We Found Love"
2010: Kate Perry - "Teenage Dream"
2009: Jay-Z + Alicia Keys - "Empire State Of Mind"
2008: T.I. f/ Rihanna - "Live Your Life"
2007: Alicia Keys - "No One"
2006: Beyonce - "Irreplaceable"
2005: Chris Brown - "Run It!"
2004: Snoop Dogg featuring Pharrell - "Drop It Like It's Hot"
2003: Outkast - "Hey Ya!"
2002: Eminem - "Lose Yourself"
2001: Nickelback - "How You Remind Me"
2000: Destiny's Child - "Independent Women Part 1"
1999: Santana Feat. Rob Thomas - "Smooth"
1998: R. Kelly & Celine Dion - "I'm Your Angel"
1997: Sugar Ray - "Fly"
1996: Toni Braxton - "Un-Break My Heart"
1995: Mariah Carey & Boyz II Men - "One Sweet Day"
1994: Ini Kamoze - "Here Comes The Hotstepper"
1993: Mariah Carey - "Hero"
1992: Whitney Houston - "I Will Always Love You"
1991: Michael Jackson - "Black Or White"
1990: Stevie B - "Because I Love You (The Postman Song)"
1989: Phil Collins - "Another Day In Paradise"
1988: Poison - "Every Rose Has It's Thorn"
1987: George Michael - "Faith"
1986: Bangles - "Walk Like An Egyptian"
1985: Lionel Richie - "Say You, Say Me"
1984: Madonna - "Like A Virgin"
1983: Paul McCartney & Michael Jackson - "Say Say Say"
1982: Daryl Hall & John Oates - "Maneater"
1981: Olivia Newton-John - "Physical"
1980: Kenny Rogers - "Lady"
1979: Rupert Holmes - "Escape (The Pina Colada Song)"
1978: Chic - "Le Freak"
1977: Bee Gees - "How Deep Is Your Love"
1976: Rod Stewart - "Tonight's The Night (Gonna Be Alright)"
1975: Silver Convention - "Fly, Robin, Fly"
1974: Harry Chapin - "Cat's In The Cradle"
1973: Charlie Rich - "The Most Beautiful Girl"
1972: Billy Paul - "Me And Mrs. Jones"
1971: Melanie - "Brand New Key"
1970: Smokey Robinson & The Miracles - "The Tears Of A Clown"
1969: Peter, Paul & Mary - "Leaving On A Jet Plane"
1968: Marvin Gaye - "I Heard It Through The Grapevine"
1967: The Monkees - "Daydream Believer"
1966: The Beach Boys - "Good Vibrations"
1965: The Dave Clark Five - "Over And Over"
1964: The Supremes - "Come See About Me"
1963: The Singing Nun - "Dominique"
1962: The Tornadoes - "Telstar"
1961: The Tokens - "The Lion Sleeps Tonight"
1960: Maurice Williams & The Zodiacs - "Stay"
1959: Guy Mitchell - "Heartaches By The Number"
1958: David Seville & The Chipmunks - "The Chipmunk Song"
1957: Pat Boone - "April Love"
1956: Guy Mitchell - "Singing The Blues"
1955: "Tennessee" Ernie Ford - "Sixteen Tons"

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
FACTS
(UK CHARTS)

ALL TIME Biggest UK Christmas Hits
01. Queen Bohemian - Rhapsody .1975/1991
02. Band Aid - Do They Know It's Christmas? .1984/1985
03. Jackie Wilson - Reet Petite . 1957/1986
04. Slade - Merry Xmas Everybody . 1973/1981/1983/1998
05. Whitney Houston - I Will Always Love You . 1992/1993
06. Bill Haley & His Comets - Rock Around The Clock . 1954/1955/1956
07. Pink Floyd - Another Brick In The Wall . 1979
08. Westlife - I Have A Dream / Seasons In The Sun . 1999
09. Spice Girls - 2 Become 1 . 1996
10. Michael Jackson - Earth Song . 1995
11. Mud - Lonely This Christmas . 1974
12. Wings - Mull Of Kintyre . 1977
13. Leona Lewis - A Moment Like This . 2006
14. Beatles - Day Tripper / We Can Work It Out . 1965
15. Girls Aloud - Sound Of The Underground 2002
16. Michael Andrews featuring Gary Jules - Mad World . 2003
17. Shane Ward - That's My Goal . 2005
18. Little Jimmy Osmond - Long Haired Lover From Liverpool . 1972
19. Tom Jones - Green Green Grass Of Home . 1966
20. Beatles - Hello Goodbye . 1967

* * * * * * * * * *

The first Christmas chart-topper to enter at No.1 was Slade's "Merry Xmas Everybody" in 1973

The most consecutive Christmas No.1's is 3 by the Beatles (1963, 1964, 1965) and The Spice Girls (1996, 1997, 1998).

There has only been one instrumental Xmas No.1 Winifred Atwell's "Lets Have Another Party"

The longest running Christmas No.1 was Whitney Houston's "I Will Always Love You" which topped the charts for 10 weeks and stayed at No.1 into February.

Only Christmas No.1 by female solo vocalists are Whitney Houston's 1992 Christmas hit "I Will Always Love You" and 2 UK X Factor winners, Leona Lewis's "A Moment Like This" in 2006 and Alexandra Burke with "Hallelujah" in 2008.

Only five Christmas No.1's have the word 'Christmas' in the title
1955 'Christmas Alphabet' - Dicky Valentine
1974 'Lonely This Christmas' - Mud
1984 'Do They Know It's Christmas?' - Band Aid
1985 'Merry Christmas Everyone' - Shakin' Stevens
1989 'Do They Know It's Christmas?' - Band Aid 2
'Merry Xmas Everybody' - Slade (1973) has the word Xmas in the title but if you count this one it makes six.

The youngest female & male vocalists to feature on a Christmas No.1 are 8 year old Dawn Ralf fronting St. Winifred's School Choir - "There's No-One Quite Like Grandma" in 1980 and 9 year old Little Jimmy Osmond with 'Long Haired Lover From Liverpool' in 1972.

The only non-human to make Christmas No.1 was Mr. Blobby with 'Mr. Blobby' in 1993.

All information from 1952 - 2000 is take from the
"Guinness Book of British Hit Singles"

The 'Secret' Number One
John & Yoko and The Plastic Ono Band with the Harlem Community Choir - "Happy Christmas (War Is Over)"
There was a time when no new chart was compiled over the Christmas period; it was a labour-intensive process requiring couriers racing around the country, collecting sales diaries which were then delivered to a data-entry team who would manually key the catalogue numbers into an early computer system. These staff needed a week off for Christmas. Furthermore, the media didn't seem to require a chart update due to lack of publications and special festive programming. Today, the data is downloaded from stores in a flash and chart-compilation is much less labour-intensive so even over Christmas a new chart can easily be compiled - and Radio One is happy to air it. But, between these two extremes, there were a few years in which a new chart was compiled but never aired or published. Usually, this resulted in no change at the top in any case. But the notable exception was Christmas 1980. On 8th December of that year John Lennon was assassinated. On the week ending 27 Dec, St Winifred's School Choir hit the top spot with "There's No-one Quite Like Grandma." But, directly over Christmas week, large numbers of shoppers bought Lennon's classic "Happy Christmas (War Is Over)." The chart compiled (though not published) for w/e 3rd Jan 1981 had John Lennon at number one. This fact is not widely known, thus it is omitted from lists of Number Ones. Instead, St Winifred's School Choir are shown as holding the position for two weeks. By the time normal service had been resumed (w/e 10th Jan 1981), John Lennon's "Imagine" had climbed to the top in any case.

No.1 Christmas UK Albums

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