Liverpool’s Impact on the Christmas Charts

You already know that Liverpool is one of the world’s most musical cities. Since the dawn of Rock’ n Roll, our region has led the way in producing chart-topping tunes. 

But did you know that 10 of Liverpool’s 58 No.1 songs were top of the pile of Christmas Day? 

Here’s the complete list of local artists who’ve had a festive Number One (so you can impress your family over Christmas Dinner).   

The Beatles x 4 

Having The Beatles on these lists feels like cheating. Aren’t we lucky the greatest band of all time came from these parts? 

The Fab Four topped the Christmas charts on four occasions, with I Want To Hold Your Hand (1963), I Feel Fine (1964), Day Tripper/We Can Work it Out and Hello, Goodbye (1967). 

Surprisingly, John Lennon’s solo classic Happy Xmas (War is Over) only peaked at No.2. 

Mel C – Spice Girls x 3 

Another gem in Liverpool’s Christmas No.1 crown comes courtesy of the Spice Girl’s Mel C. 

The Whiston-born, Widnes-raised songstress secured three consecutive Christmas Number 1’s with 2 Become 1 (1996), Too Much (1997) and Goodbye (1998). 

All cracking songs, but the best bit of Christmas advice comes from the line, ‘Too much of something is bad enough’. Remember this as you open that second box of Heroes. 

Wings – Mull of Kintyre

Living legend and long-time chart-botherer, Paul McCartney was back on top of the hit parade with Wings in 1977. 

The song stayed at Number 1 until early February and became Macca’s biggest-selling single ever after shifting almost 2.1 million total units. It was so popular that it sold more copies in the UK than any Beatles song. 

Not bad for a track featuring bagpipes. 

The Scaffold – Lily the Pink 

Raise your glass to the saviour of the human race this Christmas. Drink a drink to Lily the Pink. 

Christmas Number 1 for Scouse comedy trio The Scaffold, in 1968, Lily The Pink’s lyrics celebrate the “medicinal compound” invented by the title character, which can fix all kinds of imagined illnesses. 

The band Mike McGear (brother of Paul McCartney), poet Roger McGough, and comedian John Gorman were joined on the track by Elton John, Tim Rice, and Graham Nash of The Hollies. 

The Justice Collective – He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother

Released in 2012 to raise awareness of the Hillsborough Justice Campaign, the artist line-up for ‘He Ain’t Heavy’ was loaded with Liverpool talent, including:

Keith Mullen, Gerry Marsden, Paul Heaton, John Power, Mel C, Rebecca Ferguson, Holly Johnson, Dave McCabe, Peter Hooton, Paul McCartney, LIPA Gospel Choir, the Liverpool Phil on strings, and loads of footballers, comedians and well-known faces. 

A beautiful version of a classic song for a worthwhile cause. What’s not to love? 

Bonus track 

Little Jimmy Osmond was Number One in 1972 with Long-haired Lover from Liverpool. (Can we claim that as well?)

Find out what’s on across Liverpool this Christmas here.