🔘 Merry Xmas Everybody – Single: Nov. 1974

Released in the UK on November 16, 1974, Slade’s “Merry Xmas Everybody” was reissued as a 7-inch vinyl single on Polydor (2058 422), this time housed in a unique picture sleeve tied to the promotion of *Slade In Flame*. Backed with “Don’t Blame Me,” both tracks were written by Noddy Holder and Jim Lea and produced by Chas Chandler. Although the original 1973 release had been a No. 1 smash, this 1974 repress did not chart. Issued in a plastic injection solid-centre pressing, the sleeve featured the title misspelled as “Merry Christmas Everybody,” while the label retained the correct “Merry Xmas Everybody.” A cheeky, festive reissue from Slade’s glam‑rock peak.

Label: Polydor

Catalogue Number: 2058 422

Format: 7" Vinyl Single (Injection‑Moulded Solid Centre; Picture Sleeve)

Released: November 16, 1974 (UK)

🔘 Track List

UK 7" Single — Polydor – 2058 422 — 1974

A. Merry Xmas Everybody

Written by: Noddy Holder, Jim Lea

Produced by: Chas Chandler

B. Don’t Blame Me

Written by: Noddy Holder, Jim Lea

Produced by: Chas Chandler

Recorded at: Record Plant, New York / Olympic Studios, London

Published by: Barn Publishing Ltd.

🔘 Key Highlights

• Released November 16, 1974

• A-side: Festive glam‑rock classic

• B-side: Gritty non‑album track

• Repress issued for *Slade In Flame* promotion

• Picture sleeve misspells title as “Merry Christmas Everybody”

• No chart entry for this repress

🔘 The Story

Following the massive success of the original 1973 release, Slade reissued “Merry Xmas Everybody” in late 1974 to coincide with the promotional campaign for their film *Slade In Flame*. While the song itself had already become a seasonal institution, this repress offered collectors something new: a picture sleeve featuring the band in *Flame*-era styling, with the title mistakenly printed as “Merry Christmas Everybody.”

The B-side, “Don’t Blame Me,” remained unchanged from the original single — a raw, stomping glam‑rock cut showcasing Slade’s trademark blend of grit and melody. Both tracks were written by Holder and Lea and produced by longtime collaborator Chas Chandler, whose studio approach helped define the band’s early‑’70s sound.

Although this repress did not re-enter the UK Singles Chart, it has become a notable collectible due to its sleeve variation, injection‑moulded pressing, and its connection to the *Slade In Flame* era. The contrast between the sleeve’s full “Christmas” spelling and the label’s original “Xmas” title adds an extra layer of charm to this festive reissue.

🔘 Variants (UK)

• 7", 45 RPM, Single, Injection‑Moulded Solid Centre — Polydor – 2058 422 — UK — 1974

• 7", 45 RPM, Single, Picture Sleeve — Polydor – 2058 422 — UK — 1974

🔘 Chart Performance

UK — Official Singles Chart

No chart entry for this 1974 repress

🔘 Context & Notes

• A-side: Slade’s iconic 1973 Christmas hit

• B-side: Non‑album track from the original single

• Production: Chas Chandler

• Sleeve: Unique *Slade In Flame* promotional picture sleeve

• Historical placement: Seasonal repress during the band’s film era

• Notable detail: Sleeve uses “Merry Christmas Everybody,” label uses “Merry Xmas Everybody”

🔘 Related Material

• “Merry Xmas Everybody” (Original 1973 release)

• *Slade In Flame* (Film & Soundtrack, 1974)

• “Far Far Away” (1974)

• “How Does It Feel” (1975)

🔘 Discography

Sladest — 1973

Merry Xmas Everybody (Repress) — 1974

Slade In Flame — 1974

How Does It Feel — 1975

🔘 Mini‑Timeline

✦ Dec 1973 — Original single hits No. 1

✦ Nov 16, 1974 — Repress issued with picture sleeve

✦ Late 1974 — Used in *Slade In Flame* promotional cycle

🔘 Glam Flashback

A festive glam juggernaut returns — wrapped in a misprinted sleeve, tied to a cult film, and stamped with all the swagger of Slade at their peak.

🔘 Hashtags

#ReleaseChronicle #Slade #MerryXmasEverybody #1974 #Polydor #GlamRock #SladeInFlame

🔘 Sources

Primary reference sources:

Wikipedia • Discogs • 45cat • BBC / Official Charts Company

🔘 Copyright Notice

All magazine scans, photographs, and original text excerpts referenced in this entry remain the property of their respective copyright holders. This Chronicle entry is a transformative, non‑commercial archival summary created for historical documentation and educational reference. No ownership of the original material is claimed or implied.