Merry Xmas Everybody

Merry Christmas Everybody appears on the first disc of The Christmas Present, released in 2019. The song was recorded by Robbie Williams with jazz pianist Jamie Cullum. Written by Slade members Noddy Holder and Jim Lea, the original 1973 version reached number one in the UK and became one of Britain’s most enduring festive singles, selling over a million copies.

Williams and Cullum reworked the glam rock hit as a brassy swing number, recording the track live in the studio to capture a sense of spontaneity. The arrangement, by Guy Chambers and Richard Flack, replaced the original’s guitars with brass and a rhythm section rooted in big band tradition, while preserving the celebratory tone of the chorus.

The recording session was described by Williams as one of the most enjoyable of the project, with both artists long time admirers of each other’s work. The song featured in Williams’ 2019 television special Not the Robbie Williams Christmas Show and was also performed at the Royal Variety Performance that year. A video directed by Dan Massey of Electric Light Studios depicted the pair in a snow covered big band setting.

Me and Jamie were both excited to be singing with each other. We did it in the same room. There was magic that day because we were together in the studio.Robbie Williams

While faithful to the spirit of Slade’s original, Williams’ version adds the polished theatricality associated with his swing recordings. Within The Christmas Present, Merry Christmas Everybody stands as one of the album’s most prominent covers, celebrating festive camaraderie through humour and musical showmanship.