The song, “Merry Christmas Everyone”, was originally recorded by Shakin’ Stevens in 1984

Bob Heatlie (1946-2023) wrote the song “Merry Christmas Everyone”, which was produced by Dave Edmunds (b.1944) in 1984 for singer Michael Barratt (b.1948), better known as ‘Shakin’ Stevens’ aka Shaky. It was recorded in the Autumn of 1984 with intended release that Christmas, but with Band Aid finding a better cause, the single was pulled. Better luck came a year later and in December 1985 it did see the light of day and it took Shaky to the top spot for the fesitve chart! It has become a Christmas favourite ever since and has charted in over thirty countries worldwide selling many millions of copies and becoming his biggest hit of all.

Unsurpisingly, hardly anyone has attempted to replicate the enduring popularity of the song, but Shaky himself did revisit it in 2015 as a charity single for the Salvation Army under the new title of “Echoes Of Merry Christmas Everyone”. In 2020 The Celebs – who had released “Rock With Rudolph” in 2018 – recorded the song to raise money for The Alzheimer’s Society. The star studded line up included boxer Frank Bruno, singer Sam Bailey, quiz show regular Anne Hegarty, presenter Toby Anstis and weather girl Laura Tobin, to name but a few, and raised some much needed money and attention to the work of The Society.

But which version is the best? SHAKY’s original or THE CELEBS’ cover?

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