Critical Reception
Upon release, Record Mirror magazine reviewed the single, "When Slade get hold of a Christmas song, inevitably it's something different. They enquire whether the fairies keep Santa sober for a day and granny says old songs are the best, then gets up and rock rock and rolls with the rest and what will daddy do when he sees mama kissing Santa Claus. Lyrics courtesy Holder and Lea, that well known tunesmith duo, here on a gentler, more melodic, less rumbustious, guaranteed number one than usual. Flip is Don't Blame Me. I don't. It's blameless rock - chart certain."
Disc Magazine wrote "There is no doubt that this slice of festive cheer will be a huge monster hit: the main question is whether it'll go straight to number one..."
Sounds magazine wrote "Noddy is in particularly fine voice and there's also some super-neat thumping bass. "Look to the future now, it's only just begun" suggests Noddy, and if Slade's future holds more singles of this standard then I look forward to the new year."
Record Mirror magazine reviewed the re-release of the single in 1978. "And dirt we have. Or grit really. Not only that, but five year old grit, cos this first saw you through the Xmas of 1973. Wonder how many copies they had left over that they're still releasing it. A hit of course but a shame they couldn't do something new cos I think they're great."
Read more about this topic: Merry Xmas Everybody
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