- Album This song officially appears on the Wonderful Christmastime / Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reggae 7" Single.
Related sessions
This song has been recorded during the following studio sessions
June - July 1979
Related songs
The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting On An Open Fire)
Officially appears on Holidays Rule
Related interviews
You Gave Me The Answer: ‘Wonderful Christmastime’ Special!
Dec 19, 2022 • From paulmccartney.com
"McCartney III" Twitter Listening Party
Dec 21, 2020 • From Tim's Twitter Listening Party
Ex-Wings guitarist, Laurence Juber, talks about attending "Paul McCartney University"
Aug 09, 2010 • From Daytrippin' Beatles Magazine
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Song facts
From Wikipedia:
“Wonderful Christmastime” is a 1979 Christmas song by Paul McCartney. It enjoys significant Christmas time popularity around the world. The song was later added as a bonus track on the 1993 CD reissue of Wings’ Back to the Egg album.
The track was subsequently added as a bonus track to the 2011 reissue of the McCartney II album, with both full and edited versions included. The track was also mixed in 5.1 surround sound for inclusion on the 2007 DVD release The McCartney Years.
Background and recording
McCartney recorded the song entirely on his own during the sessions for his solo project McCartney II. Although the members of Wings are not on the recording, they do appear in the promotional music video, which was filmed at the Fountain Inn in Ashurst, West Sussex.
“Wonderful Christmastime” can be heard in the 1998 animated film Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Movie during Santa’s takeoff on Christmas Eve. Wings performed the song during their 1979 tour of the UK.
Reception and legacy
Following its release as a stand-alone single in the United Kingdom, “Wonderful Christmastime” peaked at No. 6 on the UK Singles Chart the week ending 5 January 1980. In the United States the single peaked at No. 83 on the Cash Box Top 100 Singles chart and No. 94 on the Record World Singles Chart, but did not chart on the Billboard Hot 100.
In December 1984, the single appeared at No. 10 for two weeks on Billboard’s Christmas singles chart. It also reached No. 29 on Billboard’s weekly Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks chart in early January 1996.
The song continues to receive substantial airplay every year, although some music critics consider it to be one of McCartney’s poorest compositions. Beatles author Robert Rodriguez has written of “Wonderful Christmastime”: “Love it or hate it, few songs within the McCartney oeuvre have provoked such strong reactions.”
Including royalties from cover versions, it is estimated that McCartney makes $400,000 a year from this song, which puts its cumulative earnings at near $15 million.
Last updated on December 23, 2022
Lyrics
The moon is right
The spirits up
We're here tonight
And that's enough
Simply having a wonderful christmastime
Simply having a wonderful christmastime
The party's on
The feelin's here
That only comes
This time of year
Simply having a wonderful christmastime
Simply having a wonderful christmastime
The choir of children sing their song
Ding dong, ding dong
Ding dong, ding Ohhhh
Ohhhhhhh
Simply having a wonderful christmastime
Simply having a wonderful christmastime
The word is out
About the town
To lift a glass
Ahhh don't look down
Simply having a wonderful christmastime
Simply having a wonderful christmastime
The choir of children sing their song
They practiced all year long
Ding dong, ding dong
Ding dong, ding dong
Ding dong, ding dong
The party's on
The spirits up
We're here tonight
And that's enough
Simply having a wonderful christmastime
Simply having a wonderful christmastime
The moon is right
The spirits up
We're here tonight
And that's enough
Simply having a wonderful christmastime
Simply having a wonderful christmastime
Simply having a wonderful christmastime
Simply having a wonderful christmastime
OHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
Christmastime
Officially appears on
Wonderful Christmastime / Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reggae
7" Single • Released in 1979
3:48 • Studio version • A • Edited version
- Paul McCartney :
- Backing vocals, Drums, Electric guitar, Keyboards, Mixing engineer, Producer, Sleigh bells, Synthesizers, Tambourine (?), Vocals
- Eddie Klein :
- Mixing assistant engineer
- Session Recording:
- June - July 1979
- Studio :
- Home Studio, Peasmarsh, Sussex, UK
- Session Recording:
- June - July 1979
- Studio :
- Spirit Of Ranachan Studio, Campbeltown, Scotland
- Session Mixing:
- Oct 04, 1979
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Abbey Road
Credits & recording details courtesy of Luca Perasi • Buy Paul McCartney: Music Is Ideas. The Stories Behind the Songs (Vol. 1) 1970-1989 on Amazon
Official album • Released in 1993
3:48 • Studio version • A1993 • 1993 remaster
- Paul McCartney :
- Backing vocals, Drums, Electric guitar, Keyboards, Mixing engineer, Producer, Sleigh bells, Synthesizers, Tambourine (?), Vocals
- Eddie Klein :
- Mixing assistant engineer
- Session Recording:
- June - July 1979
- Studio :
- Home Studio, Peasmarsh, Sussex, UK
- Session Recording:
- June - July 1979
- Studio :
- Spirit Of Ranachan Studio, Campbeltown, Scotland
- Session Mixing:
- Oct 04, 1979
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Abbey Road
Credits & recording details courtesy of Luca Perasi • Buy Paul McCartney: Music Is Ideas. The Stories Behind the Songs (Vol. 1) 1970-1989 on Amazon
McCartney II - Archive Collection
Official album • Released in 2011
3:49 • Studio version • A2011 • Edited version - 2011 remaster
- Paul McCartney :
- Backing vocals, Drums, Electric guitar, Keyboards, Mixing engineer, Producer, Sleigh bells, Synthesizers, Tambourine (?), Vocals
- Eddie Klein :
- Mixing assistant engineer
- Session Recording:
- June - July 1979
- Studio :
- Home Studio, Peasmarsh, Sussex, UK
- Session Recording:
- June - July 1979
- Studio :
- Spirit Of Ranachan Studio, Campbeltown, Scotland
- Session Mixing:
- Oct 04, 1979
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Abbey Road
Credits & recording details courtesy of Luca Perasi • Buy Paul McCartney: Music Is Ideas. The Stories Behind the Songs (Vol. 1) 1970-1989 on Amazon
McCartney II - Archive Collection
Official album • Released in 2011
4:18 • Studio version • A • Full Length Version - Original mix of the song on the main album
- Paul McCartney :
- Backing vocals, Drums, Electric guitar, Keyboards, Mixing engineer, Producer, Sleigh bells, Synthesizers, Tambourine (?), Vocals
- Eddie Klein :
- Mixing assistant engineer
- Session Recording:
- June - July 1979
- Studio :
- Home Studio, Peasmarsh, Sussex, UK
- Session Recording:
- June - July 1979
- Studio :
- Spirit Of Ranachan Studio, Campbeltown, Scotland
- Session Mixing:
- Oct 04, 1979
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Abbey Road
Credits & recording details courtesy of Luca Perasi • Buy Paul McCartney: Music Is Ideas. The Stories Behind the Songs (Vol. 1) 1970-1989 on Amazon
Christmas Kisses (Red Edition)
7" Single • Released in 2012
3:49 • Studio version • A2011
- Paul McCartney :
- Backing vocals, Drums, Electric guitar, Keyboards, Mixing engineer, Producer, Sleigh bells, Synthesizers, Tambourine (?), Vocals
- Eddie Klein :
- Mixing assistant engineer
- Session Recording:
- June - July 1979
- Studio :
- Home Studio, Peasmarsh, Sussex, UK
- Session Recording:
- June - July 1979
- Studio :
- Spirit Of Ranachan Studio, Campbeltown, Scotland
- Session Mixing:
- Oct 04, 1979
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Abbey Road
Credits & recording details courtesy of Luca Perasi • Buy Paul McCartney: Music Is Ideas. The Stories Behind the Songs (Vol. 1) 1970-1989 on Amazon
Christmas Kisses (Green Edition)
7" Single • Released in 2012
3:49 • Studio version • A2011
- Paul McCartney :
- Backing vocals, Drums, Electric guitar, Keyboards, Mixing engineer, Producer, Sleigh bells, Synthesizers, Tambourine (?), Vocals
- Eddie Klein :
- Mixing assistant engineer
- Session Recording:
- June - July 1979
- Studio :
- Home Studio, Peasmarsh, Sussex, UK
- Session Recording:
- June - July 1979
- Studio :
- Spirit Of Ranachan Studio, Campbeltown, Scotland
- Session Mixing:
- Oct 04, 1979
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Abbey Road
Credits & recording details courtesy of Luca Perasi • Buy Paul McCartney: Music Is Ideas. The Stories Behind the Songs (Vol. 1) 1970-1989 on Amazon
Under the Influence: Holiday Edition
Official album • Released in 2013
3:30 • Studio version • B
- Paul McCartney :
- Vocals
- Straight No Chaser :
- Producer
- David Roberts :
- Vocals
- Mike Luginbill :
- Vocals
- Walter Chase :
- Arranger, Vocals
- Craig Bauer :
- Recording engineer
- Dave Darlington :
- Mixing engineer, Recording engineer
- Marcelo Pennell :
- Recording engineer
- David Rieley :
- Recording engineer
- Tom Coyne :
- Mastering engineer
- Engineer :
- Sam berry iv
- Mark Kibble :
- Arranger, Producer
Official album • Released in 2017
1:27 • Studio version • C • Paul McCartney, Jimmy Fallon and The Roots
- Paul McCartney :
- Vocals
- Jimmy Fallon :
- Vocals
- Performed by :
- The Roots • Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson • Damon Bryson • Frank Walker • James Gray • James Poyser • Kirk Douglas • Mark Kelley • Tariq Trotter
- John D'Aquino :
- Recording engineer
- Lawrence Manchester :
- Recording engineer
- Jon Kaplan :
- Mixing engineer
- John MacDonald :
- Producer, Recording arranger
Wonderful Christmastime / Peace (Live At The Sheen Center)
7" Single • Released in 2017
1:27 • Studio version • C
- Paul McCartney :
- Vocals
- Jimmy Fallon :
- Vocals
- Performed by :
- The Roots • Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson • Damon Bryson • Frank Walker • James Gray • James Poyser • Kirk Douglas • Mark Kelley • Tariq Trotter
- John D'Aquino :
- Recording engineer
- Lawrence Manchester :
- Recording engineer
- Jon Kaplan :
- Mixing engineer
- John MacDonald :
- Producer, Recording arranger
Wonderful Christmastime / Jesus Christ
7" Single • Released in 2017
1:27 • Studio version • C
- Paul McCartney :
- Vocals
- Jimmy Fallon :
- Vocals
- Performed by :
- The Roots • Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson • Damon Bryson • Frank Walker • James Gray • James Poyser • Kirk Douglas • Mark Kelley • Tariq Trotter
- John D'Aquino :
- Recording engineer
- Lawrence Manchester :
- Recording engineer
- Jon Kaplan :
- Mixing engineer
- John MacDonald :
- Producer, Recording arranger
Bootlegs
Unofficial live
4:02 • Live
Concert From the concert in Cologne, Germany on Dec 17, 2009
Unofficial live
3:56 • Live
Concert From the concert in Dublin, Ireland on Dec 20, 2009
Unofficial live
4:26 • Live
Concert From the concert in London, United Kingdom on Dec 22, 2009
Films
1979 • For Paul McCartney • Directed by Russell Mulcahy
2016 • For Various Artists
Videos
Concert • Dec 16, 2009 in Cologne
Concert • Dec 20, 2009 in Dublin
Concert • Dec 22, 2009 in London
Concert • Dec 13, 2010 in New York
Concert • Nov 29, 2012 in Edmonton
Live performances
“Wonderful Christmastime” has been played in 31 concerts.
Latest concerts where Wonderful Christmastime has been played
London • O2 Arena • United Kingdom
Dec 16, 2018 • Part of Freshen Up Tour
Glasgow • SSE Hydro • United Kingdom
Dec 14, 2018 • Part of Freshen Up Tour
Liverpool • Echo Arena • United Kingdom
Dec 12, 2018 • Part of Freshen Up Tour
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
Dec 20, 2016 • USA • New York City • NBC Studios • TV show
Saturday Night Live - Season 38 - Episode 10
Dec 15, 2012 • USA • New York City • NBC Studios • TV show
Going further
Paul McCartney: Music Is Ideas. The Stories Behind the Songs (Vol. 1) 1970-1989
With 25 albums of pop music, 5 of classical – a total of around 500 songs – released over the course of more than half a century, Paul McCartney's career, on his own and with Wings, boasts an incredible catalogue that's always striving to free itself from the shadow of The Beatles. The stories behind the songs, demos and studio recordings, unreleased tracks, recording dates, musicians, live performances and tours, covers, events: Music Is Ideas Volume 1 traces McCartney's post-Beatles output from 1970 to 1989 in the form of 346 song sheets, filled with details of the recordings and stories behind the sessions. Accompanied by photos, and drawing on interviews and contemporary reviews, this reference book draws the portrait of a musical craftsman who has elevated popular song to an art-form.
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I have a suspicion that George Harrison may appear in the video for 'W.C.T', as one of the choristers. Between 1:13 and 1:16, three choristers are shown, and the one on the right bears a remarkable resemblance to George as he looked in 1979 (centre parting, rectangular sunglasses), when the video was shot.
Mmmhhh, that's interesting @andy ! Will try to see if I can find anything on this ! Wikipedia so far says "Although the members of Wings are not on the recording, they do appear in the promotional music video, which was filmed at the Fountain Inn in Ashurst, West Sussex. One of the choristers featured in the video bears a resemblance to George Harrison."