Exactly 50 years ago today 6th December 1973 Slade appeared on Top of the Pops with their new single Merry Xmaƨ Everybody, it hadn't even been released yet.
It went straight to No 1 the following week on Tuesday 11th December 1973 and the band made their second appearance with Merry Xmaƨ Everybody on the show on the 13th December edition, appearing on the next 2 consecutive editions of Top of the Pops (20th & 25th December) also in the No 1 slot.
In those days the BBC wiped tapes to re-use them for other editions, they also re-cycled Top of the Pops performances on other subsequent editions of the programme.
They wiped the tapes of the 6th and 13th December editions, which featured the first two performances of Merry Xmaƨ Everybody.
Thankfully someone recorded a repeat performance of the 6th December performance on the 10th January 1974 edition of Top of the Pops it would be its last week at No 1, so the Director Bruce Milliard faded down the last verse where Noddy Holder shouts It's Christmas, which tbf it wasn't Christmas, it was a new year.
Slade Merry Xmaƨ Everybody Top of the Pops performances
06/12/73
13/12/73*
20/12/73
25/12/73
25/12/74
22/12/83
*Does not exist
Repeat performances
03/01/74
10/01/74
