John's fifth solo single.
"Happy Xmas (War Is Over)" was credited to John & Yoko and the Plastic Ono Band with The Harlem Community Choir. The personnel
for the Plastic's this time comprised, John, Hugh McCraken, Nicky Hopkins, Jim Keltner and Yoko.
Again Phil Spector assisted with the producing.
Again we had a delay waiting for the single in England, the release of this record was delayed one YEAR due to publishing
difficulties over Yoko's composing credits. Many like me though, obtained the single a year earlier on Import. The U.S.
version was on a much lighter clearer green vinyl than the U.K. version.
The record starts with a whispered message from John and Yoko, Yoko says "Happy Christmas Kyoko" followed by John saying,
"Happy Christmas Julian".
The B-side, written solely by Yoko was produced by John and Yoko and Phil Spector.
This was the first Lennon single not to feature the Apple logo on the record label. As with Sometime in New York City
it was replaced with the John and Yoko "merging heads" design.
8th December 2003 - A special re-release with two formats.
R6627 - 7" single on green vinyl.
A-side - Happy Xmas (War Is Over)
B-side - Imagine
CDR 6627 - Enhanced C.D.
Happy Xmas (War Is Over)
Imagine
Instant Karma
Imagine (Instrumental) with a
Photo Gallery.
This 2003 re-issue entered the chart 20th December 2003 and stayed in there for three weeks.
It's highest position was no. 33
In the year 2007 the Official Singles chart rules were changed to allow internet music downloads to be counted for chart purposes.
Due to the effects of the Christmas market and the ease of downloads this track re-entered the official singles charts (although, of course, there is now no longer any "B-Side").
9th December 2007 - Happy Xmas is suddenly noted as being in the charts as it went from 111 to number 60.
16th December 2007 - Happy Xmas climbed TWENTY places and entered the official top 40 at number 40.
23rd December 2007 - Happy Xmas dropped just one place from number 40 to number 41.
2008 - start of the Christmas period and once again Happy Xmas enters the chart:
7th December 2008 - Returns at no.100 !
14th December 2008 - Happy Xmas climbs and enters the Top 75 at no. 67
2009 - start of the Christmas period and once again Happy Xmas enters the chart:
6th December 2009 - Returns at no.115 (but anything outside the Top 75 doesn't count for longevity purposes)
13th December 2009 - Second week of this season's reference and climbs to no. 92
20th December 2009 - Third week of this season's reference and drops to no. 97
27th December 2009 - Final week for this year and nearly charted officially, moved to no. 76
Digital Downloads
In 2010 iTunes (a digital download agency) were given access to The Beatles product, which now meant each track was available to download to internet connected devices.
These downloads had to be paid for and the number of sales were permitted to be counted for chart purposes (although JPGR doesn't concur with this process).
5th December 2010 - Happy Xmas was listed in the singles chart at number 108 (which is outside the Top 75 and doesn't count for longevity purposes).
12th December 2010 - the listing climbed to number 98.
19th December 2010 - the listing climbed again to number 94.
26th December 2010 - the listing climbed and made it's final mention of 2010 at a peak of number 84.
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