How I made a Christmas cracker
IN 2013, to mark the 40th anniversary of I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday, writer Roy Wood spoke to the
about the song’s creation...
It’s May 1973 and I’m sitting in the kitchen of my house in Worcestershire. In the corner of the room in this stately pile, Gothersley Hall in Stourton, stands a jukebox that’s rarely played.
It’s full of old original label rock and roll records I’ve collected over the years. Very rock and roll.
But I rarely play them. I know them all so well that they’re lodged in my head. I want to hear something new.
On the farmhouse kitchen table there’s a scrap of paper and I have a rough idea that’s half-formed.
“Well I wish it could be Christmas every day...”
Be honest, who doesn’t? Even in the merry month of May.
I hadn’t deliberately sat down to write a Christmas song. Over the years there have only been novelty records out at Christmas.
There’s nothing rock and roll about Christmas at all. Time for a good rock and roll one, then.
The chorus comes first.
‘‘Well I wish it could be Christmas every day
‘‘When the kids start singing and the band begins to play
‘‘Oh, I wish it could be Christmas, every day
‘‘So let the bells ring out for Christmas...’’
It works. So then I get down to the hard work – coming up with the rest of the song. It’s actually tough going because the ideas haven’t exactly been flowing of late.
‘‘When the snowman brings the snow ‘‘Well he just might like to know
‘‘He’s put a great big smile on somebody’s face...’’
Pretty soon the lyrics are coming together. I have the melody in my head.
But it still takes a couple of months to get it just right.
Initially I consider doing something stripped down and folky.
But then I reckon that what’s good enough for Phil Spector is good enough for Wizzard.
Let’s throw in everything but the kitchen sink. I record a demo of the song – I record pretty much everything I write – and I have a feeling that it’s a good ‘un.
I start by putting a click track down, just a cow bell, on quarter-inch tape, then I play the arrangement on acoustic guitars, then double-track that.
By the time I’m done it’s not so much a demo, more the basis for the whole song. We just overdub everything else on top.
The cash till at the start is a late addition. I try a sound effects record but it’s crap.
So I hire a proper old-fashioned metal cash register with all the scrollwork on the sides, and I press the buttons while our bass player Rick Price drops the coins in. It’s exactly what I want.
I do the sleigh bells at the end myself. I just shake them until I’m too tired to do it anymore.
The effect I’ve been trying to get is something I personally associate with Christmas, that Walt Disney music feel. Time flies. Before you know it we’re in August. A very hot August.
We head down to Phonogram Studios in London and it’s boiling. But it’s supposed to be a Christmas song.
Drastic action is needed. I get the roadies to put a big fan in each corner of the studio.
For those readers who don’t know, there are no outside windows in recording studios.
You can’t tell if it’s day or night while you’re in there. So we put the fans on, put in some blue lights and leave them running for a couple of hours.
When we go back in it’s bloody freezing in there.
I’ve already warned the band, phoned them, telling them to bring in gloves and scarves and bobble hats. We’ve dressed up the control room with a Christmas tree, and all the trimmings and lights just to get the atmosphere going. And it works brilliantly.
The band turn up, all clad in their winter gear, and we record the song wearing our winter woolies.
We’ve got two drummers, two sax players and two cellists. It’s hard to get the sound right with that mix of instruments but I think it makes the song sound busy, if you know what I mean, and Christmas is always a busy time. What we need now is... kids.
We find a school in Birmingham – Stockland Green – and take a cassette of the song in to play it to the children. We teach it to the choir. They’re about 10 or 11 years old, these kids, and they’re great. Just the job.
So during autumn half-term we take them all down to London on the bus, with a load of pop and crisps in the back, and some Newcastle Browns for the band.
It’s a good day. By the time we get down there we’ve been chatting to the kids, making them feel comfortable. They’re also doing this as some sort of school project, so when we got to the studio I show them round, explaining how all the gear works and how to make a record.
I take them all the way through the process from singing into a microphone to hearing a song played on disc.
They’re really quite enthralled by all that. By the time we get to record the song itself, they’ve lost all their inhibitions and they nail it on the first or second take. They’re fabulous. I couldn’t have wished for better.
We finish early so afterwards we take them all down to the Hard Rock Café for a burger and banana split.
JUST as colourful schemes can be zingy and energising, white spaces make us feel instantly cool and calm, and adopting pale tones is a brilliant way of making a home feel summery long after the season has ended. Wondering how to work white into your own home? We asked the experts how to go about it, so it’s practical and glamorous...
WHITE SPACE WORKS
IF you’re hot and bothered over work pressures, calming white decor could be the perfect antidote.
“Subdued yet stylish, a palette of light neutrals is soothing, timeless and easy to achieve,” says Rebecca Snowden, interior style advisor, Furniture Choice.
“It’s a brilliant choice for home offices, especially if the space is compact and is multi-functional, maybe working as a dining area as well, as it’ll conjure an illusion of airy spaciousness. For depth and interest, use a combination of shades, such as classic white for ceilings and walls, ivory for paintwork, and beige for flooring.”
Decor tip: Glass tables, or furniture with a slender silhouette, have less visual weight and won’t dominate a space, while the addition of a large mirror on one wall opens up the area even more. Including lightreflecting metallic finishes, and a few plants for colour, will ensure the overall look is beautiful rather than bland.
160cm dining Table, £249.99 (was £449.99),
£140, Beaumonde.
WORK THE WALLS
“USING this effortlessly cool look in an entrance hall will set the tone for the whole home,” promises David Snazel, hard flooring buyer, Carpetright.
“Start with a backdrop of white for walls and floors, and then inject personality with accent colours for furniture and accessories.”
Decor tip:
IF YOU’RE not feeling flush enough to spend a lot of money on your bathroom, there are plenty of ways to brighten up that smallest room with the smallest amount of cash, say bathroom design experts. All it takes is a bit of imagination and a few colourful but inexpensive accessories, promises bathroom designer George Holland, right, of Victorian Plumbing
(victorianplumbing. co.uk), who says: “After the kitchen, the bathroom is probably the second busiest room in the house, treading a fine line between practical and relaxing. If your bathroom’s seen better days, a few budget-friendly updates can make a difference. Simple changes such as new towels, replacing the showerhead or even resealing the bath can really freshen up a tiredfeeling space.”
And Paul Tarbard, left, owner of Watertight Bathrooms
(watertight bathrooms.com),
adds: “Accessories and soft furnishings really can make all the difference, and brighten up bathrooms new and old.”
Here are their ideas to spruce up a tired-looking bathroom on a budget...
TRANSFORM YOUR TILES
REVAMP dated walls with peel-andstick adhesive tiles, which start at around £7.99 for 24. It’s an affordable alternative to retiling the whole wall, says George, explaining that you simply measure the area and cut to size, making sure your tiles are free from soap, dirt and water before starting.
SPLASH ON A COAT OF PAINT
REFRESHING any bathroom paintwork can really uplift your space, says George. Opt for mouldresistant paint for walls, and if you’re planning to paint your tiles or radiators, make sure you buy the appropriate paint.
ADD A LITTLE GREENERY
PAUL says plants always inject a bit of life to a bathroom – with the added bonus that many plants thrive in the humidity of the room.
WALL-MOUNT A TOILETRY DISPENSER
REDUCE clutter in your bathroom with a smart-looking wall-mounted shampoo, conditioner, and shower gel dispenser, suggests George. Simply affix to the wall closest to your shower and press a button to dispense. “As well as looking good, dispensers are also more ecofriendly, as you can buy toiletry refills, rather than a new plastic bottle each time,” he says.
USE A WINE RACK FOR TOWELS
INSTEAD of forking out for a heated towel rail, simply buy a wine rack and fill it with towels that match your bathroom colour scheme, suggests Paul. Make sure any accessories are in matching colours too.
SWITCH THE SHOWER CURTAIN
A NEW shower curtain will instantly change the look of your bathroom,
LISA SALMON