Elton John celebrates the 50th anniversary of 'Step Into Christmas' with a new EP
It's a Christmas classic
Can you believe it? It's been a massive 50 years since the release of Elton John's Christmas classic 'Step Into Christmas'. The song which was recorded and released within a week was released 50 years ago today (23rd November) and Elton has celebrated the milestone by announcing a new EP.
Taking to social media, Elton told his fans: "I cannot believe it's been 50 years since the release of 'Step Into Christmas'. That song has to be one of the fastest released singles of all time. We recorded it on Sunday and it was in shops by the end of the week, and it was so excited for Bernie (Taupin) and I at the time."
He continued: "We hadn't really done a separate single apart from 'Rock and Roll Madonna' and we really wanted to do a Christmas single. We knew we wanted to have fun and get everything Christmassy rolled into it, especially the music of Phil Spectre, which we tried to emulate.
"The music video was so much fun, I just remember us all having bought balloons, boas, feathers everywhere, and a Watford vice president's card, and just like the ultimate Christmas party."
Watch the music video for 'Step Into Christmas'
Back in 1973 there was a lot of competition for the Christmas Number 1 which went to Slade, with Elton's song going to Number 24. However, the popularity of the song meant that it has re-entered the charts a number of times and reached a new peak at Number 8 in the UK back in 2019, 46 years after its original release.
To celebrate the anniversary of the release of the song, Elton is now releasing a digital EP featuring seven songs.
What is the EP tracklist?
- 'Step Into Christmas'
- 'Ho! Ho! Ho! (Who’d Be A Turkey At Christmas)'
- 'All Quiet On The Western Front'
- 'Cold As Christmas (In The Middle Of The Year)'
- 'Calling It Christmas (ft. Joss Stone)'
- 'Step Into Christmas - 1973 Gilbert O'Sullivan Show Version'
- 'Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer (Live At The Hammersmith Odeon - 1973)'
You can hear hits by Elton John on Magic.
Take a look through other hits from 1973:
Donny Osmond - ‘When I fall in Love’
Donny Osmond released his version of 'When I fall in Love' in 1973, having a Top 5 song hit with it. The song was originally recorded in 1952, but has had various versions released over the years, including on by Rick Astley in 1987 and Celine Dion and Clive Griffin in 1993.
Watch the music video for 'When I Fall in Love'
David Bowie - 'The Jean Genie’
Technically released in 1972, 'The Jean Genie' was also featured on David Bowie's album 'Aladdin Sane', which was released in 1973. The song was a huge hit in the UK reaching Number 2, spending 13 weeks on the chart in total.
Watch the music video for 'The Jean Genie'
Slade - ‘Merry Xmas Everybody’
Slade's iconic Christmas song 'Merry Xmas Everybody' has stood the test of time, however it was originally released in 1973. The song was the band's sixth and final Number 1 single in the UK, giving them the highly sought after Christmas Number 1 in the year of its release.
Watch the music video for 'Merry Xmas Everybody'
Wizzard - ‘I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday’
Wizzard's 'I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday' is another iconic Christmas tune which is still around in the 21st century. Sadly the song didn't chart higher than Number 4, so it was decided to re-release it in 1981, however sadly it didn't perform as well. Since then the song has re-entered the chart several times over the years, but not had the success of the original release.
Watch the music video for 'I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday'
Carly Simon - ‘You’re So Vain’
'You're So Vain' was Carly Simon's breakthrough song in the UK where it reached Number 3 when it was released five decades ago. The music video has now had more than 11 million views on YouTube.
Watch the music video for 'You're So Vain'
Elton John - ‘Saturday Night’s Alright For Fighting’
Elton John's hit 'Saturday Night's Alright For Fighting' was featured on his popular album 'Goodbye Yellow Brick Road', also released in 1973. The song was a Top 10 hit for Elton and has been certified Gold here in the UK.
Watch the music video for 'Saturday Night's Alright For Fighting'
Paul McCartney & Wings - ‘Live and Let Die’
Paul McCartney & Wings song 'Live and Let Die' was the theme tune to the James Bond film on the same name. The song was written by Paul and Linda McCartney, who also provided backing vocals. This version of 'Live and Let Die' reached Number 9 in the UK, however a later version of the song released by Guns 'n' Roses' in 1991, reached Number 5!
Watch the music video for 'Live and Let Die'
T.Rex - ‘20th Century Boy’
T.Rex's '20th Century Boy' reached Number 3 in 1973 and stayed in the UK chart for nine weeks in total. Despite being released at a similar to time to the band's album 'Tanx' it wasn't featured on there until they re-issued the album in 1985, including '20th Century Boy' as a bonus track.
Watch the music video for '20th Century Boy'
10cc - ‘Rubber Bullets’
'Rubber Bullets' was 10cc's first Number 1 single and it featured on their self-titled debut album. The band formed in Stockport in 1972, with the line-up of Graham Gouldman, Eric Stewart, Kevin Godley and Lol Creme.
Watch the music video for 'Rubber Bullets'
Marvin Gaye - ‘Let’s Get It On’
Despite Marvin Gaye's song 'Let's Get It On' not charting particularly high in the UK, the song has become one of those iconic love songs, still played to this day. The song featured on Marvin's song of the same name and 'Come Get to This' and 'You Sure Love to Ball'.
Watch the music video for 'Let's Get It On'
Slade - ‘Cum On Feel The Noize’
The first of three Number 1 songs in 1973 alone for Slade was 'Cum On Feel The Noize'. The song was their fourth Number 1 overall and stayed in the UK charts for 12 weeks.
Watch the music video for 'Cum On Feel The Noize'
David Cassidy - ‘Daydreamer’
David Cassidy's 'Daydreamer' became the 10th best-selling song of 1973, released as a double-A side with 'The Puppy Song', 'Daydreamer' was a Number 1 song for David and featured on his album 'Dreams Are Nuthin' More Than Wishes', released in the same year.
Watch the music video for 'Daydreamer'
Diana Ross - ‘Touch Me In The Morning’
'Touch Me In The Morning' was the first song from Diana Ross' fourth album of the same name. The song was a Top 10 song here in the UK and a Number 1 hit in the US' Billboard Hot 100.
Watch the music video for 'Touch Me In The Morning'
Now read:
Rock Choir releasing HUGE classic Christmas cover in aid of Cash for Kids
Slade celebrate 50th anniversary of 'Merry Xmas Everybody' with new official video
Elton John: The man who gave us 'Sacrifice' and 'Your Song'