The Flying Pickets - Only You (Christmas Number One, 1983) Original Stereo Recording (5/11/2025)

The Christmas number one from 1983 by The Flying Pickets has never sounded so good. Hope you'll all enjoy the boost I've given their acappella song, "Only You".

The Flying Pickets, a band of six, was founded by Brian Hibbard in 1982 from a group of actors who had been active with him in John McGrath's 7:84 theatre group, a fringe theatre organisation who had sung a cappella in their production of the 1981 play One Big Blow.

The group chose the name the Flying Pickets as band members had played a part in the UK miners' strikes of 1972 and 1974.

Performing in clubs and pubs in London, the Flying Pickets came up with a concept of transferring the art of a cappella to the pop music scene.

Joining Hibbard in the group were Rick Lloyd, Gareth Williams, David Brett, Ken Gregson and Red Stripe (real name David Gittins).

The members of the group were internationally renowned for their flamboyant appearance: Hibbard's huge sideburns, Stripe's thick eye-liner, and the others showing off gaudy suits and large hats.

Two of the other original members, Ron Donachie and Christopher Ryan left the band before "Only You".

"Only You", their first single, was the UK Christmas number one in 1983 spending a total of five weeks at the top, and also done well around Europe and in Canada, where it reached number 17 in spring 1984.

It emulated the success of the original Yazoo version.

The Flying Pickets' line-up has changed throughout the years, but the band never died; since the Pickets began, there have been around 27 members.

The last member of the original line-up, David Brett, left the band in 1990, however, in 1994, the original line-up (minus Lloyd) reformed to record one more album.

Although none of the founding members have been part of the group since 1990, as of 2025, the Flying Pickets continue to record albums and tour all over Europe and abroad.

I thought I'd create this video as Christmas isn't too far away, I remember this reaching the number one spot like only yesterday, but in a wink of an eye, 42 years have passed by.

Fabulous song, I love both the original from Yazoo and this one too.

Hope it'll bring back some wonderful memories for you all.

Thank you.