Man, this is a hit!: Roger Waters vision, David Gilmours classic solo and a disco groove – the magic combination in Pink Floyds freak Christmas No 1 [Video]

It was on this day (30 November) in 1979 that the least festive Christmas number one of all time was released.

No sleigh bells. No references to Santa, reindeer, presents, mistletoe or the baby Jesus.

Instead, this Yuletide hit was an anti-authority protest song set to a disco beat. A track lifted from a rock-opera concept album themed on war and death, paranoia and betrayal, fame and isolation.

And while this song did feature a children’s choir, these kids weren’t singing: “I wish it could be Christmas every day!” They were sneering: “We don’t need no education! We don’t need no thought control!”

It was a Christmas number one that was utterly devoid of festive cheer: Another Brick In The Wall Part 2 by Pink Floyd. And it featured one of David Gilmour’s most brilliant and inventive guitar solos.

At this stage of Floyd’s career, bassist and lead vocalist Roger Waters was very much in the driving seat. …