Picture it: A snowy Christmas Eve, the only light in the living room is coming from the Christmas tree and the roaring fire, a pine-scented candle burns on the coffee table, you’re cozied up on the sofa wrapped in a warm blanket, wearing your favorite pj’s and slippers and sipping a hot chocolate. And “The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting On An Open Fire)” sung by Nat King Cole is playing on the radio. It doesn’t get much better than that. That’s why I love this song and it’s my number one on this list.

This classic Christmas song was written in 1945 by Robert Wells and Mel Tome. It was first recorded by The Nat King Cole Trio in June 1946. In August of that same year Cole requested a second recording be made using a small string section. There were many other re-recordings in 1953 with a full orchestra and a stereophonic version in 1961 also with a full orchestra. This is the version that is most heard today.

The original 1946 recording was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1974 and in 2022 the 1961 Nat King Cole recording was selected by the Library of Congress for preservation in the United States National Recording Registry as being “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.

This song, written in 1934 by J. Fred Coots and Haven Gillespie, has been recorded by over 200 artists. With a lot of versions to choose from, my favorite is the one done by Bruce Springsteen.

Bruce’s version was recorded on December 12, 1975 at C. W. Post College in Brookville, NY and has become a cult classic, played very often on the airwaves during the holiday season. Although his version was first released in 1981 as part of a compilation album and also as a promotional, radio-only single, the version I know and have on 45 is the one that was released as a B-side to “My Hometown”.

I love Bruce’s version because not only is he my favorite musician, his version is the most fun. You can just picture him and Clarence up on the stage, wearing their Santa hats, ho-ho-hoing, getting the crowd into it. To this day if you attend a Springsteen concert during November or December there’s a good chance you will be able to be a part of this holiday sing-a-long.

The Josh Groban version of “O Holy Night” appears on his Christmas album “Noel”. The song was written in 1843 by poet Placide Cappeau and was set to music by composer Adolphe Adam, with changes to the English version by John Sullivan Dwight.

I have heard many glorious versions of this song by many great artists from Patti Labelle to Placido Domingo. But in my opinion, my favorite version is Josh Groban’s.

Josh Groban is an exceptional and extraordinary singer. He is one of the greatest voices of our time. So it was no surprise to me the first time I heard this song, I was driving and had to pull over because I just started bawling. I still bawl when I hear it on the radio and I try not to when I’m driving.

The only version of “Last Christmas” that matters is the version by Wham! I despise any other version of “Last Christmas”. There. I said it.

Celebrating its 40^th anniversary this year, “Last Christmas” was written and produced by George Michael. It started as an idea in 1983 when Michael and Andrew Ridgeley were visiting Michael’s parents. Michael wrote it in his childhood bedroom.

Although it’s a song with a happy melody and sad lyrics, the song is a Christmas classic and any time I hear it on the radio, I always turn it up. It once again reminds me that some of the best damn music we ever had was released in 1984. Add in the fact that at that time Wham! was one of my favorite groups and anyone can understand why I love this song so much. May the memory of George Michael live forever.