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.

One of the reasons why I love this song is that it was a big part of my teen-hood. Oh. My. Goodness. A Christmas song in 1984 with some of the biggest British musicians at the time behind it? For charity? Sign me up! Once I bought the 45 single, I was listening to it night and day!

This song, forty years old this year (just celebrated the recording anniversary on November 25), was written by Bob Geldof and Midge Ure. Being a teen at the time and not being British, I did not know who Bob Geldof or Midge Ure were. But with the many music books I had at the time, I soon found out they were from Boomtown Rats (hey I actually like “I Don’t Like Mondays”) and Ultravox.

The inspiration for the song came after Geldof saw a BBC report regarding the famine in Ethiopia. He then contacted Ure and between the two, used their British musical powers to round up the talent that would put this song on the map.

The six main singers were probably the biggest names in British music at the time:

Paul Young – would go on to win a Brit Award for Best British Male in 1985

Boy George – lead singer of Culture Club, one of the hottest musical acts at the time

George Michael – lead singer/songwriter of the musical duo Wham!, one of the hottest musical acts at the time and would go on to become a phenomenal solo artist as well. George forever.

Simon LeBon – lead singer of the musical group Duran Duran, one of the hottest musical acts at the time and my favorite group at that time

Sting – lead singer of the musical group The Police, one of the hottest musical acts at the time

Bono – lead singer of U2, one of the hottest musical acts at the time

Combined with other top British acts at the time (Bananarama, Status Quo, Spandau Ballet, Genesis/Phil Collins, etc), you had a who’s-who of British music going on.

Phil Collins played drums. John Taylor from Duran Duran played bass. Even members from the U.S. group Kool and the Gang were there.

At the time the song sold over 2 million copies around the world and raised more than $24 million to support the people of Ethiopia.  

Although there may be some controversy over funds raised and money used, you’d be missing the point of the song if that was all you took into consideration. It is one of my favorites and I do believe they should stop re-recording different versions for different reasons and anniversaries. Leave it right where it should be—in 1984.

Some fun facts about the song: on Christmas Eve 1984 at 3:00 p.m., at least in my area, the song was simultaneously played on all radio stations.

Another fun fact: Boy George almost missed out on recording his part because Geldof couldn’t reach him in New York. He finally did reach him and was ordered to get his ass on the next Concorde to London. He was the last vocal recorded that day.