Dan Cirucci: The BEST Christmas Music: A Baker's Dozen

Saturday, December 17, 2022

The BEST Christmas Music: A Baker's Dozen

What's Christmas without the classic tunes we love and look forward to every year?

Yes, it's easy to become inundated with Christmas songs this time of the year. And, after awhile they all begin to sound the same.

That's too bad. Because amidst all the songs, there are some that are unique -- some that truly stand out. For us, they're classic. There's no other way to put it. And these are the songs we listen to this time of the year.

So, in no particular order, here are a dozen (give or take a couple) of the best (and most original) Christmas songs we know:

This Christmas - This song has been getting more airplay in recent years. There are two good versions; one by Harry Connick, Jr. and another by Danny Hathaway.

Goin' Home For Christmas - This haunting piece by Merle Haggard summons up so much feeling. It's a perfect country music pastiche.

Santa Baby - We know that some people may find this song irritating. But it's still quite clever -- if you stay with the classic version and listen to it in context. So, don't buy any updated versions. Trust only the original by Eartha Kitt.

Christmas In Dixie and Santa Claus (I Still Believe In You) - Both by Alabama and both on Alabama's first (red) Christmas album. These are two of the best songs and this is one of the best Christmas albums you will ever find. Every single song is a treasure but these two stand out.

Christmas Was Made For Children - We really like the Mel Torme version on his album, Christmas Songs. Don't forget, this is the guy who wrote one of the best of them all, The Christmas Song (also known as Chestnuts Roasting On An Open Fire).

Angels Among Us - By Alabama. This is not technically a Christmas song but it just seems so appropriate and particularly beautiful this time of year. And wow, do we need those angels now!

Christmas Cookies - A song that never made it onto George Strait's Christmas album but you can find it on some country Christmas compilation albums. Cute and quintessentially George Strait.

Beautiful Star of Bethlehem - This wondrous bluegrass Christmas song sung by Dailey and Vincent is one of the most beautiful things we've ever heard! It will take your breath away.

Christmas in New Orleans and Christmas Night In Harlem - Both feature the great Louis Armstrong (pictured) with the Benny Carter Orchestra. Check them out on The Best of Louis Armstrong and Friends, The Christmas Collection.

When It's Christmas Time In Texas - By King George himself, George Strait. Full of wonderful imagery! It'll make you want to spend Christmas in the inimitable Lone State State.

New York City Christmas - By the Cover Girls. This may be hard to find but it's got plenty of high energy. It turns up on a lot of compilation albums.

Baby, It's Cold Outside - By Louis Armstrong and Velma Middletown . This is the raciest version of this song we've ever heard and it's just the right answer to the politically correct, "cleaned up" versions of he song that have been appearing lately. This version is great, vintage fun!

As you can see we like Christmas songs that evoke certain times and places.

That's because Christmas is a time for memories, dreams and imagination.

And these songs trigger memories, enrich dreams and enliven imaginations.

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About Dan Cirucci

He's been cited by the late Rush Limbaugh, quoted in the New York Times, featured at Real Clear Politics and Lucianne.com and interviewed across all media.

He's Dan Cirucci, the founder and editor-in chief of the Dan Cirucci Blog, a Save Jersey blog columnist, frequent guest on the Matt Rooney radio show and one of the most widely honored public relations professionals in his field. He's also been a public relations consultant to numerous organizations and individuals and hosted The Advocates on RVN-TV.

Inducted into the Philadelphia Public Relations Hall of Fame, for many years he served as a Lecturer in Corporate Communication at Penn State University. A former President of the Philadelphia Public Relations Association (PPRA) he has lectured at Rowan University, Temple University, The College of New Jersey and Arcadia University. He has conducted workshops on public relations for thousands of participants throughout the nation and has taught countless others the art of public speaking. He has also advised numerous lawyers, judges, public officials and political candidates.

Cirucci is a prolific writer and his op-ed pieces have appeared in the Philadelphia Daily News, Philadelphia Inquirer, Courier-Post, Broad and Liberty and other print and online platforms.

A native of Camden NJ, Cirucci is a former President of the Philadelphia chapter of the International Association of Business Communicators. Cirucci served as Associate Executive Director of the Philadelphia Bar Association for nearly 30 years. He served as Chair of Penn State University's Professional Advisory Board for the Corporate Communication major at Penn State Abington and on the Pennsylvania Bar Association's Judicial Selection Commission.

He received his MA degree from Rowan University and his BA from Villanova University. He has been named a Distinguished Alumnus of Rowan's public relations program and received the E. A. "Wally" Richter Leadership Award, the highest honor from the National Association of Bar Executives' Communications Section. He has also been honored by numerous other local, state and national groups.

In his hometown of Camden, Cirucci taught fifth grade at the Ulysses Wiggins Elementary School named for the founder of the Camden NAACP. There he was one of the first teachers in the country to teach African-American history to inner city students. He later served as editor of a local weekly newspaper, as Assistant to the Township Manager of Cherry Hill Township and as Associate Director of Communications at the New Jersey State Bar Association.

Cirucci's passions include all things Italian, politics, the popular culture, books and authors, art, communication, music, theatre, movies, dining and travel.

He and his wife Carole have two grown children and seven grandchildren.

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