A RARE HOLIDAY ALBUM
OF ALL-NEW SONGS

Anthony Nunziata sidesteps recycled carols with
a freshly written, earnest Christmas collection

It’s not exactly a Christmas miracle, but it is kind of rare among the thousands of holiday albums to find one with material that is 100% new. Year after year, most new releases rely heavily on the most ubiquitous old classics that have been recorded again and again — songs telling you to “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” promising “I’ll Be Home for Christmas,” or invoking ancient carols and latter-day fare steeped in awe, reverence, and the Nativity.

In the case of Christmas & You, all 13 of the songs were co-written by the man singing them, the strong-voiced, strong-spirited Anthony Nunziata. It’s a mix of the secular and the sacred, styled as prayers, pop, country, and cozy romantic balladry. The variety is notable; this is one of those collections where it’s fair to say, “There’s something for everyone.”

Anthony Nunziata at Café Carlyle

While the songs themselves are freshly minted, the lyrics are populated with familiar holiday subjects, images, and ideas: religious miracles and the manger; snowflakes and sleigh rides; presents and the presence of shepherds, angels, and a certain bearded gentleman in a red suit. However, no individual track feels like a close paraphrase of a particular oldie, nor does any song come across as pale pastiche or redundant recycling.

It’s no easy task to find an aspect of holiday celebration that hasn’t already been sung about, or a detail of the Nativity story that hasn’t been joyfully embraced in music and verse. But like snowflakes, no two are exactly alike. While only time will tell whether any of these selections will join the ranks of seasonal perennials recorded by other performers, Christmas & You offers committed renditions that balance tradition with freshness, delivering both prayer and pizzazz.

Now based in Nashville — where Christmas & You was recorded — the New York City–born entertainer gives a fond nod to his hometown with “New York on New Year’s Eve.” The songwriting collaborators include his twin brother, Will Nunziata (the two previously released a duo album, The New Classics, and shared a nightclub act). All co-writers are credited in the track list below.

Will & Anthony Nunziata

This holiday haul from an artist who has sung with symphony orchestras, released multiple albums, and is currently wrapping up an extensive tour (and presumably wrapping a few Christmas presents as well) arrives with polish and confidence. It includes two rousing, playful letters to Santa Claus — apparently unbothered by rumors of his nonexistence (fake news?).

One is the lively “My Every Wish,” in which the singer insists he’s been a good boy. The other, “Fill My Stocking Up with Coal,” is a broader, comical number with a country twang. Coal, traditionally the punishment for naughty children, is here requested because the singer happens to be a barbecue cook who needs to get the fire going. Spoiler alert: being with loved ones ultimately proves to be the most valuable gift of all — a theme echoed in “Christmas with You” and its Spanish-language companion, “El Regalo Eres Tú.”

The more overtly religious material — including “The Miracle” and “Heavenly Father” — comes across as sincerely felt rather than perfunctory. “Joy Is Coming in the Morning” draws from Psalm 30:5, offering a musical promise of hope. Four of the more sentimental tracks even include the word “Christmas” in their titles, with one poignantly admitting, “Christmas Always Makes Me Cry.”

Whether the holidays make you cry, smile, or renew your faith, Christmas & You invites you to sway along — or pray along — as the season unfolds.

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Anthony Nunziata – Christmas & You
released through the Nunztunes label
purchase, download, or stream at Anthony Nunziata
available on CD, vinyl, and digital/streaming platforms

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Anthony Nunziata – Christmas & You Track Listing:

1. My Every Wish — Jane Bach, Peter Bliss, Anthony Nunziata
2. Snow Day Serenade — Jane Bach, Anthony Nunziata, Nina Ossoff
3. New York on New Year’s Eve — Jeff Franzel, Anthony Nunziata, Nina Ossoff
4. Dreaming of Christmas — Jane Bach, Anthony Nunziata, Nina Ossoff
5. What Is It About Christmas? — Jane Bach, Anthony Nunziata, Nina Ossoff
6. The Miracle — Maria Christensen, Jeff Franzel, Anthony Nunziata
7. Joy Is Coming in the Morning — Jane Bach, Anthony Nunziata
8. Christmas with You — Jane Bach, Anthony Nunziata, David Scheibner
9. Christmas Always Makes Me Cry — Anthony Nunziata, Nina Ossoff
10. Fill My Stocking Up with Coal — Levi Foster, Anthony Nunziata
11. Mama’s Little Angels — Maria Christensen, Anthony Nunziata
12. El Regalo Eres Tú — Jeff Franzel, Anthony Nunziata, Will Nunziata, Rudy Pérez
13. Heavenly Father — Levi Foster, Anthony Nunziata