David Campbell Baby It's Christmas

Who can believe it's time to start thinking about Christmas trees, presents, and the roast or barbie duty roster? Perhaps more importantly, who's providing the Yuletide soundtrack to the festive season? Rest easy! Because merry gentleman and self-confessed "Christmas tragic" David Campbell has a classy, classic and carefully crafted collection wrapped and ready to roll (and rock!)

Baby It's Christmas, released today through Sony Music Entertainment Australia, has been a joy to record for David Campbell, one of Australia's most talented and well-loved performers. It festively (and fabulously) features 12 eclectic and memorable tunes, from evergreen classic 'Silent Night' to a toe-tapping, finger-snapping take on The Beach Boys' 'Little Saint Nick'. Baby It's Christmas is sure to provide a glorious, joyful and romantic ambience to the most merry of holidays, and is poised to become an essential Christmas soundtrack for years to come. Baby It's Christmas is available to buy, download and stream now.

Says David: "I've always wanted to create a Christmas album of my own, because I love the season so much. I've recorded tracks here and there over the years, but I felt I needed to pay my personal respects to its emotional essence and spiritual significance, as we've done here: It's big and harks back to Christmases gone by. The friendly ghosts of Christmases past and present are ready to take their place around YOUR Christmas Tree. I was very aware we were tackling all these greats who came before us, artists like Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, Burl Ives, The Carpenters – there are so many incredible Christmas albums out there. It was important to me to offer my own take on things, personally and professionally – and I think we've done that."

Indeed they have. With long-time collaborator Chong Lim, David has assembled a Who's Who of Australian artists to paint a fresh and original musical portrait of Christmas. Sister Mahalia Barnes alongside Jade MacRae and Natasha Stuart bring soul and sass to the microphone. David also found festive friends in piano prodigy Jack Earle, veteran musical director and drummer Joe Accaria, Mark 'Diesel' Lizotte and esteemed singer/songwriter Rick Price, who contributes a wonderful new and timeless holiday tune in the titular 'Baby It's Christmas' – which sits seamlessly within the Christmas canon on the album.

"Everyone on this album – from the core band to Chong to my sister – there are so many talented people. Every time I'd listen to the album and add a new element, it would just go up another level," he says. "When you've got people you know and trust after all these years of making music, it was easy to step back. I simply took my hands off the reins of the sleigh and let everyone else take over for a while."

Of course, David Campbell knows about talent. One of the country's top entertainers, he's enjoyed sell-out national tours and has released four Top 10 albums - The Swing Sessions, The Swing Sessions 2, Good Lovin' and On Broadway – three of those selling platinum and one gold.

A 2018 Helpmann Award winner, David is also renowned for his rousing performances on the musical theatre stage, most recently breaking box office records for his spellbinding performance in 'Dream Lover the Bobby Darin Musical' . David is also nationally recognised and respected for his roles as co-host of both Today Extra, and the yearly Carols by Candlelight for the Nine Network. This is in addition to hosting his top rating weekend show on Smooth FM radio.

With more than 100 timeless tracks on his own family Christmas playlist (to which he adds every year), David Campbell hopes Baby It's Christmas will find a place among the crackers, candy canes, crackling and carving this December 25 – and for many more to come.

David's Christmas Wish: "My kids sing along to some of these songs in the car already, so hopefully that means the album has real cross generational appeal; you can listen to it at the Christmas dinner table or while driving on your Christmas holiday. I really do hope it adds a special flavour to your Christmas."

Baby It's Christmas is out October 26th through Sony Music Entertainment Australia

Tracklisting – Baby It's Christmas
1. Holly Jolly Christmas
2. Baby It's Christmas
3. I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm
4. Jingle Bells
5. When My Heart Finds Christmas
6. It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year
7. The Christmas Song
8. Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree