Merry Christmas Baby Goes Gold

MEDIA RELEASE: Thursday 10 December

Merry Christmas Baby Goes Gold

Plunket fundraising album Merry Christmas Baby has gone gold and is well on the way to platinum status.

The album, featuring Christmas-themed tracks by 11 of New Zealand’s leading musicians, has been in the top 20 Independent Music New Zealand chart for seven weeks, is number nine on the Recording Industry of New Zealand (RIANZ) top 10 compilations chart and has sold more than 10,000 albums.

Plunket CEO Jenny Prince is thrilled at the success of Merry Christmas Baby so far.

“New Zealanders are clearly feeling the Christmas spirit and loving the fact that money raised supports services delivered by Plunket to communities nationwide. Merry Christmas Baby also features some incredible New Zealand artists who generously gave their time to support us on this album.”

Merry Christmas Baby features musicians and bands as diverse as Opshop, Jordan Luck, Jackie Clarke, House of Shem, Annie Crummer, Whirimako Black, Shona Laing, Kirsten Morrell, Nathan King, Monique Rhodes and Hollie Smith and, as well as being sold through usual outlets, it is also available through Plunket.

The idea for the album was initiated by France-based NZ singer/songwriter Monique Rhodes while she was on tour with Shona Laing last year and became aware of the plight faced by some New Zealand families.

“I made a promise to myself to do whatever I could, if the opportunity arose, to make a positive difference to the lives of families,” says Monique. “After all, if we don’t help families who will look after our children?”

Monique wrote the song ‘Forever Strong’ which she has gifted to Plunket, and wrangled a roll call of New Zealand artists into recording songs for Merry Christmas Baby.

The album, produced at Auckland’s York St Studios, features a mix of Christmas and family themed and all but three are originals - the three covers are stunning versions of ‘O Holy Night’ (Nathan King), ‘Light of the Stable’ (Jackie Clarke) and ‘White Christmas’ (Whirimako Black).

Merry Christmas Baby is available at all good music retailers and through all Plunket areas nationwide. For more information or to buy online visit www.merrychristmasbaby.co.nz

High resolution images are available. For more information please contact: Sally Woodfield | Publicist | 021 868 020| swpr@ihug.co.nz

Merry Christmas Baby Track Listing

Nathan King – O Holy Night 

Opshop – No Room, No View (Only You)

Jordan Luck Band – Barbie Dolls for Baghdad

Hollie Smith – I Will Do

Kirsten Morrell – Melody Bells

Jackie Clarke – Light of the Stable

Annie Crummer – Let It Shine

Whirimako Black – White Christmas

Shona Laing – One Child

House of Shem – What About the Children

Monique Rhodes – Forever Strong

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