December Baby Explained

December Baby
Type:	studio
Artist:	JoJo
Cover:	JoJo - December Baby.jpeg
Recorded:	2020
Genre:	Christmas R&B
Length:	27:34
Label:	Clover Warner
Producer:	BLVK JordanXL
Prev Title:	Good to Know
Prev Year:	2020
Year:	2020
Next Title:	Trying Not to Think About It
Next Year:	2021

December Baby is the first Christmas album and the fifth studio album by American singer JoJo. It was released on October 30, 2020, through Clover Music and Warner Records.^[1] It is JoJo’s first holiday album, and was recorded during quarantine over a three week period with Agápē producer and writer Austin Brown, with whom she wrote all of the original tracks. The album contains cover versions of popular Christmas standards such as "The Christmas Song" and "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" alongside original songs which incorporate R&B elements.

To support the album, JoJo hosted her own online live performance special called the "December Baby Livestream Concert Special", which aired live from The Roxy Theater in Los Angeles. The album saw her reunite with previous collaborator JordanXL, who worked with JoJo on her 2010 mixtape Can't Take That Away From Me and on the 2018 re-recordings of her earlier studio albums. BLVX handled additional production on the album, which produced three singles "The Christmas Song", "Wishlist" featuring PJ Morton and the album's title track "December Baby".^[1]

Background

Following the release of the deluxe edition of JoJo's fourth studio album, Good to Know. JoJo later announced that in mid-2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, she was working on her first Christmas album. On social media, JoJo noted that she has always wanted to release a Christmas album.^{[2] [3] [4]}

Promotion

On December 18, 2020 JoJo performed a livestream concert of the album from The Roxy in Los Angeles to promote the record while maintaining COVID-19 protocols.^{[5] [6]} JoJo made a promotional appearance on The Tamron Hall Show to promote the album and performed “Wishlist” alongside PJ Morton.^[7] She also hosted her own online live performance special called the "December Baby Livestream Concert Special", presented by NoCap, which aired live from The Roxy Theater in Los Angeles. December Baby live at the ROXY NoCap, love stream concert. ^{[8] [9]}

Singles

Following the release of JoJo's third album Mad Love. in 2016 on Atlantic Records, JoJo transferred to Warner Records and had issued her first commercially released Christmas song "The Christmas Song".^[10] The song was digitally released as the albums lead single on December 13, 2019 exclusively through Amazon Music as a part of a slate of holiday-themed Amazon Original songs.^[11] The songs accompanying music video was released alongside the single release.^{[12] [13]} Wishlist featuring PJ Morton was released on November 15, 2020 as the second single. December Baby was released as the final single from the album on December 8, 2020.

Track listing

Credits adapted from Spotify.^[14]

Personnel

Adapted from AllMusic and the album liner notes.^[15]

• Benjamin Backus – Arranger
• Dale Becker – Mastering
• Ralph Blane – Composer
• BLVK – Producer
• Austin Brown – Guitar, Mixing, Recording, Vocals (Background)
• Jacob Collier – Featured Artist, Recording, Vocals
• William C. Dix – Lyricist
• Brian Gardner – Mastering
• Ryan Gladieux – Mixing, Recording
• JoJo – Primary Artist, Vocals, Composer
• Brian London – Keyboards, Mixing, Recording, Vocals (Background)
• Hugh Martin – Composer
• PJ Morton – Featured Artist, Vocals, Composer
• Joel Smallbone – Arranger
• Luke Smallbone – Arranger
• Tedd Tjornhom – Arranger
• Mel Tormé – Composer
• Traditional – Composer
• Robert Wells – Composer
• Jordan XL – Producer, Programmer

Notes and References

1. Web site: JoJo Celebrates The Holidays & Her Birthday With New Album 'December Baby'. 2021-01-19 . SoulBounce.
2. Web site: JoJo Dishes on Turning 30 & Her First Christmas Album “December Baby” – Tamron Hall Show. Tamron Hall.
3. Web site: Listen JoJo's New Holiday Album 'December Baby'. Antwane. Folk. November 1, 2020.
4. Web site: Album review: JoJo’s “December Baby” is the ultimate modern Christmas album. Matt. Sevits. November 3, 2020.
5. Web site: JoJo Announces 'December Baby Livestream Concert Special'. TV News. Desk. BroadwayWorld.com.
6. Web site: JoJo Celebrates Being A 'December Baby' With Some Christmas Cheer . 2021-01-19 . www.soulbounce.com . en-US.
7. Web site: JoJo Performs “Wishlist” From Her Christmas Album “December Baby” on “Tamron Hall” – Tamron Hall Show. Tamron Hall.
8. Web site: Music & Radio Station News | AllAccess.com. All Access.
9. Web site: JoJo Announces 'December Baby Livestream Concert Special'. Sarah Jae. Leiber. BroadwayWorld.com.
10. Web site: JoJo Unleashes Powerhouse Vocals on Groovy Cover of ‘The Christmas Song’: Listen. Glenn. Rowley. December 16, 2019.
11. Web site: JoJo Releases Christmas Cover Single & Music Video Of Nat King Cole's "The Christmas Song" As An Amazon Original. Jonathan. Currinn. December 18, 2019.
12. Web site: JoJo Puts A Fresh Spin On “The Christmas Song” For Amazon Music. December 13, 2019. idolator.
13. Web site: JoJo Releases Brand-New Rendition of 'The Christmas Song'. Kaitlin. Milligan. BroadwayWorld.com.
14. Web site: JoJo – December Baby . December Baby by JOJO on Spotify Music . October 30, 2020.
15. Web site: December Baby – JoJo. AllMusic. October 30, 2020. Clover Music, Warner.