"The Dream of Christmas" Released: 29 October 2021
"How Christmas Is Supposed to Be" Released: 24 November 2021
The Dream of Christmas is the sixth solo studio and first
Christmas album by English singer-songwriter
Gary Barlow, released on 26 November 2021 through
Polydor Records. The album includes collaborations with actress and singer
Sheridan Smith, vocal trio
the Puppini Sisters, cellist
Sheku Kanneh-Mason and Welsh singer
Aled Jones. It was preceded by the singles "
Sleigh Ride", the title track, "The Dream of Christmas",[1] and on 24 November 2021, "How Christmas Is Supposed to Be" featuring
Sheridan Smith.[2] Barlow toured in the UK in support of the album on his All the Hits Live Tour from 27 November 2021.[3]
Background
Barlow began writing original songs for and working on the album due to the
COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, also saying that he "had never listened to those classic Christmas songs with the idea of singing them myself, but as this record evolved, so did my appreciation for these wonderful songs. It all started off as a bit of a dalliance in the studio and before I knew it, I had a whole album!"[4]