cd review - David Campbell "On Broadway"

My post the other day about Cleo Laine made me think of other performers and singers that I like that might not be that well known to modern Broadway audiences. One of these performers is David Campbell, an Australian singer, actor and musician who has never appeared on Broadway but has released six cd's of pop and musical theatre songs.

After achieving some success in his native Australia, Campbell came to New York in 1997 at the age of 26 and made such a splash performing at small cabaret clubs that he was booked at the prestigious Rainbow and Stars room at the top of Rockefeller Center.

He released two cd's in 1997, Yesterday is Now and Taking the Wheel.  Wheel includes beautiful versions of "Grateful", "Old Devil Moon" (Finian's Rainbow) and "Storybook" (The Scarlet Pimpernel) as well as a rousing "I Got Rhythm," while Yesterday includes a version of "Broadway Baby" (Follies) that seems like an actual Broadway audition for David, a driving, heartfelt performance of "A Kid Inside" (Is There Life After High School?) and a touching version of Harry Chapin's "Mr Turner."

In 1999 David was cast in the City Center Encores! Production of Babes in Arms and the following year appeared Off Broadway in the New York premiere of Stephen Sondheim's Saturday Night.  Both of these productions received cast recordings and David shines on the songs "Where or When" in Babes in Arms and "What More Do I Need?" and the beautiful duet of "So Many People" with Lauren Ward from Saturday Night.

While Broadway success never reached him, he did return to Australia and in 2001 starred in Shout! a musical that featured many hit songs from the 1950's.  He also appeared in many other shows including Les Miserables, Carousel, Sunset Boulevard and Company.

In 2006 and 2007 he released two more CDs, The Swing Sessions and The Swing Sessions 2.   As can be expected from the titles, these recordings include great versions of classic songs like "Mack the Knife," "Mr. Bojangles," "Can't Take My Eyes Off Of You," "Witchcraft," "That Old Black Magic" and a beautiful version of the Antonio Carlos Jobim song "Waters of March."

Good Lovin', his 2008 cd, included songs from the 60's including "You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling," "You've Made Me So Very Happy" and a jazzy version of "Suspicious Minds."

Last year he released On Broadway.  Highlights include songs from many of the shows he has performed in and include a beautiful and heartfelt "Bring Him Home," a truly emotional "Being Alive", a rousing "Proud Lady," a jazzy "Luck Be a Lady" and a soulful "You'll Never Walk Alone."  The cd also includes what I believe is the first recording of a song from the current Broadway musical Catch Me If You Can, "Goodbye."  All in all, On Broadway is a nice selection of showtunes.

All of David's cds are highly recommended, but as can be expected I like his latest cd the best.   If you haven't heard of him before give one of David's cds a spin!

Track list for On' Broadway -

1. Overture
2. Oh What A Beautiful Mornin'   (Oklahoma!)
3. When I Get My Name In Lights (The Boy From Oz)
4. Hey There (The Pajama Game)
5. Hello, Dolly! (Hello Dolly!)
6. Bring Him Home (Les Miserables)
7. Being Alive (Company)
8. All I Care About (Chicago)
9. You'll Never Walk Alone (Carousel)
10. Proud Lady (The Baker's Wife)
11. Luck Be A Lady (Guys and Dolls)
12. What Kind Of Fool Am I? (Stop the World I Want to Get Off)
13. Goodbye (Catch Me If You Can)
14. Some Other Time (On The Town)

David sings "Bring Him Home" with a huge orchestra -

Amazon link for On Broadway

Amazon link for Yesterday Is Now

Amazon link for Taking the Wheel

Amazon link for Swing Sessions

Amazon link for Swing Sessions 2

Amazon link for Good Lovin

Amazon link for Babes In Arms (1999 City Center Encores! Cast)

Amazon link for Saturday Night (2000 Off-Broadway Revival Cast)

Behind the scenes of the making of his On Broadway album- with Stephen Schwartz!

"Goodbye" from Catch Me If You Can - 



"Good Thing Going" from Merrily We Roll Along -

Singing "You'll Never Walk Alone" with his father Jimmy Barnes -

David plays the piano and sings "It Will Always Be You" -

David was the singing voice of "Joseph" in the 2000 film Joseph: King of Dreams - here he sings "Better than I" - written by John Bucchino

Music video for "Mack the Knife" -