The Babys
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- "Babys" redirects here. For other meanings of "babys" or "babies", see Baby (disambiguation).
The Babys were a popular British rock group of the 1970s.
The name was chosen to give them a greater chance of a recording contract as they felt companies were leaning towards the teen market. The cover of "Broken Heart" with the group members in make-up may have been part of this marketing ploy.
The music and lyrics were melodic, sensitive and far from shallow and the packaging may have affected the groups appeal to wider audiences. The overall result was that the Babys seemed to live in the shadow of other Chrysalis artists Blondie and Pat Benatar.
The classic early 1976-1978 Babys line-up consisted of vocalist/bassist John Waite, drummer Tony Brock, Keyboard player/guitarist Michael Corby, and guitarist Wally Stocker. From 1979-1981, the Babys line-up consisted of vocalist John Waite, drummer Tony Brock, bassist Ricky Phillips, guitarist Wally Stocker and keyboardist Jonathan Cain.
"Broken Heart" produced a top 20 U.S. hit "Isn't it Time" and they continued to tour the U.S. successfully. It spent two weeks at number one in Australia but the album did not produce another top 40 single.
Early in 1979 "Everytime I Think of You" from "Head First" again reached the top 20 in the United States, and top 10 in Australia. A cover version reached number one in Holland in October 2006 and features Marco Borsato and Lucie Silvas.
Whilst recording the album Mike Corby left the group. In a recent radio interview posted on his website Waite says that after the Babys Corby left the music scene altogether.
Their fourth album "Union Jacks" had a more punchy sound similar to Benatar with "Back On My Feet Again" spending a very short time in the top 40. Brian May chose the song as one of his Desert Island Discs.
The single "Turn and Walk Away" from "On the Edge" only reached the top 100 and the band was not far away from the end of a short life. Wally Stocker and Tony Brock have not worked with Waite since the breakup and there have never been any signs of the original 1976 line up reforming.
According to the notes included in the compilation album "The Essential John Waite" the band's touring came to an end when Waite tore a ligament on stage during a concert in Akron, Ohio in December 1980, within a day of the assassination of John Lennon.
John Waite, Ricky Phillips, and Jonathan Cain later played together in Bad English. Cain enjoyed great success with Journey and Brock spent many years post-Babys drumming for Rod Stewart.
Brock also played drums and co-produced for Jimmy Barnes as well as producing for Keith Urban.
Contents |
[edit] Albums
- The Babys (self-titled), 1976
- Broken Heart, 1977
- Head First, 1978
- Union Jacks, 1980
- On The Edge, 1980
[edit] Singles
- 1976 "If You've Got the Time"
- 1977 "Broken Heart"
- 1977 "Isn't It Time"
- 1978 "A Piece of the Action"
- 1978 "I'm Falling"
- 1979 "Everytime I Think of You"
- 1979 "White Lightning"
- 1980 "Back on My Feet Again"
- 1980 "Turn and Walk Away"
