Baby, Come Back (The Equals song) explained

Baby, Come Back
Type:single
Artist:the Equals
Album:Unequalled Equals
B-Side:Hold Me Closer
Genre:
Label:President[2]
Producer:Ed Kassner

"Baby, Come Back" is a song by English band the Equals from their 1967 album Unequalled Equals. Written by Eddy Grant, the song was originally released as a B-side in 1966 and was later released as a single in continental Europe before being released as a single in the UK in 1968. "Baby, Come Back" charted in multiple countries, including number one on the Belgian, Rhodesian and UK charts in 1967 and 1968.

The song has influences from Motown and ska. In the 1990s, Pato Banton and London Boys recorded cover versions of "Baby, Come Back" that were hits in their own right; Banton's version reached number one on the UK Singles Chart in 1994.

The Equals version

Background and composition

The Equals were a group from North London, England formed in 1965 whose music was said to fuse pop, blues, ska, and beat.[3]

"Baby, Come Back" has a 4/4 time signature compared to Motown and a beat driven by three guitars. Towards the end of the song, the band beatboxes in the style of ska.

Release

The song was first released in 1966 as a B-side to "Hold Me Closer".[4] However, after impressive sales in the rest of Europe (it reached the top 10 in Belgium and the Netherlands[5]) the song was re-issued in the UK on 1 May 1968 and reached number one on the UK Singles Chart for three consecutive weeks beginning 9 July 1968.[6] In all the song stayed in the UK Top 75 for 18 weeks.[6] In the U.S., the song charted at number 32 on the Billboard Hot 100 on 28 September 1968 and was the Equals' only track to chart in the U.S. top 40.[7] [8]

Eddy Grant himself released a new version of the song in 1984, 1985 and 1989,[9] without much impact on the charts.

Critical reception

For AllMusic, Steve Leggett called the song "impossibly catchy."[10] In a 2006 review, Freaky Trigger called the song an "excellent pop track that happens to have been made by a mixed-race, mixed-birthplace British-Caribbean band."[11]

In his 2005 book Turn the Beat Around: The Rise and Fall of Disco, Peter Shapiro wrote that "Baby, Come Back" was "a big influence on disco."[12]

Charts

Chart (1967–68)Peak
position
Australia (Go-Set Top 40)[13] 11
Belgium (Ultratop Flanders)[14] 1
Belgium (Ultratop Wallonia)3
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[15] 9
France (SNEP)[16] 2
Ireland (IRMA)[17] 2
Rhodesia (Lyons Maid Hits of the Week)[18] 1
South Africa (Springbok)[19] 1
US Billboard Hot 100[20] 32
US Cash Box Top 100[21] 26
West Germany (Official German Charts[22] 11

Personnel

Pato Banton featuring Ali and Robin Campbell version

Baby Come Back
Cover:Pato Banton Baby Come Back single cover.jpg
Type:single
Artist:Pato Banton featuring Ali and Robin Campbell
Album:Collections
Genre:Reggae, ska
Label:Virgin
Producer:Susan Stoker, Michael Railton
Chronology:Pato Banton
Prev Title:Come Again
Prev Year:1988
Next Title:This Cowboy Song
Next Year:1995

"Baby Come Back" was covered by English reggae singer and toaster Pato Banton in 1994, who was joined by Robin and Ali Campbell of UB40. This version was different from the original in that it was in a more conventional, commercial reggae style and Banton added his own verses between the Campbells singing the original hook and chorus. Released in September 1994 by Virgin, the song peaked at number one on the UK Singles Chart.

Critical reception

In his weekly UK chart commentary, James Masterton wrote, "The new version is to be honest not half bad with toasting from newcomer Pato Banton and singing supplied by Ali and Robin Campbell from UB40, following Bitty McLean as the second protege they have helped into the charts. Easily a hit then and a possible contender for a Top 10 placing."[23] Alan Jones from Music Week gave it three out of five. He added, "A remake of the old Equal' hit, updated and reggafied by Banton in a jittery ska style, with vocal support from UB40's Campbell brothers Ali and Robin. A happy sound, and a minor hit."[24]

Release and chart performance

Banton's version of "Baby Come Back" was released on 19 September 1994.[25] It entered the UK Singles Chart at number 16, reaching number one during its fifth week on the chart, where it stayed for four weeks. It was the fourth-biggest-selling single of 1994 in the UK. In New Zealand, the song entered the chart on 30 October 1994 at number three, then rose to number two the following week, before beginning a four-week reign at number one from 13 November to 4 December 1994. According to Virgin Records, about 750,000 copies were sold as of March 1995.[26]

Track listing

  1. "Baby Come Back" – 3:52
  2. "Baby Come Back" (dub) – 6:03
  3. "Niceness" (live) – 5:40
  4. "Gwarn!" (new version) – 4:21

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1994)Peak
position
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[27] 4
Europe (European AC Radio)[28] 7
Europe (European Dance Radio)[29] 7
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[30] 19
Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)[31] 18
UK Dance Singles (Music Week)[32] 26

Year-end charts

Chart (1994)Position
Belgium (Ultratop)[33] 94
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[34] 41
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[35] 55
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[36] 23
UK Singles (OCC)[37] 4

Certifications

London Boys version

Baby Come Back
Cover:London_boys-baby_come_back_single.jpg
Border:yes
Type:single
Artist:London Boys
Album:Love 4 Unity
B-Side:"Baby Come Back" (Instrumental)
Genre:
Label:EastWest
Producer:Ralf René Maué
Prev Title:Moonraker
Prev Year:1992
Next Title:Gospel Train to London
Next Year:1995

"Baby Come Back" is the first 1993 single from Europop duo London Boys. The single was produced by Ralf René Maué.[38] The single was released in Germany and Austria, peaking at number 27 in Austria. This was the last single under the London Boys name with the next and last two singles being under the name "The New London Boys".

Formats and track listings

  1. "Baby Come Back" – 3:24
  2. "Baby Come Back" (instrumental) – 3:23
  1. "Baby Come Back" (Please Come Home extended version) – 6:05
  2. "Baby Come Back" (Cavallino 12-inch remix Rapino Brothers) – 5:06
  3. "Baby Come Back" (Affinity Tranceuro remix) – 5:38
  1. "Baby Come Back" (Teryiaky with the Rapino Bros club mix) – 6:25
  2. "Baby Come Back" (Teryiaky instrumental) – 6:28
  3. "Baby Come Back" (Rapino 12-inch Handbag mix) – 5:20
  4. "Baby Come Back" (Affinity Tranceuro mix) – 5:40
  1. "Baby Come Back" (radio edit) – 3:24
  2. "Baby Come Back" (Please Come Home mix extended version) – 5:29
  3. "Baby Come Back" (Cavallino 12-inch remix Rapino Brothers) – 5:06
  4. "Baby Come Back" (Affinity Tranceuro remix) – 5:38
  5. "Bob Marley" (Reggae Reggae Rasta Rasta) – 2:10
  1. "Baby Come Back" (original version) – 3:24
  2. "Baby Come Back" (Rapino 7-inch Handbag mix) – 3:25
  3. "Baby Come Back" (Teryiaky with the Rapino Bros club mix) – 6:25
  4. "Baby Come Back" (Rapino 12-inch Handbag mix) – 5:20
  5. "Baby Come Back" (Affinity Tranceuro mix) – 5:40

Personnel

Charts

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Book: Stanley, Bob . Yeah Yeah Yeah: The Story of Modern Pop. Bubblegum is the Naked Truth: The Monkees. 13 September 2013. Faber & Faber. 978-0-571-28198-5. 275.
  2. Book: Rice , Jo . 1982. The Guinness Book of 500 Number One Hits. 1st. Guinness Superlatives Ltd . Enfield, Middlesex. 118. 0-85112-250-7.
  3. Web site: The Equals Artist Biography. allmusic. Bush. John. 22 March 2021.
  4. Book: Davis, Sharon. Every Chart Topper Tells a Story: The Sixties. Edinburgh. Mainstream Publishing. 1997. 1780574169. Google Books.
  5. Web site: De Nederlandse Top 40 - week 7, 1968 . 11 June 2011.
  6. Web site: Equals: Full Official Chart History. The Official Charts Company . 22 March 2021.
  7. Web site: The Hot 100: Week of September 28, 1968. Billboard. 22 March 2021.
  8. Web site: Unterberger. Richie. First Among Equals: The Greatest Hits – Allmusic Review. allmusic. 22 March 2021.
  9. Web site: Eddy Grant – Baby Come Back at Discogs . . 1985 . 11 June 2011.
  10. Web site: Leggett. Steve. The Very Best of the Equals Allmusic Review. AllMusic. 22 March 2021.
  11. Web site: THE EQUALS – "Baby Come Back". Ewing. Tom. Freaky Trigger. 20 August 2006. 22 March 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20081006165552/http://freakytrigger.co.uk/ft/2006/08/the-equals-baby-come-back/. 6 October 2008. live.
  12. Web site: https://web.archive.org/web/20051114030204/http://observer.guardian.co.uk/review/story/0,6903,1548045,00.html. 14 November 2005. When mirrorballs ruled . Woodcraft. Molloy. The Observer. 14 August 2005. 22 March 2021. dead.
  13. Web site: Baby come back in Australian Chart . Poparchives.com.au . 15 June 2013 . 29 March 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200329151125/http://www.poparchives.com.au/gosetcharts/1968/19681016.html . dead .
  14. Web site: Baby come back in Belgian Chart . Ultratop and Hung Medien . 15 June 2013 . live. https://web.archive.org/web/20121108204537/http://www.ultratop.be/nl/showitem.asp?interpret=The+Equals&titel=Baby%2C+Come+Back&cat=s . 8 November 2012 .
  15. Web site: Baby come back in Canadian Top Singles Chart . . 15 June 2013.
  16. Web site: Baby come back in French Chart . Hung Medien . 15 June 2013 . dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20120629100704/http://www.infodisc.fr/Bilan_E.php . 29 June 2012 . You have to use the index at the top of the page and search "The Equals"
  17. Web site: Baby come back in Irish Chart . IRMA . 15 June 2013 . dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20090602061251/http://www.irishcharts.ie/search/placement . 2 June 2009 . 2nd result when searching "The Equals"
  18. Web site: UKMIX • View topic – Number one hits in Zimbabwe.
  19. Web site: Springbok SA Top 20. 28 February 2018.
  20. Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955–1990 –
  21. http://www.tropicalglen.com/archives/60s_files/19681102.html
  22. Web site: Baby come back in German Chart . Media control . 15 June 2013.
  23. Web site: Masterton. James. Week Ending October 1st 1994. Chart Watch UK. 25 September 1994. 8 September 2021. James Masterton.
  24. Alan . Jones . Market Preview: Mainstream – Singles . Music Week . 24 September 1994 . 16 . 19 April 2021.
  25. Single Releases. Music Week. 27. 17 September 1994. 25 June 2021.
  26. Dominic . Pride . 25 March 1995 . New Deals Boost Warner Chappell U.K. . Billboard . 22 March 2020 .
  27. Eurochart Hot 100 Singles. Music & Media. 11. 48. 15. 26 November 1994. 14 February 2021.
  28. Adult Contemporary Europe Top 25. Music & Media. 24 December 1994. 18. 28 May 2023.
  29. European Dance Radio Top 25. Music & Media. 12 November 1994. 30. 27 May 2023.
  30. Book: Pennanen, Timo . 2006 . Sisältää hitin – levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1972 . fi . 1st . Tammi . 978-951-1-21053-5 . Helsinki.
  31. News: Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (10.–16.11 '94). Dagblaðið Vísir. is. 16. 10 November 1994. 18 November 2019.
  32. Dance Singles. Music Week. 28. 15 October 1994. 26 April 2021.
  33. Web site: Jaaroverzichten 1994. Ultratop. nl. 18 November 2019.
  34. 1994 in Review Sales Charts – Eurochart Hot 100 Singles. Music & Media. 11. 52. 12. 24 December 1994. 14 February 2021.
  35. Web site: Jaaroverzichten – Single 1994. MegaCharts. nl. 18 November 2019.
  36. Web site: End of Year Charts 1994. Recorded Music NZ. 18 November 2019.
  37. Top 100 Singles 1994. Music Week. 9. 14 January 1995.
  38. Web site: London Boys – Baby Come Back (CD) . 1993 . . 12 June 2011.
  39. Book: Pennanen, Timo . Sisältää hitin - 2. laitos Levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla 1.1.1960–30.6.2021 . 2021 . London Boys. 151. Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava . Helsinki. 28 July 2023.

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