32-540: Union Jacks is the Babys ' fourth album, which peaked at number 42 on the Billboard 200 in 1980. The lead single "True Love True Confession" failed to chart and was succeeded by the minor hit "Midnight Rendezvous," and finally the hit single "Back on My Feet Again", which was their last Top 40 hit, reaching #33. The band recorded a fifth album, On the Edge , then split. Union Jacks
64-429: A "progressive rock type" of album, while Waite was moving towards more country-oriented material (evidenced by outtakes "Restless Heart" and "World In A Bottle"). They band had spent $ 300,000 in six weeks. But the album was rejected by Chrysalis and an irate Corby was shocked to find songs on there he had never played on or heard of before. Some two weeks later, after Corby had been let go, the remaining trio returned to
96-648: A band called The Boys, but returned to the UK to try out for Corby's new project. Riordin decided to pass and drummer Tony Brock was pursued instead of Fox. Tony Brock was an established rock drummer, having played with Strider and Spontaneous Combustion . Financial difficulties with Strider, and the opportunity to join a group with sound financial backing, made him decide to take a chance with this group instead. Brock brought in ex-Dream Police/Longdancer keyboardist/guitarist/bassist Matt Irving in late 1975, but Corby left temporarily shortly thereafter. The last member to join
128-670: A number one American hit in 1984 with Chas Sandford and Mark Leonard's " Missing You " from his second solo album No Brakes ." Waite and Cain reunited with Ricky Phillips at the end of the 1980s to form the hard rock / glam rock -infused supergroup Bad English , scoring several hits from their 1989 self-titled album . Tony Brock spent many years drumming for Rod Stewart , as well as drumming and co-producing for Jimmy Barnes and producing for Keith Urban . Wally Stocker went on to join Brock in Rod Stewart's band and briefly joined Air Supply in
160-646: A ranch house in the Malibu mountains and laid down the tracks in six weeks. However, the record sleeve says it was recorded at the famous Sound City in Southern California. The influences of the songs came about from their first year in Los Angeles and the culture shock of their relocation there. Their second album, Broken Heart, (released in September 1977) featured production by Ron Nevison and resulted in gaining
192-484: A record deal, so we called ourselves The Babys. We thought we'd keep the name just for two weeks. Then, the word got around in London that there was a band playing rock & roll called The Babys and it seemed so off the wall, so completely crazy, that it was worth taking a shot with. It really appealed to everyone's sense of humour." Music videos were produced by Mike Mansfield for Supersonic , and Chrysalis Records signed
224-552: A vocalist and highlighted Brock's drumming, Stocker's guitar work and Corby's instrumental abilities. The band continued to tour the U.S. successfully with The Babettes, which included singers from Andrae Crouch and the Disciples : Lisa Freeman Roberts, Myrna Matthews and Pat Henderson. The album spent two weeks at number one in Australia and produced a number one single with "Isn't It Time". Disputes with Chrysalis management resulted in
256-555: The South Bank Television Centre and used a style of production in which television cameras were highly visible and areas such as the production gallery were featured. Its producer and director also doubled as host, cueing in performances from the studio gallery instead of presenting conventional links to camera. The original series had some limited U.S. broadcast syndication at the time. Later, musical performances from this show were repackaged for U.S. television, under
288-466: The U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and No. 8 on the Cashbox chart in the late 1970s. "Back on My Feet Again" also reached the U.S. Top 40 in 1980. The original Babys line-up consisted of founding member keyboardist/guitarist Michael Corby , and, in order of joining the group, vocalist/bassist John Waite , drummer Tony Brock and guitarist Wally Stocker. The group signed a contract with Chrysalis Records that
320-571: The band in 1979–1980. During an extensive tour in 1980, The Babys opened for Journey , the band that Jonathan Cain would soon join. And the band's fifth album, On the Edge , was made during the 1980 tour and released in October 1980. The single, "Turn and Walk Away", peaked at No. 42 on the Hot 100. During a performance in Cincinnati on 9 December 1980 (the day after John Lennon had been murdered ), John Waite
352-610: The band in July 1976. The Babys eponymous first album (highlighted by the single "If You've Got the Time") was recorded in Toronto, Ontario , Canada, with producers Brian Christian and Bob Ezrin and released in December 1976, although it appears that Millar and Corby were unhappy with the production and mix. In 1977 the band purchased a 24-track mobile unit with which to record their music. They went to
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#1732845555856384-449: The band's managers." As stated above, two American musicians became a part of the lineup following the release of the third album, Head First . Keyboardist/guitarist/vocalist Jonathan Cain replaced Corby, and bassist Ricky Phillips (of Nasty Habit) joined in the late fall of 1978, making it a five-piece band. The new quintet made their debut at the Whisky a Go Go on 31 December 1978. And
416-548: The firing of the band's original manager Adrian Millar in 1977. And Corby too was fired on August 28, 1978 after differences with Waite and Lookout Management, who had taken over from Millar. Chrysalis had re-teamed the band with Ron Nevison, but there was disagreement on whether to focus on rockers or ballads. Consequently, Head First was recorded in a pressure-cooker environment with the Record Plant 24-track mobile at Hidden Valley Ranch in Malibu. Corby had imagined more of
448-481: The first series was broadcast by Anglia , Border , Grampian , Tyne-Tees , Ulster and Yorkshire on Thursdays at 5.20pm from 4 September 1975; ATV transmitted it on Fridays at 5.20pm from 5 September 1975; LWT and Westward showed it at 11.05am from Saturday 6 September 1975; Granada at 5.20pm from Monday 8 September 1975; and Scottish Television started showing it a week later, from Saturday 13 September. The Supersonic Christmas Show 1975 (Series 1, Show 18)
480-574: The group a Top 20 U.S. hit, " Isn't It Time " (written by Jack Conrad and Ray Kennedy ), that peaked at No. 13 on the Billboard chart. The song was a departure from the group's desire to only play their own material. Other writers' material, such as Mike Japp and Chas Sandford's "A Piece of the Action", was included. The album featured unique acoustic openings on "I'm Falling" and "Wrong or Right". Nevison's production techniques enhanced Waite's emerging talent as
512-409: The group have given various reasons for the band's demise, the general issue seems to have been disillusionment that the group never really achieved the success they felt they deserved given the quality of their albums and live shows. As stated before, Jonathan Cain joined Journey just as that band was on the verge of mainstream success. John Waite embarked on a successful solo career, peaking with
544-639: The line-up was ex-Joy/Pegasus guitarist Wally Stocker, in January 1976. After Corby then returned, rehearsals began in London’s Tooley Street and ten songs were demoed. These ten songs were later first released on NEMS Records in 1978 as The Babys (and later, in 2006, as The Official Unofficial BABYS Album ). But Irving was the next to leave (eventually to join Manfred Mann's Earth Band ). As of late 1975, Adrian Millar's girlfriend suggested The Babys and
576-479: The main theme was composed and sung by Andy Bown . Although the show featured performers with songs in the music charts , the show, unlike Top of the Pops , was not chart-based. Whilst Top of the Pops ran all year, Supersonic had a limited run with season one consisting of 30 editions and season two consisting of 28. The show was recorded in front of an audience of teenagers at London Weekend's studios, then known as
608-512: The mid-1980s, later playing in a reformed version of Humble Pie in the 1990s. Phillips played with Styx for over 20 years, from 2003 to early 2024. The Babys' original manager, Adrian Millar, died on 10 December 2006 at the age of 58. Starting in 2003, there was an attempt by original Babys founder Michael Corby (now living in Scotland) to reunite the classic lineup of himself, John Waite, Tony Brock and Wally Stocker. But this fell through when
640-456: The new lineup toured through the winter and spring of 1979 as the opening act for Alice Cooper . The band's fourth album, Union Jacks, (released in January 1980), produced by Keith Olsen , had a more punchy sound; the single, "Back on My Feet Again," spent a short time in the Top 40. And Anne Marie Leclerc (a.k.a. Anne Bertucci), who guested on Union Jacks , appeared as a backup singer on tour with
672-725: The origin of the idea for the band at Smalls Café on the Fulham Road in London in 1973, during a chance meeting with Adrian Millar. A management agreement was signed between Corby and Millar on 4 September 1974 and auditions were held in 1974-75 to fill out the remaining members. Among those auditioned were Mandrake Paddle Steamer bassist Paul Riordan and drummer Lucas Fox , who would go on to join Motörhead . One of their friends, singer/guitarist Gordon Hawtin (a.k.a. Gordon Rondelle), recommended an acquaintance, John Waite (ex-Graf Spee/Chalk Farm), who’d relocated to Cleveland, Ohio , to play bass with
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#1732845555856704-591: The other three were not interested. In 2013, the Babys did reform with originals Brock and Stocker, and two new members - American John Bisaha on vocals and bass, along with American guitarist Joey Sykes, who replaced J. P. Cervoni after his brief tenure. The new look Babys debuted in the summer of 2013 at the Canyon Club in Agoura Hills , California , and included new Babettes, Holly Bisaha and Elisa Chadbourne. In June 2014 their latest album, I'll Have Some of That! ,
736-420: The remainder of the band went into auditions for a replacement. Jonathan Cain, in fact, became Mike’s successor, but I am sure he had not been selected until after Mike left. The other musician was Ricky Phillips, who played bass. I think from what John, Wally and Tony said that it was they, and not Chrysalis, who selected these two successors, and I think that at about this same time Lookout Management ceased to be
768-458: The studio in an effort to revamp Head First , its release delayed to the end of the year. They re-recorded it in stripped-back form, Corby’s contributions relegated to keyboards only, while they added a swaggering opener, "Love Don’t Prove I’m Right", plus the visceral, gospel-backed Jack Conrad/Ray Kennedy followup, "Every Time I Think Of You", which hit US No 13. Equipment Manager Ray Sheriff states: "Almost immediately after Michael's leaving,
800-468: The title Twiggy's Jukebox , hosted by model-turned-actor/singer Twiggy , which ran for one season from 1978 to 1979. In 2019, Elbow frontman Guy Garvey narrated From The Vaults – a six-part series on UK TV channel Sky Arts which featured Supersonic performances from 1975 including the Electric Light Orchestra , Rod Stewart , Status Quo and Roxy Music . The series returned for
832-431: The unusual spelling stuck. Corby liked it because "it would piss mindless critics off." Another version surfaced in a 1979 Hit Parader interview where Waite claimed "The name was meant to be a joke. We took the name simply because the record companies wouldn't listen to any bands they thought were rock & roll. I mean, they wanted sure-fire teen bands, pre-teen bands. We couldn't get anybody down to hear us to get
864-579: Was a British television music show, which featured pop music artists of the day, one of the many attempts by ITV to equal the success of the BBC's Top of the Pops . Launched in 1975, the show typically lasted 25 minutes (excluding commercials) and was produced by London Weekend Television for the ITV network, running for two years. The programme was rarely, if ever, seen at the same time in all ITV regions. Although initially planned for LWT's Saturday morning schedule,
896-459: Was broadcast on 26 December 1975 at 5.30pm in 7 of the ITV regions, and on 27 December 1975 in 3 regions (including LWT). By the beginning of 1976, LWT had moved transmissions to early Saturday evening but this was mainly in London, the other regions continuing to schedule the series at different times or days, or not broadcasting it at all. The programme was devised and created by David Deyong and presented by film and music producer Mike Mansfield and
928-463: Was pulled from the stage by an overzealous fan during an encore and seriously injured his knee. Following a subsequent final performance by the group in Akron, Ohio , with Waite attempting to perform on crutches, the remainder of the tour was cancelled, Cain left for Journey, Waite for a solo career and the rest of the group disbanded in early 1981 after being dropped by Chrysalis. Although different members of
960-521: Was reissued on 26 May 2009 under Rock Candy Records after being out of print for many years. There are no bonus tracks, but all of the tracks have been remastered . This was the first Babys album to feature keyboardist Jonathan Cain and bassist Ricky Phillips. with: Album Singles The Babys The Babys are a British rock group best known for their songs " Isn't It Time " and " Every Time I Think of You ". Both songs were composed by Jack Conrad and Ray Kennedy , and each reached No. 13 on
992-442: Was released. And since that time, the reunion has continued with the group playing at least a handful of dates in the U.S. each year, with a revolving door of keyboardists, Francesco Saglietti (2013–2015, 2016–2018), Eric Ragno (2015), Brian Johnson (2015–2016), Louis Middleton (2018–2019) and Walter Ino (2019–present). And since 2022, singer Bisaha has also been playing with Firefall . Supersonic (TV series) Supersonic
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1024-503: Was the highest ever for a new music act at the time. Two studio albums, The Babys and Broken Heart , were well received. After recording their third album, Head First , in 1978, co-founder Michael Corby was replaced by Jonathan Cain as keyboardist and Ricky Phillips took over as bassist. From late 1978 until the breakup in 1981, The Babys line-up consisted of vocalist Waite, drummer Brock, bassist Phillips, guitarist Stocker and keyboardist Cain. Founding member Mike Corby places
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