Love don't prove I'm right - The Babys

Internal conflicts led to rhythm guitarist and keyboard player Michael Corby being removed from the band by Chrysalis on August 28, 1978. The three remaining members of the Babys - John Waite, Wally Stocker, and Tony Brock - completed the album 'Head first' for a January 1979 release.

'Love don't prove I'm right' was a single taken from that album, the one that spawned their signature hit 'Every time I think of you'. The title track was also released as a single, but didn't fare as well and this one, released exclusively in the Netherlands - as far as I could find out - did even worse, as it failed to chart everywhere.

My collection: 7" single no. 5367
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Love don't prove I'm right' / 'I was one'

Broken heart - The Babys

The Babys second album, 'Broken heart' was released in September of 1977. The album spent two weeks at number one in Australia. The title track was released as a single, but it didn't chart in any country. Later single 'Isn't it time' was much more successful.

I'd never heard this track when I tried it out in 1988 when I got the opportunity to go through my brother's record collection. Apparently it made some impression because seven years later, I bought the single.

My collection: 7" single no. 2244

Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, February 23, 1995

Cost: 2 guilders

Tracks: 'Broken heart' / 'Wild man'

I'm falling - The Babys

I guess I've always liked fullblown popsongs with orchestral backings. 'I'm falling' is a good example of this: a strong popsong with beautiful music performed by a fullblown orchestra. The Babys didn't have a lot of success with this song, though: it didn't chart in the Netherlands.

I was too young to buy it in 1978 - not getting enough pocket money to buy all the good music that was around back then. Fortunately, in 1987 I did find it - and at a good price, too.

My collection: 7" single no. 567

Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, 1987

Cost: 1 guilder

Tracks: 'I'm falling' / 'I believe in love'

A piece of the action - The Babys

This orchestral rock song was released by the Babys in early 1978. It didn't chart in the UK, where only the earlier single 'Isn't it time' made it into the chart, but in the Netherlands they peaked at number 17 in the Dutch Top 40. It's not their best chart performance: two other singles made it into the top 10.

My collection: 7" single no. 825

Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, May 13, 1989

Cost: 1 guilder

Tracks: 'A piece of the action' / 'Read my stars'

Everytime I think of you - The Babys

'Everytime I think of you' was recorded by the Babys in 1978 for their third album 'Head first' (the title track appears on the B-side of the single). It peaked at number 13 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, and number 7 in the Netherlands. Amazingly, it didn't chart in the UK at all.

In 2006, an appalling cover version was recorded by Lucie Silvas and Dutch singing sweater Marco Borsato. It was bought by brainless people who can't tell the difference between shit and music. Nothing beats the original, certainly in this case.

My collection: 7" single no. 819

Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, May 13, 1989

Cost: 1 guilder

Tracks: 'Everytime I think of you' / 'Head first'

Download: Album 'Anthology', including both tracks

Isn't it time - The Babys

'Isn't it time' was taken from the Babys 1977 album 'Broken heart'. The lyrics are motivated by band member Ray Kennedy's love for a French woman that he knew during the writing of the song.

The song enjoyed a peak position number 13 on the US Billboard Hot 100. The song was the only single of the band to make it into the UK singles chart, peaking at number 45. And in the Netherlands it peaked at number 4.

My collection: 7" single no. 536
Found: Parkpop, Den Haag, June 28, 1987
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Isn't it time' / 'Give me your love'