The Babys: Isn’t It Time

Saturday is lost classics day. Question: Why aren’t The Babys as famous as REO Speedwagon, Bad Company, or Journey? Answer: I don’t know. They aren’t even as famous as Greg Kihn. They aren’t even as famous as Tommy Tutone, who had one song – “Jenny (867-5309)” – that made him a one-hit wonder legend. What I do know is that The Babys were as good as a power pop band could be from 1976 to 1980. Their five albums are all worth a listen, filled with hard rock, power pop, ballads, and the occasional pop hit. John Waite’s vocals could be powerful like Paul Rodgers or smooth like Steve Perry. The guitars of Michael Corby and Wally Stocker were riff-driven and full of energy. Their songwriting was always interesting, and sometimes perfect. They ended up with 3 Top 40 hits, but those songs never hit the Top 10 and most people can’t name them. Jonathan Cain joined the band for their last two albums and then went on to join Journey before they recorded their album Escape. There is a reason that Journey went from popular to chart-topping after the addition of Cain, but that success did not happen when he joined The Babys. Vocalist John Waite left for a solo career that spawned a few hits, including the #1 hit “Missing You.” Waite, Cain, and Ricky Phillips reformed as Bad English in the late 1980s and had some success on the pop charts, including the #1 hit “When I See You Smile.” Unfortunately, all of that later success never transpired for The Babys, which is why they broke up in 1980.

I’m highlighting “Isn’t It Time” because it is about as good as pop music got in 1977, but there are great songs on all of their albums.

To listen to all of the songs of the day, check out the Radio Faux Show Song of the Day playlist.

• Saturday Lost Classic