Baby, Come Back (The Equals song)

"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.

"Baby, Come Back"
One of side labels of the UK single
Single by the Equals
from the album Baby Come Back
B-side"Hold Me Closer"
Released1966 (1966)
Genre
Length2:37
LabelPresident[2]
Songwriter(s)Eddy Grant[2]
Producer(s)Ed Kassner[2]
Audio
"Baby, Come Back" on YouTube

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.[4]

Release

The song was first released in 1966 as a B-side to "Hold Me Closer".[5] However, after impressive sales in the rest of Europe (it reached the top 10 in Belgium and the Netherlands[6]) 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.[7] In all the song stayed in the UK Top 75 for 18 weeks.[7] 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.[8][9]

Eddy Grant himself released a new version of the song in 1984, 1985 and 1989,[10] without much impact on the charts.

Critical reception

For AllMusic, Steve Leggett called the song "impossibly catchy."[11] 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."[4]

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
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[18] 6
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[19] 6
Norway (VG-lista)[20] 4
Rhodesia (Lyons Maid Hits of the Week)[21] 1
South Africa (Springbok)[22] 1
UK Singles (OCC)[23] 1
US Billboard Hot 100[24] 32
US Cash Box Top 100[25] 26
West Germany (Official German Charts[26] 11

Pato Banton featuring Ali and Robin Campbell version
"Baby Come Back"
Single by Pato Banton featuring Ali and Robin Campbell
from the album Collections
Released19 September 1994 (1994-09-19)
GenreReggae, ska
Length3:55
LabelVirgin
Songwriter(s)Eddy Grant
Producer(s)Susan Stoker, Michael Railton
Pato Banton singles chronology
"Come Again"
(1988)		 "Baby Come Back"
(1994)		 "This Cowboy Song"
(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."[27] 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."[28]

Release and chart performance

Banton's version of "Baby Come Back" was released on 19 September 1994.[29] 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.[30] It was the fourth-biggest-selling single of 1994 in the UK.[31] 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.[32] According to Virgin Records, about 750,000 copies were sold as of March 1995.[33]

Track listing
  • UK CD single
  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

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[56] Gold 35,000^
New Zealand (RMNZ)[57] Platinum 10,000*
United Kingdom (BPI)[58] Platinum 600,000^

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

London Boys version
"Baby Come Back"
Single by London Boys
from the album Love 4 Unity
B-side"Baby Come Back" (Instrumental)
Released1993 (1993)
Genre
Length3:24
LabelEastWest
Songwriter(s)Eddy Grant
Producer(s)Ralf René Maué
London Boys singles chronology
"Moonraker"
(1992)		 "Baby Come Back"
(1993)		 "Gospel Train to London"
(1995)

"Baby Come Back" is the first 1993 single from Europop duo London Boys. The single was produced by Ralf René Maué.[59] 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
  • 7-inch single
  1. "Baby Come Back" – 3:24
  2. "Baby Come Back" (instrumental) – 3:23
  • 12-inch single 1
  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
  • 12-inch single 2
  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
  • CD single 1
  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
  • CD single 2
  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
  • Edem Ephraim – vocals
  • Dennis Fuller – choreographer, backing vocals
  • Ralf René Maué – writer, producer
  • The Rapino Brothers – remixes

Charts
Chart (1993) Peak
position
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[60] 27
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[61] 13

Other cover versions

"Baby Come Back" has been covered by many artists, including:

See also

References
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