Baby, I Love Your Way
"Baby, I Love Your Way" is a song written and performed by English singer Peter Frampton, released as a single in September 1975. It first featured on Frampton's 1975 album, Frampton, where it segues from the previous track "Nassau".
"Baby, I Love Your Way" | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Single by Peter Frampton | ||||
from the album Frampton and Frampton Comes Alive! | ||||
B-side | "It's a Plain Shame" | |||
Released | September 1975 June 1976 (live) | |||
Recorded | 1975 | |||
Studio | Ronnie Lane's Mobile Studio (Clearwell Castle, Gloucestershire) | |||
Genre | ||||
Length |
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Label | A&M (1832) | |||
Songwriter(s) | Peter Frampton | |||
Producer(s) | Peter Frampton | |||
Peter Frampton singles chronology | ||||
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A live version of the song was later released on his 1976 multi-platinum album Frampton Comes Alive!, where it gained popularity as a hit song, peaking at number 12 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.[2] It also reached number three in Canada.
Billboard described the live version as an "easy rocker" and said that the portion of the song where Frampton sings the title lyrics made "an effective hook."[3] Cash Box called it "an excellent tune" explaining that "primarily, this is an acoustic tune, and Frampton sings with sensitivity over the soft backing."[4] Record World said that although the studio single released the prior year didn't sell well, "this single is...headed for the top."[5]
In 2017, Frampton discussed this song while talking to Washington D.C. lawmakers about inequitable revenue payments from streaming music services like iTunes and Spotify. "For 55 million streams of 'Baby I Love Your Way', I got $1,700," said Frampton. "Their jaws dropped and they asked me to repeat that for them."[6]
Track listing
- 7-inch single – United States (1975)
- "Baby, I Love Your Way" – 3:17 (Edited from the LP version that runs 4:43)
- "(I'll Give You) Money" – 4:35
Live version
- 7-inch single – United States (1976)
- "Baby, I Love Your Way" – 3:28 (Edited from the LP version that runs 4:43)
- "It's a Plain Shame" – 4:21
Charts
Weekly charts
|
Year-end charts
|
Certifications
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
United Kingdom (BPI)[17] | Gold | 400,000‡ |
United States (RIAA)[18] Live version |
Platinum | 1,000,000‡ |
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. |
Will to Power version
The American neo-disco group Will to Power recorded a medley of "Baby, I Love Your Way" and "Free Bird", which reached No. 1 in the US.[19]
Big Mountain version
"Baby, I Love Your Way" | ||||
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Single by Big Mountain | ||||
from the album Unity and Reality Bites: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack | ||||
B-side | "Baby, te quiero a tí" (Spanish version) | |||
Released | 1 February 1994 | |||
Length |
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Label | ||||
Songwriter(s) | Peter Frampton | |||
Producer(s) | Ron Fair | |||
Big Mountain singles chronology | ||||
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American reggae/pop band Big Mountain released a cover of "Baby, I Love Your Way" in February 1994, which appeared on the soundtrack of the film Reality Bites, starring Winona Ryder, Ethan Hawke and Ben Stiller. This version achieved major worldwide success, reaching number six on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number two on the UK Singles Chart. The single reached the top 10 in many countries across Europe, including topping the charts of Denmark, Spain, and Sweden. It also reached the top five in Australia and New Zealand, as well as in Canada, where it peaked at number two. This version is used in Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle and its sequel, when Ruby Roundhouse (played by Karen Gillian) dance fights.
Critical reception
Larry Flick from Billboard magazine reviewed the song favorably, calling it an "earthy rendition" that is "right in the pocket of current trends."[20] Dr. Bayyan from Cash Box wrote, "This song deals with the beauty of the subject that the group is focusing on. The lyrics are very intense and spiritual and are enhanced by the raw string and wind instruments which captivate the imagination."[21] Fell and Rufer from the Gavin Report noted that this cover "has teeth" and "could be big."[22] Pan-European magazine Music & Media commented, "Another '70s pop classic has come out of the reggae grinder to enjoy its second youth in the '90s. Peter Frampton wrote it, not knowing that one day it would appear in the Reality Bites film."[23] Alan Jones from Music Week gave it four out of five, adding that "this is a lightweight reggae cover", and it "is definitely in a summery mood."[24]
Music video
The accompanying music video for the song was directed by Matti Leshem and premiered in April 1994.[25]
Track listing
- CD single – Europe (1994)
- "Baby, I Love Your Way" – 4:28
- "Baby, I Love Your Way" (6 Point 6 on the Richter Scale mix) – 6:54
- "Baby, te quiero a tí" – 4:40
Charts
Weekly charts
|
Year-end charts
|
Certifications
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Australia (ARIA)[54] | Platinum | 70,000^ |
New Zealand (RMNZ)[70] | Gold | 5,000* |
United Kingdom (BPI)[71] | Silver | 200,000^ |
United States (RIAA)[72] | Gold | 500,000^ |
* Sales figures based on certification alone. |
Walter Jackson version
Walter Jackson released a cover of the song in 1977.[75] It reached number 19 on the U.S. R&B chart.[76]
References
- Breihan, Tom (11 June 2021). "The Number Ones: Will To Power's "Baby, I Love Your Way / Freebird Medley (Free Baby)"". Stereogum. Retrieved 10 October 2022.
...Peter Frampton's "Baby, I Love Your Way" and Lynyrd Skynyrd's "Free Bird," two entries in the grand pantheon of '70s lighters-up arena-rock power ballads.
- Whitburn, Joel (2004). The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits, 8th Edition (Billboard Publications)
- "Top Single Picks" (PDF). Billboard. 19 June 1976. p. 72. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
- "CashBox Singles Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. 12 June 1976. p. 16. Retrieved 11 December 2021.
- "Hits of the Week" (PDF). Record World. 12 June 1976. p. 1. Retrieved 4 March 2023.
- "Ο χρήστης Peter Frampton στο Twitter: "For 55 million streams of, 'Baby I Love Your Way', I got $1,700. I went to Washington with ASCAP last year to talk to law makers about this. Their jaws dropped and they asked me to repeat that for them.… "". 16 March 2019. Archived from the original on 16 March 2019. Retrieved 22 April 2021.
- "Forum - 1970 (ARIA Charts: Special Occasion Charts)". australian-charts.com. Retrieved 15 December 2016.
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- Eddy (2011). Rock and Roll Always Forgetsfirst= Chuck. p. 264. ISBN 9780822350101 – via Google Books.
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- Pennanen, Timo (2006). Sisältää hitin - levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1972 (in Finnish) (1st ed.). Helsinki: Tammi. ISBN 978-951-1-21053-5.
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- "British single certifications – Big Mountain – Baby I Love Your Way". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 16 November 2020.
- "American single certifications – Big Mountain – Baby, I Love Your Way". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 15 July 2018.
- "ベイビー,アイ・ラブ・ユア・ウェイ | ビッグ・マウンテン" [Baby, I Love Your Way | Big Mountain] (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved 18 September 2023.
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- "Walter Jackson - Baby, I Love Your Way / What Would You Do". Discogs.com. 1977. Retrieved 5 July 2020.
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