Taking a shot at recording a song written outside the band, The Babys took a chance on a song by veterans, produced by a proven rock producer, Ron Nevison. "So, this is what chart success looks like!"
Thank YOU, Keith! The most compelling stories about songs'n'artists come from those who grew up with a love for them! Plus, it's always a kick to uncover the secrets of the magic these artists create!
I have to agree with PeDupre -- don't mess with perfection!
Keith's explanation of what makes the song special was great. Things I hadn't noticed or thought about.
I would add that, for me being driven by emotion and feeling, I find it thrilling and get hooked when the song reaches "I just can't find the answers" -- it literally soars and the lyrics at that point set up a narrative hook. What will he decide? Or will he?
Then he makes up his mind, yes let's do it, let's be together, but -- wait a second -- now he has to convince her because she's left him. Come back to me! It's an age-old, highly relatable, and brilliant story in one little song. Boy can't make up his mind, girls says forget it and leaves, boy is jolted into making up hjs mind. (Giving you the girl 'take' here!)
Only Bert Heerink came close for me, by using what sounds to me like the exact same arrangement. None of the other arrangements really got what made this special.
Good stuff, Ellen....thanks! I appreciate the gals' POV here! I've been binge-watching "Shark Tank" lately, and your "boy can't make up his mind, girl says forget it and leaves" rings SO true....in front of Mr. Wonderful, AND in relationships! I know most of us can relate...as can I! On the "Tank," an entrepreneur will, sometimes, wait an eternity accepting an offer or countering! Hence, lost offers, as a shark may pull out of negotiations!
That's another great example. We can all be ditherers when we think there might be something better and we don't want to lock ourselves into what's on offer. It's a dilemma the song captures perfectly.
Great read guys and what a standard ! Some songs are untouchable, and their originals can never be surpassed. This track is a prime example, in my opinion. None of the covers come close, and some are downright dreadfull.
Yeah....covers are always a bit of a mine field! But, fun to uncover, nevertheless! Mad props have to go to producer, Ron Nevison, for the overall sound. He's had quite a heavier rock track record, and you may find it fascinating to peruse his list of credits: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Nevison
He could have heavy-handed his production for The Babys, but kept it light, bright, and tuneful! Thanks, Pe!
Great work, guys! I must have heard this song several times without paying too much attention, I think, so this deep dive was great. I agree that the song is fantastic: the composition, the production, the singing... that melody! The melody, or multiple melodies, really, is/are something else.
There was something you guys said that stuck with me: it's not effortless, i.e. you can see and hear the amount of work it entailed, but it's all so beautifully crafted. I think this is super interesting especially because we (and I mean music lovers, writers, commentators--all of us) tend to praise performances/works that are "effortless", all the time, to the extent that sometimes, without realising, we neglect the work. Thank you for highlighting the work. Without that, there really is nothing.
Nicely said, Andy....and thanks! The irony is that to make something be or sound "effortless," THAT's the hardest job! And, in this case, performance and production come together for a classic record. Imagine "Maybe I'm Amazed" with an overwrought fully-symphonic, bombastic arrangement...just wouldn't be the same as Paul's understated, yet gorgeous and heart-rending perf!
Thank you! Yes, that’s very true. Truly effortless means there was a ton of work to make it look/sound effortless. I am just glad, as a bit of a technical nerd, that we stop to acknowledge the work, because more often than not, it goes unmentioned (and we’re all guilty of this to a certain extent).
Yep, and speaking from experience, "unmentioned" often results from lack of understanding....and, that's why we're here, FR&B...."to x-ray and enlighten" (to quote a line from my fave Dick Van Dyke Show...Rob was being interviewed by Ray Murdock, fictitious talk show host)!
The more we understand what a producer does (and how), for example, the more we can appreciate the end product....like Paul's production on "I'm Amazed".....tbh, I had no idea HE produced it, but because it's such an overall astounding performance, I just guessed........yep, Wiki confirms! As if we needed another reason to adore Sir Macca!!
Spot on. One of the many reasons why I love FR&B so much is because of all the emphasis on the creative process. The industry/commercial considerations are also very helpful especially for younger folks like me who weren’t “even a project” (as I like to say) when all these gems from the 60s and 70s were being created. I wasn’t around for much of the 80s either for that matter but the 60s and 70s were iconic in their own way, especially for rock music. But you don’t need ME to tell YOU that! 😂
Always thought "Isn't it Time" and "Every time I think of you" were terrific songs with great vocals by Waite and the backup singers. As a teenager growing up in the UK I bought both singles, but unfortunately not many others did! :) Had forgotten about the Trower cover - that rocks righteously too.
I agree with your first sentence! I think I recall, in my research this week, that "Isn't It Time" (in the UK) had one of the lowest chart finishes in the world. Curious. Maybe the UK was too embroiled in the burgeoning punk scene! I seem to recall (I was 22 in '77, and working at a Houston, TX record store) that The Babys were comfortably (if not oddly) positioned close enough to glam and new wave (and, more to the point...their fans and what they liked....generally) than the more "straight" classic rock i.e. Journey, Styx, et al.
In other words, you were a little more open to The Babys if you were comfortable with some of the "new" music, than if you were a hard-core ticket-buying arena denizen! Those are my rememberies, anyway....at the very least, that certainly describes a "me" at the time!
Thanks for falling by, Mark! You're welcome anytime!
Thanks so much for this Brad! It's always a pleasure!
Thank YOU, Keith! The most compelling stories about songs'n'artists come from those who grew up with a love for them! Plus, it's always a kick to uncover the secrets of the magic these artists create!
I have to agree with PeDupre -- don't mess with perfection!
Keith's explanation of what makes the song special was great. Things I hadn't noticed or thought about.
I would add that, for me being driven by emotion and feeling, I find it thrilling and get hooked when the song reaches "I just can't find the answers" -- it literally soars and the lyrics at that point set up a narrative hook. What will he decide? Or will he?
Then he makes up his mind, yes let's do it, let's be together, but -- wait a second -- now he has to convince her because she's left him. Come back to me! It's an age-old, highly relatable, and brilliant story in one little song. Boy can't make up his mind, girls says forget it and leaves, boy is jolted into making up hjs mind. (Giving you the girl 'take' here!)
Only Bert Heerink came close for me, by using what sounds to me like the exact same arrangement. None of the other arrangements really got what made this special.
Good stuff, Ellen....thanks! I appreciate the gals' POV here! I've been binge-watching "Shark Tank" lately, and your "boy can't make up his mind, girl says forget it and leaves" rings SO true....in front of Mr. Wonderful, AND in relationships! I know most of us can relate...as can I! On the "Tank," an entrepreneur will, sometimes, wait an eternity accepting an offer or countering! Hence, lost offers, as a shark may pull out of negotiations!
That's another great example. We can all be ditherers when we think there might be something better and we don't want to lock ourselves into what's on offer. It's a dilemma the song captures perfectly.
Great read guys and what a standard ! Some songs are untouchable, and their originals can never be surpassed. This track is a prime example, in my opinion. None of the covers come close, and some are downright dreadfull.
Yeah....covers are always a bit of a mine field! But, fun to uncover, nevertheless! Mad props have to go to producer, Ron Nevison, for the overall sound. He's had quite a heavier rock track record, and you may find it fascinating to peruse his list of credits: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Nevison
He could have heavy-handed his production for The Babys, but kept it light, bright, and tuneful! Thanks, Pe!
I have to agree with Pe on this one too!
Great work, guys! I must have heard this song several times without paying too much attention, I think, so this deep dive was great. I agree that the song is fantastic: the composition, the production, the singing... that melody! The melody, or multiple melodies, really, is/are something else.
There was something you guys said that stuck with me: it's not effortless, i.e. you can see and hear the amount of work it entailed, but it's all so beautifully crafted. I think this is super interesting especially because we (and I mean music lovers, writers, commentators--all of us) tend to praise performances/works that are "effortless", all the time, to the extent that sometimes, without realising, we neglect the work. Thank you for highlighting the work. Without that, there really is nothing.
Nicely said, Andy....and thanks! The irony is that to make something be or sound "effortless," THAT's the hardest job! And, in this case, performance and production come together for a classic record. Imagine "Maybe I'm Amazed" with an overwrought fully-symphonic, bombastic arrangement...just wouldn't be the same as Paul's understated, yet gorgeous and heart-rending perf!
Thank you! Yes, that’s very true. Truly effortless means there was a ton of work to make it look/sound effortless. I am just glad, as a bit of a technical nerd, that we stop to acknowledge the work, because more often than not, it goes unmentioned (and we’re all guilty of this to a certain extent).
Yep, and speaking from experience, "unmentioned" often results from lack of understanding....and, that's why we're here, FR&B...."to x-ray and enlighten" (to quote a line from my fave Dick Van Dyke Show...Rob was being interviewed by Ray Murdock, fictitious talk show host)!
The more we understand what a producer does (and how), for example, the more we can appreciate the end product....like Paul's production on "I'm Amazed".....tbh, I had no idea HE produced it, but because it's such an overall astounding performance, I just guessed........yep, Wiki confirms! As if we needed another reason to adore Sir Macca!!
Spot on. One of the many reasons why I love FR&B so much is because of all the emphasis on the creative process. The industry/commercial considerations are also very helpful especially for younger folks like me who weren’t “even a project” (as I like to say) when all these gems from the 60s and 70s were being created. I wasn’t around for much of the 80s either for that matter but the 60s and 70s were iconic in their own way, especially for rock music. But you don’t need ME to tell YOU that! 😂
Always thought "Isn't it Time" and "Every time I think of you" were terrific songs with great vocals by Waite and the backup singers. As a teenager growing up in the UK I bought both singles, but unfortunately not many others did! :) Had forgotten about the Trower cover - that rocks righteously too.
I agree with your first sentence! I think I recall, in my research this week, that "Isn't It Time" (in the UK) had one of the lowest chart finishes in the world. Curious. Maybe the UK was too embroiled in the burgeoning punk scene! I seem to recall (I was 22 in '77, and working at a Houston, TX record store) that The Babys were comfortably (if not oddly) positioned close enough to glam and new wave (and, more to the point...their fans and what they liked....generally) than the more "straight" classic rock i.e. Journey, Styx, et al.
In other words, you were a little more open to The Babys if you were comfortable with some of the "new" music, than if you were a hard-core ticket-buying arena denizen! Those are my rememberies, anyway....at the very least, that certainly describes a "me" at the time!
Thanks for falling by, Mark! You're welcome anytime!