Today’s classic song of the day takes us back to early 1979, just before MTV became a thing. The song is “Every Time I Think of You” by the Babys, and it went all the way to #13 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #8 on the Cash Box Top 100.
The Babys were a British band that got together back in 1973. Early members included John Waite on lead vocals and bass, Michael Corby on keyboards, Wally Stocker on lead guitar, and Tony Brock on drums. Corby left the group in 1978, replaced by Jonathan Cain. Cain left the Babys in 1980 to join Journey and the band broke up (temporarily) shortly after. John Waite went on to a notable solo career (including the 1984 hit, “Missing You“) and later joined the supergroup Bad English.
“Every Time I Think of You” was the Babys’ second big hit, the first being 1977’s “Isn’t It Time.” The song was written by Jack Conrad and Ray Kennedy, two L.A.-based songwriters. (Kennedy had previously written “Sail On, Sailor” for the Beach Boys.) This one’s an unabashed power pop love song and it became a huge hit all across the Western world. (It actually hit #1 in the Netherlands!)
And here’s your daily bonus video of the day, John Waite and the Babys performing “Every Time I Think of You” live on the April 5, 1979, episode of The Midnight Special. Crank this one up and sing along, fellow babies!
