I’m guessing today’s classic song of the day is one you’ve completely forgotten about, even though it was a top ten hit back in 1974. The song is “Hang On In There Baby” by Johnny Bristol and, when it was released in June of 1974, it went all the way to #8 on both the Billboard Hot 100 and Cash Box Top 100, and #2 on Billboard’s Hot Soul Singles chart.
“Hang On In There Baby” is nice slice of disco-funk, similar to what Barry White was doing at the time. The song was written by Mr. Bristol himself and the single was produced by H.B. Barnum. It was the lead track from Mr. Bristol’s debut album of the same name, on MGM Records.
Johnny Bristol got started as a songwriter and record producer for the Motown label in the late ’60s and early ’70s. He worked with famed Motown staffer Harvey Fuqua to produce tracks like Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell’s “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough,” Edwin Starr’s “Twenty-Five Miles,” and David Ruffin’s “My Whole World Ended (The Moment You Left Me).” He also co-wrote “What Does It Take (To Win Your Love)” for Jr. Walker and the All-Stars and “Someday We’ll Be Forever” for Diana Ross and the Supremes. (Bristol also sang the response to Ms. Ross’ lead vocal on that recording.) He left Motown in 1973 for greener pastures, including a short solo career. “Hang On In There Baby” was his biggest U.S. hit, but big enough to garner a Grammy nomination for Best New Artist in 1975. (He lost to Marvin Hamlisch.)
And here’s today’s daily bonus video of the day, Johnny Bristol on the Dutch television program TopPop, lip-synching “Hang On In There Baby.” Nice leisure suit.
