Anthology

by The Babys

Product Description:

ANTHOLOGY contains tracks from all five of the Babys' albums, originally released between 1976 and 1980.

The Babys: John Waite (vocals, bass); Jonathan Cain (guitar, keyboards, background vocals); Michael Corby (guitar, keyboards); Wally Stocker (guitar); Ricky Phillips (bass); Tony Brock (drums, percussion).

Additional personnel: Kevin Kelly (piano); Jack Conrad (bass); Marti McCall, Diana Lee, Lisa Freeman Roberts, Pat Henderson, Myrna Mathews, Anne Marie Leclerc (background vocals).

Producers: Ron Nevison, Brian Christian, Bob Ezrin, Keith Olson.

Compilation producer: Kevin Flaherty.

Includes liner notes by Brad Elliot.

Digitally remastered using 24-bit technology by Evren Goknar (Capitol Mastering).

This is an expanded version of the then-disintegrating group's 1981 greatest hits compilation. It should probably be listened to as an early clue to lead singer John Waite's new direction in his far more successful solo career; a few of the songs featured here could pass for embryonic versions of the likes of "Missing You."

Not that The Babys music is without its own charms. The band seems to have aimed for a synthesis of the Raspberries and Cheap Trick, and while the resultant mix of power pop and arena rock doesn't always work, sometimes, notably on hits like "Isn't It Time" and "Every Time I Think of You," (both of which added touches of '60s pop soul to the mix) it works very well indeed. This new compilation includes cuts from all of the band's studio albums, plus two amusing covers--a thunderous version of Barrett Strong's "Money," and (surprisingly) the '50s teen chestnut "I Love How You Love Me."