After a 34-year absence, the Babys are back! One of the most underrated bands of the 1970s, the Babys made a strong name for themselves with their distinctive mix of hard rockers and power ballads, many of which became classic rock radio hits like “Isn’t It Time,” “Every Time I Think of You,” and “Head First.” After the band broke up at the end of 1980, singer John Waite went on to a successful solo career, keyboardist Jonathan Cain joined up with Journey, and bassist Ricky Phillips played with any number of groups before finding a permanent home with Styx. Original lead guitarist Wally Stocker and drummer Tony Brock went on to play with Rod Stewart, but as the foundation of the Babys, the two musicians reunited, brought in new players, and recorded a new album called I’ll Have Some Of That, produced and engineered by Brock at his Silver Dreams Studios.
The Babys may not have John Waite out front this time, but new lead vocalist and bassist John Bisaha brings a similar swagger and feel to the music, without sounding like a carbon copy replacement. The minute you drop the needle (or push play), that unique Babys sound hits you like a full force gale when Stocker winds up and scratches out the riff to start off “Every Side Of You.” Brock comes pounding in and the song unfolds as Bisaha takes the mic, rhythm guitarist Joey Sykes fills out the holes, and Francesco Saglietti tickles some elegant old school rock, honky-tonk style piano. It has all the right ingredients for a Babys track.
Indeed, I’ll Have Some Of That is a solid blend of hard and soft, complete with the smooth female backing vocals of the Babettes, Holly Bisaha and Elisa Chadbourne, on several tunes. Ballads like “All I Wanna Do,” a mid-tempo showcase for Bisaha’s vocals (with support from the Babettes) that features Sykes on mandolin and Alessandro Alessandroni, Jr. on keys, and the smooth, orchestrated “I See You There,” live up to all expectations without sounding contrived. “After Midnight” is a suave little number, suspended by a breathing and deep-rooted pace. For all its Babys flourishes, Basahi owns the song, purring the lyrics, “body to body – yours and mine…” before Stocker lays down a soulful lead.
“Grass Is Greener” gets its juice with a just few choice, well-placed chords from Stocker’s arsenal, while “These Days” finds both Stocker and Brock locking in like it’s 1978. Bisaha slides in effortlessly, and another sweet slice of hook-filled Babys grooves float out of your speakers. “Uncivil War” takes a dramatic turn, jolting the album’s jovial spirit with a smack of rarefied intensity. Definitely an intriguing turnabout. It takes something like the urgency of “You Saved My Live” to bring back the good times, and you can bet the funky “It’s A Gas,” the melodic “Stay The Night,” and the riveting, all-in title track follow suit. If you’ve been waiting for a Babys reunion, I’ll Have Some Of That is the total package — brimming over with power riffs and hooks, booming vocals, and that classic, in-the-pocket bottom end. The Waite may be gone, but the Babys have come back swinging and sounding better than ever.
~ Shawn Perry
