The Babys: The British-American Arena Rock Pioneers

The Babys were a British-American rock band that carved a distinct path in the late 1970s and early 1980s with their blend of melodic rock and power-pop hooks. Hailing from London but achieving their greatest success in the United States, the group is best known for a string of radio hits that cracked the Billboard Top 40, including the enduring classic Every Time I Think of You.

Early career

The Babys formed in London in 1974, founded by keyboardist and vocalist Mike Corby alongside bassist John Waite and drummer Tony Brock. After building a live reputation, they were signed to Chrysalis Records, releasing their self-titled debut album The Babys in 1976. This initial effort introduced their polished, guitar-driven sound but saw only moderate commercial traction.

Breakthrough

The band's commercial fortunes shifted dramatically with their third album, 1978's Head First. The single Every Time I Think of You, featuring soaring vocals from Waite, became their first major U.S. hit, peaking at No. 13 on the Billboard Hot 100. This success was solidified by the follow-up album Union Jacks in 1980, which spawned the Top 30 hits Back on My Feet Again and Turn and Walk Away.

Key tracks

Every Time I Think of You — This power ballad remains the band's signature song and their highest-charting U.S. single.

Isn't It Time — An earlier hit from the Broken Heart album, it showcased their lush harmonies and helped establish their U.S. radio presence.

Back on My Feet Again — A driving rock track that highlighted the band's energetic, guitar-centric side and became a staple on AOR radio.

Money (That's What I Want) — Their rocked-up cover of the Barrett Strong classic became a live favorite and a minor chart entry.

Turn and Walk Away — This melodic single from Union Jacks demonstrated their consistent hit-making ability in the early '80s.

The band's lineup evolved significantly, with guitarist Wally Stocker and later Ricky Phillips joining the core of Waite and Brock. Their final studio album, 1981's On the Edge, continued their chart presence but internal tensions led to the group's dissolution in 1981. Several members, most notably John Waite, went on to major solo careers and other successful projects like Bad English.

Fans of The Babys' brand of melodic arena rock should explore similar artists featured on our site. Bad English featured John Waite and Jonathan Cain crafting a similar blend of rock and balladry. Journey shared their emphasis on powerful vocals and anthemic, radio-friendly songcraft. Foreigner operated in the same sphere of polished, hard-hitting rock with massive crossover appeal. The Knack mirrored their power-pop sensibilities and knack for concise, hook-laden singles.

The Babys' catalog remains a fixture on classic rock FM stations and dedicated '70s/'80s rock radio streams, where their hits are celebrated for their timeless melodies and energetic performances. Their music is regularly featured in the rotations of stations that specialize in guitar-driven anthems from rock's arena-filling era.

Listeners can discover the enduring music of The Babys on the classic rock and album-oriented rock radio stations available on onairium.com, where tracks like Every Time I Think of You and Back on My Feet Again continue to resonate with fans of the genre.