The Babys: “Live At The Bottom Line, 1979” (2024) CD Review

British rock group The Babys put out their first album in 1976, featuring the single “If You’ve Got The Time.” At the time, the band was made up of John Waite on lead vocals and bass, Wally Stocker on guitar, Michael Corby on keyboards and guitar, and Tony Brock on drums. By 1979, with The Babys then based in Los Angeles, Corby had left the band, replaced by Jonathan Cain, and Ricky Phillips had joined on bass, allowing John Waite to focus on the vocals. With that lineup, they put out two albums: Union Jacks and On The Edge. By the end of 1980, the band had broken up, with Jonathan Cain joining Journey, and John Waite starting a successful solo career (his 1984 single “Missing You” was a huge hit). But in 1979, they were still going strong. It was kind of an exciting time for music, with wildly diverse acts all finding popularity, as Gregg Bendian mentions in the liner notes to Live At The Bottom Line, 1979. It seemed that everything was possible then. This album, featuring previous unreleased tracks, finds the band rocking at that famous New York club on March 23, 1979.

The first track includes a brief introduction: “All right, hello, New York. We are very pleased to be here. Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome The Babys.” And the band jumps into “Head First,” the title track from the 1978 LP, which was at the time of this show was the group’s most recent album. It’s a good, solid rock song, with some pop elements. This is the kind of thing I grew up on, and it’s great to revisit it now. This song was written by John Waite and Wally Stocker. There is a bit of stage banter at the end of the track, and then they play “Give Me Your Love,” a song from band’s second record, Broken Heart, released in 1977. This song has a great beat, a strong groove, and its first line is a demand: “Give me your love, babe.” And there seems to be no question but that he’ll get it. It’s in the sound, it’s in the air. This music encourages it, you understand. This is how we grew up. And maybe some of our expectations were not met. But returning to this music puts us right back in that place, when things were exciting. John Waite delivers a good, raw vocal performance. “Give me your love/Ah, there’s nothing left to say.” This track features some really good guitar work.

John Waite then introduces “Run To Mexico,” another song from Head First, and another delicious rock song heading straight at you with energy and attitude, and with a driving beat. For some reason the lines “Ain’t talking about Chicago/I’m talking about Mexico” make me smile. These lines also stand out: “I don’t want to hear the stories about your mama and poppa/Or hear you cry/For me, there’s no second chance no more/It’s The F.B. fucking I.” I love it. And I love that work on keys. “Here’s a number about L.A.,” John Waite says before the band goes into “California,” another song from Head First. This one has something of a sweeter pop vibe. It was written by John Waite. Here is a taste of the lyrics: “Here I am on this side of the stars/Livin’ in California/And sometimes I get out of reach in the bars/Dreamin’ about my life/Maybe one day I’ll take a wife/Though I spent some time on the evil road/I’ve done things that I'm ashamed of/Oh man, it’s such a heavy load.” But the song’s best lines are these: “You are the love of my life/But I could be your biggest mistake.” Wow.

“Every Time I Think Of You” is introduced as the band’s new single. This one was written by Jack Conrad and Ray Kennedy, the team responsible for writing the band’s 1977 hit “Isn’t It Time.” And this one too became a hit. It’s a soulful number. “Seasons come and seasons go/But our love will never die/Let me hold you, darling/So you won’t cry/Because people say our love affair/Will surely pass.” I like the way this one builds toward an energetic and powerful conclusion. That’s followed by “Stick To Your Guns,” which is introduced as a new song. As it opens, it has a darker, more somber vibe. This song, for whatever reason, was not included on a studio release. Apparently it was recorded during the Union Jacks sessions, but not issued on that record. So this live album provides an opportunity to hear this intriguing song, which is actually one of my favorites. The crowd seems to dig it too. The band follows that with another new song, introduced as “Crystal Ball.” This one was also recorded for Union Jacks, but unlike “Stick To Your Guns,” it would find a place on that release, though under a different title, “Anytime.”  This song features a pounding beat. Interestingly, its lyrics differ somewhat from those of “Anytime.” For example, the line “Think about you day and night” from “Anytime” here is “You’re a vision that’s about to unfold.”  And “Anytime” doesn’t actually mention a crystal ball in its lyrics. “Anytime you want at all/Anytime, just gaze into the crystal ball.” “Crystal Ball” leads straight into “Isn’t It Time,” which features some delicious work on keys, particularly during that added intro. The crowd applauds as folks begin to recognize the song after that cool introduction. This song, as I mentioned, was a hit for the band, and was included on the Broken Heart album, and it’s another highlight of this disc. This rendition has a great energy, and some wonderful guitar work. At one point, John Waite adds a nod to “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction,” and the guitar responds in kind.

“Lookin’ For Love” is the lead track from the band’s self-titled debut album, where it is listed as “Looking For Love.” I love that intro on drums (which is also on the studio version), and that great bass line. This is another of my personal favorites. It has everything you could want from a 1970s rock song, and it’s about needing love, so everyone on the planet can relate to it. “Day after day/The need in me grows/The more that I need/The more that it shows.” This version is much better than the original studio version. There is even a drum solo in the middle of it, so, yeah, it just gets better and better. That is followed by the disc’s only cover, a seriously rocking rendition of “Money (That’s What I Want),” written by Janie Bradford and Berry Gordy, and released as a single by Barrett Strong. The band is having fun with this song, each member getting moments to shine, with John Waite introducing them one at a time. That bass lead is great. And John Waite delivers a good lead on harmonica. This rousing rendition is apparently the last song of the set. The encore then is “Loaded,” another song that did not make it onto a studio release. It is introduced a new number “about the shape I’m in right now.” It’s a strong, driving rock song, a good way to wrap up the show.

CD Track List

1. Head First
2. Give Me Your Love
3. Run To Mexico
4. California
5. Every Time I Think Of You
6. Stick To Your Guns
7. Crystal Ball
8. Isn’t It Time
9. Lookin’ For Love
10. Money (That’s What I Want)
11. Loaded

Live At The Bottom Line, 1979 was released on January 5, 2024 through Omnivore Recordings.