Head First by The Babys
Discovered at gré Coffeehouse and Art House in Palm Springs, CA
I missed the 1970s. Not my fault. My parents didn’t get around to having me in time for the decade that wrote the bulk of the classic rock canon. This leads to a lot of uncomfortable moments with friends when they probably want to punch me for “discovering” a band they have always known and loved. A recent mention of The Babys left me scratching my head until someone said it was John Waite’s band. Him, I know! The MTV staple “Missing You” and the 1989 eponymous Bad English album was a big part of my childhood. It was good timing that The Babys’ Head First was staring at me from the discount bin while in Palm Springs this week.
Likely not The Babys album most remember, Head First is an uneven mix of songs from a band in flux. There are some brilliant arena rock moments such as opener “Love Don’t Prove I’m Right” that measure up with Bad Company and Foreigner. However, there are some ridiculous moments that prevent this album, and perhaps the band, from reaching the same levels of success as other arena acts of the decade. The strings of “White Lightning” only add to the unfortunate lyrics and it stands as a cenotaph to a decade when the artsy side of rock-n-roll crossed that thin line between clever and stupid. Luckily, the rest of the album helps us forget this ridiculous slice of cheese.
With Journey’s Johnathan Cain adding keyboards, “Every Time I Think Of You” overcomes some dated production to hint at where John Waite would go with his solo material. The heavier the songs, the better, though. There might not be anything truly memorable about the title song but it is the sort of album track that slowly becomes a favorite. Maybe it’s just my age but “You (Got It)” sounds like a proto-hair ballad that would have been gold in Warrant’s hands. Best of all, Head First is just good enough to pique my interest in hearing more from The Babys. In the meantime, I will definitely be searching for my worn-out copy of Bad English’s debut album!