Baby, I Love You
"Baby, I Love You" | ||||
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Single by The Ronettes | ||||
from the album Presenting the Fabulous Ronettes | ||||
B-side | "Miss Joan And Mr. Sam" | |||
Released | November 1963 | |||
Format | 7" single | |||
Genre | Pop | |||
Length | 2:50 | |||
Label | Philles Records 118 | |||
Writer(s) |
Phil Spector Jeff Barry Ellie Greenwich | |||
Producer(s) | Phil Spector | |||
The Ronettes singles chronology | ||||
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"Baby, I Love You" is a pop song originally recorded by The Ronettes in 1963. The song was written by Jeff Barry, Ellie Greenwich, and Phil Spector, and produced by Spector. The single peaked at #24 on the Billboard Hot 100 and Cashbox Hot 100, and peaked at #11 on the UK Pop Chart.[1]
Original recording
After their lack of success under contract to Colpix Records between 1961 and 1963, the Ronettes ended their Colpix contract and signed with Phil Spector's Philles Records in early 1963. During their first few months with Phil Spector, the Ronettes achieved mainstream success with the release of "Be My Baby" in August 1963, which climbed to number two on the Billboard Hot 100 and number one on the Cashbox Hot 100. It was the success of "Be My Baby" which had Spector eager to do a follow-up for the Ronettes in the fall of 1963.
However, a problem arose when the Ronettes were booked to appear on Dick Clark's "Caravan of Stars" tour across the country.[2]
Phil Spector decided to keep lead singer Ronnie Bennett in California to record "Baby, I Love You" while the other two Ronettes, Estelle Bennett and Nedra Talley, went out on the tour with Dick Clark. Ronnie's cousin, Elaine, took her place on the tour while Ronnie recorded the song at Gold Star studios in California.[2] Since the other Ronettes proved to be unavailable for recording, Spector used Darlene Love and Cher to complete the backing vocals.[3] The song also featured Leon Russell on piano. "Baby, I Love You" peaked at #11 in the UK during January 1964, at a time when the Ronettes were touring the UK as the support act to the Rolling Stones.
The song was featured on the album Presenting the Fabulous Ronettes, which was released at the end of 1964.
The song was also on the soundtrack of the film, Nine Months.
Personnel
- Lead vocals by Ronnie Bennett
- Background vocals by Cher and The Blossoms (Darlene Love, Fanita James, and Gracia Nitzsche)
- Instrumentation by The Wrecking Crew
Chart history
Chart (1964) | Peak position |
---|---|
U.S. Billboard Hot 100[4] | 24 |
U.S. Billboard R&B Singles Chart | 6 |
U.S. Cashbox Hot 100[5] | 24 |
UK Singles Chart | 11 |
Andy Kim version
"Baby, I Love You" | ||||
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Single by Andy Kim | ||||
from the album Baby I Love You | ||||
B-side | "Gee Girl" | |||
Released | May 1969 | |||
Genre | Pop rock | |||
Length | 2:56 | |||
Label | Steed Records 716 | |||
Writer(s) | Phil Spector, Jeff Barry, Ellie Greenwich | |||
Producer(s) | Jeff Barry | |||
Certification | Gold (RIAA) | |||
Andy Kim singles chronology | ||||
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Andy Kim recorded the song for Jeff Barry's record label Steed Records on his 1969 album Baby I Love You. Kim's version became a U.S. Top Ten hit, reaching #9 in 1969 and earned a gold record.
Ramones version
"Baby, I Love You" | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Single by Ramones | ||||
from the album End of the Century | ||||
Released | January 1980 | |||
Genre | Pop rock, Punk rock | |||
Length | 3:47 | |||
Label | Sire Records 4031 | |||
Writer(s) | Phil Spector, Jeff Barry, Ellie Greenwich | |||
Producer(s) | Phil Spector | |||
Ramones singles chronology | ||||
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Phil Spector produced the Ramones' cover version of the song which appeared on their 1980 album, End of the Century. This single reached #8 in the UK Singles Chart in 1980.
Other versions
- Dave Edmunds released a version of the song in December 1972 which reached #8 in the United Kingdom in 1973.
- Terry Reid recorded a version for his 1979 album Rogue Waves
- Cher
- Tommy Roe
- Linda Ronstadt
- Bad Boys Blue
In media
In 2009, the song was used in a TV commercial for the drug Cialis.
References
- ↑ Spector, Ronnie (2004). Be My Baby: How I Survived Mascara, Miniskirts, and Madness, or My Life As a Fabulous Ronette. New York: New American Library. p. 330. ISBN 0-451-41153-6.
- 1 2 Spector, Ronnie (2004). Be My Baby: How I Survived Mascara, Miniskirts, and Madness, or My Life As a Fabulous Ronette. New York: New American Library. p. 72. ISBN 0-451-41153-6.
- ↑ Spector, Ronnie (2004). Be My Baby: How I Survived Mascara, Miniskirts, and Madness, or My Life As a Fabulous Ronette. New York: New American Library. ISBN 0-451-41153-6.
- ↑ Spector, Ronnie (2004). Be My Baby: How I Survived Mascara, Miniskirts, and Madness, or My Life As a Fabulous Ronette. New York: New American Library. p. 330. ISBN 0-451-41153-6.
- ↑ "Cashbox Magazine Hot 100".