Baby, Come Back (The Equals song)


"Baby, Come Back" is a song written by Eddy Grant, and originally performed and recorded by his band the Equals.

The Equals version

The Equals were a group from North London, England. "Baby, Come Back" is a mixture of rock and roll and beat, very much reflecting the London sound of the 1960s, with Grant's Guyanese accent giving the record a distinguishing sound compared to other records of its genre. The song was first released in 1966, a year after the band formed, but did not chart. However, after impressive sales in the rest of Europe the song was re-issued in the UK on 1 May 1968 and reached #1 in the UK Singles Chart on 3 July 1968 spending three weeks there. In all the song stayed in the UK Top 75 for 18 weeks. It also charted at number 32 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Eddy Grant himself released a new version of the song in 1984, 1985 and 1989, without much impact on the charts.

Chart performance

Pato Banton featuring Ali and Robin Campbell of UB40 version

The song was covered by Pato Banton in 1994 who was joined by Robin and Ali Campbell of UB40. This version was different from the original in that it was in a more conventional, commercial reggae style and Banton added his own verses between the Campbells singing the original hook and chorus. The song was a number-one hit single in the United Kingdom and New Zealand. It was released on 19 September 1994 and entered the UK Singles Chart for the week ending 1 October 1994 at number 16 and reached number one on its fifth week on the chart, where it stayed for four weeks. It was the fourth biggest selling single of 1994 in the UK. In New Zealand, the song entered the chart on 30 October 1994 at number three, then rose to number two the following week, before beginning a four-week reign at number one from 13 November to 4 December 1994. According to Virgin Records, about 750,000 copies were sold as of March 1995.

Track listing

UK CD single
  1. "Baby Come Back" - 3:52
  2. "Baby Come Back" - 6:03
  3. "Niceness" - 5:40
  4. "Gwarn!" 4:21

    Charts

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Certifications

London Boys version

"Baby Come Back" is the first 1993 single from Europop duo London Boys. The single was produced by Ralf René Maué. The single was released in Germany and Austria, peaking at #27 in Austria.
This was the last single under the London Boys name with the next and last two singles being under the name "The New London Boys".

Formats and track listings

;7" single
  1. "Baby Come Back" - 3:24
  2. "Baby Come Back " - 3:23
;12" single #1
  1. "Baby Come Back " - 6:05
  2. "Baby Come Back " - 5:06
  3. "Baby Come Back " - 5:38
;12" single #2
  1. "Baby Come Back " - 6:25
  2. "Baby Come Back " - 6:28
  3. "Baby Come Back " - 5:20
  4. "Baby Come Back " - 5:40
;CD single #1
  1. "Baby Come Back " - 3:24
  2. "Baby Come Back " - 5:29
  3. "Baby Come Back " - 5:06
  4. "Baby Come Back " - 5:38
  5. "Bob Marley " - 2:10
;CD single #2
  1. "Baby Come Back " - 3:24
  2. "Baby Come Back " - 3:25
  3. "Baby Come Back " - 6:25
  4. "Baby Come Back " - 5:20
  5. "Baby Come Back " - 5:40

    Chart performance

Personnel

"Baby Come Back" has been covered by many artists, including: