Head First (The Babys album)


Head First is the title of the third album by The Babys. Internal conflicts led to founder, guitarist and keyboard player Michael Corby being removed from the group by Chrysalis on 28 August 1978. The three remaining members of the Babys--John Waite, Wally Stocker and Tony Brock--completed the album for a January 1979 release.

Album information

Lead single status was afforded to "Every Time I Think of You," a track completed without Corby, who was friends with the tune's composers, Jack Conrad and Ray Kennedy, the team responsible for the Babys' previous Top 40 hit "Isn't It Time." "Every Time I Think of You" matched the Billboard Hot 100 No. 13 peak of "Isn't It Time" in April 1979, the same month that Head First became the Babys' highest charting album with a No. 22 peak on the Billboard albums chart. After serving as the B-side for "Every Time I Think of You," the title track "Head First" was issued as the A-side of the follow-up single with another album track, "California" as B-side; this single reached No. 77 on the Hot 100.
Head First was reissued on 26 May 2009 under Rock Candy Records after being out of print for many years. There are no bonus tracks, but all of the tracks have been remastered.

Track listing and personnel

;Side One
  1. "Love Don't Prove I'm Right" – 2:47
  2. * John Waite - lead vocals
  3. * Wally Stocker - guitars
  4. * Tony Brock - drums, percussion
  5. "Every Time I Think of You" – 4:00
  6. * John Waite - lead vocals
  7. * Wally Stocker - guitars
  8. * Tony Brock - drums, percussion
  9. * Diana Lee - backing vocals
  10. * Marti McCall - backing vocals
  11. * Myrna Matthews - backing vocals
  12. * Kevin Kelly - piano
  13. * Jack Conrad - bass
  14. "I Was One" – 3:30
  15. * John Waite - bass, lead vocals
  16. * Wally Stocker - guitars
  17. * Tony Brock - drums, percussion
  18. * Mike Japp - backing vocals
  19. "White Lightning" – 3:20
  20. * John Waite - bass, lead vocals
  21. * Wally Stocker - acoustic guitar
  22. * Tony Brock - drums, percussion
  23. * Michael Corby - organ
  24. * John Sinclair - synthesizer
  25. "Run to Mexico" – 4:35
  26. * John Waite - bass, lead vocals
  27. * Wally Stocker - guitars
  28. * Tony Brock - drums, percussion
  29. * Michael Corby - keyboards
;Side Two
  2. "Head First" – 3:57
  3. * John Waite - bass, lead vocals
  4. * Wally Stocker - guitars
  5. * Tony Brock - drums, percussion
  6. "You " – 4:39
  7. * John Waite - bass, lead vocals
  8. * Wally Stocker - acoustic guitar
  9. * Tony Brock - drums, percussion
  10. * Michael Corby - piano
  11. "Please Don't Leave Me Here" – 5:08
  12. * John Waite - bass, vocals
  13. * Wally Stocker - guitars
  14. * Tony Brock - drums, vocals, percussion
  15. * Michael Corby - piano
  16. "California" – 4:00
  17. * John Waite - bass, lead vocals
  18. * Wally Stocker - acoustic guitars
  19. * Tony Brock - drums, percussion
  20. * Michael Corby- Hammond organ
  21. * Robb Lawrence - mandolin
  22. * John Sinclair - synthesizer
  23. * Bobbye Hall - percussion

    Personnel

Band