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The band that launched the career of John Waite, ‘70s rockers The Babys, has reformed (with some of their founding members) for their first new album in over 30 years. Original Babys Wally Stocker (lead guitar) and Tony Brock (drums) have joined with Joey Sykes (rhythm guitar, mandolin) and John Bisaha (lead vocals, bass) for I’ll Have Some of That!. The album, released over the summer of 2014 via Skyrocket Ent./All In Time Records, is a sturdy collection of 12 songs.
The mid-tempo “I See You There” is credited to Sykes, with the rest of the songwriting credits shared by the band. Album opener “Every Side of You” kicks up some dust, a bluesy rocker that announces the band is ready to have some fun. The album is at its best during the faster, party-ready rockers. Among these are the title track, “You Saved My Life,” and “Sunrise & Goodbyes.” The hooks are never quite as catchy as they probably should be, but the playing is tight and the Tony Brock’s production is pleasingly unfussy.
Are The Babys worth checking out without John Waite? Drummer Brock certainly believes so. “John Bisaha is an incredible singer. When we held auditions, we had singers lined up around the block to join the band and John was head and shoulders above the rest,” Brock enthuses in the press materials. Of course, without the ability to hear what the competition sounded like, that’s somewhat dubious praise. Even so, Bisaha does sound consistently strong throughout the record, if not as distinctly memorable as Waite.
According to the press materials, all the former Babys (including Waite) have given their stamp of approval to the newest incarnation of the band. According to lead axeman Stocker, “The whole premise is to keep The Babys alive and have a good time doing it.” By keeping the ambition level relatively low, the band has achieved their goal in spades with I’ll Have Some of That!.
Keep track of The Babys on their official website.
The mid-tempo “I See You There” is credited to Sykes, with the rest of the songwriting credits shared by the band. Album opener “Every Side of You” kicks up some dust, a bluesy rocker that announces the band is ready to have some fun. The album is at its best during the faster, party-ready rockers. Among these are the title track, “You Saved My Life,” and “Sunrise & Goodbyes.” The hooks are never quite as catchy as they probably should be, but the playing is tight and the Tony Brock’s production is pleasingly unfussy.
Are The Babys worth checking out without John Waite? Drummer Brock certainly believes so. “John Bisaha is an incredible singer. When we held auditions, we had singers lined up around the block to join the band and John was head and shoulders above the rest,” Brock enthuses in the press materials. Of course, without the ability to hear what the competition sounded like, that’s somewhat dubious praise. Even so, Bisaha does sound consistently strong throughout the record, if not as distinctly memorable as Waite.
According to the press materials, all the former Babys (including Waite) have given their stamp of approval to the newest incarnation of the band. According to lead axeman Stocker, “The whole premise is to keep The Babys alive and have a good time doing it.” By keeping the ambition level relatively low, the band has achieved their goal in spades with I’ll Have Some of That!.
Keep track of The Babys on their official website.
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