Baby (band)

Baby was an American southern rock band from Texas, from 1970[1] to 1977. The band created its own company Baby Enterprises, Inc., based in Amarillo, Texas, to take care of the range of interests a musical group has. One of its branches was Lone Starr Records to which Baby signed itself in the mid-1970s. Baby had a legion of fans in the Midwest and South in 1975-76 and headlined venues like the famed Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake, Iowa while generating regional radio airplay on the band's first single, (It's Another) Saturday Night.[2]

Recording history

The band's 1974 self-titled album Baby[3][4] got the attention of the executives at Mercury Records based on their regional album sales in Texas. The album was remixed and re-released in mid-1975 on Mercury and thereby derived a national distribution network. The follow-up album was called Where Did All The Money Go? which got released on Chelsea Records in 1976.[5] The album's title summed up the feelings for the band that seemed poised for success similar to what other southern rock artists like Lynyrd Skynyrd and the One of its branches Marshall Tucker Band were having in the mid-70s, but the success never came for them. After low sales of Where Did All The Money Go? and a lawsuit with John Waite and The Babys over the rights of the name "Baby(s)", the band quit.[6]

Post-Baby careers

Guitarist, songwriter and vocalist Johnny Lee Schell went on to play on the Grammy winning album Nick Of Time from Bonnie Raitt in 1989. He has played with some of the world's biggest names and continues to produce, write and contribute to many blues-based artists as well as his own solo projects. Schell's guitar work appeared on Barbara Blue's latest blues album, Memphis 3rd And Beale.

Late in 2008, bassist/vocalist Stephen Crane and keyboardist Charlie Rouzer, founding members of Baby in the early 1970s, reunited to form Texas Blues Runners, a four-piece blues band based in Austin, Texas.

Band members
  • Johnny Lee Schell: Lead Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, Organ, Harmonica & Vocals, Official Hottie
  • John Mark Camp: Rhythm Guitars, Acoustic Guitars & Vocals
  • Stephen G. Crane: Bass Guitar and Vocals
  • Woodie Putman: Drums and Percussion[Notes 1]
    • James Ervan Parker went on tour with them as opening act, was also a background member playing guitar on tour and writing songs for them.

Discography

Albums
  • 1974: Baby (Lone Starr Records)
  • 1975: Baby (Remixed and re-released nationally on Mercury Records)
  • 1976: Where Did All The Money Go? (Chelsea Records)

Singles
  • 1975: (It's Another) Saturday Night (Lone Starr Records)
  • 1975: Long-Legged Woman (Lone Starr Records)
  • 1976: Where Did All The Money Go? (Chelsea Records)
  • 1977: Fallen Angel (Chelsea Records)

Notes
  1. A.k.a. Woodrow V. Putman

References
  1. Conley, Jim (January 12, 1975). "Verdict on Baby: Pure, Tightly Played Rock and Roll". Abilene Reporter-News. Abilene, TX. p. 4-B. The group's five years of togetherness shines through [on "Baby"].
  2. Discography on Discogs
  3. "Billboard's Recommended LPs". Billboard. December 14, 1974. p. 64. Texas band has a nicely balanced first effort including a taste of many kinds of music. At times they sound like other groups including Poco, Loggins & Messina and Grand Funk, but they still retain their own sound. Basically a good straight set. Best cuts: "Saturday Night," "Somewhere," "Born And Raised On Rock and Roll."
  4. "'Baby' Sets Concert". The Lawton Constitution. Lawton, OK. May 23, 1975. p. 9C. "Baby" starts its summer tour following the release of their record, [Baby]. Their first single, "So Long, My Friend," has risen rapidly on the charts.
  5. "Ask Adam". Amarillo Globe Times. Amarillo, TX. November 9, 1976. p. 2. The musical rock group "Baby" has been in existence for seven years and is composed largely of former Tascosa High School Students... Members include: John Mark Camp...plays rhythm guitar and sings...Woodie Putman...plays drums and percussion...Stephen G. Crane...plays bass guitar and sings...Johnny Lee Schell...lead guitar and vocalist. ... "Baby" has recorded three albums, the latest of which "Where Did All the Money Go?," was released this month and is under the [Chelsea] label.
  6. information obtained from band member John Mark Camp in 2005.
  • This concert poster shows the 1970 incarnation of Baby. John Mark Camp and Woodie Putman were background members of Euphoria at that time.
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