Baby Love (Regina song)

Summary

"Baby Love" is a song by American singer Regina. The single hit number one on the dance charts for two weeks in mid-1986.[1] The single crossed over to the pop singles chart, where it peaked at number 10 on US Billboard Hot 100 and at number 30 on the Billboard Soul Singles chart. "Baby Love" would be her only single to chart on both the Pop and Soul Singles charts,[2] but several follow up singles charted on the dance chart.

"Baby Love"
Artwork for US 7-inch vinyl single
Single by Regina
from the album Curiosity
ReleasedMay 13, 1986
Genre
Length
  • 4:06 (7-inch)
  • 6:35 (12-inch)
LabelAtlantic
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Stephen Bray
Regina singles chronology
"Baby Love"
(1986)
"Beat of Love (Remix)"
(1986)

The song was written by Stephen Bray, Regina Richards and Mary Kessler. Bray had written several hits for Madonna, and "Baby Love" was actually intended for her to record. After she declined, Regina recorded the vocal herself in late 1985, though with Bray's production it sounded similar to Madonna's other recordings of the time and was sometimes mistaken for one.[3]

Although recorded the same year, the first released version of the song was by Dutch girl group The Star Sisters, who released it on their 1985 album Danger.

A music video for "Baby Love" featuring Regina was created on February 12, 1986 by West 78th Street Records in collaboration with Hugmynd and Saga Film to promote the single.[4]

Charts edit

Dannii Minogue version edit

"Baby Love"
 
Single by Dannii Minogue
from the album Love and Kisses
ReleasedOctober 7, 1991 (1991-10-07)[8]
Genre
Length
  • 4:42 (album version)
  • 3:46 (Silky 70's 7-inch edit)
  • 6:33 (12-inch version)
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Les Adams
  • Emma Freilich
  • Andy Whitmore
Dannii Minogue Australian singles chronology
"Jump to the Beat"
(1991)
"Baby Love"
(1991)
"Show You the Way to Go"
(1992)
Dannii Minogue European singles chronology
"Jump to the Beat"
(1991)
"Baby Love"
(1991)
"I Don't Wanna Take This Pain"
(1991)

"Baby Love" was covered by Australian singer Dannii Minogue for her debut album, Love and Kisses (1991). Minogue recorded her version for the European release of her album and its original pop mix can be found on the single released by MCA, Universal and Mushroom. The song was produced by Les Adams, Emma Freilich and Andy Whitmore. The remix by Steve 'Silk' Hurley was released in October 1991 as the fourth single. It reached the top 20 in Ireland and the United Kingdom, becoming Minogue's fourth top 20 single. In Australia, the song charted within the top 30. The remixes of the song done by Steve 'Silk' Hurly were successful in dance clubs and are credited with giving Minogue a new sound and image.

Critical reception edit

In an retrospective review, Matthew Hocter from Albumism noted that "with a clearer focus on that New Jack Swing sound" and the addition of some "heavy on house music" covers "Jump to the Beat" and "Baby Love", "the younger Minogue demonstrated that she had a very soulful approach to music."[9] John Lucas from AllMusic called the song "a genuinely credible early-'90s house music number".[10] Upon the release, Mark Frith from Smash Hits commented, "...this is Dannii's foray into the world of soul music. She obviously fancies herself as some sort of soul diva and she manages to pass herself off as one quite efficiently. As a result, Baby Love works quite well."[11]

Formats and track listings edit

  • CD single (Europe and Australia) (D11077)
  1. "Baby Love" (Silky 70's edit)
  2. "Baby Love" (Silky 70's 12-inch mix)
  3. "Baby Love" (Maurice's House remix)
  • Cassette single (C11077)
  1. "Baby Love" (Silky 70's edit)
  2. "Baby Love" (Maurice's House remix)
  • Vinyl single (X14345)
  1. "Baby Love" (Silky 70's edit)
  2. "Baby Love" (Maurice's House remix)
  3. "Baby Love" (Maurice's House Mo Dub 4 Ya mix)

Personnel edit

  • Dannii Minogue – lead vocals
  • Les Adams, Emma Freilich, Andy Whitmore – production
  • Steve 'Silk' Hurley – remix, additional production
  • Simon Fowler – photography

Charts edit

Chart performance for "Baby Love" by Dannii Minogue
Chart (1991) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[12] 26
Ireland (IRMA)[13] 18
Luxembourg (Radio Luxembourg)[14] 11
UK Singles (OCC)[15] 14
UK Dance (Music Week)[16] 10

References edit

  1. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Hot Dance/Disco: 1974-2003. Record Research. p. 216.
  2. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 489.
  3. ^ "Regina - Baby Love". last.fm.
  4. ^ REGINA - Baby Love (Official Music Video), retrieved 2021-11-30
  5. ^ "Top Singles – Volume 45, No. 2, October 4, 1986". RPM. RPM Music Publications Ltd. 1986-10-04. Retrieved 2013-05-24.
  6. ^ "Official Charts Company". officialcharts.com. Retrieved May 21, 2013.
  7. ^ "1986 The Year in Music & Video: Top Pop Singles". Billboard. Vol. 98, no. 52. December 27, 1986. p. Y-21.
  8. ^ "New Releases: Singles". Music Week. 5 October 1991. p. 25.
  9. ^ Hocter, Matthew (October 19, 2020). "Dannii Minogue's Debut Album 'Dannii' Turns 30: Anniversary Retrospective". Albumism. Retrieved November 17, 2020.
  10. ^ Lucas, John. "Dannii Minogue – Love and Kisses". AllMusic. Retrieved November 6, 2020.
  11. ^ Frith, Mark (September 18, 1991). "Review: Singles". Smash Hits. p. 41. Retrieved December 6, 2020.
  12. ^ "Dannii Minogue – Baby Love". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved August 14, 2022.
  13. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Baby Love". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved August 14, 2022.
  14. ^ Radio Luxembourg Singles, 20 October 1991
  15. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  16. ^ "Top 60 Dance Singles" (PDF). Music Week. October 19, 1991. p. 20. Retrieved September 28, 2020.