Isn't It Time (The Babys song) explained

Isn't it Time
Type:single
Artist:The Babys
Album:Broken Heart
B-Side:Give Me Your Love
Released:20 September 1977
Genre:
  • Rock
  • R&B
  • power pop[1]
Length:3:23 (single version)
4:03 (album version)
Label:Chrysalis
Producer:Ron Nevison
Prev Title:If You've Got the Time
Prev Year:1977
Next Title:Silver Dreams
Next Year:1978

"Isn't It Time" is a song that was performed by the English group The Babys in 1977 and was released on their album Broken Heart.

Background

"Isn't It Time" was not written by members of the group but by bass guitarist Jack Conrad along with Ray Kennedy. The recording by The Babys begins with piano performed by Michael Corby and moves into a vocal performance by John Waite.

The strong vocals of the three Babettes from Andraé Crouch & The Disciples, Lisa Freeman-Roberts, Myrna Matthews and Pat Henderson, balance the tone of the song which moves through the decisions a lover has to make "I just can't find the answers to the questions that keep going through my mind" and "losing this love could be your mistake." The lyrics were motivated by Ray Kennedy's love for a French woman whom he knew during the writing of the song.

The drum work of Tony Brock heralds the chorus featuring the Babettes and the guitar of Walt Stocker brings the song to a close with the Babettes chorus heard alternatively in the left and right channels "isn't it time", "don't have to wait" a result of the production work of Ron Nevison. The song peaked at position No. 13 on the Billboard Hot 100 but hit No. 8 on Cash Box's Top 100. It was a #1 hit in Australia in March 1978.

On 7 December 1977 a video of the Babys' "Isn't It Time" was aired on the ABC program American Bandstand.[2]

Chart performance

Weekly charts

Chart (1977–1978)Peak
position
Australia (Kent Music Report)1
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[3] 8
US Billboard Hot 100[4] 13
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[5] 49
US Cashbox Top 100[6] 8
US Record World 11

Year-end charts

Chart (1977)Position
Canada (RPM)[7] 125
US (Joel Whitburn's Pop Annual)[8] 102
Chart (1978)Position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[9] [10] 20
Belgium (Ultratop Flanders)[11] 79
Canada (RPM)[12] 154
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[13] 84
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[14] 60

Cover versions

External links

Notes and References

  1. Book: Eddy, Chuck. The Accidental Evolution of Rock 'n' Roll: A Misguided Tour Through Popular Music. The Power Ballad Revolution. 22 March 1997. Da Capo Press. 0-306-80741-6. 56.
  2. Web site: Isn't It Time by The Babys Songfacts. www.songfacts.com. 25 September 2016.
  3. Web site: Top Singles - Volume 28, No. 15 & 16, January 14 1978. www.collectionscanada.gc.ca. 25 September 2016.
  4. The Babys, HSI. Billboard. 30 October 2021. subscription.
  5. Book: Whitburn, Joel . Joel Whitburn . 1993 . Top Adult Contemporary: 1961–1993 . Record Research . 21.
  6. Web site: Archives files . cashboxmagazine.com . 25 September 2016 .
  7. Web site: Canada. Library and Archives. Image : RPM Weekly. . 25 September 2016. en. 17 July 2013.
  8. Book: Whitburn, Joel . 1999 . Pop Annual . Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin . Record Research Inc. . 0-89820-142-X.
  9. Web site: Kent Music Report No 236 – 1 January 1979 > National Top 100 Singles for 1978. Kent Music Report. Imgur.com. 8 January 2022.
  10. Web site: ARIA Charts: Special Occasion Charts - 1970 . Australian-charts.com . 25 September 2016 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20160602084720/http://australian-charts.com/forum.asp?todo=viewthread&id=35092 . 2 June 2016 .
  11. Web site: Jaaroverzichten 1978. Ultratop. 30 October 2021.
  12. Web site: Canada. Library and Archives. Image : RPM Weekly. . 25 September 2016. en. 17 July 2013.
  13. Web site: Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1978. Dutch Top 40. 30 October 2021.
  14. Web site: Jaaroverzichten – Single 1978. dutchcharts.nl. 30 October 2021.
  15. Charlotte News 4 September 1980 "Off the Record: Kennedy talented singer-songwriter" by Chris Jones p.7C