Player – Baby Come Back

“Baby Come Back” is a song by the British-American rock band Player. It was released in late 1977 as the lead single from their 1977 self-titled debut album, and was the breakthrough single for the band, gaining them mainstream success, hitting number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number ten on the R&B charts in 1978.

The apotheosis of “I made a terrible mistake and now I want you back” songs, “Baby Come Back” was rooted in real heartbreak. It was written by Player founders Peter Beckett and J. C. Crowley. Beckett is from Liverpool, England (home of The Beatles), but moved to Los Angeles to join a band called Skyband, which broke up after one album. By the time he formed Player with Crowley, his wife had left him and returned to England. Crowley was also going through a breakup, so channeled their feeling into the song. Beckett sang lead on the track.

“Baby Come Back” earned Player a record deal. After Peter Beckett and J. C. Crowley, who were both singer-guitarists, wrote the song, they added bass player Ronn Moss and pitched it to producers. The production team of Dennis Lambert and Brian Potter heard its hit potential straight away and took it to RSO Records, which signed the band. Adding drummer John Friesen to the lineup, they recorded their debut album before they ever played live together. “Baby Come Back,” released as the first single, was a huge hit, going to #1 in January 1978 and staying for three weeks.

Player is almost exclusively known for this song, but their follow-up single, “This Time I’m in It for Love,” made a respectable showing, going to #10 in America. The group had a few more minor hits before breaking up in 1982. After the demise of Player, Beckett joined Australia’s Little River Band, who included “Baby Got Back” on a live album. Beckett also wrote “Twist Of Fate” for Olivia Newton-John and “After All This Time” for Kenny Rogers.

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Player - Baby Come Back03:53

Player members

• Peter Beckett – lead and backing vocals, electric guitar
• J.C. Crowley – acoustic piano, Wurlitzer electric piano, backing vocals
• Ronn Moss – bass guitar, backing vocals
• John Friesen – drums, congas
• Wayne Cook – Fender Rhodes electric piano, minimoog, ARP String Ensemble, clavinet, Hammond organ

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