Here Comes My Baby

Album: Here Comes My Baby (1967)
Charted: 4 13
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Songfacts®:

  • This was written in swinging London in 1966 by Cat Stevens. It was almost released as Cat's first single, but "I Love My Dog" was thought to be stronger. After "I Love My Dog's" success, "Here Comes My Baby" was shelved for several months. The Tremeloes picked it up and it became their breakthrough hit in America and their first hit in the UK since their lead singer Brian Poole left them. The song's success helped establish Cat Stevens as a songwriter and he included it on his first album Matthew And Son.
  • The Tremeloes' version leaves out the final verse from Cat Stevens' original.
  • Steven's jazzy original was more laid back than The Tremeloes infectiously upbeat, goodtime jamboree feel that they bought to their version. However, all the general jollity disguised the fact it was actually quite a sad breakup song.
  • Often when performing this live, The Tremeloes inserted the phrase "Parrot-face", when they sang the line, "I try to call you names."
  • The Tremeloes had been a back up band for Brian Poole and when they split in 1966 after 8 UK hits, they looked to be another backing band set for oblivion. They bought in the good-looking Len "Chip" Hawkes as their bassist and lead singer and their career took off. They added a further 13 UK hits, of which this was the first and also one of several in America. Brian Poole however had little solo success and he eventually went to work in his family's butcher shop.
  • Len "Chip" Hawkes son is Chesney Hawkes who recorded the UK #1 hit "The One And Only" in 1991.
  • The Mavericks covered this in 1999.
  • The song is featured in the film Rushmore. >>
    Suggestion credit:
    Edward Pearce - Ashford, Kent, England, for all above

Comments: 6

  • Canuckteacher from OntarioMust also add: know why we all love this song? It has 'more Cowbell'!
  • Canuckteacher from OntarioI love the energy in this song--sounds like it was recorded live in a highschool gym. Does anyone know WHERE it was recorded? Tnx.
    Fun fact: RCA (?) signed the Tremeloes to a contract, declining the 2nd place runner-up after auditions. Know who? (the Beatles).
  • Pismotality from London"Parrotface" is an allusion to the English comedian Freddie "Parrotface" Davies, who shot to fame in Britain after an appearance on TV talent show Opportunity Knocks in 1964; I'm not sure whether they worked together but would have been on the same cabaret circuits. The distinctive rasping lisp of Freddie's character Samuel Tweet was much imitated by schoolchildren and others in the 1960s; in his autobiography Funny Bones (Scratching Shed, 2014) Freddie says that at a party to celebrate the end of Cilla Black's TV series Paul McCartney told him he often adopted Freddie's voice in rehearsals.
  • Jack from TorontoThe Tremeloes 1967 version of "Here Comes My Baby" is my favourite song in the whole world, I love its vibe.
  • Natalie from LondonThis song is published by Angusa Music Ltd. in a number of European countries.
  • Farrah from Elon, NcI didn't know that Cat Stevens wrote this groovy song!!! It's one of my all-time favorites.
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