Baby Hold On by Eddie Money

Album: Eddie Money (1977)

Charted: 11

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Songfacts®:

This was the first single for Eddie Money, who was a New York City cop before pursuing his music career. Money (real name: Edward Mahoney) wrote the song with his guitarist, Jimmy Lyon. It's simply about a couple struggling to hold on to their love during difficult times. >>
Suggestion credit:
Mike - Santa Barbara, CA
Money's first two hits were inspired by the same girl: his girlfriend in college when he attended the University of California, Berkeley. She was a sorority girl and he was a working-class musician. An obstacle in their relationship was her mother, who wanted her to dump Eddie and find a more suitable guy on a sensible career path. "Baby Hold On" is his plea asking her to stick with him. Money's next single, "Two Tickets To Paradise," is his dream of taking her upstate to see the redwoods.
This is a rare hit with a cold vocal ending, which kept disc jockeys on alert. At the end of the song, Money exclaims, "Hold On" and the song ends.
Money's big break came when he got the attention of the concert promoter Bill Graham, who became his manager. Graham had a deal with Columbia Records and got Money signed to the label. Graham also had lots of connections and was able to get Money on tour with The Rolling Stones and on Saturday Night Live, where he performed "Baby Hold On."

The album went on to sell over 2 million copies, justifying Money's stage name (his real name is Eddie Mahoney).
Money was an addict waiting to happen, and when he hit it big thanks to this song and the accompanying album, he used the proceeds to buy more potent drugs. In 1980, he almost killed himself when he took what he thought was cocaine but was actually fentanyl - the stuff that killed Prince. He did tremendous damage to his kidneys and to his left leg, leaving him with an arduous recovery that took over a year. Even then, he didn't kick the drug habit - he went to rehab a few years later.

When the overdose happened, Money's publicist told the press it was a motorcycle accident that sidelines his client. In subsequent interviews, Money vaguely referred to it as "my accident" before finally coming clean.

Comments: 7

Barry from Sauquoit, NyPer: www.https://variety.com
Eddie Money, the prolific singer and songwriter whose songs “Baby Hold On,” “Two Tickets to Paradise,” “Shakin'” and “Take Me Home Tonight” sound tracked popular music in the 1980s, died Friday (September 13th, 2019). He was 70...
Between 1978 and 1992 the New York City native had twenty three records on the Top 100 chart, two* made the Top 10, "Take Me Home Tonight" {#4 for 1 week in 1986} and "Walk On Walk" {#9 for 1 week in 1988}...
May he R.I.P.
* He just missed having two more Top 10 records when two of his records peaked at #11, "Baby Hold On" in 1978 and "Peace In Our Time" in 1990...
Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn April 22nd 1978, Eddie Money performed "Baby Hold On" on the ABC-TV program 'American Bandstand"...
On the day of his appearance on 'Bandstand' the song was at position #33; the next day the new chart ratings were released and it had jumped to #30...
(See next post below for more info).
Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn February 19th 1978, "Baby Hold On" by Eddie Money entered Billboard's Hot Top 100 at position #84; and on June 4th it peaked at #11 (for 1 week) and spent 20 weeks on the Top 100...
It reached #4 on the Canadian RPM Top Singles chart...
Between 1978 and 1992 he had twenty-three Top 100 records; with two making the Top 10, "Take Me Home Tonight" (#4 in 1986) and "Walk On Water" (#9 in 1988)...
Mr. Money, born Edward Joseph Mahoney, will become eligible for Medicare in little over one month, for he turns 65 years old on March 21st (2014).
Evil from New York, NyI always thought I could hear Paul Stanley of KISS singing backup in this song. I've never heard or read this to be true, but I've convinced myself it IS him and couldn't be credited because of legal issues.
Jorge from Bronx, NyWow from being a New York Finest to a great singer,loved all his stuff!
Deethewriter from Saint Petersburg, Russia FederationEddie Money told RAW RAWK RU NEWS 2011-10-28 that over the years he's found out what a cross-section of fans he actually appeals to: "I didn't play 'Baby Hold On' in a show [for The 17-date trek 2011 Jingle Bell Rock Tour]. After the show, I ran into this guy backstage with a cop car. He was standing next to the cop car -- kid got caught doing donuts in the parking lot. He had gone in his pants, he had cigarette butts in his hair, and he said, 'Eddie, I drove 100 miles to see you, and I got a D.U.I. You didn't play 'Baby Hold On'!' I said, 'Oh my God.' I went back out there, played 'Baby Hold On,' gave him some cigarette money for jail, and he said, 'Thanks, Eddie! I almost got through high school listening to you!' There's blue-collar fans, white-collar fans, and then some of the fans are, like, Eddie Money tank-top fans, but we have a good time out there."
Barry from Sauquoit, NyIn 1970 the Grass Roots released a completely different record titled "Baby Hold On", it peaked at #35!!!

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