Babe Ruth (band)
Encyclopedia
Babe Ruth are a rock music
group, primarily active through the 1970s, from Hatfield, Hertfordshire
, England
. Their characteristically 'heavy' sound is marked by powerful vocals from Janita (Jenny) Haan and full arrangements by Alan Shacklock
. They are acknowledged as having more commercial success in North America than in their home country.
, went gold in Canada. In 1973, Ed Spevock replaced Powell and Chris Holmes replaced Punshon on the second album. In 1975, Steve Gurl, keyboardist from Glenn Cornick
's Wild Turkey replaced Holmes for the third album. The same year, Shacklock left the band to become a record producer and Bernie Marsden
(Wild Turkey) joined the team for the fourth album. After this, Haan and Hewitt left.
Though no original member remained, the group incorporated Ellie Hope and Ray Knott for the fifth album in 1976. Shortly before Babe Ruth disbanded, they were joined by the young 17 year old Birmingham
born Simon Lambeth who made a few appearances on their last tour. Marsden moved on to join Whitesnake
and Lambeth left the band.
A disco cover of Babe Ruth's "The Mexican" appeared in the late 1970s, performed by the Bombers. This version inspired an electro/freestyle cover produced by Jellybean Benitez in 1984, for which he managed to recruit Haan on vocals - the cover subsequently becoming noted for its popularity as an underground dance hit.
Between late 2005 and early 2006, Haan (now Janita Haan Morris), Shacklock, Punshon, and Hewitt reunited to record new material together in Nashville
, with Spevock recording his drums in London
. The album, titled Que Pasa, was completed September 2006, and after being made available in digital form via the band's official web site, was released on Revolver Records in 2009.
The band embarked on a successful reunion tour of Canada in July 2010, playing three concerts at Ottawa Bluesfest
, Metropolis
Montreal
, and Festival International Du Blues De Tremblant.
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
group, primarily active through the 1970s, from Hatfield, Hertfordshire
Hatfield, Hertfordshire
Hatfield is a town and civil parish in Hertfordshire, England in the borough of Welwyn Hatfield. It has a population of 29,616, and is of Saxon origin. Hatfield House, the home of the Marquess of Salisbury, is the nucleus of the old town...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. Their characteristically 'heavy' sound is marked by powerful vocals from Janita (Jenny) Haan and full arrangements by Alan Shacklock
Alan Shacklock
Alan Shacklock is an English musician, composer, arranger and recording producer who currently lives and works in Nashville, Tennessee...
. They are acknowledged as having more commercial success in North America than in their home country.
Career
When the group was first formed in 1970, they were called Shacklock after their guitarist Alan Shacklock. Members included Janita Haan and Dave Hewitt, with Dave Punshon and Dick Powell later joining. The first release was their single "Wells Fargo"; their first album, First BaseFirst Base (album)
First Base was the album by the rock music group Babe Ruth. Produced by Alan Shacklock and Nick Mobbs, released in 1972.The album went gold in Canada, sold well in the US, but had disappointing sales by comparison in the UK. The song "The Mexican" has been covered and mixed many times...
, went gold in Canada. In 1973, Ed Spevock replaced Powell and Chris Holmes replaced Punshon on the second album. In 1975, Steve Gurl, keyboardist from Glenn Cornick
Glenn Cornick
Glenn Douglas Barnard Cornick was the bespectacled, first bass guitar player in the progressive rock band, Jethro Tull....
's Wild Turkey replaced Holmes for the third album. The same year, Shacklock left the band to become a record producer and Bernie Marsden
Bernie Marsden
-External links:*...
(Wild Turkey) joined the team for the fourth album. After this, Haan and Hewitt left.
Though no original member remained, the group incorporated Ellie Hope and Ray Knott for the fifth album in 1976. Shortly before Babe Ruth disbanded, they were joined by the young 17 year old Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
born Simon Lambeth who made a few appearances on their last tour. Marsden moved on to join Whitesnake
Whitesnake
Whitesnake are an English rock band, founded in 1978 by David Coverdale after his departure from his previous band, Deep Purple. The band's early material has been compared by critics to Deep Purple, but by the mid 1980s they had moved to a more commercial hard rock style...
and Lambeth left the band.
A disco cover of Babe Ruth's "The Mexican" appeared in the late 1970s, performed by the Bombers. This version inspired an electro/freestyle cover produced by Jellybean Benitez in 1984, for which he managed to recruit Haan on vocals - the cover subsequently becoming noted for its popularity as an underground dance hit.
Between late 2005 and early 2006, Haan (now Janita Haan Morris), Shacklock, Punshon, and Hewitt reunited to record new material together in Nashville
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
, with Spevock recording his drums in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. The album, titled Que Pasa, was completed September 2006, and after being made available in digital form via the band's official web site, was released on Revolver Records in 2009.
The band embarked on a successful reunion tour of Canada in July 2010, playing three concerts at Ottawa Bluesfest
Ottawa Bluesfest
The Cisco Ottawa Bluesfest is an annual outdoor music festival that takes place each July in downtown Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. While ostensibly focused on blues, the festival has increasingly showcased mainstream pop and rock acts in recent years...
, Metropolis
Metropolis
A metropolis is a very large city or urban area which is a significant economic, political and cultural center for a country or region, and an important hub for regional or international connections and communications...
Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
, and Festival International Du Blues De Tremblant.
Members
- Jenny (Janita) Haan: vocals, 1971–1975 (born Janita Haan, 9 May 1953, EdgwareEdgwareEdgware is an area in London, situated north-northwest of Charing Cross. It forms part of both the London Borough of Barnet and the London Borough of Harrow. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London....
, MiddlesexMiddlesexMiddlesex is one of the historic counties of England and the second smallest by area. The low-lying county contained the wealthy and politically independent City of London on its southern boundary and was dominated by it from a very early time...
) - Dave Hewitt: bass and vocals, 1971–1975 (born David Hewitt, 4 May 1950, DewsburyDewsburyDewsbury is a minster town in the Metropolitan Borough of Kirklees, in West Yorkshire, England. It is to the west of Wakefield, east of Huddersfield and south of Leeds...
, West YorkshireWest YorkshireWest Yorkshire is a metropolitan county within the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England with a population of 2.2 million. West Yorkshire came into existence as a metropolitan county in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972....
) - Dick Powell: drums and percussion, 1971–1973
- Dave Punshon: electric piano and piano, 1971–1975
- Alan Shacklock: guitars, vocals, organ, percussions, and string arrangements, 1971–1975 (born 20 June 1950, LondonLondonLondon is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
)
Other members
- Jeff AllenJeff AllenJeff Allen is an English rock and blues session drummer. Allen is best known for his work with East of Eden, Babe Ruth, Snowy White, Bonnie Tyler, Mick Taylor and Van Morrison....
: drums, 1971 (born Jeffrey Allen, 23 April 1946, Matlock, DerbyshireDerbyshireDerbyshire is a county in the East Midlands of England. A substantial portion of the Peak District National Park lies within Derbyshire. The northern part of Derbyshire overlaps with the Pennines, a famous chain of hills and mountains. The county contains within its boundary of approx...
). - Ed Spevock: drums, 1973-1976 (born Edmund Spevock, 14 December 1946, LondonLondonLondon is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
) - Chris HolmesChris HolmesChris Holmes may refer to:* Chris Holmes , US musician and member of the band W.A.S.P.* Chris Holmes , British Paralympian* Chris Holmes, American musician and producer who toured with The Smashing Pumpkins...
: keyboards, 1973 (born Christopher Noel Holmes, 12 September 1945, CleethorpesCleethorpesCleethorpes is a town and unparished area in North East Lincolnshire, England, situated on the estuary of the Humber. It has a population of 31,853 and is a seaside resort.- History :...
, LincolnshireLincolnshireLincolnshire is a county in the east of England. It borders Norfolk to the south east, Cambridgeshire to the south, Rutland to the south west, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire to the west, South Yorkshire to the north west, and the East Riding of Yorkshire to the north. It also borders...
, also TimeboxTimebox (band)Timebox, formed in October 1965, in Southport, Lancashire, was a 1960s psychedelic pop band, that developed from a complicated ancestry.-Career:...
) - Steve Gurl: keyboards, 1975–1976
- Bernie MarsdenBernie Marsden-External links:*...
: guitars, 1975–1976 (born Bernard John Marsden, 7 May 1951, BuckinghamBuckinghamBuckingham is a town situated in north Buckinghamshire, England, close to the borders of Northamptonshire and Oxfordshire. The town has a population of 11,572 ,...
, BuckinghamshireBuckinghamshireBuckinghamshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan home county in South East England. The county town is Aylesbury, the largest town in the ceremonial county is Milton Keynes and largest town in the non-metropolitan county is High Wycombe....
) - Ellie Hope: vocals, 1976
- Ray Knott: bass, 1976
- Simon Lambeth: guitars and backing vocals, 1976
Albums
- First BaseFirst Base (album)First Base was the album by the rock music group Babe Ruth. Produced by Alan Shacklock and Nick Mobbs, released in 1972.The album went gold in Canada, sold well in the US, but had disappointing sales by comparison in the UK. The song "The Mexican" has been covered and mixed many times...
, 1973, Harvest SW-11151. U.S. #178 - Amar Caballero, 1973, Harvest SHVL 812. U.S. #75
- Babe Ruth, 1975 LP Harvest 11367, 1993 CD One Way 56845. U.S. #169
- Stealin' Home, 1975
- Kid's Stuff, 1976
- Qué Pasa, 2007 (download from BabeRuthBand.com and CD release in early 2009 on Revolver Records)
Singles
- "Wells Fargo" / "A Few Dollars", 1972, Harvest HAR 5061
- "Ain't That Livin'" / "We Are Holding On", 1973, Harvest HAR 5072
- "If Heaven's On Beauty's Side" / "Doctor Love", 1974, Harvest HAR 5082
- "Wells Fargo" / "The MexicanThe Mexican (song)"The Mexican" is a piece of music on the album First Base by the 1970s British band Babe Ruth.The song is based on the whistling from the music soundtrack by Ennio Morricone for the film For a Few Dollars More...
", 1974, Harvest HAR 5087 - "Private Number" / "Somebody's Nobody", 1975, Harvest HAR 5090
- "Elusive" / "Say No More" (Spevock / Gurl), 1976, Capitol CL-15869
- "The Duchess of New Orleans" / "The Jack O'Lantern" / "Turquoise", 1976, Harvest SPSR 377
Compilation albums
- Greatest Hits, 1977
- Grand Slam: The Best of Babe Ruth, 1994
- First Base / Amar Caballero, 1998, BGO CD 382. Two albums remastered with a comprehensive article about the band and photos.
- Babe Ruth / Stealin' Home, 2000, BGO CD 452. Two albums, remastered with a comprehensive article about the band and photos.
Bootleg
- A CD of a live recording from the BBC, 1975 program called "The Archive Session" introduced by Alan "Fluff" Freeman. Tracklisting:
- "Intro"
- "Joker"
- "Black Dog"
- "King Kong"
- "Amar Cabellero Pt. 2"
- "Isn't That So"
- "Gimme Som Leg"
- "Baby Pride"
- "Outro"