Jimmy Cross
Encyclopedia
Jimmy Cross was an American radio producer and singer who attained a minor Billboard Hot 100
hit with the novelty song "I Want My Baby Back" in 1965.
He was born in Dothan, Alabama
, and became the producer of the syndicated radio series Country Concert.
"I Want My Baby Back" was originally issued on the Tollie label and reached #92 on the Billboard Hot 100 in February 1965. The song is a parody of teenage death records of that period, particularly The Shangri-Las
hit "Leader of the Pack
". It has since become a cult classic as a result of frequent airplay on the Dr. Demento
show. The singer narrates a traffic crash initially similar to the one described in J. Frank Wilson
's "Last Kiss
", but is revealed to be another angle of the fatal crash at the climax of "Leader of the Pack"; the singer is the sole survivor, and his girlfriend was fatally dismembered by the impact ("Over there was my baby.. and over there was my baby.. and way over there was my baby"). After months of unabated grief, the distraught singer, in an apparent fit of insanity, decides that he is going to have his girl back "one way or another". With realistic sound effects, he unearths her grave
, crawls into her coffin
, and closes the lid for a muffled final chorus of "I Got My Baby Back." In 1977 British BBC radio
DJ Kenny Everett
named "I Want My Baby Back" #1 in the "Bottom 30" after a public vote, and it won the title of: "The World's Worst Record". It also was included on The Rhino Brothers Present the World's Worst Records
, a 1983 collection of poorly performed songs.
Cross went on to record "The Ballad of James Bong" (Tollie), "Hey Little Girl" (Red Bird) and "Super-Duper Man" (Red Bird). He also wrote a song for Françoise Hardy
titled "Pourtant tu m’aimes" in 1964. He died of a heart attack
at the age of 39 in Hollywood. He is buried at Forest Lawn, California
.
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
hit with the novelty song "I Want My Baby Back" in 1965.
He was born in Dothan, Alabama
Dothan, Alabama
Dothan is a city located in the southeastern corner of the US state of Alabama, situated approximately west of the Georgia state line and north of Florida. It is the seat of Houston County, with portions extending into nearby Dale County and Henry County...
, and became the producer of the syndicated radio series Country Concert.
"I Want My Baby Back" was originally issued on the Tollie label and reached #92 on the Billboard Hot 100 in February 1965. The song is a parody of teenage death records of that period, particularly The Shangri-Las
The Shangri-Las
The Shangri-Las were an American pop girl group of the 1960s. Between 1964 and 1966 they charted with often heartbreaking teen melodramas, and remain best known for "Leader of the Pack" and "Remember ".- Early career :...
hit "Leader of the Pack
Leader of the Pack
"Leader of the Pack" is a 1964 pop song recorded by girl group The Shangri-Las. It became number one on the Billboard Hot 100 on November 28, 1964.-Original Shangri-Las recording:...
". It has since become a cult classic as a result of frequent airplay on the Dr. Demento
Dr. Demento
Barret Eugene Hansen , better known as Dr. Demento, is a radio broadcaster and record collector specializing in novelty songs, comedy, and strange or unusual recordings dating from the early days of phonograph records to the present....
show. The singer narrates a traffic crash initially similar to the one described in J. Frank Wilson
J. Frank Wilson
J. Frank Wilson was an American singer, the lead vocalist of J. Frank Wilson and the Cavaliers.-Career:Wilson joined the Cavaliers after his discharge from Goodfellow Air Force Base in San Angelo, Texas in 1962....
's "Last Kiss
Last Kiss
"Last Kiss" is a song that was released by Wayne Cochran in 1961 on the Gala label. It was unsuccessful chartwise. Cochran subsequently re-recorded his song for the King label in 1963. The song was later revived by J...
", but is revealed to be another angle of the fatal crash at the climax of "Leader of the Pack"; the singer is the sole survivor, and his girlfriend was fatally dismembered by the impact ("Over there was my baby.. and over there was my baby.. and way over there was my baby"). After months of unabated grief, the distraught singer, in an apparent fit of insanity, decides that he is going to have his girl back "one way or another". With realistic sound effects, he unearths her grave
Grave (burial)
A grave is a location where a dead body is buried. Graves are usually located in special areas set aside for the purpose of burial, such as graveyards or cemeteries....
, crawls into her coffin
Coffin
A coffin is a funerary box used in the display and containment of dead people – either for burial or cremation.Contemporary North American English makes a distinction between "coffin", which is generally understood to denote a funerary box having six sides in plan view, and "casket", which...
, and closes the lid for a muffled final chorus of "I Got My Baby Back." In 1977 British BBC radio
BBC Radio
BBC Radio is a service of the British Broadcasting Corporation which has operated in the United Kingdom under the terms of a Royal Charter since 1927. For a history of BBC radio prior to 1927 see British Broadcasting Company...
DJ Kenny Everett
Kenny Everett
Kenny Everett was an English comedian, radio DJ and television entertainer. Born Maurice James Christopher Cole, Everett is best known for his career as a radio DJ and for the Kenny Everett television shows.-Early life:...
named "I Want My Baby Back" #1 in the "Bottom 30" after a public vote, and it won the title of: "The World's Worst Record". It also was included on The Rhino Brothers Present the World's Worst Records
The Rhino Brothers Present the World's Worst Records
The Rhino Brothers Present the World's Worst Records is a compilation album released by Rhino Records in 1983. It features mostly novelty songs, parodies and cover versions of popular songs, performed very poorly...
, a 1983 collection of poorly performed songs.
Cross went on to record "The Ballad of James Bong" (Tollie), "Hey Little Girl" (Red Bird) and "Super-Duper Man" (Red Bird). He also wrote a song for Françoise Hardy
Françoise Hardy
Françoise Madeleine Hardy is a French singer, actress and astrologer. Hardy is an iconic figure in fashion, music and style. She is married to the singer and movie actor Jacques Dutronc.-Biography:...
titled "Pourtant tu m’aimes" in 1964. He died of a heart attack
Myocardial infarction
Myocardial infarction or acute myocardial infarction , commonly known as a heart attack, results from the interruption of blood supply to a part of the heart, causing heart cells to die...
at the age of 39 in Hollywood. He is buried at Forest Lawn, California
Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Glendale
Forest Lawn Memorial Park is a privately owned cemetery in Glendale, California. It is the original location of Forest Lawn, a chain of cemeteries in Southern California. The land was formerly part of Providencia Ranch.-History:...
.