Artist Biography by Stephen Thomas Erlewine
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As a solo artist and as the lead singer of the Babys and Bad English, John Waite was a fixture of album-oriented rock radio stations during the '70s and '80s. Waite had a talent for power ballads and driving arena rock, occasionally touching on new wave-styled power pop as well. Though he didn't consistently have hits, several of his songs -- including 'Missing You,' the Babys' 'Isn't It Time,' and Bad English's 'When I See You Smile' -- became radio staples.
John Waite formed the Babys in London, England in 1976 with Wally Stocker (guitar), Mike Corby (vocals, keyboards), and Tony Brock (drums). Initially conceived as a teen pop band, the Babys earned a record contract based on the strength of a video demo they constructed with producer Mike Mansfield. Chrysalis pushed the band heavily, resulting in 'Isn't It Time' becoming a hit in the U.S. and U.K. in 1977. As their career progressed, the Babys began to experiment with synthesized, new wave-inspired power pop, which resulted in a handful of minor hits. Jonathan Cain became the band's keyboardist in 1978, and he and Waite developed a close relationship. When Cain left the Babys to join Journey in 1981, the group disbanded.
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Buy tickets for John Waite concerts near you. See all upcoming 2020-21 tour dates, support acts, reviews and venue info. John Waite Essentially. Head Above the Waves by The Babys, A Piece of the Action by The Babys, Broken Heart by The. Well this is an odd collection. On the surface, the idea of a 20-song Essential John Waite album spanning his time in The Babys as well as his solo career is quite appealing. Unfortunately this 1992 collection doesn’t.