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| BILLIE DAVIS-I Want You To Be My Baby/Suffer U.S. London 45-20041 1968 |
My first introduction to Billie Davis came via this track on my very first Kent records soul compilation album "Rhythm And Blue Eyed Soul" back in 1989.
Penned by the mighty Jon Hendricks " I Want You To Be My Baby" was produced by former Ready! Steady! Go! host Michael Aldred and arranged by Mike Vickers. "I Want You To Be My Baby" was first released in 1953 by Louis Jordan and His Tympany Five! In April 1967 it was issued by Ellie Greenwich in an almost rudimentary and raw form which was no doubt the inspiration for this version which was first issued in the U.K. as Decca F 12823 in August of 1968. Our specimen here was released a month later. It was a minor hit in the U.K. reaching #33 but sadly would be her last chart recording.
"I Want You To Be My Baby" is a 100 mph high octane track built on the incredibly slick orchestration and production and carried the shoulders of both the backing vocalists delivering the responses to Billie's calls and Billie's almost husky delivery.
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| Looking moody and moddy on the German picture sleeve. |
The flip side "Suffer" starts out with some cool soulful brass and despite it's almost Northern soul feel it's a dreadful tune which ruins any dance floor opportunities by having constant tempo shifts. Next!!
Both tracks are available on the 2005 comprehensive CD collection "Tell Him (The Decca Years)" and on streaming services.
Watch "I Want You To Be My Baby" on German TV's Beat Club:
Hear "Suffer":
