Baby (Lloyd Cole song)

"Baby"
Single by Lloyd Cole
from the album Love Story
Released	29 April 1996[1]
Length	3:56
Label	Fontana
Songwriter(s)	Lloyd Cole
Producer(s)	Stephen Street Adam Peters Lloyd Cole
Lloyd Cole singles chronology
"Sentimental Fool" (1995) "Baby" (1996) "That Boy" (1998)

"Baby" is a song by English singer, songwriter and musician Lloyd Cole, released in 1996 as the third and final single from his fourth studio album Love Story. The song was written by Cole and produced by Stephen Street, Adam Peters and Cole. It peaked at number 99 in the UK Singles Chart and remains his last top 100 entry to date.

Background

Speaking of the song and its limited commercial success, Cole recalled in 2005, "I always thought that was one of the better songs [from Love Story] and when it didn't shake the world I guess I may have lowered my expectations, somewhat."[2] Two versions of the CD single featured a photograph of Cole and his son William on the front sleeve. Cole recalled of the photography session, "It was supposed to be for family use only. The record company were not supposed to use that shot."[2]

Critical reception

Upon its release as a single, Ken Banks of the Press and Journal felt it was a "stirring testament" that "Baby" "remains worth buying" despite being "one of the weaker tracks on Cole's new album". He added that the "quietly enchanting single must surely make its way into the charts even if other tracks on the album actually manage to outshine it".[3] Andrew Hirst of the Huddersfield Daily Examiner wrote, "If your baby won't sleep, a few bars of this lilting lullaby should help."[4]

Track listing

Cassette single (UK and Europe)[5]

1. "Baby" – 3:56
2. "Jennifer She Said" (Lloyd Cole and the Commotions) – 3:05

CD single (UK and Europe #1)[6]

1. "Baby" – 3:56
2. "The Steady Slowing Down of the Heart" – 3:26
3. "Baby" (Original Demo) – 3:54
4. "Live Lovers Do" (Stephen Street Mix) – 3:58

CD single (UK and Europe #2)[7]

1. "Baby" – 3:56
2. "My Bag" (Lloyd Cole and the Commotions) – 4:01
3. "Jennifer She Said" (Lloyd Cole and the Commotions) – 3:05
4. "From the Hip" (Lloyd Cole and the Commotions) – 3:54

CD single (Europe)[8]

1. "Baby" – 3:56
2. "Jennifer She Said" (Lloyd Cole and the Commotions) – 3:05

Personnel

Production

• Stephen Street – producer ("Baby", "Like Lovers Do")
• Adam Peters – producer ("Baby", "Baby" (Original Demo))
• Lloyd Cole – producer ("Baby", "The Steady Slowing Down of the Heart", "Baby" (Original Demo), "Like Lovers Do")
• Ian Stanley – producer ("Jennifer She Said", "My Bag", "From the Hip")
• Mick Glossop – mixing ("Baby", "The Steady Slowing Down of the Heart")

Charts

Chart (1996)	Peak position
UK Singles (OCC)[9]	99

References

1. Moss, Adam (23 April 1996). "Popbitz". Manchester Evening News. Manchester. p. 16. Retrieved 21 March 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
2. Cole, Lloyd (16 August 2005). "Who's the baby?". lloydcole.com. Retrieved 21 March 2023.
3. Banks, Ken (3 May 1996). "Beats: It's buy buy Baby...". The Press and Journal. Aberdeen. p. 16. Retrieved 21 March 2023 – via British Newspaper Archive.
4. Hirst, Andrew (15 May 1996). "Beyond the Beat: Sounds like it's time they gave up the struggle". Huddersfield Daily Examiner. Huddersfield. p. 9. Retrieved 21 March 2023 – via British Newspaper Archive.
5. Baby (UK and European cassette single sleeve). Lloyd Cole. Fontana Records. 1996. LLCMC3, 852 492-4.
6. Baby (UK and European CD#1 single sleeve). Lloyd Cole. Fontana Records. 1996. LCDD3, 856 481-2.
7. Baby (UK and European CD#2 single sleeve). Lloyd Cole. Fontana Records. 1996. LCCD2, 852161-2.
8. Baby (European CD single sleeve). Lloyd Cole. Fontana Records. 1996. 852 492-2.
9. "Lloyd Cole: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 21 March 2023.