Beach Baby

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"Beach Baby"
Single by The First Class
B-side "Both Sides of the Story"
Released 3 May 1974
Format 7" 45rpm
Recorded 1974
Genre Power pop
Length 5:15
Label UK Records
Writer(s) John Carter and Gillian Shakespeare
The First Class singles chronology
"Beach Baby"
(1974)		 "Bobby Dazzler"
(1974)

"Beach Baby" is a song by the British band The First Class. The song, written by John Carter and his wife, Gillian (Jill) Shakespeare, became the band's only substantial hit.

Background

Carter and Shakespeare wrote "Beach Baby" in their home in East Sheen, South West London. Shortly after, Carter hired Tony Burrows and session singer Chas Mills to record the song as The First Class. Towards the end of the song, there are two instrumental quotations, both on the French Horn: the main theme from the last movement of Sibelius' Fifth Symphony and the tune of the title line from one of Carter's previous compositions "(Let's Go to San Francisco," a hit in 1967 for The Flower Pot Men). In the song, lead singer Burrows attempts to sing in an American accent, reflecting the song's setting in the U.S. state of California.

In 1974, the song became a hit in the UK (where it peaked at number 13),[1] and in the US, where it peaked at #4. In Canada, "Beach Baby" was a number-one hit.[2]

Although the band went on to release two studio albums and a multitude of singles, they were unable to recreate the success of "Beach Baby."

Chart performance

Covers

  • It was subsequently recorded in French by Sacha Distel under the title "Vite, Cherie, Vite".

References

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External links

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