Isn't it Time
Encyclopedia
"Isn't it Time" is a song that was performed by the English group The Babys
in 1977 and was released on their album Broken Heart
. It was not written by members of the group but by a bass guitarist Jack Conrad along with Ray Kennedy
and was presented to the public as a song with a distinctive piano introduction by Michael Corby
which moves into an opening vocal performance by lead singer John Waite
.
The strong vocals of the three Babettes, a specially selected group of singers, balance the tone of the song which moves through the decisions a lover has to make "I just can't find the answers to the questions that keep going through my mind" and "losing this love could be your mistake." The lyrics are motivated by Ray Kennedy's love for a French woman that he knew during the writing of the song. The lyrics alone would have a wide appeal and matched with well established musicianship the song still enjoys popularity and numerous recordings can be seen on YouTube
.
The drum work of Tony Brock
heralds the chorus featuring the Babettes and the slowhand guitar of Walt Stocker brings the song to a close with the Babettes chorus heard alternatively in the left and right channels "isn't it time", "don't have to wait" a result of the production work of Ron Nevison
. The song enjoyed a peak position of #13 on the Billboard Hot 100
as well as #9 on Cashbox and the number one position in Australia
in late March 1978.
Denise Sullivan's review in All Music Guide
reads as follows:
"Isn't It Time" starts out innocently enough but quickly explodes into a showcase for John Waite's underrated talents as a powerhouse vocalist; the song catapulted into the Top 40 in 1977. Straddling the lines that were drawn in the late '70s between hard rock, glam, power pop, and the burgeoning new wave, the Babys tackled it all, but "Isn't It Time" itself is big, old arena rock. Oddly, it is one of two songs on the band's sophomore effort, Broken Heart, which wasn't penned by a Baby. Beginning with a gentle vocal accompanied by a tinkling piano and strings, the song shifts abruptly into a big stage strutter, complete with female background vocals by the Babettes. The girls provide the "female" voice in the story of a guy who resists the temptation to fall in love, but, by the song's end, he's surrendered, with a little urging from her, of course. A descending horn line fills in for the road sign, "Caution, love approaching." Sure it's retro, but as a timepiece it wears well. The fashionably androgynous Babys and their love song-lite went over big with teenage girls, but throughout 1977, people of all stripes were no doubt falling in love to the tune of "Isn't It Time" as the Babys were a ubiquitous presence on the concert circuit.
The Babys
The Babys were a British rock/pop group best known for their songs "Isn't It Time," and "Every Time I Think of You." Both songs were composed by Jack Conrad and Ray Kennedy, and reached #13 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart in the late 1970s...
in 1977 and was released on their album Broken Heart
Broken Heart (album)
Broken Heart is The Babys second album. The album produced The Babys first big hit "Isn't it Time", which reached #13 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1977...
. It was not written by members of the group but by a bass guitarist Jack Conrad along with Ray Kennedy
Raymond Louis Kennedy
Raymond Louis Kennedy is a singer, songwriter, musician and record producer based in Los Angeles, California. His works span multiple genres including R&B, pop, rock, jazz, fusion, acid rock, country and many others...
and was presented to the public as a song with a distinctive piano introduction by Michael Corby
Michael Corby
Michael John Siddons-Corby aka Mike Corby was a guitarist and keyboard player with the 1970s and early 80s rock group The Babys....
which moves into an opening vocal performance by lead singer John Waite
John Waite
John Charles Waite is an English rock singer and musician. He was lead vocalist for The Babys and Bad English. As a solo artist, he scored several international hits, including 1984's "Missing You", a top ten hit on the US Billboard Hot 100 and the UK Singles Chart, reaching #1 in the...
.
The strong vocals of the three Babettes, a specially selected group of singers, balance the tone of the song which moves through the decisions a lover has to make "I just can't find the answers to the questions that keep going through my mind" and "losing this love could be your mistake." The lyrics are motivated by Ray Kennedy's love for a French woman that he knew during the writing of the song. The lyrics alone would have a wide appeal and matched with well established musicianship the song still enjoys popularity and numerous recordings can be seen on YouTube
YouTube
YouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
.
The drum work of Tony Brock
Tony Brock
Tony Brock was born in Poole, Dorset, England, on 31 March 1954.He was originally a drummer for Spontaneous Combustion. However was first widely known as a drummer and occasional vocalist for the English group The Babys...
heralds the chorus featuring the Babettes and the slowhand guitar of Walt Stocker brings the song to a close with the Babettes chorus heard alternatively in the left and right channels "isn't it time", "don't have to wait" a result of the production work of Ron Nevison
Ron Nevison
Multi-platinum record producer Ron Nevison, throughout his career, has operated much like a surgeon, brought in during a critical point in a band's career to bring them back to the top from the commercial brink...
. The song enjoyed a peak position of #13 on the Billboard Hot 100
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...
as well as #9 on Cashbox and the number one position in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
in late March 1978.
Denise Sullivan's review in All Music Guide
All Music Guide
Allmusic is a service of music guide, owned by All Media Guide. Allmusic was founded in 1991 by popular-culture archivist Michael Erlewine as a guide for consumers. Its first reference book was published the following year...
reads as follows:
"Isn't It Time" starts out innocently enough but quickly explodes into a showcase for John Waite's underrated talents as a powerhouse vocalist; the song catapulted into the Top 40 in 1977. Straddling the lines that were drawn in the late '70s between hard rock, glam, power pop, and the burgeoning new wave, the Babys tackled it all, but "Isn't It Time" itself is big, old arena rock. Oddly, it is one of two songs on the band's sophomore effort, Broken Heart, which wasn't penned by a Baby. Beginning with a gentle vocal accompanied by a tinkling piano and strings, the song shifts abruptly into a big stage strutter, complete with female background vocals by the Babettes. The girls provide the "female" voice in the story of a guy who resists the temptation to fall in love, but, by the song's end, he's surrendered, with a little urging from her, of course. A descending horn line fills in for the road sign, "Caution, love approaching." Sure it's retro, but as a timepiece it wears well. The fashionably androgynous Babys and their love song-lite went over big with teenage girls, but throughout 1977, people of all stripes were no doubt falling in love to the tune of "Isn't It Time" as the Babys were a ubiquitous presence on the concert circuit.