B-side "Solero" Genre R&B Label Qwest | Recorded 1981 Length 3:31 | |
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Released April 1982; October 1982 | ||
"Baby, Come to Me" is a classic love ballad written by Rod Temperton (formerly of Heatwave) and sung in duet by Patti Austin and James Ingram.
History
The original version, performed by Patti Austin and James Ingram (with Michael McDonald contributing background vocals), and produced by Quincy Jones, appears on Austin's 1981 album, Every Home Should Have One. When first released as a single, it charted on the Billboard Hot 100 for just 4 weeks from April 24 through May 15 - peaking at No. 73 on May 8th. It did, however, reach number 11 in the UK.
Later that year, it gained new exposure as the romantic theme song for Luke Spencer, a leading character on the ABC soap opera General Hospital. ABC received so many inquiries about the song that Warner Brothers decided to re-release "Baby, Come to Me" as a single in October. It then spent seven more months on the chart, reaching number one on the Hot 100 for two weeks, and also hit number one Adult Contemporary charts in early 1983.
Among artists who have covered the song are Alexander O'Neal and Cherrelle, the Captain and Tennille, Shirley Bassey, Dalida, Daryl Hall, Laura Fygi, and Stephanie Winslow.