Cover submission
Baby, Baby by The Clarendonians
Submitted by
On June 25, 2019
Performance

Baby, Baby
Cover of

Written by Lamont Dozier, Brian Holland, Eddie Holland
Completeness
Processed by

On September 9, 2022
Created performance
Created release
- Language
- English
- Release
- Baby, Baby / Bye, Bye, Bye
Baby, Baby / Bye, Bye, Bye
- Release date
- 1968
- Label
- Caltone
- Catalog number
- Tone 114
- Format
- Single 7"
Additional comments and sources
History
I agree there are similar chords, and also lyrical references, but what makes you think this can be labelled a cover and not just "inspired by"?
On Wikipedia article about the song "Where Did Our Love Go" this song "Baby, Baby" by The Clarendonians is added to the section Cover versions with the according text:
- In 1968, this song was covered by The Clarendonians, titled "Baby Baby". The Clarendonians were a ska and rocksteady vocal group from Jamaica, active from the mid to late 1960s.
Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Where_Did_Our_Love_Go
At Discogs "Baby, Baby" is marked to written by The Clarendonians:
Discogs: https://www.discogs.com/composition/98ae9876-cc7c-484c-970d-3085b7037519-Baby-Ba…
At AllMusic "Baby Baby" (3:07) and "Baby Baby (I Can't Help Myself)" (3:08) are marked confusingly to be written either by Brian Holland or by Lamont Dozier / Brian Holland or by The Clarendonians:
AllMusic: https://www.allmusic.com/search/all/The%20Clarendonians%20-%20Baby%20Baby
At AllMusic song review about The Clarendonians' "Baby Baby" song Jo-Ann Greene writes:
"The entire Jamaican music scene was deeply indebted to the American R&B scene, with the Stax stable particularly admired. Motown, too, had its fans, and its catalogue, too, was well plundered. With men predominating on the island scene, though, The Supremes's canon mostly escaped unscathed, with some notable exceptions.
In 1967, for example, The Clarendonians adapted the trio's chart topping 1964 smash, "Where Did Our Love Go", for their "Baby Baby". The duo remove the song from popsville, rejigging the lyrics slightly along the way, and take it into a purer R&B realm. Within, Ernest Wilson's vocals are even more soulful than usual, while Peter Austin, too, reaches new emotive heights. The backing Supersonics, in contrast, barely acknowledge the original's existence, with the only nods to the past coming from the brass, who bypass R&B entirely for the more traditional big band sounds. The rest of the group are grounded firmly in the present, unleashing a flawless, upbeat, rock steady accompaniment. This single was one of the first The Clarendonians cut for the Caltone label, the beginning of a bright new relationship."
AllMusic: https://www.allmusic.com/song/baby-baby-mt0014507394
... so it's quite hard to say is "Baby, Baby" a real cover version of "Where Did Our Love Go" or only 'inspired by' it but maybe "Baby, Baby" after all is good to be added on Second Hand Songs because obviously at least lawyers think anyway that "Baby, Baby" is a Lamont Dozier / Brian Holland song.