Yacht Rock duets are relatively rare beasts. We’re not sure what the reason is that there are not more of them. Maybe the duets that did make hay in the soft rock era skewed a bit too far to the histrionic to satisfy Yacht Rock’s demand for coolness.
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“Baby, Come To Me”, the No. 1 pop duet by Patti Austin and James Ingram, prefers a simmer over a boil. With its smooth grooves and indelibly soulful vocal performances, it’s a duet that any genre would be glad to claim.
Assembling the Team
The two principals behind this massive duet weren’t yet household names when they connected. Having grown up in the music business, Austin had seen how the pop hamster wheel could chew up and spit out talented folks. As a result, she was content making her living as a jingles’ singer.
But her godfather was none other than Quincy Jones. Jones convinced her to try a solo album in 1981. When looking for potential songs for her, Jones was struck by the singer of a demo he heard. That demo singer was James Ingram, who had only just begun his journey as one of the preeminent soul vocalists of the era.
To cinch the deal, Jones hired Rod Temperton to write the song. The British musician had segued from writing a few hits for his band Heatwave to penning several key tracks on Michael Jackson’s massive Off The Wall album, also produced by Jones. These two relatively known artists surrounded themselves with behind-the-scenes helpers of impeccable pedigree.
Soap Opera Surge
“Baby, Come To Me” appeared on Austin’s 1981 album Every Home Should Have One. It arrived as a single early the next year. And it pretty much flopped, getting nowhere near the US Top 40. Jones, knowing the song’s worth, fumed at what looked like a missed opportunity.
But the song received a lifeline from a soap opera. In the 80s, no afternoon soap drew as much attention as General Hospital. Producers on the show began using “Baby, Come To Me” as a kind of theme song for a couple on the show. Viewers began calling ABC to find out what the song was.
Still, Austin demurred about paying the costs it would take to re-release the single and take advantage of its newfound notoriety. After some consternation, she went for it. Good call. Upon its fresh release, “Baby, Come To Me” began to slowly climb the charts. It finally reached the top in February 1983.
Behind the Lyrics of “Baby, Come To Me”
“Baby, Come To Me” nimbly manages to tell two stories. In the verses, we watch a budding romance unfold. In the beginning, Austin’s character remembers lonelier days. “Thinking back in time,” she sings. “When love was only in my mind.” By the second verse, the two are talking on the phone and going on long walks.
In the middle eight, the two singers start to emote a bit more after playing it cool up to that point. “Don’t talk anymore,” Austin bellows, suggesting that the time is nigh for quiet intimacy. The chorus plays up that part of the relationship. “Baby, always stay,” the pair coo. “’Cause I can’t go back to living without you.”
Patti Austin mostly stuck to her guns and conducted the remainder of her very successful career far from the limelight. James Ingram used the song as a boost to an amazing solo career. The two make candlelit magic on “Baby, Come To Me”, letting the slow burn make its way into an inferno.
Photo by Echoes/Redferns
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