Midnight Rendezvous

The Zoo Crew is spinning the sultry vibes of Midnight Rendezvous by The Babys, a track from their 1980 album Union Jacks, and the Zoo Freaks are surely feeling the heat. This song, a sweaty and sleazy rock anthem, was co-written by John Waite and Jonathan Cain, with Cain revealing a juicy tidbit on X in 2023: he wrote it in one afternoon in a Laurel Canyon garage, playing electric guitar instead of his usual piano, with his brother Tommy on drums. That raw, spontaneous energy pulses through the track, which hit #72 on the Billboard Hot 100. Fun fact—Waite slyly slipped the line “Oh I really wanna fuck you” into the fadeout, a bold move that flew under the radar of FM radio censors, adding a rebellious edge to its new wave-tinged rock riffs.

Another layer of intrigue surrounds Midnight Rendezvous and its guitar riff, which some fans, like music blogger Steve Goldberg, have noted bears a striking similarity to Billy Joel’s You May Be Right from his 1980 album Glass Houses. Since Union Jacks dropped in January 1980, two months before Glass Houses, it’s possible Joel caught the riff on the radio and borrowed its vibe—or it could just be a rock ‘n’ roll coincidence. Either way, the song’s gritty charm and Waite’s Plant-esque vocals made it a staple on classic rock stations, even if it didn’t chart as high as the band’s bigger hits like Back on My Feet Again.

The Babys formed in London in 1974, sparked by founding member Michael Corby, who brought in vocalist/bassist John Waite, drummer Tony Brock, and guitarist Wally Stocker. Their big break came with a record deal from Chrysalis Records, one of the heftiest for a new act at the time, setting them up to conquer the U.S. market. Their early albums, The Babys (1976) and Broken Heart (1977), showcased Waite’s bluesy, passionate vocals and the band’s knack for blending hard rock with melodic hooks, scoring hits like Isn’t It Time and Every Time I Think of You, both peaking at #13 on the Billboard Hot 100. By the time Union Jacks rolled around, the lineup had evolved, with Jonathan Cain on keyboards and Ricky Phillips on bass, bringing a glossier, AOR sound under producer Keith Olsen.

The band’s journey wasn’t without drama—Corby was replaced after their third album, and by 1981, after a grueling tour where Waite injured his knee, The Babys disbanded. Waite went on to a successful solo career with hits like Missing You, while Cain joined Journey, and Phillips later played with Styx. The Babys reunited in 2013 with Brock and Stocker, releasing a new album, I’ll Have Some of That!, in 2014, though Waite and Corby didn’t return. Fans can dive into the band’s legacy on their official website, The Babys Archives, or connect with fellow Zoo Freaks on social media via Facebook, Instagram, and X. For deeper fan vibes, check out the The Babys Official Fan Group on Facebook, where devotees share memories and updates.