‘Baby’ has been a bit of a problem child, which you could never imagine given it’s sweetness now. In a strange twist it’s also responsible for the album being called ‘If you’re a cat…’, that being it’s title during the period it was a song with lyrics. I went off the idea of it being a song, reverting to it’s original instrumental form, except for the chorus, which Sara now sings so purely in the final version. And as there is no mention of cats in the chorus lyric, I had to change the title to ‘Baby’. There was now no particular reason for calling the album ‘If you’re a cat’, but Sara suggested keeping it; so I did… With me so far?
Anyway, this ‘instrumental with a sung chorus’ (!) opens with a Bacharach inspired intro trombone line, smoothly played by Andrew Hammond, leading into the by now usual form of twin acoustic guitars left and right, (steel strings this time), with a rhythm section of Steve Hadley (double bass) Tony Floyd (drums) and Denis Close (congas). Around the central theme (played in unison on my classical guitar and Bruce Haymes piano) once again George Butrumlis on accordion and Jen Anderson on violin weave and wend the most delectable and sympathetic threads of counter melodies; Jen especially excelling with her usual passionate intensity. How lucky I am to have musicians of this caliber to draw on!
The first and second verses slowly take form with drums gradually added, (I’m particularly happy with the sound of all the instruments on this track), then the chorus with Sara’s lovely vocal. Also joining the mix now are two harmonised acoustic slide guitars, double-ing with the trombone for an answering line; but very much in the background. The rhythm guitars go into a muted unison throb, which gives it a quite pop like vibe. Then the Bacharach line brings us back into verse three, where the melody is developed slightly, before the second chorus which leads into the guitar solo, once more over different chords making it take the role of a ‘middle eight’. The slide guitars get a go here as well. Finally one more chorus is followed by a reprieve of the guitar solo, resolving down to a peaceful end of what I think has ended up, after beginning as a problem child, as ‘Baby’… the lullaby.
Tags: Baby, If you're a cat, Jen Anderson, lullaby, Track 4 Baby,