"Isn't It Time" is a song that was performed by the English group

The Babys The Babys are a British rock group best known for their songs " Isn't It Time" and " Every Time I Think of You". Both songs were composed by Jack Conrad and Ray Kennedy, and each reached No. 13 on the U.S. '' Billboard'' Hot 100 and No. 8 on ...

in 1977 and was released on their album ''

Broken Heart Broken heart (also known as a heartbreak or heartache) is a metaphor for the intense emotional stress or pain one feels at experiencing great and deep longing. The concept is cross-cultural, often cited with reference to unreciprocated or lost ...

''.

Background

"Isn't It Time" was not written by members of the group but by bass guitarist Jack Conrad along with

Ray Kennedy Raymond Kennedy (28 July 1951 – 30 November 2021) was an English footballer who won every domestic honour in the game with Arsenal and Liverpool in the 1970s and early 1980s. Kennedy played as a forward for Arsenal, and then played as a le ...

and was presented to the public as a song with a distinctive piano introduction performed by Michael Corby which moves into an opening vocal performance by lead singer

John Waite John Charles Waite (born 4 July 1952) is an English musician. As a solo artist, he has released ten studio albums and is best known for the 1984 hit single " Missing You", which reached No. 1 on the US ''Billboard'' Hot 100 and the top ten on ...

. The strong vocals of the three Babettes from Andraé Crouch & The Disciples, Lisa Freeman-Roberts, Myrna Matthews and Pat Henderson, balance the tone of the song which moves through the decisions a lover has to make "I just can't find the answers to the questions that keep going through my mind" and "losing this love could be your mistake." The lyrics were motivated by Ray Kennedy's love for a French woman whom he knew during the writing of the song. The drum work of

Tony Brock Tony may refer to: People and fictional characters * Tony (given name), including a list of people and fictional characters * Gregory Tony (born 1978), American law enforcement officer * Motu Tony (born 1981), New Zealand international rugby leag ...

heralds the chorus featuring the Babettes and the guitar of Walt Stocker brings the song to a close with the Babettes chorus heard alternatively in the left and right channels "isn't it time", "don't have to wait" a result of the production work of

Ron Nevison Ron Nevison is an American record producer and audio engineer. He started his career in the early 1970s as an engineer on ''Quadrophenia'' by the Who and Bad Company's debut album. He eventually became a producer, working with artists including ...

. The song peaked at position No. 13 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 but hit No. 8 on Cash Box's Top 100. It was a #1 hit in Australia in March 1978. On 7 December 1977 a video of the Babys' "Isn't It Time" was aired on the

ABC ABC are the first three letters of the Latin script known as the alphabet. ABC or abc may also refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Broadcasting * American Broadcasting Company, a commercial U.S. TV broadcaster ** Disney–ABC Television ...

program '' American Bandstand''.

Chart performance

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Certifications

Cover versions

* The song's co-writer

recorded "Isn't It Time" for his 1980 self-titled album.''Charlotte News'' 4 September 1980 "Off the Record: Kennedy talented singer-songwriter" by Chris Jones p.7C * English guitarist

Robin Trower Robin Leonard Trower (born 9 March 1945) is an English rock guitarist who achieved success with Procol Harum throughout 1967–1971, and then again as the bandleader of his own power trio known as the Robin Trower Band. Biography Robin Trowe ...

also recorded a cover of "Isn't It Time" for his 1990 album ''

In the Line of Fire ''In the Line of Fire'' is a 1993 American political action thriller film directed by Wolfgang Petersen and starring Clint Eastwood, John Malkovich and Rene Russo. Written by Jeff Maguire, the film is about a disillusioned and obsessed former C ...

''. * Franco-Belgian singer

Johnny Hallyday Jean-Philippe Léo Smet (; 15 June 1943 – 5 December 2017), better known by his stage name Johnny Hallyday, was a French rock and roll and pop singer and actor, credited for having brought rock and roll to France. During a career spanning 57 ...

recorded a cover in 1978, Le cœur comme une montagne for the album ''Hollywood''. (fr)
* Belgian singer

Udo Mechels Udo Mechels, born in Brussels on 10 May 1976, is a Belgian singer commonly known simply as Udo. He won the first season of the Belgian version of ''The X Factor'' in 2005. Biography In 2003, Udo participated in the first season of ''Belgian I ...

had a number one hit in 2006 with his cover.

References

External links

Website of Raymond Louis Kennedy

Denise Sullivan's Review at All Music Guide
* {{authority control 1977 singles The Babys songs Songs written by Raymond Louis Kennedy Song recordings produced by Ron Nevison 1977 songs Chrysalis Records singles Number-one singles in Australia Songs written by Jack Conrad