February’s edition of Generation X [RadioShow] spotlights a very special and glowing tribute to “Deliverance” - the one and only album by Baby D, one of the most iconic names to emerge from the UK rave scene.
Baby D was formed through Production House Records, the influential label founded in 1987 by Phil Fearon (best known for his Brit-soul success with Galaxy) alongside Laurie Jago and Raj Malkani. Based in north-west London, Production House became a cornerstone of early UK hardcore and rave culture.
The original Baby D line-up featured Dee on lead vocals, Claudio Galdez on keyboards and windsynth, and Terry Jones (aka MC Nino) on vocals and keyboards. The trio first appeared in 1989 on “Casanova” by Jazz & The Brothers Grimm, the project of Floyd Dyce from The House Crew, who played a pivotal role in shaping Baby D’s early sound and went on to write and produce their defining anthem, “Let Me Be Your Fantasy”.
Released on 8th February 1996 via Systematic Records, a sub-label of London Records, “Deliverance” has just turned 30. The album reached No. 5 on the UK Albums Chart and cemented Baby D’s place in Dance music history. That same year, the group won Best Dance Act at the inaugural MOBO Awards.
Baby D's early singles between 1991 and 1994 were huge underground hits but were not known to mainstream pop although two of them scraped the lower end of the top 75. Their first success came in December 1993 when "Destiny" reached number 69 in the UK charts.
The breakthrough came with “Let Me Be Your Fantasy”, originally released on Production House label in 1992. After selling around 40,000 copies, the track was re-released by London Records through the Systematic imprint in 1994, entering the charts at number 3 and going on to spend two weeks at UK number one, selling nearly half a million copies and dethroned by East 17 who claimed the Christmas number one with "Stay Another Day".
In the summer of 1995 Baby D reached number 3 with their ravey version of the Korgis' “Everybody's Got To Learn Sometime” re-titled “I Need You Lovin” and a year after with "So Pure". In 2000, a UK garage remix of “Let Me Be Your Fantasy” by the Trick or Treat production team returned the track to the UK Top 20, keeping its long-lasting popularity.
Beyond the group, Baby D members made also some notable contributions. Claudio Galdez played saxophone on Peter Andre’s hit “Mysterious Girl”, while Terry Jones (MC Nino) wrote the track “I Feel You" - UK No.1 single for Peter Andre, as well as producing and remixing for Eternal, Backstreet Boys, and Sarah Cracknell of Saint Etienne. Nino’s distinctive lyrics and production style feature heavily across Baby D’s catalogue, including the iconic line “Underground is where we wanna go, movin’ – house the crowd” from “Let Me Be Your Fantasy”.
All in all, my recent radioshow pays homage to the Baby D and it's available to listen back now on the link above. Worth to add that we wrap it up with a hidden gem, a tune from Phil Fearon with Dee on a special contribution - titled “This Kind Of Love” aged 41. If you’re up digging for more about Dee well take a gander on this one too.
Baby D - Winds of Love
Baby D - Take Me To Heaven
Baby D - Daydreaming (Acenhallucination)
Baby D - Daydreaming
Baby D - Come Into my World
Baby D - (Everybody's Got To Learn Sometime) I Need Your Loving
Baby D - Nature's Warning
Baby D - So Pure (Rollin Mix)
Baby D - So Pure
Baby D - Casanova (Prodigy Pump Action Remix)
Baby D - Casanova (Live)
Baby D - Have It All
Baby D - Got To Believe
Baby D - Destiny
Baby D - Euphoria
Baby D - Let Me Be Your Fantasy
Phil Fearon & Galaxy - This Kind of Love
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