Notes

---

82.9 MB
Bitrate: 256
mp3
Ripped by: ChrisGoesRock
Artwork Included
Source: Japan 24-Bit Remaster

First Base was the album by the rock music group Babe Ruth. Produced by Alan Shacklock and Nick Mobbs, released in 1972.

The album went gold in Canada, sold well in the US, but had disappointing sales by comparison in the UK. The song "The Mexican" has been covered and mixed many times. Among them, it was covered in 1984 by John "Jellybean" Benitez with vocals by the original singer, Janita Haan. "The Mexican" was mixed into the third track of The Dirtchamber Sessions Volume One by Liam Howlett of The Prodigy in 1999.

The sleeve design, painting and photography were by Roger Dean. Engineered by Tony Clark and Kete Go at EMI Studios, Abbey Road between June and September 1972.

Babe Ruth are a rock music group, primarily active through the 1970s, from Hatfield, Hertfordshire, England. Their characteristically 'heavy' sound is marked by powerful vocals from Janita (Jenny) Haan and full arrangements by Alan Shacklock. They are acknowledged as having more commercial success in North America than in their home country.

When the group was first formed in 1971, they were called Shacklock after their guitarist Alan Shacklock. Members included Janita Haan and Dave Hewitt, with Dave Punshon and Dick Powell later joining. The first release was their single "Wells Fargo"; their first album, First Base, went gold in Canada. In 1973, Ed Spevock replaced Powell and Chris Holmes replaced Punshon on the second album. In 1975, Steve Gurl, keyboardist from Glenn Cornick's Wild Turkey replaced Holmes for the third album. The same year, Shacklock exited and Bernie Marsden (Wild Turkey) joined the team for the fourth album. After this, Haan and Hewitt left.

Though no original member remained, the group incorporated Ellie Hope and Ray Knott for the fifth album in 1976. Shortly before Babe Ruth disbanded, they were joined by the young 17 year old Birmingham born Simon Lambeth who made a few appearances on their last tour. Marsden moved on to join Whitesnake and Lambeth left the band.

A disco cover of Babe Ruth's "The Mexican" appeared in the late 1970s, performed by the Bombers. This version inspired an electro/freestyle cover produced by Jellybean Benitez in 1984, for which he managed to recruit Haan on vocals - the cover subsequently becoming noted for its popularity as an underground dance hit.

Between late 2005 and early 2006, Haan (now Janita Haan Morris), Shacklock, Punshon, and Hewitt recorded new material together in Nashville, with Spevock recording his drums in London. The album, titled Que Pasa, was completed September 2006, and after being made available in digital form via the band's official web site, was released on Revolver Records in 2009.

The band embarked on a highly successful reunion tour of Canada in July 2010, playing three concerts; Ottawa Bluesfest, Metropolis Montreal, and Festival International Du Blues De Tremblant

01."Wells Fargo" (Alan Shacklock) – 6:14
02."The Runaways" (music: Alan Shacklock, words: David Whiting) – 7:12
03."King Kong" (Frank Zappa, side 4 of Uncle Meat) – 6:40, recorded in one take, no overdubs
04."Black Dog" (Jesse Winchester) – 8:03
05."The Mexican" (Alan Shacklock) – 5:45, interpolates Per Qualche Dollaro in Piu (For a Few Dollars More, music by Ennio Morricone)
06."Joker" (Alan Shacklock) – 7:42