Baby, Come to Me (Patti Austin and James Ingram song)

"Baby, Come to Me", a love ballad from Patti Austin's 1981 album Every Home Should Have One, was her duet with James Ingram. It was written by Rod Temperton (formerly of Heatwave). The song was released as a single in April 1982, initially peaking at No. 73 on the US Billboard Hot 100. Several months later, American soap opera General Hospital began to feature the song heavily as the love theme for character Luke Spencer. It was re-released in October of that same year and reached No. 1 on the US chart in February 1983.

"Baby, Come to Me"
A-side label of US vinyl single
Single by Patti Austin and James Ingram
from the album Every Home Should Have One
B-side	"Solero"
Released	April 1982 October 1982 (re-released)
Recorded	1981
Genre	Quiet storm[1] R&B soft rock
Length	3:31 (7" single) 3:45 (LP version)
Label	Qwest
Songwriter(s)	Rod Temperton
Producer(s)	Quincy Jones
Patti Austin singles chronology
"Every Home Should Have One" (1982) "Baby, Come to Me" (1982) "How Do You Keep the Music Playing?" (1983)
James Ingram singles chronology
"One Hundred Ways" (1981) "Baby, Come to Me" (1982) "How Do You Keep the Music Playing?" (1983)

History

Patti Austin

James Ingram

The song was performed by Patti Austin and James Ingram, with Michael McDonald contributing background vocals. Produced by Quincy Jones, the song appears on Austin's 1981 album, Every Home Should Have One. When first released as a single, it charted on the US Billboard Hot 100 for just four weeks, peaking at number 73 on May 8, 1982.^[2]

Later that year, it gained new exposure as the romantic theme song for Luke Spencer, a leading character on the ABC soap opera General Hospital. ABC received so many inquiries about the song that Warner Bros. decided to re-release "Baby, Come to Me" as a single. On October 16, 1982, the song re-entered the Billboard Hot 100.^[3] It reached No. 1 on February 19, 1983, where it stayed for two weeks,^[3] and spent seven months on the Hot 100. It also hit No. 1 on the Adult Contemporary chart in early 1983^[4] and reached No. 11 in the UK in March 1983.

Personnel

• Lead and Backing Vocals: James Ingram
• Lead and Backing Vocals: Patti Austin
• Backing vocals: Michael McDonald
• Drums: John Robinson
• Bass: Eddie Watkins Jr.
• Guitar: Steve Lukather
• Keyboards: Greg Phillinganes
• Fender Rhodes: Richard Tee
• Synthesizers: Greg Phillinganes, David Foster, Michael Boddicker, Rod Temperton
• Percussion: Paulinho Da Costa
• Arrangement: Rod Temperton
• Recording engineer: Bruce Swedien
• Mixing: Bruce Swedien
• Mastering: Bernie Grundman

Covers

Among artists who have covered the song are:

• Shirley Bassey
• Dalida
• Laura Fygi
• Daryl Hall and Kenny G
• Alexander O'Neal and Cherrelle
• Stephanie Winslow
• Eliane Elias (Love Stories, 2019)

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (1982–1983) Peak position Australia[5] 38 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[6] 10 Canada RPM Top Singles 3 Canada RPM Adult Contemporary[7] 20 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[8] 5 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[9] 9 Ireland (IRMA)[10] 6 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[11] 9 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[12] 11 UK Singles (OCC)[13] 11 US Billboard Hot 100[14] 1 US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[15] 1 US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[16] 9 US Cash Box Top 100 2

Year-end charts Chart (1983) Position Australia 136 Canada[17] 26 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[18] 91 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[19] 77 US Billboard Hot 100[20] 8 US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[21] 6 US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[22] 11

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[23]	Gold	1,000,000^
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

See also

• List of Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles of 1983
• List of number-one adult contemporary singles of 1983 (U.S.)
• Rise (instrumental), another song popularized by connection with Luke Spencer on General Hospital

References

1. Harvey, Eric (May 19, 2012). "The Quiet Storm". Pitchfork. Retrieved October 11, 2022.
2. "Top 100 Songs - Billboard Hot 100 Chart". Billboard. Retrieved January 29, 2019.
3. "Top 100 Songs - Billboard Hot 100 Chart". Billboard. Retrieved January 29, 2019.
4. Whitburn, Joel (2004). The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits, 8th Edition (Billboard Publications)
5. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 148. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
6. "Patti Austin & James Ingram – Baby, Come To Me" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved October 5, 2017.
7. "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. April 2, 1983. Retrieved January 30, 2019.
8. "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 12, 1983" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved September 7, 2021.
9. "Patti Austin & James Ingram – Baby, Come To Me" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved October 5, 2017.
10. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Baby Come to Me". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved January 30, 2019.
11. "Patti Austin & James Ingram – Baby, Come To Me". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved October 5, 2017.
12. "Patti Austin & James Ingram – Baby, Come To Me". Singles Top 100. Retrieved October 5, 2017.
13. "Patti Austin: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 5, 2017.
14. "Patti Austin Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved September 7, 2021.
15. "Patti Austin Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved September 7, 2021.
16. "Patti Austin Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved September 7, 2021.
17. "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. Retrieved March 25, 2017.
18. "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1983". Dutch Top 40. Retrieved September 7, 2021.
19. "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1983". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved September 7, 2021.
20. "Top 100 Hits of 1983/Top 100 Songs of 1983". Musicoutfitters.com. Retrieved March 25, 2017.
21. "1984 Talent in Almanat" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 95, no. 52. December 24, 1983. p. TA-26. Retrieved September 7, 2021.
22. "1984 Talent in Almanat" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 95, no. 52. December 24, 1983. p. TA-22. Retrieved September 7, 2021.
23. "American single certifications – Patti Austin & James Ingram – Baby Come to Me". Recording Industry Association of America.

External links

• Patti Austin - Baby, Come to Me on YouTube