Rachel Sweet - B-A-B-Y The Complete Stiff Recording 1978-1980

It's 1977 and Stiff Records struck oil in Akron, Ohio when they signed Devo. Following up with The Akron Compilation which featured fellow Akronites Jane Aire, The Waitresses and the youngest of them all, Rachel Sweet. Already talented way beyond her years, Rachel had toured the US and recorded several independent Country singles by the time she took the train from London to John OGroats with backing band The Records to become the surprise hit on 1978's Be Stiff tour at the tender age of 16. Rachels Country Music leanings were perfectly juxtaposed with songwriter/producer Liam Walk Like An Egyptian Sternbergs urban new wave sketches and pop pastiches of the past with retro recordings of Carla Thomas Stax US hit B-A-B-Y (a Top 40 UK hit for Rachel in January 1979) and the Spectropop treatment of Dusty Springfields Stay Awhile. Subsequent recordings for the label resulted in the debut album Fool Around, a classic Stiff in house affair featuring The Rumour and The Blockheads, as well as Will Birchs Pin A Medal On Mary and Elvis Costellos Stranger In The House.