Album: Baby, Now That I've Found You (1967)

Charted: 1 11

License This Song 

Songfacts®:

• When this was first released there appeared to be little enthusiasm for the single until BBC's newly founded Radio 1 began to play it. The song got onto the station's playlist mainly because they wanted to avoid any records being played by the pirate radio broadcasters, so they looked back at recent releases that the pirates had missed. The song's co-writer Tony Macaulay recalls in 1000 UK #1 Hits by Jon Kutner and Spencer Leigh: "I woke up that morning with a stinking headache and when I got to the studio and heard The Foundations, I thought they were pretty terrible. I decided my hangover was to blame, and so I gave them the benefit of the doubt. The only song I could think of was something John McLeod and I had had for some time, 'Baby Now That I've Found You.' I didn't have a lot of faith in the song but they recorded it with a lot of energy and I learned a lot from making that record." It went on to become an international hit.
• Clem Curtis, the lead vocalist of The Foundations recalls in the same book "Tony Macaulay gave us 2 songs. One was 'Let The Heartaches Begin' and the other was 'Baby Now That I've Found You' and we chose 'Baby Now That I've Found You.' Long John Baldry recorded the other one and that knocked us off the top."
• This was used in the 2001 film Shallow Hal. >>>

  Suggestion credit:
  Edward Pearce - Ashford, Kent, England, for all above
• This was the first song by a multiracial band to top the UK singles chart.
• A cover version by Alison Krauss was featured in the 1997 Australian comedy, The Castle.

Comments: 4

• Paul from UsaFirst song I remember really loving! I was 11!
• Barry from Sauquoit, NyPer: http://www.oldiesmusic.com/news.htm
  It's been learned that Clem Curtis, lead singer with the Foundations on their 1969 hit, "Baby Now That I Found You*" (#11 in 1968), has died from lung cancer. He was 76...
  Born in Trinidad, Clem came to England when he was 15 and became a professional boxer. He joined a local group, The Ramong Sound as a backup singer but, after many changes he emerged as the lead singer and the group was now called the Foundations. Clem also sang lead on "Back On My Feet Again" (#59 in 1968), but left the group before their 1969 hit, "Build Me Up Buttercup"(where Colin Young sang lead; it peaked at #3)...
  After a solo career, he went on to perform in musicals in London's West End...
  May he R.I.P.
  * Besides the above three records the group had two more Top 100 songs; "n The Bad, Bad Old Days" {#51} and "My Little Chickadee" {#99}, both in 1969.
• Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn December 17th 1967, "Baby, Now That I've Found You" by the Foundations entered Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart at position #81; and eight weeks later on February 11th, 1968 it peaked at #11 {for 3 weeks} and spent 13 weeks on the Top 100...
  And on November 8th, 1967 it reached #1 {for 2 weeks} on the United Kingdom's Singles chart...
  Between 1967 and 1969 the British group had five records on the Top 100; one made the Top 10, so of course it was their biggest hit, "Build Me Up Buttercup" peaked at #3 {for 3 weeks} on February 16th, 1969.
• Camille from Toronto, OhWow, this song is simply a classic. I was only 9 years old when it was popular, but I remember loving it then, and still love it today! Never knew the singer was a black man, I thought this group "The Foundations" were similar to "The Lettermen". Love this music, takes me back to the innocent, carefree times of my younger days.

More Songfacts:

Beverly HillsWeezer

Weezer frontman Rivers Cuomo wrote "Beverly Hills" after seeing a photo of the group Wilson Phillips and imagining what it would be like to marry someone famous.

TeardropMassive Attack

"Teardrop" by Massive Attack has vocals by Elizabeth Fraser of The Cocteau Twins, who wrote the lyric after learning that Jeff Buckley had died.

Last NiteThe Strokes

The Strokes admitted to purloining Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers' "American Girl" for their hit "Last Nite."

Walking On Thin IceYoko Ono

John Lennon's lead guitar work on Yoko Ono's "Walking On Thin Ice" proved to be his final creative act. It was upon their return home after completing laying down the track that Lennon was murdered by Mark David Chapman.

Everybody Have Fun TonightWang Chung

"Everybody Have Fun Tonight" is a rare hit with the band's name used as a verb: "Everybody Wang Chung tonight." The band says it can mean whatever you'd like it to.

At This MomentBilly Vera & the Beaters

"At This Moment" was first released by Billy Vera & the Beaters in 1981, and hit #79. After it was used in two episodes of Family Ties in 1985-1986, it went to #1.

Editor's Picks

Pam TillisSongwriter Interviews

The country sweetheart opines about the demands of touring and talks about writing songs with her famous father.

Rock Stars of HorrorMusic Quiz

Rock Stars - especially those in the metal realm - are often enlisted for horror movies. See if you know can match the rocker to the role.

Frankie ValliSong Writing

An interview with Frankie Valli, who talks about why his songs - both solo and with The Four Seasons - have endured, and reflects on his time as Rusty Millio on The Sopranos.

Part of Their World: The Stories and Songs of 13 Disney PrincessesSong Writing

From "Some Day My Prince Will Come" to "Let It Go" - how Disney princess songs (and the women who sing them) have evolved.

Kip WingerSongwriter Interviews

The Winger frontman reveals the Led Zeppelin song he cribbed for "Seventeen," and explains how his passion for orchestra music informs his songwriting.

Stephen Christian of AnberlinSongwriter Interviews

The lead singer/lyricist for Anberlin breaks down "Impossible" and covers some tracks from their 2012 album Vital.