The success of Rhino’s 1998 Nuggets boxset justified a follow-up. The sequel covers the rest of the world since the first volume only chronicled the USA.
Nuggets II: Original Artyfacts from the British Empire and Beyond, 1964–1969 emerged in 2001. It features music from countries such as Iceland, Uruguay, and Japan. I’m profiling and rating each of the 109 tracks, working backwards.
Track 79—You Can Be My Baby by The Red Squares
From: Boston, England
8
Credits
3/25. YOU CAN BE MY BABY (Single Version) – The Red Squares (Denmark)
(Ronnie Martin/Dave Bell)
PERSONNEL/DAVE “GEORDIE” GARRIOCK: vocals * RONNIE MARTIN: lead guitar, vocals * MICK ROTHWELL: guitar * PETE MASON: bass, vocals * MICHAEL “RIK” MALONEY: drums
Producer(s) unknown
Recorded in Copenhagen, Denmark
Columbia single #DS-2341 (1966) [Denmark]
The Red Squares
The Red Squares formed in Boston, England, in June 1964. Seeking to stand out, they moved to Denmark in January 1966. Within six months, they were the biggest band in Denmark and also popular in Sweden.
With a veritable beat-group glut in the U.K., many British bands chose to emigrate to foreign countries where demand was just as great but competition was less fierce. One such band was The Red Squares. Formed in Boston, England, in 1964, they relocated to Denmark at the beginning of 1966 and became massively popular within just a few months, generating fan hysteria wherever they played.
Mike Stax, Nuggets II liner notes
The Red Squares were influenced by American harmony groups like The Beach Boys and The Four Seasons, as well as soul and R&B.
You Can Be My Baby
‘You Can Be My Baby’ is an unusual track in the Red Squares’ discography. Most of their songs are easy-listening covers of 1960s pop tunes, like ‘Big Girls Don’t Cry’ and ‘I Get Around’.
But ‘You Can Be My Baby’ is something else entirely – it’s almost proto power-pop with its punchy guitars. It’s not unlike the music that The Who were making in 1966.
The Aftermath
In December 1969, The Red Squares split up after a tour of Israel. They were unable to re-enter Denmark because of work permit issues.
Geordie gave up music after his divorce, but was lured back to a reformed Red Squares. The band released a comeback album in 1989.
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“You Can Be My Baby” is one neat-sounding song! The vocals are great as well. Perhaps Red Squares would have gone further, had they done more original music. Did “You Can Be My Baby” chart anywhere?
I was trying to track down the Danish chart placings, but couldn’t find anything – I assume it was popular there though. They seem like a mediocre band that fluked one great song.
I agree with the power pop….I love his distortion on that guitar from the intro. Thats a sound I’ve copied many times. I just heard some of their other music…you are right…this one was different. I’m listening to a song named “Goodbye My Love” from 1969….very Beach Boys like…and they had great voices!
Yeah, the other bits I heard were pretty, but this was the only one with much edge to it.