He emerged as a solo star in 1966 with the smash hit "I've Got to Go Back Home", a song which has become a much-loved anthem for Jamaicans. He had served his singing and songwriting apprenticeship with the legendary vocal group THE PARAGONS, which he founded with Tyrone (Don) Evans and Howard Barrett, later joined by John Holt. The Paragons had several hits for producer Coxsone Dodd including the Number One "Love At Last", penned by Bob.
As one of STUDIO ONE's leading lights, Bob worked closely with Jackie Mittoo on many of the label's seminal sounds. Besides writing songs for himself which have become reggae standards - "Feeling Soul", "My Time", "Going Home", and "Too Experienced", to name just a few - Bob contributed hits for many of the other artists there.
In 1970, international recognition came when Bob and Marcia Griffiths recorded Nina Simone's "Young, Gifted and Black", which sold 1/2 million in the UK and Europe, and still receives frequent airplay today. BOB & MARCIA became household names, appearing on Top of the Pops and touring extensively. They had another UK Top Ten single and two albums for Trojan Records.
During the early 70s Bob continued his solo recordings; "You Don't Know" and "Life" are two songs from this time which hold a special place in the hearts of his British fans. After the duo split in 1974, Marcia became one of Bob Marley's I-Threes, and Bob's singles "Fire Burning" and "Check It Out" struck a responsive chord with Jamaicans in the new social consciousness of the Manley era.
In the middle Seventies Bob was the Tropical Soundtracs label's A&R manager. He and Marcia reunited for the Kemar LP, which remains the definitive Bob & Marcia album and has been released as Really Together on Bob's own label.
Bob was one of the first Jamaican artists to establish his own publishing company, ANDISONGS, and served as one of the prime movers in the attempt to establish a Caribbean Copyright Organisation.
1978 saw the release of Bob's album Lots of Love and I, which amongst many excellent tracks contains the classics "Ghetto Stays in the Mind" and "Feel the Feeling." In the same year he traveled to Cuba to perform at the 11th World Festival of Youth and Students. Then began a five year absence from the music scene as Bob became increasingly involved in acting. He took lead roles in several theatre productions, and in 1979 starred in the Jamaican feature film Children of Babylon.
In 1983 Bob was welcomed back to the reggae charts with a Number One single, "Honey", followed by a Number One album, Friends. For these and subsequent releases he formed his own label, I-ANKA, in Jamaica and the UK.
During 1985 Bob toured California, appeared at the Youth Festival in Moscow, and headlined the first Japanese Reggae Sunsplash. The Retrospective album was released in 1986 (1987 on Heartbeat/Rounder Records in North America) to widespread critical acclaim. It provides a missing historical link between the Studio One masterpiece Bob Andy's Songbook and his more recent work.
In November 1987, Bob assumed the post of A&R and Promotions Director for Tuff Gong (the group of companies founded by Bob Marley). In this capacity he represented Tuff Gong Music at many industry functions in Jamaica and abroad. He produced music by such artists as Nadine Sutherland, Ernest Wilson and Tyrone Taylor, as well as new talent. Bob's stay at Tuff Gong provided him with many opportunities to express his life-long desire for higher standards in Jamaican music, both in its business operations and in the quality of its musical output.
Freely, released on I-Anka in late 1988, comprised tracks recorded throughout the middle 80s. It received rave reviews and spent many months in the reggae charts.
Assuming once again his role of Jamaican music pioneer, Bob spent six months in Australia in 1989, conducting workshops and playing with local musicians. On December 13th 1989, he joined other leading reggae artists at Gdansk Shipyard in Poland in an Anti-Apartheid concert sponsored by Solidarity to celebrate the progress of the world's liberation movements.
During the 90s Continental Records, one of Brazil's largest record companies, issued a Bob Andy compilation album, and several of Bob's albums received Japanese releases. Bob recorded the album Hanging Tough for producer Willie Lindo at his Heavy Beat Studios in Miami. The set was released in 1997 on VP Records and included the inspirational singles "Love This Life" and "Die No More."
Formal recognition of Bob’s musical contributions has flowed in from many sources during the last two decades. Rockers Magazine honoured Bob with a Lifetime Achievement Award in Kingston in 1989, as did the Canadian Reggae Music Awards in Toronto in 1991. Bob’s song “Fire Burning” received the JAMI Award for Song of the Year in 1991. In 1997 he was named as one of the music’s “Living Legends” at the Reggae/Soca Awards in Miami and was presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award by the 1999 Bob Marley Day Festival in Southern California. He received the Prime Minister’s Award for Excellence in Jamaica in 2003.
The 90s and the first decade of the new millennium have found Bob continuing to give stunning performances in Europe, Japan, Jamaica, Canada and the US. In addition to his solo performances he has taken part in a series of special reunion concerts with Marcia Griffiths. He has added new classics to his repertoire, such as the well-received singles “Zion”, “There Is A God” and “Ska Music (is Jah Music)”.
In early 2005, Bob made his first journey to Africa. He performed at the Bob Marley 60th birthday concert in Addis Ababa to an audience of several hundred thousand, and also sang at the Ethiopian President’s Palace. During a visit to Shashemane in the weeks following, he gave benefit concerts for the 12 Tribes.
Jamaica conferred its Order of Distinction in the rank of Commander (CD) on Keith ‘Bob Andy’ Anderson in October 2006 for his contributions to the development of reggae music.
Most recently, Bob’s new compositions include two successful singles recorded for the Altafaan label: “Create Our History” with Luciano (2006), and “Almighty Dolla” (spring 2007).
It has often been noted that the mark of a great artist is the continued production of notable works throughout his lifetime. A veritable explosion of cover versions of Bob’s songs and rhythms has already introduced a new generation of fans to his music. Bob’s audience will have much to savour as they as become familiar with his current songs, which will only serve to further enhance one of the most distinctive and distinguished bodies of work in Jamaica’s musical history.
Baby I Need Your Loving
Bob Andy Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Baby, I need your lovin'
Although you're never near
Your voice I often hear
Another day, 'nother night
I long to hold you tight
'Cause I'm so lonely
Got to have all your lovin'
Baby I need your lovin'
Got to have all you lovin'
Some say it's a sign of weakness
For a man to beg
Then weak I'd rather be
If it means having you to keep,
'Cause lately I've been losing sleep
Baby, I need your lovin'
Got to have all your lovin'
Baby I need your lovin'
Got to have all you lovin'
Lonely nights echo your name
Oh, sometimes I wonder
Will I ever be the same?
Oh yeah! When you see me smiling
You know things have gotten worse
Any smile you might see has all been rehearsed
Darling, I can't go on without you
This emptiness won't let me live without you
This loneliness inside, darling
Makes me feel half alive
Baby, I need your lovin'
Got to have all your lovin'
Baby I need your lovin'
Got to have all you lovin'
Baby, I need your lovin'
Got to have all your lovin'
Baby I need your lovin'
Got to have all you lovin'
Baby, I need your lovin'
Got to have all your lovin'
Baby I need your lovin'
Got to have all you lovin'
The song "Baby I Need Your Lovin'" by Bob Andy is a soulful ballad that describes the agony of being apart from a loved one. The repeated phrase, "Baby, I need your lovin'," is a cry for the presence of the loved one, despite the distance between them. Through the lyrics, the singer conveys his longing for the touch and embrace of his lover, admitting that his loneliness is causing him to lose sleep and question his own existence. The bridge of the song addresses the societal pressure placed on men to be strong and not show vulnerability, but the singer would rather be "weak" if it meant having the love of his life in his arms.
One interesting interpretation of the song is that it could be interpreted as a plea to a higher power or to the universe for love and connection. The use of "baby" could be a term of endearment for the universe or the divine, indicating the human desire for connection and comfort.
The song was written and originally performed by The Four Tops in 1964, and has been covered numerous times since then, including by artists such as Johnny Rivers, Marvin Gaye, and Phil Collins. Bob Andy's version of the song was released in 1972 and has become a classic reggae song, known for its soulful melody and heartfelt lyrics.
Line by Line Meaning
Baby, I need your lovin'
The singer is expressing his strong desire and need for his lover's love and attention.
Although you're never near
Despite the physical distance between the singer and his lover, he still feels her presence and hears her voice in his mind.
Your voice I often hear
The singer frequently thinks about his lover and imagines her speaking to him.
Another day, 'nother night
The singer is lonely and feels the passing of time acutely.
I long to hold you tight
The singer yearns for physical closeness and intimacy with his lover.
'Cause I'm so lonely
The singer's loneliness is the driving force behind his desire for his lover's company.
Got to have all your lovin'
The singer emphasizes the urgency and necessity of his need for his lover's love and attention.
Some say it's a sign of weakness
The singer reflects on the common belief that asking for love is a sign of weakness.
For a man to beg
He specifically refers to begging for love, which he perceives as an act of vulnerability.
Then weak I'd rather be
Regardless of societal standards, the singer would rather be perceived as weak than to live without his lover's love.
If it means having you to keep
The singer believes that begging for his lover's love is worth it if it means keeping her in his life.
'Cause lately I've been losing sleep
The singer has been losing sleep due to his overwhelming desire for his lover's love and attention.
Lonely nights echo your name
The singer's loneliness is reflected in the silence of the night and his constant thoughts of his lover.
Oh, sometimes I wonder
The singer reflects on the uncertainty and insecurity of his current situation without his lover.
Will I ever be the same?
The singer worries that he will never be able to recover from the loss of his lover's love and attention.
When you see me smiling
The singer is pretending to be happy even though he is deeply unhappy without his lover.
You know things have gotten worse
The singer's fake smile is a sign that his loneliness and desire for his lover's love have only increased.
Any smile you might see has all been rehearsed
The singer's smiles are fake and not genuine expressions of happiness.
Darling, I can't go on without you
The singer is explicitly stating that he needs his lover's love and attention to survive.
This emptiness won't let me live without you
The singer's loneliness is so intense that he feels as though he cannot continue living without his lover's love and attention.
This loneliness inside, darling
The singer is speaking directly to his lover and acknowledging the emptiness he feels without her love and attention.
Makes me feel half alive
The singer feels incomplete without his lover's love and attention, and describes himself as only feeling 'half alive.'
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Edward Jr. Holland, Lamont Dozier, Brian Holland
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@amethystdreamarian4076
Nice nice love this version... mmmm... Make me feel good... yeer...