While fronted by singer John Farnham from 1982–1986, the band's original members were Glenn Shorrock (vocals), Graeham Goble, Beeb Birtles and Ric Formosa (guitars and vocals), Roger McLachlan (bass) and Derek Pellicci (drums).
The group evolved from the harmony-rock group Mississippi in 1975. Prior to that, Birtles had been the bassist in 1960s pop band Zoot (which also included singer-guitarist Rick Springfield), and Shorrock had been the lead singer of leading Australian 60s pop band The Twilights and early 1970s country rock band Axiom.
They found immediate success in Australia, but individual members had greater ambitions. Like many other Australasian groups of the period, both Axiom and Mississippi had tried to break into the UK record market without success. Remembering the indifferent reaction they had received in the UK, they decided the new band would focus on establishing themselves in the United States.
A key factor in their eventual success was their manager Glenn Wheatley, who had been the bassist in the highly-regarded Australian rock band The Masters Apprentices. Wheatley's first-hand experiences of the rip-offs in the 1960s music scene, combined with his subsequent experience working in music management in Britain and the United States in the early 1970s, enabled him to help LRB become the first Australian group to enjoy sustained commercial and chart success in the United States.
Fuelled by a very successful Australian hit single "Curiosity Killed The Cat", the band began making promotional visits to the US in 1976. This resulted in a hit single, "It's A Long Way There", which broke into the Top 30 and galvanised the commitment of the band members. More concert performances in the US followed, and in 1977 "Help Is On Its Way" (an Australian number one single) and "Happy Anniversary"[4] both narrowly missed the US Top 10. During this period McLachlan left the group and was replaced by George McArdle while lead guitarist Formosa was replaced by David Briggs.
From 1978 until 1981, Little River Band achieved six consecutive US Top 10 singles with "Reminiscing", "Lady", "Lonesome Loser", "Cool Change", "The Night Owls" and "Take It Easy On Me". During their career the band have sold more than 25 million records and scored 13 American Top 40 hits.
Bassist/vocalist Wayne Nelson joined in 1980 and is currently the lead singer. In 1981 he sang lead vocals on their top ten US hit "Night Owls". Guitarist Stephen Housden joined the band in 1981 replacing David Briggs. Housden owns the rights to the name Little River Band. He co-wrote the band's last hit in Australia "Love is a Bridge".
In 1982 Shorrock was forced out of the band and went on to pursue a solo career. He failed to make an impression in the U.S., but he had a substantial hit in Australia with a cover version of Bobby Darin's "Dream Lover".
The pressures of success and constant touring gradually took their toll on LRB and members gradually left. John Farnham replaced Shorrock in 1982 and the first single with Farnham, "The Other Guy" reached #11 in the US. Subsequent singles were only minor hits. In Australia the band continued to be popular and songs such as "Down On The Border", "Playing To Win" and "Love is a Bridge" were major hits. Farnham's popularity in Australia was increasing at this time, and he left the band to return to his solo career, achieving huge success in Australia (he was also managed by Wheatley).
Birtles left in 1983 because he did not like the direction the band was taking and he was not a fan of Farnham's onstage performance. Farnham left in 1986 to be replaced by the returning Shorrock. Goble left the group in 1990. Shorrock left again in 1996; he was offered the option to buy out the remaining members but he decided instead to take a payment. Derek Pellicci left the band in 1999.
Little River Band are considered to be among Australia's most significant bands. The "classic lineup" of the band (Birtles, Shorrock, Goble, Pellicci, Briggs and McArdle) were inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame at the 18th Annual ARIA Music Awards of 2004. They performed "Help Is On Its Way" that night.
Three founding members, Birtles, Shorrock and Goble, continue to perform reunion concerts but due to the fact they lost the rights to the name Little River Band, they appear under the name Birtles Shorrock Goble: The Original Voices of Little River Band.
"Reminiscing", written by Goble, was recognised by BMI as one of the most frequently played songs in the history of American radio, with more than four million plays to its credit. "Lady" has also accumulated more than three million plays, and Goble is the first and only Australian songwriter ever to win a Four "Million Air" award from BMI. According to Albert Goldman's biography, John Lennon named "Reminiscing" as one of his favorite songs.
Little River Band continues to work in the US and performs around 100 shows every year.
Baby Come Back
Little River Band Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Doing anything just to get you off of my mind
But when the morning comes, I'm right back where I started again
And trying to forget you is just a waste of time
Baby come back, any kind of fool could see
There was something in everything about you
Baby come back, you can blame it all on me
All day long, wearing a mask of false bravado
Trying to keep up a smile that hides a tear
But as the sun goes down, I get that empty feeling again
How I wish to God that you were here
Baby come back, any kind of fool could see
There was something in everything about you
Baby come back, you can blame it all on me
I was wrong, and I just can't live without you
Now that I put it all together
Give me the chance to make you see
Have you used up all the love in your heart
Nothing left for me, ain't there nothing left for me
Baby come back, any kind of fool could see
There was something in everything about you
Baby come back, listen baby, you can blame it all on me
I was wrong, and I just can't live without you
I was wrong, and I just can't live
Baby come back, any kind of fool could see
There was something in everything about you
Baby come back, you can blame it all on me
The lyrics to the Little River Band's song 'Baby Come Back' are a heartfelt appeal to an ex-partner to return to the relationship. The song shows the singer struggling to move on from the break-up, despite trying everything he can to forget about the other person. He spends his nights and money going out, pretending to be happy during the day, but as night comes, he is left feeling empty and alone. The lyrics convey a sense of desperation, as the singer acknowledges that he was wrong and is willing to take blame for what led to the end of the relationship. The chorus repeats the phrase ‘Baby come back,’ reinforcing the singer’s plea to his former partner to give him another chance. He acknowledges that he was a fool for not seeing what he had before and that he can’t live without this person.
The song’s verses alternate between describing the singer’s attempts to move on and his emotional distress. The line ‘wearing a mask of false bravado’ suggests that the singer is trying to appear strong and confident to the outside world, but in reality, he is filled with sadness and longing. The song’s bridge shifts the focus to the other person, asking if they have ‘used up all the love in [their] heart’ or if there is anything left for the singer. This line suggests that the singer is uncertain if the other person still has feelings for him or if he has been completely abandoned.
Overall, ‘Baby Come Back’ is a poignant portrayal of a person struggling to come to terms with a break-up and desperate to win back their ex-partner’s love. The lyrics are raw and emotional, capturing the pain and longing that can come with lost love.
Line by Line Meaning
Spending all my nights, all my money going out on the town
I'm trying to forget you by partying and spending all my money but it's not working
Doing anything just to get you off of my mind
I'm trying all kinds of things to forget you
But when the morning comes, I'm right back where I started again
I wake up the next day feeling the same as I did before
And trying to forget you is just a waste of time
Trying to forget you is pointless because I can't get you out of my mind
Baby come back, any kind of fool could see
It's obvious that I need you back
There was something in everything about you
You had a special quality about you that I can't find in anyone else
Baby come back, you can blame it all on me
It's my fault we ended things, but please come back to me
I was wrong, and I just can't live without you
I made a mistake and I can't bear to be without you
All day long, wearing a mask of false bravado
I'm pretending to be strong and confident but it's just a front
Trying to keep up a smile that hides a tear
I'm forcing myself to smile even though I'm heartbroken
But as the sun goes down, I get that empty feeling again
At night, when I'm alone, I feel painfully empty without you
How I wish to God that you were here
I'm praying for you to come back to me
Listen baby, you can blame it all on me
I'm taking the blame for our breakup and asking you to come back
Now that I put it all together
I've realized how much I need you and want you back
Give me the chance to make you see
Please give me a chance to prove my love to you
Have you used up all the love in your heart
I hope you haven't given up on love entirely
Nothing left for me, ain't there nothing left for me
I'm afraid there's no love left for me in your heart
I was wrong, and I just can't live
I messed up and I can't go on living without you
Contributed by Kennedy J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Lady469WV
Oh GOD I Love This Song!
Love how this Song reaches in and touches
My ❤ & Soul
I was Born in City of
The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame 📀
Peter Beckett of Classic Hit
With
❤ PLAYER ❤
TELL ME YOU
& THIS SONG ARE IN THERE
B Cuz
Peter’s voice is so great. Love this song. Baby come back 🎶😁
Autumn Blue
Peter is one of the most underrated songwriters, singers, and musicians of all time. This is pure fab!
David Wolcott
That's RIGHT.. Anthony go home to momma!
Linda Bergman
Yes indeed.bautiful voices and musicians 🥰👏😁💕❤️👍👍
Captain America
Yeah, he hit a home run when he wrote this song. The other songs he wrote wasn't that appealing though. He probably fell in love with some girl that dumped him, which is what made hi write such a good song. I wish he would have got dumped a bunch more times so he could have written more songs like this lol.
pyannaguy
Dude's a great singer - it's an immortal pop masterpiece.
Matthew Smith
He can still hit that high note @ 2:47! He's quite a talent. Thanks for posting this video!
Rowel Magsino
He owns that song..what a masterpiece..
Vera Malta
O tempo não apaga o verdadeiro talento! Ao contrário : mostra o que é bom! 💙❤💚💛💜
Mang Nestor
he's got a great voice even after all these years...