Baby Hold On – Eddie Money | Top 40 Chart Performance, Story and Song Meaning
Chart Performance: Pop (#11); 1978
Story Behind The Song By Ed Osborne
Young Edward Mahoney wanted to be a policeman: just like his Dad. He also heard the siren call of a singing career, so at night he hit the stage with his own band, the Grapes Of Wrath.
Ultimately, the show biz bright lights shown brighter for Eddie Money, the singer, and the 19-year-old moved from Brooklyn to Berkeley, California. There, he made the Bay Area club and talent show circuit.
After Janis Joplin’s death in October of 1970, Eddie rehearsed with her band, Big Brother & The Holding Company, only to be displaced by Nick Gravenites.
Ultimately, Eddie was spotted by concert impresario Bill Graham, who liked Eddie’s energetic, blue-collar brand of rock ‘n’ roll. The Graham connection brought Eddie to Columbia Records.
When the label thought Two Tickets To Paradise wasn’t commercial enough for single release, Eddie and guitarist Jimmy Lyon banged out Baby Hold On in just two days. It hit #11 while the follow-up Tickets peaked at #22.
This content and all Song Meaning articles were created and written by Top 40 Contributing Editor Ed Osborne. © 2024 Ed Osborne. All Rights Reserved. In addition to these song meaning articles, Ed has written our “Year in Music 1960s-1990s” articles.
Produced by:
- Bruce Botnick
Lyrics Written by:
- James Lyon
- Eddie Money
Ed Osborne
Hi. I got my first record at age two and never looked back, spending a decades-long career in radio and the music business. Even after years of reading about and listening to all types of music, I am still fascinated by it. Apart from that, I’m endlessly intrigued by art, nature, and the inner lives of people (and dogs).