Hang On in There Baby

For the poster and catchphrase, see Hang in there, Baby.

"Hang On in There Baby" is a song written by American musician Johnny Bristol and arranged by H. B. Barnum as the title track from his first album. It was released as his debut solo single in 1974, reaching No. 8 on the U.S. Hot 100^[2] and No. 2 on the U.S. R&B chart.^[3] In the UK, it reached No. 3.^[4]

"Hang on in There Baby"
Single by Johnny Bristol
from the album Hang On in There Baby
B-side	"Take Care of You for Me"
Released	June 1974
Recorded	1974
Genre	Soul[1]
Length	3:23
Label	MGM
Songwriter(s)	Johnny Bristol
Producer(s)	Johnny Bristol
Music video
"Hang On In There Baby": TopPop on YouTube

Chart history

Weekly charts Chart (1974) Peak position Canada RPM Top Singles[5] 3 Ireland (IRMA)[6] 20 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[7] 10 UK Singles (OCC)[4] 3 US Billboard Hot 100[8] 8 US Billboard Hot Soul Singles[9] 2 US Cash Box Top 100[10] 8

Year-end charts Chart (1974) Rank Canada[11] 56 UK Singles[12] 35 US Billboard Hot 100[13] 61 US Cash Box[14] 35

Curiosity version

"Hang On in There Baby"
Vinyl cover
Single by Curiosity
from the album Back to Front
B-side	"Meaning of Dreaming"
Released	1992 (1992)
Length	3:08
Label	RCA
Songwriter(s)	Johnny Bristol
Producer(s)	Mark Taylor, Terry Adams
Curiosity singles chronology
"First Place" (1989) "Hang On in There Baby" (1992) "I Need Your Lovin'" (1992)

A cover version was released in 1992 by English band Curiosity Killed the Cat, whose name was shortened to Curiosity starting from this release. The lead single from their third album Back to Front (1994) under RCA Records, the song is the band's joint biggest hit alongside "Down to Earth", peaking at No. 3 on the UK Singles Chart.^[15]

Track listings

7-inch and cassette

1. "Hang On in There Baby" – 3:08
2. "Meaning of Dreaming" – 4:20

12-inch

1. "Hang On in There Baby" (Extended Club Mix) – 4:52
2. Hang On in There Baby (After Hours Mix) – 3:52
3. Hang On in There Baby (Dub Mix) – 3:52
4. "Meaning of Dreaming" – 4:20

CD single

1. Hang On in There Baby (7" Version) – 3:08
2. "Hang On in There Baby" (Extended Club Mix) – 4:52
3. "Meaning of Dreaming" – 4:20

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (1992) Peak position Australia (ARIA)[16] 127 Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[17] 38 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[18] 38 Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[19] 8 Germany (GfK)[20] 42 Ireland (IRMA)[21] 10 Italy (Musica e dischi)[22] 23 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[23] 32 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[24] 31 UK Singles (OCC)[15] 3

Year-end charts Chart (1992) Position UK Singles (OCC)[25] 65

Gary Barlow version

"Hang On in There Baby"
Song by Gary Barlow
from the album Open Road
Released	May 26, 1997 (1997-05-26)
Recorded	1996
Genre	Pop
Length	3:38
Label	BMG, RCA, Arista
Songwriter(s)	Johnny Bristol
Producer(s)	Trevor Horn

"Hang On in There Baby"
Single by Gary Barlow featuring Rosie Gaines
B-side	"A Million Love Songs" (live)
Released	April 3, 1998 (1998-04-03)
Genre	Pop
Length	3:44
Label	BMG, RCA
Songwriter(s)	Johnny Bristol
Producer(s)	Mike Rose, Nick Foster
Gary Barlow singles chronology
"Superhero" (1998) "Hang On in There Baby" (1998) "Stronger" (1999)

Barlow recorded the song in 1996, during recording sessions for his first solo work, Open Road. Although it was included on the British version of the album, it was never released as a single in the UK. In America, it was the third single off the record and was also released as a single in Germany, and to radio in the Netherlands due its popularity. The single version features vocals from American singer Rosie Gaines.^[26]

When Barlow started touring in promotion of Open Road, he hired Rosie Gaines as a support act. While on tour, he decided to record a new version of "Hang On in There Baby" featuring Gaines, which he intended to use for performance only. However, following a record deal with Arista and a plan to release Open Road in America, he and Gaines recorded a studio version for the album. On April 3, 1998, he released the duet version as the third American single from Open Road, and also issued it in the Netherlands. When Barlow's video album, Open Book, was released in the United Kingdom in June 1998, an accompanying single given away with the video featured the duet version of "Hang On in There Baby" as its lead track; the duet version had previously been unavailable in the UK.

Music video

The music video features footage of Barlow and Gaines performing the song on the Open Road tour, as well as backstage footage featuring Barlow's home life and rehearsals. A snippet of the video was included on Open Book; however, the full video has never been commercially released.

Track listing

• America

1. "Hang On in There Baby" (featuring Rosie Gaines) - 3:44
2. "A Million Love Songs" (Live) - 4:55

• Netherlands

1. "Hang On in There Baby" (featuring Rosie Gaines) - 3:44
2. "Hang On in There Baby" - 3:37
3. "My Commitment" (Soulshock Mix) - 4:30
4. "Hard to Handle" (Live) - 3:03
5. "A Million Love Songs" (Live) - 4:55

• Open Book single

1. "Hang On in There Baby" (featuring Rosie Gaines) - 3:44
2. "My Commitment" (Soulshock Mix) - 4:30
3. "Hard to Handle" (Live) - 3:03
4. "A Million Love Songs" (Live) - 4:55

Charts

Chart (1998)	Peak position
Europe (European Hit Radio)[27]	44
Germany (GfK)[28]	69
Poland (Music & Media)[29]	5

Other versions

• In 1979, American singer Bette Midler, for her fifth album Thighs and Whispers.
• In 1980, American disco girl group Alton McClain and Destiny, for their second album More of You. This features the vocals of Johnny Bristol.
• In 1993, American hip hop musician K7, for his debut album Swing Batta Swing.
• In 2000, British boy band Worlds Apart, in their CD single I Will Part 2.
• In 2005, X Factor winner Steve Brookstein, for his debut album Heart and Soul.
• In 2015, English boy band Blue, for their fifth album Colours.