"Baby, I Love Your Way" is a song written and performed by English singer Peter Frampton, released as a single in September 1975. It first featured on Frampton's fourth album, Frampton (1975), where it segues from the previous track "Nassau".
A live version of the song was later released on his 1976 multi-platinum album Frampton Comes Alive!, where it gained popularity as a hit song, peaking at number 12 on the US Billboard Hot 100. It also reached number three in Canada.
Billboard described the live version as an "easy rocker" and said that the portion of the song where Frampton sings the title lyrics made "an effective hook." Cash Box called it "an excellent tune" explaining that "primarily, this is an acoustic tune, and Frampton sings with sensitivity over the soft backing." Record World said that although the studio single released the prior year didn't sell well, "this single is...headed for the top."
In 2017, Frampton discussed this song while talking to lawmakers in Washington, D.C. about inequitable revenue payments from streaming music services like iTunes and Spotify. "For 55 million streams of 'Baby I Love Your Way', I got $1,700," said Frampton. "Their jaws dropped and they asked me to repeat that for them."
Contents
Track listing
7-inch single – United States (1975)
"Baby, I Love Your Way" – 3:17 (Edited from the LP version that runs 4:43)
"(I'll Give You) Money" – 4:35
Live version
7-inch single – United States (1976)
"Baby, I Love Your Way" – 3:28 (Edited from the LP version that runs 4:43)
"It's a Plain Shame" – 4:21
Will to Power version
The American neo-disco group Will to Power recorded a medley of "Baby, I Love Your Way" and "Free Bird", which reached No. 1 in the US.
Big Mountain version
American reggae/pop band Big Mountain released a cover of "Baby, I Love Your Way" in February 1994, which appeared on the soundtrack of the film Reality Bites, starring Winona Ryder, Ethan Hawke and Ben Stiller. This version, released via Giant, RCA and BMG, achieved major worldwide success, reaching numbers two and six on the US Cash Box Top 100 and Billboard Hot 100 charts, respectively, and number two on the UK Singles Chart. The single reached the top 10 in many countries across Europe, including topping the charts of Denmark, Spain, and Sweden. It also reached the top five in Australia and New Zealand, as well as in Canada, where it peaked at number two. The accompanying music video for the song was directed by Matti Leshem and premiered in April 1994.
Critical reception
Larry Flick from Billboard magazine reviewed the song favorably, calling it an "earthy rendition" that is "right in the pocket of current trends." Dr. Bayyan from Cash Box wrote, "This song deals with the beauty of the subject that the group is focusing on. The lyrics are very intense and spiritual and are enhanced by the raw string and wind instruments which captivate the imagination." Fell and Rufer from the Gavin Report noted that this cover "has teeth" and "could be big." Pan-European magazine Music & Media commented, "Another '70s pop classic has come out of the reggae grinder to enjoy its second youth in the '90s. Peter Frampton wrote it, not knowing that one day it would appear in the Reality Bites film." Alan Jones from Music Week gave it a score of four out of five, adding that "this is a lightweight reggae cover", and it "is definitely in a summery mood." In Smash Hits, it was named Best New Single with five out of five by E.Y.C..
Track listing
CD single – Europe (1994)
"Baby, I Love Your Way" – 4:28
"Baby, I Love Your Way" (6 Point 6 on the Richter Scale mix) – 6:54
"Baby, te quiero a tí" – 4:40
Personnel
Quino – lead and backing vocals
Tony Chin – guitar
Warren Hill – alto saxophone
Abraham Laboriel – bass guitar
Aaron Zigman – rhythm track arrangement, programming, and keyboards
John Goux – acoustic guitar
Steve Forman – percussion
John Robinson, Abraham Laboriel, Jr. – drums
Larry Williams – flute, tenor saxophone
Jerry Hey – trumpet
Bill Reichenbach Jr. – trombone
Erik Hansen – additional programming
James McWhinney – background vocals
Ron Fair – producer, arranger, engineer, "Duane Eddy" guitar
Tom Lord-Alge – mixing
Dave Betancourt – assistant mix engineer
Jeff Aldrich – executive producer
Walter Jackson version
American soul ballad singer Walter Jackson released a cover of the song in 1977. It reached number 19 on the US R&B chart.