"Babies Having Babies"
Single by Terry Tate
A-side"Babies Having Babies"
B-side"Babies Having Babies (Instrumental)"
Released1989
Length6:01 (Extended Club / Radio Version)
3:42
LabelTrumpet Records TR-166
Atlantic 7-88814
Composer(s)T. Tate, P. Kyser, R. Youngblood
Terry Tate singles chronology
"Babies Having Babies"
(1989)		 "My Eyes Cry"
(1990)

"Babies Having Babies" is a 1989 single by Terry Tate. A top-ten hit on the Billboard R&B singles chart, it also reached the Cash Box R&B singles chart.

Background

The song is about teenage pregnancy.[1]

The song was written by Terry Tate, Paul Kyser and R. Youngblood. It was produced by Kyser. It was released in 12"-format on Trumpet Records TR-66.[2]

Tate, a former New Jersey high school teacher, used what he had learnt about his 14 and 15-year-old students being parents to write the song.[3] In a 2015 article in the Dallas Morning News about the trend of underage pregnancy in Dallas, the song is mentioned. The words in the song include, "Babies are having babies / Yes, they are. / We must be crazy / To let our babies have babies".[4] It was later released on Atlantic 7-88814 in a 7" format.[5]

It was noted by Billboard in the August 26 issue that it was making an impression in many markets that it was picked up for major release. It was now on 7" on Atlantic 7–88814.[6] Atlantic ran an ad in the August 25 issue of Radio & Records picturing Tate with the caption "If you really care about your audience, Please play..."Babies Having Babies".[7] The magazine also listed it as a breaker with 63% of their reporting stations on it.[8]

Reviews

John O'Day of WMML in Mobile, Alabama said that Tate had come up with a timely message and the radio audience would be cheated if it wasn't heard.[9]

It was reviewed in the June 10 issue of Billboard. Referring to the record as having a timely topic, the reviewer noted that it was slowly getting recognition on radio and that it could be a sleeper.[10]

In the New Releases section of the June 30 issue of The Gavin Report by Betty Hollers and Brian Samson, Tate's smooth vocals and song invoking intense emotions were noted. It was regarded as perfect summertime addition with crossover eppeal. The previous week, Dennis Scott of KDKO had called in his report and remarked that the song was blowing people away.[11]

Airplay

On the week of May 18, Black Radio Exclusive reported that the song was an add on at WILA and WVST.[12] On the week of August 25, Radio & Records showed the track as receiving a good amount of airplay with most of the action being in the Midwest and South.[13]

Charts

For the week of July 22, 1989, "Babies Having Babies" made its debut at no. 80 in the Cash Box Top R&B Singles chart.[14] On October 7 at week twelve, the record reached its peak position at no. 14.[15][16]

The song also made it to no. 10 on the Billboard R&B chart, spending a total of 18 weeks on the chart.[17][18]

It also registered in the R&B Report R&B chart,[19] The R&B Report Quiet Storm chart,[20] Hitmakers Urban Top 40 chart,[21] Black Radio Exclusive Singles chart[22] and Radio & Record Urban Contemporary chart.[23]

1989 Chart summary
Chart Peak Period Wks Notes #
Cash Box Top R&B Singles 14[24][25] 19[26][27]
Billboard Hot Black Singles 10[28][29] 18[30]
The R&B Report The R&B Chart 15[31][32][33] 5[34][35]
Jet Jet's Top 20 Singles 7[36][37] Sept 11 - Oct 16[38][39][40][41] First charting period
* Name mispelt as Teddy Tate
Jet Jet's Top 20 Singles 9[42][43] Oct. 30 - Nov. 27[44][45][46][47] Second charting period
Radio & Records Urban Contemporary 17[48][49] Aug. 18[50] - Sept 29.[51]
Year end charts
Chart Number Year Notes #
R&B Report Quiet Storm Top 50 1989 8 1989 [52]

Other info

  • Publisher - Micro-Mini / Chatterback, BMI[53]

Later years

The song appears on the CD album, Babies Having Babies released on Collectables COL-5704 in 1996.[54]

References

  1. ↑ Dallas Morning News, Sep 25, 2015 - NEWS, Letting our babies have babies really is crazy
  2. ↑ Billboard, June 10, 1989 - Page 73 Single Reviews, BLACK, RECOMMENDED
  3. ↑ Jet, November 13, 1989 - Page 57 People Are Talking About...
  4. ↑ Dallas Morning News, Sep 25, 2015 - NEWS, Letting our babies have babies really is crazy
  5. ↑ Billboard, - Page 30 FOR WEEK ENDING OCTOBER 28, 1989, Billboard ® HOT BLACK SINGLES, THIS WEEK 82, LAST WEEK, 44, 2 WEEKS AGO 30< WKS. ON CHART 17]
  6. ↑ Billboard, August 26, 1989 - Page 87 Single Reviews, BLACK, RECOMMENDED
  7. ↑ Radio & Records, Issue Number 803 August 25, 1989 - Page 47 IF YOU REALLY CARE ABOUT YOUR AUDIENCE, PLEASE PLAY... "BABIES HAVING BABIES
  8. ↑ Radio & Records, Issue Number 803 August 25, 1989 - Page 68 URBAN NATIONAL AIRPLAY, BREAKERS
  9. ↑ Black Radio Exclusive, Volume XIV No. 17 May 12, 1989 - Page 21 Programmers Poll, SOUTHEAST, JOHN O'DAY, WMML/Mobile, AL
  10. ↑ Billboard, June 10, 1989 - Page 73 Single Reviews, BLACK, RECOMMENDED
  11. ↑ The Gavin Report, Issue 1763 June 30, 1989 - Page 21 NEW RELEASESby Betty Hollers and Brian Samson
  12. ↑ Black Radio Exclusive, Volume XIV No. 17 May 12, 1989 - Page 27 REGIONAL RADIO REPORT, The following reports reflect new adds to the stations listed from the cut off of reports on Tuesdays.
  13. ↑ Radio & Records, Issue Number 803 August 25, 1989 - Page 70 UC ADDS & HOTS
  14. ↑ Cash Box, July 22, 1989 - Page 23 CASH BOX CHARTS, TOP R&B SINGLES 80 BABIES HAVING BABIES (Trumpet 166) Terry Tate DEBUT
  15. ↑ Cash Box, October 7, 1989 - Page 13 CASH BOX CHARTS, TOP R&B SINGLES, 14 BABIES HAVING BABIES (Trumpet 166) Terry Tate 16 12
  16. ↑ Cash Box, October 14, 1989 - Page 29 CASH BOX CHARTS, TOP R&B SINGLES, 14 BABIES HAVING BABIES (Trumpet 166) Terry Tate 14 13
  17. ↑ Music VF.com - Terry Tate by Terry Tate, Babies Having Babies
  18. ↑ rareandobscuremusic, December 12, 1989 - Terry Tate
  19. ↑ The R&B Report, Aug. 28 - Sept. 10, 1989 Vol. 3 No. 12 - Page 6 THE R&B CHART
  20. ↑ The R&B Report, July 31 - August 13 Vol. 3 No. 10 - Page 37 QUIET STORM CHART, 2W 16, LW 15, TW 10, WOC 10
  21. ↑ Hitmakers, Issue 608 October 6, 1989 - Page 25 NATIONAL CHARTS, URBAN TOP40, 44-49
  22. ↑ Black Radio Exclusive, Volume XIV No. 33 September 8, 1989 - Page 11 BRE SINGLES CHART, S E P T E M B E R 8, 1 9 8 9, TW 13, LW 33, WOC 10
  23. ↑ Radio & Records, Issue Number 803 August 25, 1989 - Page 100 THE BACK PAGE® NATIONAL AIRPLAY OVERVIEW, URBAN CONTEMPORARY
  24. ↑ Cash Box, October 7, 1989 - Page 13 CASH BOX CHARTS, TOP R&B SINGLES, 14 BABIES HAVING BABIES (Trumpet 166) Terry Tate 16 12
  25. ↑ Cash Box, October 14, 1989 - Page 29 CASH BOX CHARTS, TOP R&B SINGLES, 14 BABIES HAVING BABIES (Trumpet 166) Terry Tate 14 13
  26. ↑ Cash Box, November 25, 1989 - Page 33 CASH BOX CHARTS, TOP R&B SINGLES, November 25, 1989
  27. ↑ Cash Box, December 2, 1989 - Page 15 CASH BOX CHARTS, TOP R&B SINGLES, December 2, 1989
  28. ↑ Music VF.com - Terry Tate by Terry Tate, Babies Having Babies
  29. ↑ Billboard, October 7, 1989 - Page 26 Billboard. Hot Black Singles SALES & AIRPLAY
  30. ↑ rareandobscuremusic, December 12, 1989 - Terry Tate
  31. ↑ The R&B Report, Aug. 28 - Sept. 10, 1989 Vol. 3 No. 12 - Page 6 The R&B Chart, 2W 36 LW 33 TW 38 WOC 1
  32. ↑ The R&B Report, Sept. 25 - Oct. 8, 1989 Vol. 3 No. 14 - Page 6 THE R&B CHART, 2W 20 LW 18 TW 15 WOC 5
  33. ↑ The R&B Report, October 9–22, 1989 Vol. 3 No. 15 - The R&B Chart, --
  34. ↑ The R&B Report, Sept. 25 - Oct. 8, 1989 Vol. 3 No. 14 - Page 6 THE R&B CHART, 2W 20 LW 18 TW 15 WOC 5
  35. ↑ The R&B Report, October 9–22, 1989 Vol. 3 No. 15 - The R&B Chart, --
  36. ↑ Jet, Sept. 25, 1989 - Page 64 JET'S TOP 20 SINGLES, 19
  37. ↑ Jet, Oct. 2, 1989 - JET'S TOP 20 SINGLES, 7
  38. ↑ Jet, Sept 4. 1989 - Page 64 JET'S TOP 20 SINGLES --
  39. ↑ Jet, Sept. 11, 1989 - Page 64 JET'S TOP 20 SINGLES, 19
  40. ↑ Jet, Oct. 16, 1989 - Page 63 JET'S TOP 20 SINGLES, 9 *
  41. ↑ Jet, Oct 23, 1989 - Page 64 JET'S TOP 20 SINGLES --
  42. ↑ Jet, Oct. 30, 1989 - Page 64 JET'S TOP 20 SINGLES, 9
  43. ↑ Jet, Nov 6, 1989 - Page 64 JET'S TOP 20 SINGLES, 13
  44. ↑ Jet, Oct 23, 1989 - Page 64 --
  45. ↑ Jet, Oct. 30, 1989 - Page 64 JET'S TOP 20 SINGLES, 9
  46. ↑ Jet, Nov. 27, 1989 - Page 64 JET'S TOP 20 SINGLES, 17
  47. ↑ Jet, Dec. 4, 1989 - Page 64 --
  48. ↑ Radio and Records, Issue number 806 September 15, 1989 - Page 148 R&R THE BACK PAGE' NATIONAL AIRPLAY OVERVIEW, URBAN CONTEMPORARY, 3 WKS 29, 2 WKS 25, LW 31, TW 17
  49. ↑ Radio & Records, Issue number 807 September 22, 1989 - Page 100 R&R THE BACK PAGE' NATIONAL AIRPLAY OVERVIEW, URBAN CONTEMPORARY, 3 WKS 25 2 WKS 21, LW 17, TW 19
  50. ↑ Radio & Records, Issue number 802 August 18, 1989 - Page 104 R&R THE BACK PAGE' NATIONAL AIRPLAY OVERVIEW, URBAN CONTEMPORARY, DEBUT > 34
  51. ↑ Radio & Records, Issue number 808 September 29, 1989 - Page 88 R&R THE BACK PAGE' NATIONAL AIRPLAY OVERVIEW, URBAN CONTEMPORARY, 3 WKS 21, 2 WKS 17, LW 19, TW 39
  52. ↑ R&B Report Year End Special, December 18–31, 1989 Vol. 3 No. 18 - Page 50 QUIET STORM TOP 50 1989, Position 8
  53. ↑ Billboard, August 26, 1989 - Page 87 Single Reviews, BLACK, RECOMMENDED
  54. ↑ Amazon - Babies Having Babies, Terry Tate
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