Angelyne (Baby Blue) - "Rock 'n Roll Rebel"/"Fantasy Man
L.A. icon Angelyne needs no introduction, though we thoroughly enjoyed speaking at length with the self-proclaimed Billboard Queen last year about her pop culture and music history. While never making national or international pop charts with her music, Angelyne — arguably a 20th Century pioneer in being “famous for being famous” — has nonetheless steadily contributed to a recorded body of work that includes songs like “Too Much to Touch”, “Emotional”, Kiss Me L.A., and “My List”.
But before the seemingly ubiquitous billboards, TV and movie appearances, and solo releases, there was Angelyne’s brief stint in an L.A. band called Baby Blue. In 1978, the band put out its first (and apparently only) recording — the seven-inch “Rock ‘n Roll Rebel” /“Fantasy Man” single. Record Collector News notes that “most copies of this record were distributed in England and are now ultra-rare and highly sought-after collectibles.”
In 2018, Angelyne shared the following background to this rare single with WMF, and why the L.A. band’s lone release came out of England :
“The Baby Blue record was the first thing that I recorded. My boyfriend at the time, Jordan, had the band, and he had already recorded [the music]. It had my voice on it. I did it in three takes, which was amazing. It went to England because Jordan thought that all these bands went to England first, made it there, and then would make it here. It was a silly thing, but cute. “
Side B of our copy of Angelyne/Baby Blue’s 1978 7-inch single
Fortunately, we’ve managed to procure a copy of the rare record, which happily occupies a well-deserved place in our ever-growing collection of weird wax. Decidedly more punk-tinged than the majority of Angelyne’s ensuing musical offerings, this fascinating 20th Century cultural artifact offers a glimpse into the first chapter of the future Billboard Queen’s remarkable career. Enjoy!
