Adrian Baker

Adrian Baker (born 18 January 1951) is an English singer, songwriter, and record producer.

Career Baker made his debut as a singer on Magnet Records/Epic Records in the United Kingdom. In 1975, he released his first solo album, Into a Dream (MAG 5009). From that album, he had one hit with "Sherry" a cover of the Four Seasons hit on the UK Singles Chart reaching No. 10 in July 1975, and performed several times on the BBC Television's Top of the Pops programme. As a record producer, Baker is known for his dance hit productions with the group Liquid Gold.

He twice attempted to write the UK's entry for the Eurovision Song Contest, reaching the A Song For Europe final in both 1979 and 1981. His first finalist song, "Miss Caroline Newley", performed by the band M Squad finished 11th of the 12 in 1979. But in 1981, his song "Don't Panic", performed by Liquid Gold, finished in second place and had the rare distinction of being a losing song from the A Song For Europe contest to make the UK Singles Chart, reaching No. 42.

Baker, with his band Gidea Park, recorded a version of the Beach Boys "California Girls" for the James Bond film, A View to a Kill. It was featured in the opening sequence with Bond snowboarding. It has been suggested that this teaser sequence helped initiate interest in snowboarding.

In the United States, he is best known for being the falsetto voice for the touring Beach Boys band from 1981 to 1982, 1990 to 1993, and 1998 to 2004. Baker was also a member of The Four Seasons with Frankie Valli from 1994 to 1995. In 2006, Baker released his sixth solo album, Runaway Tracks.

On 19 March 2011, Baker was presented with the Key to the City of Hickory, North Carolina, United States, for his efforts raising money for education. Baker was Honorary Chairman of the Hickory Rotary Club's Rotarian Idol Education Scholarship competition for the second consecutive year. He is currently touring with the band Papa Doo Run Run.

Tenure

The Pebbles – 1969–1971 Playground – 1972–1975 Adrian Baker Band – 1975–1980 Gidea Park – 1981–1989 The Beach Boys – 1981–1982 The Beach Boys – 1990–1993 Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons – 1994–1995 The Beach Boys – 1998–2004 Papa Doo Run Run – 2004–present Baker Street – present

Discography

Albums Into a Dream (Magnet/Epic Records) MAG 5009 · 1975 Gidea Park (Polo Records) POLP 102 · November 1981 (as Gidea Park) ABCD (AKB Records) AKB-1 · 1991 Everyone Needs Someone at Xmas (ABP Records) ABP 101 · 2003 Surfer's Paradise (ABP Records) ABP 102 · 2004 The Christmas Song EP (ABP Records) ABP 101-B · 2005 Runaway Tracks (ABP Records) ABP 111 · 2006 California Girls (ABP Records) ABP 300 · 2010 Gold Medleys (ABP Records) ABP 301 · 2011 Summer of Gold (ABP Records) ABP 302 · 2013 Into A Dream 50th Anniversary Edition (ABP Records) ABP 50 • 2026

Singles "Sherry" / "I Was Only Fooling" · Magnet Records (MAG 34) · July 1975 "Candy Baby" / "Dance To It" · Magnet Records (MAG 41) · 1975 "White Christmas" / "Leave Me Alone" · Magnet Records (Mag 52) · (as The Tonics) · December 1975 "Don't Do It" / "So You Think You've Got It Made" · Magnet Records (MAG 61) · 9 April 1976 "Why Haven't I Heard From You" / "Vibrations" · Magnet Records (MAG 77) · 22 October 1976 "Adrian Baker E.P." (A-Side (1) "Work, Work, Work" (2) "Marlena" B-Side (1) "Look for a Miracle" (2) "Cry Baby Cry")· Magnet Records (Mag) 117 · 1978 "I'll Keep You Satisfied" / "Feel Like Dancing" · MCA (MCA 395) · 1978 "Beach Boy Gold" / "Lady Be Good" · Stone (Son 2162) · (as Gidea Park) · 1978 - AUS No. 49 "The Boogie Romance" / "From Me To You" · Ariola (Aro 167) 1979 "California Gold" / "Summer Girls" · Polo Records (POLO 12-5) (as Aero) · August 1980 "High Time" / "High Time" (instrumental) · Polo Records (POLO 12-7) · April 1981 "Beach Boy Gold" / "Lady Be Good" · Stone (Son) 2162. (as Gidea Park) · July 1981 (re-issued in picture sleeve) "Don't Worry Baby" / "Happy Birthday Brian Wilson" · Polo Records (POLO 11) · August 1981 (withdrawn) "Seasons of Gold" / "Lolita" · Polo Records (POLO 14) (as Gidea Park) · September 1981 (issued in picture sleeve) "California Gold" / "Summer Girls" · Polo Records (POLO 16) · (as Gidea Park) · 1982 "Lightning Strikes" / "Baby Come Back" · Polo Records (POLO 12–18) · (as Gidea Park) · January 1982 - AUS No. 82 "Beach Boy Gold" · No. 11 UK; on chart for 13 weeks · 1981 "Seasons of Gold" · No. 28 UK; on chart for six weeks · 1981 · #82 on Billboard Hot 100 (January 1982)

With Liquid Gold All songs produced, arranged, written, and engineered by Adrian Baker "Anyway You Do It" · No. 41 UK; on the chart for seven weeks · 1978 "My Baby's Baby" · No. 45 US; on the chart for six weeks · 1978 "Dance Yourself Dizzy" · No. 2 UK; on chart for 14 weeks · 1980 "Substitute" · No. 8 UK; on chart for nine weeks · 1980 "The Night, The Wine and The Roses" · No. 32 UK; on chart for seven weeks · 1980 Liquid Gold (album) · No. 34 UK; on the chart for three weeks · 1980 "Don't Panic" · No. 42 UK; on the chart for five weeks · 1981