Baby You Know

Although successful in their own country, Baby You Know's international profile is largely confined to fans of Australian cult heroes the Go-Betweens. The Go-Betweens co-frontman Robert Forster produced and performed on some of the band's recordings and his wife, Karin Baumler, was at one time a violinist and part-time vocalist for the group. Formed in 1989 in Regensburg, Germany, Baby You Know had a shifting lineup throughout its existence, with vocalist/lyricist Erhard Grundl, guitarist Michael Schott, and bassist Robert Poschl forming the core. After their debut vinyl-only album To Live Is to Fly, Baby You Know added guitarist Archie Muller and returned with Last Night at the Kino Bar, an album that was nominated for Deutsche Schallplattenpreis, a prestigious German critics' award, in 1995. A 1996 EP was released nationally by German retailer World of Music, but despite Baby You Know's popularity at home, they had difficulty breaking out into the international market. Subsequent albums found the band drawn increasingly toward country music and Americana, which seemingly placed them in a position to benefit from the burgeoning No Depression movement, but without a U.S. record deal, success proved elusive. Following a 1997 concert in Memphis, TN, the band broke up and the members pursued separate projects. Erhard Grundl's recordings as a solo artist have also featured guest appearances by Robert Forster. Archie Muller toured the U.S. in 1999 and self-released a number of home and studio recordings, while Schott and Poschl formed the band Chief Joseph and drummer Sami Qreini joined Silverado. ~ Greg Adams, Rovi