"Babies" was first released as a single for Gift Records in 1992, accompanied by a music video directed by Cocker.

This new EP release became a top 20 hit when re-released in 1994, peaking at number 19 on the UK Singles Chart.

It was goodbye to the long, dark midnight of the soul, the Eurodisco with gothic leanings or whatever, and more of the recognisable Pulp of today, I suppose.

Ben Hewitt of The Guardian described the song as "an awkward kind of Bildungsroman: a coming-of-age story full of lust, betrayal and remorse about one youth's transition from sex-struck fledgling to guilty cad.

"[5] Musically, the song was noted by Ryan Leas of Stereogum for its "new wave-y guitar and synths," which he pointed to as a departure from Pulp's earlier work.

"[7] Island Records had the band make another video to promote The Sisters EP, extracts from which have been used in the stage backdrops for Pulp's 2011/2012 reunion gigs.

An early version of "Babies" was recorded with producer and former Pulp member Simon Hinkler, but it was passed over for single release in favor of "O.U.

"[8] The first single release of the song, according to Cocker, "was recorded in the Fallout Shelter, underneath Island's Chiswick head office.

A remixed version is featured on the His 'n' Hers album, while the original single mix appeared on the Intro – The Gift Recordings and Hits compilations.

"Babies" was later re-released as the lead track from Pulp's The Sisters EP—"due to public and record company demand," according to Cocker.

The EP was commercially successful, reaching number 19 in the UK, becoming the band's highest charting release to that point.

At the time of the song's release, reviewer David Bennun called the track, "budget magnificence... a blueprint for an epic to be constructed in a more liquid future"—to which Cocker responded, "That's quite a laff, that!

[16] All tracks written and composed by Jarvis Cocker, Russell Senior, Steve Mackey, Nick Banks and Candida Doyle.