Given the commercial decline Chapman suffered following the release of her second album Crossroads, "Baby Can I Hold You" also became her last top 50 hit until 1996's "Give Me One Reason".

In 1997, Irish boy band Boyzone released a cover of "Baby Can I Hold You" as a double A-side with the non-album track "Shooting Star".

A reviewer from Music Week gave Boyzone's version of "Baby Can I Hold You" three out of five, declaring it as a "teary cover", that "will be a school disco favourite.

"[15] The magazine's Alan Jones wrote, "Still leading the pack of boy bands, Boyzone are going to have a massive hit with their thoughtful and poignant cover of Baby Can I Hold You Tonight, a fine Tracy Chapman song that somehow never got the attention it deserved.

Nicely understated, with Ronan's restrained lead given depth and richness by the pleasing vocal arrangement indulged in by his fellow 'Zoners, and a mandolin.

"[16] Claudia Connell from News of the World commented, "Few groups do cover songs well-but Boyzone are the exception to the rule.