British prog rock band Babe Ruth, active from 1971 to 1976, unexpectedly became pioneers of dance music when their song "The Mexican" was embraced by New York breakdancers and later covered by Jellybean Benitez in 1984, reaching number one on the US dance chart. This accidental crossover was remarkable because the band viewed itself strictly as progressive rockers, with bassist Dave Hewitt recalling his shock at discovering their track being played as dance music in a Montreal nightclub in 1975.

The quintet, led by guitarist and songwriter Alan Shacklock and featuring vocalist Janita Haan's distinctive voice, released their debut album "First Base" in 1972 with songs spanning six to eight minutes featuring lush orchestral arrangements. Key tracks included "Wells Fargo," "Black Dog," and the standout "The Mexican," which incorporated a riff from Ennio Morricone's "For A Few Dollars More." Critics noted that the band remained difficult to categorise, straddling hard rock, progressive rock, and folk influences, and ultimately became a "what if" band that, despite talented musicians and songwriters, never achieved the commercial success their artistry seemed to warrant.