"Mama" is a song by American singer B. J. Thomas, released in March 1966 as a single from his debut album I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry. It peaked at number 22 on the Billboard Hot 100 and was later covered by British singer Dave Berry, whose version became a top-ten hit in the UK.[1][2]
| "Mama" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single by B. J. Thomas | ||||
| from the album I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry | ||||
| B-side | "Windy" | |||
| Released | March 1966 | |||
| Studio | Pasadena Sounds, Pasadena, Texas | |||
| Genre | Pop | |||
| Length | 2:45 | |||
| Label |
| |||
| Songwriter(s) | Mark Charron | |||
| Producer(s) | Music Enterprises | |||
| B. J. Thomas singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
Background and release
edit"Mama" was written by Mark Charron and details the devotion of a son to their mother. It was B. J. Thomas' follow-up to his top-ten hit "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry" and was produced by Huey P. Meaux, credited as his company Music Enterprises. The single was originally released in March 1966 on Meaux's label Pacemaker Records, but was later released in May 1966 on Scepter Records, whereupon it became a hit, reaching the top thirty in the US and topping the chart in Australia.[1][3]
BIllboard described it as a "nostalgic easy-rocker with top Thomas vocal replaces his hit "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry."", whilst Cash Box described it as a "haunting, easy-going praise-filled ode to all the mothers in the world."[4][5]
Charts
edit| Chart (1966) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australia (Kent Music Report)[3] | 1 |
| Canada Top Singles (RPM)[6] | 12 |
| US Billboard Hot 100[1] | 22 |
| US Cash Box Top 100[7] | 15 |
Dave Berry version
edit| "Mama" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single by Dave Berry | ||||
| from the album The Special Sound of Dave Berry | ||||
| B-side | "Walk, Walk, Talk, Talk" | |||
| Released | 17 June 1966 | |||
| Studio | Decca Studios, London | |||
| Genre | Pop | |||
| Length | 2:46 | |||
| Label | Decca | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Mark Charron | |||
| Producer(s) | Mike Smith | |||
| Dave Berry singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
English musician Dave Berry released his version as a single in June 1966 which became his final top-ten single.[2] Berry also sang the song in the film The Ghost Goes Gear.[8]
Reviewed in Record Mirror, "Mama" was described as "a slightly surprising selection – a well-sung and finely accompanied (by Ivor Raymonde) treatment of the ultra-sentimental song currently a big hit in the States via B. J. Thomas. As ever, Dave invests the song with a sense of style and drama."[9] John Wells for New Musical Express described it as "a great performance of this plaintive number by a singer who seems jinxed as far as the British charts are concerned."[10]
Charts
edit| Chart (1966) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[11] | 1 |
| Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[12] | 15 |
| Ireland (IRMA)[13] | 6 |
| Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[14] | 16 |
| Netherlands (Single Top 100)[15] | 17 |
| UK Disc and Music Echo Top 50[16] | 5 |
| UK Melody Maker Top 50[17] | 4 |
| UK New Musical Express Top 30[18] | 4 |
| UK Record Retailer Top 50[2] | 5 |
Other cover versions
edit- In 1983, Brian and Michael with St Winifred's School Choir released a cover of the song as a single, which peaked at number 93 on the UK Singles Chart.[19]
References
edit- ^ a b c "B.J. Thomas Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
- ^ a b c "DAVE BERRY | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". www.officialcharts.com. Retrieved 2022-10-03.
- ^ a b Kent, David (2005). Australian Chart Book 1940–1969. Australian Chart Book Pty Ltd, Turramurra, N.S.W. ISBN 0-646-44439-5.
- ^ "Spotlight Singles" (PDF). Billboard. 7 May 1966. p. 18. Retrieved 3 October 2022.
- ^ "Record Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. 7 May 1966. p. 20. Retrieved 3 October 2022.
- ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 5762." RPM. Library and Archives Canada.
- ^ "Cash Box Top 100 Singles – Week ending June 25, 1966". Cash Box magazine. Retrieved 3 October 2022.
- ^ "The Ghost Goes Gear (1966) - IMDb". IMDb. Retrieved 2022-10-03.
- ^ "New Singles" (PDF). Record Mirror. 18 June 1966. p. 9. Retrieved 4 October 2022.
- ^ "Singles" (PDF). New Musical Express. 17 June 1966. p. 4. Retrieved 4 October 2022.
- ^ "Dave Berry – Mama" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
- ^ "Dave Berry – Mama" (in French). Ultratop 50.
- ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Mama". Irish Singles Chart.
- ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – Dave Berry" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40.
- ^ "Dave Berry – Mama" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
- ^ "Top 50". Disc and Music Echo. 3 September 1966. p. 3.
- ^ "Pop 50". Melody Maker. 27 August 1966. p. 2.
- ^ "NME Top 30". New Musical Express. 19 August 1966.
- ^ "BRIAN & MICHAEL | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". www.officialcharts.com. Retrieved 2022-10-04.
