by Madeline Bocaro
© Madeline Bocaro, 2024. No part of this site may be reproduced or re-blogged in whole or in part, in any manner without permission.
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HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY!
Not all women are good mothers, but let’s celebrate them all today…
Let’s start with ‘My Mammy’ by Al Jolson, who performs the song in the finale of the 1927 film The Jazz Singer and in two other films. This is a beautiful tribute to mom. The song was first performed in 1938 by William Frawley (television’s Fred Mertz of I Love Lucy) in his vaudeville act. An episode of I Love Lucy features a song co-written by Jolson, ‘California Here I Come’ (which was written and recorded in Chicago!)
Despite the derogatory connotation of wearing blackface while performing, Jolson’s work was reviewed positively by black critics. He fought against racial discrimination in the industry. (Jolson was the star of the first motion picture with sound, The Jazz Singer in 1927).
WATCH: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PIaj7FNHnjQ
Mammy’s little baby loves ‘Shortnin’ Bread’ (made from corn meal). The African-American folk song ‘Shortnin’ Bread’ is from the 1890s.
Of course, Ethel Mertz did this fine version:
The Cramps recorded a sizzling, and much more frantic cover of the song in 1990 for their album Stay Sick.
Listen: (Sing-along with a piece of bread)! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4v5rsEa9vUI
Listen: The Cramps https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=caNUfzKFwME
WATCH: The Cramps https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0F-Y69gGwGo
Speaking of The Cramps, their album Look Mom, No Head! was released in 1991.
The old Italian classic ‘Mamma’ is from 1940. It has been performed by many operatic singers, but it was made popular by Connie Francis. Her recording, from the album Connie Francis Sings Italian Favorites, released in 1959.
has a dramatic sweeping string arrangement
Listen: Connie Francis – Single version: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dg9Ki5krurk
WATCH: Connie Francis on The Ed Sullivan Show: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=inlJyrvq4Rc
‘Come to Mama’ by Memphis soul singer/songwriter Ann Peebles has the same awesome raindrop sounds as her incredible hit ‘I Can’t Stand the Rain.’ This is from her album Tellin’ It, released in 1975.
Listen: https://youtu.be/hsNlUSfcv-U
‘Mother-In-Law’ was written by Allen Toussaint. It became a hit in 1961, performed by Ernie K. Doe. This has some really nice baritone vocals. In 1994, Ernie opened his own club, Mother-in-Law Lounge, in New Orleans. He performed there and was inducted into the New Orleans Music Hall of Fame.
Listen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6EN5eJf5h_k
‘It’s Alright, Ma (I’m Only Bleeding)’ appears on Bob Dylan’s 1965 album Bringing It All Back Home. Bob’s dark social commentary is (for some strange reason) dictated to his mother!
LISTEN: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_CJHbfkROow
MOTHER KNOWS BEST!
There are many songs bearing the advice of mothers.
“My Mama told me, ‘You better shop around’” is a popular lyric from a song by The Miracles. ‘Shop Around’ was a Motown hit in 1960. This million-seller was written by Berry Gordy and Smokey Robinson.
LISTEN: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AQGXa3FiXKM
The Shirelles sang “Mama said there’ll be days like this…” in 1961. Who knew there would be so many?!
WATCH: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4OeBAoL66Mo
Now mama said, ‘You Can’t Hurry Love’ according to The Supremes. This was one of many of the group’s Motown hits, in 1966.
WATCH: on The Ed Sullivan Show: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Itn438i30hk
Mama’s Pearl’ was released by The Jackson 5 in early 1971. To a boyfriend’s dismay, his girl is listening to her mama’s advice not to sleep with him!
LISTEN: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vov3r5GdM8M
Three Dog Night released ‘Mama Told Me Not to Come’ in 1970. The song (written by Randy Newman) had been recorded by Eric Burdon of The Animals on their 1967 album. Three Dog Night’s version went to No. 1.
LISTEN: (Randy Newman) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zUmLAGEHB0U
‘Your Mother Should Know’ appeared on The Beatles album Magical Mystery Tour album in 1967. With his lyrics, Paul McCartney was promoting peace between generations. “In ‘Your Mother Should Know,’ I was basically trying to say your mother might know more than you think she does. Give her credit.”
WATCH: : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3kGO4iAuGac
The Rutles song ‘Goose Step Mama’ is a great take-off on the Beatles and their story. It was also covered by Shonen Knife on The Rutles tribute album.
WATCH: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lqPY9juPZHE
LISTEN: – Shonen Knife: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mqWjoMxeMu8
Mother Mary comes to Paul McCartney in the song ‘Let It Be’, which appears on The Beatles album of the same name, released in 1979. John Lennon and Paul McCartney had both lost their mothers in their teenage years. Their mothers died less than two years apart. (Mary McCartney passed away from cancer in October 1956, and Julia Lennon was struck by a car in July 1958). Paul says that his mother Mary actually came to him in a dream and told him to “Let it be.” I love the line, “I wake up to the sound of music,” which indicates that he is dreaming the song.
When I find myself in times of trouble
Mother Mary comes to me
Speaking words of wisdom
Let it be
In his really cool song ‘Always on the Run’, “Mama Said” a lot to Lenny Kravitz on his 1991 album titled Mama Said. Of course, Lenny’s mama was Roxie Roker of the famous American television sitcom, The Jeffersons. The song features Slash on guitar. The guitar work is heavily influenced by John Lennon and Jimi Hendrix.
WATCH: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=em8JuUW-OOE
CRAZY MAMAS
‘Mother’s Little Helper’ from The Rolling Stones album Aftermath is symptomatic of the pill-popping housewives of 1960s London – the same ones having a ‘19th Nervous Breakdown’. This one was released in 1966.
Listen: Mother’s Little Helper: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OusADDs_3ps
Listen: 19th Nervous Breakdown: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aCmxWu2yT8c
Watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FoNSFFhyEi8
‘Have You Seen Your Mother, Baby, Standing in the Shadow?’ is a Jagger/Richards song, featuring a horn section conducted by Mike Leander. The song was recorded in 1966 for The Rolling Stones album Between the Buttons. The single was an immediate hit. The Stones cross-dressed for their early promotional film and the picture sleeve single, and it was not a pretty sight. This song was rarely performed live, however I got the chance to see Jagger perform it during his encore of three Stones songs at Webster Hall in New York City, during his only concert promoting his solo album Wandering Spirit. The encore was ‘Rip This Joint,’ Live With Me’ and ‘Have You Seen Your Mother Baby…’
Mick Jagger’s solo album Wandering Spirit was released in 1993. It includes the track ‘Mother of a Man’ which really rocks!
WATCH: Mother of a Man
LISTEN:Have You Seen Your Mother, Baby, Standing in the Shadow?
‘Crazy Mama’ is on the Stones’ album Black and Blue.
WATCH: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c1mZf9CCyZE
See my story about the album, Am I Blue? https://madelinex.com/2020/05/23/am-i-blue/
‘I’m Livin’ in Shame’ was a No. 2 Motown hit for The Supremes in 1969. Their hit ‘Love Child’ (the No.1 song in 1968 which broke The Beatles’ nine-week reign at the top with ‘Hey Jude’) was followed up by this ‘sequel’ song.
The Supremes had premiered ‘Love Child’ on The Ed Sullivan Show in September 1968. The idea was to deliberately avoid another song about love. Hence, the story of a girl avoiding pressure to sleep with her boyfriend in fear of having a child out of wedlock, as she is a ‘love child’ herself. The lyrics speak of growing up in rags without a father – in shame, guilt and depravation. The backing vocals tunefully echo back the words ‘tenement slum’ and ‘scorned by’ (society) as Diana sings her woes. The pop melody is deceptively uplifting despite its sad lyrics.
The story continues on the next Supremes single, ‘I’m Livin’ in Shame’ – the sister-song to ‘Love Child’ which they also debuted on The Ed Sullivan Show. In this tear-jerker, the ‘love child’ grows up to denounce and deny her childhood of poverty. She fabricates a new elitist identity in college, erasing her poor mother from her life (with a lie about her death on a trip to Spain). Upon learning that her mom has now passed on for real, she is overcome with deep regret and shame. Once embarrassed by her mom’s haggard appearance and simple ways (a result of poverty) the singer now clearly understands her mom’s lifelong struggle. She regrets forever lost opportunities to show her love and appreciation. She also laments that her mom will never see her grandchild – all in the guise of a lovely pop tune.
I’m livin’ in shame / Mama I miss you…
The song was composed by Motown’ songwriting group called The Clan (Pam Sawyer, Frank Wilson, Deke Richards and R. Dean Taylor who sang his gorgeous hit song ‘Indiana Wants Me’ in 1970.
Listen: ‘Love Child’ – The Supremes 1968
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QMwhgsLWnoo
Listen: ‘I’m Livin’ In Shame’ – The Supremes 1969
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HCkmZ5Rdemw
The MC5 released ‘Kick Out the Jams’ in 1969 with their awesome B-side ‘Motor City is Burning.’ This is on the list because of the lyric, “Kick out the jams MOTHER FUCKER!”
LISTEN: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VDCKYAVMeAU
Can recorded ‘Mother Sky’ as part of the soundtrack for the 1970 film Deep End. It’s on their album Soundtracks which contains all the band’s film work. This is intense and primal.
Listen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EVi-UTF9PL4
Pink Floyd’s fifth studio album, Atom Heart Mother was released in October 1970. The second and third tracks are titled ‘Breast Milky’ and ‘Mother Fore’ – both of them spacey prog-rock tunes. This was their first No. 1 album and the first rock album that did not have the band’s name or photo on the cover but instead, a cow. I t was designed by the popular Hipgnosis. The band continued this no-name theme for several albums including the most famous one, Dark Side of the Moon. Other groups that followed their lead were Blind Faith and Sparks (Kimono My House).
Listen: ‘Breast Milky’ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5QW2Xl2R5Gk
Listen: ‘Mother Fore’ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MF7JwQhbWEw
John Lennon released his song ‘Mother’ in 1970 on his first solo album, John Lennon Plastic Ono Band, which celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2020. The opening track finds John screaming for his mom, who handed him over to his aunt to raise. (Later, his mother Julia was suddenly struck down by a car when John was seventeen). It starts with the tolling of a funeral bell. John was also tormented by the absence of his father, whom he sings about in the second verse. Lennon’s very personal song was performed live by David Bowie and by Lou Reed. It was recorded by Barbra Streisand and Christina Aguilera, but nobody can deliver it in the heart-wrenching way that John does.
The final track on the album is also about John’s mother. John told The Red Mole in January 1971 that ‘My Mummy’s Dead’ was inspired by the three-line simplicity of haiku poetry.
Listen – ‘Mother’ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sPYsMM1FvXs
Listen – ‘My Mummy’s Dead’ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D3pAH8iOES4
Bowie had an early unreleased song called ‘Right On Mother’ – a 1971 demo. It is now on the Divine Symmetry box set released in 2022, of alternate tracks and demos from the Hunky Dory album.
LISTEN: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hXechPVzUrw
The sad lyrics to ‘Sylvia’s Mother’ by Dr. Hook & the Medicine Show consist of a phone call from Sylvia’s boyfriend to Mrs. Avery, begging her daughter Sylvia to come to the phone. Sylvia is already betrothed to someone else, yet he still pleading to tell her “Goodbye.” The pesky operator keeps asking for 40 cents more for the next three minutes please. This was a big hit in 1972.
WATCH: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7LXpnNKNxJI
‘Mother and Child Reunion’ is a hit reggae tune written recorded in Jamaica by Paul Simon with members of the great Jimmy Cliff’s band in 1972. It appears on Simon’s second, self-titled album. It was covered by the Jamaican group The Pioneers, also in 1972. The song’s title is actually the name of a dish in a Chinese restaurant.
“I was eating in a Chinese restaurant downtown. There was a dish called Mother and Child Reunion. It’s chicken and eggs. And I said, I gotta use that one.”
-Paul Simon
Listen – Paul Simon: https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=mother+and+child+reunion+paul+simon
Listen – The Pioneers: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gkgq7UN_dwM
‘The Kids’ by Lou Reed is from Lou’s masterpiece Berlin released in 1973, which was not appreciated for decades. This song is about the suicidal heroine of the album (Caroline). It features an actual choir of crying children.
In the alleys and bars, no she couldn’t be beat
That miserable rotten slut couldn’t turn, anyone away.
They’re taking her children away…
Listen ‘The Kids’ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R8rbvXHD5xQ
WATCH – live on Don Kirschner’s Rock Concert April 1980: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CVcHLZ4B1mY
My review of Lou’s live performance of Berlin: https://madelinex.com/2006/12/22/lou-reed-the-berlin-wall-of-sound/
Betty Davis, the funk diva who was married to Miles Davis released ‘Your Mama Wants Ya Back’ in 1974 on her album called They Say I’m Different, which is also the title of a 2017 documentary about Betty.
LISTEN: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iBh1eN8FeyM
Eric Clapton released ‘Motherless Children’ on the album 461 Ocean Blvd. Oddly, he is singing about when your mother is dead.
LISTEN: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9EZlmqWmcqw
I have always loved the lyrics to ‘Mother of Pearl’ by Roxy Music. This is from their third album, Stranded, released in 1973. I think it would have fit better on Siren (1975), with its ocean-themed album cover featuring Jerry Hall. The beginning of this is almost like a separate song. It’s very verbose, as if Bryan Ferry is trying to out-verbalize Bob Dylan. Ferry’s Dylan covers are some of the best ever!
Just out of reach glowing
Very holy grail
Oh mother of pearl
Lustrous lady
Of a sacred world…
Melancholy shimmering
Serpentine sleekness
Was always my weakness…
Oh mother of pearl
I wouldnt change you
For the whole world
LISTEN: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GhCOqj4Pyb8
MY STORY: ROXY LADIES https://madelinex.com/2018/01/31/roxy-ladies/
‘I Wish I Was Your Mother’ is a gorgeous Dylan styled song by Mott The Hoople, on their Mott album released in 1973..
LISTEN: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wlneUb2BeB8
Eno released ‘Mother Whale Eyeless’ on his album Taking Tiger Mountain by Strategy in 1974. This was the second of two incredible pop albums that Eno made after leaving Roxy Music. The first was Here Come the Warm Jets (There is a band named The Warm Jets who have a fabulous song called ‘Silver Surfer.’)
Phil Collins plays drums on this song.
LISTEN: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uVeKIroLwQE
‘Mamma Weer All Crazee Now’ by Slade was a huge hit for this stomping Glam band in 1972. It was the first single from their third album Slayed? Their next chart-topper was ‘Cum On Feel the Noize.’
WATCH: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eEv6jy_7PQQ
‘Your Mama Won’t Like Me’ is by Detroit rock queen Suzi Quatro in 1975 on her Chinn/Chapman produced album of the same title. This song is super funky!
LISTEN: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0yB6iR_gIvY
WATCH: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iMZEy-2iztE
In 1976, Queen recorded ‘Tie Your Mother Down’ for their fifth album, A Day at the Races (the second album to be titled after a Marx Brothers movie, after their smash hit album A Night at the Opera). Brian May had written it in 1968 before the formation of Queen. It was amazing to see them performing this live!
WATCH: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LvB2MnIIdMw
The more obvious ABBA choice would be ‘Mama Mia,’ but I prefer ‘Does Your Mother Know?’ This was a cool dance / rocker on their sixth album titled Voulez-Vous, released in 1979.
WATCH: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F-5i39UMFJo
The gentle Kate Bush song ‘Mother Stands for Comfort’ is on her fifth album Hounds of Love released in 1985, which has gained huge popularity now since the song ‘Running Up That Hill’ appeared in the popular Netflix series Stranger Things in 2022.
LISTEN: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FmOc7VuRwzk
Gen-X was the next formation of Billy Idol’s band Generation X. This killer self-titled album was incredible. One of the tracks is ‘Oh Mother.’
LISTEN: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7cjXHbwFxAE
Johnny Thunders released the great track ‘Blame it On Mom’ his solo album Que Sera Sera on Jungle Records in 1985.
LISTEN: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ax0yj0h7n1c
‘Mama Said Knock You Out’ was a single and the 4th album title from LL Cool J, released in 1991. At the time, perception was that his career as a rapper was waning (in the advent of gansta rap) but he didn’t feel that way. The song opens with the words, “Don’t call it a comeback…”. Apparently, it was not his “mama” who said, “Knock you out.” It was his grandmother who told him to knock out all the critics! His grandma is in the music video. The track includes samples from James Brown, Sly and the Family Stone and others.
WATCH: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vimZj8HW0Kg
‘Fire On Babylon’ is an autobiographical song by Sinead O’Connor about the horrible treatment she and her siblings endured by their unstable mother. This was from her fourth album, Universal Mother, released in 1994. There is a sampling of a 1958 Miles Davis trumpet riff from ‘Dr. Jekyll.’
WATCH: https://youtu.be/R29W_PvTT7M?si=39TBGhrffzX13q6q
Lou Reed’s 1996 song ‘Sex with Your Parents (Motherfucker)’ was actually about parental warnings on record labels which began in the early 1980s, and about censorship. He considered this “a mockery of our freedon,” and wanted to represent how sick this made him feel. The title and lyrics of this song did the trick! It appears on his album Set the Twilight Reeling.
WATCH (Live on The White Room UK): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fhCDdYbZpRw
The Blondie song ‘Mother’ brings fond memories of the NYC nightclub MOTHER. The underground nightclub was popular from 1996 through 2000. Some of the parties hosted there were Jackie 60, Click + drag, Long Black Veil and The Vampyre Lounge. This is on Blondie’s album Panic of Girls, released in 2011. The music video has an Andy Warhol character and zombie dancers.
WATCH: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SXX8rUV4p9A
‘Sexy MF” was a single released in 1992 from Prince and the New Power Generation’s Love Symbol album. Just like his name at the time, the song title and many of its’ lyrics (mostly rapped) were unmentionable. Therefore, edited versions were made for promotion.
WATCH: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bfHsF6FKgb4
Suede released the beautiful ‘She Still Leads Me On’ as a single from their 2022 album Autofiction. Singer Brett Anderson wrote this about his late mother.
I wonder if her touch will ever fade
Is she waiting in the garden for us to play
Yes, in many many ways I’m still a young boy
With all those questions in my petrol-blue eye
But I loved her with my last breath
And I loved her with a love that was strong as death
And I loved her when she was unkindAnd I loved her, I loved her, with a dangerous mind
Sometimes when I look up at the sky
She leads me on, she still leads me on
Sometimes, oh, when I just feel like screaming
She leads me on, she still leads me on
LISTEN: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KHJd1Z1G3M4
SONGS ABOUT THE MOTHERS OF US ALL:
THE EARTH AND THE UNIVERSE!
‘Never Turn Your Back on Mother Earth’ is on the wonderful Propaganda album released by Sparks in 1974. It’s a song about Mother Nature’s wrath, borne of the Kimono My House demo ‘Windy Day’. It was the album’s first single, backed with ‘Alabamy Right’. There are cover versions by Mary Hopkin (finally released on her box set, Valentine) and by Depeche Mode in 1987.
Listen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4esybKKOYYo
Watch: Top Pop Holland https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZUKUQKW-tNA
Listen: Depeche Mode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nfd3bnGwUsg
See my story all about the album Propaganda by Sparks:
https://madelinex.com/2015/12/09/sparks-propaganda-40th-anniversary/
‘Mother of the Universe’ is from Yoko Ono’s album Season of Glass released in 1981. This was her first album since John Lennon’s death. The song was written in 1978.
LISTEN: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KEQ26EMfmsY
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Eat to the Beat
https://madelinex.com/2019/06/25/eat-to-the-beat/
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