"Mama Can't Buy You Love" | ||||
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Single by Elton John | ||||
from the album The Thom Bell Sessions | ||||
B-side | "Three Way Love Affair" | |||
Released | May 1979 | |||
Recorded | October 1977 | |||
Genre | Philadelphia soul [1] | |||
Length | 4:02 | |||
Label | MCA | |||
Songwriter(s) | LeRoy Bell and Casey James (of Bell and James) | |||
Producer(s) | Thom Bell | |||
Elton John singles chronology | ||||
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"Mama Can't Buy You Love" is a hit single for English musician Elton John from the EP The Thom Bell Sessions . The song was written by LeRoy Bell and Casey James (of Bell and James fame). Bowing at number 69 on the Hot 100 on 9 June 1979, the track became John's first US top ten hit in almost three years when it peaked at number 9 on 25 August 1979. [2] "Mama Can't Buy You Love" also spent one week at number 1 on the Adult Contemporary chart. In the US, it was certified gold on 17 August 1979 by the RIAA. [3]
The chord structure of the opening instrumental of "Mama Can't Buy You Love" [4] bears a strong resemblance to the chord structure of the opening instrumental of Ronnie Dyson's "One Man Band (Plays All Alone)". [5] According to the Hot 100, Thom Bell produced both records. The Spinners provided the background vocals on the track.
Record World said that John's "vocals are a perfect mate for Bell's sparkling lyrics, production & keyboards." [6]
Weekly charts
| Year-end charts
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Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
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United States (RIAA) [16] | Gold | 1,000,000^ |
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. |
"Daniel" is a song written by English musician Elton John and his long-time songwriting partner Bernie Taupin, and performed by John. It was first released on John's 1973 album Don't Shoot Me I'm Only the Piano Player.
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The Thom Bell Sessions is an EP recorded by Elton John in the second half of 1977, but was not released by MCA Records until June 1979.
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"I Believe You" is a love ballad composed by Don and Dick Addrisi which was a 1977 single for Dorothy Moore; taken from her self-titled Dorothy Moore album. "I Believe You" reached #5 R&B and crossed over to the US Pop Top 30 at number 27. The track also reached number 20 in the UK.
"She Did It" is a song written and originally recorded by Eric Carmen in 1977. Carmen's single was a Top 40 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, reaching number 23. "She Did It" was covered in 1981 by actor and singer Michael Damian, who reached number 69 on the Hot 100 with his version.
"Could It Be I'm Falling in Love" is a 1972 song recorded by the American R&B vocal group The Spinners. It was co-written by Melvin and Mervin Steals, two songwriter brothers working for Atlantic, who were sometimes credited as "Mystro and Lyric." It was produced by Thom Bell, recorded at Philadelphia's Sigma Sound Studios and the house band MFSB provided the backing. Bobby Smith sings lead through most of the song, while Philippé Wynne handles vocal duties on the outro.
"Never My Love" is a pop standard written by American siblings Don and Dick Addrisi, and best known from a hit 1967 recording by the Association. The Addrisi Brothers had two Top 40 hits as recording artists, but their biggest success as songwriters was "Never My Love". Recorded by dozens of notable artists in the decades since, in 1999 the music publishing rights organization Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI) announced it was the second most-played song on radio and television of the 20th century in the U.S.
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John's Thom Bell-produced Philly soul pastiche "Mama Can't Buy You Love" peaked at #9 in 1979.