Mama Was a Rock and Roll Singer, Papa Used to Write All Her Songs

Last updated
Mama Was a Rock and Roll Singer, Papa Used to Write All Her Songs
Lp-70-sonny-and-cher.jpg
Studio album by
ReleasedJune 4, 1973
Recorded1973
Genre Pop rock
Length42:12
Label MCA
Producer Sonny Bono, Denis Pregnolato, Michel Rubini
Sonny & Cher chronology
The Two of Us
(1972)
Mama Was a Rock and Roll Singer, Papa Used to Write All Her Songs
(1973)
Live in Las Vegas Vol. 2
(1974)
Singles from Sonny & Cher
  1. "Mama Was a Rock and Roll Singer"
    Released: February 26, 1973

Mama Was a Rock and Roll Singer, Papa Used to Write All Her Songs is the fifth and final studio album by American pop duo Sonny & Cher, released in 1973 by MCA Records. In 2018 it was released on CD.

Contents

Album information

The album was released in 1973 and reached #132 on the Billboard album chart. The title track was the only single from the album to enter the US charts, reaching #77 (in a much shorter form) on the Billboard Hot 100.

The album is largely a collection of cover songs which include songs like "I Can See Clearly Now" (originally by Johnny Nash), "Brother Love's Traveling Salvation Show" (Neil Diamond), and "Listen to the Music" (The Doobie Brothers).

The only song written by Bono is the title track; it clocks in at over nine minutes on the album version, and was edited down to under four minutes for the single.

Track listing

Side A
  1. "It Never Rains in Southern California" (Albert Hammond, Mike Hazlewood) – 3:49
  2. "I Believe in You" (Dennis Pregnolato, Michel Rubini, Don Dunne) – 2:59
  3. "I Can See Clearly Now" (Johnny Nash) – 3:38
  4. "Rhythm of Your Heart Beat" (Tony Macaulay, Geoff Stephens) – 3:32
  5. "Mama Was a Rock and Roll Singer Papa Used to Write All Her Songs" (Sonny Bono) – 9:37
Side B
  1. "By Love I Mean" (Hal David, William Jacobs, M. A. Trujillo) – 4:24
  2. "Brother Love's Traveling Salvation Show" (Neil Diamond) – 3:16
  3. "You Know Darn Well" (Tony Macaulay) – 3:20
  4. "The Greatest Show on Earth" (Bob Stone) – 3:50
  5. "Listen to the Music" (Tom Johnston) – 3:53

Charts

Chart (1974)Position
US Billboard 200 [1] 132

Credits

Artists

Personnel

Production

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sonny & Cher</span> American pop music duo

Sonny & Cher were an American pop and entertainment duo in the 1960s and 1970s, made up of spouses Sonny Bono and Cher. The couple started their career in the mid-1960s as R&B backing singers for record producer Phil Spector.

<i>All I Really Want to Do</i> (album) 1965 studio album by Cher

All I Really Want to Do is the debut solo studio album by American singer-actress Cher and was released on August 16, 1965, by Imperial Records. The album was produced for Cher by her then husband and singing partner, Sonny Bono, with contributions from arranger Harold Battiste. The album is by-and-large a collection of cover versions but does contain three songs written by Bono. In 1992, All I Really Want to Do and Cher's follow-up solo album, The Sonny Side of Chér, were reissued on one CD by EMI Records. Later, in 1995, EMI released a collection titled The Originals, which included All I Really Want to Do, The Sonny Side of Chér, and Cher's third solo album, Cher. The album was again reissued on one CD with The Sonny Side of Chér by BGO Records in 2005 in the UK only. The original twelve track All I Really Want to Do album has never been issued on Compact Disc on its own. Upon its release, the album was well received by critics and garnered positive reviews.

<i>Cher</i> (1987 album) 1987 studio album by Cher

Cher is the eighteenth studio album by American singer-actress Cher, released on November 10, 1987 by Geffen Records. The album has been certified Platinum in the US by the RIAA and Gold in Australia by ARIA and the UK by BPI.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Got You Babe</span> 1965 single by Sonny Bono & Cher

"I Got You Babe" is a song performed by American pop and entertainment duo Sonny & Cher and written by Sonny Bono. It was the first single taken from their debut studio album, Look at Us (1965). In August 1965, the single spent three weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States where it sold more than one million copies and was certified Gold. It also reached number one in the United Kingdom and Canada.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Beat Goes On (Sonny & Cher song)</span> 1967 song by Sonny & Cher

"The Beat Goes On" is a song written and composed by Sonny Bono and recorded by Sonny & Cher. It was issued as a single and appeared on their 1967 album In Case You're in Love. It entered the Billboard Hot 100 chart on January 14, 1967, peaking at number six.

<i>Foxy Lady</i> (Cher album) 1972 studio album by Cher

Foxy Lady is the eighth studio album by American singer-actress Cher, released in July 1972 by Kapp Records. Following the commercial success of the previous album Gypsies, Tramps & Thieves, Cher again collaborated with Snuff Garrett (producer), Al Capp (arrangements) and her then-husband Sonny Bono (co-producer). Foxy Lady was also the second and last record for Kapp. The album was also promoted on Cher's successful The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour show. After its release, it was well received by critics, but unlike her previous effort Gypsies, Tramps & Thieves, had only moderate chart and sales success.

<i>Bittersweet White Light</i> 1973 studio album by Cher

Bittersweet White Light is the ninth studio album by American singer Cher. The album was released in April 1973 by MCA. It was the last solo Cher album to be produced by then-performing partner and husband Sonny Bono. While many fans consider the album to be her best vocal performance, Bittersweet White Light, composed mostly of covers of American pop standards, was Cher's first commercial failure of the 1970s. It was Cher's first record released only by MCA, both in the UK and the US.

<i>With Love, Chér</i> 1967 studio album by Cher

With Love, Chér is the fourth studio album by American singer-actress Cher, released on November 1967 by Imperial Records. The album was a moderate commercial success and reached number 47 on the US Billboard 200

<i>Chér</i> (1966 album) 1966 studio album by Cher

Chér is the third studio album by American singer-actress Cher, released on September 5, 1966 by Imperial. Cher collaborates again with Sonny Bono, with Harold Battiste and with Stan Ross. The album is by-and-large a covers album and contains only one song written by Bono. This album was a moderate commercial success, peaking at number 59 on the Billboard 200.

<i>Backstage</i> (album) 1968 studio album by Cher

Backstage is the fifth album by American singer-actress Cher, released in July 1968 by Imperial Records. This album was her first commercial failure, failing to chart. The album is by-and-large a covers album.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sonny & Cher discography</span>

The discography of American pop rock duo Sonny & Cher consists of five studio albums, eight compilation albums, one soundtrack album, two live albums and twenty-one singles. Sonny and Cher had released three albums and one single which achieved Gold status in the United States: Look At Us, Sonny & Cher Live, All I Ever Need Is You and I Got You babe. In the decade they spent together, Sonny and Cher sold over 40 million records worldwide.

<i>Look at Us</i> 1965 studio album by Sonny & Cher

Look at Us is the debut album by American pop duo Sonny & Cher, released in 1965 by Atco Records. The album reached number two on the Billboard 200 and was certified gold.

<i>All I Ever Need Is You</i> (1971 Sonny & Cher album) 1972 studio album by Sonny & Cher

All I Ever Need Is You is the fourth studio album by American pop duo Sonny & Cher, released in 1972 by Kapp/MCA Records. The album reached number 14 on the Billboard 200 and was certified gold for the sales of 500,000 copies.

<i>In Case Youre in Love</i> 1967 studio album by Sonny & Cher

In Case You're in Love is the third studio album by American pop duo Sonny & Cher, released in 1967 by Atco Records.

<i>The Wondrous World of Sonny & Chér</i> 1966 studio album by Sonny & Cher

The Wondrous World of Sonny & Chér is the second studio album by American pop duo Sonny & Cher, released in 1966 by Atco Records.

<i>Sonny & Cher Live</i> 1971 live album by Sonny & Cher

Sonny & Cher Live is the first live album by American pop duo Sonny & Cher, released in 1971 by Kapp/MCA Records. The album reached #35 on the Billboard chart and was certified Gold for the sales of 500,000 copies.

<i>Live in Las Vegas Vol. 2</i> 1973 live album by Sonny & Cher

Live in Las Vegas Vol. 2 is the second live album by American pop duo Sonny & Cher, released in December 1973 by Kapp/MCA Records.

<i>Greatest Hits</i> (Sonny & Cher album) 1974 greatest hits album by Sonny & Cher

Greatest Hits is the fourth compilation album by American pop rock duo Sonny & Cher, released in 1974 by MCA Records.

<i>All I Ever Need Is You</i> (1990 Sonny & Cher album) 1990 greatest hits album by Sonny & Cher

All I Ever Need Is You is the fifth compilation album by American pop rock duo Sonny & Cher, released in 1990 by Universal/MCA Records.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brother Love's Travelling Salvation Show (song)</span> 1969 single by Neil Diamond

"Brother Love's Travelling Salvation Show" is a song written and recorded by Neil Diamond which appeared as the opening track on the eponymous album. Released as a single in early 1969, it hit number 22 on the U.S. pop singles chart.

References