Mama Used to Say

"Mama Used to Say" is the debut single release by the British R&B recording artist Junior, taken from his debut studio album, Ji.

"Mama Used to Say"
Single by Junior
from the album Ji
ReleasedFebruary 1982
Recorded1981
GenrePost-disco
Length6:40 (Album Version)
3:35 (American Remix)
LabelMercury
Songwriter(s)Junior Giscombe, Bob Carter[1]
Producer(s)Bob Carter
Junior singles chronology
"Get Up and Dance"
(1981)		 "Mama Used to Say"
(1982)		 "Too Late"
(1982)

Formats and track listings
12" vinyl
  1. "Mama Used to Say" – 6:40
  2. "Mama Used to Say" (Instrumental) – 6:05
  3. "Mama Used to Say" (English Party Mix) – 4:56
7" vinyl
  1. "Mama Used to Say" (American Remix) – 3:35
  2. "Mama Used to Say" (American Instrumental Mix) – 4:35

Charts

"Mama Used to Say" was released in April 1982 and peaked inside the UK Singles Chart top 10 in June 1982, where it remained at number seven for two weeks.[2] "Mama Used to Say" was also a Top 40 Pop hit and Top 5 R&B hit in the United States, earning him a "Best Newcomer" award from Billboard magazine.[3] The song was ranked at number 6 among the top ten "Tracks of the Year" for 1981 by NME.[4]

Weekly charts
Chart (1982) Peak
position
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[5] 29
Canada[6] 48
France (SNEP) 56
Ireland (IRMA)[7] 15
South Africa (Springbok Radio)[8] 11
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[9] 49
UK Singles (OCC)[10] 7
US Billboard Hot 100[11] 30
U.S. Billboard Disco Top 80[12] 4
U.S. Billboard Hot Soul Singles[13] 2

Beverley Knight version
"Mama Used to Say"
Single by Beverley Knight
from the album Soul UK
Released24 June 2011
Recorded2010
GenreR&B, soul
Length3:51 (Album Version)
3:01 (Radio Version)
LabelHurricane Records
Songwriter(s)Junior Giscombe, Bob Carter
Producer(s)Martin Terefe
Beverley Knight singles chronology
"Soul Survivor"
(2010)		 "Mama Used to Say"
(2011)		 "Cuddly Toy"
(2011)

British singer-songwriter Beverley Knight released "Mama Used to Say" on 27 June 2011[14] as the first single release from her seventh studio album, Soul UK, a tribute to UK soul artists.

Background

Knight said of the song, "I think this was everyone's favourite track at the time and is still played on every "club classics" radio show in the country. It's still so fresh and just brings a smile whenever I sing it. It was an obvious choice for the album and a no-brainer for the choice of first single."[15]

Track listing
Digital download[16]
  1. "Mama Used to Say" (Radio Version) – 3:01
  2. "Mama Used to Say" (Album Version) – 3:51
  3. "Mama Used to Say" (Dave Doyle Extended Club Mix) – 7:42
  4. "Mama Used to Say" (Cool Million's Boogie Down 12 Mix) – 5:36
  5. "Mama Used to Say" (Cool Million's Boogie Down Mix) – 4:09
  6. "Mama Used to Say" (Live) – 4:36

Music video

The music video for "Mama Used to Say" premiered on Knight's YouTube page on 23 May 2011. The video features both performance and behind the scenes footage from her April 2011 album launch show at London's Porchester Hall, soundtracked to the album version of the song.[17] The video features cameos from Junior himself, Jaki Graham, Rod Temperton and Jazzie B amongst others.[18]

Release history
Region Date Format
United Kingdom 27 June 2011[14] Digital download

Other uses

British comedian and rapper Richard Blackwood (Junior's nephew) sampled "Mama Used to Say" on his debut single "Mama – Who Da Man", which was produced by Lucas Secon and Mickey P and peaked at number 3 on the UK Singles Chart in 2000.[19][20]

The song's guitar intro was also sampled for Positive K's hit, "I Got a Man".

Rapper Mac sampled the song on "Slow Ya Roll" from his album Shell Shocked.

Rapper Heavy D of Heavy D & the Boyz sampled "Mama Used to Say" for the song "Is It Good to You" from the album Peaceful Journey.

The song is also featured in the video-game NBA 2K15.

The original Junior Giscombe version was recorded at RAK Studio One. Bob Carter played Moog Bass, Guitar and Keyboards. Andy Duncan played drums. Chris Hunter played tenor saxophone. Recording engineered by Phil Thornalley. The signature explosive handclap sound was recorded in the marble tiled reception entrance to RAK studios.

References
  1. "secondhandsongs.com". secondhandsongs.com. Retrieved 14 January 2021.
  2. "JUNIOR – The Official Charts Company". The Official Charts Company. 24 April 1982. Retrieved 24 May 2011.
  3. "Junior Giscombe – Biography". Junior Giscombe. 2010. Retrieved 24 May 2011.
  4. "Albums and Tracks of the Year". NME. 2016. Retrieved 13 February 2018.
  5. "Ultratop.be – Junior – Mama Used to Say" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
  6. "Item Display – RPM – Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. Retrieved 5 November 2016.
  7. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Mama Used to Say". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved September 6, 2018.
  8. "SA Charts 1965 – March 1989". Retrieved 5 September 2018.
  9. "Charts.nz – Junior – Mama Used to Say". Top 40 Singles.
  10. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 2, 2011.
  11. "Mama Used to Say – Junior". Billboard. Retrieved 25 May 2011.
  12. Whitburn, Joel (2004). Hot Dance/Disco: 1974-2003. Record Research. p. 141.
  13. Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 312.
  14. "Mama Used To Say – Releases – Beverley Knight". Hurricane Records. 24 May 2011. Archived from the original on 26 May 2011. Retrieved 24 May 2011.
  15. "Biog – Track-by-Track – Beverley Knight". Hurricane Records. 24 May 2011. Archived from the original on 25 May 2011. Retrieved 24 May 2011.
  16. "Mama Used To Say: Beverley Knight: Amazon.co.uk: MP3 Downloads". 26 June 2011. Retrieved 8 June 2011.
  17. "Beverley Knight: UK's finest". Bluesandsoul.com. Retrieved 5 November 2016.
  18. "Beverley Knight – Mama Used To Say (Video)". 23 May 2011. Retrieved 8 June 2011 – via YouTube.
  19. "Richard Blackwood's Mama – Who Da Man? sample of Junior's Mama Used to Say". Who Sampled. 24 May 2011. Retrieved 24 May 2011.
  20. "RICHARD BLACKWOOD – The Official Charts Company". The Official Charts Company. 17 June 2000. Retrieved 24 May 2011.
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