Released February 1982 Recorded 1981 Label Mercury | Format 7" vinyl, 12" vinyl Genre R&B, post-disco | |
Length 6:40 (Album Version)
3:35 (American Remix) | ||
"Mama Used to Say" is the debut single release from British singer-songwriter Junior, taken from his debut studio album, Ji.
Contents
- Formats and track listings
- Beverley Knight version
- Background
- Track listing
- Music video
- Other uses
- References
"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. "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.
Formats and track listings
- "Mama Used to Say" - 6:40
- "Mama Used to Say" (Instrumental) - 6:05
- "Mama Used to Say" (English Party Mix) - 4:56
- "Mama Used to Say" (American Remix) - 3:35
- "Mama Used to Say" (American Instrumental Mix) - 4:35
Beverley Knight version
British singer-songwriter Beverley Knight released "Mama Used to Say" on the 27 June 2011 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."
Track listing
- "Mama Used to Say" (Radio Version) - 3:01
- "Mama Used to Say" (Album Version) - 3:51
- "Mama Used to Say" (Dave Doyle Extended Club Mix) - 7:42
- "Mama Used to Say" (Cool Million's Boogie Down 12 Mix) - 5:36
- "Mama Used to Say" (Cool Million's Boogie Down Mix) - 4:09
- "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 West London's Porchester Hall, soundtracked to the album version of the song. The video features cameos from Junior himself, Jaki Graham, Rod Temperton and Jazzie B amongst others.
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.
The song's guitar intro was also sampled for Positive K's hit, "I Got a Man".
Rapper Heavy D of Heavy D & the Boyz sampled "Mama Used to Say" for their hit song "Is It Good to You" from their album Peaceful Journey.
French electro duo Jupiter covered "Mama Used to Say".
The song is also featured in the video-game NBA 2K15.