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" 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. The song was ranked at number 6 among the top ten "Tracks of the Year" for 1981 by NME.

Formats and track listings

;12" vinyl
  1. "Mama Used to Say" – 6:40
  2. "Mama Used to Say" – 6:05
  3. "Mama Used to Say" – 4:56
;7" vinyl
  1. "Mama Used to Say" – 3:35
  2. "Mama Used to Say" – 4:35

    Charts

Weekly charts

Beverley Knight version

British singer-songwriter Beverley Knight released "Mama Used to Say" on 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

;Digital download
  1. "Mama Used to Say" – 3:01
  2. "Mama Used to Say" – 3:51
  3. "Mama Used to Say" – 7:42
  4. "Mama Used to Say" – 5:36
  5. "Mama Used to Say" – 4:09
  6. "Mama Used to Say" – 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. The video features cameos from Junior himself, Jaki Graham, Rod Temperton and Jazzie B amongst others.

Release history

Other uses

British comedian and rapper Richard Blackwood 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 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.