BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE
“Mama” was the first single from Genesis’ 1983 self-titled album. It is recognizable for its harsh drum machine introduction composed by Mike Rutherford, which leads into minimalist synthesizer lines in minor keys and finally Phil Collins’ reverb-laden voice. It remains the band’s most successful single in the UK, reaching No.4 on the UK Singles Chart. It also made the top 10 in Switzerland, Austria, Norway, Ireland and the Netherlands. It was less popular in the United States, only reaching No.73 on the Billboard Hot 100. A 1992 re-release of the single managed to scrape into the Top 40 in Germany.
A live drum kit, modified with the “gated reverb” effect, is used in the final verse.
The song resurfaced in 2007 as part of the Turn It On Again tour, albeit transposed down a tone to account for the deepening of Phil Collins’ voice as he grew older.
The song’s theme involves a young man’s longing for a particular prostitute. On the DVD The Genesis Songbook, the band and producer Hugh Padgham revealed that the inspiration for Collins’s laugh came from rap music pioneer Grandmaster Flash’s song “The Message”.
SIDE A:
Mama (Long Version) 7:28
SIDE B:
It’s Gonna Get Better (Long Version) 6:28
VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint
CHARTS:
| Year | Single | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | mama | U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | #73 |
| 1983 | Mama | U.S. Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks | #5 |
RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Virgin – MAMA 1-12
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 45 RPM, Single
Country: UK
Released: 1983
Genre: Rock
Style: Pop Rock
Credits: Cover – Bill Smith (19)
Engineer – Hugh Padgham
Producer – Genesis, Hugh Padgham
Written-By – Rutherford*, Collins*, Banks*
NOTES:
Special Versions From The LP “GENESIS”
Find The 12″ On DISCOGS
EQUIPMENT USED:
Turntable: Pro-Ject Debut III
Cartridge: Ortofon Super
Stylus: Ortofon OM Stylus 30
Bellari VP130 Tube Phono Preamp
Soundcard: ESI Juli@
VPI HW 16.5 Record Cleaning Machine
Brother MFC-6490CW Professional Series Scanner
SOFTWARE USED:
Adobe Audition 3.0 (Recording)
Adobe Photoshop CS5
ClickRepair
dBpoweramp
Playlist Creator
RESTORATION NOTES:
All vinyl rips are recorded @ 32bit/float
Downsampled to 24bit/96kHz and16bit /44kHz using iZotope RX Advanced 2
FLAC (Level Eight)
MP3 (320kbps)
Artwork scanned at 600dpi
TYVM
Thanks Paul. I didn’t have this one.
Paul, thank you for this. Another high-quality rip.
You’re welcome Dan!
I’ve been looking for a better rip of both of these tracks! Thank you for all you do with music! It is greatly appreciated!
You’re welcome SheedyJaye 🙂
I remember when I first heard this as a new entry at #20 on the UK charts. I was mesmerized but terrified at the same time. Phil’s maniacal laugh at the end didn’t help matters. Perhaps is trying to give ex-leader Peter a run for this money in the “demented” department?
With all the praises for your vinyl rip for this, Paul. I can’t wait to take a listen, and relive as Bodyalive has pointed out, a horror-thriller experience!
Thanks Vinyl-Papa Paul!
Hi Ric I remember the first time I heard this song I thought Phil had lost his mind lol. But now I love it. I hope that you enjoy my rip.
Thank you Paul for the excellent quality of the rip.
I always loved this song and its atmosphere perfect for a horror-thriller movie.
You’re welcome Bodyalive. I am a big horror movie fan so I will have to give it a go 🙂
Thank you very very much Paul!
You’re welcome JohanErikson!
Thanks Paul. I always thought that the album mix was the long version. I was wrong.
You’re welcome Omar 🙂
One of my all time favorite Genesis 12″ers, because of the additional verse included in each song. If memory serves, these mixes have never been re-issued? I actually prefer the B-Side “It’s Gonna Get Better” rather than the A-Side…
This rip is SOOOOOO warm and smooth, it’s like butter to the ears
Thank you Sailer!
SALUDOS PAUL….Y GRACIAS, ESTE ES UN GRAN DISCO QUE SE ESCUCHABA BASTANTE EN RADIO 11Q-FM
MANUEL ANDALUZ LOZANO
GUAYAQUIL-ECUADOR
Gracias Manuel Andaluz 🙂
Paul, what a wonderful job you have done with this maxi-single!!
I haven’t compared it to the 3″ CD-single release from 1988, neither to the 1992 CD-single re-release from Germany (which is ugly to begin for..) but absolutely don’t feel the need to do that comparison. Because there’s no comparison.
Your vinyl rip shines, breaths, has depth and warmth. The other sources have not even one of those features, from what i remember.
Surely the big vinyl grooves help getting all the possible sound informations, but you know how to use your technology :-))
Many thanks for another fantastic offering.
Thank you Alessandro I appreciate your comment I really do appreciate it 🙂
Thank you Paul! 🙂
I’m so glad that you have decided to continuing the thread of Genesis’ music!
You’re welcome Spring 🙂
I remember when this came out that there was quite a bit of debate amongst me and my friends as to how much this seemed to borrow from the intro to Gary Numan’s I, Assassin.
Jonathan I’ll have to give Assassin a listen.
On playing them again I think it must have been more the drum sound than the track itself. I vaguely recall they appeared on TV with the same drum kit. Oh, and I, Assassin is not one of the better tracks on the album… 🙂
One of the best Genesis songs! Love it! Thanks a lot!!!!
I agree Michael. You’re welcome 🙂
Also my favourite by Genesis. This is great, as I’m going through a Phil Collins-fase as we speak. 😉 Wish there was an extended version of ‘In the Air Tonight’. But besides the album version, I don’t think there is?
Anyway, Thanks once again Paul. And a (bit late) very happy New Year!!!
You’re welcome and Happy New Year Patrick 🙂
The original UK single version of In The Air Tonight is very different than the album version. According to Wikipedia ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/In_the_Air_Tonight ): ”The original single version of “In the Air Tonight” features extra drums that play underneath the song until the signature drum crash (referred to by fans as the “magic break”) appears. These were added at the suggestion of Atlantic Records head Ahmet Ertegun. In 2007, Collins wrote (Genesis: Chapter and Verse. St. Martin’s Griffin. pp. 220–221): Ahmet came down to the final mix in the cutting room in New York (. . .) The drums don’t come… Read more »
Cheers Alessandro, great upload, especially since it’s lossless 🙂
If memory serves me, there should be two remixes of ITAT – Padgham’s ’88 remix and Liebrand’s (arguably superior) extended version.
Oh, and thanks a bunch Paul, you really outdid yourself 🙂
Hey Allesandro,
Thank you for that interesting background info. I didn’t know that.
I knew about the ’88 Ben Liebrand Remix. But I don’t like that much.
Also thanks for the upload. I’ll have a listen to it later, as I am not home right now.
Cheers,
Patrick
Wow, I never seemed to have noticed the difference before. Have to say that I prefer the original UK single version to the album version.
Thanks again.
The best Genesis single ever! Very odd it didn’t do much in the States.
Thanks for this post Paul. Didn’t expect this so soon…
You’re welcome Stefano! Sometimes i am full of surprises lol.
It’s one of my favourites Genesis singles!! Thanks, Paul!
You are very welcome Racleao 🙂
Thanks!
Great 12″ , genesis was a sucess band in Brazil!
you’re welcome Dake!