Mama Was a Rock and Roll Singer, Papa Used to Write All Her Songs
Studio album by Sonny & Cher
Released	June 4, 1973
Recorded	1973
Genre	Pop rock
Length	42:12
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
"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.

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

Credits

Artists

• Cher - Main Vocals
• Sonny Bono - Main Vocals

Personnel

• David Paich - Conductor, Piano, Synthesizer
• David Hungate - Bass
• Jeff Porcaro - Drums
• Michael Omartian - Keyboards
• Joe Sample - Piano
• Dean Parks - Lead and Solo Guitar
• Dan Ferguson - Guitar
• Art Munson - Guitar
• Louie Shelton - Guitar
• Larry Carlton - Guitar
• Rick White - Guitar
• Buddy Emmons - Steel Guitar

Production

• Sonny Bono - Producer
• Denis Pregnolato - Producer
• Michel Rubini - Producer

References