Mama Told Me Not To Come - A Song By Randy Newman

Introduction

This is a short series of stories based on stories shared with me by Vocal friends. The fifth one is from Gillian Lesley Scott with Mama Told Me Not To Come

The obvious take here is the song written by Randy Newman and covered by so many other artists.

Mama Told Me Not To Come

Now a lot of people just know this from the Tom Jones collaboration with the Stereophonics on his “Reload” album that contains lots of other duets and collaborations covering other people’s and collaborators' songs.

The song was written (also known as “Mama Told Me (Not To Come)” by Randy Newman in 1966 as a single for Eric Burdon and the Animals but was withdrawn and then appeared on the 1967 album “Eric Is Here”..

Randy Newman recorded his own version three years later and included it on his 1970 album “12 Songs” with a mid-tempo piano arrangement and slide guitar by Ry Cooder.

Also in 1970 Three Dog Night released a rock/funk version which became a hit and gave Newman so mainstream exposure. Donna Summer was a backing vocalist on this as well.

As Newman and Jones are effective contemporaries I’m not sure if he picked up on the Newman version or the Three Dog Night version for “Reload but I will include both versions so you can listen to yourself, and if the video doesn’t play in your country you can find it on Amazon or Spotify or another streaming services.

Newman says that the song was inspired by his own lighthearted reflection on the Los Angeles music scene of the late 1960s. As with a lot of his songs, he assumes a character; here the narrator is a sheltered and extraordinarily straitlaced young man, who recounts what is presumably his first "wild" party in the big city, is shocked and appalled by marijuana smoking, whiskey-drinking, and loud music, and – in the chorus of the song – recalls that his "Mama told him not to come".

The song has been recorded by many artists such as Odetta, PJ Proby and appeared in the Terry Gilliam film based on Hunter S Thompson’s “Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas”.

And More About Randy Newman

Although many people will have first been exposed to Randy Newman from the song “You’ve Got A Friend In Me” in “Toy Story” he is far more than that one song.

Articulate, controversial and a truly great songwriter and musician, his songs range from heartbreaking to satirical as well as a host of wonderful film scores.

His full name is Randall Stuart Newman and he was born in 1943. Often cover versions of his songs gain more commercial success than his own versions but that does not make him unsuccessful, he has had big hits himself, and although only four of his non-soundtrack albums have hit the Billboard Top 40. Since the 1980s he has mainly concentrated on soundtracks and to date has received over 90 nominations for awards. You can check out his website here to find more information about the man.

In Conclusion

I listen to Randy Newman on a regular basis but have none of his soundtrack work. He can sometimes seem offensive but it is usually to draw attention to bad situations. “Short People” was a big hit but caused a lot of offence but was just pointing out how bigotry can exist in any situation. “Rednecks” is a similar situation and what it points out is still true today.

Then you get absolute beauties like “Sail Away” or the funny satire of “Let’s Drop The Big One” and I will leave you with that.