| "Mama's Pearl" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
) | ||||
| Single by The Jackson 5 | ||||
| from the album Third Album | ||||
| B-side | "Darling Dear" | |||
| Released | January 7, 1971 (U.S.) | |||
| Recorded | July 1970 Hitsville West, Los Angeles | |||
| Genre | Bubblegum pop, soul | |||
| Length | 3:12 | |||
| Label | Motown | |||
| Songwriter(s) | The Corporation: Berry Gordy Alphonzo Mizell Deke Richards Freddie Perren | |||
| Producer(s) | The Corporation | |||
| The Jackson 5 singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
"Mama's Pearl" was a hit recording for The Jackson 5 in 1971 and was written by The Corporation, a songwriting team that had helped the group score four consecutive #1 singles.[1]
Chart performance
"Mama's Pearl" was one of six consecutive top 5 singles for the legendary Motown, soul and funk group. "Mama's Pearl" went to number two for two weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 behind, One Bad Apple by The Osmonds.[2] On the soul singles it likewise peaked at number two.[3] Overseas, "Mama's Pearl" peaked at #25 in the UK.
Song background
The song, while sung mostly by Michael featured cameo spots from brothers Jermaine and Jackie. According to a Jackson biographer, "Mama's Pearl" was originally called "Guess Who's Making Whoopie (With Your Girlfriend)". Producer Deke Richards reportedly had the lyrics and title changed to preserve Michael Jackson's youthful, innocent image.[4] The demo version has since been released on the 2012 compilation "Come and Get It: The Rare Pearls".
Personnel
- Lead and background vocals: Michael Jackson, Jermaine Jackson, Jackie Jackson, Tito Jackson and Marlon Jackson
- Written, produced, and arranged by The Corporation: Berry Gordy, Alphonzo Mizell, Freddie Perren and Deke Richards
- Instrumentation by various Los Angeles studio musicians
Charts
| Chart (1971) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.K. Singles Chart[5] | 25 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100[6] | 2 |
| U.S. Billboard Best Selling Soul Singles[7] | 2 |
References
- ^ "Mama's Pearl: Song information". www.mjj.lt.
- ^ https://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100/1971-02-27
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 267.
- ^ Taraborrelli, J. Randy (2003). Michael Jackson: The Magic and the Madness. London: Sidgwick & Jackson. p. 80.
- ^ https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/13914/jackson-5/
- ^ "The Jacksons 5 Chart History: Billboard Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved 2019-11-09.
- ^ "The Jackson 5 Chart History: Dance Singles Sales". Billboard. Retrieved 2019-11-09.