Serenade your mom on Mother's Day! Lew Jetton recommends Paul Simon's Mother and Child Reunion (playing now). Click the  button to hear Merle Haggard's Mama Tried. |
If Lew were to make a mix tape of mama's songs in her honor, just in time for Mother's Day, here's what he'd include:
10. Mama He's Crazy, The Judds: I've always liked the Judds, especially their early work when their harmonies were so tight and their music so pure.
9. Mother, John Lennon: This song is not the most flattering of mom. It's when Lennon was writing some songs using "primal scream" therapy to deal with issues in his life. It's very revealing though.
8. Motherless Children, Eric Clapton: This is from one of my favorite albums of all time, Clapton's 461 Ocean Boulevard. As a rule, I'm not too fond of "British Blues." As Sonny Boy Williamson once said of the English, "They want to play the blues so bad…and they do!" Even so, Clapton "got it" and still "has it" to this day.
7. That's Alright Mama, Elvis: The song that started it all for Elvis, after a recording session at Sun Records during which he recorded a single as a gift for his mom. The engineer told Sam Phillips he might want to give this guy a listen. He did, and the rest if history.
6. All Mama's Children, Carl Perkins: If not for an untimely car accident, the Lake County, Tenn., native might have been bigger than Elvis. He could sing, he could write songs and he was a much better guitar player. I worked with Carl on several telethons and events when I lived in Jackson, Tenn. He was such an immense and underrated talent, and an even better person. I'll never forget the stories he told about the old days, and how to live life these days.
5. Mother & Child Reunion, Paul Simon: Even though Simon is recognized as a great songwriter, I always thought he was underrated. His songs were and are pure genius. Even though he doesn't sell as many records these days, his songs are still brilliant. Mother and Child Reunion being just one of many wonderful pieces.
4. Mama Tried, Merle Haggard: One of my few "listening" regrets is that I didn't recognize the genius of Merle Haggard for so many years. I knew he was a big country star, but it was only when I really began listening to his songs that I realized just how good he was, and is. Mama Tried is one of his best.
3. A Real Mutha For Ya, Johnny "Guitar" Watson: OK....it's not really a "mama" song, but Johnny "Guitar" Watson was one of the best. He gave it his all onstage. That's probably one of the reasons he died onstage in Japan. This is my favorite Watson song.
2. Fujiyama Mama, Wanda Jackson: I'm a big fan of Rockabilly, and Wanda Jackson was one of the greatest. Undoubtedly the best female rockabilly performer. While Elvis was the "King" of Rock-n-Roll, Wanda was recognized as the "Queen." I discovered Wanda by looking into her after hearing a version of Fujiyama Mama by Pearl Harbor and the Explosions. Of course, Wanda's is better! She's still at it to this day.
1. I'm Gonna Marry My Mother-In-Law, Artie "Blues Boy" White: This one's a classic! It's a little bawdy, but hey, that's the Blues. The song has been recorded by quite a few, but White's version is my favorite.
