Mama Liked the Roses
| "Mama Liked the Roses" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single by Elvis Presley | ||||
| A-side | "The Wonder of You" | |||
| Released | April 20, 1970 | |||
| Recorded | January 15-16 and 21-22, 1969;[1][2] March 18-19, 1969;[3][4] March 31, 1970[5] | |||
| Studio | American Sound Studios, Memphis, Tennessee[6] | |||
| Genre | Gospel | |||
| Length | 2:36 | |||
| Label | RCA | |||
| Songwriter(s) | John L. Christopher | |||
| Producer(s) | Chips Moman, Felton Jarvis | |||
| Elvis Presley singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
"Mama Liked the Roses" is a song by Elvis Presley released in 1970. The song was released as the B-side to "The Wonder of You" 45 single on April 20, 1970, and on the 1970 RCA Camden reissue of Elvis' Christmas Album.
Background[edit]
The song's basic track (guitar, two basses, piano, organ, and drums from The Memphis Boys, the house band for American Sound Studio) was recorded on January 15-16, 1969, without Elvis Presley present.[1] Elvis overdubbed his lead vocals and a harmony vocal part that was unused in the final master recording, on January 21-22, 1969.[2] Initial backing vocals were also recorded on January 21-22, 1969.[2] Strings and brass were overdubbed on March 18 and 19, 1969,[3][4] before a final backing vocal overdub was added on March 31, 1970.[5]
The song peaked at #9 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart in a pairing with "The Wonder of You".[7] The song was composed by Johnny Christopher, who also co-wrote "If You Talk in Your Sleep" and "Always on My Mind", both recorded by Elvis Presley.[8]
Personnel[edit]
Credits from Keith Flynn and Ernst Jorgensen's examination of session tapes and RCA and AFM paperwork.[1][2][3][4][5]
- Elvis Presley - lead vocals; harmony vocals (unused in final mix)[2]
- Reggie Young - guitar
- Tommy Cogbill - bass
- Mike Leech - bass; horn and string arrangements; overdubbed viola; session "leader" for string overdub session
- Bobby Wood - piano
- Bobby Emmons - organ
- Gene Chrisman - drums
Overdubbed
- Mary "Jeanie" Greene, Mary Holladay, Ginger Holladay, Donna Thatcher, Sandra Posey Robinson - backing vocals
- Dolores Edgin, June "Ricki" Page, Hurschel Wiginton, Joseph Babcock - backing vocals (uncertain)
- Glen Spreen - saxophone; horn and string arrangements
- Wayne Jackson, R.F. Taylor - trumpets
- Jackie Thomas, Jack Hale - trombones
- Joe D'Gerolamo, Tony Cason - French horns
- Noel Gilbert - violin; session contractor for string overdub session
- Gloria Hendricks, Albert Edelman, Robert Snyder, Anna Oldham, Hal Saunders, Edward Freudberg - violins
- Mary Snyder, John Wehlan, Nono Ravarono, Vernon Taylor - violas
- Anne Kendall, Peter Spurbeck - cellos
Production staff
- Chips Moman - producer
- Felton Jarvis - producer
- Al Pachucki - engineer
- Roy Shockley - technician
References[edit]
- ^ a b c Flynn, Keith. "Elvis Presley Recording Sessions: January 15-16, 1969". Keith Flynn's Elvis Presley Pages. Retrieved January 5, 2024.
- ^ a b c d e Flynn, Keith. "Elvis Presley Recording Sessions: January 21-22, 1969". Keith Flynn's Elvis Presley Pages. Retrieved January 5, 2024.
- ^ a b c Flynn, Keith. "Elvis Presley Recording Sessions: March 18, 1969". Keith Flynn's Elvis Presley Pages. Retrieved January 5, 2024.
- ^ a b c Flynn, Keith. "Elvis Presley Recording Sessions: March 19, 1969". Keith Flynn's Elvis Presley Pages. Retrieved January 5, 2024.
- ^ a b c Flynn, Keith. "Elvis Presley Recording Sessions: March 31, 1970". Keith Flynn's Elvis Presley Pages. Retrieved January 5, 2024.
- ^ "Elvis Presley - Lyrics". lyrics.elvispresley.com.
- ^ "The Hot 100". Billboard. 2 January 2013.
- ^ "Mama Liked the Roses 45". 45cat.com.
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