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