Mama Look at Bubu
"Mama Look at Bubu" | ||||
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Single by Harry Belafonte | ||||
from the album The Versatile Mr. Belafonte | ||||
B-side | "Don't Ever Love Me" | |||
Released | March 1957 (1957-03) | |||
Genre | Calypso | |||
Length | 2:58 | |||
Label | RCA Victor | |||
Songwriter(s) | Harry Belafonte, Lord Burgess, Lord Melody | |||
Harry Belafonte singles chronology | ||||
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"Mama Look at Bubu" (later retitled "Mama Look a Boo Boo") is a song written by Trinidadian calypsonian Lord Melody, Harry Belafonte and Lord Burgess, and performed by Harry Belafonte featuring Bob Corwin's Orchestra & Chorus featuring Millard Thomas, Franz Casseus and Victor Messer on guitars. Although Belafonte gets co-writing credit on his 1957 release, the song first appeared on Lord Melody's single "Mama Look a Boo Boo" in 1955 (with slightly different lyrics), and his debut album "Calypso Fiesta – Limbo In Trinidad" in 1956 (retitled "Boo Boo"), with solo writing credit to Lord Melody (real name Fitzroy Alexander).[1]
First heard by Belafonte in the West Indies while filming "Island in the Sun", Boo Boo was an unprecedented hit in Trinidad, the land of calypso.[2] The Belafonte version later swept the U.S. as well. Belafonte's cover reached #10 on the U.S. R&B chart and #11 on the U.S. pop chart in 1957.[3] It was featured on his 1957 album The Versatile Mr. Belafonte.[4]
Other versions
- Steve Karmen released a version of the song entitled "Mama Look-A Boo Boo" as a single in 1957, but it did not chart.[5]
- Chubby Checker released a version of the song entitled "Mama Look a Boo Boo" on his 1963 album Let's Limbo Some More.[6]
- Leftover Salmon released a version of the song entitled "Booboo" on their 1993 album Bridges to Bert.
- The Belafonte Folk Singers released a version of the song entitled "Mama Look a Boo Boo" on their 1997 compilation album All-Time Greatest Hits.[7]
- Charlie Gracie released a version of the song entitled "Mama Look a Boo Boo" on his 2002 album An Evening with Charlie Gracie which was recorded in 1998.[8]
- A version by Nat King Cole entitled "Mama Look a Boo Boo" was released on his 2003 compilation album Remembering Nat King Cole.[9]
- Karl Zéro and The Wailers released a version of the song on their 2004 album HiFi Calypso.[10]
References
- ^ "Lord Melody, Mama Look A Booboo / Missin' Chicken". Discogs. Retrieved September 1, 2020.
- ^
- ^ "Harry Belafonte, "Mama Look at Bubu" Chart Positions". Retrieved July 20, 2018.
- ^ "Harry Belafonte, The Versatile Mr. Belafonte". Discogs. May 1957. Retrieved July 20, 2018.
- ^ "Steve Karmen, "Mama Look-A Boo Boo" Single Release". Discogs. Retrieved July 20, 2018.
- ^ "Chubby Checker, Let's Limbo Some More". AllMusic. Retrieved July 20, 2018.
- ^ "The Belafonte Folk Singers, All-Time Greatest Hits". AllMusic. Retrieved July 20, 2018.
- ^ "Charlie Gracie, An Evening with Charlie Gracie". AllMusic. Retrieved July 20, 2018.
- ^ "Nat King Cole, Remembering Nat King Cole". AllMusic. Retrieved July 20, 2018.
- ^ "Karl Zéro and The Wailers, HiFi Calypso". AllMusic. Retrieved July 20, 2018.
- v
- t
- e
- Mark Twain and Other Folk Favorites (1954)
- Belafonte (1956)
- Calypso (1956)
- An Evening with Belafonte (1957)
- Belafonte Sings of the Caribbean (1957)
- To Wish You a Merry Christmas (1958)
- Belafonte Sings the Blues (1958)
- Love Is a Gentle Thing (1959)
- My Lord What a Mornin' (1959)
- Swing Dat Hammer (1960)
- Jump Up Calypso (1961)
- Midnight Special (1962)
- The Many Moods of Belafonte (1962)
- Streets I Have Walked (1963)
- Ballads, Blues and Boasters (1964)
- In My Quiet Room (1966)
- Calypso in Brass (1966)
- Belafonte on Campus (1967)
- Belafonte Sings of Love (1968)
- Homeward Bound (1970)
- Belafonte by Request (1970)
- The Warm Touch (1971)
- Calypso Carnival (1971)
- Play Me (1973)
- Turn the World Around (1977)
- Loving You Is Where I Belong (1981)
- Paradise in Gazankulu (1988)
- Belafonte at Carnegie Hall (1959)
- Belafonte Returns to Carnegie Hall (1960)
- Belafonte at The Greek Theatre (1964)
- En Gränslös Kväll På Operan (1966)
- Belafonte...Live! (1972)
- Belafonte Concert in Japan (1974)
- Belafonte '89 (1989)
- An Evening with Harry Belafonte and Friends (1997)
- Porgy and Bess (1959)
- An Evening with Belafonte/Makeba (1965)
- An Evening with Belafonte/Mouskouri (1966)
- Harry & Lena: For the Love of Life (1970)
- "We Are the World" (1985)
- "Gomen-nasai"
- "Jamaica Farewell"
- "Mary's Boy Child"
- "Day-O (The Banana Boat Song)"
- "Mama Look at Bubu"
- "Island in the Sun"
- "Scarlet Ribbons"
- "Jump in the Line (Shake, Senora)"
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