Mama (Genesis song)

"Mama"
Single by Genesis
from the album Genesis
B-side"It's Gonna Get Better"
Released22 August 1983[1]
Recorded1983
StudioThe Farm, Surrey
GenreSynth-rock[2]
Length6:49 (album version)
6:07 (single version)
5:18 (video edit / radio edit)
7:27 (long version)
LabelAtlantic, Virgin, Vertigo
Songwriter(s)Tony Banks, Phil Collins, Mike Rutherford
Producer(s)Genesis, Hugh Padgham
Genesis singles chronology
"Paperlate"
(1982)
"Mama"
(1983)
"That's All"
(1983)

"Mama" is a song by the English rock band Genesis, released as the first single in 1983 from their self-titled album. It is recognisable for its harsh drum machine introduction composed by Mike Rutherford, which leads into minimalist synthesizer lines in a minor tonality and finally Phil Collins' reverb-laden voice. It remains the band's most successful single in the UK, peaking at No. 4 on the UK singles chart.[3] It also made the top 10 in Switzerland, Austria, Norway, Ireland and the Netherlands. It was less popular in the US, only reaching No. 73 on the Billboard Hot 100.[4] A 1992 re-release of the single managed to reach the Top 40 in Germany.[5]

  1. ^ "Music Week magazine" (PDF).
  2. ^ Molanphy, Chris (31 May 2019). "The Invisible Miracle Sledgehammer Edition". Hit Parade | Music History and Music Trivia (Podcast). Slate. Retrieved 29 August 2023.
  3. ^ "Genesis | full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 29 June 2020.
  4. ^ "Genesis Chart History: Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved 29 June 2020.
  5. ^ "Chartverfolgung / Genesis / Single". Music Line (in German). Germany: Media Control Charts. Archived from the original on 23 July 2013. Retrieved 12 February 2012.