Mama’s Pride originate from St Louis, and though these Missouri boys have got the southern rock/boogie thing down hat, they do so with a emphasis on melody, including multi-part harmonies, soaring keyboard parts.
Written by: gdmonline
ARTIST: Mama’s Pride
ALBUM: Mama’s Pride
LABEL: Atlantic/Atco
SERIAL: SD 36 122
YEAR: 1975
CD REISSUE: Discogs Reissue List
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: USA
LINEUP: Danny Liston – guitars, vocals * Pat Liston – guitars, keyboards * Max Baker – guitars * Paul Willett – keyboards * Dickie Selenphol – bass * Kevin Saunders – drums
TRACK LISTING: 01 In The Morning * 02 Who Do You Think You’re Foolin’ * 03 Blue Mist * 04 Laurie Ann * 05 Missouri Skyline * 06 Ol St Lou * 07 Kind Lovin’ Woman * 08 Where Would You Be * 09 Young And Free
WEBLINKS: NA
Background
Here’s the southern rock band Mama’s Pride dragged unmercifully out of the archives of the International Encylopedia of Hard Rock And Heavy Metal (1st edition). Page 204 to be exact! Mama’s Pride originate from St Louis, and though these Missouri boys have got the southern rock/boogie thing down hat, they do so with a emphasis on melody.
This includes multi-part harmonies, soaring keyboard parts not unlike Morningstar and The Doobie Brothers that gives them a commercial leaning in their songs. Their three guitar line-up is equivalent to all the forerunners of the genre. Think Molly Hatchet, The Outlaws and you get the picture.
The Songs
Kicking off with the commercial vibe of ‘In The Morning’, this one is a pleasant romp with majestic harmony vocals, and a bass line emulating the style of Doobie Bothers Tiran Porter. Overall, you could say there is a bit of the Doobies sound coming through in this song.
‘Who Do You Think You’re Foolin’ heads in the direction of that Texan boogie style frequently observed by the likes of Johnny Winter – and they sound pretty good playing this style. A song which sounds as if it comes from the Confederate South is ‘Blue Mist’. However, the melodies are raised with the lush synth layers that are straight from the Gary Wright 101 class of synth playing! Weird combination it might be, but it works.
‘Laurie Ann’ is a lush acoustic piece which reminds me of Alabama favourites Couchois and their song ‘Cripple’. ‘Missouri Skyline’ delivers good time boogie, with incredible bass lines and dextrous guitar playing by all involved. The persistent mild boogie of ‘Ol’ St Lou’ is fantastic stuff, with a few change-up moments that have obviously been honed in a live situation. ‘Kind Lovin’ Woman’ has a very ‘live feel’ to it, easily converted from the studio to the stage I reckon.
The organ fuelled semi-ballad ‘Where Would You Be’ keeps things in check for the first part, then opens out to an all-out rocker by the end – crescendo of the best sort! Wrapping things up with ‘Young And Free’, it’s a dixie sounding slice of melodia with the Doobies again as a reference point.
In Summary
Despite being lumped in with the rest of the boogie merchants from the same era, this is an unfair comparison. Though Mama’s Pride can foot it easily with the stetson and spurs brigade, there’s more to this band than a few slinky slide guitar solos and blues riffs. The big production from Atlantic probably made these guys sound more professional than most, and it worked out well for them.
A few more listens have since embedded these guys into my whiskey (oops.. gin) induced consciousness. Not sure if this album got an official CD release (it did eventually.. Ed), but if not, I would suggest that this album, along with their 1977 final and follow-up album’ Uptown & Lowdown’ should be considered for a Wounded Bird two-on-one CD release.
Mama’s Pride on Video
Entire Album (Select Tracks)
