Mama's Pearl

"Mama's Pearl" was a hit recording for The Jackson 5 in 1971 and was written by The Corporation, a songwriting team that had helped the group score four consecutive #1 singles.^[2]

"Mama's Pearl"
Single by The Jackson 5
from the album Third Album
B-side	"Darling Dear"
Released	January 7, 1971 (U.S.)
Recorded	July 1970 Hitsville West, Los Angeles
Genre	Pop[1]
Length	3:09
Label	Motown
Songwriter(s)	The Corporation: Berry Gordy Alphonzo Mizell Deke Richards Freddie Perren
Producer(s)	The Corporation
The Jackson 5 singles chronology
"I'll Be There" (1970) "Mama's Pearl" (1971) "Never Can Say Goodbye" (1971)

Chart performance

"Mama's Pearl" was one of six consecutive top 5 singles for the group. "Mama's Pearl" went to number two for two weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 behind, "One Bad Apple" by The Osmonds.^[3] On the soul singles it likewise peaked at number two.^[4] Overseas, "Mama's Pearl" peaked at #25 in the UK.

Song background

The song, while sung mostly by Michael featured cameo spots from brothers Jermaine and Jackie. According to a Jackson biographer, "Mama's Pearl" was originally called "Guess Who's Making Whoopie (With Your Girlfriend)". Producer Deke Richards reportedly had the lyrics and title changed to preserve Michael Jackson's youthful, innocent image.^[5] The demo version has since been released on the 2012 compilation "Come and Get It: The Rare Pearls".

Record World called it "a fast-paced number...that's already on its way to the top."^[6] Cash Box said "Tapping their special keg of pop energy, the Jackson 5 roars into the lists once more with a blazing bubbly-soul surger that has already bounded into the top forty in its first week on the market."^[7] Billboard called it a "driving swinger with all the potential of another million seller."^[8]

Personnel

• Lead and background vocals: Michael Jackson, Jermaine Jackson, Jackie Jackson, Tito Jackson and Marlon Jackson
• Written, produced, and arranged by The Corporation: Berry Gordy, Alphonzo Mizell, Freddie Perren and Deke Richards
• Instrumentation by various Los Angeles studio musicians

Charts

Chart (1971)	Peak position
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[9]	3
U.K. Singles Chart[10]	25
U.S. Billboard Hot 100[11]	2
U.S. Billboard Best Selling Soul Singles[12]	2

References

1. Breithaupt, Don; Breithaupt, Jeff (October 15, 1996). "How Sweet It Was: The Twilight of Mowtown". Precious and Few - Pop Music in the Early '70s. St. Martin's Griffin. p. 48. ISBN 031214704X.
2. "Mama's Pearl: Song information". www.mjj.lt.
3. "The Hot 100 Chart". Billboard.
4. Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 267.
5. Taraborrelli, J. Randy (2003). Michael Jackson: The Magic and the Madness. London: Sidgwick & Jackson. p. 80.
6. "Picks of the Week" (PDF). Record World. January 23, 1971. p. 1. Retrieved 2023-04-22.
7. "CashBox Singles Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. January 23, 1971. p. 22. Retrieved 2023-04-22.
8. "Spotlight Singles" (PDF). Billboard. January 23, 1971. p. 70. Retrieved 2023-04-22.
9. "RPM 100 Singles - Volume 15, No. 4". Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved October 25, 2024.
10. "The Jackson 5 | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". Official Charts.
11. "The Jacksons 5 Chart History: Billboard Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved 2019-11-09.
12. "The Jackson 5 Chart History: Dance Singles Sales". Billboard. Retrieved 2019-11-09.