Ma-Ma-Ma Belle
Encyclopedia
"Ma-Ma-Ma Belle" is a song recorded by the Electric Light Orchestra
.
It was taken from the 1973 album On the Third Day
. In the UK, the single version had a slightly different mix from the album original featuring a descending string crescendo and was edited in length.
Marc Bolan
plays twin lead guitar on the track alongside his friend Jeff Lynne
, the pair had previously played on Bolans T. Rex
hit Solid Gold Easy Action
. "Ma-Ma-Ma Belle" also featured on the ELO EP
in 1978.
In the UK the B-side "Oh No Not Susan" found its way on to various DJs play lists at the BBC
unaware that the songs lyrics contained profanity. In the US "Daybreaker", the single's flip side, proved more popular and the song was relegated as a b-side in 1976 on "Livin' Thing
".
Early working titles for the song were Auntie and My Woman, both of which have found their way on to various compilations.
"Daybreaker"
. It was the first of two instrumentals on the LP. A prominent feature of its arrangement was Richard Tandy
playing arpeggio
s on a Minimoog
synthesizer.
The song was the B-side to the single, "Ma-Ma-Ma Belle", in the United States; however the B-side received more airplay than the A-side, thus "Daybreaker" charted instead. Despite its US hit status, the song is rarely included on any of the band's extensive compilation albums.
taken from the album On the Third Day
recorded in 1973. The song tells the story of a wealthy Socialite
who has grown tired of her privileged status.
Despite the songs lyrics containing profanity, it received much airplay at the time being the UK B-side to "Ma-Ma-Ma Belle". On the LP's original lyric sheet the offensive word was omitted. Bev Bevan
remarked:
Electric Light Orchestra
Electric Light Orchestra were a British rock group from Birmingham who released eleven studio albums between 1971 and 1986 and another album in 2001. ELO were formed to accommodate Roy Wood and Jeff Lynne's desire to create modern rock and pop songs with classical overtones...
.
It was taken from the 1973 album On the Third Day
On the Third Day
On the Third Day is the third studio LP by Electric Light Orchestra and the first to be recorded without any input from Roy Wood.-Overview:...
. In the UK, the single version had a slightly different mix from the album original featuring a descending string crescendo and was edited in length.
Marc Bolan
Marc Bolan
Marc Bolan was an English singer-songwriter, guitarist and poet. He is best known as the founder, frontman, lead singer & guitarist for T. Rex, but also a successful solo artist...
plays twin lead guitar on the track alongside his friend Jeff Lynne
Jeff Lynne
Jeffrey "Jeff" Lynne is an English songwriter, composer, arranger, singer, multi-instrumentalist, and record producer who gained fame as the leader and sole constant member of Electric Light Orchestra and was a co-founder and member of The Traveling Wilburys together with George Harrison, Bob...
, the pair had previously played on Bolans T. Rex
T. Rex (band)
T. Rex were a British rock band, formed in 1967 by singer/songwriter and guitarist Marc Bolan. The band formed as Tyrannosaurus Rex, releasing four folk albums under the name...
hit Solid Gold Easy Action
Solid Gold Easy Action
-External links:* at LyricWiki...
. "Ma-Ma-Ma Belle" also featured on the ELO EP
ELO EP
The ELO EP was the final 1978 release from Electric Light Orchestra. It was a seven-inch extended play album played at 33 revolutions per minute and it was released in the UK and Ireland only to promote the three-LP box set Three Light Years. "Can't Get It Out of My Head" was the lead-off track and...
in 1978.
In the UK the B-side "Oh No Not Susan" found its way on to various DJs play lists at the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
unaware that the songs lyrics contained profanity. In the US "Daybreaker", the single's flip side, proved more popular and the song was relegated as a b-side in 1976 on "Livin' Thing
Livin' Thing
"Livin' Thing" is a song written by Jeff Lynne and performed by Electric Light Orchestra. It appears on ELO's 1976 platinum-selling album, A New World Record...
".
Early working titles for the song were Auntie and My Woman, both of which have found their way on to various compilations.
Chart positions
"Ma-Ma-Ma Belle"| Chart (1974) | Peak Position |
|---|---|
| UK Singles Chart UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ... |
22 |
"Daybreaker"
| Chart (1974) | Peak Position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 87 |
| U.S. Cash Box Top 100 Singles | 61 |
Daybreaker
"Daybreaker" is an instrumental song on the album On the Third DayOn the Third Day
On the Third Day is the third studio LP by Electric Light Orchestra and the first to be recorded without any input from Roy Wood.-Overview:...
. It was the first of two instrumentals on the LP. A prominent feature of its arrangement was Richard Tandy
Richard Tandy
Richard Tandy , is best known as the keyboard player in the rock band, Electric Light Orchestra...
playing arpeggio
Arpeggio
An arpeggio is a musical technique where notes in a chord are played or sung in sequence, one after the other, rather than ringing out simultaneously...
s on a Minimoog
Minimoog
The Minimoog is a monophonic analog synthesizer, invented by Bill Hemsath and Robert Moog. It was released in 1970 by R.A. Moog Inc. , and production was stopped in 1981. It was re-designed by Robert Moog in 2002 and released as Minimoog Voyager.The Minimoog was designed in response to the use of...
synthesizer.
The song was the B-side to the single, "Ma-Ma-Ma Belle", in the United States; however the B-side received more airplay than the A-side, thus "Daybreaker" charted instead. Despite its US hit status, the song is rarely included on any of the band's extensive compilation albums.
Oh No Not Susan
"Oh No Not Susan" is a song written by Jeff LynneJeff Lynne
Jeffrey "Jeff" Lynne is an English songwriter, composer, arranger, singer, multi-instrumentalist, and record producer who gained fame as the leader and sole constant member of Electric Light Orchestra and was a co-founder and member of The Traveling Wilburys together with George Harrison, Bob...
taken from the album On the Third Day
On the Third Day
On the Third Day is the third studio LP by Electric Light Orchestra and the first to be recorded without any input from Roy Wood.-Overview:...
recorded in 1973. The song tells the story of a wealthy Socialite
Socialite
A socialite is a person who participates in social activities and spends a significant amount of time entertaining and being entertained at fashionable upper-class events....
who has grown tired of her privileged status.
Despite the songs lyrics containing profanity, it received much airplay at the time being the UK B-side to "Ma-Ma-Ma Belle". On the LP's original lyric sheet the offensive word was omitted. Bev Bevan
Bev Bevan
Bev Bevan is an English rock musician, who was the drummer and one of the original members of The Move and Electric Light Orchestra...
remarked:
"On [On The Third Day] there is a song called Oh No, Not Susan on which Jeff sings: 'Oh, no not me, that's all she says... her money and her place they just don't mean a fucking thing...' The BBC played it many times, despite their policy towards such lyrics. It just goes to show that if you keep quiet about it and don't make maximum fuss to get publicity there isn't anyone listening closely to words on the radio."