Mama Look at Bubu
1957 single by Harry Belafonte
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"Mama Look at Bubu" (later retitled "Mama Look a Boo Boo") is a song written by Trinidadian calypsonian Lord Melody, and performed by Harry Belafonte featuring Bob Corwin's Orchestra & Chorus featuring Millard Thomas, Frantz Casseus, and Victor Messer on guitar.
| "Mama Look at Bubu" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single by Harry Belafonte | ||||
| from the album The Versatile Mr. Belafonte | ||||
| B-side | "Don't Ever Love Me" | |||
| Released | March 1957 | |||
| Genre | Calypso | |||
| Length | 2:58 | |||
| Label | RCA Victor | |||
| Songwriters | Harry Belafonte, Lord Burgess, Lord Melody | |||
| Harry Belafonte singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
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]
The song was first heard by Belafonte in the West Indies while filming Island in the Sun.
Reception
The song was a hit in Trinidad and in the U.S.
Belafonte's cover reached No. 10 on the U.S. R&B chart and No. 11 on the U.S. pop chart in 1957.[2] It was featured on his 1957 album The Versatile Mr. Belafonte.[3]
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.[4]
- Chubby Checker released a version of the song entitled "Mama Look a Boo Boo" on Let's Limbo Some More (1963).[5]
- Leftover Salmon released a version of the song entitled "Booboo" on Bridges to Bert (1993).
- Charlie Gracie released a version of the song entitled "Mama Look a Boo Boo" on An Evening with Charlie Gracie (2002) which was recorded in 1998.[6]
- A version by Nat King Cole entitled "Mama Look a Boo Boo" was released on his 2003 compilation album Remembering Nat King Cole.[7]
- Karl Zéro released a version of the song on HiFi Calypso (2004).[8]
