Mama Can't Buy You Love - Misplaced Pages

"Mama Can't Buy You Love" is a hit single for English musician Elton John from the EP The Thom Bell Sessions. The song was written by LeRoy Bell and Casey James (of Bell and James fame). Bowing at number 69 on the Hot 100 on 9 June 1979, the track became John's first US top ten hit in almost three years when it peaked at number 9 on 25 August 1979. "Mama Can't Buy You Love" also spent one week at number 1 on the Adult Contemporary chart. In the US, it was certified gold on 17 August 1979 by the RIAA.

The chord structure of the opening instrumental of "Mama Can't Buy You Love" bears a strong resemblance to the chord structure of the opening instrumental of Ronnie Dyson's "One Man Band (Plays All Alone)". According to the Hot 100, Thom Bell produced both records. The Spinners provided the background vocals on the track.

Reception

Record World said that John's "vocals are a perfect mate for Bell's sparkling lyrics, production & keyboards."

Chart performance

Weekly charts

Chart (1979)	Peak position
Australia	82
Canada (CRIA)	10
Canadian RPM Top Singles	10
Canadian RPM Adult Contemporary	19
New Zealand	20
US Billboard Hot 100	9
US Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks	1
US Billboard Hot Soul Singles	36
US Cash Box Top 100	10

Year-end charts

Chart (1979)	Position
Canada	63
US Billboard Hot 100	36
US Cash Box	56

Certifications


Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA)	Gold	1,000,000
Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

Breihan, Tom (3 January 2022). "The Number Ones: George Michael & Elton John's "Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me". Stereogum. Retrieved 6 July 2024. John's Thom Bell-produced Philly soul pastiche "Mama Can't Buy You Love" peaked at #9 in 1979.
"Hot 100: Week of September 1, 1979". Billboard. Retrieved 10 April 2016.
Whitburn, Joel (2002). Top Adult Contemporary: 1961–2001. Record Research. p. 128.
"Elton John – Mama Can't Buy You Love (1977-1979-1989) With Lyrics!". Riffstation beta. Retrieved 9 April 2016.
"Ronnie Dyson – One Man Band (Plays All Alone)". Riffstation beta. Retrieved 9 April 2016.
"Hits of the Week" (PDF). Record World. 9 June 1979. p. 1. Retrieved 11 February 2023.
Lwin, Nanda (1999). Top 40 Hits: The Essential Chart Guide. Music Data Canada. ISBN 1-896594-13-1.
"Item Display – RPM – Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. Retrieved 15 October 2016.
"Item Display – RPM – Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. Retrieved 15 October 2016.
"Song artist 6 – Elton John". Tsort.info. Retrieved 15 October 2016.
Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942–2004. Record Research. p. 301.
"Top 100 1979-08-25". Cashbox. Archived from the original on 30 December 2019. Retrieved 15 May 2015.
"Item Display – RPM – Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. Retrieved 15 October 2016.
"Top 100 Hits of 1979/Top 100 Songs of 1979". Musicoutfitters.com. Retrieved 15 October 2016.
"Top 100 Year End Charts: 1979". Cashbox. Archived from the original on 25 August 2012. Retrieved 12 April 2016.
"American single certifications – Elton John – Mama Can't Buy You Love". Recording Industry Association of America.

v t e Elton John songs
Discography
1960s	"I've Been Loving You" (1968) "Skyline Pigeon" (1968) "Lady Samantha" (1969) "It's Me That You Need" (1969)
1970s	"Border Song" (1970) "Rock and Roll Madonna" (1970) "From Denver to L.A." (1970) "Take Me to the Pilot" (1970) "Your Song" (1970) "Come Down in Time" (1970) "Friends" (1971) "Levon" (1971) "Indian Sunset" (1971) "Tiny Dancer" (1972) "Rocket Man" (1972) "Honky Cat" (1972) "I Think I'm Going to Kill Myself" (1972) "Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters" (1972) "Crocodile Rock" (1972) "Elderberry Wine" (1972) "Daniel" (1972) "Have Mercy on the Criminal" (1972) "Teacher I Need You" (1973) "Funeral for a Friend/Love Lies Bleeding" (1973) "Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting" (1973) "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" (1973) "Step into Christmas" (1973) "Candle in the Wind" (1974) "Bennie and the Jets" (1974) "Harmony" (1974) "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" (1974) "The Bitch Is Back" (1974) "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds" (1974) "Philadelphia Freedom" (1975) "I Saw Her Standing There" (1975) "Someone Saved My Life Tonight" (1975) "We All Fall in Love Sometimes" (1975) "Island Girl" (1975) "Grow Some Funk of Your Own" (1976) "I Feel Like a Bullet (In the Gun of Robert Ford)" (1976) "Pinball Wizard" (1976) "Don't Go Breaking My Heart" (1976) "Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word" (1976) "Bite Your Lip (Get Up and Dance!)" (1977) "Crazy Water" (1977) "The Goaldiggers Song" (1977) "Ego" (1978) "Part-Time Love" (1978) "Song for Guy" (1978) "Are You Ready for Love" (1979) "Mama Can't Buy You Love" (1979) "Johnny B. Goode" (1979)
1980s	"Little Jeannie" (1980) "Sartorial Eloquence (Don't Ya Wanna Play This Game No More?)" (1980) "Dear God" (1980) "Whatever Gets You thru the Night" (1981) "Loving You Is Sweeter Than Ever" (1981) "Blue Eyes" (1982) "Empty Garden (Hey Hey Johnny)" (1982) "Ball and Chain" (1982) "All Quiet on the Western Front" (1982) "I Guess That's Why They Call It the Blues" (1983) "I'm Still Standing" (1983) "Kiss the Bride" (1983) "Sad Songs (Say So Much)" (1984) "Passengers" (1984) "Who Wears These Shoes? (1984) "Nikita" (1985) "That's What Friends Are For" (1985) "Wrap Her Up" (1985) "Heartache All Over the World" (1986) "Slow Rivers" (1986) "Take Me to the Pilot" (1988) "I Don't Wanna Go On with You Like That" (1988) "Town of Plenty" (1988) "Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters (Part Two)" (1988) "Through the Storm" (1989) "Healing Hands" (1989) "Sacrifice" (1989)
1990s	"Club at the End of the Street" (1990) "You Gotta Love Someone" (1990) "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" (1991) "The One" (1992) "Runaway Train" (1992) "The Last Song" (1992) "Simple Life" (1993) "True Love" (1993) "Shakey Ground" (1994) "Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing" (1994) "Can You Feel the Love Tonight" (1994) "Circle of Life" (1994) "Believe" (1995) "Made in England" (1995) "When the Money's Gone" (1995) "You Can Make History (Young Again)" (1996) "Live Like Horses" (1996) "The Madness of King Scar" (1997) "Something About the Way You Look Tonight" (1997) "Candle in the Wind 1997" (1997) "Written in the Stars" (1999)
2000s	"Someday Out of the Blue" (2000) "I Want Love" (2001) "This Train Don't Stop There Anymore" (2002) "Original Sin" (2002) "Are You Ready for Love" (2003) "Ghetto Gospel" (2005) "Electricity" (2005) "The Bridge" (2006) "Joseph, Better You than Me" (2008) "Tiny Dancer (Hold Me Closer)" (2009)
2010s	"All of the Lights" (2010) "Good Morning to the Night" (2012) "Sad" (2012) "Looking Up" (2015) "(I'm Gonna) Love Me Again" (2019)
2020s	"Ordinary Man" (2020) "Sine from Above" (2020) "The Pink Phantom" (2020) "It's a Sin" (2021) "Cold Heart (Pnau remix)" (2021) "Merry Christmas" (2021) "Sausage Rolls for Everyone" (2021) "Hold Me Closer" (2022)
Related	Albums discography Videography
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