Right-Click to Download    “Open up the window – let some air into this room… I think I’m almost chokin’ – from the smell of stale perfume…And that cigarette you’re smokin’ – ’bout to scare me half to death… Open up the window – let me catch my breath”.

This is just one of the strange verses from a strange song recorded by the equally strange rock group Three Dog Night (remember, those guys also sang a song about a talking bullfrog who drank some mighty fine wine).  “MaMa Told Me Not to Come” is about an apparently sheltered young man attending his first “wild party” – his mother had warned him not to go and you should always listen to your mother.  It was written by Randy Newman for Eric Burden and The Animals in 1966.  The “Animals” version is just pathetic (google the video).  Luckily,  Three Dog Night came along in 1970 and put out a cover that was both rollicking and comic.  Worth re-doing today.

The problem with producing backups for this tune is the lead line.  The only real singing is in the chorus – the verses are all pretty much spoken words.  That’s hard to duplicate on a keyboard but you’ll get the idea (backups on the Pop/Rock list).  Learn this one and bring it back as a “golden oldie” – your mama will love you for it.