Aerosmith: "Mama Kin"Steven Tyler was so confident in this bluesy rocker on their 1973 debut that he had the title (shortened to Ma' Kin) tatooed on his arm. One listen to the Joe Perry's swaggering guitar alongside Tyler's strutting vocals and dashes of bellowing saxaphone and you will understand why.
The Beatles: "Mother Nature's Son"This wonderful Lnnon-McCartney gem, off The Beatles' famed The White Album, is essentially McCartney playing the guitar and wistfully singing on his own in the studio, returning back to the studio to offer the lightly thumping bongos, second guitar, and timpani the next day. The light folk backing and wonderous melody make this one a classic.
Tracy Bonham: "Mother Mother"The relaxing powerchords strutting along with Bonham's wavering melodic vocals gives way to the thrust of electric guitar and her screaming wail as she darkly confesses her problems on the brilliantly disjointed song.
Garth Brooks: "Papa Loved Mama"Country detractors frequently poke fun of the 'woe is me' additude of the songwriting, but Brooks turns on the vengance with this shadowy, fiddle-laced tale of a trucker's cheating wife and his murderous rage.
Shemekia Copeland: "Your Mama's Talking"Fiery blues singer, Shemekia Copeland delivers an old school blues anthem full of passionate, smoldering vocals, loosely jangling piano, and some explosive blues guitar sliding through the middle.
Danzig: "Mother"Metal goes mainstream on this 1993 megahit, nearly six years after its release on their 1988 Rick Rubin-produced debut album. Glenn Danzig's gritty vocals roaring through the thrusting guitars shines on this classic.
The Dead Weather: "Treat Me Like Your Mother"The wailing vocals of Jack White and Alison Mosshart slice through the psychadelic blues guitar and funky bass groove for a hard-stomping, magical listen.
Dr. Hook: "Sylvia's Mother"Written by author Shel Silverstein for the band as an auto-biographical tale of his attempt to revive a relationship over the phone. The quivering vocals, sparkling guitar, and adorable melody craft a heartwrenching treasure of a song, which turned out to be Dr. Hook's first hit.
Bob Dylan: "It's Alright Ma (I'm Only Bleeding)"Dylan's breathless vocal style works well in this rambling seven-minute acoustic folk tune, showcasing his timeless craftsmanship as a songwriter.
The Features: "Big Mama Gonna Whip Us Good"The raw throated yowl of Matt Pelham and blues effected rock of this Tennessee indie quartet often results in invigorating listening, and the stomping, clap-along beat and flailing guitar throwing a tantrum into a feel-good hook is a perfect example of why we love this band so much.
Grateful Dead: "Mama Tried"The epic jam band's cover of this Merle Haggard country song is a southern rock treasure thanks to the glossy twang of the guitar bubbling through.
Etta James: "Tell Mama"The legendary soul singer dishes a bit of blues on this horn-fueled stunner, later covered by Janis Jopin. We prefer the growl of the original.
Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson: "Mamas Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be Cowboys"The swaying country duet from Jennings and Nelson, covering an Ed Bruce song, is a fantastic pairing of two twangy talents warning mothers against the wild life of cowboys, recommending the more stable careers of doctors and lawyers instead.
The Kinks: "Some Mother's Son"The classic melody soaring through this tale of a dead soldier is off, what is widely considered one of The Kinks' finest albums, Arthur (Or The Decline Of The British Empire)". Consider this further proof that The Kinks are too often unjustly lost in the British Invasion shuffle.
LL Cool J: "Mama Said Knock You Out"At the time of its release, the stalking rap of LL was about as threatening as radio rap got. Good luck getting the beat and looped choir out of your head.
Lucero: "Mom"A rare sweet one on the list, Ben Nichols' asphalt-laced voice in the sparse setting makes for gorgeous listening as he attempts to ease his mother's fears while he is on the road, assuring her that he remembers what she taught him and where he comes from.
Morrissey: "Mama Lay Softly On The Riverbed"The marching beat and the ex-Smiths' front man's romantic, soaring vocals work brilliantly in the tale of a dead protestor told through the eyes of her blood-thirsty son.
My Chemical Romance: "Mama"The Russian waltz of the guitar opens the track as sharply sawing backing for Gerard Way's wild-eyed vocals, giving way to the eruptive shout-along hook looking to resolve issues with the main character's mother on thier rock opera.
Parliment: "Mothership Connection (Star Child)"How many sample-loving rap songs would be ruined without this classic George Clinton track? Well, Dr. Dre's "Let Me Ride" for one. The 1975 track served as the introduction for Clinton's Star Child character.
Pink Floyd: "Mother"The slow burn open of Roger Waters and a strummed acoustic gutiar eventually leads to a gorgeous axoustic-led waltz from the band, with their character Pink dealing with being raised by an overprotective mother on their classic album.
The Rolling Stones: "Mother's Little Helper"The toe-tapping beat and jangling guitar is pure sixties Brit-pop magic as Mick Jagger melodically sings of busy mothers finding refuge in drugs, with the risk of overdose near the songs end balancing against the upbeat vibe of the song.
Santana: "Mother's Daughter"The sensual guitar of Carlos Santana flows gorgeously through this winner off the band's sophomore album, with hand-beaten rythms and epic classic rock vocals shining when the guitar allows.
Paul Simon: "Mother & Child Reunion"The reggae sway of the beat was recorded with Jimmy Cliff's backing group, serving up a fanastic, calming backing for world music-loving Paul Simon's warm vocals for this winner off his solo debut.
Three Dog Night: "Mama Told Me (Not To Come)"Randy Newman used to write more than just Disney fare. Originally written for Eric Burdon (War), Three Dog Night's drippy organ filled rock n roll version became one of their biggest hits.
2 Live Crew: "Hoochie Mama"How could we leave the introduction of the word 'hoodrat' into popular culture off the list? This bass banging dis track was recorded for the 1995 soundtrack to, the Ice Cube and Chris Tucker classic, Friday.
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