Teresa Brewer‘s extensive recording career (which encompassed nearly 600 song titles) ran the gamut – from pop and novelty to rhythm & blues to country, musicals and, in the latter part of her career, jazz. And yes, you can even add rock to that list – as evidenced by “Mama Sure Could Swing a Deal,” a song from her 1973 album, In London with Oily Rags, on the Flying Dutchman label.
“Mama Sure Could Swing a Deal“
Teresa Brewer (1973)
Oily Rags is the stage name for musical duo, Chas Hodges and Dave Peacock, who are joined by a bassist and drummer, two percussionists, three guitarists (including Pete Frampton), an electric keyboardist, and a 6-piece horn section on this track.
LP Musician & Production Credits
Teresa Brewer – Lead Vocals
Chas Hodges – Vocals
Dave Peacock – Vocals
Barry St. John, Gary Taylor, Larry Steel, Lee Vanderbilt, Liza Strike, Robert Lindop, Ruby James & Sue Glover – Choir
Pete Gavin – Drums
Frank Riccotti – Congas
Johnny Gustafson – Bass
Chris Karin – Timbales
Hugh Burns – Electric Guitar
Joe Jammer – Electric Guitar
Pete Frampton – Electric Guitar
Pete Robinson – Electric Piano
Dave Quincy – Soprano, Alto & Tenor Saxes
Steve Gregory – Alto & Tenor Saxes
Phil Kinsey – Tenor Sax
Chris Mercer – Baritone Sax
Martin Drover – Trumpet
Mike Bailey – Trumpet
Malcolm Griffiths – Trombone
Brass Arrangement by Ian Green & Phil Dennys
String Arrangement by – Phil Dennys
Engineer – Bill Price, John Mackswith & Mike Dunn
Producer – Steve Rowland
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“Mama Could Swing a Deal“
written by Albert Hammond & Mike (not Lee) Hazlewood
Curious to note that in 1973 Teresa Brewer also released three singles on the Flying Dutchman label – however, none of those sides duplicated any tracks from her album with Oily Rags.
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LINK to Rock ‘n’ Soul on Zero to 180
2 Responses
Mama sure could swing a deal… interesting to see a different version of this.. i know it by 2 other artists .. u list Teresa Brewer.
it was written with Mike Hazlewood. no relation to Lee.
i’m not sure why (lots of ) websites get this mixed up. cheers
‘Another Useless Day’, one of the three Flying Dutchman singles Teresa Brewer released in 1973, was (as you say) excluded from her album with Oily Rags. However, it was included on the A-side when that album was re-released in 1984. Chas Hodges and Dave Peacock, who wrote the song, also recorded it on the first album they issued together after Oily Rags split up.