Mother of Mine

For other uses of "Mother of Mine", see Mother of Mine (disambiguation).

"Mother of Mine" is a song written by Bill Parkinson and made famous by a Scottish former child singing star Neil Reid who sang it on ITV's Opportunity Knocks and won the competition on 13 December 1971, singing his version of the song^[1]

The song was an instant hit with the British public and was released commercially by Decca Records shortly after his win, and went to number two on the UK Singles Chart, particularly following a performance of the song on Top of the Pops.^[2][3]

"Mother of Mine" record sold over 250,000 copies in the United Kingdom, and over 2.5 million globally.^[4] It also sold around 400,000 copies in Japan alone.^[4]

The song also appeared in the self-titled album Neil Reid reaching number 1 on the UK Albums Chart making Reid the holder of the title of the youngest person to reach number one on the UK Albums Chart.^[5] at the age of 12 years 9 months.

Reid followed up the single "Mother of Mine" by "That's What I Want To Be" three months later, but that song peaked only at number 45,^[6] and Reid quickly faded from national prominence to performing on the Northern England Working men's club circuit. Two years after winning Opportunity Knocks, Reid's voice broke and as a result he gave up professional singing.

Cover versions

• In 1972, following the success of the song, Jimmy Osmond, another young singing act recorded it as the Side B of his big hit "Long Haired Lover from Liverpool". The song was also included on his 1972 album Killer Joe.
• Also in 1972, The Paul Mauriat Orchestra recorded an instrumental version that appeared on the album Summer Memories - The Superb Sounds of The Paul Mauriat Orchestra
• In 2009, New Zealand singer Hayley Westenra recorded her own cover on her album Hayley Sings Japanese Songs 2
• The song has been recorded in other languages as well, most notably in French language as "Maman chérie" by the Canadian singer René Simard.

References

1. ^ "Synopses: Opportunity Knocks, 20/12/71". BFI Database. http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/title/580168?view=synopsis. Retrieved 2008-01-05. 
2. ^ "Show Biz Sam". Scottish Daily Record. October 8, 2005. http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/entertainment/tm_objectid=16223708&method=full&siteid=66633&headline=showbiz-sam--name_page.html. Retrieved 2008-01-05. 
3. ^ "Neil Reid". firstfoot.com. Archived from the original on 2007-11-13. http://web.archive.org/web/20071113062429/http://www.firstfoot.com/Bad+Scottish+Pop/Bad+Scottish+Pop/neilreid.htm. Retrieved 2008-01-05. 
4. ^ ^{a b} Murrells, Joseph (1978). The Book of Golden Discs (2nd ed.). London: Barrie and Jenkins Ltd. p. 301. ISBN 978-0-214-20512-5. 
5. ^ "Record Breakers and Trivia : Albums". everyhit.co.uk. http://www.everyhit.co.uk/recordalb.html. Retrieved 2008-01-05. 
6. ^ Roberts, David (2006-06-02). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 458. ISBN 978-1-904994-10-7.