MAMA ROCK
(J. Powers)
JOHNNY POWERS & THE A-BONES (LEEDON, Rec. 1957)

Mam-mam-mama, could it be?
That there's something wrong with me?
I got the feeling in my soul
I can't resist that rock 'n' roll
Is it wrong, oh yeah, is it wrong?
(Rock and roll)
Oh yeah!

Is it wrong when I sing this rockin' song?
Is is wrong? Oh yeah!
Is it wrong when I sing this boppin' song?
Is is wrong? Oh yeah!
Is it wrong when I sing this rockin' song?
Is is wrong? Oh yeah!

Mam-mam-mama, tell me too
I'd spend my whole live through
I got the feeling in my soul
I can't resist that rock 'n' roll
Well, is it wrong, oh yeah, is it wrong?
(Rock and roll)
Oh yes!

Is it wrong when I sing this rockin' song?
Is is wrong? Oh yeah!
Is it wrong when I sing this boppin' song?
Is is wrong? Oh yeah!
Is it wrong when I sing this rockin' song?
Is is wrong? Oh yeah!
Rock!

Is it wrong when I sing this rockin' song?
Is is wrong? Oh yeah!
Is it wrong when I sing this boppin' song?
Is is wrong? Oh yeah!
Is it wrong when I sing this rockin' song?
Is is wrong? Oh yeah!
Wow!

Well, is it wrong? Is it wrong?
Is it wrong? Is it wrong?
Is it wrong? Is it wrong?
Is it wrong? Is it wrong?
[Fade]

In 1957, Johnny Powers changed the band's name to the Tom Cats, which consisted of Marvin Maynard on bass, Clark Locker, aka Johnny Clark on drums, and Stan Getz on lead guitar. They played at Bills Barn and went on to the Fox label with a pair of regional hits, "Long Blond Hair" b/w "Rock Rock". They recorded a lot of song demos, some of which have surfaced as bootleg releases in recent years.

Among his strongest work from this period were a pair of originals, "Mama Rock" and "Indeed I Do", released on Leedon Records, Lee Gordon's Australian record label. On both recordings, he sounds like the young, wild Elvis Presley that just arrived at RCA, and the group sings uncannily like the Jordanaires.