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Take a Letter Maria
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Wikipedia article
'"Take a Letter Maria"' is a song written and recorded by R. B. Greaves, an American soul singer. It was recorded at Muscle Shoals Sound Studio on August 19, 1969, using the house studio musicians. These include Donna Jean Thatcher, vocals (later Donna Jean Godchaux of the Grateful Dead), Roger Hawkins, drums, Barry Beckett, electric piano, Eddie Hinton and Jimmy Johnson, guitars, David Hood, bass, and Mel Lastie, trumpet.'The Muscle Shoals Sound' CD liner notes: Rhino Records, 1993
"Take a Letter Maria" was released in September 1969, quickly gained regular airplay. The single peaked at #2 on the Billboard Hot 100, and was kept from #1 by "Wedding Bell Blues" by The 5th Dimension.
The single was certified gold by November 1969; one million copies had shipped. By 1970, sales totalled 2.5 million.
Background
"Take a Letter Maria" has a Latin music flavor, complete with a mariachi-style horn section, and tells of a man who has learned of his wife's infidelity the night before. He dictates a letter of separation to Maria, his secretary, whom he asks out for dinner later in the song in order to "start a new life."
Chart positions
Personnel
* R.B Greaves- Vocals
* Eddie Hinton and Jimmy Johnson- guitars
* Barry Beckett- Electric Piano
* David Hood- Bass
* Roger Hawkins- Drums
* Donna Jean Thatcher- Vocals
* Mel Lastie- Trumpet
Cover versions
*"Take a Letter Maria" has had two charted cover versions by country music singers:
** Anthony Armstrong Jones, from his album of the same name, hitting #8 on Hot Country Songs in 1970.
**In 1999, Doug Stone released the song from his album 'Make Up in Love', reaching #45 on Hot Country Songs.
*Jimmy Ruffin recorded his take with Motown on his album 'The Groove Governor' released in 1970.
*The New Riders of the Purple Sage included the song on their 1975 album 'Oh, What a Mighty Time'.
*The alt-country supergroup The Pleasure Barons produced a high-energy rendition on their 'Live in Las Vegas' CD, with vocals by Country Dick Montana of the Beat Farmers.
*Gary Puckett, on his 'Greatest Hits' CD in 1986.
*Country music singer Sammy Kershaw, on the 2015 album 'I Won't Back Down'.
Song in popular culture
*In 1992, the song was featured in 'The Wonder Years', in the sixth-season episode "Kevin Delivers".
*In 1994, it was featured in the soundtrack of 'The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert'.
*In 1995, it was featured in the episode [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0568005/ Home] Season 2, Episode 9 of 'ER' when Carol and Shep dance to it in her new home. However, the song has meaning with another storyline as Mark discovers his wife is in a relationship with someone else.
References
Category:1969 debut singles
Category:1970 singles
Category:1999 singles
Category:R. B. Greaves songs
Category:Doug Stone songs
Category:Anthony Armstrong Jones songs
Category:Atlantic Records singles
Category:Song recordings produced by Ahmet Ertegun
Category:1969 songs
Category:Songs about infidelity
Category:Songs about letters (message)
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