Take a Letter Maria explained

Take a Letter Maria
Type:single
Artist:R. B. Greaves
Album:R. B. Greaves
B-Side:Big Bad City
Released:September 1969
Genre:Soul
Length:2:44
Label:Atco/Atlantic
Producer:Ahmet Ertegun
Next Title:Always Something There to Remind Me
Next Year:1970

"Take a Letter Maria" is the debut single written and recorded by American soul singer R. B. Greaves. It was recorded at Muscle Shoals Sound Studio on August 19, 1969, using the house studio musicians. These include Donna Jean Thatcher on vocals (later Donna Jean Godchaux of the Grateful Dead), Roger Hawkins on drums, Barry Beckett on electric piano, Eddie Hinton and Jimmy Johnson on guitar, David Hood on bass, and Mel Lastie on trumpet.[1] "Take a Letter Maria" was released in September 1969, and quickly gained regular airplay.[2] The single peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100,[3] and was kept from the top spot by the 5th Dimension's "Wedding Bell Blues".[4]

The single was certified gold by November 1969; one million copies had shipped.[5] By 1970, sales totalled 2.5 million.[6]

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

Chart (1969-1970)Peak
position
U.S. Billboard Hot 1002
U.S. Billboard Best Selling Soul Singles[7] 10
U.S. Billboard Easy Listening[8] 21
Argentina [9] 2
Australia Kent Music Report[10] 6
Canada RPM (magazine)[11] 3

Personnel

Cover versions

"Take a Letter Maria" has had two charted cover versions by country music singers:

Song in popular culture

Notes and References

  1. The Muscle Shoals Sound CD liner notes: Rhino Records, 1993
  2. Web site: WLS 890 Hit Parade. October 6, 1969. 2012-10-02.
  3. Web site: [{{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p18003|pure_url=yes}} Singles chart listings for R.B. Greaves ]. Allmusic. 2014-10-30.
  4. The Hot 100 Chart. .
  5. Web site: RIAA search results for R.B. Greaves. Recording Industry Association of America. 2009-08-02.
  6. Book: Murrells, Joseph. 1978. The Book of Golden Discs. 2nd. Barrie and Jenkins Ltd. London, UK. 259. 0-214-20512-6. registration.
  7. Book: Whitburn, Joel . Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Joel Whitburn . 2004 . Record Research . 236.
  8. Book: Whitburn, Joel . Top Adult Contemporary: 1961-2001. Joel Whitburn . 2002 . Record Research . 107.
  9. Billboard - Hits Of The World. Billboard. 27 June 1970. 26 July 2023. 61.
  10. Book: Kent, David. David Kent (historian). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. illustrated. Australian Chart Book. St Ives, N.S.W.. 1993. 0-646-11917-6. 129.
  11. Web site: RPM Top 100 Singles - November 22, 1969.
  12. Book: Whitburn, Joel. Hot Country Songs 1944 to 2008. 2008. Record Research, Inc.. 212. 978-0-89820-177-2.
  13. Bill Reynolds, "McGhie doesn't blow his covers". Hamilton Spectator, July 5, 2004.
  14. Web site: R.B. Greaves – IMDb. IMDb.com, Inc.. 20 July 2022.