Who Does This Song? "Take A Letter Maria"

Who Does This Song? "The Letter"

Lyrics:

Something like..."Send a letter Maria, address it to my wife. Send a copy to my lawyer, I'm gona start a new life"

Anyone?

 

Take A Letter Maria - R.B. Greaves (1969)

 

"Take a Letter Maria" by R.B. Greaves

TAKE A LETTER MARIA

Last night as I got home about a half past ten
There was the woman I thought I knew
In the arms of another man
I kept my cool, I ain't no fool
Let me tell you what happened then
I packed some clothes and I walked out
And I ain't going back again

So take a letter Maria, address it to my wife
Say I won't be coming home, gonna start a new life
So take a letter Maria, address it to my wife
Send a copy to my lawyer, gotta start a new life

You've been many things but most of all a good secretary to me
And it's times like this I feel you've always been close to me
Was I wrong to work nights to try to build a good life
All work and no play has just cost me a wife

So take a letter Maria, address it to my wife
Say I won't be coming home, gonna start a new life
So take a letter Maria, address it to my wife
Send a copy to my lawyer, gotta start a new life

When a man loves a woman it's hard to understand
That she would find more pleasure in the arms of another man
I never really noticed how sweet you are to me
It just so happens I'm free tonight
Would you like to have dinner with me

So take a letter Maria, address it to my wife
Say I won't be coming home, gonna start a new life
So take a letter Maria, address it to my wife
Send a copy to my lawyer, gotta start a new life

So take a letter Maria, address it to my wife
Send a copy to my lawyer, gotta start a new life

 

That's it! Thanks

 

damn, gotta be quick on this board...

I knew the song, but couldn't remember the artist; and while I was away doing a search, 3 of our experts have already hit it...guess we never sleep...

Title : Take A Letter Maria
Artist : R.B. Greaves
Writer : Greaves, R.B.
Recorded : 1969
Chart Number : 2 for 13 Weeks
Label : Atco
Parent Label : Warner
Publisher : Universal, Songs Of Polygram International

peace,

 

Country singer Doug Stone did an excellent cover of this song as well.

 

Let's give some credit to the composer, Burt Bacharach.

 

Great tune!!

 

http://www.geocities.com/marcapreguntas/chernotes.htm

The commercial fortunes of Cher’s ‘3614 Jackson Highway’ may have been adversely affected by the album’s packaging. For example, the only colour photo of Cher was hidden in the interior of the flimsy UNIPAK gatefold sleeve. And the all-important song titles were not even listed on the exterior of the album cover.

And the entire album concept centered on the address of a brand new, completely unknown studio. Cher’s 21 April 1969 “Save The Children” date was the first session ever held at Muscle Shoals Sound. The studio did not generate a hit until the Ahmet Ertegun-produced “Take A Letter Maria” by R. B. Greaves (Master 17634 recorded 19 August 1969, Atco single 45-6714, Cash Box review 27 September 1969, entered Billboard’s Bubbling Under 11 October 1969, #2).

 

Huh? He didn't write the song.

 

Take A Letter Maria - From BMI.com
Songwriter/Composer Current Affiliation CAE/IPI #
GREAVES R B BMI 63827563
Publishers
UNIVERSAL SONGS OF POLYGRAM IN BMI 353265272

-=-=-
on CDs

Hard To Find 45s On CD, Vol 5: Sixties Pop Classics Eric Records 11509 - Rhino Special Products R2 7510
Atlantic Rhythm And Blues 1947-1974 Volume 6 1966-1969 Atlantic A2-81298 DIDY 1667
Soul Hits Of The 70's Volume 1 Rhino R2 70781
'70s Smash Hits, Vol 1 Rhino R2 71205

and others I'm sure

he also did (There's) Always Something There To Remind Me written by Bacharach/David

 

Owwww, you're right. It was the other song.

 

It really is. One of those that still has a "current" feel to it. I'm trying to find some .mp3s of it, so I can find the version I want to buy. PM me if you can hep.

 

This is one of those tunes that got played way to much, and I would cringe whenever it came on the radio after a while. Now, 30+ years later, I can remember it fondly, but boy did I get sick of this one way back when!

 

Atlantic Rhythm And Blues 1947-1974 Volume 6 1966-1969 Atlantic A2-81298 DIDY 1667.

This has a very good sounding version of this classic song, both CD and LP are good IMO.

 

Jimmy Ruffin also covered it; It's on the 2 cd Ultimate Collection.

 

The question/topic of this thread makes me wonder if we could do a trivia thread where someone names a slightly obscure tune or one that has rarely been played on radio for several years and see who can come up with the answer first. Not an open net test! Answer from your own personal knowledge and not from a web search. Here goes one:


Evil Woman (1970) (not the ELO song)

 

Crow? As in "Evil Woman Don't Play Your Games With Me?"

 

Hi Gary- Elliot Federman is credited with the CD mastering. I didnt check the LP, which is surprisingly good considering its cut from a digital source. I only have volume 6 (my favorite) which contains the "Maria Song".