Mama's Boys - 'Needle In The Groove'

Irish rockers Mama's Boys (Pat, John & Tommy McManus), original version released on their 1982 album 'Plug It In', this rerecorded version from 1985's 'Power And Passion'.
Today, this remains my favourite Mama's Boys song - the sound is slick, smooth and slides nicely through the song.
Sadly, drummer Tommy McManus died after surgery in 1994, and the band (understandably) did not want to continue without him.

[@JCUEE]

Pat McManus most underrated musician

[@martinjay3570]

Supported Thin Lizzy .....,great band.

[@jeanraymondferron7797]

RIP TOMMY !!!!!

[@chrisburk2764]

great to see em on yt... im 50+ and had all the albums, which were released back than in germany... damn, so good to see this...

[@stangab2972]

Just perfect . The groove, the guitar riff, the ambiant . All is perfect . Classic tune

[@eamonahern7495]

Great guitar solo too

[@robertcoffey7046]

Most underrated band ever

[@punkrock1989]

Everyone says that about every band that they like that didn't get famous. Not every band were underrated, some bands were just boring, shit, mediocre or just cliche recycled cash grabbers.

[@matyprice-jones5040]

@@punkrock1989 yeah but these weren’t

[@benbops9636]

@@matyprice-jones5040 only found out today these guys where my uncle’s lol, amazing

[@seanmcgoldrick4870]

Pat mc Manus is a guitar god.

[@Soldano88]

Kickass 80’s vibes never to be forgotten.

[@williamgainford9332]

Seen them open for thin lizzy at the rds in 83 - 12 thousand drunk people singing en masse to this - brilliant night the place was hoppin

[@2760ade]

This is such a good song, honestly, it should have been massive! Can't put my finger on why this band didn't do so much better. Maybe it was the name, or their image, I don't know? I saw them many times in the eighties and they were so tight musically, and really nice blokes, spoke to them a few times - Pat is a total gent! Maybe in another universe they would be playing stadiums.... who knows!!

[@3storiesUp]

Incredible musicians .. just incredible.

[@benbops9636]

It’s crazy, just found out today they where my uncles, and ofc the music is amazing

[@johnsmyth3281]

Um like Phill Lynott they died before they hit it really big, Mama's Boys will always be remembered by me, Philll Lynott will be remembered for the 1980s top of the pops theme tune - Yellow Pearl and Killer on the loose, and an old Irish folk tune - Whisky Whiskey) in the Jaro what about Horslips..Tremendous, another Irish folk /rock group, my particular fav is Motorway Madness, quicly follewed by anything from the TAIN albumn....or the Belfast Gigs albumn, tho it's a wee bit bassey.... but I like that......

[@dwhite6579]

Probably they didnt sell their souls, to become famous, like the rest do.

[@uncleambient]

Saw this band support Hawkwind in the early 80's and they were excellent. Most Hawkwind support bands got heckled off but these boys did well and got a great reception from the Hawkfans.

[@bobmiller7502]

what do you mean excellent they GOT BOOED OF STAGE GAVE THE 2 FINGER SALUTE AND STORMED OFF, in the liverpool empire,they where and still are SHIITE,a fekin parady spinaltap

[@fitzerelli1]

one of Irelands best rock bands,great tune

[@fuertekaren]

Simple minds

[@fuertekaren]

Aerosmith

[@fuertekaren]

Crazy aerosmith

[@fuertekaren]

Wild thing

[@Murdelationband]

Northern ireland actually, they're from co fermanagh.

[@brunoBEGARANI-kx2ey]

They were good the Mac Manus Brothers,opening for Thin Lizzy

[@ricsithompson6671]

Greatest Irish Heavy Rock band in History.

[@chrisLct62]

Un groupe qui me suit depuis mon adolescence, indémodable

[@shadowbassist7992]

Catchy as f%=k song about an apparent free spirit.

[@hedwigohli4102]

Aaah I like this song .. an earworm

[@Brenner08]

What a great tune....... Stands the test of time

[@akkaishura5197]

I am french and I have seen them on stages in 1982 great show 😍

[@rokker101]

brilliant band and song ..one of the 80s rock/blues gems

[@Shadowplay95]

Saw them open for Lizzy mid 80's..we were recked when Lizzy came on.

[@fictionuk]

Saw them at Knebworth. Opened the show with Deep Purple topping the day. Awesome times

[@olliemal2509]

I'm 67 soon Classic VINYLS forever Ohh yeah

[@glen4326]

Great song. That clear tone riff is the catchiest.

[@blacktooth6242]

Another under rated band

[@paulflook1599]

Saw them play at Huddersfield Poly on a couple of tours. Great band.

[@markottewell8897]

Had the pleasure of meeting these lovely blokes when they became Celtus..... r.i.p Tommy.

[@Narsil2004]

This is by far one of the best Rock SMS of the 80's. Hands up who had Mama's Boys stitched on their Denim jacket!!!!

[@greatspottedwoodpeck]

Wonderful, fantastic stuff, well done to band and all concerned, it's a true classic.

[@MrAmadaeus]

Met the band outside 'The Venue' in the early 80's. Top lads, and down to Earth with it too. Thanks for the memories.

[@imnotfatifluffy]

My favorite song of all time nothing will beat it

[@HZ101_I]

I looked up the song mama's boy to see if there was a rock version but instead found a band that rocks!

[@jensohle1785]

This song has this big something that makes you remember even 35 years later ... heard it the first time live on the Gary Moore tour in Germany 1985 ... John had a super cool voice in that concert, dark sun glasses on and pounding the bass line - hahaha, simply great ... I observed them afterwards and felt sorry, that they could make their story continue ... awesome song!

[@ashiminhas7553]

Love this tune for decades now!

[@drlemmy4551]

First time i Heard this was on spanish tv music show

[@ignacioperezvicente9112]

Best guitar solo ever

[@Soldano88]

What?

[@brainoneill7639]

This songs a keeper

[@lite4919]

Im sure we all heard what the lyrics allegedly mean but i don't care what. This is a great rock tune...

[@michellemiller4749]

Love this song!!! 🎶❤

[@ignacioperezvicente7453]

Amazing solo!

[@midelteaching2304]

Amazing groove from the three of them. Great great times. The first version was the best. Always a fond memory for the lads.

[@ruby221189]

@Narsil2004 Bring back the SLEEVELESS denim jacket..it would put all the fashionistas into a frenzy!! Great SFX memories, saw Pat live at JJ's recently..great band,great music

[@1969chriso]

Love this song..a very underated band..

[@tonyrob86]

Heard this for the first time tonight on Planet Rock radio station.Loved it straight away and had to look it up on here.

[@dougiemiller2498]

Sticks in your head for days this great song

[@guymolyneux4917]

Great memories. Just bought tickets to see Pat playing in Dublin this November 2024

[@ryandeanlindgren9054]

Great Band.

[@jamescourier1545]

This was a big radio hit on the Detroit airwaves back in the day!

[@dannymcmince]

Glad to hear that!

[@magnuswettermark8293]

Detroit rocks...👍🤘😁

[@dancrowley5128]

Brilliant stuff, didn't realise it travelled that far 😮

[@mjrydsfast]

WRIF.....BABY!!!!😅

[@jamesbarbour8400]

Just doesn't get any better than this - timeless riff !

[@LRBerry]

Happy 50th Birthday Tommy McManus. Thanks for all the great music and live shows.

[@junkhoarder2062]

Sadly Tommy died on November 16, 1994, aged 28 He had repeated bouts of leukemia

[@keredfinn2799]

I knew Tommy... spoke with him when he was in the hospital in England never knowing what would come to pass. He was so full of life energy and fun... i spoke to him on the tuesday or wensday.. and he was talking at 100mph telling me how we were going to paint the town red in Dublin when the doctors were finished with him.. i never met his family but i still listen to their music... long live Tommy...

[@LRBerry]

@@keredfinn2799 Nice memory. Thanks for sharing it.

[@louisfriendhastaste]

Tommy buggered up my ears....RIP Big Man

[@seanmarcy1183]

I remember this song back when I was a kid, still love this song!

[@serberious]

Brings back so many memories..........

[@rockheart666]

Kuuul song - finally found it and the boys of Mama too - after all these years 'cause as the dork I am I sold my record collection - the girl with the looong dagger stab me!

[@gapinsurancereviews]

Love this band. Saw them support the Scorpions Sheffield City Hall back in the day. Been a fan ever since .

[@DidYaServe]

Badass! Respecting this in 2024.

[@kbazza7]

pat still plays regularly around europe .he has a cracking band with him

[@berenicemoran2105]

Saw them on Saturday in Rush, Dublin 😁🤩😍

[@charleymattila2847]

It will always be a good one............ nuff said

[@rm-cc4pm]

Great to hear you guy's so long time ago, i am rob not ray i love you're music, allways did, Good tune

[@dannymcmince]

Great band, Milford Inn, SFX hall in Dublin, great memories, heres to you Bill R.I.P friend

[@ahalin]

Great stuff...R.I.P. Tommy.

[@speedformercy]

great underrated moment from the 80's

[@akacoogan3333]

best song ever

[@waterwolfphotos]

awesome

[@sirjellybeans1st19]

Excellent Track

[@bobfarmer9120]

Ah happy days they were !

[@LarssaLarsson]

Saw Pat on vibe for phil lynott this year and he still rocks!!

[@musicmamma]

Brings back such good memories hearing this....

[@alexanderkelly3496]

Saw the boys at Cooley Hall in Louth in 1982. Fecken rocked the joint.

[@Cromcruach666]

how the hell did this song never make it big out side of ireland

[@colheg3113]

I like it .......its Catchy as .........!!!

[@akkaishura5197]

Here In France we love it😉

[@Soldano88]

It had a lot of airplay in Detroit in the 80’s so it didn’t fail!

[@babyduck34]

I bought this in Canada when it came out I agree totally

[@brendanheerey7812]

I had the pleasure of head banging to these guys when i was a young teenager in the "ST Vincent De Paul Hall" in kells, Co. Meath ,Ireland which would have been one of their earliest stomping grounds,,,,and if i remember properly there was a back up band called "Sweet Revenge " with a lead singer called "Ding"..playing that night, ....we crawled through what would have loosely been termed as an orchestra pit and stood on top of an old piano with one foot on the stage head banging our little hearts out, getting elbowed by older head bangers and soaking it up like heroes just to be able to say we woke up with a sore neck and a hillbilly headache from all the frantic head shaking, fuck things were simple back then.....apart from the beating the ould fella would give you the next morning if you didn't get outta bed to feed the calves , we'd all congregate down the lane at the "Bad Bend" to exchange stories of how ya got on the night before , and how many bruises and the size of the muscle on the back of yer neck......"JAysus, i tawt me fuckin he'd was gunna fall off ???

[@alexanderkelly3496]

Saw them at Cooley Hall, Louth around the same time. Had recently seen KISS in Australia and these boys just blew them away.

[@ÉireForTheIrish]

Ahh the good auld days.... SFX centre Dublin 86 I think it was.. Some good tunes, headbanging then off to slatterys Capel St for a few late ones if we got served... Misic ain't the same anymore now, sure can't even go for a pint these days ffs... 😂

[@timprice5932]

Stomp hard bang on lad !!!!

[@harrype3283]

I saw them on tour as Support with Gary Moore

[@therealmrloud]

Man, bringing back some memories on this. Thanks for uploading.

[@iceonaboy]

I went to see these guys back in the 80's in Glasgow's Mayfair. They were and still are, the loudest band I have ever heard! It was actually painful !

[@pacoariasandrade9799]

I love this song

[@paulbalcazar6727]

Love this band seem them With twisted sister and ratt , rock and roll forever!by the way it was in San Antonio TX

[@rokker101]

RIP Tommy X

[@VirginiaHeyOfficial]

Oh my Goodness! I forgot I was in that clip! Love my hair.. very 80's! LOL.. Great memories. Anyone know who directed the clip? Im trying to recall. Wasnt Russel Mulchay was it? Im so sad to hear that Tommy the drummer died in 1994, I didnt know. That was a big shock today.

[@lordofglencoe7084]

You really forgot ? Are you serious ?

[@IPGarland]

Hi Virginia, hope you are well, not much of a 'public replier' but if you want to know more...visit this link it's a better quality version of the song - kzbin.info/www/bejne/f2iplZtpdpKNq9E. I edited the Promo with Noel Oliver which by the way was directed by Mark Over of Furkin Productions...I have fond memories of meeting you in the cutting room in Covent Garden, eons ago...kisses

[@TheMichaelseymour]

oh my ....i thought you were the BIGGEST fox ...lol

[@humpublishing]

You look gorgeous in the clip Virginia. This clip was played on Australian TV once and I fell in love with the song.

[@swordoflight56]

Lads have ye no wives at home? 😂😂

[@foxdenable]

This was my first concert way back in 1985 I will never forget the energy it was all intoxicating mamas boys - Bon Jovi - followed by Ratt Invasion tour I was drawn into RNR from then on

[@stickypool]

Pat played at the Rory Gallagher festival last weekend, it was epic to hear this live.

[@martinsmith2987]

Savage gig man was there myself!

[@JDWheels1]

Loved the song back in the day

[@willpower398]

Saw them at Super Rock '85 . The damn P.A. went out half way through their set, but they kept going !!

[@richardjohnson474]

Saw them with Ratt,Accept and Iron Maiden in 1985.They were the 1st band to play didn't recognize one song but I still like what I heard.Iron Maiden did five encores that day.

[@pcorcoran100]

Richard Johnson Where was this concert that Maiden did 5 encores? They would have been on the World Slavery Tour and on a gruelling schedule.

[@philmcnamara299]

Great tune and vocals and very underestimated band backed Lizzy as well good stuff

[@colonelparcoeur]

Masterpiece !!!!

[@willpower6469]

Saw them in Tokyo in '85. Half way through their set, the pa went out, but they kept on playing !!

[@colheg3113]

Before my time but I still like them ...when they were out I was about 12-14 I was able to drink 3 pints with puking ;-) local discos

[@ridgebackdk]

@lopergrad most underrated irish band ever..great feel to their music,simple and to the point as all good music should be, never get the credit the should have..i feel sorry for the kids today because there are gems like this being missed out on..as much as i hate to say it its very unlikely we will hear the likes again until the kids start listening and playing it...

[@MahlerThird]

I saw them many years ago - great live band

[@angryagain3801]

that video is from 1985. I saw it on Mtv & it led me to buying 'Power and Passion'

[@Maguirearch]

These Guys are originally from a rural Border area in Ireland Derrylin Knockninney. The Guitarist now lives locally and has been gigging for years with local bands ...he still is a bit of a celeb with his PRS Guitar

[@deirdredonnelly2126]

Maurice Maguire,I too had the pleasure of seeing and hearing them in Dublin,was only a small place,but it just rocked,the drummer offered me his bottle of wine to drink out of,it was a brilliant night, (the good old days) greetings from deirdre donnelly.

[@onyxtopaz2759]

Rock-'n'-roll 🔥🔥

[@RalphRockerCatDF82]

Observation: This is the "Power & Passion" version. The "Plug it in" one doesn't sound to reverberated, that's only got vocals, guitars, bass and drums, that's NWOBHM oriented, besides the keyboards only sound in the "Power & Passion" one (This is 1985 Hard Rock oriented).

[@rgjmce666]

we still got the pat mcmanus band

[@jackmcmanus1665]

Ross Mc they are my cousins haven’t seen them since the 80s

[@madsquidly]

Great Song

[@bomasnow]

Looking forward to seeing pat at the next Rory Gallagher festival without a mask !!

[@craigallen6218]

I don’t remember who was the “ Headliner “ but these guys stole the night. Rockford Illinois Metro Center….80’s something or other

[@conansdog]

Power and Passion is a great album. Still have the t-shirt somewhere. Must drag it out, though I really don't think I'll get into it these days. If I remember correctly instead of a knife (the album cover) the girl is holding Pat's flying V@thirdman1975.

[@trevormcshane4986]

There needs 2 B more Uploads,s of this Band, come on get your recording,s up,,,,,

[@Narsil2004]

Does anyone out there remember the Sunday Rock nights in Cabana's in Greystones? Or Magonnagles in Dublin! What times. Ah memories memories!!!

[@dannymcmince]

I remember MCGonnagles....cheap wine in a plastic cup....great memories indeed!

[@chrisgillespie2502]

I love you pat mc manus!

[@robintaylor680]

Never heard of these guys but I was looking around on the Internet and I saw a poster with them ratt and iron maiden where they played a gig together obviously these guys open the show but still they were with the two biggies back then

[@SaoirsenahÉireann1]

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