One of the reasons I began the “Cutout Bin” column was to spotlight unfairly neglected artists from several decades. One such artist, 80s R&B singer Junior, many be remembered for one song — but oh, what a song it is.
As a kid growing up in suburban Chicago in 1982, I began listening to WJPC-AM, an urban music station owned by the Johnson Family Publishing Company (Ebony, Jet). Unlike the top 40 stations of the time, WJPC played infinitely cooler music, introducing me to the Tom Tom Club, Mtume, the SOS Band, the Gap Band, and other legendary 80s R&B acts. 
But one song stood out amidst all this great music: “Mama Used to Say” by Junior. Since WJCP’s signal was so weak, it would fade out at about 5 PM each night, switching to another station. Therefore I would pray that the signal could hold out just one minute longer so I could hear that incredible tune one more time.
The song grabs the listener from the first few seconds: the thumping bass line, the bongo drums, and the offbeat cowbell or chimes (I never could figure that part out) signal that this sound will be different. Then Junior kicks in with his strident vocals, alternating between growls and falsetto. Who could forget that chorus:
Mama used to say, take your time young man
And Mama used to say, don’t you rush to get old
And Mama used to say, take it in your stride
And Mama used to say, live your life
To this day I can type (and sing) those lyrics from memory. The lyrics also address a universal theme: growing up too fast. The narrator describes a young boy first wanting to be an adult; once he reaches adulthood, he yearns to be young again: “As the years went rushing by, he would cut down on his age/He would tell his girl of how it used to be.” At the same time, Junior warns, one shouldn't waste youth: “do what you want to do/Now is the time for you to strive,” he sings. While the lyrics are memorable, the funky beat and unusual instrumentation truly sell the song.
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