In the realm of deep soul and funk collectibles, few records carry the mystique, rarity, and raw emotional power of AWOL’s 1973 release, Issued during a transitional golden era for independent black music in America, this track stands as a masterclass in storytelling, tight instrumentation, and regional soul identity. For decades, the record eluded all but the most dedicated crate diggers, commanding top dollar on the secondary market. Today, it remains a brilliant snapshot of early 1970s sub-mainstream rhythm and blues. The Musical Landscape of 1973
The story centers on a "doughy mama's boy" who enlists in the Marines, perhaps the worst possible environment for someone who can't bear to be away from home. The harsh realities of boot camp quickly overwhelm him, particularly a drill instructor who chews him out for not being tough enough. His mind is consumed with fantasies of home, specifically of his mother. awol a real mamas boy 1973
: Like many films of its era, AWOL was shot on 35mm or 16mm film. For decades, it existed primarily in the memories of grindhouse theater patrons or on highly degraded, bootlegged VHS tapes from the 1980s. Availability and Legacy In the realm of deep soul and funk
The story follows Eddie Greene (played by Gene Washington), a star NFL running back who does the unthinkable: he goes AWOL from the army to return to his hometown. The military police are hot on his trail, but Eddie isn’t running away from a war; he is running home to his mother. The Musical Landscape of 1973 The story centers
At the heart of A Real Mama's Boy is a premise so simple and so weird that it has captured the imagination of cult movie enthusiasts for decades. The story follows a "doughy" marine recruit who, for some unexplained reason, has enlisted in the service. Almost immediately, he is shown to be unable to cope with the rigors and dehumanizing nature of boot camp. As described by a reviewer on Letterboxd, he "snaps during boot camp and goes AWOL," not out of a sense of duty or to escape the war in Vietnam, but for a much more personal reason: to return home to his mother.
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