"Along Comes Mary"
Single by the Association
from the album And Then... Along Comes the Association
B-side"Your Own Love"
ReleasedMarch 1966[1][2]
Genre
Length2:45
LabelValiant
Songwriter(s)Tandyn Almer
Producer(s)Curt Boettcher[6]
The Association singles chronology
"One Too Many Mornings"
(1966)		 "Along Comes Mary"
(1966)		 "Cherish"
(1966)

"Along Comes Mary" is a song composed by Tandyn Almer, originally recorded by American sunshine pop band the Association.[7] It was the group's first hit, released in March 1966 as the lead single prior to their debut album, And Then... Along Comes the Association, which appeared in July.[8]

Background

"Along Comes Mary" is sung from the point of view of a once-disillusioned young man talking about the "tribulations no one ever sees" and who "curse[s] those faults in me." The singer believes Mary gives him comfort and improves his life. Both Leonard Bernstein[9] and Tandyn Almer stated that Mary was a reference to marijuana; this association was also prevalent among many of the song's listeners.[10] In the Young People's Concert titled What Is a Mode? Leonard Bernstein explained that the song was composed in the Dorian mode.[11]

Charts

Chart (1966) Peak
position
CAN RPM[12] 8
US Billboard Hot 100[13] 7
US Cashbox Top 100[14] 9
US Record World Singles Chart[15] 10

Bloodhound Gang version

"Along Comes Mary"
Single by Bloodhound Gang
from the album Hooray for Boobies
ReleasedMay 24, 1999 (1999-05-24)[16]
Length3:20
Label
Composer(s)Jimmy Pop
Lyricist(s)Tandyn Almer
Producer(s)Jimmy Pop
Bloodhound Gang singles chronology
"Why's Everybody Always Pickin' on Me?"
(1997)		 "Along Comes Mary"
(1999)		 "The Bad Touch"
(1999)
Music video
"Along Comes Mary" on YouTube

American rock band Bloodhound Gang recorded a version of "Along Comes Mary" with new punk music to accompany the lyrics. It first appeared on the 1998 soundtrack to the film Half Baked[17] before appearing on Bloodhound Gang's third studio album, Hooray for Boobies, the following year. "Along Comes Mary" was released as the album's first single in May 1999 and reached No. 5 in Austria, No. 6 in Germany, and No. 13 in Switzerland. The song was certified gold in both Austria and Germany.

Charts

Certifications

Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Austria (IFPI Austria)[23] Gold 25,000*
Germany (BVMI)[24] Gold 250,000^

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Other covers

In 1966, Hugh Masekela included the song on his album Hugh Masekela's Next Album, and in 1967, Cal Tjader covered it for his album Along Comes Cal.[25] That same year, Baja Marimba Band's had a minor hit with their cover of the song.[26] In 1968, George Benson included a version on his album Giblet Gravy,[27] and in 1986 a cover appeared on R. Stevie Moore's album Glad Music.[28] In 1995, the Manhattan Transfer covered the song for their album Tonin',[29] and the following year, 24-7 Spyz covered it for their album 6.[30] In 2005, a cover of the song appeared on the Guess Who's compilation album Let's Go,[31] and Plainsong also released a cover on their self-titled album.[32]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Savage, Jon (2015). 1966: The Year the Decade Exploded. London: Faber & Faber. p. 555. ISBN 978-0-571-27762-9.
  2. ↑ "A Valiant Wing Is on the Move". Billboard. April 23, 1966. p. 8.
  3. ↑ Asakawa, Gil (1998). "The Association". In Graff, Gary; Durchholz, Daniel (eds.). MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide. Detroit: Visible Ink Press. p. 46.
  4. ↑ Bielen, Ken (2021). Portraying Performer Image in Record Album Cover Art. London: Lexington Books. p. 107. ISBN 978-1-7936-4073-4.
  5. ↑ Davidson, Chris (2001). "Sunshine Pop". In Cooper, Kim; Smay, David (eds.). Bubblegum Music is the Naked Truth. Los Angeles: Feral House. pp. 190–191.
  6. ↑ Curt Boettcher discography
  7. ↑ "Show 37 - The Rubberization of Soul: The great pop music renaissance. [Part 3] : UNT Digital Library" (audio). Pop Chronicles. Digital.library.unt.edu. 1969. Retrieved April 14, 2011.
  8. ↑ "The Association: And Then...Along Comes the Association". AllMusic. Archived from the original on April 2, 2019.
  9. ↑ Inside Pop: The Rock Revolution (Television documentary). April 25, 1967.
  10. ↑ Schudel, Matt (February 16, 2013). "Tandyn Almer, enigmatic composer of 'Along Comes Mary,' dies at 70". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on February 27, 2013.
  11. ↑ Young People's Concert: What Is a Mode? (transcripts) – LeonardBernstein.com. Retrieved July 21, 2018
  12. ↑ "RPM Top 100 Singles - July 25, 1966" (PDF).
  13. ↑ Whitburn, Joel (2013). Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles, 14th Edition: 1955-2012. Record Research. p. 46.
  14. ↑ "USA Cashbox Charts Summaries". popmusichistory. Retrieved December 19, 2022.
  15. ↑ "Record World Singles Chart, July 23, 1966" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on October 12, 2022. Retrieved December 19, 2022.
  16. 1 2 "Bloodhound Gang – Along Comes Mary" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved August 28, 2021.
  17. ↑ Half Baked – allmusic
  18. ↑ "Bloodhound Gang – Along Comes Mary" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved August 28, 2021.
  19. ↑ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 16, no. 35. August 28, 1999. p. 8. Retrieved August 28, 2021.
  20. ↑ "Bloodhound Gang – Along Comes Mary". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved August 28, 2021.
  21. ↑ "Jahreshitparade Singles 1999" (in German). Retrieved August 28, 2021.
  22. ↑ "Top 100 Singles–Jahrescharts 1999" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved August 28, 2021.
  23. ↑ "Austrian single certifications – Bloodhound Gang – Along Comes Mary" (in German). IFPI Austria. Retrieved August 28, 2021.
  24. ↑ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Bloodhound Gang; 'Along Comes Mary')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved August 28, 2021.
  25. ↑ Along Comes Cal – allmusic
  26. ↑ Best of the Baja Marimbaband – allmusic
  27. ↑ Giblet Gravy – allmusic
  28. ↑ Glad Music – allmusic
  29. ↑ Tonin – allmusic
  30. ↑ 24-7 Spyz : 6
  31. ↑ Let's Go – allmusic
  32. ↑ Plain Song – allmusic
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