Hello Mary Lou
Encyclopedia
"Hello Mary Lou" is a song written by U.S.
singer Gene Pitney
and Cayet Mangiaracina and performed by Ricky Nelson
in English and German in 1961. It reached #9 on the Billboard music charts on May 28, 1961, although the other side of the single, "Travelin' Man", hit #1. In the United Kingdom
, where it was the unrivalled A-side, it hit #2, and it was a hit in much of Europe
, particularly Norway, where it spent 14 weeks at #1. The song features an influential guitar solo by James Burton
, often cited by later guitarists such as Brian May
. The song is from his sixth album called Rick Is 21
.
It has also been recorded in French
by Petula Clark
(as "Bye Bye Mon Amour") and it was also covered by LMP
on their album A Century of Song
as their selection for 1961.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
singer Gene Pitney
Gene Pitney
Eugene Francis Alan Pitney, known as Gene Pitney , was an American singer-songwriter, musician and sound engineer. Through the mid-1960s, he enjoyed success as a recording artist on both sides of the Atlantic and was among the group of early 1960s American acts who continued to enjoy hits after the...
and Cayet Mangiaracina and performed by Ricky Nelson
Ricky Nelson
Eric Hilliard Nelson , better known as Ricky Nelson or Rick Nelson, was an American singer-songwriter, instrumentalist, and actor...
in English and German in 1961. It reached #9 on the Billboard music charts on May 28, 1961, although the other side of the single, "Travelin' Man", hit #1. In the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, where it was the unrivalled A-side, it hit #2, and it was a hit in much of Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, particularly Norway, where it spent 14 weeks at #1. The song features an influential guitar solo by James Burton
James Burton
James Burton is an American guitarist. A member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame since 2001 , Burton has also been recognized by the Rockabilly Hall of Fame...
, often cited by later guitarists such as Brian May
Brian May
Brian Harold May, CBE is an English musician and astrophysicist most widely known as the guitarist and a songwriter of the rock band Queen...
. The song is from his sixth album called Rick Is 21
Rick Is 21
Rick Is 21 is the sixth album by rock and roll and teen pop idol Ricky Nelson, released in 1961.The album peaked #8 on the Billboard 200 chart...
.
Covers
- The SeekersThe SeekersThe Seekers are an Australian folk-influenced pop music group which were originally formed in 1962. They were the first Australian popular music group to achieve major chart and sales success in the United Kingdom and the United States...
on their 1968 live album The Seekers Live at the Talk of the Town. - Led ZeppelinLed ZeppelinLed Zeppelin were an English rock band, active in the late 1960s and throughout the 1970s. Formed in 1968, they consisted of guitarist Jimmy Page, singer Robert Plant, bassist/keyboardist John Paul Jones, and drummer John Bonham...
on their How the West Was Won live triple album (recorded 1972, released 2003) - Creedence Clearwater RevivalCreedence Clearwater RevivalCreedence Clearwater Revival was an American rock band that gained popularity in the late 1960s and early 1970s with a number of successful singles drawn from various albums....
's last album Mardi GrasMardi Gras (album)Mardi Gras is the seventh and final studio album by American band Creedence Clearwater Revival, released in 1972. The group broke up after this album was released. The album was re-released in remastered format as a Japan exclusive in January 2011...
(1972) - FumbleFumble (band)Fumble were an English rock and roll revival group, that formed in 1967 and disbanded in 1982. They had specialised in covering rock and roll classics...
on their first album Fumble - New Riders of the Purple SageNew Riders of the Purple SageNew Riders of the Purple Sage is an American country rock band. The group emerged from the psychedelic rock scene in San Francisco, California in 1969, and its original lineup included several members of the Grateful Dead. Their best known song is "Panama Red"...
's 1972 album PowerglidePowerglideThe Powerglide is a two-speed automatic transmission designed by General Motors. It was available primarily on Chevrolet from January, 1950 through 1973, although some Pontiac models also used this automatic transmission, extensively on models produced for the Canadian market with Chevrolet... - The Statler BrothersStatler BrothersThe Statler Brothers were an American country music vocal group founded in 1955 in Staunton, Virginia.Originally performing gospel music at local churches, the group billed themselves as The Four Star Quartet, and later The Kingsmen...
' Pardners in RhymePardners in RhymePardners in Rhyme is a studio album by American country music group The Statler Brothers. It was released in 1985 via Mercury Records. The album peaked at number 1 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart.-Track listing:#"Hello Mary Lou" – 2:17...
(1985) - QueenQueen (band)Queen are a British rock band formed in London in 1971, originally consisting of Freddie Mercury , Brian May , John Deacon , and Roger Taylor...
played the song on their 1986 Magic Tour and can be heard on the live album Live at Wembley (1986) - Bobby LewisBobby Lewis (country singer)Bobby Lewis is an American country music singer-songwriter. Between 1963 and 1985, Lewis released ten albums and charted more than twenty-five songs on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart. His biggest hit, "How Long Has It Been," peaked at Number 6 in 1966.-Albums:-Singles:-External links:*[...
remade the song in 1970, reaching the US Country Top 15. This singer should not be confused with the "Tossin' And Turnin'" artist.
It has also been recorded in French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
by Petula Clark
Petula Clark
Petula Clark, CBE is an English singer, actress, and composer whose career has spanned seven decades.Clark's professional career began as an entertainer on BBC Radio during World War II...
(as "Bye Bye Mon Amour") and it was also covered by LMP
La Musique Populaire
La Musique Populaire is an American indie pop band.Members Ryan Bassler and Eric Haugen formed a band called Lorenzo Music in 1992, but faced with legal action from the actor of the same name they changed it to La Musique Populaire, more commonly shortened to LMP.Likened to Ween, The Raspberries...
on their album A Century of Song
A Century of Song
- Disc Two 1923-1939 :- Disc Three 1940-1959 :- Disc Four 1960-1981 :- Disc Five 1981-2000 :- Disc Six 'holus-bolus' :...
as their selection for 1961.