Along Comes Mary Explained

"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

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^[16] 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 5 in Austria, No. 6 in Germany, and No. 13 in Switzerland. The song was certified gold in both Austria and Germany.

Charts

Year-end charts

Chart (1999)	Position
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[18]	27
Germany (Official German Charts)[19]	23

Certifications

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.^[20] That same year, Baja Marimba Band's had a minor hit with their cover of the song.^[21] In 1968, George Benson included a version on his album Giblet Gravy,^[22] and in 1986 a cover appeared on R. Stevie Moore's album Glad Music.^[23]

In 1995, the Manhattan Transfer covered the song for their album Tonin',^[24] and the following year, 24-7 Spyz covered it for their album 6.^[25] In 2005, a cover of the song appeared on the Guess Who's compilation album Let's Go,^[26] and Plainsong also released a cover on their self-titled album.^[27]

See also

• List of recordings of songs Hal Blaine has played on

Notes and References

1. Book: Savage . Jon . Jon Savage . 1966: The Year the Decade Exploded . 2015 . Faber & Faber . London . 978-0-571-27762-9 . 555 . registration.
2. A Valiant Wing Is on the Move. Billboard. April 23, 1966. 8. January 26, 2023. January 26, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230126210954/https://books.google.com/books?id=nEUEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA8. live.
3. Book: Asakawa, Gil . Gary . Graff . Daniel . Durchholz . 1998 . MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide . The Association . . Detroit . 46.
4. Book: Bielen . Ken . Portraying Performer Image in Record Album Cover Art . 2021 . Lexington Books . London . 978-1-7936-4073-4 . 107 . en . January 7, 2023 . July 25, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240725184508/https://books.google.com/books?id=ASZHEAAAQBAJ . live .
5. Book: Davidson, Chris. Kim . Cooper. David. Smay. 2001. Bubblegum Music is the Naked Truth. Sunshine Pop. Feral House. Los Angeles. 190–191.
6. http://www.curtboettcher.com/curt/1966.html Curt Boettcher discography
7. Web site: Show 37 - The Rubberization of Soul: The great pop music renaissance. [Part 3] : UNT Digital Library |publisher=Digital.library.unt.edu |year=1969 |work=[[Pop Chronicles]] |format=audio |accessdate=April 14, 2011 |archive-date=June 3, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110603074710/http://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc19796/m1/ |url-status=live ].
8. Web site: The Association: And Then...Along Comes the Association . AllMusic . https://web.archive.org/web/20190402171835/https://www.allmusic.com/album/and-thenalong-comes-the-association-mw0000703261 . April 2, 2019 . live.
9. 25 April 1967 . . Television documentary .
10. News: Schudel. Matt. Tandyn Almer, enigmatic composer of 'Along Comes Mary,' dies at 70. The Washington Post. February 16, 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130227073017/http://articles.washingtonpost.com/2013-02-16/local/37133596_1_young-composer-words-and-music-bipolar-disorder/2 . February 27, 2013 . live.
11. https://leonardbernstein.com/lectures/television-scripts/young-peoples-concerts/what-is-a-mode Young People's Concert: What Is a Mode? (transcripts) – LeonardBernstein.com.
12. Web site: RPM Top 100 Singles - July 25, 1966. August 11, 2023. November 8, 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20121108122845/http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/obj/028020/f2/nlc008388.5798.pdf. live.
13. Book: Whitburn, Joel . Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles, 14th Edition: 1955-2012 . Joel Whitburn . 2013 . Record Research . 46.
14. Web site: USA Cashbox Charts Summaries. popmusichistory. December 19, 2022. December 11, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221211164631/https://www.popmusichistory.co.uk/usa-cashbox-summaries. live.
15. Web site: Record World Singles Chart, July 23, 1966 . December 19, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221012204748/https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Record-World/60s/66/RW-1966-07-23-Full.pdf. October 12, 2022 . dead .
16. Web site: Half Baked – allmusic . February 20, 2012 . February 17, 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110217054220/http://allmusic.com/album/half-baked-r332427 . live .
17. Eurochart Hot 100 Singles. Music & Media. 16. 35. 8. August 28, 1999. August 28, 2021. June 9, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200609115527/https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1999/MM-1999-08-28.pdf. live.
18. Web site: Jahreshitparade Singles 1999. de. August 28, 2021. July 20, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200720030609/https://austriancharts.at/year.asp?cat=s&id=1999. live.
19. Web site: Top 100 Singles–Jahrescharts 1999. GfK Entertainment. de. August 28, 2021. May 9, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150509002434/https://www.offiziellecharts.de/charts/single-jahr/for-date-1999. live.
20. Web site: Along Comes Cal – allmusic . February 20, 2012 . April 9, 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120409171319/http://www.allmusic.com/album/along-comes-cal-r148919 . live .
21. Web site: Best of the Baja Marimbaband – allmusic . February 20, 2012 . July 25, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240725184419/https://www.allmusic.com/album/best-of-the-baja-marimba-band-mw0000013536 . live .
22. Web site: Giblet Gravy – allmusic . February 20, 2012 . August 29, 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110829194316/http://www.allmusic.com/album/giblet-gravy-r135310 . live .
23. Web site: Glad Music – allmusic . February 20, 2012 . July 25, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240725184425/https://www.allmusic.com/album/glad-music-mw0000942944 . live .
24. Web site: Tonin – allmusic . February 20, 2012 . July 25, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240725184431/https://www.allmusic.com/user/nav?1721933071107 . live .
25. Web site: 24-7 Spyz : 6 . July 1, 2021 . December 8, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211208065250/https://www.allmusic.com/album/6-mw0000183411 . live .
26. Web site: Let's Go – allmusic . July 1, 2021 . July 9, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210709182029/https://www.allmusic.com/album/lets-go-mw0000714063 . live .
27. Web site: Plain Song – allmusic . February 20, 2012 . December 31, 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20101231150306/http://www.allmusic.com/album/plainsong-r735823 . live .