Hello Mary Lou

"Hello Mary Lou" is a song written by U.S. singer Gene Pitney[2][3][4] first recorded by Johnny Duncan in 1960,[5] and later by Ricky Nelson in 1961.

For the horror film, see Hello Mary Lou: Prom Night II.
"Hello Mary Lou"
Single by Ricky Nelson
from the album Rick Is 21
A-side"Travelin' Man"
ReleasedMay 1961
Recorded1960−61
GenreRockabilly[1]
Length2:17
LabelImperial Records #5741
Songwriter(s)Gene Pitney, Cayet Mangiaracina
Ricky Nelson singles chronology
"You Are the Only One"
(1960)		 "Hello Mary Lou"
(1961)		 "A Wonder Like You/Everlovin'"
(1961)

Nelson's version, issued as a double A-side with his No. 1 hit "Travelin' Man", (Imperial 5741), reached No. 9 on the Billboard music charts on May 28, 1961. In the United Kingdom it reached No. 2. It was also a hit in much of Europe, particularly Norway, where it spent 14 weeks at No. 1. In New Zealand, the song reached No. 4.[6]

A 1991 reissue following the song's use in a TV advert gave the song a second chart run, peaking at No. 45 in the UK Singles Chart.

The song features an influential guitar solo by James Burton, often cited by later guitarists such as Brian May. Piano is by Ray Johnson, who had succeeded Gene Garf as Nelson's regular session pianist in November 1959.[7] Other musicians on the record include Joe Osborn on bass and Ritchie Frost on drums.[8]

The song appears on Nelson's sixth album Rick Is 21.

Plagiarism settlement

"Hello Mary Lou" is similar to an earlier song, "Merry, Merry Lou", written by Cayet Mangiaracina and recorded by his band, the Sparks, in 1957 on a single released by Decca Records. It was covered by Bill Haley & His Comets as "Mary, Mary Lou" and released as a single later in 1957, also by Decca, and by Sam Cooke in 1958 for the Keen Records label. Mangiaracina would later become ordained as a Catholic priest. When "Hello Mary Lou" was released, the publisher of "Merry, Merry Lou", Champion Music (an arm of Decca Records), sued for plagiarism and a settlement was reached. Mangiaracina was given co-writing credit for "Hello Mary Lou" and a share of the song's royalties, while Champion received a share of the publishing.[9]

Cover versions

References
  1. Corp, Hal Leonard (1 April 2004). Rockabilly: Guitar Play-Along. Hal Leonard Corporation. ISBN 9781476808611. Retrieved 18 November 2017 – via Google Books.
  2. "Hello Mary Lou Goodbye Heart (Legal Title)". Repertoire.bmi.com. Archived from the original on 2012-07-18. Retrieved 2012-08-05.
  3. Lee Jensen (19 Oct 2011). "Rock and Roll Heaven: How a Priest Helped Write "Hello, Mary Lou"". Yahoo Inc. Archived from the original on 12 April 2013. Retrieved 2 March 2013.
  4. Don Ellzey (2013). "Ponchatoula priest shares special part in Rock 'n Roll history". actionnews17.com/. Retrieved 2 March 2013.
  5. "Freddy and His Go-Cart by Johnny Duncan". Secondhandsongs.com. Retrieved 2016-09-26.
  6. "flavour of new zealand - Lever hit parades". Flavourofnz.co.nz. Retrieved 2016-09-26.
  7. "Ray Johnson". Rockabilly.nl. Retrieved 2 March 2013.
  8. "Rick Is 21 : Rick Nelson Records". Rickynelson.co.uk. Retrieved 2016-09-26.
  9. "Original versions of Merry, Merry Lou written by Cayet Mangiaracina - SecondHandSongs". secondhandsongs.com. Retrieved 26 January 2017.
  10. "Allmusic - The Many Sides of Gene Pitney".
  11. "Bobby Lewis - Chart history - Billboard". billboard.com. Retrieved 26 January 2017.
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