"Hello Mary Lou" is a song written by U.S. singer Gene Pitney and Father Cayet Mangiaracina,[1][2] first performed by Johnny Duncan in 1960,[3] and later by Ricky Nelson in 1961.[4]
Nelson's version, issued as the B-side of his No. 1 hit "Travelin' Man", (Imperial 5741), reached No. 9 on the Billboard music charts on May 28, 1961. In the United Kingdom, where it was released as an A-side (with Dorsey Burnette's "It's Late" as the B-side), it reached No. 2. In was also a hit in much of Europe, particularly Norway, where it spent 14 weeks at No. 1.
The song features an influential guitar solo by James Burton, often cited by later guitarists such as Brian May. Piano was by Ray Johnson, who had succeeded Gene Garf as Nelson's regular session pianist in November 1959.[5] other musicians on the record included Joe Osborne on bass and Ritchie Frost on drums.[6]
The song appears on Nelson's sixth album Rick Is 21.
Covers[edit][]
- The Seekers on their 1968 live album The Seekers Live at the Talk of the Town.
- Led Zeppelin, as part of the "Whole Lotta Love" medley on their How the West Was Won live triple album (recorded 1972, released 2003)
- Creedence Clearwater Revival's last album Mardi Gras (1972)
- Fumble on their first album Fumble
- New Riders of the Purple Sage's 1972 album Powerglide
- The Statler Brothers' Pardners in Rhyme (1985)
- Queen played the song on their 1986 Magic Tour and can be heard on the live album Live at Wembley (1986)
- Bobby Lewis 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 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.