"Along Comes Mary" | ||||
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Single by the Association | ||||
from the album And Then... Along Comes the Association | ||||
B-side | "Your Own Love" | |||
Released | March 1966 [1] | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 2:45 | |||
Label | Valiant | |||
Songwriter(s) | Tandyn Almer | |||
Producer(s) | Curt Boettcher [5] | |||
The Association singles chronology | ||||
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"Along Comes Mary" is a song composed by Tandyn Almer, originally recorded by American sunshine pop band the Association. [6] 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. [7]
"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 [8] and Tandyn Almer stated that Mary was a reference to marijuana; this association was also prevalent among many of the song's listeners. [9] In the Young People's Concert titled What Is a Mode? Leonard Bernstein explained that the song was composed in the Dorian mode. [10]
Chart (1966) | Peak position |
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CAN RPM [11] | 8 |
US Billboard Hot 100 [12] | 7 |
US Cashbox Top 100 [13] | 9 |
US Record World Singles Chart [14] | 10 |
"Along Comes Mary" | ||||
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Single by Bloodhound Gang | ||||
from the album Hooray for Boobies | ||||
B-side | ||||
Released | May 24, 1999 [15] | |||
Genre | Hard rock [16] | |||
Length | 3:20 | |||
Label | ||||
Composer(s) | Jimmy Pop | |||
Lyricist(s) | Tandyn Almer | |||
Producer(s) | Jimmy Pop | |||
Bloodhound Gang singles chronology | ||||
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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.
Chart (1999) | Peak position |
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Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40) [18] | 5 |
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100) [19] | 22 |
Germany (GfK) [15] | 6 |
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade) [20] | 13 |
Chart (1999) | Position |
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Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40) [21] | 27 |
Germany (Media Control) [22] | 23 |
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
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Austria (IFPI Austria) [23] | Gold | 25,000* |
Germany (BVMI) [24] | Gold | 250,000^ |
* Sales figures based on certification alone. |
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]