Johnny and Mary

Last updated

"Johnny and Mary"
Robert Palmer - Johnny and Mary.jpg
Single by Robert Palmer
from the album Clues
ReleasedAugust 1980
Studio Compass Point Studios
Genre
Length3:59
Label Island
Songwriter(s) Robert Palmer
Robert Palmer singles chronology
"Can We Still Be Friends"
(1979)		"Johnny and Mary"
(1980)		"Looking for Clues"
(1980)
Music video
"Robert Palmer - Johnny and Mary" on YouTube

"Johnny and Mary" is a song written and originally performed by Robert Palmer. Palmer's version was recorded in 1980 at Compass Point Studios, New Providence, in the Bahamas. The song was featured on Palmer's album Clues (1980).

Contents

"Johnny and Mary" went to No. 44 on the UK Singles Chart, [5] and was a top 40 hit in Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and several European countries. In Germany, it peaked at No. 7 on the singles chart and spent a total of 23 weeks in the top 20. [6] [7] In Spain, it peaked at No. 1 on the Spanish singles chart (AFYVE). [8]

Though the single did not chart in the US Hot 100, it did reach No. 18 on Billboard's Club Play Singles chart. [9]

"Johnny and Mary" was used as the signature tune in advertisements promoting Renault cars throughout the 1980s and 1990s. Early adverts used Palmer's original version, while a range of special recordings in different styles were produced during the 1990s, most famously an acoustic interpretation by Martin Taylor, which he released on his album Spirit of Django. Taylor recorded alternate versions for Renault; the last being in 1998 for the launch of the all-new Renault Clio. In 2021, Swedish singer Hanna Hägglund recorded a new version of the song, used again by Renault in TV ads to launch its latest version of model Clio. [10] [11]

Critical reception

Upon its release, Mike Gardner of Record Mirror noted that Palmer had merged his own style with that of Gary Numan, "resulting in a mixture that sounds suspiciously like mid period Cliff Richard". He added that it has the "double distinction of giving the ears a treat and being a formidable appetiser for his forthcoming album". [12] Martyn Sutton of Melody Maker also believed that the "ultra-modern, Eighties single" was "something of a departure" from Palmer as it "offers less blue eyed soul than usual and a lot more cold eyes, electronic wheeling and dealing". He concluded that it "deserves to be a hit". [13] Paul Rambali of NME was less positive in his review, writing that "what seems like a sad little story of connubial confusion" is "made more commonplace than it might otherwise be through injudicious use of electronic textures". He also felt that a "decent middle eight would have helped too". [14] In contrast, Danny Baker, writing a new review for NME, stated that "this is the best buy at 45 right now" and remarked that Rambali, "who coolly received this a fortnight ago, has a gleam in his piercing blue eye that suggests he mayn't have given this the shake it deserved at that time". [15]

Chart performance

Todd Terje featuring Bryan Ferry version

"Johnny and Mary"
Todd Terje and Bryan Ferry - Johnny and Mary cover art.jpg
Single by Todd Terje featuring Bryan Ferry
from the album It's Album Time and Avonmore
Released7 April 2014 (2014-04-07)
Genre Electronica [3]
Length
  • 6:32(album version)
  • 5:10 (radio edit)
Label Olsen
Songwriter(s) Robert Palmer
Producer(s) Todd Terje
Todd Terje singles chronology
"Leisure Suit Preben"
(2013)		"Johnny and Mary"
(2014)		"Alfonso Muskedunder"
(2015)
CD single [29]
No.TitleLength
1."Johnny and Mary"6:32
2."Johnny and Mary" (Radio edit)5:10
Digital download [28]
No.TitleLength
1."Johnny and Mary" (Radio edit)5:10

Charts

Chart (2014)Peak
position
France (SNEP) [29] 185

Other versions

See also

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References

  1. ↑ Drever, Andrew (4 April 2014). "Timely debut takes Ferry 'cross the Terje". The Sydney Morning Herald . Retrieved 13 July 2014.
  2. ↑ Sherburne, Philip (9 April 2014). "The Hitman and the Trickster: Todd Terje's Improbable Disco". Spin . Retrieved 13 July 2014.
  3. 1 2 Todd, Chris (3 April 2014). "Album Review: Todd Terje – It's Album Time". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved 7 January 2018.
  4. ↑ Stanley, Bob (13 September 2013). "Pleasently Antagonistic: New Wave". Yeah Yeah Yeah: The Story of Modern Pop. Faber & Faber. p. 459. ISBN   978-0-571-28198-5.
  5. 1 2 "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 24 June 2013.
  6. ↑ "German Top 20 – The Chart of 1980". ki.informatik.uni-wuerzburg.de. Archived from the original on 19 June 2011. Retrieved 25 July 2013.
  7. ↑ "German Top 20 – The Chart of 1981". ki.informatik.uni-wuerzburg.de. Retrieved 25 July 2013.
  8. 1 2 Salaverri, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (in Spanish) (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN   84-8048-639-2.
  9. 1 2 "Robert Palmer – Awards". AllMusic . Retrieved 24 June 2013.
  10. ↑ "Nuova campagna pubblicitaria di Renault". Spot and Web (in Italian). 19 January 2021. Retrieved 8 March 2021.
  11. ↑ "Renault is launching a new global campaign that gives new meaning to Formula 1™ innovation". Marketing Communication News. 7 January 2021. Retrieved 17 September 2021.
  12. ↑ Gardner, Mike (23 August 1980). "Singles". Record Mirror . p. 12. ISSN   0144-5804.
  13. ↑ Sutton, Martyn (23 August 1980). "Single File". Melody Maker . p. 18. ISSN   0025-9012.
  14. ↑ Rambali, Paul (23 August 1980). "Singles". New Musical Express . p. 20. ISSN   0028-6362.
  15. ↑ Baker, Danny (6 September 1980). "Singles". New Musical Express . p. 21. ISSN   0028-6362.
  16. ↑ "Forum – ARIA Charts: Special Occasion Charts – CHART POSITIONS PRE 1989, part 2". Australian-charts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved 25 July 2013.
  17. ↑ "Robert Palmer – Johnny and Mary" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 25 July 2013.
  18. ↑ "Robert Palmer – Johnny and Mary" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 25 July 2013.
  19. ↑ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 0274." RPM . Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 24 June 2013.
  20. ↑ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 40, 1980" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 25 July 2013.
  21. ↑ "Robert Palmer – Johnny and Mary" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 25 July 2013.
  22. ↑ "Robert Palmer – Johnny and Mary". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 25 July 2013.
  23. ↑ "South African Rock Lists Website SA Charts 1969 – 1989 Acts (P)". Rock.co.za. Retrieved 25 July 2013.
  24. ↑ "Robert Palmer – Johnny and Mary". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 25 July 2013.
  25. ↑ "Robert Palmer – Johnny and Mary". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 25 July 2013.
  26. ↑ "Offiziellecharts.de – Robert Palmer – Johnny and Mary" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 13 February 2019.
  27. ↑ "Jaaroverzichten 1980" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Hung Medien. Retrieved 13 July 2014.
  28. 1 2 "Johnny and Mary (Radio Edit) [feat. Bryan Ferry]". iTunes Norway . Retrieved 3 January 2016.
  29. 1 2 3 "Todd Terje feat. Bryan Ferry – Johnny and Mary" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 3 January 2016.
  30. ↑ "Rock Over London: Video Stars on 45". Radio & Records . No. 796. Radio & Records, Inc. 4 July 1989. p. 35. ISSN   0277-4860.
  31. ↑ Russell, Ian (7 July 1989). "Ready for Vogue" . The Kilmarnock Standard . p. 14. Retrieved 20 December 2023– via British Newspaper Archive.
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