Released 1968 Writer(s) Michael Nesmith | Genre Rock Producer(s) Michael Nesmith | |
B-side "What am I Doing Hangin' 'Round?" Recorded Monday July 25, 1966 at Western Recorders Hollywood | ||
"Mary, Mary" is a song written by Michael Nesmith. It was first recorded by The Butterfield Blues Band for their 1966 album, East-West. The Monkees, featuring Nesmith, would later record the song themselves. The rap group, Run–D.M.C., revived the song in the late 1980s with a cover version that hit the R&B and pop charts in the United States.
Contents
The Butterfield Blues Band version
The Paul Butterfield Blues Band was the first group to record and release the song commercially, featured as a track on their 1966 album East-West. In addition to Butterfield, musicians to play on the track include Mike Bloomfield and Elvin Bishop. No songwriter credit is listed for "Mary, Mary" on East-West.
The Monkees version
On July 25, 1966, Nesmith produced and recorded the song for The Monkees at Western Recorders in Hollywood, California. Micky Dolenz sang lead, and Mike used the crack group of session musicians known as The Wrecking Crew to beef up their sound, including; James Burton, Glen Campbell, Al Casey, Hal Blaine, Jim Gordon, Michael Deasy and Larry Knechtel. Their version was released on the album More of the Monkees in 1967 and became a number five hit in Australia in 1968.
Personnel
Appearances on The Monkees
"Mary, Mary" was featured in five episodes of the television series, The Monkees, in 1966 and 1967.
Run–D.M.C. version
Run–D.M.C. covered "Mary, Mary" in a rap rock version, and it was released as a single from their fourth album, Tougher Than Leather, in 1988. It was released by Profile Records and produced by the group along with Rick Rubin. It was their most successful single from the album, being the only one to make it to the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number 75, and peaking at number 29 on the Hot Black Singles chart.
Run-D.M.C. changed the line "Mary, Mary, where ya' goin' to" to "Mary, Mary, why ya' buggin'". Although Run-D.M.C. replaced Michael Nesmith's original lyrics with a new set of lyrics of their own, Nesmith was the only writer credited on Run-D.M.C.'s single. Run-D.M.C.'s version samples Micky Dolenz singing the title from the Monkees' recording.
Track listing
- "Mary, Mary" – 3:12
- "Mary, Mary" (Instrumental) – 3:12
- "Rock Box" – 5:28