What Will Mary Say

"What Will Mary Say" is a song written by Eddie Snyder and Paul Vance. It was originally performed and issued as a single by Mark Dinning in 1961,[2] but did not chart. Two years later, the song was recorded and released by Johnny Mathis,[3] who made the song a popular hit. Mathis' version of "What Will Mary Say" (arranged by Don Costa and produced by Ernie Altschuler[4]) reached #3 on the adult contemporary chart, #9 on the U.S. pop chart, #21 on the U.S. R&B chart, and #49 on the UK Singles Chart in 1963.[5]

"What Will Mary Say"
Single by Johnny Mathis
B-side"Quiet Girl"
ReleasedJanuary 4, 1963 (1963-01-04)
GenreCountry[1]
Length3:10
LabelColumbia
Songwriter(s)Eddie Snyder, Paul Vance
Producer(s)Ernie Altschuler
Johnny Mathis singles chronology
"Gina"
(1962)		 "What Will Mary Say"
(1963)		 "Every Step of the Way"
(1963)

The song is about an affair, in which the singer wants to end it, fearing that his original lover would be angry and walk out on him. This song features the sounds of a spoken woman, repeatedly pleading: "Don't Go".

The song ranked #65 on Billboard magazine's Top 100 singles of 1963.[6][7]

Other versions
  • Lawrence Welk released a version of the song on his 1963 album 1963's Early Hits.[8]
  • Joey Powers released a version of the song on his 1964 album with Bobby Bare and Roy Orbison entitled Special Delivery from Bobby Bare...Joey Powers...Roy Orbison.[9]
  • Jay Black released a version of the song as a single in 1967, but it did not chart.[10]
  • Gene Thomas released a version of the song as a single in 1967, but it did not chart.[11]
  • David Geddes released a version of the song on his 1975 album Run Joey Run.[12]
  • Barry Biggs released a version of the song on his 1976 album Mr. Biggs.[13]

References
  1. Breihan, Tom (December 4, 2019). "The Number Ones: Johnny Mathis & Deniece Williams' "Too Much, Too Little, Too Late"". Stereogum. Retrieved July 5, 2023. After his vaguely countryish 1963 lament "What Will Mary Say" peaked at #9, Mathis didn't score a top-10 hit for another 15 years.
  2. "Mark Dinning, "In a Matter of Moments" Single Release". Retrieved March 13, 2019.
  3. "Johnny Mathis, "What Will Mary Say" Single Release". Retrieved March 13, 2019.
  4. "Johnny Mathis, "What Will Mary Say" Single Release". Retrieved March 13, 2019.
  5. "Johnny Mathis, "What Will Mary Say" Chart Positions". Retrieved March 13, 2019.
  6. "Top Records of 1963", Billboard, Section II, December 28, 1963. p. 30. Retrieved March 13, 2019.
  7. Kowal, Barry. Billboard Magazine's (USA) Top 100 Single Recordings of 1963, Hits of All Decades. August 27, 2017. Retrieved March 13, 2019.
  8. "Lawrence Welk, 1963's Early Hits". Discogs. 1963. Retrieved March 13, 2019.
  9. "Joey Powers, Special Delivery from Bobby Bare...Joey Powers...Roy Orbison". Discogs. 1964. Retrieved March 13, 2019.
  10. "Jay Black, "What Will My Mary Say" Single Release". Retrieved March 13, 2019.
  11. "Gene Thomas, "What Will Mary Say" Single Release". Discogs. 1967. Retrieved March 13, 2019.
  12. "David Geddes, Run Joey Run". AllMusic. Retrieved March 13, 2019.
  13. "Barry Biggs, Mr. Biggs". Discogs. 1976. Retrieved March 13, 2019.


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