Mary's Prayer

Mary's Prayer is a sophisti-pop[1] single by the Scottish pop/rock group Danny Wilson, featured on the group's 1987 debut album Meet Danny Wilson.

The song's composer, Gary Clark, said of "Mary's Prayer": "I certainly don't think [it's] the best song on the album but it is probably the most accessible and therefore the best choice for a first single."[2] Clark had written "Mary's Prayer" while Danny Wilson was the house band at Dundee nightclub the Swamp soon after the group (then known as Spencer Tracy) formed in 1984.

The song has been described as "an extended Catholic metaphor",[3] although Clark has denied any intended religious significance in his composition: "There is a lot of religious imagery in the song but that is really just a device to relate past present and future"..."It is basically just a simple love song. In fact I like to think of it as being like a country and western song."[2]

The single was released three times between February 1987 and March 1988 in the UK. Reaching #3 in the charts at the third release. The initial UK release in February 1987 peaked at only #86, but was a hit in Ireland (#5), Germany (#35) and South Africa (#10).

The US release followed in June 1987, where it rose as high as #23 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #6 on the Adult Contemporary chart. [4] Virgin Records US' promotion for the single included a full-page ad run in the music industry trade journals with an endorsement from Mike Bone, head of promotion for rival label Elektra Records. The ad reproduced a cable Bone sent to Virgin Records that said "'Mary's Prayer' is my life" and prompted "Do Mike Bone a Favor. Add Danny Wilson's 'Mary's Prayer'." Bone had given permission for Virgin Records to use his endorsement to promote the single, but "thought they'd just have it buried [among] other testimonials."[5]

The US success triggered a second release in the UK in August 1987, with a #42 peak. The single subsequently topped a BBC Radio 1 phone-in poll of listeners nominations for 1987 singles which had failed to be hits.[6] Clark attributes the Virgin Records UK decision to reissue "Mary's Prayer" a third time in March 1988 to this poll, upon which the single reached #3. The release was labelled "the Paul Staveley O'Duffy remix" but, according to Gary Clark, "[Although] they did a remix on it....it was essentially the same record".[6]

On September 24 2014 the members of Danny Wilson performed "Mary's Prayer" at the opening gala for the Ryder Cup at the Hydro Arena in Glasgow, marking the sole performance by the band since 1989.[7]

Personnel

Cover versions

A remake of "Mary's Prayer" by BBMak served as the B-side of their 2000 Top 10 (UK) hit "Still on Your Side". The song has also been remade by Jason Donovan, his version appearing on his 2010 album Soundtrack of the 80s.

In popular culture

"Mary's Prayer" was featured in the 1998 hit film There's Something About Mary.

References

  1. ↑ Inskeep, Thomas; Soto, Alfred. "The Bluffer's Guide – Sophisti-Pop". Stylus. Retrieved 28 April 2016.
  2. 1 2 Williamson, John. "Ready For Take-off". Evening Times. March 27, 1987: 10.
  3. ↑ Larkin, Colin. The Virgin Encyclopedia of Eighties Music. Virgin Publishing, London (March 1998). p. 138. ISBN 978-0753501597.
  4. ↑ Whitburn, Joel (2002). Top Adult Contemporary: 1961-2001. Record Research. p. 71.
  5. ↑ "Pop Eye". Articles.LATimes.com. Retrieved October 8, 2013.
  6. 1 2 "Hooks 'n' You: A Portrait of Gary Clark as a Young Recording Artist". PopDose.com. Retrieved October 8, 2013.
  7. ↑ "Danny Wilson to reunite for Ryder Cup gig". TheCourier.co.uk. Retrieved October 22, 2014.
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