Hello Mary Lou
Background
"Hello Mary Lou" is an album track on Mardi Gras, the seventh and the last long-player of Creedence Clearwater Revival.
The song was originally written by Gene Pitney and Father Cayet Mangiaracina. It was initially recorded by Johnny Duncan in 1960. The Creedence Clearwater version is based on the rendition Ricky Nelson put on the vinyl in 1961.
The CCR version is sung by John Fogerty who also plays lead guitar. The song is also produced by Fogerty.
Equipment
John Fogerty played a Fender Telecaster on a track (Lars Bundesen).
Live versions
Creedence Clearwater performed "Hello Mary Lou" on the band's last tour in the USA in April and May 1972. The world premiere took place in Cincinnati, Ohio, on April 12th - next day after the release of the LP. The last show was delivered in Denver, Colorado, on May 22nd, 1972.
Critical reception
"The cover version of "Hello Mary Lou" is one of the silliest he has attempted; his try at copying James Burton's superb guitar ride on the Ricky Nelson original was a hopeless botch." -Jon Landau, The Rolling Stone, May 25th, 1972.
"--- good cover ---".. -Thomas Erlewine, All Music.
Written by Gene Pitney and Father Cayet Mangiaracina.
Recorded at Studio C, Fantasy Studios, Berkeley, CA, USA, in January 1972.
Appears on the Mardi Gras album.
Released on April 11th, 1972.