Hello Mary Lou

{{For|the horror film|Hello Mary Lou: Prom Night II}}

{{Infobox song

| name = Hello Mary Lou

| cover = Ricky Nelson - Hello Mary Lou.jpg

| alt =

| type = single

| artist = Ricky Nelson

| album = Rick Is 21

| A-side = Travelin' Man

| released = May 1961

| format =

| recorded = 1960−61

| studio =

| venue =

| genre =

• Rockabilly{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5QLMAQAAQBAJ&pg=PT16|title=Rockabilly: Guitar Play-Along|first=Hal Leonard|last=Corp|date=1 April 2004|publisher=Hal Leonard Corporation|isbn=9781476808611|access-date=18 November 2017|via=Google Books}}
• rock and roll{{cite book|first=Dave|last=Marsh|title=The Heart of Rock & Soul: The 1001 Greatest Singles Ever Made|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5t5DYDniSHEC|date=1989|publisher=Plume|isbn=0-452-26305-0|page=281}}

| length = {{Duration|m=2|s=17}}

| label = Imperial Records #5741

| writer = {{hlist|Gene Pitney|Cayet Mangiaracina}}

| producer =

| prev_title = You Are the Only One

| prev_year = 1960

| next_title = A Wonder Like You/Everlovin'

| next_year = 1961

| misc = {{External music video |header=Official audio |{{YouTube|DfKe8K1A3JI|"Hello Mary Lou" (Remastered)}}}}

}}

"Hello Mary Lou" is a song written by American singer Gene Pitney{{cite web |url=http://repertoire.bmi.com/title.asp?blnWriter=True&blnPublisher=True&blnArtist=True&keyID=553982&querytype=WorkID |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120718204005/http://repertoire.bmi.com/title.asp?blnWriter=True&blnPublisher=True&blnArtist=True&keyID=553982&querytype=WorkID |url-status=dead |archive-date=2012-07-18 |title=Hello Mary Lou Goodbye Heart (Legal Title) |publisher=Repertoire.bmi.com |access-date=2012-08-05 }}{{cite web|url=http://voices.yahoo.com/rock-roll-heaven-priest-helped-write-hello-10241465.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130412051313/http://voices.yahoo.com/rock-roll-heaven-priest-helped-write-hello-10241465.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=12 April 2013 |title=Rock and Roll Heaven: How a Priest Helped Write "Hello, Mary Lou" |first=Lee |last=Jensen |publisher=Yahoo Inc |date=October 19, 2011 |access-date=March 2, 2013 }}{{cite web |url=http://www.actionnews17.com/News/AllNews/tabid/83/ArticleID/4859/ArtMID/435/Ponchatoula-priest-shares-special-part-in-Rock-n-Roll-history.aspx |title=Ponchatoula priest shares special part in Rock 'n Roll history |first=Don |last=Ellzey |publisher=actionnews17.com/ |year=2013 |access-date=March 2, 2013 }}{{Dead link|date=January 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} first recorded by Johnny Duncan in 1960{{cite web|url=http://www.secondhandsongs.com/release/74055 |title=Freddy and His Go-Cart by Johnny Duncan |website=Secondhandsongs.com |access-date=2016-09-26}} and by Ricky Nelson at United Western Recorders Studios on March 22, 1961.

Nelson's version, issued as a double A-side with his No. 1 hit "Travelin' Man", (Imperial 5741), reached No. 9 on the Billboard music charts on May 28, 1961. In the United Kingdom it reached No. 2.{{Cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/search/singles/hello-mary-lou_slash_travelin%27-man/|title=hello mary lou/travelin' man | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company|website=www.officialcharts.com}} It was also a hit in much of Europe, particularly Norway, where it spent 14 weeks at No. 1, Denmark where it also peaked at No. 1,{{cite magazine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mCAEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA21 |title=Billboard Magazine |magazine=Billboard |date=16 October 1961 |access-date=2024-05-08}} and in Sweden, where it spent five months in the best selling chart (July–December) and peaked at No. 2 during eight weeks. In New Zealand, the song reached No. 4.{{cite web|url=http://www.flavourofnz.co.nz/index.php?qpageID=Lever%20hit%20parades&qyear=1961&qmonth=Sep&qweek=07-Sep-1961#n_view_location |title=flavour of new zealand - Lever hit parades |website=Flavourofnz.co.nz |access-date=2016-09-26}}

A 1991 reissue following the song's use in a TV advertisement gave the song a second chart run, peaking at No. 45 in the UK Singles Chart.{{Cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/search/singles/hello-mary-lou/|title=hello mary lou | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company|website=www.officialcharts.com}}

The song features an influential guitar solo by James Burton, often cited by later guitarists such as Brian May. Piano is by Ray Johnson, who had succeeded Gene Garf as Nelson's regular session pianist in November 1959.{{cite web |url=http://www.rockabilly.nl/references/messages/ray_johnson.htm |title=Ray Johnson |publisher=Rockabilly.nl |access-date=2 March 2013}} Other musicians on the record include Joe Osborn on bass and Ritchie Frost on drums.{{cite web|url=http://www.rickynelson.co.uk/rickis.html |title=Rick Is 21 : Rick Nelson Records |website=Rickynelson.co.uk |access-date=2016-09-26}}

The song appears on Nelson's sixth album Rick Is 21 (1961).