Tammy (song)

"Tammy" is a popular song with music by Jay Livingston and lyrics by Ray Evans. It was published in 1957 and made its debut in the film Tammy and the Bachelor. It was nominated for the 1957 Academy Award for Best Original Song. "Tammy" became a number one hit single for Debbie Reynolds and was also a successful hit for the Ames Brothers. There have been several other cover versions of this song.

The song's title served as the inspiration for Berry Gordy's first record label. In 1959, Gordy set up a new record company, and wanted to call it "Tammy Records" after the song, but the name was taken and "Tamla" was chosen instead. The main Motown label was created later that year and the two labels were incorporated into the Motown Record Corporationn in 1960. Tamla served as a primary R&B/soul subsidiary throughout Motown's existence.

Debbie Reynolds version

The most popular version, by actress and singer Debbie Reynolds, was released by Coral Records as catalog number 61851. It first reached the Billboard charts on July 22, 1957, and peaked at number 1 on all the charts: the Disk Jockey chart, the Best Seller chart, and the composite chart of the top 100 songs.^[1] The single "Tammy" earned her a gold record.^[2] It is featured in the films The Long Day Closes, The Big Lebowski, and Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, and was sampled in the song "A Different Feeling" by Australian electronic band The Avalanches on their 2000 album "Since I Left You".

The Ames Brothers version

A recording by the Ames Brothers also charted. It was released by RCA Victor Records as catalog number 47-6930. It first reached the Billboard charts on July 22, 1957. On the Disk Jockey chart, it peaked at number 5; on the Best Seller chart, at number 24; on the composite chart of the top 100 songs, it reached number 29.^[1] On the Cash Box charts, where all versions were combined, the song reached number 1.

Other versions

• Polly Bergen sang "Tammy" on the premiere episode of her short-lived 1957-1958 comedy/variety show, The Polly Bergen Show, aired on NBC on September 21, 1957.^[3]
• Andy Williams released a version on his 1962 album, Danny Boy and Other Songs I Love to Sing.
• Sergio Franchi returned to England in 1963 to record this song with conductor Wally Stott on his RCA Victor Red Seal album Women in My Life.^[4]
• A Trini Lopez version of "Tammy" was recorded for his LP The Love Album (Reprise Records R-6165).^[5]
• In 2002, the song was recorded by Michael Feinstein for his album, Livingston And Evans Songbook.
• Swedish singer/songwriter, Jens Lekman recorded a version of the song on his 2005 Australian tour EP You Deserve Someone Better Than a Bum Like Me.^[6]
• Olivia Newton-John has stated that her performance of "Hopelessly Devoted to You" in the movie Grease is inspired by Debbie Reynolds' performance of "Tammy" in Tammy and the Bachelor.
• Nancy Sinatra covered the song in 1964.
• A spare instrumental version was used in the youth dance scene at the end of the landmark Danish film Tree of Knowledge.
• It was recorded by the Graham Bond Organisation on its The Sound of '65 album.
• After seeing the film Tammy and the Bachelor at the age of 12, Thomasina Montgomery changed her name to 'Tammy' and would later become Motown singer Tammi Terrell.

References