My Guy – Mary Wells | Top 40 Chart Performance, Story and Song Meaning
Chart Performance: Pop (#1 for 2 weeks) and R&B (#1 for 7 weeks); 1964
Story Behind The Song By Ed Osborne
If Atlantic Records is the company the Ruth (Brown) built, then the same might be said of Mary Wells and Motown Records, for it was she who put the burgeoning company on the hit map with a string of R&B and Pop charters.
After two Top 10 R&B’s, Smokey Robinson of the Miracles took over the songwriting reins and immediately scored with The One Who Really Loves You (#8 Pop, #2 R&B; 1962), You Beat Me To The Punch (#9 Pop, #1 R&B; 1962), and Two Lovers (#7 Pop, #1 R&B; 1963).
Under Smokey’s guidance, Mary chalked up several more Top 10 R&B sides that were also moderate pop performers.
Then came My Guy. For the intro, Smokey borrowed the gorgeous melodic line from Eddie Heywood’s 1956 smash Canadian Sunset, and Mary sweet-sang My Guy all the way to #1.
Not only was My Guy Motown’s first ever pop number one, it elbowed its way past three singles by a new band called the Beatles to get there.
This content and all Song Meaning articles were created and written by Top 40 Contributing Editor Ed Osborne. © 2024 Ed Osborne. All Rights Reserved. In addition to these song meaning articles, Ed has written our “Year in Music 1960s-1990s” articles.
Produced by:
- Smokey Robinson
Lyrics Written by:
- Smokey Robinson
Ed Osborne
Hi. I got my first record at age two and never looked back, spending a decades-long career in radio and the music business. Even after years of reading about and listening to all types of music, I am still fascinated by it. Apart from that, I’m endlessly intrigued by art, nature, and the inner lives of people (and dogs).