"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 Oscar for Best Original Song. "Tammy" is heard in the film in two versions. The one that became a No. 1 hit single for Debbie Reynolds in 1957 is heard midway through the film, and was a UK No. 2 hit single in the same year. Another version was heard during the main titles at the beginning of the film and was a hit for the Ames Brothers. There have been other cover versions of the song.

"Tammy"
Single by Debbie Reynolds
B-side"French Heels"
ReleasedJune 1957 (1957-06)
Recorded1957
GenreTraditional pop
Length3:00
LabelCoral
Songwriter(s)Jay Livingston, Ray Evans
Producer(s)Joseph Gershenson
Debbie Reynolds singles chronology
"The Tender Trap"
(1956)
"Tammy"
(1957)
"A Very Special Love"
(1957)

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 Corporation in 1960. Tamla served as a primary R&B and soul subsidiary throughout Motown's existence.

Debbie Reynolds version

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The most popular version, by actress and singer Debbie Reynolds, was released by Coral Records as catalog number 61851. The backing orchestrations were done by Joseph Gershenson. It first reached the Billboard charts on July 22, 1957, and peaked at No. 1 on all the U.S. 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".

Ames Brothers version

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A recording by the Ames Brothers, heard over the main titles of Tammy and the Bachelor, 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 No. 5; on the Best Seller chart, at No. 24; on the composite chart of the top 100 songs, it reached No. 29.[1] On the Cash Box charts, where all versions were combined, the song reached No. 1.

Other versions

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British singer Dennis Lotis also recorded a version in 1957.

References

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  1. ^ a b Whitburn, Joel: The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits (7th Rev. edition ed.), New York: Watson-Guptill Publications ISBN 978-0-823-07690-1
  2. ^ Murrells, Joseph (1978). The Book of Golden Discs (2nd ed.). London, UK: Barrie & Jenkins. ISBN 0-214-20512-6.
  3. ^ "The Polly Bergen Show". Classic Television Archives. Archived from the original on October 8, 2011. Retrieved January 9, 2011.
  4. ^ [1][permanent dead link]
  5. ^ "Sergio Franchi - Women In My Life". Discogs.com. 1964. Retrieved April 28, 2021.
  6. ^ "Discography List". Trinilopez.com. Retrieved April 28, 2021.
  7. ^ "Livingston and Evans Songbook". AllMusic. Retrieved December 29, 2018.
  8. ^ "EP". Jenslekman.com. Retrieved April 28, 2021.
  9. ^ "Nancy Sinatra". 45cat.com. Retrieved December 29, 2018.
  10. ^ "Slim Whitman – Slim Whitman Sings". Discogs.com. 1962. Retrieved December 29, 2018.
  11. ^ "Mary Hopkin - Llais Swynol". Discogs.com. 1968. Retrieved April 28, 2021.