"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.
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.
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
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]
Hank Garland recorded an instrumental version on his album Velvet Guitar in 1959.
Ray Conniff recorded an orchestral version in 1960
Sam Cooke recorded a version for his 1957 album, Around the World.
Chet Atkins released a guitar-based instrumental version of the song with his 1961 record Chet Atkins' Workshop. This version features a fingerstyle arrangement, as well as a fairly prominent tremolo sound added to Atkins' electric guitar – it is worth noting that this is one of the few instances where Atkins used this particular electronic effect for a recording.
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.
Slim Whitman also recorded a version of the song for the album Slim Whitman Sings (1962).[10]
Stan Freberg parodied the song in the sketch Gray Flannel Hat Full of Teenage Werewolves: "When I hold your sweet hairy hand tight in mine... Clammy! Clammy!"
A piano version of "Tammy" is played by an Omega Theta Pi member in the opening scene of the 1978 film National Lampoon's Animal House.
Welsh singer Mary Hopkin issued a recording of the song on an EP in 1969.[11]
British singer Dennis Lotis also recorded a version in 1957.
References
^ abWhitburn, Joel: The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits (7th Rev. edition ed.), New York: Watson-Guptill Publications ISBN978-0-823-07690-1
^Murrells, Joseph (1978). The Book of Golden Discs (2nd ed.). London, UK: Barrie & Jenkins. ISBN0-214-20512-6.