Tammy

Album: Tammy and the Bachelor Soundtrack (1957)
Charted: 2 1
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This song was composed by Jay Livingston and Ray Evans, whose work together includes "Mona Lisa," the Christmas song "Silver Bells," Doris Day's hit "Que Sera, Sera (Whatever Will Be, Will Be)," and several songs from movies that were released by Paramount Pictures.
  • This was the love theme from the film Tammy and the Bachelor, the first of four films about a naive but polite young woman from Mississippi named Tambrey "Tammy" Tyree. Debbie Reynolds played the title role in the first Tammy film.
  • This received an Oscar nomination for Best Original Song a year after its release. It lost to "All the Way" (from The Joker Is Wild).
  • Other artists who have covered this song include the Ames Brothers, Polly Bergen, Michael Feinstein, Jens Lekman, and Trini Lopez.
  • Reynolds' version was later used in the 1998 comedy film The Big Lebowski. >>
    Suggestion credit:
    Jerro - New Alexandria, PA, for all above
  • "Tammy" spent five weeks #1 on the US pop charts and was the biggest-selling record by any female in 1957.
  • Berry Gordy, founder of Motown Records, wanted to call his label Tammy in honor of this record. However, that name was taken, and he was forced to amend the name to Tamla.
  • This was the only US #1 single by a female act between July 1956 and February 1958.

Comments: 4

  • Judy Mehrtin Martin from CaliforniaBeautiful
  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn this day in 1957 {August 18th} Debbie Reynolds' "Tammy"* peaked at #1 {for 5 weeks} on Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart...
    For the five weeks it was a #1, the record at #2 for those five weeks was "Diana" by Paul Anka...
    And on October 27th, 1957 it peaked at #2 {for 1 weeK} on the United Kingdom's NME Singles chart, the record that kept it out of the top spot was "That'll Be The Day" by the Crickets...
    "Tammy" received an Academy Award nomination for 'Best Original Song', but the award went to "All The Way" from the movie 'The Joker Is Wild'...
    Ms. Reynolds had three other Top 100 records, "A Very Special Love" {#20 in 1958}, "Am I That Easy To Forget" {#25 in 1960}, and "City Lights" {#55 in 1960}...
    Mary Frances ' Debbie' Reynolds passed away at the age of 84 on December 28th, 2016, and one day earlier on December 27th, 2016 her daughter, actress Carrie Fisher, died at the age of 60...
    Make both R.I.P.
    * And from the 'For What It's Worth' department, the week Ms. Reynolds' "Tammy" peaked at #1, the Ames Brothers' version of the song was at #29 {for 1 week} on the Top 100, that was also it's peak position on the Top 100 chart {it did reached #5 for two weeks on Billboard's Most Played by Jockeys chart}...
  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn October 1, 1957, the Ames Brothers performed "Tammy" on the Dick Clark ABC-TV weekday-afternoon program 'American Bandstand'...
    At the time their version of "Tammy" was at #10 on Billboard's Most Played by Jockeys chart, seven weeks earlier it had peaked at #5* {for 2 weeks} and spent almost a half-year on the Top 100 {24 weeks}...
    Between 1948 and 1960 the brothers had forty-eight Top 100 records; nine made the Top 10 with three reaching #1, "Rag Mop" in 1950, "Sentimental Me" in 1950, and "You You You" in 1953 ...
    They just missed having a fourth #1 record when "Undecided" peaked at #2 in 1953...
    Sadly three of the brothers have passed away; Joe (1921 - 2007), Gene (1923 - 1997), Vic (1925 - 1978) and Ed (born Edmund Dantes Urick) celebrated his 90th birthday two months ago on July 9th {2017}...
    May the three R.I.P. and God bless 'Mingo'...
    * The week the Ames Brothers' "Tammy" peaked at #5, Debbie Reynolds' version was at #2 on the Top 100, the following it peaked at #1 and remained in the top spot for a total of five weeks...
    In addition, in the movie 'Tammy and the Bachelor',the brother' version is played during the opening credits, Ms. Reynolds sings the song while sitting by a window {https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ew3mtNZFrMY}.
  • Carolyn from Knoville, TnThis was a sweet movie, and a sweet song. Reminds me of "way back when" when life seemed simpler and moved at a slower pace.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Rufus Wainwright

Rufus WainwrightSongwriter Interviews

Rufus Wainwright on "Hallelujah," his album Unfollow The Rules, and getting into his "lyric trance" on 12-hour walks.

Jimmy Webb

Jimmy WebbSongwriter Interviews

Webb talks about his classic songs "By the Time I Get to Phoenix," "Wichita Lineman" and "MacArthur Park."

Modern A Cappella with Peder Karlsson of The Real Group

Modern A Cappella with Peder Karlsson of The Real GroupSong Writing

The leader of the Modern A Cappella movement talks about the genre.

Verdine White of Earth, Wind & Fire

Verdine White of Earth, Wind & FireSongwriter Interviews

The longtime bassist of Earth, Wind & Fire discusses how his band came to do a holiday album, and offers insight into some of the greatest dance/soul tunes of all-time.

Robert DeLeo of Stone Temple Pilots

Robert DeLeo of Stone Temple PilotsSongwriter Interviews

Stone Temple Pilots bass player Robert DeLeo names the songs that have most connected with fans and tells the stories behind tracks from their Tiny Music album.

Frankie Valli

Frankie ValliSong Writing

An interview with Frankie Valli, who talks about why his songs - both solo and with The Four Seasons - have endured, and reflects on his time as Rusty Millio on The Sopranos.