I have to admit, other than thinking it was a cool tune, I didn’t really know much about this week’s “Remake of a Classic”. Written by eccentric, out-in-left-field songwriter/producer/water-pipe designer Tandyn Almer, The Association’s “Along comes Mary” was recorded in 1966 for the band’s debut album, “And Then…Along Comes The Association.” It reached number seven on Billboard’s Hot 100.

The lyrics are pretty out there:

“And when the morning of the warning's passed, the gassed
And flaccid kids are flung across the stars
The psychodramas and the traumas gone
The songs are left unsung and hung upon the scars”

Wow..uh, okay.

There has been some serious debate as to the meaning of the tune. Some think it’s about pot (during the time “Mary” was a nickname for marijuana), others argue the tune is about an actual girl, and there are some who think it’s about the Virgin Mary. The way I see it, it’s up to the individual to figure it out for themselves (there’s no rule that says a tune can’t mean different things to different people). Almer probably intended for the listener to come to their own conclusion.

Bottom line: it's a killer tune.

The Association recorded "Along Comes Mary" on an obscure label called Valiant Records. After it became a hit, Warner Bros. bought the label in March 1967 for more than $1 million – a ridiculous amount at the time - mostly to acquire the group’s contract. Because of its apparent drug reference, “Along Comes Mary” was so controversial that some radio stations refused to play it, and during an appearance at Disneyland the Orange County sheriff actually ordered the group not to perform the tune.

This was the first time recording with my latest guitar build…a vintage crème partscaster ala Telecaster Deluxe (sort of). I have to say, next to the ’64 Strat this is the best playing, best sounding guitar I have. I’m a fan of Wilkinson guitar parts, and so I used their PAF style zebra pickups, their Kluson style tuners, and compensated bridge. For the neck and body I went with Guitar Fetish’s XGP line…the fit and finish is flawless.