Mary (Supergrass song)

"Mary"
Single by Supergrass
from the album Supergrass
B-side	"Mary (Live at Lamacq)"
Released	22 November 1999 (UK)
Format	CD, 7"
Recorded	Sawmills Studio Ridge Farm Studios 1998
Genre	Britpop, rock, pop
Length	04:02
Label	Parlophone
Writer(s)	Supergrass & Rob Coombes.
Producer	Supergrass John Cornfield
Supergrass singles chronology
"Moving" (1999) "Mary" (1999) "Never Done Nothing Like That Before" (2002)
Alternative Cover CD 2 single cover

"Mary" was the third and final single from the Britpop band Supergrass' eponymous third album. Released in November 1999, it reached a disappointing #36 on the UK Charts,^[1][2] their lowest charting single for 5 years. This was also the last Supergrass single to be released on cassette.

Chord progression and lead guitar breaks

Mary is written in the key of Cm. The verses and chorus both employ the same chord progression of G♯-F-Cm, with guitarist Gaz Coombes utilising single string lead breaks on the 5th (A) string with an E-bow. It is worth noting that the opening chord progression of the song bears some similarities to The Police's Invisible Sun.

Track listing

CD1 CDRS6531 / TC TCR6531

1. "Mary" (4:02)
2. "Pumping on Your Stereo (Live at Peel Acres)" (3:12)
3. "Strange Ones (Live at Peel Acres)" (3:57)

CD2 CDR6531

1. "Mary (Live at Lamacq)" (4:12)
2. "Richard III (Live at Peel Acres)" (3:29)
3. "Sun Hits the Sky (Live at Peel Acres)" (4:44)

LTD. ED. Silver 7" R6531

1. "Mary" (4:02)
2. "Mary (Live at Lamacq)" (4:12)

Album Artwork

• Photography: Nick Veasey

The single features a photo of a stone angel statue at night, whilst the 2nd CD of the CD release shows a similarly crafted stone statue of a man in daylight.

Music video

The accompanying music video was banned from television due to being "too frightening".^[3][4] An edited version was released, replacing the aforementioned scary scenes with pictures of onions.

References

1. ^ The Strange Ones Supergrass Site
2. ^ Supergrass biography : beginnings, career, success
3. ^ "Supergrass' Video Nasty". Melody Maker November 9, 1999. http://www.strangeones.co.uk/press/articles/mm991109.htm. Retrieved 2008-05-31. 
4. ^ "The Gaz Coombes Project". NME November 6, 1999. http://www.strangeones.co.uk/press/articles/mn991106.htm. Retrieved 2008-05-31.