"Mame" is a song written and composed by Jerry Herman, it premiered 1966 in the Broadway musical Mame. In the musical, the song was sung by Beauregard and Company. The song has had many cover versions and was a hit for multiple artists, the biggest version of which was released by Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass.
Bobby Darin version
Release and reception Bobby Darin released "Mame" as a seven-inch single in April 1966 by Atlantic Records. It was backed by slow-weeper song, "Walking In The Shadow Of Love" on the B-side, which didn't see an album inclusion. The advertisements for "Mame" noted that "Mame is the name, and Darin's got her".Atlantic Records advertisements
The single got a positive reception upon its release. Cashbox reviewed the single in early April and stated "Money making Bobby Darin has come up with a delightful vocal cover of the Al Hirt instrumental, Mame The title tune from the forthcoming Broadway musical, this one is a happy." Noting, "Dixieland side with a wide ranged appeal."Cashbox magazine, April 9, 1966. Record Reviews, Best Bets, page 18. Record World said that "The Bobby Darin version of the title tune from "Mame" is a lively session and a hit it will turn out to be." Noting, "Charms the husk right off the corn". Chart performance The single debuted on Billboard magazine's Hot 100 chart in the issue dated April 30, 1966. It reached No. 53 on the Hot 100 during a seven-week run on the chart. It debuted on the Cashbox Top 100 Singles chart on the same date as it did on Billboard, but the single stalled at No. 63 during a shorter six-week run on it. "Mame" also peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard Easy Listening chart. The single also had success in Canada, quickly reaching No. 18 on the CHUM charts,Hall, Ron (2007). The CHUM Chart Book 1957–1986. although it was only ranked at No. 50 on the RPM Top Singles chart.
Aftermath With this new success, in the same year he recorded an album with musical, Broadway and film songs songs, and it included the song "Mame", as it's seen in the title and cover of the album, "In a Broadway Bag (Mame)". It was his best charting song in almost 2 years, the last one being "Millord". Soon after he had an even bigger hit that year, via "If I Were a Carpenter", which reached the top 10.
Notable cover versions
Louis Armstrong version Another successful cover version of the song Mame is Louis Armstrong's cover from May 1966. It reached No. 81 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 7 on the Easy Listening chart. On Cashbox it peaked at No. 60 and stayed on the chart for 5 weeks. Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass' version The most successful cover version is a version by Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass. Released as a single it reached No. 19 on the Hot 100 in November 1966 and No. 2 on the Easy Listening chart, In Cashbox it reached a peak position of No. 17, staying on the chart for 10 weeks, with it also debuting at No. 27 on Record World'''s newly created Top Non-Rock chart, staying there for a week before dropping out by February 18th of 1967.Record World Top Non-Rock. February 4, 1967 page 22, retrieved September 24, 2025, via worldradiohistory.com It also peaked at No. 51 in Australia. it was included in their 1966 hit album, S.R.O along with the single's B-side, "Our Day Will Come". Frankie Vaughan version Frankie Vaughan had a minor comeback with the song "There Must Be a Way" in 1967, with that he recorded more charting UK singles. In 1968 he recorded "Mame" (a longer version), paired with "If I Had My Way", but the single didn't chart.Frankie Vaughan, "Mame" Single Release Retrieved December 31, 2025 Other versions The first live performance was on March 27, 1966, by Charles Braswell and All. Jimmy Durante's version appears on his 1966 album One of Those Songs, arranged and conducted by Ernie Freeman. Eddie Fisher's cover arranged by Richard Wess appears on his album People Like You'' and was included as the B-side of his hit song "Games That Lovers Play". Cashbox magazine called the song "Another swingin’ date".Cashbox magazine, September 24, 1966. Record Reviews, page 12.
Charts
Bobby Darin's version Chart (1966) Peakposition US Billboard Hot 10053 US Billboard Easy Listening3 US Cashbox Top 100 Singles63 CAN CHUM Top Singles18 CAN RPM Singles Survey 50 Louis Armstrong's version Chart (1966) Peakposition US Billboard Hot 10081 US Billboard Easy Listening7 US Cashbox Top 100 Singles60
Herb Alpert's version Chart (1966-1967) Peakposition US Billboard Hot 10019 US Billboard Easy Listening2 US Cashbox Top 100 Singles17 US Record World Top Non-Rock27 AUS Top Singles51
References