Mary Wells, My Guy | Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶

In the 11^th edition of Throwback Vibez (2024), we recollect and reflect on “My Guy” by Motown star, Mary Wells. 

The vibes, the vibes, those Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶! Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 is a column that celebrates awesome songs from the past.  The records that grace this column are older, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that they’re ancient – no fossils 🦴! All genres of music are welcome. In the 11^th edition of Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 (2024), we recollect and reflect on “My Guy” performed by Mary Wells.

“Nothing you could say could tear me away from my guy / Nothing you could do, ‘cause I’m stuck like glue to my guy.” Clearly, this woman is in love with her boo something fierce! “My Guy” marks one of four top-10 hits by the late, great Mary Wells (1943 – 1992). Specifically, “My Guy” is the biggest song of the Motown singer’s career, spending two weeks at no. 1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100.  Furthermore, the highlight from her 1964 LP, Mary Wells Sings My Guy, is one of the most renowned songs of the 1960s. It should come as no surprise that it was written by a legend: Smokey Robinson, baby!

“My Guy” is groovy from the onset.  The Motown vibes are loud and clear – the tight backing band and fabulous backing vocals.  Of course, Wells is in full-on, tongue-in-cheek mode.  Generally, “My Guy” is cutesy and playful. “No muscle-bound man could take my hand from my guy,” she asserts, adding, “No handsome face could ever take the place of my guy.” Robinson’s songwriting is self-explanatory, with Mary bringing the dedicated lyrics to life sensationally.  One more note. What about those jazz touches that appear at the end? Both string bass and Well’s playful vocals fuel the fire.  “There’s not a man today who take me away from my guy.” Word, Mary Wells, word.  “My Guy” = unforgettable, timeless classic.

🎙 Mary Wells • 💿 Mary Wells Sings My Guy • 🏷 Motown • 🗓 1964

Mary Wells, My Guy: Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 No. 11 (2024) [📷: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; Motown; OpenClipart-Vectors, Speedy McVroom via  Pixabay]