Joey Powers - Midnight Mary

[TheRebeldrum]

except Joey grew up in Washington, Pennsylvania, seven miles south of Canonsburg. He graduated from Washington High School. He used to serenade us in the summers when it was too hot to be inside. We'd sit on our porches and Joey would sing to us.

[oldiesrnow]

@TheRebeldrum Love to hear from people who knew these singers back when. Thanks for sharing.

[karene30]

HE USED TO PLAY AT A CLUB I WENT TO BACK IN THE 70'S.. THE ANVAL INN WAS WHAT IT WAS CALLED.

[glenbo02]

Still a beautiful song after all these years. And I agree that it's not the original, but good enough.

[thenavik8]

Close but no cigar! I know you got this off of a CD. But the song just isn't the same without those harmonies at the end. " Don't let anyone (don't let anyone) Don't let anyone know oh oh." It does bring back some good memories though. But, I really miss those harmonies. When I was about 9 when this song was on the radio, my 2 BFFs and I had those harmonies down pat! I miss those days!

[oldiesrnow]

@thenavik8 You're the second person to inform me that this is NOT the original (see wolfsky9's remarks above). Would you (or someone else) PLEASE post the original so that I (and others) can hear it?

[MrOctober1950]

It's close enough to the original it feels me with exactly the same emotion Thanks!

[oldiesrnow]

@MrOctober1950 You're very welcome! By the way, you wouldn't be Reggie Jackson, would you? Okay, lousy joke. Thanks for commenting, my friend.

[HasBeenHometownDJ]

Met this guy when he appeared in my hometown. Very nice guy. Told me he was going to college and that show biz was a sideline.

[Wolfsky9]

Only Problem : HTIS IS NOT--NOT, THE ORIGINAL RECORDING! This is a Re-Record, which was all too common back in those days! The original is 10 times better!! I know--I was there, & I remember! Wolfsky9

[oldiesrnow]

@Wolfsky9 Admittedly, I got this off of a cd, but it sounded like the original to me (yes, I was there, too). If this is indeed a re-recording, I would appreciate it if you could post the original, or let me know where I could listen to it.

[leehen400]

Love this song, anything 50s 60s etc. I consider myself lucky to have grown up and been around during the evolution of rock music, from Doo Wop, soul, rock n roll, Beatles, hard rock (as we called it back in the late 60s), etc. I love it all. What a great time it was for music. The singers and bands had heart, were so talented and loved what they were doing.

[takemeback2]

Yeah, thanks for puttin' this huge oldie out there. Fantastic-seldom heard.

[oldiesrnow]

@takemeback2 You're very welcome.

[ArtieWayne]

Thanks for featuring a song I produced, and co-wrote with Ben Raleigh. If you click on my name to get to my You Tube channel, there is a link to my blog where I discuss the making of this record in great detail ("The True Story Behind Midnight Mary"). 

[nojokingbob]

I have always loved this song, thanks so much for posting it!

[thumbs2toes1]

I remember Joey from the Anvil Inn. His group performed Jesus Christ Superstar and what a great job they did. They were the craziest and most fun times of my life! Hope you are doing well Joey!

[horarwgt]

Joey Powers was born in Canonsburg, PA in 1939. Songwriter-producer Artie Wayne had a tough time selling this track, which he'd recorded with Joey for about $400, to any label. Finally, after many months, Larry Utal, the owner of Amy Records agreed to give it a chance. The result: a #10 hit over a 13 week run starting November 9, 1963. Joey's accompanying album was recorded on the day of and following the death of JFK. Joey never scored again but Artie went on to write many other hits.

[LeeLeeDe1]

Ahhhhh Meet me at midnight and don't let anyone know~~ Great lyrics ~~~

[zfleming44]

A reversal of my true love. My folks didn't approve of my Donna, but we made it! She was only 17 and I was 21, but we have now been together 45 years. Thanks for posting.

[wally1435]

The song was written and produced by Artie Wayne. His You Tube i.d. here is "rtwayne" and he has his own channel/site.

[RobSPittsburgh]

Great song from the Pittsburgh area. I was born a few years after this came out but I have been playing it on 45 for about the last 30 years. I was hooked the first time that I heard this song, and glad that it has a Pittsburgh connection. The guitars and Jeannie Thomas' backup vocals are KILLER in this song.

[johnhharley48]

Cool song , always liked it . 

[abkopperman]

Joey, how many times did I hear you sing this song? How many shows did I see with you, Paul, Sab and the gang. Just wondering if you are still around? My name is Alexis-a friend from the past.  Hope you are well.

[abkopperman]

Joey, how many times did I hear you sing this song? How many shows did I see with you, Paul, Sab and the gang. Just wondering if you are still around? My name is Alexis-a friend from the past. Hope you are well.

[Mr68Baron]

Loved this song as a teen...tried to get it on iTunes with no result! Why does iTunes put in its own garbage and omit songs like this that so many Boomers loved!

[dykeritz9]

One of the greatest songs ever written!

[seratt007]

i love you rosa-seratt007

[jhi1947]

KEWL.

[dennis9962]

thanks

been searching 4 this song

[flbadcatowner]

This is not the original hit recording of the song. The ending is different and the choruses after the second and third verse are reversed. I remember this song coming out not very long before the Beatles first hit the charts in the U.S.

[denmanfit]

peaked at #2 for two weeks and spent seven weeks in the top ten on CFUN 1410 AM in Vancouver, Canada, charting between November 1963 and January 1964

[ctdsnark]

The Rockin' Berries version can't even compare to this.

[bearjr]

This is not the version I have, and I don`t like it as much as the one on a 45rpm from AMY records with this song and "Where do you want the world delivered" on side B. I bought it in Washington DC, in 1963 or 1964. I think it`s much prettier. Joey does not sing the ending alone, for starters. And the whole song has more taste. Running time: 2:18. Soon I`ll see how to post it here, as a very needed replay, if anyone else doesn`t do it before me.

[msstevie1951]

I loved this at 12 years old it is such a romantic song.I secretly had a boyfriend who my dad did not like even at that age and would sneak off to see him,just to talk and plan our future togehter ♥

[oldiesrnow]

Hey, Foxy Lady, thanks for the anecdote and for visiting my channel!

[lordjrah]

this song sucks

[reasdad]

I was a follower of Joeys band "Powers Flower" in the tri-state area for several years. Joey was a great showman on stage and an all around nice guy and good friend off stage. He now runs a recording studio in St. Petersburg Russia.

[smd719]

I remember hearing this song when I was 9 or 10 yrs old...1964-1965. It has stuck with me all these years. I'm so glad I found it again~~you hardly ever hear it. Thanks so much!

[oldiesrnow]

You are very welcome!

[000amp]

smd719, I too was the same age when this song came out. I could not appreciate it until about 1970. I've not heard the song since about 1977. It was so good to hear it once again!

[elbowout]

I worked with joey for years. He was slated to follow this song with What will my mary say ....Instead it was given to Johnny mathis who in turn had a hit with it.

[oldiesrnow]

Didn't know that. "What Will Mary Say" is my favorite Johnny Mathis song, didn't know that Joey was going to sing it first.

[bws468]

Bit of trivia about this song- it was recorded on Nov. 22, 1963, which of course was the day JFK was assassinated. Paul Simon and Roger McGuinn participated in the session; McGuinn played a 12-string guitar.

[AnthonysDen]

Even if it is a one-hit wonder for Joey Powers,he made it count to the fullest,as it is still a memorable tune even now.Thanks for having this one partner!

[oldiesrnow]

A memorable tune it is; thanks for the comment!

[horarwgt]

This song was inspired by the real life experience of co-writer (with Ben Raleigh) Artie Wayne, who had dated an overprotected Iraniah girl named Jamela. Al Gorgoni and Charlie Macey played guitars, Buddy Saltzman drums and Jeannie Thomas sang the background parts. Joey Powers, a songwriting friend of Artie's, recorded this version as a demo after many other artists turned the song down. It reached #10 early in 1964 as Amy 892 -- Joey's only hit, All of us who had to date secretly can relate!

[bunsterx1]

A sweet, melodic, tune sung tenderly by Powers and his lady backup with expert guitar accompaniment telling a familiar story about about a young guy wanting to rendevous with his love after dark. Guess "Daddy" would have whipped his tail had he shown up in broad daylight. This cat could sing; I'm amazed he had no other hits than "Midnight Mary," the kind of hummable tune that has disappeared from the radio.

[animal90sFreak5]

I just google my name to see if I was on there, wow this is such a strange concidence.

[animal90sFreak5]

I never knew this singer existed,LOL that's my real name too.

[rockdoowop5060]

This song is available on "teenage crush vol 3 " cd.thanks for posting it.

[elbowout]

i worked with joey on the road and jersey shore in the late 60"s.couldnt have had more fun or eye opening experience!!

[nancyjoe5158]

I remembered this song and sent my favorite radio station an email ( THE TRUEOLDIES CHANNEL) and the DJ played it.......cool song!

[larrydh2]

This was just a great, great song. Thanks for the post. I love it. Great harmony and the girl backing sounds so good.

[oldiesrnow]

You're very welcome. And yes, it is a great song!

[cawo77]

I'm unable to find this on Itunes so I come here to youtube to listen. Thanks for posting! Nothing like these old songs - well - I remember when it came out so I guess it's not that old. :)

[jsbach15]

Itunes doesn't cater to the "Boomer" generation.

[OldiesHeaven]

Great post!

[oldiesrnow]

Thanks for the nice comment. I appreciate it, especially coming from someone who has a ton of great posts himself!

[angelofbebop]

One of my favs! Great guitar too! Thanks for the stroll down Memory Lane! 5 stars!

[ricknelson69]

Wow!! Very nice!!

[oldiesrnow]

Danke!

[liloldnightingale]

Good one. Love that guitar. Thanks.

[oldiesrnow]

Thanks, Pat. This is another song that was previously on YouTube but was yanked, probably when someone's whole channel was eliminated. Glad that you liked it.