In April 1966 James went by himself to make promotional appearances in Pittsburgh in nightclubs and on local television. They also produced "Sugar on Sunday", later covered by the Clique. In our book it scores 10s on every level from lyrics to melody to musicianship to production. And were thinking What are we getting into? What James had going on was an infectious song called Hanky Panky that he had recorded with his group the Shondells some two years earlier. The Shondells then issued their first LP, named after their hit single, and had two more top-40 hits with "What I Am" and "It's Only Love. Who makes the plaid blue coat Jesse stone wears in Sea Change? 6, I Said, She Said, Ah Cid: The Exploito Psych World of Alshire Records 1967-1971, Billboard Karaoke: Top 10 Box Set, Vol. Collections; Project #ShowUs; . Tommy James & the Shondells Follow Artist + 1960s hitmakers who infused bubblegum-style AM pop with rock & roll energy and clever songwriting. Gettin Together was the only single released from the album. Mike Vale and I wrote the lyrics and it just came together, just kind of fell out of our face right there in the hotel . Devo founders Mark Mothersbaugh and Jerry Casale take us into their world of subversive performance art. Guitar - Eddie Gray; Keyboards - Ronnie Rosman; Vocals, Guitar - Tommy James; Barcode and Other Identifiers. Tommy James & The Shondells - The Best Of Tommy James & The Shondells. At The Bitter End. [4] In Canada, the song spent one week at number one. (Crystal blue persuasion, aah-aah) Writer/s: Eddie Morley Gray, Mike Vale, Tommy James Publisher: Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind More songs from Tommy James & the Shondells More songs inspired by the Bible More songs with colors in the title More songs with biblical references They had two number one singles in the U.S. "Hanky Panky" (1966) and "Crimson and Clover" (1968) but also released five other top ten hits, including "I Think We're Alone Now", " Mony Mony ," and "Crystal Blue Persuasion". When released as a single in June 1969, "Crystal Blue Persuasion" became one of the biggest hits for the group, peaking at number two on the Billboard pop singles chart for three weeks behind Zager and Evans's single "In the Year 2525". Born Feb. 27, 1948, in Scottdale, Pa., Gray joined the Shondells in 1965, in. In 2015, he and former Shondells members Ron Rosman and Eddie Gray, along with Mike Wilps, formed the Crystal Blue Band and released an album called Legacy. [3] They had two No. Yngwie Malmsteen and Steve Vai were two of Graham's co-writers for some '80s rock classics. The new group, Hog Heaven, recorded an album but wasnt nearly as successful as the Shondells had been. So, on occasion, we spent some time out of town. At the Bitter End (2000)", "Michigan Rock and Roll Legends - TOMMY JAMES AND THE SHONDELLS", "TOMMY JAMES & THE SHONDELLS - full Official Chart History", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Tommy_James_and_the_Shondells&oldid=1152332494. ", The band Simple Minds took their name from the line "He's so simple minded he can't drive his module" in David Bowie's "The Jean Genie.". (Photo by Don Paulsen/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images) Embed PURCHASE A LICENSE Standard editorial rights Custom rights How can I use this image? What Mack didn't know is that the song, recorded by Tommy James and The Shondells in 1964, had languished for two years prompting the band members to go their separate ways and get day jobs. 1 singles in the U.S., "Hanky Panky" (July 1966) and "Crimson and Clover" (February 1969), and also charted twelve other top 40 hits, including five in the hot 100's top ten: "I Think We're Alone Now", "Mirage", "Mony Mony", "Sweet Cherry Wine", and "Crystal Blue Persuasion". The bands Crimson and Clover album spawned five singles including the number one title track Crimson and Clover.. Its as classic as Shout, or Louie Louie. It may not have been Tommy James And The Shondells biggest hit, but it easily has become the most popular song they ever released. You know the scenes - Tom Cruise in his own pants-off dance off, Molly Ringwald celebrating her birthday - but do you remember what song is playing? Mike Vale, Ron Rosman, Eddie Gray -- Former original members of Tommy James and The Shondells November 11, 2014 at 4:53 pm EST Mike Vale, Ron Rosman and Eddie Gray, former original members. Brian Kachejian also holds B.A. By 1966, however, when they began their chart career, high-energy pop was for kids (the Monkees, Paul Revere & the Raiders) and two paths -- heavy studio experimentation or a soft pop sound -- were the ways to get heard by the young music-listening public. Gray on label B1 credits add Bob King on label, who does not appear on cover credit [5] It was so much fun and was received so well that we kept on going until now.. Guitarist Eddie Gray and drummer Peter Lucia of American band Tommy James and the Shondells in a recording studio, circa 1968. My mom was with him. In 1968, James had a No. Tommy James And The Shondells would never have the success again that they did with the Crimson and Clover album. The upcoming shows aim to remind audiences of the unrecognized contributions of the less famous Shondells. Tommy James, Ed Gray, Mike Vale: Tommy James and The Shondells: May 1969: Covered by : Draggin' the Line: Tommy James, Bob King [CA1] Tommy James: December 1970: [13] His four bandmates carried on for a short while under the name Hog Heaven, recording two albums (one "self-titled" on Roulette Records in March 1971 and the second recorded in 1971, but unreleased until 2008), and landing one Hot 100 hit, "Happy," at number 98, but disbanded soon afterwards. Seiten: When I first explained to my parents that I was going to quit school and quit working my job and go on the road with a rock n roll band, the look on my dads face he was really upset.. They had a #3 smash with the rocking "Mony Mony," which James named after a sign bearing the financial institution Mutual of New York's initials. "Crystal Blue Persuasion" is a 1969 song originally recorded by Tommy James and the Shondells and composed by Eddie Gray, Tommy James and Mike Vale.A gentle-. The album was a blazing success. 6, Party Tyme Karaoke: Billboard Top 40 Karaoke, Vol. The Crystal Blue Band draws its name from the 1968 hit Crystal Blue Persuasion, a song that Vale co-wrote. A4 credits Tommy James, Mike Vale & Bob King on cover vs. Tommy James-Mike Vale-Jeff Katz-Jerry Kasenetz-Ritchie Cordell on label A5 is titled Talkin' & Signifyin' on cover vs. Talkin' And Signifyin' on label B1 credits Eddie Grey on cover vs. Ed J. A gentle-tempoed groove, "Crystal Blue Persuasion" was built around a prominent organ part with an understated arrangement, more akin to The Rascals' sound at the time than to James's contemporary efforts with psychedelic rock. More images. The Pittsburgh Steelers provided quarterback Kenny Pickett with some needed protection, trading up to acquire offensive tackle Broderick Jones of Georgia with the 14th pick in the NFL draft. The solo career of Tommy James post-Shondells is well worth investigating for those who focus only on the early material, but spending one-third of the set's running time on the mid-'80s and beyond smacks of hubris. In 1969, the band released the album Cellophane Symphony. When Mack finally tracked down Tommy James in Niles, Michigan where the song was recorded, James told him The Shondells were no more. A big list of musical marriages and family relations ranging from the simple to the truly dysfunctional. Get premium, high resolution news photos at Getty Images. It would be tough to argue against Crystal Blue Persuasion, standing as one of the most wonderful 1960s songs ever released. James needed to find a band quickly to be the new Shondells. Tommy James & The Shondells - The Best Of Tommy James & The Shondells. Is Brooke shields related to willow shields? and the Mysterians), 50; Neal Schon (Journey, Santana, Bad English), 46; Adrian Smith (Iron Maiden), 43; Johnny Van Zant (Lynyrd Skynyrd), 41; Paul Humphreys (OMD), 40; Mike Cross (Sponge), 35; Ewen Vernal (Deacon Blue), 35; Rozonda "Chilli" Thomas (TLC), 29; Roderick Demon "Pooh" Clark (Hi-Five), 27; and Bobby Wilson (Mista), 20. If one looks at the albums, the photos and videos and TV shows, the faces you will see are those of the original guys. More images. What happened to Eddie Grey of Tommy James and the shondells? The latest is his "In My Dreams" album on Slamtrack Records. (So, for instance, this set is lacking a trio of well-known songs: "Love's Closin' in on Me," "One Two Three and I Fell," and "Sugar on Sunday.") I Think Were Alone Now, was released on the album entitled I Think Were Alone Now. Bubblegum is generally traced to the success of the 1968 Fruitgum Company hit "Simon Says". 1 singles in November 1987). Their songs have been featured in numerous motion pictures such as "Forest Gump", "Zodiac", "The Nanny Diaries", "Monster", "Walk On The Moon", "Expendables ll and others. Otis Day And The Knights, the fictional band created to perform "Shout" in the movie Animal House, became a real band, performing the song at colleges and other venues. The title of the song is referenced in the song "He Do the Police in Different Voices", the opening track from the 1993 album Plants and Birds and Rocks and Things by The Loud Family. The song "Sweet Cherry Wine," was a top 10 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 peaking at number seven. 4:01: A3: Mony, Mony. Mike Vale can vividly recall the details of the night his life changed dramatically in January 1966. And now, 56 years and a few incarnations later, the 82-year-old Vales Crystal Blue Band is bowing out with one final concert at Saturdays Banana Split Celebration on the Robindale Main Stage (320 Main Street) in Latrobe. Label: Roulette - SR 42040, Roulette - RSD-554: Format: Vinyl, LP, Compilation, Stereo, UNIPAK. In 1979, music writer Dave Marsh described it as "a transparent allegory about James' involvement with amphetamines."[3]. In the mid-1980s, Tommy James began touring in oldies packages with other acts from the 1960s sometimes billed as Tommy James & the Shondells, although he is the group's only original member. He had a problem: It had taken Hanky Panky so long to finally break that the original Shondells had broken up and gone their separate ways. Label: Roulette - SR42040, Roulette - SR 42040: . 40 Years: The Complete Singles Collection (1966-2006) surveys that great career, hitting every major peak -- from "Hanky Panky" to "Mony Mony" to "I Think We're Alone Now," "Crystal Blue Persuasion" to "Ball and Chain" to "Draggin' the Line" -- with a two-disc set that may end up being close to the most Tommy James & the Shondells ever offered in one package (not that they don't deserve the full box treatment). [10] From late 1968, the group began writing their own songs, with James and Lucia penning the psychedelic-tinged classic "Crimson and Clover", which was recorded and mixed by Bruce Staple, with James tackling vocal duties and playing many of the instruments himself, and featured the creative use of studio effects such as delay and tremolo.[11]. The other part of that story is that a year before our first appearance (on the Sullivan Show) I was sitting at home watching the Rolling Stones on The Ed Sullivan Show and thinking to myself My God, I cant imagine what that feeling would be like. . The record was released in January of 1969. A year went by and James wasnt ready to start working again. Deep in the Roots. Vale, who grew up in the coal mining town of Salemville, was studying to be a mechanical engineer. In 1967 Kessler and Pietropaoli were forced to leave after a dispute when planned monies were not remitted to them by Roulette, a label closely associated with organized crime, and whose head, Morris Levy, was the inspiration for the Herman "Hesh" Rabkin character on The Sopranos. NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 18: Eddie Gray of the original Shondells attends the "Me, The Mob & The Music: One Helluva Ride with Tommy James & The Shondells" book release party at Gibson Guitar Studios on November 18, 2009 in New York City. [3] The album "Crimson & Clover", was released in December 1968 [4] and reached a peak of #8 on the Billboard 200 . By using this website, you accept the terms of our Visitor Agreement and Privacy Policy, and understand your options regarding Ad Choices. Get Out Now,only reached the forty eighth position on the Billboard Hot 100. Crimson and Clover, was Tommy James And The Shondells second number one single. [Chorus] I think we're alone now There doesn't seem to be anyone around I think we're alone now The beating of our hearts is the only sound [Outro] I think we're alone now There doesn't seem to be . We would hear guys say to Morris Hey, I took care of that guy, I broke his legs and stuff like that. He and his band, The Raconteurs (not to be confused with the modern Jack White-affiliated band), were playing at the Thunderbird Lounge in Greensburg. The impact of the late 1960s psychedelic and progressive rock movements seemed to inspire the modest . As they would discover later in their time with James, touring was their only income, as their label Roulette was owned by the mob and kept nearly all the money for itself. Master gardeners will be at the South Parks Home Economics Building to offer visitors annuals, perennials and expert advice on local growing conditions. They had two no. We did a lot of the writing.. Tommy James listens to us, and he called me aside later on and said Ive got something going on, and I wonder if youd be interested? . When he told his parents he was moving to New York to work with a rock n roll band, they were not pleased. 4:01: A3: Mony, Mony. The band toured the eastern Midwest, but no other market took to the song. J. The Latrobe-natives soon found themselves on a busy tour schedule with the band. Do you have pictures of Gracie Thompson from the movie Gracie's choice. "I was in a Greensburg, PA club one night, and I walked up to a group that was playing that I thought was pretty good and asked them if they wanted to be the Shondells. A music video was made which showed various scenes of late 1960s political and cultural unrest and imagery of "love and peace".[6]. Email news@wesa.fm. He soon disbanded the group, though Gray and the others kept touring and recorded one LP under the name Hog Heaven. From the spring of 1966 through 1970, while signed to New York based Roulette Records, Tommy James And The Shondells released 20 Singles, all of which charted nationally and 10 of which were certified gold. Meanwhile, in 1965, Pittsburgh dance promoter Bob Mack had unearthed the forgotten single "Hanky Panky", playing it at various dance parties, and radio stations there touted it as an "exclusive". Gray, Gray Artist [a614489] Edit Artist 1,439 For Sale Vinyl and CD Discography 73 Credits Written-By - Ed Gray*, Mike Vale, Tommy James. Lead Guitar - Eddie Gray; Organ - Ronnie Rosman; Photography - Ron Meyers; Vocals - Tommy James; Tracklist is printed incorrectly on back cover. The Koachmen played a circuit of clubs in the Midwest through the summer and fall of 1965, but returned to Niles in February 1966, after the gigs dried up, to plot their next move. Its gotten to the point now where its not as easy to just, on the spur of the moment, say lets take this job, lets take that job because you never know where youre going to be in a month or six months relative to your ability to do it, he said. The song is also referenced in the title of the season 30 finale Crystal Blue-Haired Persuasion, in which a segment of the song is played. They disbanded in 1970. The next group of songs on this Top 10 Tommy James And The Shondells Songs list feature five of the bands biggest hits. Label: Roulette - SRLP 4: . Who sang the song 'I Think We're. The principal riff of the song is sampled in the song "Sabbatical" by German nu jazz group De-Phazz, from their 2001 album Death by Chocolate. The Breaking Bad montage was again parodied in Bordertown season 1, episode 2, "Borderwall" during a montage featuring Bud Buckwald and Steve Hernandez (Bud's boss at the Border Patrol station) running an illegal smuggling tunnel. [Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 19552002], Tommy James & the Shondells - Crystal Blue Persuasion, "Tommy James and the Shondells/Hitch (Article)", "Crystal Blue Persuasion by Tommy James & the Shondells - Songfacts", Tommy James and the Shondells, "Crystal Blue Persuasion" Chart Position, "Tommy James & The Shondells - Crystal Blue Persuasion - 1969", "Cash Box Top 100 Singles, August 2, 1969", "Top 100 Hits of 1969/Top 100 Songs of 1969", "Cash Box Top 100 Singles of 1969, December 27, 1969", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Crystal_Blue_Persuasion&oldid=1137506814, This page was last edited on 5 February 2023, at 00:25.
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