I met Tommy James at an outdoor show in Hamden Ct. he was the most down to earth pleasant and humble guy you can imagine. He is very much a Christian and he told me, hey, my voice was just very compatible with a radio sound and I am just really fortunate. A guy in front of me couldn't wait to get assurance that one of Tommy's songs was about outrageous drug use. Tommy said, well it's about the blood of Christ. The guys face just changed and he looked all shocked and crazy. Tommy was so considerate of him and said" hey, this song can be whatever you want it to be, it's ok, it's music and it's good. The guy seemed to stumble away confused. I was so glad I met this warm and humble regular guy, who just happened to have a buzillian hits...
Yes Jesus's is Lord master teacher redemer and saviour, doesn't matter about the acid days and don't forget what Jesus said all that the father giveth me shall come to me ', and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out, what ever your problems
such a very nice comment about tommy- thanks for sharing. i’m so pleased to hear, he believes in the Lord. that’s very hard to do, when you’re in entertainment.
Laid out of work (2nd shift) one night in '77 just so I could go see Tommy James. Great showman, singer, and entertainer. His was background music for a lot of my teen years, and for so many, many others, as well. A good man and a great interview. Thanks.
I think Tommy James is a VERY smart...laid-back kind of guy. He's ALWAYS has LOTS of good...interesting facts to mention about when he's talking about music history. I've ALWAYS liked songs by "Tommy James and the Shondells"!! Especially like "Crimson and Clover" and "Crystal Blue Persuasion"!! It's hard to believe is been 50 YEARS since those songs came out!! Every time I hear their music...it brings back GREAT memories when I was growing up. Tommy James is a VERY talented and gifted man. His music has touched the lives of so many people!!
About around 1984 I was lucky enough to work at Tommy James's home in Montclair NJ where he lived with his wife. I was doing electrical work back then on his new heating system for a few days. His wife is absolutely beautiful and nice , Tommy is pretty much the same as you see him here very cool and laid back... All his gold and platinum records on the wall going down stairs to his finished lower level with a Black piano and all his sheets of music very very cool !! What a historical few days !!
I wasn't really a fan, I was more into The Rolling Stones. Appreciated the vocals of the Shondells, though, but "Crimson and Clover," over and over and over... I feel connected to this story in several ways - I live in Niles, Mi., know several people who claim to know Tommy James personally. My mother's family was from Montclair, N.J. - I attended k- 2nd grade in Montclair. (Nishuane school) I once e-mailed the Shondells, asked why they didn't play at Woodstock, as they were invited, and they ANSWERED me!, said they had a cushy gig in Hawaii at the time, and didn't want to leave.
TJ is a great guy. After a stellar performance in a hot Ft. Myers baseball stadium, he did a meet and greet until everyone in line got a chance to talk to him. I told him, where I grew up in New Jersey, we thought he was up there with the Beatles. He asked where, and I told him the Somerville/Hillsborough/Manville area. I later saw where he was voted into the New Jersey Hall of Fame, which is pretty cool since I think he is from Michigan. Tommy is a total gentleman, too.
Tommy James is amazingly under-appreciated. One of the true greats of American pop music and psychedelics and rock. Extraordinarily versatile and creative. Very, very creative.
Wow! After all these years I'm just getting to see these rock and roll stars. I wasn't a big TV kid and thank goodness for the internet. LOL Awesome story. Tommy is a sweetheart! Thanks for posting.
!Tommy James, cuantos recuerdos¡ Excelente. Me alegra que siga activo después de todos estos años. "CRIMSON & CLOVERS, esa si es una hermosa cancion". Gracias por compartir. Saludos desde la preciosisima bahía de Tampa, Florida. 🎸🎶🏆👍
Well I sure do recall all you alls music it was the head turner back then, I liked it so well I've introduced my granddaughter to your music. But glad you and the group made it the way y'all did.... thanks for those days , I do recall all the old song but the one that I love the most is my baby does the hanky panky....
wer diese Musik-Decade miterlebt hat, wird immer, immer an Tommy James denken...das war eine musikalisch großartige Zeit.Danke für das schöne Interview. super symphatisch :-)
Arguably my alltime favorite artist, this guy, was and is still is a badass. THANK YOU Tommy for such wonderful music and inspiration. Chrystal Blue Inspiration.
In the South, there is a wild plant that grows in spring along country roads (and Interstate) which is called crimson clover. Its blooms look like little raspberries and the wind ripples them like a magic carpet. I always figured Tommy was referring to this clover but I was wrong.
5 років тому+19
Saw them open for the Rolling Stones , Ike & Tina Turner , BB King. Oakland , 1969.
I went to school with Tom Jackson. That was his name at the time. He sat in front of me in history class. Every day, just before the bell rang to start class the seat in front of me would be empty. Finally the bell would start to ring and Tom Jackson would walk in while the bell was ringing. And he'd be seated by the time the bell stopped. I always wondered why he did that. It wasn't until years later that I realized that he was practicing his 'entrance'. HA!! Love ya Tom!!!
🥀Amazing vlog! Thanks for posting this video it's Amazing to learn more about Tommy James & The Shondells because I've got alot of their song's on albums. My parents & sister's played these songs all the time🥀✌🥀
My grandma always told me about how she watched someone from the band play in a garage in our Little hometown before they got big. Wish she was here to ask her more about it. One of my favorite songs now because of her ❤️
Tommy James is from a little town in Michigan, but I'm curious of the Westmoreland County connection. He usually plays at the Palace Theater in Greensburg every year and Hanky Panky wasn't a hit until WDVE played it 5 years after he recorded it.
I never knew any of this! Crimson and Clover was my first “favorite song” - I was about 5 when it came out. Tommy and the Shondelles did a show in North Dakota where we lived at the time and I wanted to go to it so bad, but my mom said no.
That question, “What is your all-time favorite song?” My answer (for 50 years now) is always the same: “Crimson and Clover”, by Tommy James and the Shondells. And something I didn’t know, is that Tommy James and I both hail from Michigan. I’m from da U.P. (Upper Peninsula) though. Cool. 👍🏼😎
Our band when I was 16, we started in the garage and worked up to a bar! All we could play were three tunes. We sounded like hell!! Got 4 bucks a piece and no beer!
Wow. Tommy you are a humble man. I love and appreciate you even more now after hearing this piece. The good spirits are on your side, his Karma got his ass and cut him off from being able to make it right. What a valuable lesson you've pointed out to me.
Two points........ how is this band not in the HoF? As a foundational group if nothing else.......... Secondly, he didn't mention it, but the song "Cellophane Symphony" is unbelievable.......... synthesizer driven, hugely acid rock. Could easily have been early Pink Floyd material. The range of Tommy James and the Shondells is incredible, from AM pop to ballads to acid rock.
Tommy James is a great songwriter...I put him right up there with Arthur Lee and Brian Wilson around the time of the Crimson & Clover and Cellophane Symphony albums. Great pop-psych albums.
I am 38 years old and i love oldies music like Crimson and clover is one of the best songs of all time. No joke. It is slow then halfway through it gets a little bit wild.
I was 14 when it first came out....falling in love with every girl on the street (and other streets too). Loved the song. Now I am 67 Still falling in love with every girl on the street and loving the song. PEACE! (P.S. I remember when the longer (FM) version came out with the guitar solo. Did you play that? Thanks Tommy!) agrees with all the other comments here. Wish we had more peace and love in this world...... Going to drink some Sweet Cherry Wine tonight....lol
@@aliceshaw8265 good point...it is very interesting how the mob played both sides, investing in legitimate businesses, as well as ones that were a bit "below deck".
Tommy is a great guy, easy going, and humble...he "stole" a Gideon's Bible from a hotel room and felt so guilty about that as he embraced truth faith in Our Savior, Jesus Christ. What Tommy failed to realize is the folks at Gideon wanted him to "steal" that bible, LOL.
I really like this guy. I was just 9 when Crimson & Clover came out, but over the years, it stood the test of time as a beautiful song. I never knew what it meant, but it was somewhat clear that it was about falling in love with a girl, and/or being on some elevated high. I like Tommy's plain-spoken manner of talking. There's no pretension, or phoniness. He is who he is, and he's really something. I watched another video of him talking to a man who was apart of The 700 Club. I won't go much further in this; however, I will say this man is a good man, talented, and I believe he is a born again Christian. Lastly, I can't think of a song that this band did that was bad. Yes, I even liked "She". I uploaded a video/slideshow of Crimson & Clover on UA-cam - my moniker is "joltinjack". I played football for a Div. 1-AA team from 1977 - 1979 (3 seasons) and an Italian friend from Sarasota, Florida called me "joltinjack" because I'm low built to the ground and when someone tried to tackle me, I'd jar them pretty bad. Later in life, I learned of Joltin Joe DiMaggio. I had no Italian friends growing up in GA, until I went to college. I'm Jack, a semi-retired high school math teacher residing halfway between Macon and Savannah, Georgia. :-)
He’s so under appreciated, he’s not only a great talent but even a greater soul
Crimson and clover is one of my favorite songs of all time
like Beatles and bad finger in 68
I met Tommy James at an outdoor show in Hamden Ct. he was the most down to earth pleasant and humble guy you can imagine. He is very much a Christian and he told me, hey, my voice was just very compatible with a radio sound and I am just really fortunate. A guy in front of me couldn't wait to get assurance that one of Tommy's songs was about outrageous drug use. Tommy said, well it's about the blood of Christ. The guys face just changed and he looked all shocked and crazy. Tommy was so considerate of him and said" hey, this song can be whatever you want it to be, it's ok, it's music and it's good. The guy seemed to stumble away confused. I was so glad I met this warm and humble regular guy, who just happened to have a buzillian hits...
Then why did he just say the name means nothing, just two words he likes? Got it in a dream. Urban myth my friend.
@@tsfurlan Ask him. I did
John Lennon said something of the same. The song means whatever the listener to mean.
Yes Jesus's is Lord master teacher redemer and saviour, doesn't matter about the acid days and don't forget what Jesus said all that the father giveth me shall come to me ', and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out, what ever your problems
@@colonialbuckeye2288 Draggin the line at least is about coke, right?
Thanks for the memories Tommy! We may all be growing old but your music never does.
He is one of the nicest performers in the business and a true talent. God Bless Tommy, Mike Vale and all of the Shondells.
Humble,honest, funny,and very smart.I love seeing people like this in the music biz.And what great songs!!!
What a cool guy. Legendary.
Such a cool, wild story! Tommy James is just such a likeable guy! Seems very straight forward. Just a regular joe who happened to be a rock star!
Tommy's faith has helped keep his feet on the ground. He is super cool about the success he's had and grateful for it. A lovely man...
such a very nice comment about tommy- thanks for sharing. i’m so pleased to hear, he believes in the Lord. that’s very hard to do, when you’re in entertainment.
I could care less about his beliefs. In fact if you tell me he is a Christian i might not like him as much
Laid out of work (2nd shift) one night in '77 just so I could go see Tommy James. Great showman, singer, and entertainer. His was background music for a lot of my teen years, and for so many, many others, as well. A good man and a great interview. Thanks.
Great time to be alive. The music was incredible.
I think Tommy James is a VERY smart...laid-back kind of guy. He's ALWAYS has LOTS of good...interesting facts to mention about when he's talking about music history. I've ALWAYS liked songs by "Tommy James and the Shondells"!! Especially like "Crimson and Clover" and "Crystal Blue Persuasion"!! It's hard to believe is been 50 YEARS since those songs came out!! Every time I hear their music...it brings back GREAT memories when I was growing up. Tommy James is a VERY talented and gifted man. His music has touched the lives of so many people!!
Kim Anderson Everyone loved them back then! We love them now too!! Tommy James is a right-on dude, as we used to say!
Crimson and Clover was one of my favorite Tommy James and The Shondells songs! Classic 60's artist!
About around 1984 I was lucky enough to work at Tommy James's home in Montclair NJ where he lived with his wife. I was doing electrical work back then on his new heating system for a few days. His wife is absolutely beautiful and nice , Tommy is pretty much the same as you see him here very cool and laid back... All his gold and platinum records on the wall going down stairs to his finished lower level with a Black piano and all his sheets of music very very cool !! What a historical few days !!
I wasn't really a fan, I was more into The Rolling Stones. Appreciated the vocals of the Shondells, though, but "Crimson and Clover," over and over and over...
I feel connected to this story in several ways -
I live in Niles, Mi., know several people who claim to know Tommy James personally.
My mother's family was from Montclair, N.J. - I attended k- 2nd grade in Montclair. (Nishuane school)
I once e-mailed the Shondells, asked why they didn't play at Woodstock, as they were invited, and they ANSWERED me!, said they had a cushy gig in Hawaii at the time, and didn't want to leave.
Wow, saw him play Crimson and
Clover in the Cherry Hill Mall
back in the sixties. A beatifull
childhood memory :)
Thomas Parisi cherry hill New Jersey
Legend!What a great interview, love their music.
Great guy, love him, such a humble person👍
Played support to him in Belfast in 1969 with a band from Omagh called Derrick and the Sounds!
Good times
How was it?
IT'S 2020 AND I HEAR THIS GREAT S0NG AB0UT TWICE A WEEK. L0VE IT
TJ is a great guy. After a stellar performance in a hot Ft. Myers baseball stadium, he did a meet and greet until everyone in line got a chance to talk to him. I told him, where I grew up in New Jersey, we thought he was up there with the Beatles. He asked where, and I told him the Somerville/Hillsborough/Manville area. I later saw where he was voted into the New Jersey Hall of Fame, which is pretty cool since I think he is from Michigan. Tommy is a total gentleman, too.
Tommy James is amazingly under-appreciated. One of the true greats of American pop music and psychedelics and rock. Extraordinarily versatile and creative. Very, very creative.
Gotta love, "Tommy James " !!!
Wow! After all these years I'm just getting to see these rock and roll stars. I wasn't a big TV kid and thank goodness for the internet. LOL Awesome story. Tommy is a sweetheart! Thanks for posting.
Great interview, that’s for posting! Love Tommy James!
the very first time I've heard that song, I didn't love it.but at the second time , it became one of my favorite's ever. I often listen to it.
everlybross listen to the long version
@@roustabout583 oh yes! I did it yesterday. thumb up for this long version. thanks!
!Tommy James, cuantos recuerdos¡ Excelente. Me alegra que siga activo después de todos estos años. "CRIMSON & CLOVERS, esa si es una hermosa cancion". Gracias por compartir. Saludos desde la preciosisima bahía de Tampa, Florida. 🎸🎶🏆👍
Well I sure do recall all you alls music it was the head turner back then, I liked it so well I've introduced my granddaughter to your music. But glad you and the group made it the way y'all did.... thanks for those days , I do recall all the old song but the one that I love the most is my baby does the hanky panky....
wer diese Musik-Decade miterlebt hat, wird immer, immer an Tommy James denken...das war eine musikalisch großartige Zeit.Danke für das schöne Interview. super symphatisch :-)
Arguably my alltime favorite artist, this guy, was and is still is a badass. THANK YOU Tommy for such wonderful music and inspiration. Chrystal Blue Inspiration.
One of the all time best groups to experience live! 👌👏👌👏👏❤️
One of the rare songs of that time which touched me still today - Thanks Tommy & Shondells
Incredible story Great singer Crimson and Clover what a song Tommy James the best 😉
I loved all of the Tommy James and the Shondells records growing up... and still do!
Hanky Panky was the first record I remember actually playing on a turntable. A older friend had it and we played it over and over.
Had the pleasure of meeting them & seeing them in concert in Lewiston, Maine in 1969 :-)
In the South, there is a wild plant that grows in spring along country roads (and Interstate) which is called crimson clover. Its blooms look like little raspberries and the wind ripples them like a magic carpet. I always figured Tommy was referring to this clover but I was wrong.
Saw them open for the Rolling Stones , Ike & Tina Turner , BB King. Oakland , 1969.
Souldogdave Souldogdave
Is that when ike beat the shit outa tina?
I didn't. I was 6.
I went to school with Tom Jackson. That was his name at the time. He sat in front of me in history class. Every day, just before the bell rang to start class the seat in front of me would be empty. Finally the bell would start to ring and Tom Jackson would walk in while the bell was ringing. And he'd be seated by the time the bell stopped. I always wondered why he did that. It wasn't until years later that I realized that he was practicing his 'entrance'. HA!! Love ya Tom!!!
True to that!
And he Nailed it!
when I wanna kick back and relax this is a go to song
I’ve loved Tommy’s music since the 60’s. 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
🥀Amazing vlog! Thanks for posting this video it's Amazing to learn more about Tommy James & The Shondells because I've got alot of their song's on albums. My parents & sister's played these songs all the time🥀✌🥀
Thanks for the soundtrack of my youth!
Tommy if you're still around stay safe. Peace from hamden,ct. My favorite ageless song crytal blue persuasion. What I listen to. Jazz and latin jazz.
My grandma always told me about how she watched someone from the band play in a garage in our Little hometown before they got big. Wish she was here to ask her more about it. One of my favorite songs now because of her ❤️
In Westmoreland county, PA?
Tommy James is from a little town in Michigan, but I'm curious of the Westmoreland County connection. He usually plays at the Palace Theater in Greensburg every year and Hanky Panky wasn't a hit until WDVE played it 5 years after he recorded it.
Crystal Blue Persuasion and its Latin theme lead is quite beautiful and ahead of its time. Tommy looks great.
@Steph Watson No shit!
My favorite song! I loved it the first time I heard it and ran out to buy the 45. I was twelve!
@Steph Watson - 61
@Steph Watson - Well have a Happy Birthday!
I don't remember the first time I heard it; born in '66 but I certainly fell in love with it immediately. Beautiful Song.
I never knew any of this! Crimson and Clover was my first “favorite song” - I was about 5 when it came out. Tommy and the Shondelles did a show in North Dakota where we lived at the time and I wanted to go to it so bad, but my mom said no.
we all love Tommy James!!
I liked "I think we're alone now" the best.
Hello, Tommy James. love from Penzance. Cornwall , UK
What a seemingly great guy and - wow - what a story!!!! Roulette Records was a front for the Genovese crime family.......that's crazy.
That question, “What is your all-time favorite song?” My answer (for 50 years now) is always the same: “Crimson and Clover”, by Tommy James and the Shondells. And something I didn’t know, is that Tommy James and I both hail from Michigan. I’m from da U.P. (Upper Peninsula) though. Cool. 👍🏼😎
Same here! 🥰
We heard "Hanky Panky" here on the West Coast and everybody loved it!!
Our band when I was 16, we started in the garage and worked up to a bar! All we could play were three tunes. We sounded like hell!! Got 4 bucks a piece and no beer!
Great classic band from my childhood. I'm currently reading Tommy James' book 📖 ♥️ ✌️
Wow. Tommy you are a humble man. I love and appreciate you even more now after hearing this piece. The good spirits are on your side, his Karma got his ass and cut him off from being able to make it right. What a valuable lesson you've pointed out to me.
Awesome video, thanks for sharing.👍🙂
Crimson & Clover was always my favorite. I never really listened to the lyrics. Still one of my favorites.
6:13 of course. That's what makes them happiest. CHA-CHING!
If he was poor I'm sure he'd be far happier?
Two points........ how is this band not in the HoF? As a foundational group if nothing else.......... Secondly, he didn't mention it, but the song "Cellophane Symphony" is unbelievable.......... synthesizer driven, hugely acid rock. Could easily have been early Pink Floyd material. The range of Tommy James and the Shondells is incredible, from AM pop to ballads to acid rock.
Tommy James is a great songwriter...I put him right up there with Arthur Lee and Brian Wilson around the time of the Crimson & Clover and Cellophane Symphony albums. Great pop-psych albums.
“I just made it up... I have no idea what it meant.” 🤣🤣🤣🤣 i love it
I always liked their studio version songs because they were so strong and staple hits
I am 38 years old and i love oldies music like Crimson and clover is one of the best songs of all time. No joke. It is slow then halfway through it gets a little bit wild.
Love you Tommy...
You have worked so hard for so long.
Wow, I had no idea of the back story. I loved their music!
Levy sold Roulette to Rhino to pay his Lawyers that was how Rhino got James' recordings.
Damn,times been good to Mr. James. Seemed like he played every car show I went to in the 70-80’s.
For me, who grew listening to these guys, this info is very interesting.
ManyThanx!!!! A Great Artist!!!!! Cheers From Costa Mesa Ca!!!!!,
Great interview & Tommy's book is great too.
How many people became musicians from seeing Elvis on the Ed Sullivan Show? Talk about having an impact on society..... Right talent, time, and place.
I was 14 when it first came out....falling in love with every girl on the street (and other streets too). Loved the song. Now I am 67 Still falling in love with every girl on the street and loving the song. PEACE! (P.S. I remember when the longer (FM) version came out with the guitar solo. Did you play that? Thanks Tommy!) agrees with all the other comments here. Wish we had more peace and love in this world...... Going to drink some Sweet Cherry Wine tonight....lol
Loved their music!!
Great memories.
He made a lot of great music!
Love this song especially the long version.
Great interview Tommy is so modest and humble
Both Tommy James and The 4 Seasons were mobbed up in the 60s.
Yep..he pretty much admitted so...
@@aliceshaw8265 good point...it is very interesting how the mob played both sides, investing in legitimate businesses, as well as ones that were a bit "below deck".
Oh my!! I remember that yellow and orange roulette 45 record!! Blast from the past
Why he is not in the hall of fame is beyond me.
Tommy, in the 60's I was a kid... Glad To See your still Cool...
Tommy James belongs in the RRHOF. Such great music!
Crimson and Clover will always be my favorite song ❤️
Crimson and Clover was issued with two flips I'm Taken and Sone Kind Of Love both from the Mony Mony album.
Very interesting.. I always liked his music. Heartfelt interview...
Are crystal blue persuasion Tommy James and Chantels forever😎🌸🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🍄 thank you for those tunes bro😜
Tommy is a great guy, easy going, and humble...he "stole" a Gideon's Bible from a hotel room and felt so guilty about that as he embraced truth faith in Our Savior, Jesus Christ.
What Tommy failed to realize is the folks at Gideon wanted him to "steal" that bible, LOL.
Hope and Pray I get to see Tommy perform live someday soon!
That was an awesome interview.
Saw him Live in Atlanta.
God Bless my Parents for that life experience.
Love their music.
Crimson and Clover was the song being played when I first got laid. A beautiful redhead in my parents basement.
This came out when I was in Junior High what a great song.
Never gets old.
The Lp version had an insert inbetween the track too.
Thank you, Tommy
Tommy James, you're such an inspiration to me!
♥️ Always
I was 16 when Crimson came out. Good fun!
Wow..great story teller Tommy is!
Great info and a great entertainer!
I really like this guy. I was just 9 when Crimson & Clover came out, but over the years, it stood the test of time as a beautiful song. I never knew what it meant, but it was somewhat clear that it was about falling in love with a girl, and/or being on some elevated high. I like Tommy's plain-spoken manner of talking. There's no pretension, or phoniness. He is who he is, and he's really something. I watched another video of him talking to a man who was apart of The 700 Club. I won't go much further in this; however, I will say this man is a good man, talented, and I believe he is a born again Christian. Lastly, I can't think of a song that this band did that was bad. Yes, I even liked "She". I uploaded a video/slideshow of Crimson & Clover on UA-cam - my moniker is "joltinjack". I played football for a Div. 1-AA team from 1977 - 1979 (3 seasons) and an Italian friend from Sarasota, Florida called me "joltinjack" because I'm low built to the ground and when someone tried to tackle me, I'd jar them pretty bad. Later in life, I learned of Joltin Joe DiMaggio. I had no Italian friends growing up in GA, until I went to college. I'm Jack, a semi-retired high school math teacher residing halfway between Macon and Savannah, Georgia. :-)
Really enjoyed that thanks
Clarified the whole Morris levy relationship remember when he was sentenced