Tommy James is one of the great pop songwriters in rock music history. Not just the stuff he wrote in the 1960s, but he's been working every decade since then and his music is SO catchy and memorable. From this same time period, you will probably love "Sweet Cherry Wine" and "Crystal Blue Persuasion," too. Tommy's amazing!
Great #1 song. Tommy James stated that he had the title to the song before he wrote any of it. Crimson is his favorite color and Clover his favorite flower.. He thought the two sounded good together. "It has no deep meaning, but if people think it does..Even better! " Tommy James & The Shondells have many great songs...'Crystal Blue Persuasion' is a beauty and so is ' Sweet Cherry Wine' ! 😎🎼🎵🎶🇨🇦🇨🇦
I was 8 when this came out, and it was played all over the AM stations. Really, quite popular at the time! Asked my mom to get it, and she got me the album for my birthday or Christmas. Still love it.
The gizmo that made the guitar's vibrato is called a Tremulo, that they tuned to the beat of the song. They liked it so much, they also used the Tremulo on the vocals "Crimson and clover, over and over" at the end of the song.
To me, crimson and clover was a red rose on a green stem. Beautiful, like the girl I was in love with back in 1969. It didn't work out, and I never saw her again. She's my age now, if she's still alive. 70. And so it goes.
Similar story, it was our first dance then life drew us apart. Our tales differ, John B. in that, 50 years later, she and I are back together. She's even more beautiful now.
Check out Joan Jett's cover. Tommy James and the Shondells had some great songs. I Think We're Alone Now, Draggin the Line, Mony Mony, Crystal Blue Persuasion are a place to start.
@@throwabrick the ending of the tommy james version is perfect and probably edges the joan jett version just off that alone. It's like the song to a happy ending of a movie
I have been obsessed with Crystal Blue Persuasion for years. So was I with the TV show Breaking Bad. I always thought : "Man, my mind would blow up if they use this song in a scene, it would fit it so well, they have to do it at some point !" And then it happened. Needless to say, I was overwelhmed.
Crystal Blue Persuasion, - I Think We’re Alone Now -are great ones by Tommy James . Beginning of the psychedelic songs that I absolutely loved back in the 70’s ( and still do) 😻🎶☮️
Near the end of the recording, the band had an idea of utilizing the tremolo effect with vocals. To achieve this, the voice microphone was plugged into an Ampeg guitar amplifier with tremolo turned on, and the output from the amplifier was recorded while James sang "Crimson and clover, over and over".
This song has a lot of memories for me. This reminds me of the time this song was playing at a junior high school dance when I saw the girl I had a crush on pass by in the darkened gym while some colored lights added atmosphere. In my memory, she's walking by in slow motion.
Pshychedelic for sure ! You should try MonyMony , Crystal Blue Persuasion, Hanky Panky and I Tthink We're Alone Know . Tommy James was big back in the Day.
We had to do a dance routine in Jr.High (1972) to Mony Mony, it was part of our grade in PE. Yea, I took a hard D! I don't dance!!!! lol Especially to mony mony!
My parents played this for me when I was a kid. I was always impressed with the strobe light like vocals at the end. I was wondering how they did it as a kid. As an adult I understand how they recorded it, but it still floors me.
I first heard this when I was a kid, probably about 4 or 5. Every time I hear this song, I'm transported to the backseat of our family car listening to the radio.
Ahead of their time is a bit of an overstatement I think. This bands first big hit was "My Baby does the Hanky Panky". I think "psychedelic pop" is a good call on this one. Just a little something for the boppers.
Tommy James is in his 70s and is still active. This version of this song hit #1 in the US, Canada, and several other countries; I did not see a listing for Britain.
Wow Kudos to whoever is suggesting this song Imagine when this first came out and you’re a teenager and you got your cheesy little 9 V transistor radio and this comes on and you live out in the desert in the middle of nowhere an hour from Los Angeles and you hear this song and think it’s from another planet…
My parents had an 8-track mix tape and this was one of my favourites when I was little. I would lay in bed with the headphones on. Learned so many great songs as a wee one.
Hi Harri , oh yes , I love these guys since grade school , my fave song by Tommy James , is called , I Think Were alone now , how wonderful , you are my fave reaction , love & light , you are groovy , hteat taste
This song came out right along side psychedelic drugs in the late 60’s & the parties were tripping to this newer music along with the great 60’s rock & roll. Tommy James & The Shondells have some fantastic songs! ‘ I think we’re alone now’, Dragging the line’, Mony Mony & Crystal Blue Persuasion are some of the best songs !👍🎶☮️😻
Exactly! So many of these people are unaware that the 60's was very different from any other time in musical history. Once the Beatles appeared, all previous rules went out the window and stayed that way for another decade, or so. Things clamped down again after that, but there was no "ahead of its time in the 60's!"
@@obbor4 Yes yes. I'm 64 and I always say if you didn't live through it, that time cannot be explained. How everything was changing, especially music. And the Beatles were the vanguards of that change. They pushed the envelope that all others followed. I distinctly remember watching them for the first time on Ed Sullivan and the sound was so new and fresh and different. And their music just kept growing and evolving. There's no doubt that drugs expanded their creativity, but at their roots, they were sheer geniuses. Every new generation are going to rediscover them and hundreds of years from now, the Beatles will be just as if not more popular than during the time they were together.
@@abc456f I witness this growing popularity, with newer generations, on a continual basis. Just yesterday, at a concert by Beatles tribute band, Hard Day's Night, the large, enthusiastic crowd danced, sang, and rocked along with the players, with family members from five to seventy five treating this music as if the actual band was playing before them. To see elementary, middle, and high school aged people every bit as enthusiastic about this band as their seniors were, and many have remained nearly sixty years after the time that they exploded onto the scene, is a testament to their incredible talent and the quality of the music that they both recorded and inspired. What other popular trend remains vibrant for generations and without any sign of stopping? This one certainly does!
@@obbor4 If you haven't checked them out, let me suggest on UA-cam, the REO brothers. They do some excellent Beatles cover work, as well as the Bee Gees, Eagles. Their Beatles stuff is extremely authentic. And it proves the point that younger generations are growing up loving the Beatles, recognizing their enduring talent as musicians and songwriters.
@ 3:00 That's great! Never figured how to categorize this and similar ones of this period. But yours is perfect. There's another hit song of theirs "Hanky Panky" you should do soon. Another popular one of theirs was "Sweet Cheery Wine". Playing C & C reminded me of other good songs played on radio a lot too back then like studio versions of "Green Tambourine" (1967), "Green Eyed Lady" (1970), "Aquarius/Let the Sun Shine In" (1969), "Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye" (1969), "Magic Carpet Ride" (1968) all you would enjoy, and many others. ✌️😎
How great the music was in the late 60's to early 70's. Tommy James and the Shondells got their start in my neck of the woods, Western Pa. Their big hit in July 1966 was "Hanky Panky" making it a number one hit and knocking the Beatles " Paperback Writer" out of first place. A few other gems by the group were "Crystal Blue Persuasion", my favorite and I Think We're Alone Now.
Harri ... Crimson is another word for Red. Clovers are small flowers that grow in grass fields & the four leaf clover is symbolic of good luck the world over ... So ... Lucky Red, maybe? Cheers, good sir! Rock on ... 👍
Man this song brings back memories. To do what they did we used to turn a fan on high & sing into the fan it was fun back then. This song was part of the Hippy era, flower power, psychedelic drugs era that most artists had dabbled in it Part of the saying drug, sex & rock n roll came from that era. I still have a 45 of Tommy James i believe it this song.
This is what you call "psychedelic" music that started in the 60's. Tommy James and the Shondels are an awesome band.They played a lot of great psychedelic music that everyone loved to listen to, especially if they were tripping out on some good acid, although their music was great enough even if you were not high. I grew up in the 60's and the music was just so amazing then. But there was also the Vietnam War going on, with no end in sight, it seemed and there was just so much death, too. I often think that God actually rained down this beautiful music apon everyone to help ease the pain of losing a loved one to this "government" war that no one wanted in the first place. Dose anybody notice that this particular war seems to be slowly written from history, like it never even happened?? Hmm.......I was just wondering. Love the channel ❤💕
My first rock album was the best of Tommy James and the Shondells. I loved this song when it came out in late 1968. It reached Number 1 in 1969 (I was 7). This was their biggest hit,.though there were others: Sweet Cherry Wine Crystal Blue Persuasion I think We're Alone Now Hanky Panky Mony Mony (covered by Billy Idol in the 1980s) Tommy James without the Shondells: Draggin' the Line All of these would make great reaction songs. Hanky Panky and Mony Mony are simple songs but were earlier hits before they went psychedelic and were mainly dance groove songs.
I was in the 8th grade when this song came out.Tommy had several hits before this song.We all loved it especially the long version which you just listened to.
I remember this being played at my 7th & 8th grade dances, along with so many other psychedelic songs, which got regular play on the radio. So, no it wasn't unusual. Another great song you need to listen to is Cinnamon Girl by Neil Young. Thanks for all the great memories.
This channel never misses a thing. The best channel on UA-cam consistently. Thank you. At 12 years old he formed the band "The Echoes." He's did it all.
You need to react to their most iconic track - Crystal Blue Persuasion. In my opinion, it is one of the songs that defined this era of pop/rock. The message was right on point for the turbulent times and was unique in it's sound.
When a group of young musicians get access to special effects for the very first time... this is what happens! Actually, I quite like it; simple but catchy melody.
The second song I had ever fallen in love with just from digging through mom's record collection because she was never home. Another song that blew my mind when I was sifting through was Jerry Lewis Whole Lotta Shakin' goin' on...try that one.
Love this band!! Or should I say I dig this vibe!! One of my favorites!! Been waiting for a reaction to this! Love Draggin the Line and Crystal Blue Persuasion.
7th grade living in Germany, (dad in military)and this song came out. At the same time my best friends brother in 9th grade and his friend the preachers son, stole the preachers car and there was a two week manhunt in Germany looking for them. Lol…caught them boarding a ferry to England two weeks later. The whole time this song was in constant play in the background. We grew up quick in military school abroad 😳😉👍🏻🤘🏻👊🏻✊🏻💃🏻🕺🦄
There were many "psychedelic-pop" songs released during the period. Just two examples (recommended): "Within You, Without You" (The Beatles!) and "I Had Too Much To Dream Last Night" (The Electric Prunes)
Takin me back once again Harri 😄🌈😄........a quintessential psychedelic song......one of the first.....if not the first......I don't remember....was too busy flying 🤣💖🙃💖🤪💖😉......thinking we were on Mar's???.....Damn.....we had long passed that.....at least floatin amidst Saturn's rings.... 🪐🌈🪐🌈🪐🌈🪐......Joan Jett does a great cover of this.....want a hit?💖🤪💖🤪🤣🤣🤣
Add my vote to Chrystal Blue Persuasion and Mony Mony. These were just in the air back in the day. Plying out of car windows and transistor radios. Part of the soundtrack of my life
This song was also covered by various artists in non English speaking countries ( with the Lyrics re written in the language of the artist), making this a true international hit
Psych pop studio wizardry. This stuff caught 50s sock-rock, jazz, classical, blues, and everyone else flatfooted. It was revolutionary stuff. We were going to the moon. Tech was on the march. Everyone knew sounds like this were happening for the first time in history.... and the effects are pretty simple, really.
Tommy James and the Shondells were very big in the 1960's. Suggest you also listen to Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons.....Oh What a Night, Who Loves You........ansd so many many more.
I thought I commented on this song, but maybe not. Here it goes. Tommy James secratary took a phone call 1 day. After chuckling and saying, "No thank you", she hung up. Tommy, standing close by asked her, "Who was that?". Her reply was, "Some East Coast promoter asked if we would be interested in a paying gig on a pig farmers farm. I turned him down" Tommy chuckled. 2 weeks later they read in the newspapers about "Woodstock", held on pig/cow farmer, Max Yasgurs farm in Bethel New York.
There is no doubt, way ahead!!!!. There are songs you would hear in our golden era of music and for which their was no prior template for. This is a great example. Anither great example: Spirit in the Sky; Anither great example: Green Eyed Lady. All of these are great tunes and totally unique. There are many others. Blood Sweat and Tears fused jazz, rock, pop, and blues to produce one if the most unique sounds of the late 60s-70s. Just thought of Moody Blues and jow they combined pop, rock and orchestra. Just some examples.
TOMMY JAMES AND THE SHONDELLS, "CRIMSON AND CLOVER"... 1968 6TH GRADE MY TEACHER WHO TURNED THE RADIO ON IN CLASS WHILE WE WERE WORKING ON TOMORROW'S ASSIGNMENTS. THIS SONG PLAYED NEARLY EVERY DAY.. ACID ROCK... MORE "DRAGGING THE LINE", "CRYSTAL BLUE PERSUASION", "MONY, MONY".. YOUNG STUDENTS GROWING UP MUSIC. IT LOOKING SO FORWARD TOO WATCHING LIVE MUSIC AT SCHOOL DANCES...GREAT JOB HARRY. FOR ME IT WAS THE MUSIC...
Tommy James is one of the great pop songwriters in rock music history. Not just the stuff he wrote in the 1960s, but he's been working every decade since then and his music is SO catchy and memorable. From this same time period, you will probably love "Sweet Cherry Wine" and "Crystal Blue Persuasion," too. Tommy's amazing!
Love 'Crystal Blue Persuasion.' Glad you mentioned it, haven't listened to it for such a long time. :)
One of my all-time favorite bands! ❤💕♥😍
Don’t forget Mony Mony.
This one of the most beautiful psychedelic pop song ever... The chords progression is out this world. This is what falling in love feels like...
Great #1 song. Tommy James stated that he had the title to the song before he wrote any of it. Crimson is his favorite color and Clover his favorite flower.. He thought the two sounded good together. "It has no deep meaning, but if people think it does..Even better! " Tommy James & The Shondells have many great songs...'Crystal Blue Persuasion' is a beauty and so is ' Sweet Cherry Wine' ! 😎🎼🎵🎶🇨🇦🇨🇦
A smash-song by the band Tommy James and the Shondells! Tanks from Germany for the good music all time, Harri!
VANILLA FUDGE:
"YOU KEEP ME HANGING ON!"
It's was the 60's. No one freaked out, except maybe square parents.
TOMMY JAMES & THE SHONDELLS "CRYSTAL BLUE PERSUASION"
Junior high school dances…wonderful memories of awkwardly slow dancing!
I was 8 when this came out, and it was played all over the AM stations. Really, quite popular at the time! Asked my mom to get it, and she got me the album for my birthday or Christmas. Still love it.
👏👏👏❤❤❤Tommy James. And you will ,too. More. He has a ton of hits!
THE FIRST EDITION (KENNY ROGERS) "I JUST DROPPED IN" (TO SEE WHAT CONDITION MY CONDITION WAS IN)
These guys have tons of hits! They were ahead of their time and Tommy James is super talented!❤
Loved the relative simplicity of this one, at the time and since.
So much emotion in his voice. There is no denying the quality of this song or group.
The gizmo that made the guitar's vibrato is called a Tremulo, that they tuned to the beat of the song.
They liked it so much, they also used the Tremulo on the vocals "Crimson and clover, over and over" at the end of the song.
To me, crimson and clover was a red rose on a green stem. Beautiful, like the girl I was in love with back in 1969. It didn't work out, and I never saw her again. She's my age now, if she's still alive. 70. And so it goes.
Similar story, it was our first dance then life drew us apart. Our tales differ, John B. in that, 50 years later, she and I are back together. She's even more beautiful now.
@@johnpaulson6021 wow, that’s a storybook ending! Hope you guys have many more years together.
To me, this song conjures memories of a ginger girl I knew who smoked clove cigs. Obviously.
Dragging The Line is another good one ✌️
One of our greatest songwriters. All their stuff sounded fantastic on the radio....
Love this group! I'm 73 yrs old and could listen to their music all the time. 60's group!!!
Wayyyyyyyy ahead of its time. So freaking unique, and beautiful.
Check out Joan Jett's cover. Tommy James and the Shondells had some great songs. I Think We're Alone Now, Draggin the Line, Mony Mony, Crystal Blue Persuasion are a place to start.
I love Joan's cover, the best, but I still prefer Tommy's vocals..
I actually got to see Joan sing it about 20 feet from stage and she rocked the hell out of our small town.
Yes, CBP another great song.
Joan's cover is the best version. She really makes it her own.
@@throwabrick the ending of the tommy james version is perfect and probably edges the joan jett version just off that alone. It's like the song to a happy ending of a movie
Another good song of theirs is "Draggin the Line" which has a great base line.
A truly GREAT bass line, that is a bangin’ tune!
This is the beginning of great music....
Crystal Blue Persuasion is a must!! Luv ya! Greetings from Wisconsin USA
I have been obsessed with Crystal Blue Persuasion for years.
So was I with the TV show Breaking Bad. I always thought : "Man, my mind would blow up if they use this song in a scene, it would fit it so well, they have to do it at some point !"
And then it happened. Needless to say, I was overwelhmed.
Tommy James song ball of fire is amazing also dragging the line 💜 love you 😊🎵🎶
You need to listen to a little more of Tommy James music catalogue. Some really amazing songs from the late 60s and early 70s.
Tommy James is still rocking need to listen to them more we loved them he has 30 other top 10 played songs and they are still touring
Crystal Blue Persuasion, - I Think We’re Alone Now -are great ones by Tommy James . Beginning of the psychedelic songs that I absolutely loved back in the 70’s ( and still do) 😻🎶☮️
Great great lovesong from the 60's for slow dancing........
Near the end of the recording, the band had an idea of utilizing the tremolo effect with vocals. To achieve this, the voice microphone was plugged into an Ampeg guitar amplifier with tremolo turned on, and the output from the amplifier was recorded while James sang "Crimson and clover, over and over".
This song has a lot of memories for me. This reminds me of the time this song was playing at a junior high school dance when I saw the girl I had a crush on pass by in the darkened gym while some colored lights added atmosphere. In my memory, she's walking by in slow motion.
It's timeless masterpiece!
Pshychedelic for sure ! You should try MonyMony , Crystal Blue Persuasion, Hanky Panky and I Tthink We're Alone Know . Tommy James was big back in the Day.
T JAMES WAS HUGE IN THE 60s and EARLY 70s
We had to do a dance routine in Jr.High (1972) to Mony Mony, it was part of our grade in PE. Yea, I took a hard D! I don't dance!!!! lol Especially to mony mony!
A bit of echo does not a psychedelic song make! This is out of date doo wop of the very worst kind.
One of my all time favorite songs. Loved it since I was a little kid in the 80s.
My parents played this for me when I was a kid. I was always impressed with the strobe light like vocals at the end. I was wondering how they did it as a kid. As an adult I understand how they recorded it, but it still floors me.
Popular song at that time. Played on the radio alot.
Good heavens, never realized how psychedelic this song is. Never heard this version on radio back in the day, gonna listen again!
I first heard this when I was a kid, probably about 4 or 5. Every time I hear this song, I'm transported to the backseat of our family car listening to the radio.
My FAVORITE song for several years, it was released in 1969.
Ahead of their time is a bit of an overstatement I think. This bands first big hit was "My Baby does the Hanky Panky".
I think "psychedelic pop" is a good call on this one. Just a little something for the boppers.
Yes I agree too, guess growing up hearing these songs I didn't necessarily categorize them as a particular genre.
I agree
Tommy James is in his 70s and is still active. This version of this song hit #1 in the US, Canada, and several other countries; I did not see a listing for Britain.
Tommy James was a musical genius. One of my favorite songs from the late 60's and there were many. The Harri hit parade just keeps cranking them out!
Wow
Kudos to whoever is suggesting this song
Imagine when this first came out and you’re a teenager and you got your cheesy little 9 V transistor radio and this comes on and you live out in the desert in the middle of nowhere an hour from Los Angeles and you hear this song and think it’s from another planet…
My parents had an 8-track mix tape and this was one of my favourites when I was little. I would lay in bed with the headphones on. Learned so many great songs as a wee one.
Hi Harri , oh yes , I love these guys since grade school , my fave song by Tommy James , is called , I Think Were alone now , how wonderful , you are my fave reaction , love & light , you are groovy , hteat taste
I remember watching Tommy James and the Shondells perform this song on The Ed Sullivan Show when I was a kid. Also showing my age.
"Alive and kicking - tighter and tighter" Tommy James wrote that as well
This song came out right along side psychedelic drugs in the late 60’s & the parties were tripping to this newer music along with the great 60’s rock & roll. Tommy James & The Shondells have some fantastic songs! ‘ I think we’re alone now’, Dragging the line’, Mony Mony & Crystal Blue Persuasion are some of the best songs !👍🎶☮️😻
This wasn't ahead of its time....it WAS the time!!!!!
Exactly! So many of these people are unaware that the 60's was very different from any other time in musical history. Once the Beatles appeared, all previous rules went out the window and stayed that way for another decade, or so. Things clamped down again after that, but there was no "ahead of its time in the 60's!"
@@obbor4 Yes yes. I'm 64 and I always say if you didn't live through it, that time cannot be explained.
How everything was changing, especially music. And the Beatles were the vanguards of that change.
They pushed the envelope that all others followed. I distinctly remember watching them for the first time on Ed Sullivan and the sound was so new and fresh and different. And their music just kept growing and evolving. There's no doubt that drugs expanded their creativity, but at their roots, they were sheer geniuses. Every new generation are going to rediscover them and hundreds of years from now, the Beatles will be just as if not more popular than during the time they were together.
@@abc456f I witness this growing popularity, with newer generations, on a continual basis. Just yesterday, at a concert by Beatles tribute band, Hard Day's Night, the large, enthusiastic crowd danced, sang, and rocked along with the players, with family members from five to seventy five treating this music as if the actual band was playing before them. To see elementary, middle, and high school aged people every bit as enthusiastic about this band as their seniors were, and many have remained nearly sixty years after the time that they exploded onto the scene, is a testament to their incredible talent and the quality of the music that they both recorded and inspired. What other popular trend remains vibrant for generations and without any sign of stopping? This one certainly does!
@@obbor4 If you haven't checked them out, let me suggest on UA-cam, the REO brothers. They do some excellent Beatles cover work, as well as the Bee Gees, Eagles. Their Beatles stuff is extremely authentic. And it proves the point that younger generations are growing up loving the Beatles, recognizing their enduring talent as musicians and songwriters.
@ 3:00 That's great! Never figured how to categorize this and similar ones of this period. But yours is perfect. There's another hit song of theirs "Hanky Panky" you should do soon. Another popular one of theirs was "Sweet Cheery Wine". Playing C & C reminded me of other good songs played on radio a lot too back then like studio versions of "Green Tambourine" (1967), "Green Eyed Lady" (1970), "Aquarius/Let the Sun Shine In" (1969), "Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye" (1969), "Magic Carpet Ride" (1968) all you would enjoy, and many others. ✌️😎
I’m obsessed with this song. Obsessed.
Same girl!
What a display of guitar effects on that one: tremolo, wah, fuzz... totally psychedelic 🎸☘️
How great the music was in the late 60's to early 70's. Tommy James and the Shondells got their start in my neck of the woods, Western Pa. Their big hit in July 1966 was "Hanky Panky" making it a number one hit and knocking the Beatles " Paperback Writer" out of first place. A few other gems by the group were "Crystal Blue Persuasion", my favorite and I Think We're Alone Now.
Tommy lived in my hometown and went to high school with my older brother, he was special even back then of course!
Very heavily played tune on the radio during the late 60s early 70s! Hearing it now reminds me of riding around with my ex as a teenager!
Harri ... Crimson is another word for Red. Clovers are small flowers that grow in grass fields & the four leaf clover is symbolic of good luck the world over ...
So ... Lucky Red, maybe?
Cheers, good sir! Rock on ... 👍
Tommy James has quite a catalog. "Hanky Panky" was his first hit. Saw him a few years back and he's still sounds great.
One of my favorite songs growing up.
Check out their song "Sweet Cherry Wine"
Man this song brings back memories. To do what they did we used to turn a fan on high & sing into the fan it was fun back then. This song was part of the Hippy era, flower power, psychedelic drugs era that most artists had dabbled in it Part of the saying drug, sex & rock n roll came from that era. I still have a 45 of Tommy James i believe it this song.
This is what you call "psychedelic" music that started in the 60's. Tommy James and the Shondels are an awesome band.They played a lot of great psychedelic music that everyone loved to listen to, especially if they were tripping out on some good acid, although their music was great enough even if you were not high. I grew up in the 60's and the music was just so amazing then. But there was also the Vietnam War going on, with no end in sight, it seemed and there was just so much death, too. I often think that God actually rained down this beautiful music apon everyone to help ease the pain of losing a loved one to this "government" war that no one wanted in the first place. Dose anybody notice that this particular war seems to be slowly written from history, like it never even happened?? Hmm.......I was just wondering. Love the channel ❤💕
My first rock album was the best of Tommy James and the Shondells. I loved this song when it came out in late 1968. It reached Number 1 in 1969 (I was 7).
This was their biggest hit,.though there were others:
Sweet Cherry Wine
Crystal Blue Persuasion
I think We're Alone Now
Hanky Panky
Mony Mony (covered by Billy Idol in the 1980s)
Tommy James without the Shondells:
Draggin' the Line
All of these would make great reaction songs. Hanky Panky and Mony Mony are simple songs but were earlier hits before they went psychedelic and were mainly dance groove songs.
I was in the 8th grade when this song came out.Tommy had several hits before this song.We all loved it especially the long version which you just listened to.
love this one ! so many beautiful memories!
I remember being 12 years old at the roller rink and DJ playing Tommy James. This album was amazing.
I remember this being played at my 7th & 8th grade dances, along with so many other psychedelic songs, which got regular play on the radio. So, no it wasn't unusual. Another great song you need to listen to is Cinnamon Girl by Neil Young. Thanks for all the great memories.
This channel never misses a thing. The best channel on UA-cam consistently. Thank you.
At 12 years old he formed the band "The Echoes." He's did it all.
You need to react to their most iconic track - Crystal Blue Persuasion. In my opinion, it is one of the songs that defined this era of pop/rock. The message was right on point for the turbulent times and was unique in it's sound.
Agree with you.
this is their most iconic track
@@mike04574 Agree with you.
Always loved this. Reminds me of high school dances, 1968 or so.
I met Tommy James on the street here in Chicago.
Great song writer and a really nice guy.
When a group of young musicians get access to special effects for the very first time... this is what happens! Actually, I quite like it; simple but catchy melody.
he he he man that was cool and groovy he he i am glad you heard it brings me back good old days
The second song I had ever fallen in love with just from digging through mom's record collection because she was never home. Another song that blew my mind when I was sifting through was Jerry Lewis Whole Lotta Shakin' goin' on...try that one.
I am pushin 60 and I remember my mom letting this ring through the house while she was cleaning when I was 8 or ten....still sounds great!
If I could rattle my favourite song at the top of my head it's always C&C - the song that pretty much opened every avenue of likeable music to moi.
Another great one from my youth & Tommy James.
This song is so unusual that it also etched in my mind whe I was very, very young.
Love the way you hear, feel, and think about music.
Love this band!! Or should I say I dig this vibe!! One of my favorites!! Been waiting for a reaction to this! Love Draggin the Line and Crystal Blue Persuasion.
7th grade living in Germany, (dad in military)and this song came out. At the same time my best friends brother in 9th grade and his friend the preachers son, stole the preachers car and there was a two week manhunt in Germany looking for them. Lol…caught them boarding a ferry to England two weeks later. The whole time this song was in constant play in the background. We grew up quick in military school abroad 😳😉👍🏻🤘🏻👊🏻✊🏻💃🏻🕺🦄
There were many "psychedelic-pop" songs released during the period. Just two examples (recommended): "Within You, Without You" (The Beatles!) and "I Had Too Much To Dream Last Night" (The Electric Prunes)
I remember the strobe lights flashing while dancing to this in 1969 at college. I didn't need drugs at all and still got high.
Check their history. Amazing stuff. Tommy James talks live about their success and why.
Exactly what i thought, way ahead of its time & top marks to everyone involved in writing &recording this song.
Takin me back once again Harri 😄🌈😄........a quintessential psychedelic song......one of the first.....if not the first......I don't remember....was too busy flying 🤣💖🙃💖🤪💖😉......thinking we were on Mar's???.....Damn.....we had long passed that.....at least floatin amidst Saturn's rings.... 🪐🌈🪐🌈🪐🌈🪐......Joan Jett does a great cover of this.....want a hit?💖🤪💖🤪🤣🤣🤣
You really should listen to prince covering this song,it was Tommy James favourite version,it's absolutely brilliant 💜💜💜
Add my vote to Chrystal Blue Persuasion and Mony Mony. These were just in the air back in the day. Plying out of car windows and transistor radios. Part of the soundtrack of my life
Loved them,not known by many in the UK at the time,the ending was pretty psychedelic in the day,great sound!
Tommy James wrote many good hits which went on to sell over 100 million records. A very astronomical accomplishment for any band!
This song was also covered by various artists in non English speaking countries ( with the Lyrics re written in the language of the artist), making this a true international hit
Tommy James and the Shondells are from Pittsburgh, PA. I saw them play rhere before.
Psych pop studio wizardry. This stuff caught 50s sock-rock, jazz, classical, blues, and everyone else flatfooted. It was revolutionary stuff. We were going to the moon. Tech was on the march. Everyone knew sounds like this were happening for the first time in history.... and the effects are pretty simple, really.
One of my favorite songs from the early 70s when I was in jr. High
Tommy James and the Shondells were very big in the 1960's. Suggest you also listen to Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons.....Oh What a Night, Who Loves You........ansd so many many more.
Another blast from the past! ✌️
this came out when I was on my first tour to Vietnam
loved it
Psychedelic pop folk. Great label!
It was exactly ON Time!
I thought I commented on this song, but maybe not. Here it goes.
Tommy James secratary took a phone call 1 day.
After chuckling and saying, "No thank you", she hung up.
Tommy, standing close by asked her, "Who was that?".
Her reply was,
"Some East Coast promoter asked if we would be interested in a paying gig on a pig farmers farm. I turned him down"
Tommy chuckled.
2 weeks later they read in the newspapers about "Woodstock", held on pig/cow farmer, Max Yasgurs farm in Bethel New York.
There is no doubt, way ahead!!!!. There are songs you would hear in our golden era of music and for which their was no prior template for. This is a great example. Anither great example: Spirit in the Sky; Anither great example: Green Eyed Lady. All of these are great tunes and totally unique. There are many others. Blood Sweat and Tears fused jazz, rock, pop, and blues to produce one if the most unique sounds of the late 60s-70s. Just thought of Moody Blues and jow they combined pop, rock and orchestra. Just some examples.
TOMMY JAMES AND THE SHONDELLS, "CRIMSON AND CLOVER"... 1968 6TH GRADE MY TEACHER WHO TURNED THE RADIO ON IN CLASS WHILE WE WERE WORKING ON TOMORROW'S ASSIGNMENTS. THIS SONG PLAYED NEARLY EVERY DAY.. ACID ROCK... MORE "DRAGGING THE LINE", "CRYSTAL BLUE PERSUASION", "MONY, MONY".. YOUNG STUDENTS GROWING UP MUSIC. IT LOOKING SO FORWARD TOO WATCHING LIVE MUSIC AT SCHOOL DANCES...GREAT JOB HARRY. FOR ME IT WAS THE MUSIC...