The Tommy James And The Shondells song Its Only Love, was the only single released from the bands second album entitled Its Only Love. Bootleggers responded by printing 80,000 black market copies of the recording, which were sold in Pennsylvania stores. Tommy James and the Shondells is an American pop and Rock n Roll group that was most active in the 60s. A big list of musical marriages and family relations ranging from the simple to the truly dysfunctional. The band has released an album titled Legacy, a collection of the Tommy James & the Shondells songs as performed sans James. But a new group of Shondells still had to be recruited. Also in 1968, the Shondells performed at rallies for many Democratic political candidates. Feels Good!,' the British disco artist revels in liberation, MTV Announces The 2023 Movie & TV Awards Presenters And It's A Long List, Plus, the nominees for Best Musical Moment are revealed, Taylor Swift Hates Mercury Retrograde As Much As The Rest Of Us, The singer jokingly blamed a hand injury on the astrological event. Is Brooke shields related to willow shields? View credits, reviews, tracks and shop for the 1969 Reel-To-Reel release of "The Best Of Tommy James & The Shondells" on Discogs. Born Feb. 27, 1948, in Scottdale, Pa., Gray joined the Shondells in 1965, in. In 1966, the band released Hanky Panky and Its Only Love. In 1987 the U.S. and UK pop charts had something of a Shondells renaissance: Tiffany's "I Think We're Alone Now" was bumped off the top of the Billboard Hot 100 by Billy Idol's take on "Mony Mony." Top, left to right: Eddie Gray, Ron Rosman and Peter Lucia. Many hit songs later, one year turned into six. Other Shondells covers have been performed by acts as disparate as psychobilly ravers the Cramps, new wave singer Lene Lovich, country music veteran Dolly Parton, and the Boston Pops orchestra. The name references the character in the book, Crystalia Amaquelin, the blue area of the moon where part of the story takes place, and the plotline which is formed around coercing Crystal to return to the Inhumans.[14]. Who sang the song 'I Think We're. Joan Jett had a top 10 hit with a cover of Crimson and Clover, in 1982. We would hear guys say to Morris Hey, I took care of that guy, I broke his legs and stuff like that. Yes. 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. 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. Crimson & Clover (album) - Wikipedia A monthly update on our latest interviews, stories and added songs, Writer/s: Eddie Morley Gray, Mike Vale, Tommy James, More songs from Tommy James & the Shondells, More songs the author denied was about drugs, More songs about spirituality or religion, Que Sera, Sera (Whatever Will Be, Will Be), Songs in Famous Movie Scenes: '80s Edition. 7 hit single "Tighter, Tighter" for the group Alive N Kickin'. 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". 95.7fm WELT is a non-commercial, listener-sponsored, member-controlled community radio station licensed by the FCC to broadcast within Allen County. 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. Former Shondell Mike Vale's Crystal Blue Band to hold final concert 4:01: A3: Mony, Mony. 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: More Images. Tommy James & the Shondells Songs List: All Old & New| AllMusic Seiten: Our Top 10 Tommy James And The Shondells songs list takes a look at the bands 1960s period when they were a mainstay on the music charts and one of the most loved bands in the world. 4:01: A3: Mony, Mony. View credits, reviews, tracks and shop for the 1980 Vinyl release of "Tommy James And The Shondells" on Discogs. The song Sweet Cherry Wine, was a top 10 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 peaking at number seven. Born Feb. 27, 1948, in Scottdale, Pa., Gray joined the Shondells in 1965, in Pittsburgh, where Michigan-based James had moved the band when a local DJ picked up his song "Hanky Panky." As the band embraced the sounds of psychedelia, they were invited to perform at Woodstock, but declined. The song reached the number four position on the Billboard Hot 100. "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. 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 rock revolutionist on songwriting, quitting smoking, and what she thinks of Rush Limbaugh using her song. This page is not available in other languages. The track, "Crimson and Clover" (RealAudio excerpt), topped the Billboard Hot 100 and became the band's biggest hit (Joan Jett went on to hit #7 with the song in 1982). The Shondells in 1968. It would be tough to argue against Crystal Blue Persuasion, standing as one of the most wonderful 1960s songs ever released. The catchy tune was suddenly getting on Pittsburgh radio, and it was on its way to becoming the No. Tommy James & The Shondells "Crimson & Clover" on The Ed Sullivan Show on January 26, 1969. Crimson and Clover, was Tommy James And The Shondells second number one single. Ad. Eddie Gray The Guitarist Tommy James And The Shondells 1968 OLD - eBay We took a long ride, and it was very successful, said Vale. Seriously, we opened this Tommy James And The Shondells Songs list with this one to simply demonstrate that the band was not just a hit making machine but a group that released fantastic albums that at times were overshadowed by their mega hits. When Mack finally tracked down Tommy James in Niles, Michigan where the song was recorded, James told him The Shondells were no more. James first learned of all this activity in April 1966 after getting a telephone call from Pittsburgh disc jockey "Mad Mike" Metro(vich) asking him to come and perform the song. Deep in the Roots. In 1966, TommyJames and the Shondellsreleased their first official album entitled Hanky Panky. Find seedlings and local growing tips at one of Penn State Extension's many plant sales, Steelers trade up, draft Georgia tackle Broderick Jones. and M.A. And, at times, they found themselves involved in situations never before then imagined like touring the country with then Vice President, Hubert Humphrey in support of his 1968 Presidential CampaignSince the group initially disbanded in 1970, Mike Vale has written and recorded 7 albums both as a solo artist and for others. Billboard Hot 100. The record was released in 1969. Tommy James And The Shondells would never have the success again that they did with the Crimson and Clover album. Tommy James & The Shondells - The Best Of Tommy James & The Shondells. 6, Guitar, Guitar (Acoustic), Guitar (Electric), Composer. 10 hit "Mirage". Bob Mack made his dance club bands available to James for promotional appearances, but nothing seemed to fit until one of the bands' guitarists took James to the Thunderbird Lounge in Greensburg, where he recruited a quintet that was playing there called the Raconteurs -- Joe Kessler (guitar), Ron Rosman (keyboards), George Magura (saxophone), Mike Vale (bass) and Vincent Pietropaoli (drums) as the new Shondells. When they realized the popularity and scope of Hanky Panky, they were all in. Eddie Gray | Discography | Discogs At a concert in Birmingham, Alabama in March of 1970, an exhausted James collapsed after coming off stage from a reaction to drugs and was pronounced dead. The song marked the Shondells' breakthrough in the UK, where it hit #1. That quite frankly (ticked) us off to the extent that we decided it was over between us and thats what broke up the group, said Vale. 1 in the country, and he plays Hanky Panky., I made a U-turn in the middle of a four-lane highway and went back home and called all the guys in The Raconteurs and told them, This is a window of opportunity, and we should jump through it. . 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 . Tommy James And The Shondells - Anthology (CD) - Discogs The LP, featuring liner notes by Democratic Presidential candidate Hubert Humphrey, yielded the top-10 "Sweet Cherry Wine" and the #2 smash "Crystal Blue Persuasion.". 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. Do Eric benet and Lisa bonet have a child together? More images. The song has been included in many television shows and motion pictures. In 2009 James and the surviving Shondells, Gray, Vale and Rosman, reunited to record music for a soundtrack of a proposed film based on James' autobiography, Me, the Mob, and the Music, released in February 2010. The song was released twice with two different B sides. "" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory. Who makes the plaid blue coat Jesse stone wears in Sea Change? With four children at home, Vale decided to come back home to the Pittsburgh area and pick up where he had left off before going to New York. The song was released on the Crimson and Clover album in 1968. For single release, the Shondells shortened the title cut to their 1969 album. Billy Idol covered it in the 80s and had a big hit with it also. 2023 Cox Media Group. View credits, reviews, tracks and shop for the 1970 Vinyl release of "The Best Of Tommy James & The Shondells" on Discogs. These guys were all music majors (at Saint Vincent College in Latrobe) and I was no slouch myself. Tommy James and the Shondells | Encyclopedia.com I picked up a guitar which I couldnt play at all because Im a bass man, chuckled Vale. Who, of all people, walks into the Thunderbird Lounge with his manager but Tommy James, said Vale. By using this website, you accept the terms of our Visitor Agreement and Privacy Policy, and understand your options regarding Ad Choices. 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. 2023 Trib Total Media | All Rights Reserved. Tommy James & The Shondells "Crimson & Clover" on The Ed - YouTube Vale, who grew up in the coal mining town of Salemville, was studying to be a mechanical engineer. While James had a briefly successful solo career in the early '70s, Hog Heaven floundered and split. 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". It was not only the result of Tommy being a good musician and singer. Tommy James and the Shondells in 1970 How much is a biblical shekel of silver worth in us dollars? So, on occasion, we spent some time out of town. The title was inspired by a flashing sign for Mutual Of New York visible from James's apartment balcony in New York. [14] James launched a solo career in 1970 that yielded two notable hits over a 10-year span, "Draggin' the Line" (1971) and "Three Times in Love" (1980). More images. The album and single were both released in 1967. 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). The impact of the late 1960s psychedelic and progressive rock movements seemed to inspire the modest . Tommy James And The Shondells song Get Out Now, was the lead off single from their legendary Mony Mony album. The group still gets together from time to time for special video/TV events and nostalgia shows. 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.. 1 song in the United States. The song was nowhere as successful as the title track. In our book it scores 10s on every level from lyrics to melody to musicianship to production. At this time, the band included Tommy James (vocals and guitar), Larry Coverdale (lead guitar), Larry Wright (bass), Craig Villeneuve (keyboards) and Jim Payne (drums). Label: Roulette - CLVLXR 453: Series: . Tommy James & The Shondells - The Best Of Tommy James & The Shondells Tommy James and the Shondells is an American rock band formed in Niles, Michigan, in 1964. . Thats a number one in our book! Thank God, the stars have recently aligned in a way to bring us back together.Although The Shondells did get together with Tommy James in 2011 briefly to help write and record a Christmas album, the group will be touring without TJ who continues to perform with his own group of musicians.Mike, Ed and Ron, along with fellow Shondell, Peter Lucia, who has since passed away, were often guests on TV's most popular shows of the day like "The Ed Sullivan Show"(twice), "American Bandstand" (3 times), "The Dating Game", "Joey Bishop" and many more. The companys co-founder and owner Morris Levy worked for New Yorks Genovese crime family. James' version of "Hanky Panky" sold respectably in Michigan, Indiana and Illinois, but Snap Records, the label under which "Hanky Panky" was originally released, had no national distribution. They disbanded in 1970. Tommy James and the Shondells' Ed Gray | News | MTV 2023 Viacom International Inc. All Rights Reserved. Tommy James & The Shondells - The Best Of Tommy James & The Shondells. It was part of a string of hits that followed Hanky Panky, including Mony Mony, Crimson and Clover, I Think Were Alone Now, Sweet Cherry Wine, and Sugar on Sunday., After a year or two, when we had all the hits and we were on The Ed Sullivan Show, the first guy in line to get tickets in New York City was my dad. Tommy James & The Shondells - The Best Of Tommy James & The Shondells He said, I want to play a song for you thats going to be No. 2004. [2], At the time of the song's release there were several popular types of high quality blue-colored LSD tablets in circulationsome listeners generally assumed James was referring to "acid". Eddie Gray of the original Shondells attends the "Me, The Mob & The 40 Years: The Complete Singles Collection (1966-2006) - AllMusic Tommy James & the Shondells Follow Artist + 1960s hitmakers who infused bubblegum-style AM pop with rock & roll energy and clever songwriting. The first being their very first single Hanky Panky. The song was written by Tommy James and Peter Lucia. in 1968. Ad. The Monkees did a different song of the same title. Vale said there were times when Levy would have to have the band go into hiding in the mountains of upstate New York for their own safety. Songs written by Tommy James | SecondHandSongs We did a lot of the writing.. 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Although James has continued to tour, singing his Shondells hits, Gray did not participate in the singer's brief, sporadic impromptu reunions with some bandmembers in the past few decades. 4:01: A3: Mony, Mony. Co-written by James, Cordell, Cordell's writing partner Bo Gentry, and Bobby Bloom, "Mony Mony" reached No. Gray on label B1 credits add Bob King on label, who does not appear on cover credit 3 in the US and was a British No. They had two no. 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. To pick up the slack, Pete Lucia was brought in on drums, and Eddie Gray on guitar making Tommy James and The Shondells a five-piece guitar-oriented band. As to why us..and why now, it's simple! View credits, reviews, tracks and shop for the 1970 Vinyl release of "The Best Of Tommy James & The Shondells" on Discogs. View credits, reviews, tracks and shop for the 1969 Vinyl release of "The Best Of Tommy James & The Shondells" on Discogs. It was a top 40 hit in the United States peaking at number 31 on the U.S. The following year, the Shondells toughened their shimmering, jaunty, light-pop sound considerably. Aerosmith's farewell tour visits Pittsburgh in September, Luke Combs kicks off summer concert season at Acrisure Stadium, Lizzo, Blink-182 among top concerts to see around Pittsburgh in May, Summer concerts, movies coming to Hartwood Acres, South Park, TV Talk: Frank Nicotero hosts Very Local game show on the streets of Pittsburgh, Mountain climbers rappel down Mount Washington to clean up the hillside, 'Waste of time': Community college transfers derail students, Western Pennsylvania's trusted news source. The band The Echoes formed in 1959 in Niles, Michigan, then evolved into Tom and the Tornadoes, . Brian Kachejian was born in Manhattan and raised in the Bronx. What happened to Eddie Grey of Tommy James and the shondells? Composer. Tommy James and the Shondells is an American rock band formed in Niles, Michigan, in 1964. We just wanted to do it long enough to create a tie to our legacy in the eyes of our younger family members. Members include Eddie Gray (born on February 27, 1948, in Scottsdale, PA), guitar; Tommy James (born Thomas Gregory Jackson on April 29, 1947, in Dayton, OH), vocals; Mick Jones, guitar; Peter Lucia (born on February 2, 1947, in Morris-town, NJ; died 1997), drums; Paul Reaney, vocals; Ronnie Rosman (born on February 28, 1945, in Greensburg, PA), It included melodic passages for an acoustic guitar, as well as a bass pattern, played between the bridge and the third verse of the song. So, we were able to contribute greatly to our success going forward. On their first Sullivan appearance, James and the Shondells performed Mony Mony and Crimson and Clover on a split-level stage with Vale positioned on the highest platform. Read Full Biography Overview Biography Discography Songs Credits Awards Related Share on facebook twitter tumblr Album Discography full condensed blue highlight denotes album pick The classic Tommy James And The Shondells song Hanky Panky, was the bands first number one hit. J. The latest is his "In My Dreams" album on Slamtrack Records. Ad. Three original members from Tommy James and the Shondells have gotten back together as The Crystal Blue Band.One member, Ron Rosman, was born and rais . According to members Mike Vale and Ron Rosman, the band used bar gigs as their way of paying for schooling at St. Vincent College. The band toured the eastern Midwest, but no other market took to the song. 6, Party Tyme Karaoke: Billboard Top 40 Karaoke, Vol. The impact of the late 1960s psychedelic and progressive rock movements seemed to inspire the modest musical shift that was apparent on the Cellophane Symphony album. Like so many bands in the 1960s such as The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Kinks etc,etc, Tommy James and the Shondells released multiple albums a year. Artist: Tommy James | SecondHandSongs Other health issues, including a triple bypass, helped make up Vales mind. Tommy James And The Shondells - Travelin' - Discogs 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". You may find their concert tour at "Tomorrow People" by Ziggy Marley is the first song by a Marley to crack the US Top 40; the highest Bob got was #51 with "Roots, Rock, Reggae. Tommy James & The Shondells - The Best Of Tommy James & The Shondells. While attending Niles High School in Niles, Michigan, the group released its first single, "Long Pony Tail", in 1962.[5]. Get Out Now,only reached the forty eighth position on the Billboard Hot 100. [15] On January 6, 1987, original drummer Peter P. Lucia Jr. died of a heart attack while playing golf at the age of 39. Ron Rosman has remained very active recording and performing Gospel Music including his latest album, "My Offering". 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". Composer. The song was played during the pool scene in the TV movie Growing Up Brady, and was in the pilot episode of The Wonder Years. In 2012 "Crystal Blue Persuasion" was used in the eighth episode of Season 5 of Breaking Bad, "Gliding Over All", during a montage depicting the process involved to bring main character Walter White's methamphetamine operation and its signature blue crystal meth to an international level. Discography Tommy James & the Shondells Follow Artist + 1960s hitmakers who infused bubblegum-style AM pop with rock & roll energy and clever songwriting. The song "Sweet Cherry Wine," was a top 10 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 peaking at number seven. Therefore, he changed his style to psychedelic rock. 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. 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. Guitarist Eddie Gray (left) and drummer Peter Lucia of American band Tommy James and the Shondells in a recording . Learn how your comment data is processed. MUSICIANS Guitars: Tommy James, Eddie Gray Moog Synthesizer, Electric / Acoustic Pianos, Hammond Organ, Harpsichords: Ron Rosman, Tommy James Bass Guitar: Mike Vale Drums & Percussion: Peter Lucia In Greensburg, PA at the Thunderbird Lounge he found The Raconteurs.. This montage was subsequently parodied as the opening scene in The Simpsons season 24, episode 17 "What Animated Women Want". "We have been asked countless times over the years by friends and fans, when are you guys going get out and play together again", Mike Vale, Bass Player and songwriter with the group said. It was the second single released from the album. Ed Gray found success as lead guitarist for the hitmaking '60s pop group Tommy James and the Shondells. A Greenwich Village nightclub appearance was filmed and released as Tommy James & the Shondells: Live! Traci died of Lupus, which led Mike Sr. to start a benefit golf tournament to raise money for the Lupus Foundation that for 15 years included a jam session with his many musician friends. 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. The song was originally released in 1964 and then re-released in 1966 and reached the number one position on the Billboard Hot 100. Tommy James & The Shondells - The Best Of Tommy James & The Shondells When he told his parents he was moving to New York to work with a rock n roll band, they were not pleased. Ed Gray, in addition to performing, owns and operates a recording studio in the Pittsburgh area in which he has recorded and produced a variety of successful acts.When asked why The Shondells chose to begin performing again now and, why without James, Vale said, "As I mentioned before, Tommy is off doing his own thing and we're happy for him. More images. 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. After a few more hits, the Shondells enjoyed a best-selling LP in 1970 with The Best of Tommy James and the Shondells. 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. The idea was to sound like a British kid on speed. That album was followed up in 1970 with their last album for Roulette Records entitled Travelin. 1967's I Think We're Alone Now and 1969's trippy Cellophane Symphony were two of the strongest albums from the group's original run and the 2021 box set Celebration: The Complete Roulette Recordings 1966-1973 In 2015, Vale and the other former Shondells reunited and formed the Crystal Blue Band after his grandchildren and great-grandchildren asked about the gold records displayed on the basement walls of his house in Deep Creek Lake, Md.