Deep in the Roots. Discography Tommy James & the Shondells Follow Artist + 1960s hitmakers who infused bubblegum-style AM pop with rock & roll energy and clever songwriting. These guys were all music majors (at Saint Vincent College in Latrobe) and I was no slouch myself. If one looks at the albums, the photos and videos and TV shows, the faces you will see are those of the original guys. Get premium, high resolution news photos at Getty Images. So, we were able to contribute greatly to our success going forward. They also released 12 albums, 2 of which were certified platinum. The group still gets together from time to time for special video/TV events and nostalgia shows. Crimson and Clover: A Tribute to Tommy James and the Shondells. 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. In 1966, the band released Hanky Panky and Its Only Love. 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), Vales bandmates, guitarist Eddie Gray, keyboard player Ron Rosman and drummer Pete Lucia, were concerned because they were still in college, but they decided to take a year off and go to New York with Tommy James. View credits, reviews, tracks and shop for the 1969 Reel-To-Reel release of "The Best Of Tommy James & The Shondells" on Discogs. 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. Do you have pictures of Gracie Thompson from the movie Gracie's choice. And were thinking What are we getting into? Master gardeners will be at the South Parks Home Economics Building to offer visitors annuals, perennials and expert advice on local growing conditions. Their first appearance as a band was on Clark Races television variety show. They were replaced by Eddie Gray (guitar) and Peter Lucia (drums); Magura departed as well.[7]. 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. 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. Were at an age now where the last thing we want to do is be running around the country for our own enjoyment and run into something thats going to take us away from the families that were trying to be more involved with.. "The fact is that while we have all remained very active musically, the twists and turns within our individual lives have kept it from happening until now. In Britain, the tracks had similar success. Written-By - Ed Gray*, Mike Vale, Tommy James. Tommy James & The Shondells - The Best Of Tommy James & The Shondells. 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. (Photo by Don Paulsen/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images) Embed PURCHASE A LICENSE Standard editorial rights Custom rights How can I use this image? At the time, neither Vale nor Rosman had any clue who James was or what the big deal was about his song Hanky Panky.. The Shondells [US1] Tommy James and The Shondells Tommy James & The Shondells Real name Thomas Gregory Jackson Born April 29, 1947 Country United States . 3 hit with "Mony Mony". Brian Kachejian also holds B.A. Were a couple of coal miners kids from Pennsylvania. It was frightening.. 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. Crimson & Clover is the sixth album by Tommy James and the Shondells. It was frightening at times, said Vale. Tommy rejects the "bubblegum" label for his music. James needed to find a band quickly to be the new Shondells. Other birthdays on Sunday: Robert Lee "Bobby" Balderrama (? 4:01: A3: Mony, Mony. As the band embraced the sounds of psychedelia, they were invited to perform at Woodstock, but declined. Label: Roulette - SR 42040, Roulette - RSD-554: Format: Vinyl, LP, Compilation, Stereo, UNIPAK. The rock revolutionist on songwriting, quitting smoking, and what she thinks of Rush Limbaugh using her song. Find seedlings and local growing tips at one of Penn State Extension's many plant sales, Steelers trade up, draft Georgia tackle Broderick Jones. It was incredibly successful from both an artistic and commercial point of view. 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. 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: 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? . The American rock and roll band "Tommy James and the Shondells" was formed in 1959. This montage was subsequently parodied as the opening scene in The Simpsons season 24, episode 17 "What Animated Women Want". But it seemed to go together, it's my favorite of all my songs and one of our most requested. Ad. The band toured the eastern Midwest, but no other market took to the song. I Think Were Alone Now, was released on the album entitled I Think Were Alone Now. 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. 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. 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. It also typified the album's embrace of psychedelic rock. [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]. However, James was labeled as a bubblegum pop artist, which he hated. He has spent thirty years in the music business often working with many of the people who have appeared on this site. After a few more hits, the Shondells enjoyed a best-selling LP in 1970 with The Best of Tommy James and the Shondells. They disbanded in 1970. 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. The band has released an album titled Legacy, a collection of the Tommy James & the Shondells songs as performed sans James. Once we spent time with Morris at the offices in New York and saw who was coming in and out and saw weapons being handled, we started to realize the world we were getting into. Ad. 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.". 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. 4:01: A3: Mony, Mony. Continuing with our top 10 Tommy James And The Shondells songs list we turn to their Cellophane Symphonyalbum. These songs were massive hits for the band that cemented the legacy of Tommy James And The Shondells in classic rock history. In 1979, music writer Dave Marsh described it as "a transparent allegory about James' involvement with amphetamines."[3]. 95.7fm WELT is a non-commercial, listener-sponsored, member-controlled community radio station licensed by the FCC to broadcast within Allen County. That group disbanded in 2022. Learn how your comment data is processed. album. Learn about careers at Cox Media Group. The words jumped out at me, and they're not together; they're spread out over three or four verses. By using this website, you accept the terms of our Visitor Agreement and Privacy Policy, and understand your options regarding Ad Choices. 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. Tommy James & The Shondells - The Best Of Tommy James & The Shondells. 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. . He has since retired and two of his children, Mike Vucish Jr. and Lori Albright, have been running the company. 1, All Time Greatest Hits: Live at the Bitter End, Greatest Hits of the '60s, Vol. degrees from Stony Brook University along with New York State Public School Education Certifications in Music and Social Studies. Tommy James And The Shondells would never have the success again that they did with the Crimson and Clover album. in 1968. 4 hit "I Think We're Alone Now" and the No. 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 Yngwie Malmsteen and Steve Vai were two of Graham's co-writers for some '80s rock classics. Former Amazon exec wants to bring manufacturing jobs back to the U.S., starting in New Kensington, Polio vaccine pioneer Jonas Salk's archives 'come home' to the University of Pittsburgh, Sto-Rox School District seeks public input on financial recovery plans, Its May 1 your last chance to register to vote in the Pennsylvania primary, Home gardeners prepare: the invasive spotted lanternflies are returning. Every garage band, bar band, party band and on and on utilizes Mony Mony, in their set list. He had two other children, Cari and Traci Vucish. (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 My mom was with him. What happened to Eddie Grey of Tommy James and the shondells? We open our Top 10 Tommy James And The Shondells Songs list with a great album track from their Crimson and Clover. 2023 Viacom International Inc. All Rights Reserved. Gray spent time at his self-built recording studio in Pennsylvania. CREATIVE. This station is part of Cox Media Group Television. 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. Joan Jett had a top 10 hit with a cover of Crimson and Clover, in 1982. James disputes this, saying that Super K Productions "bubblegum" producers Jerry Kasenetz and Jeffry Katz approached his record company (run by Morris Levy) looking for songwriting jobs. Label: . $1 million Pennsylvania Lottery ticket sold at Allegheny County Giant Eagle, Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board to hold rare whiskey lottery, 3 juveniles charged after man assaulted, robbed in downtown Pittsburgh, 2 taken into custody after high-speed Pittsburgh police chase, Fire tears through Chilis Bar & Grill restaurant on McKnight Road, closing business indefinitely. 2023 Cox Media Group. They had two no. The song was released on the Crimson and Clover album in 1968. The song was released as the third single from the album. 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. Do Eric benet and Lisa bonet have a child together? Written-By - Ed Gray*, Mike Vale, Tommy James. In his book, Me, The Mob and the Music, James credits Pittsburgh dance promoter Bob Mack and never mentions Metrovich. As dreamlike as the experience of being a nationally known rock star was, there were aspects of it that must have seemed nightmarish. How much is a biblical shekel of silver worth in us dollars? He was not dead, however, and decided to move to the country to rest and recuperate, and left the band. Ron Rosman has remained very active recording and performing Gospel Music including his latest album, "My Offering". When Mack finally tracked down Tommy James in Niles, Michigan where the song was recorded, James told him The Shondells were no more. [4], The band The Echoes formed in 1959 in Niles, Michigan, then evolved into Tom and the Tornadoes, with 12-year-old Tommy James (then known as Tommy Jackson) as lead singer. Top, left to right: Eddie Gray, Ron Rosman and Peter Lucia. Its that one go to song when you need to get the party jumping. The Shondells [US1] Tommy James and The Shondells Tommy James & The Shondells Real name Thomas Gregory Jackson Born April 29, 1947 Country United States . More images. 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. The band had not yet practiced, so the entire performance, music and vocally, was lip synced. 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In 1968, Tommy James And The Shondells released the album Mony Mony which contained their smash single Mony Mony. Three singles were released from the album. 6, Guitar, Guitar (Acoustic), Guitar (Electric), Composer. When he told his parents he was moving to New York to work with a rock n roll band, they were not pleased. 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 was born in Manhattan and raised in the Bronx. "I Think We're Alone Now" actually produced two hit singles. He is the founder and Editor in Chief of ClassicRockHistory.com. Gettin Together was the only single released from the album. Further hits included "Sweet Cherry Wine", "Crystal Blue Persuasion", and "Ball of Fire", all from 1969. Gray on label B1 credits add Bob King on label, who does not appear on cover credit 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." 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. As James could often be found playing at Niles High School events, his popularity locally continued to grow. James attempted to contact other members of the Shondells, but they had all moved away, joined the service or gotten married and left the music business altogether. I picked up a guitar which I couldnt play at all because Im a bass man, chuckled Vale. 2 [Realm], Entertainment Weekly: The Greatest Hits 1969, A Shot in the Dark: Tennessee Jive 1945-1955, The Best of Tommy James & the Shondells [K-Tel], 50 Years of Swing: 50 Great Years & Tracks, The Best of Tommy James & the Shondells [Rhino], The Very Best of Tommy James & the Shondells, Billboard Top Rock 'n' Roll Hits: 1968-1972, The Best of Tommy James & the Shondells [Roulette], A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum [Original London Cast], A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum [Original Broadway Cast], Party Tyme Karaoke: Instrumentals, Vol. 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. If they couldnt get at the family members they were trying to wipe out, they would go after the cash cow that the family was involved with and there was no question that we were the cash cow for Morris Levy and the Genovese family. What Musicians Are Related to Other Musicians. [3] The album "Crimson & Clover", was released in December 1968 [4] and reached a peak of #8 on the Billboard 200 . 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. Tommy James & The Shondells - Crimson And Clover (LIVE) 4:41; Tommy James and The Shondells - Crimson and Clover. More images. Guitarist Eddie Gray (left) and drummer Peter Lucia of American band Tommy James and the Shondells in a recording . The Best of Tommy James & the Shondells [Intercontinental] Tommy James & the Shondells. Tommy James & the Shondells Follow Artist + 1960s hitmakers who infused bubblegum-style AM pop with rock & roll energy and clever songwriting. 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). Ad. 4:01: A3: Mony, Mony. Two years later, Rhino Records issued the Shondells' Anthology. "The group's reunion tour will begin around April 1st of the coming year in or around Pittsburgh at a site to be announced after the first of the year.For information regarding the group or its upcoming itinerary please email mvucish@aol.com. It happened as a result of Bo Gentry accidentally putting the tape of the song on backwards in the recording studio . While attending Niles High School in Niles, Michigan, the group released its first single, "Long Pony Tail", in 1962.[5]. The Raconteurs, not to be confused with the modern Jack White-affiliated band, were a bar band from Latrobe, PA. Many hit songs later, one year turned into six. So, on occasion, we spent some time out of town. They had two no. We just wanted to do it long enough to create a tie to our legacy in the eyes of our younger family members. During the process of recording a second album, which was never released, Vale said he and the others learned that Tommy James had decided to go back out on the road as a solo act with another band backing him up. 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. In our book it scores 10s on every level from lyrics to melody to musicianship to production. [13], The song is referenced in Marvel Comics' Fantastic Four Annual (Vol. In 2008 "I'm Alive" was covered by Tom Jones and released on his "24 Hours" album. As to why us..and why now, it's simple! (Photo by Don Paulsen/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images) Embed PURCHASE A LICENSE Standard editorial rights Custom rights How can I use this image? Written-By - Ed Gray*, Mike Vale, Tommy James. They always give the highest spot to the bass player, he joked. During the 1980s, the group's songbook produced major hits for three other artists: Joan Jett & The Blackhearts' version of "Crimson and Clover" (No. The following year, the Shondells toughened their shimmering, jaunty, light-pop sound considerably. Read Full Biography Overview Biography Discography Songs Credits Awards Related Share on facebook twitter tumblr Album Discography full condensed blue highlight denotes album pick 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? The group toured with Vice President Hubert Humphrey during his 1968 presidential campaign, for which Humphrey showed his appreciation by writing the liner notes for their next album Crimson & Clover, which was released in Dec. 1968. View credits, reviews, tracks and shop for the Vinyl release of "The Best Of Tommy James & The Shondells" on Discogs. Co-written by James, Cordell, Cordell's writing partner Bo Gentry, and Bobby Bloom, "Mony Mony" reached No. Want to spend the night on the Gettysburg Battlefield? 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. In March 2011 the Tommy James song "I'm Alive" (co-written with Peter Lucia) became a top 20 hit in the Netherlands for UK singer Don Fardon after his version had been used in a Vodafone commercial. 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. You might be able to very soon. In 2008 Tommy James and The Shondells were inducted into the Michigan Rock and Roll Legends Hall of Fame.[16]. We close out our Top 10 Tommy James And The Shondells songs list with a song that is probably one of the most played songs in the history of classic rock. "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. Tommy James and the Shondells is an American pop and Rock n Roll group that was most active in the 60s. We decided weve accomplished what we set out to do. 3:34; Is Brooke shields related to willow shields? [3] They had two No. You could be feeling its effects, too, Bop Shop: Songs From Arlo Parks, Georgia, Rosala And Rauw Alejandro, And More, A superstar team-up is just the beginning, Jennifer Coolidge Is Officially A Comedic Genius At The 2023 MTV Movie & TV Awards, The 'White Lotus' star will be the latest recipient of the Comic Genius Award. They continue to tour. 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 song is also featured in the movie The Expendables 2 (2012), while Barney (Sylvester Stallone) is flying his plane. [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. You may find their concert tour at J. "Crystal Blue Persuasion" has been used in numerous media and entertainment properties, both onscreen and off. The Crystal Blue Band, Vale and Rosmans current project, is a response to their erasure from the Shondells historical narrative. Sorry, we couldnt resist. Tommy James and the Shondells is an American rock band formed in Niles, Michigan, in 1964. .
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