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. . Ad. The renown Texas songwriter has been at it for 40 years, with tales to tell about The Flatlanders and The Clash - that's Joe's Tex-Mex on "Should I Stay or Should I Go?". 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. The song reached the number four position on the Billboard Hot 100. The following year, the Shondells toughened their shimmering, jaunty, light-pop sound considerably. The NPS will make four historic houses available essentially as Airbnb rentals and is looking for private business or people to manage the sites. [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]. Tommy James & the Shondells on their 2010 tour, The Best of Tommy James and The Shondells, "Hanky Panky: The Raindrops | Listen, Appearances, Song Review", "Me, the Mob, and the Music: One Helluva Ride with Tommy James & The Shondells", "Tommy James & the Shondells Official Website", "Tommy James & The Shondells 'Crimson & Clover' - Classic Tracks", "Tighter, Tighter - Alive 'N Kickin' | Listen, Appearances, Song Review", "Tommy James & the Shondells: Live! 4:01: A3: Mony, Mony. It has become part of mainstream culture, passing from generation to generation. In 1966, TommyJames and the Shondellsreleased their first official album entitled Hanky Panky. More images. The first being their very first single Hanky Panky. The song was written by Tommy James and Peter Lucia. When he told his parents he was moving to New York to work with a rock n roll band, they were not pleased. So, lets thank God for the time and go forward and spend the rest of our days with our family and friends.. Composer. In 1964 James renamed the band the Shondells because the name "sounded good" and in honor of nearby Fort Wayne's own Troy Shondell, famous for his 1961 release "This Time." A blast of energetic rock & roll just as psychedelia and progressive rock were beginning their rise to the top, Tommy James & the Shondells harked back to an earlier era, specifically the late '50s and early '60s, when simple, high-energy rock and pop were twin tickets to the top of the charts. They had two no. ), the group nevertheless kept on plugging with a raft of bright, hooky rockers that charted solidly but never seemed to reach as high as they deserved. As to why us..and why now, it's simple! Mike Vale, Ron Rosman and Eddie Gray, former original members of Tommy James And The Shondells, will be rockin' the Parade this year when they perform "Mony Mony" and more! How much is a biblical shekel of silver worth in us dollars? The idea was to sound like a British kid on speed. According to members Mike Vale and Ron Rosman, the band used bar gigs as their way of paying for schooling at St. Vincent College. 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. Want to spend the night on the Gettysburg Battlefield? 282 Tommy James And The Shondells Premium High Res Photos Browse 282 tommy james and the shondells photos and images available, or start a new search to explore more photos and images. This montage was subsequently parodied as the opening scene in The Simpsons season 24, episode 17 "What Animated Women Want". In February 1964 the band recorded the Jeff BarryEllie Greenwich song "Hanky Panky" (originally a B-side by the Raindrops[6]). Tommy James and the Shondells is an American rock band formed in Niles, Michigan, in 1964. Tommy James and the Shondells is an American pop and Rock n Roll group that was most active in the 60s. But since this is such an important set, it's a shame that it falls prey to the usual career-spanning foibles, moving through the artist's prime just a little too quickly and spending more than half the set on post-peak material (i.e., the Tommy James solo years after his 1971 heyday). ", In 1967 the Shondells had a top-five smash with "I Think We're Alone Now," which teen pop queen Tiffany later turned into a hit in the '80s. For single release, the Shondells shortened the title cut to their 1969 album. Over the 2 year period from 1968 through 1969 were the largest selling Singles act in the world!At the peak of their careers however, The Shondells went off in one direction and James another. And now, 56 years and a few incarnations later, the 82-year-old Vales Crystal Blue Band is bowing out with one final concert at Saturdays Banana Split Celebration on the Robindale Main Stage (320 Main Street) in Latrobe. 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. Billboard Mainstream Music Charts. The classic Tommy James And The Shondells song Hanky Panky, was the bands first number one hit. He said, I want to play a song for you thats going to be No. Were a couple of coal miners kids from Pennsylvania. It was frightening.. As the band embraced the sounds of psychedelia, they were invited to perform at Woodstock, but declined. 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. But a new group of Shondells still had to be recruited. As dreamlike as the experience of being a nationally known rock star was, there were aspects of it that must have seemed nightmarish. $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. 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. Brian Kachejian was born in Manhattan and raised in the Bronx. James had been summoned to Pittsburgh from his hometown of Niles, Mich., to promote and perform the song. Free shipping for many products! 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. The Breaking Bad montage was again parodied in Bordertown season 1, episode 2, "Borderwall" during a montage featuring Bud Buckwald and Steve Hernandez (Bud's boss at the Border Patrol station) running an illegal smuggling tunnel. 1, All Time Greatest Hits: Live at the Bitter End, Greatest Hits of the '60s, Vol. 2023 Cox Media Group. In April 1966 James went by himself to make promotional appearances in Pittsburgh in nightclubs and on local television. Brian Kachejian is also an active member of the New York Press. 3 in the US and was a British No. Musicians from a Latrobe band called The Raconteurs were signed on to perform with James and the rest is history. Vale, who grew up in the coal mining town of Salemville, was studying to be a mechanical engineer. Two years later, Rhino Records issued the Shondells' Anthology. When Mack finally tracked down Tommy James in Niles, Michigan where the song was recorded, James told him The Shondells were no more. This page is not available in other languages. At the Bitter End (2000)", "Michigan Rock and Roll Legends - TOMMY JAMES AND THE SHONDELLS", "TOMMY JAMES & THE SHONDELLS - full Official Chart History", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Tommy_James_and_the_Shondells&oldid=1152332494. 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. The song was written by Jeff Barry and Ellie Greenwich. In 2008 "I'm Alive" was covered by Tom Jones and released on his "24 Hours" album. Many hit songs later, one year turned into six. Eddie Gray, the guitarist of the band Tommy James and the Shondells using a Sho-Bud pedal steel guitar during a recording session for their track 'Crimson and Clover', 30th October 1968. "Crystal Blue Persuasion" is a 1969 song originally recorded by Tommy James and the Shondells and composed by Eddie Gray, Tommy James and Mike Vale.A gentle-. The companys co-founder and owner Morris Levy worked for New Yorks Genovese crime family. Gray on label B1 credits add Bob King on label, who does not appear on cover credit Celebration: The Complete Roulette Recordings 1966-1973, El Barrio: The Ultimate Collection of Latin Boogaloo, Disco, Funk & Soul, Crystal Blues Symphonies: The Psychedelic Years, El Barrio: Sounds from the Spanish Harlem Streets, 40 Years: The Complete Singles Collection (1966-2006), The Greatest Groovy 60's Hits of All Time, Rhino Hi-Five: Tommy James & The Shondells, Greatest Hits of Tommy James & the Shondells, Crimson and Clover: A Tribute to Tommy James and the Shondells, The Best of Tommy James & the Shondells [Intercontinental], Here Comes the Groom/The Name Above the Title, Hits of Tommy James & The Shondells, Vol. Eddie Gray, the guitarist of the band Tommy James and the Shondells, during a recording session for their track 'Crimson and Clover', 30th October 1968. 4 hit "I Think We're Alone Now" and the No. The new group, Hog Heaven, recorded an album but wasnt nearly as successful as the Shondells had been. The latest is his "In My Dreams" album on Slamtrack Records. The upcoming shows aim to remind audiences of the unrecognized contributions of the less famous Shondells. Have a tip for the WESA newsroom? In 1966, the band released Hanky Panky and Its Only Love. They had two number 1 hits in the United States and even more Top 40 hits. A big list of musical marriages and family relations ranging from the simple to the truly dysfunctional. We had our own connotations of what the word Mafia meant and all of a sudden it became real. More images. We just wanted to do it long enough to create a tie to our legacy in the eyes of our younger family members. They were very proud, Vale said. "Que Sera, Sera (Whatever Will Be, Will Be)" was written for Doris Day to sing in the Alfred Hitchcock movie The Man Who Knew Too Much. Learn how your comment data is processed. As James could often be found playing at Niles High School events, his popularity locally continued to grow. The title was inspired by a flashing sign for Mutual Of New York visible from James's apartment balcony in New York. It was ne of three singles released from the I Think Were Alone Now album. More images. wpxi.com The Shondells Mike Vale, Ron Rosman and Eddie Gray Former original members of Tommy James And The Shondells will be rockin' the Parade this year when they perform "Mony Mony" and more! In 1968, James had a No. Label: Roulette - SRLP 4: . Ed Gray found success as lead guitarist for the hitmaking '60s pop group Tommy James and the Shondells. Collections; Project #ShowUs; . Tommy James & The Shondells. Tommy James & the Shondells weren't considered very hip in their heyday, but they remain one of the best-remembered acts of the era. (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 When one looks at the songwriting credits on both our hits and album cuts you will see the names of the original Shondells on many of them. It also typified the album's embrace of psychedelic rock. 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. "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. 1 singles in the U.S. "Hanky Panky" (July 1966, their only RIAA Certified Gold record) and "Crimson and Clover" (February 1969) and also charted twelve other top 40 hits, including five in the Hot 100's top ten: "I Think We're Alone Now", "Mirage", "Mony Mony", "Sweet Cherry Wine" and "Crystal Blue Persuasion". Did Billy Graham speak to Marilyn Monroe about Jesus? The Monkees did a different song of the same title. While James had a briefly successful solo career in the early '70s, Hog Heaven floundered and split. James needed to find a band quickly to be the new Shondells. In our book it scores 10s on every level from lyrics to melody to musicianship to production. In early 1966, a rock n' roll song called "Hanky Panky" went to the top of the charts in Pittsburgh after a Steel City dance promoter and DJ named Bob Mack gave it a spin. Paul Guggenheimer is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Ad. 2023 Trib Total Media | All Rights Reserved. Tommy James And The Shondells would never have the success again that they did with the Crimson and Clover album. 45 years have past since Mike Vale, Ron Rosman and Eddie Gray, original members of the group have shared a concert stage. 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. In 1967, Tommy James and the Shondells released two more albums entitled I Think Were Alone Now and Getting Together. After a few more hits, the Shondells enjoyed a best-selling LP in 1970 with The Best of Tommy James and the Shondells. 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. I Think Were Alone Now, was released on the album entitled I Think Were Alone Now. 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 Tommy James And The Shondells song Its Only Love, was the only single released from the bands second album entitled Its Only Love. Tommy James & The Shondells - The Best Of Tommy James & The Shondells. The Shondells then issued their first LP, named after their hit single, and had two more top-40 hits with "What I Am" and "It's Only Love. Ed Gray found success as lead guitarist for the hitmaking '60s pop group Tommy James and the Shondells. Read Full Biography Overview Biography Discography Songs Credits Awards Related Share on facebook twitter tumblr Album Discography full condensed blue highlight denotes album pick (So, for instance, this set is lacking a trio of well-known songs: "Love's Closin' in on Me," "One Two Three and I Fell," and "Sugar on Sunday.") More Images. 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. Bottom: Mike Vale and Tommy James. 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. At the time, neither Vale nor Rosman had any clue who James was or what the big deal was about his song Hanky Panky.. 1 hit in July 1966. In an attempt to capitalize on the success of the song,. (Photo by Bobby Bank/WireImage) Embed PURCHASE A LICENSE Standard editorial rights Custom rights Composer. Crimson & Clover is the sixth album by Tommy James and the Shondells. What James had going on was an infectious song called Hanky Panky that he had recorded with his group the Shondells some two years earlier. So, we were able to contribute greatly to our success going forward. 4:01: A3: Mony, Mony. 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. The Raconteurs, not to be confused with the modern Jack White-affiliated band, were a bar band from Latrobe, PA. 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 [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". Top, left to right: Eddie Gray, Ron Rosman and Peter Lucia. Yes. Email news@wesa.fm. Other birthdays on Sunday: Robert Lee "Bobby" Balderrama (? Get Out Now,only reached the forty eighth position on the Billboard Hot 100. Tommy James . We didnt know it would go this long, said Vale. 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". In Greensburg, PA at the Thunderbird Lounge he found The Raconteurs.. (James) called us together one day and said he was sorry he had to do it but he was going to have to stop touring for a period of time, said Vale. The Shondells in 1968. We would have to be hidden.. [13] His four bandmates carried on for a short while under the name Hog Heaven, recording two albums (one "self-titled" on Roulette Records in March 1971 and the second recorded in 1971, but unreleased until 2008), and landing one Hot 100 hit, "Happy," at number 98, but disbanded soon afterwards. He was not dead, however, and decided to move to the country to rest and recuperate, and left the band. 12 on the U.S. In 2015 Gray, Vale, and Rosman decided to reunite and form their new group, The Crystal Blue Band. The band had not yet practiced, so the entire performance, music and vocally, was lip synced. Gettin Together was the only single released from the album. 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. Therefore, he changed his style to psychedelic rock. This page was last edited on 29 April 2023, at 16:04. 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. 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. The group still gets together from time to time for special video/TV events and nostalgia shows. The record was released in January of 1969. As they would discover later in their time with James, touring was their only income, as their label Roulette was owned by the mob and kept nearly all the money for itself. A4 credits Tommy James, Mike Vale & Bob King on cover vs. Tommy James-Mike Vale-Jeff Katz-Jerry Kasenetz-Ritchie Cordell on label A5 is titled Talkin' & Signifyin' on cover vs. Talkin' And Signifyin' on label B1 credits Eddie Grey on cover vs. Ed J. Who, of all people, walks into the Thunderbird Lounge with his manager but Tommy James, said Vale. 1 in 1968. The group released only two more albums after Crimson and Clover. 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 impact of the late 1960s psychedelic and progressive rock movements seemed to inspire the modest . Tommy James And The Shondells only had two number ones throughout their recording career. The song is also featured in the movie The Expendables 2 (2012), while Barney (Sylvester Stallone) is flying his plane. So, on occasion, we spent some time out of town. 4:01: A3: Mony, Mony. The song "Sweet Cherry Wine," was a top 10 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 peaking at number seven. 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. Vale's 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. Ad. Tommy James & The Shondells - Crimson And Clover (LIVE) 4:41; Tommy James and The Shondells - Crimson and Clover. Learn about careers at Cox Media Group. Look, this group has some very talented writers and performers who have always been key contributors to the groups success and are still quite capable of doing the same again. 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). 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. 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.. J. [1], According to James's manager, James was actually inspired by his readings of the Book of Ezekiel, which (he remembered as) speaking of a blue Shekhinah light that represented the presence of the Almighty God, and of the Book of Isaiah and Book of Revelation, which tell of a future age of brotherhood of mankind, living in peace and harmony. 7 in 1982), Tiffany's "I Think We're Alone Now" and Billy Idol's "Mony Mony" (back-to-back No. Lead Guitar - Eddie Gray; Organ - Ronnie Rosman; Photography - Ron Meyers; Vocals - Tommy James; Tracklist is printed incorrectly on back cover. These guys were all music majors (at Saint Vincent College in Latrobe) and I was no slouch myself. NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 18: Eddie Gray of the original Shondells attends the "Me, The Mob & The Music: One Helluva Ride with Tommy James & The Shondells" book release party at Gibson Guitar Studios on November 18, 2009 in New York City. The question should not be why now but, what took you so long? Tommy James & The Shondells - The Best Of Tommy James & The Shondells. Their first appearance as a band was on Clark Races television variety show. Tommy rejects the "bubblegum" label for his music. Also, it's a strict singles compilation, which means that many great songs are bypassed simply because they weren't judged worthy of a single -- and the Shondells pumped out some excellent B-sides. 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James had recorded the tune two years earlier with the short-lived original Shondells lineup. When you listen to our songs you will hear the voices and instruments of Pete, Eddie, Ron and myself. 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". 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), [5] He followed it with "Do Something to Me". The album and single were both released in 1967. The words jumped out at me, and they're not together; they're spread out over three or four verses. Tommy James and the Shondells in 1970 2004. Continuing with our top 10 Tommy James And The Shondells songs list we turn to their Cellophane Symphonyalbum. Born Feb. 27, 1948, in Scottdale, Pa., Gray joined the Shondells in 1965, in. While attending Niles High School in Niles, Michigan, the group released its first single, "Long Pony Tail", in 1962.[5]. (Photo by Don Paulsen/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images) Embed PURCHASE A LICENSE Standard editorial rights Custom rights How can I use this image? document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. 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". A music video was made which showed various scenes of late 1960s political and cultural unrest and imagery of "love and peace".[6]. [5] Tommy James / Tommy James & the Shondells: 04:01 : 16 : Ball of Fire. The song has been included in many television shows and motion pictures. 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. [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. Tommy James & The Shondells - The Best Of Tommy James & The Shondells. 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. Label: Roulette - SR42040, Roulette - SR 42040: . 3:34; The following year, "Hanky Panky" received national distribution and topped the Billboard Hot 100. 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." 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.". 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.