Saturday June 5, 2021 “Crystal Blue Persuasion” Tommy James and the Shondells
Please don’t dismiss Tommy James & the Shondells based on their trivial early hits like “Mony Mony” or “Hanky Panky '' although they are great sing-along tunes since they both have very few words.
James and his Shondells would write, produce and arrange fourteen top forty hits including some of the most frequently covered songs like the aforementioned “Mony Mony” and “Hanky Panky” as well as “Crimson & Clover” and “I Think We’re Alone Now” which all delivered sizeable hits for those covering artists.
Tommy James recorded for Roulette Records which was run by Morris Levy who had some very close ties with a variety of crime syndicates and a reputation for extreme unpleasantness, but he liked Tommy because he was so successful. Tommy James recounted a story about an early show in a small club after which the owner of the club told Tommy he couldn’t pay the band because there were not enough tickets sold, which Jmaes knew to be false.
After some discussion, James said he needed to call his manager Morris Levy to tell him what had transpired. The club owner's face went pale and he immediately opened the drawer of his desk and paid Tommy what had been agreed upon, in cash.
Enjoy this pleasantly psychedelic tune about the drug, crystal blue...wait, no...this is actually a religious tune that Tommy James wrote as he was converting to Christianity and the crystal blue is right out of the imagery of chapter 19 of the Book of Revelation. Sorry.
Stay safe and well...and let's look for some crystal blue persuasion where in every nation there'll be peace and good and brotherhood