So yeah, underrated gem or what? The whole album is stacked with great singles (title track, Crystal Blue Persuasion, Sugar on Sunday) without compromising the flow of the album, even with the goofy spoken word bits between each track which sort of adds a bit of charm I have to say. It's like they took Sgt. Pepper's and transformed it into an album people can actually enjoy listening to. It is pretty mind blowing that "Crimson and Clover" did so well as a single, given all of the wah and vibrato treatment.
What say you guys? Sid, you must be down with this, right?
I don't know the album, but I am a huge fan of Tommy James. Wrote some of the best American pop ever.
upload it.
actually nm. read various synopses and this sounds terrible.
An excellent 60's pop band. Guy just knew how to write some great hooks and melodies. Similar caliber output to, say, The Guess Who.
QUOTE (Michael K. @ Oct 18 2009, 12:45 AM) 
actually nm. read various synopses and this sounds terrible.
Yeah thats fine. Don't judge it for yourself.
I had this LP as a kid, never cared much for it. The "long" version of the title track is worthless and "Crystal Blue Persuasion" is horrible, horrible. I seem to recall the original had liner notes by Hubert Humphrey, so it has that going for it I guess.
The band had some incredible singles leading up to that LP - nice fusion of bubblegum pop & garage - but that was the end for them in my opinion. They had a hit or two after, but nothing I would ever want to hear again.
The band had some incredible singles leading up to that LP - nice fusion of bubblegum pop & garage - but that was the end for them in my opinion. They had a hit or two after, but nothing I would ever want to hear again.
Post to add Mony Mony (the single) is amazing, as I've confirmed with recent listens.
QUOTE (Sid Hartha @ Oct 18 2009, 10:58 AM)
I had this LP as a kid, never cared much for it. The "long" version of the title track is worthless and "Crystal Blue Persuasion" is horrible, horrible. I seem to recall the original had liner notes by Hubert Humphrey, so it has that going for it I guess.
The band had some incredible singles leading up to that LP - nice fusion of bubblegum pop & garage - but that was the end for them in my opinion. They had a hit or two after, but nothing I would ever want to hear again.
The band had some incredible singles leading up to that LP - nice fusion of bubblegum pop & garage - but that was the end for them in my opinion. They had a hit or two after, but nothing I would ever want to hear again.
The C&C album is a great fusion of pop and psych experiments IMO. The title track can drag on a bit in my opinion but you have to give them credit for experimenting. Crystal Blue Persuasion is unfuckwithable however and sounds fucking gorgeous on vinyl. Give it another shot Sid. I am sure you can pick up a great copy for $5 or so (I did).
QUOTE (Sid Hartha @ Oct 18 2009, 09:58 AM)
I had this LP as a kid, never cared much for it. The "long" version of the title track is worthless and "Crystal Blue Persuasion" is horrible, horrible. I seem to recall the original had liner notes by Hubert Humphrey, so it has that going for it I guess.
The band had some incredible singles leading up to that LP - nice fusion of bubblegum pop & garage - but that was the end for them in my opinion. They had a hit or two after, but nothing I would ever want to hear again.
The band had some incredible singles leading up to that LP - nice fusion of bubblegum pop & garage - but that was the end for them in my opinion. They had a hit or two after, but nothing I would ever want to hear again.
Really? I think BALL OF FIRE and DRAGGIN' THE LINE (technically credited to James without the Shondells) are two of their best tracks ever.
still haven't heard an album, but various singles by this guy are fucking amazing.
QUOTE (Sid Hartha @ Oct 18 2009, 08:58 AM)
"Crystal Blue Persuasion" is horrible, horrible.
Wow, really?? CBP is one of my favorite songs of all time by anybody.
The second half of "Crimson & Clover" gets draggy and repetitive even in its single edit. I can't imagine ever wanting to listen an even longer version.
I have the 16 track Rhino compilation of Tommy James and the Shondells (with "Draggin' the Line" tacked on). That always seemed to be enough. Great singles band/artist. I would think that if Crimson & Clover was some sort of baroque psych-pop gem along the lines of say Odessey & Oracle it would have been championed by the likes of Mojo by now.
I don't think the record sucks, and I happen to think that the full-on "Crimson and Clover" is one of the better singles of the late '60s, but it's nothing too special. Also, I can't begin to imagine having heard "Crystal Blue Persuasian" and still being able to call it "horrible." To each his/her own, of course, but that sounds whack, to me.
QUOTE (masterofsparks @ Oct 18 2009, 10:22 AM)
QUOTE (Sid Hartha @ Oct 18 2009, 09:58 AM)
I had this LP as a kid, never cared much for it. The "long" version of the title track is worthless and "Crystal Blue Persuasion" is horrible, horrible. I seem to recall the original had liner notes by Hubert Humphrey, so it has that going for it I guess.
The band had some incredible singles leading up to that LP - nice fusion of bubblegum pop & garage - but that was the end for them in my opinion. They had a hit or two after, but nothing I would ever want to hear again.
The band had some incredible singles leading up to that LP - nice fusion of bubblegum pop & garage - but that was the end for them in my opinion. They had a hit or two after, but nothing I would ever want to hear again.
Really? I think BALL OF FIRE and DRAGGIN' THE LINE (technically credited to James without the Shondells) are two of their best tracks ever.
Agree about "Draggin' the Line" and "Ball of Fire," which are solid. I happened to see these guys two years ago for free at an Indiana casino about 50 miles from Cincinnati. Even though almost everybody in the crowd looked to be in their 70s or older, they actually played songs with a lot more energy than I expected.
QUOTE (Bobzilla @ Oct 18 2009, 10:43 AM)
The second half of "Crimson & Clover" gets draggy and repetitive even in its single edit. I can't imagine ever wanting to listen an even longer version.
The single isn't an edit - the longer version is padded with a separate recording, which was edited in. Super lame.
Honestly, I haven't heard this album in ages. I used to hate the Stones' Satanic Majesties as well, so maybe I should reevaluate
but I stand by what I said about "Crystal Blue Persuasion". Absolutely loathsome.
Come to think of it, I've never heard any other original TJ&S LP. The one previous from this, Mony Mony, looks promising. I have the single and even the B-side is excellent.
don't like that "Crystal Blue Persuasion" song at all. sorry.
QUOTE (Sid Hartha @ Oct 18 2009, 02:12 PM)
QUOTE (Bobzilla @ Oct 18 2009, 10:43 AM)
The second half of "Crimson & Clover" gets draggy and repetitive even in its single edit. I can't imagine ever wanting to listen an even longer version.
The single isn't an edit - the longer version is padded with a separate recording, which was edited in. Super lame.
Honestly, I haven't heard this album in ages. I used to hate the Stones' Satanic Majesties as well, so maybe I should reevaluate
but I stand by what I said about "Crystal Blue Persuasion". Absolutely loathsome.
Come to think of it, I've never heard any other original TJ&S LP. The one previous from this, Mony Mony, looks promising. I have the single and even the B-side is excellent.
"Sugar on Sunday" which is on this album as well is a 10 imo. But really, if you do not like Crimson and Clover or CBP, then I would not bother as they really are the two epic anchors of this album. But I have to say, listening to this on a great stereo is fucking revelatory.
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