They plugged the mic into the guitar amp for the effect. When people initially bought the record they would return it and say it was broken but they had to be told the song is supposed to sound that way.
"Crimson and Clover" was recorded in late 1968 in about five hours and is one of the earliest songs recorded on 16-track equipment. Tommy James played most of the instruments, while Mike Vale played bass and Peter Lucia, Jr. played drums. The song contains a tremolo effect on the guitar, set so that it vibrated in time with the song's rhythm. Near the end of the recording, the band had an idea of utilizing the tremolo effect with vocals. To achieve this, the voice microphone was plugged into an Ampeg guitar amplifier with tremolo turned on, and the output from the amplifier was recorded while James sang "Crimson and clover, over and over". en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crimson_and_Clover#Composition_and_recording
Yes, Dragging the line.... but also, Jennifer Juniper by Donovan, and Guinever by Crosby, Stills and Nash. All of those songs have the same vibe as crimson in clover and crystal blue persuasion.
People were getting assassinated back then, and racism and sexism were rampant. But it’s also the Civil Rights/Flower Child Era. You guys changed the world for the better. Salute! 🫡
@@77Creation we had our problems, like every generation has. I was a Texan, but I married a hippie chick from Fresno CA. In Texas we had people who were prejudice against other races, but I wasn't. I didn't understand the motive to hate someone you had never met or knew. I still don't understand it. I'm 66yrs old now, and I let all my prejudice friends go. My best friend lives in Fresno. I actually have more in common in some ways with Californians. However I don't understand their politics at all. But Californians have always treated me good personally. Oh, I'm still married to that hippie chick. It's been 46yrs since we got married.
I was born in 1973 and grew up listening to the same music ... music is timeless. I mean nobody is around who remembers when (for example) Beethoven played his 5th symphony, but we are still listening and enjoying 😉
Born in 61. Thanks to older family members and my mom I have very eclectic tastes in music. I like classical, big band and a bit if everything in between that and rap. Prefer 50's to 80's music though.
Tommy James said in an interview that in 1969 he was vacationing in Hawaii when he got a call from his manager asking him to play at a dairy farm in New York. He laughed and declined the invitation to play there. That dairy farm was the site of Woodstock. He never played it.
That weird voice effect at the end was done by plugging the voice mike into a guitar amp with tremolo turned on. As far as I know, TJ was the first to do it...or at least, the first to record it.
I love how he reacted when that part hits. Everyone whosoever heard this songs reacts to it the same. Millions of people of the years were just "WOW,what am I hearing "!
You’re right on with listening to this in a Mustang, which is what my girl and I would do on Friday and Saturday nights in rural north-central Oklahoma during the ‘60’s. 15 minutes out of town on the end of a high finger ridge where you can see for miles and miles, under a full moon listening to KAKC-Tulsa or even Wolfman Jack on that massive blowtorch channel down on the Tex-Mex border. Love that you are keeping this great music alive; especially the Fifties & Sixties. Never miss any of your reactions and you’re the best I’ve found on the “Tube.”. Keep on keeping great music alive!1
Tommy James and the Shondells have had a massive effect on popular music because so many of there songs have been covered famously. “Crimson and Clover” was covered by Joan Jett, “Mont Mony” was covered by Billy Idol, and “I think We’re Alone Now” was covered by Tiffany.
@@rickybobby6760 I think i am on thr right Place ! I loved and living with music all my life ! And i was young when the Stones and the Beatles started ! C & Clover was a time the musicans started with sound effects ! In the beginnig i liked it also, But if you listen to ie 7 or 10 times ....... ?? No heart - no soul - no feelings - only effects ..... ? ----------------------------------- Its no real !! song -- only effects and i like more the ""Hand - Made -Music "" - !! Listen to ""Sensationel Alex Harvey Band "" -- and you know what i mean ! Or Lynnard Skynnard - or Stones - or Jimi Hendrix !! ============================================ Many freandly greetings --- long live R & R !!
@@malegrissusran8847 Tommy James music is dripping with feeling! His voice is beautiful and full of emotion, the band is top notch and the instrumentation and composition is fantastic, and the effects are used to, well, great effect. All the bands you mentioned used effects. Jimi's music is awash in effects, including fuzz, uni-vibe, wah and octavia. And yet, even if you had his exact setup, and even if you were a helluva guitar player, you wouldn't sound like Jimi, because effects just provide a tonal pallette, it's the musician that makes the music. Hell, even a basic tube amp is really an effect. It has an *effect* on the sound. It amplifies the sound, of course, and also adds overdrive, and usually can control eq to some extent. Even the electronics in the guitar are effects, the volume and tone pots, the different pickups in different positions, etc, all have an effect on sound. Then of course you have the studio effects that are applied when an album is recorded, not to mention mics, overdubs, etc. If you want to get to the nitty gritty, even acoustic instruments have "effects" of a sort -- the shape of an acoustic guitar and size of the soundbox, the tone woods, the strings, etc. And of course whammy bars, harmonics and pinch harmonics, palm muting and the like are all examples of mechanical or natural effects, as is spring, plate or room reverb. But of course when people say effects they mean electronic. Effects just give an artist different sounds to work with, no different than using different instruments. If a musician is good and knows how to work with the different sounds, there is no reason why effects should automatically suck any feeling out of the music. In the hands of good musicians, they rather enhance the feeling. They are another tool in the artist's bag.
Chillin in the backyard with a bombfire...love this. Your reactions are so beautiful. Your music soul is heart-warming..thank you for the new memories..🦋
When I was a little kid my oldest brother got the 45 of Tommy James & The Shondells "Gettin' Together" and he played it all the time. What memories, love that song.
My mother dated him back in school, there is a picture of her with him and my aunt in his book at the record store where they worked and my aunt owned. He used to come over to my grandmothers house when I was a kid.
I used to "dance" to this almost every day with my daughters when they were little. The best times of my life. By the time my son came along I was doing 70 to 80 hour weeks between work and going back to school. I'm pretty sure this needs to be on my funeral list!
My brother and I were very close. He was 10 years older than me, but we both loved music. This was one of our favorite songs. He went into the army during the VietNam war, and I’d cry buckets every time I’d hear this. He died 6 years ago on Veterans Day from pancreatic cancer. Still makes me think of him.
I absolutely love all Tommy James and the Shondels. Draggin the Line should be your next song of theirs. LOL. I can see it being played while we were in the water bed. Good times!!
Jamel. check out "I Think We're Alone Now" by Tommy James & The Shondells... you may have heard the 80's version by Tiffany, but Tommy James owns that song, hands down.
Me being born in '63 I'm very familiar with this song and is one of my oldie favorites. When this was released in in '68 my mom had a red '65 Pontiac Catalina 2+2 convertible with white leather interior and white drop top. It had a factory option of a reverb unit that was mounted in the trunk and when this song would play on the radio it was so amazing to me . Thank you for me literally just reliving those days over 50 years ago.
When you want to hear another unique voice, try David Clayton Thomas, lead singer of Blood, Sweat & Tears, You’ve Made me so Very Happy. Again, late 60s. When you can. Understand the demand on your time. We appreciate you
On the dance floor when Tommy James sang "Crimson and clover, over and over".... in that tremolo/vibrato haunting voice ... it was time to kiss your girl ...
I remember this was one of the songs that was played at our middle school dance back "in the day" and they had strobe lights to it. Far out, man! Groovy, dude! Outasite, man! Can you dig it? This is where I go when I hear this song!
Jamal, you got it exactly correct when you said something about Mustang cars. I am now a 70 years young man, and had this song cranked up full volume, driving in my 1967 rag top Mustang. Totally free with the country air blowing through my shoulder length hair. Those indeed were the days.
I absolutely love everything about this song! It's so great that it's been covered by a slew of artists worldwide, most notably Joan Jett and Prince (R.I.P.). Another Tommy James hit that got a popular cover was "I think we're alone now" by Tiffany back in the 80's. The chord changes, the smooth guitar into distortion, the harmonizing........simply fantastic.
Someone below recommended Time Has Come Today, by The Chambers Brothers. I've requested it to multiple Reactors, but so far no takers. It's a must, though. Please add it to your list.
Yummy, what a luscious song. Tommy kept up with music's changing paces during the times, and so successfully...met him, very gracious man...love him soo much, Love from Pittsburgh Pa.❤️❤️❤️
Thank you Jamal for checking out Crystal blue persuasion first I always thought if all people felt that way it could change the world it's such a beautiful song. And this one 🍀 is close to my heart too. These guy's have lot's more! 🤗😘✌
They sure do! These are some of my favorites: Hanky Panky Mony Mony I Think We're Alone Now Crimson and Clover Mirage Crystal Blue Persuasion Sugar on Sunday Sweet Cherry Wine Ball of Fire Draggin' the Line Run Run Baby Run
I remember hearing this on the transistor radio at Folly Beach, SC in the 1960s when it first came out. Always made me think of the smell of Coppertone suntan lotion, the smell of the salt water, ocean breeze, all of the good things of summer. Lots of mellow music like that and Tommy James was such a talent.
I like this version over any other, as it was the 1ST ,I remember listening to the reverb in his vocals and it BLEW MY FRIGGIN' MIND ! THANKS GOD BLESS STAY SAFE
This is my youth! Loved these guysAND the 60's. Gotta listen and let it go right through me. Thanks for bringing them back. Lots of peace, love and drugs involved in these times. The video is a reflection of this
This band never got the respect they deserved. I absolutely loved them and still do. This song is so hypnotic. I sometimes listen to it on a loop with my eyes closed and miss the old days. God I sound old.
I love Tommy James and the Shondells!! Thanks for listening to them! I've actually danced ballet to this song, and it was so fun! Joan Jett did an excellent version of this too.
Thank You Jamal & Yes it's Part of The Song, This is The Song I Drove our Home Room Teacher Crazy with. as always You be Safe. fr. Canada ✌🇨🇦👊🇨🇦👍🇨🇦👏🇨🇦✌🇨🇦👍🇨🇦👊🇨🇦✌🇨🇦 .
love your expressions, spot on listening to the specifics, no matter how quick/small. Your humanity, push for love, peace and togetherness outshines everything. Wish all the people would follow that. Thanks for your time & effort. A Cherokee "old" woman.
I enjoyed when you first did this reaction! Had to go back for another refill! lol. I've got so many fun memories while listening to Tommy James and the Shondells songs! At the end of this song. There's nothing left to say except.... I'M DROPPING THE MIC! And asking MORE PLEASE?!!! 🙏
Contrary to Tommy's story about how the lyrics were written I got the true story of how the hook "crimson and clover over and over" came to be. The drummer Peter Lucia, who co-wrote the song, was a dear and close friend to our family. Peter had gone to my father to have him build a custom chopper right around the time this song was released. I was only around four years old at that time. Years later Peter told us that he had dropped some acid and went to see his hometown high school football team, Morristown high, play Hopatcong high. Morristown's color was crimson red and Hopatcong was clover green and during the game he came up with that chorus. This all took place in Morris County N.J. by the way.
Classic #1 song! Love it. Saw Tommy James interviewed..He said the title Crimson & Clover existed before the song was written. Crimson is his favourite colour and he loved clover..He thought the two sounded good together. Great song! 😎🎼🎶🎵🇨🇦
A couple good songs around that era are "Incense and Peppermints" by The Strawberry Alarm Clock and "You Keep Me Hangin' On" by Vanilla Fudge. They did a psychedelic spin on the Supremes song. It has your favorite organ sound in that.
That was definitely part of the song. That’s back when musical artists were bold and experimental and made beautiful, interesting music! Love this song!
@Ayden Cook That's good to hear. I'm sure he's getting restless and anxious to start touring again. I keep wondering if and when the movie about Tommy's life will come out... Hopefully soon. 😊
I just went back in time about 40 years!I was like 12 years old and it played at the roller skating rink. And the song Band of Gold, don’t know artist off hand but whenever I hear those two songs I get all warm and happy with the memories. Thanks!
I knew this song from my childhood, then I saw them in a local club well after their heyday. They were great guys, so friendly, great musicians, comfortable in their own skin. Class acts!
Quality tune! Thanks for playing this Jamel, it's great watching you respond to this. You dust off these tunes and breathe new life into them. Peace Brother.
‘KEEP GREAT MUSIC ALIVE’ Shirts and More, Enter Promo Code, ‘Jamel’ jamel-aka-jamal-youtube-store.creator-spring.com
Would you react to comedian Shayne Smith and the alligator robbery from Dry Bar?
Please check out “Marooned” by Pink Floyd
It takes 8 weeks for that to be in Germany, and then I'm at 100 euros with customs
Dude, listen to the song“Saturday night” by the “bay city rollers”, you’ll goof out and have a new favorite song, peace
They plugged the mic into the guitar amp for the effect. When people initially bought the record they would return it and say it was broken but they had to be told the song is supposed to sound that way.
"Crimson and Clover" was recorded in late 1968 in about five hours and is one of the earliest songs recorded on 16-track equipment. Tommy James played most of the instruments, while Mike Vale played bass and Peter Lucia, Jr. played drums. The song contains a tremolo effect on the guitar, set so that it vibrated in time with the song's rhythm. Near the end of the recording, the band had an idea of utilizing the tremolo effect with vocals. To achieve this, the voice microphone was plugged into an Ampeg guitar amplifier with tremolo turned on, and the output from the amplifier was recorded while James sang "Crimson and clover, over and over".
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crimson_and_Clover#Composition_and_recording
Riding my bike with the transistor radio strapped to the handlebars blasting this!
Perfect. Best feeling in the world. Than you for the memories
Me too.
Yes indeed! Best times ever!
That was also my experience.....
Holy F**k I'm old lol
And they had an antenna! LOL.
Adding to the recommendations for "Dragging the Line" by Tommy James and the Shondells.
Indeed.
Yup!
Yes! And The Funky Worm by Ohio Players
"Draggin' the Line " is a must!
Yes, Dragging the line.... but also, Jennifer Juniper by Donovan, and Guinever by Crosby, Stills and Nash. All of those songs have the same vibe as crimson in clover and crystal blue persuasion.
I love old hippie music. I miss the days when people weren't so hateful.
People were getting assassinated back then, and racism and sexism were rampant.
But it’s also the Civil Rights/Flower Child Era. You guys changed the world for the better.
Salute! 🫡
@@77Creation we had our problems, like every generation has. I was a Texan, but I married a hippie chick from Fresno CA. In Texas we had people who were prejudice against other races, but I wasn't. I didn't understand the motive to hate someone you had never met or knew. I still don't understand it. I'm 66yrs old now, and I let all my prejudice friends go. My best friend lives in Fresno. I actually have more in common in some ways with Californians. However I don't understand their politics at all. But Californians have always treated me good personally. Oh, I'm still married to that hippie chick. It's been 46yrs since we got married.
lighten up, francis
@@guacamole8964 I miss funny movies too!
Try Dragging The Line. Tommy is grossly under appreciated and underrated. This is a wild man live. Such intensity.
That is their best ever, IMO.
In the 70's The Archie's ( yes the cartoon) sang Draggin the line!
@@debbylambert3319 The archives on the cartoon is just the singer. Ron Donte. He is currently the fill in lead singer for the Turtles.
I think Tommy played all instruments and sang Dragging theLine.
Draggin the line is my favorite Tommy James song!
Back in the day when music was music and the talent was real.
I'm so glad I was born in late 1953 and grew up in the 60's and 70's listening to great music.
I was born in 1973 and grew up listening to the same music ... music is timeless. I mean nobody is around who remembers when (for example) Beethoven played his
5th symphony, but we are still listening and enjoying 😉
Late 54 here, totally agree!!
Great music!!
Same here. Born in 55!
Born in 61. Thanks to older family members and my mom I have very eclectic tastes in music. I like classical, big band and a bit if everything in between that and rap. Prefer 50's to 80's music though.
This channel is like having someone listen to the music you grew up with and that actually appreciate it. Thx so much for letting us share with you.
Check out his 'Sweet Cherry Wine', 'Church Street Soul Revival', 'I Think We're Alone Now', and 'Draggin' the Line'.
Ooooo, Draggin’ the Line. That brings back memories. 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
crystal Blue Persuasion, Mirage.
The original mony mony
Tommy James said in an interview that in 1969 he was vacationing in Hawaii when he got a call from his manager asking him to play at a dairy farm in New York. He laughed and declined the invitation to play there. That dairy farm was the site of Woodstock. He never played it.
Sometimes you actually have to listen to your manager
I’ll say it again, The Chambers Brothers “Time Has Come Today” needs your attention.
Time!
It's a banger.
Extended version is a must! (Album version, not the 3:00 or 5:00 single)
Yup
The long version is as iconic as it gets. Especially if you need cowbell 🔥
“Draggin’ The Line” ♥️♥️
Draggin' the Line
I love the lyrics of Draggin’ the Line. Simple, fun, free....
Yes, Please.
Yup. Please do. It reminds me of summer, when the traveling amusement park would come to my small town. They used to play this on the Tilt-O-Whirl.
@@racebiketuner Nice. I remember those cool times back in the 70s. Sigh...
Their song Draggin' The Line is a song that sticks with you. One of my favorites from my childhood.
Ahhhh....💖💖💖
They did the original "I Think We're Alone Now". It's great too!
LOVE that song, totally forgot it was theirs. Thanks!
Children behave...
One of my favorites! I had forgotten that one.
I think he was only 17 when they recorded "Hanky Panky."
Yes they did!!!
For a minute, Tommy James was putting out more hits than the Beatles.
AND they were way better than the Beatles. Never liked the Beatles.
Though the Beatles still hold the record for holding the top 5 singles at once.
Let us not forget about Paul Revere & The Raiders. They put out some great music around the same time as Tommy James...
@@RM-ks8pp YES! Let's hear Cherokee Nation by Paul Revere!!!
Especially in 1969
One of those songs that has such an ethereal vibe to it. Gorgeous
the drug-less psychedelic sound of Tommy James was at the beginning of the psychedelic era of hard rock and acid rock.
Clover is marijuana
I'm so happy that you finally got around to Crystal Blue Persuasion and Crimson and Clover.
Takes me back to my early teens.
My favorite song EVER!!!! Gives me chills. Memories...
That weird voice effect at the end was done by plugging the voice mike into a guitar amp with tremolo turned on. As far as I know, TJ was the first to do it...or at least, the first to record it.
I love those early voice effects. Peter Frampton and The Edgar Winter Band were a few other early artists to experiment with stuff like that.
Yup, he was the first.
Tommy James is totally underrated. Belongs in Rock Hall!!!
I love how he reacted when that part hits. Everyone whosoever heard this songs reacts to it the same. Millions of people of the years were just "WOW,what am I hearing "!
£
You’re right on with listening to this in a Mustang, which is what my girl and I would do on Friday and Saturday nights in rural north-central Oklahoma during the ‘60’s. 15 minutes out of town on the end of a high finger ridge where you can see for miles and miles, under a full moon listening to KAKC-Tulsa or even Wolfman Jack on that massive blowtorch channel down on the Tex-Mex border. Love that you are keeping this great music alive; especially the Fifties & Sixties. Never miss any of your reactions and you’re the best I’ve found on the “Tube.”. Keep on keeping great music alive!1
Tommy James and the Shondells have had a massive effect on popular music because so many of there songs have been covered famously. “Crimson and Clover” was covered by Joan Jett, “Mont Mony” was covered by Billy Idol, and “I think We’re Alone Now” was covered by Tiffany.
I played this 'over and over' when I was in high school. Thanks for bringing it back to my mind.
This was a new sound at the time. Of course we were into it.
@@mala3isity
Remember very well !
Crimson & Clover ?? it sucks !!
Only effekts without meaning ....
@@malegrissusran8847 and feeling brother....if you don't get that you came to the wrong place!
@@rickybobby6760
I think i am on thr right Place !
I loved and living with music all my life !
And i was young when the Stones and the Beatles
started ! C & Clover was a time the musicans started
with sound effects ! In the beginnig i liked it also,
But if you listen to ie 7 or 10 times ....... ??
No heart - no soul - no feelings - only effects ..... ?
-----------------------------------
Its no real !! song -- only effects and i like more
the ""Hand - Made -Music "" - !!
Listen to ""Sensationel Alex Harvey Band "" -- and you know
what i mean ! Or Lynnard Skynnard - or Stones - or Jimi Hendrix !!
============================================
Many freandly greetings --- long live R & R !!
@@mala3isity my brothers had all those 45s and id hang out in our basement and play all their records on the record player :)
@@malegrissusran8847 Tommy James music is dripping with feeling! His voice is beautiful and full of emotion, the band is top notch and the instrumentation and composition is fantastic, and the effects are used to, well, great effect.
All the bands you mentioned used effects. Jimi's music is awash in effects, including fuzz, uni-vibe, wah and octavia. And yet, even if you had his exact setup, and even if you were a helluva guitar player, you wouldn't sound like Jimi, because effects just provide a tonal pallette, it's the musician that makes the music.
Hell, even a basic tube amp is really an effect. It has an *effect* on the sound. It amplifies the sound, of course, and also adds overdrive, and usually can control eq to some extent. Even the electronics in the guitar are effects, the volume and tone pots, the different pickups in different positions, etc, all have an effect on sound. Then of course you have the studio effects that are applied when an album is recorded, not to mention mics, overdubs, etc.
If you want to get to the nitty gritty, even acoustic instruments have "effects" of a sort -- the shape of an acoustic guitar and size of the soundbox, the tone woods, the strings, etc. And of course whammy bars, harmonics and pinch harmonics, palm muting and the like are all examples of mechanical or natural effects, as is spring, plate or room reverb. But of course when people say effects they mean electronic.
Effects just give an artist different sounds to work with, no different than using different instruments. If a musician is good and knows how to work with the different sounds, there is no reason why effects should automatically suck any feeling out of the music. In the hands of good musicians, they rather enhance the feeling. They are another tool in the artist's bag.
I would put this song on repeat. Love his voice and style.
Okay Jamel. Now you've got to do "Mony Mony"....The original from Tommy James. :)
Yes! Then the cover by Billy Idol, LOL.
Yup!! Absolutely.
The greatest rock song ever written about a bank.
Yes, please! 😀
Chillin in the backyard with a bombfire...love this. Your reactions are so beautiful. Your music soul is heart-warming..thank you for the new memories..🦋
Truly head candy for those that listen with ear phones or pods. The sounds fade from ear to ear and the separation is incredible. Thank you Jamal.
Ohhh, ASMR 😁
A great song from a great band and I love how you appreciate the old classic songs
Ya, we used to listen to this in my old T-Bird. But usually it was PARKED. :)
Draggin' the Line was Tommy James solo, he played all instruments
I'm feeling real old but good. Love love that song!
One of those songs that always takes me to a place beyond no matter what mood. It’s pure bliss!
Lee Michaels ~ "Do You Know What I Mean"... Great Song.!
Great one!
his organ playing was fantastic too
Definitely. Love that song.
When I was a little kid my oldest brother got the 45 of Tommy James & The Shondells "Gettin' Together" and he played it all the time. What memories, love that song.
FINALLY......MY FAVORITE SONG OF ALL TIME
Jamel ,, Tommy was HIUGE in the late 60s and Early 70s
My mother dated him back in school, there is a picture of her with him and my aunt in his book at the record store where they worked and my aunt owned.
He used to come over to my grandmothers house when I was a kid.
Loved this song since I was a little kid..! Joan Jet did a pretty good cover of this.
I used to "dance" to this almost every day with my daughters when they were little. The best times of my life. By the time my son came along I was doing 70 to 80 hour weeks between work and going back to school. I'm pretty sure this needs to be on my funeral list!
Tommy James solo, Draggin The Line if you haven't already
This song is a whole VIBE!!!!!!! Everything about it is AMAZINGLY authentic
Another oldie but goodie. U should play their song Mony, Mony.
Jamel will recognize that one as its been in commercials and movies
@@TracyfromNC yea ur right
But can we get the Billy Idol version? 😁
You know I got to go listen to Mony, Mony again. Which leads me to "It's Been Awhile" by Staind.?? Don't ask how I got there, LOL!
Billy Idol also echoed this track.
My brother and I were very close. He was 10 years older than me, but we both loved music. This was one of our favorite songs. He went into the army during the VietNam war, and I’d cry buckets every time I’d hear this. He died 6 years ago on Veterans Day from pancreatic cancer. Still makes me think of him.
You dug way down in the vault for that one. Now I feel old. My first slow dance 1965 or so
Tommy James used the "NEW Stereo" effects to the max when stereo recordings began in the 60's that's why it's so prominent in his music.
This wasn't a cruising song, it was a sit in your room get baked and put your head phones on song. Psychedlic pop.
Fr Baked and Shroomies
I absolutely love all Tommy James and the Shondels. Draggin the Line should be your next song of theirs.
LOL. I can see it being played while we were in the water bed. Good times!!
I'm sure everyone will tell you to also check out the Joan Jett cover of Crimson and Clover.
I adore her version as well!
Joan Jett does awesome covers of a lot of songs from that era. She keeps enough of the sound of them, but puts her own STANK on them.
Came here to say this!
Great version, love Joan Jett.
I actually prefer Joan Jett’s cover.
Jamel. check out "I Think We're Alone Now" by Tommy James & The Shondells... you may have heard the 80's version by Tiffany, but Tommy James owns that song, hands down.
Dusty Springfield, Son of a preacher
Yes!
Definitely
Me being born in '63 I'm very familiar with this song and is one of my oldie favorites. When this was released in in '68 my mom had a red '65 Pontiac Catalina 2+2 convertible with white leather interior and white drop top. It had a factory option of a reverb unit that was mounted in the trunk and when this song would play on the radio it was so amazing to me . Thank you for me literally just reliving those days over 50 years ago.
Tommy James & The Shondells were one of the major American groups of the 1960's.
Tommy James just had such a full and pure sound...I was in my early teens with this sound... Timeless...
When you want to hear another unique voice, try David Clayton Thomas, lead singer of Blood, Sweat & Tears, You’ve Made me so Very Happy. Again, late 60s. When you can. Understand the demand on your time. We appreciate you
On the dance floor when Tommy James sang "Crimson and clover, over and over".... in that tremolo/vibrato haunting voice ... it was time to kiss your girl ...
I remember this was one of the songs that was played at our middle school dance back "in the day" and they had strobe lights to it. Far out, man! Groovy, dude! Outasite, man! Can you dig it? This is where I go when I hear this song!
Jamal, you got it exactly correct when you said something about Mustang cars. I am now a 70 years young man, and had this song cranked up full volume, driving in my 1967 rag top Mustang. Totally free with the country air blowing through my shoulder length hair. Those indeed were the days.
Try out Tommy James draggin the line that's one of his biggest hits
Yes it was but this was the biggest hit TJ had
Tommy Roe played Dragging the Line
I absolutely love everything about this song! It's so great that it's been covered by a slew of artists worldwide, most notably Joan Jett and Prince (R.I.P.). Another Tommy James hit that got a popular cover was "I think we're alone now" by Tiffany back in the 80's. The chord changes, the smooth guitar into distortion, the harmonizing........simply fantastic.
“Draggin’ The Line”, “Mony, Mony” and “Hanky Panky”
How did "Hanky Panky" get past the censors? lol My baby does the hanky panky...
What a sweet, gorgeous song. Unique in an era when nearly everything else had been tried. These guys were SO good. This is precious in its beauty.
Someone below recommended Time Has Come Today, by The Chambers Brothers. I've requested it to multiple Reactors, but so far no takers. It's a must, though. Please add it to your list.
Yummy, what a luscious song. Tommy kept up with music's changing paces during the times, and so successfully...met him, very gracious man...love him soo much, Love from Pittsburgh Pa.❤️❤️❤️
Thank you Jamal for checking out Crystal blue persuasion first I always thought if all people felt that way it could change the world it's such a beautiful song. And this one 🍀 is close to my heart too. These guy's have lot's more! 🤗😘✌
They sure do! These are some of my favorites:
Hanky Panky
Mony Mony
I Think We're Alone Now
Crimson and Clover
Mirage
Crystal Blue Persuasion
Sugar on Sunday
Sweet Cherry Wine
Ball of Fire
Draggin' the Line
Run Run Baby Run
@@NickButterfield1N3Y3533K4Y I love your list!! ❤
I was a senior in high school and heard this song a lot. Class of 1969
"Draggin the line" is my favorite TJ & the Shondells track.
I remember hearing this on the transistor radio at Folly Beach, SC in the 1960s when it first came out. Always made me think of the smell of Coppertone suntan lotion, the smell of the salt water, ocean breeze, all of the good things of summer. Lots of mellow music like that and Tommy James was such a talent.
I like this version over any other, as it was the 1ST ,I remember listening to the reverb in his vocals and it BLEW MY FRIGGIN' MIND !
THANKS
GOD BLESS
STAY SAFE
This is my youth! Loved these guysAND the 60's. Gotta listen and let it go right through me. Thanks for bringing them back. Lots of peace, love and drugs involved in these times. The video is a reflection of this
I’ve seen everyone request every other Tommy James song except “Mirage.” One of my favs
Yep. I Think We're Alone Now backwards.
This band never got the respect they deserved. I absolutely loved them and still do. This song is so hypnotic. I sometimes listen to it on a loop with my eyes closed and miss the old days. God I sound old.
Tommy James and the Shondells... Sugar on Sunday
Sugar, Sugar is by The Archie's
Sugar On Sunday is Tommy James song too
@@coveredbridgeman4916 ! The Archie's did their own cover of Draggin The Line on their cartoon.
I love Tommy James and the Shondells!! Thanks for listening to them! I've actually danced ballet to this song, and it was so fun! Joan Jett did an excellent version of this too.
Jamal I love you, I'm ill in a Nursing home and everyone is double my age. You keep me young!!! Check out Joan Jett version. X
💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖
Peace and Love to you Lorraine. Jamal is well known
Jamal's reactions are the best medicine of all!
Glad you can come join us here. Jamal gives great genuine reactions, and it's so much fun to introduce him to new recordings. 💞💞💞
Lorraine Smallwoods, Get well soon, then you can do as David Bowie said: "Let's Dance". ( I too am in a nursing home\center )
LOVE ALL the hits from Tommy James and The Shondells, Crimson and Clover being the BEST!!! Just a dreamy song, yes, that was part of the song....
Thank You Jamal & Yes it's Part of The Song, This is The Song I Drove our Home Room Teacher Crazy with.
as always You be Safe.
fr. Canada ✌🇨🇦👊🇨🇦👍🇨🇦👏🇨🇦✌🇨🇦👍🇨🇦👊🇨🇦✌🇨🇦 .
love your expressions, spot on listening to the specifics, no matter how quick/small. Your humanity, push for love, peace and togetherness outshines everything. Wish all the people would follow that. Thanks for your time & effort. A Cherokee "old" woman.
You should check out the "Hollies", "He ain't Heavy, he's my brother"
I enjoyed when you first did this reaction! Had to go back for another refill! lol.
I've got so many fun memories while listening to Tommy James and the Shondells songs! At the end of this song. There's nothing left to say except....
I'M DROPPING THE MIC! And asking
MORE PLEASE?!!! 🙏
You best not tell Jamal to do Joan Jetts cover of C&C When we could hear Tommy's I Think We're Alone Now and Draggin' The Line
I saw this group in 1983 when I was 28, still one of my favorites
The repeating bass riff in Draggin The Line is as funky a groove as you can get in a non-funk song!
Oh yeah, that's part of the song. I grew up with this music. So glad you take the time to react to this old music!!! Thank you!!!
His music ruled my summers as a kid in the late 60s! He has an amazing backstory if you’d ever care to read up on it.
This song was a HUGE smash hit, reaching No1 in the US and many other nations. I remember it being played on the radio over and over. We loved it!
Contrary to Tommy's story about how the lyrics were written I got the true story of how the hook "crimson and clover over and over" came to be. The drummer Peter Lucia, who co-wrote the song, was a dear and close friend to our family. Peter had gone to my father to have him build a custom chopper right around the time this song was released. I was only around four years old at that time. Years later Peter told us that he had dropped some acid and went to see his hometown high school football team, Morristown high, play Hopatcong high. Morristown's color was crimson red and Hopatcong was clover green and during the game he came up with that chorus. This all took place in Morris County N.J. by the way.
Sometimes knowing the backstory completely ruins the song for people; especially when they always thought is was a romantic song. 😔
Oh well.
Classic #1 song! Love it. Saw Tommy James interviewed..He said the title Crimson & Clover existed before the song was written. Crimson is his favourite colour and he loved clover..He thought the two sounded good together. Great song! 😎🎼🎶🎵🇨🇦
Kenny Rogers' "Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Condition Was In) is in a similar vein.
Anything by this group is great, and ahead of their time .
A couple good songs around that era are "Incense and Peppermints" by The Strawberry Alarm Clock and "You Keep Me Hangin' On" by Vanilla Fudge. They did a psychedelic spin on the Supremes song. It has your favorite organ sound in that.
That was definitely part of the song. That’s back when musical artists were bold and experimental and made beautiful, interesting music! Love this song!
Tommy James is still touring. He is playing a show in Greensburg Pa in September. Rescheduled from last year.
@Ayden Cook That's good to hear. I'm sure he's getting restless and anxious to start touring again. I keep wondering if and when the movie about Tommy's life will come out... Hopefully soon. 😊
He's also got a show on the 60s channel on SiriusXM; I think it's on Sunday nights.
@@formica565 Yes he does. It's called Getting Together.
I’ve heard this song at least several hundred times on the radio, but never with headphones on. Thanks for reacting to this!
I remember Joan Jett & The Blackhearts version when I was in Jr. high. Like others have said you should check out her version.
I just went back in time about 40 years!I was like 12 years old and it played at the roller skating rink. And the song Band of Gold, don’t know artist off hand but whenever I hear those two songs I get all warm and happy with the memories. Thanks!
That was part of the music. The vocals were probably mixed through a Leslie. Cool effect.
I knew this song from my childhood, then I saw them in a local club well after their heyday. They were great guys, so friendly, great musicians, comfortable in their own skin. Class acts!
Quality tune! Thanks for playing this Jamel, it's great watching you respond to this. You dust off these tunes and breathe new life into them. Peace Brother.