7 hit single "Tighter, Tighter" for the group Alive N Kickin'. The song peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States.Crystal Blue Persuasion,was written by Eddie Gray, Tommy James, Mike Vale. 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. Label: Roulette - CLVLXR 453: Series: . In 1987 the U.S. and UK pop charts had something of a Shondells renaissance: Tiffany's "I Think We're Alone Now" was bumped off the top of the Billboard Hot 100 by Billy Idol's take on "Mony Mony." What time does normal church end on Sunday? 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. Vale was a co-writer for many of the Shondells hits, but the Tommy Jones team has largely erased the members of the Raconteurs from the bands history. The record was released in 1969. In 2012 "Crystal Blue Persuasion" was used in the eighth episode of Season 5 of Breaking Bad, "Gliding Over All", during a montage depicting the process involved to bring main character Walter White's methamphetamine operation and its signature blue crystal meth to an international level. 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." Small $175.00 Medium $375.00 Large The latest is his "In My Dreams" album on Slamtrack Records. The Raconteurs, not to be confused with the modern Jack White-affiliated band, were a bar band from Latrobe, PA. We took a long ride, and it was very successful, said Vale. The song was nowhere as successful as the title track. It would be tough to argue against Crystal Blue Persuasion, standing as one of the most wonderful 1960s songs ever released. 10 hit "Mirage". 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. We would have to be hidden.. Vale, who grew up in the coal mining town of Salemville, was studying to be a mechanical engineer. They also released 12 albums, 2 of which were certified platinum. "We have been asked countless times over the years by friends and fans, when are you guys going get out and play together again", Mike Vale, Bass Player and songwriter with the group said. The album was a blazing success. The record was released in January of 1969. The song reached the number four position on the Billboard Hot 100. Their first appearance as a band was on Clark Races television variety show. 1, All Time Greatest Hits: Live at the Bitter End, Greatest Hits of the '60s, Vol. They recruited their longtime friend and drummer Mike Wilps to replace the late Peter Lucia. 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. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. They were very proud, Vale said. 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. My mom was with him. $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. 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.". 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. Vale and Gray co-wrote Crystal Blue Persuasion with James, a song that prominently featured Vales bass guitar between the bridge and the third verse of the song. Devo founders Mark Mothersbaugh and Jerry Casale take us into their world of subversive performance art. 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. Other health issues, including a triple bypass, helped make up Vales mind. 95.7fm WELT is a non-commercial, listener-sponsored, member-controlled community radio station licensed by the FCC to broadcast within Allen County. Billboard Mainstream Music Charts. There remains disagreement over the role of Metrovich in the recording. . 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. From the spring of 1966 through 1970, while signed to New York based Roulette Records, Tommy James And The Shondells released 20 Singles, all of which charted nationally and 10 of which were certified gold. The Shondells [US1] Tommy James and The Shondells Tommy James & The Shondells Real name Thomas Gregory Jackson Born April 29, 1947 Country United States . Meanwhile, in 1965, Pittsburgh dance promoter Bob Mack had unearthed the forgotten single "Hanky Panky", playing it at various dance parties, and radio stations there touted it as an "exclusive". "" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory. The impact of the late 1960s psychedelic and progressive rock movements seemed to inspire the modest . Tommy James & The Shondells "Crimson & Clover" on The Ed Sullivan Show on January 26, 1969. Ad. Read Full Biography Overview Biography Discography Songs Credits Awards Related All Songs (1-100 of 625) Highlights All Songs 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Next AllMusic Quiz Tommy James / Tommy James & the Shondells: 04:01 : 16 : Ball of Fire. 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. A Greenwich Village nightclub appearance was filmed and released as Tommy James & the Shondells: Live! [4] In Canada, the song spent one week at number one. 1 in 1968. When Mack finally tracked down Tommy James in Niles, Michigan where the song was recorded, James told him The Shondells were no more. That wasnt the music we listened to, said Rosman. Ron Rosman has remained very active recording and performing Gospel Music including his latest album, "My Offering". He said, I want to play a song for you thats going to be No. Gettin Together was released on the bands album of the same name entitled Gettin Together. A big list of musical marriages and family relations ranging from the simple to the truly dysfunctional. Small $175.00 Tommy James and the Shondells sang Crimson and Clover released When he told his parents he was moving to New York to work with a rock n roll band, they were not pleased. The title of the song is referenced in the song "He Do the Police in Different Voices", the opening track from the 1993 album Plants and Birds and Rocks and Things by The Loud Family. 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. What is wrong with reporter Susan Raff's arm on WFSB news? Tommy James & The Shondells - The Best Of Tommy James & The Shondells. Bottom: Mike Vale and Tommy James. Written-By - Ed Gray*, Mike Vale, Tommy James. CREATIVE. In 1979, music writer Dave Marsh described it as "a transparent allegory about James' involvement with amphetamines."[3]. 45 years have past since Mike Vale, Ron Rosman and Eddie Gray, original members of the group have shared a concert stage. TribLIVE's Daily and Weekly email newsletters deliver the news you want and information you need, right to your inbox. 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 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. They always give the highest spot to the bass player, he joked. In February 1964 the band recorded the Jeff BarryEllie Greenwich song "Hanky Panky" (originally a B-side by the Raindrops[6]). However, James was labeled as a bubblegum pop artist, which he hated. The group released only two more albums after Crimson and Clover. Sites: thecrystalblueband.com, stellarprecision.com In Groups: Ad. They disbanded in 1970. Crimson and Clover, was Tommy James And The Shondells second number one single. What happened to Eddie Grey of Tommy James and the shondells? 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. More Images. For single release, the Shondells shortened the title cut to their 1969 album. 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. In a 1970 side project, James wrote and produced the No. Its that one go to song when you need to get the party jumping. The new group, Hog Heaven, recorded an album but wasnt nearly as successful as the Shondells had been. In 1966, TommyJames and the Shondellsreleased their first official album entitled Hanky Panky. Produced by James himself, it's authoritative and includes great remastering as well as the original mono single versions of each early hit. 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: Who sang the song 'I Think We're. Top, left to right: Eddie Gray, Ron Rosman and Peter Lucia. 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. Tommy James and the Shondells Where and when: Community Theatre at Mayo Center for the Performing Arts, 100 South St., Morristown, Sept. 18 at 8 p.m.; House of Blues at Showboat, 801 Boardwalk . This station is part of Cox Media Group Television. 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! The next group of songs on this Top 10 Tommy James And The Shondells Songs list feature five of the bands biggest hits. More images. This page was last edited on 29 April 2023, at 16:04. The Pittsburgh Steelers provided quarterback Kenny Pickett with some needed protection, trading up to acquire offensive tackle Broderick Jones of Georgia with the 14th pick in the NFL draft. 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.