Music from the yesterdays and today!

Tommy James, has been gracefully recording and distributing glorious music for over 40 years and to date has sold over 100 million records, including 23 gold singles, and nine gold and platinum albums.  James' is still going strong today, producing and performing live shows with matured excellence & perpetual demand!

40 YEARS THE COMPLETE SINGLES COLLECTION (1966 - 2006), is a beautiful 2 disc collectors set in celebration of Tommy James and the Shondells 40th anniversary. In special tribute to the loving memory of their missing drummer and dear friend Peter Lucia (1947-1987).  The set consists of all 47 of Tommy James' fabulous singles, with many original mono single versions.  In addition, a special bonus track of Tommy James' very first single "PONY TAIL", recorded in 1962.

Included in this collection are all of Tommy James and the Shondells greatest hits from the Sixties, starting with their premier single "HANKY PANKY", a quirky crowd gratifying party song that soared to the top of the charts ranking #1 and achieving gold, just four weeks after it's release in July of 1966.  Followed by their next two million-sellers "SAY I AM", and "IT'S ONLY LOVE".  The fourth hit single "I THINK WE'RE ALONE NOW",  which scored #4 on the US Billboard Hot 100 charts, during a 17 week stay, while peaking at #6 in Canada. Backed with "MIRAGE" (chords and structure of "I Think We're Alone Now" played backwards), producing a brilliant  pop gem that hit #10 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and #2 on the Canadian charts.  Trailing with 5 more consecutive gold singles "I LIKE THE WAY", "GETTIN' TOGETHER", "OUT OF THE BLUE", "GET OUT NOW", and "MONY MONY",  peaking at #3 in US, #3 in UK and #3 in Canada.

By 1968,  major signs of changes in the styles and approach in making music began to progress, as competitive young bands began to venture beyond the simple pop formulas with  improved amplification and sound manipulation devices, inspiring a cool new groove of trippy music that later became known as psychedelia.  Tommy James and the Shondells released a gorgeous triple platinum album "CRIMSON AND CLOVER" yielding three more gigantic hits, marking the groups arrivial in this new style of music with "CRIMSON AND CLOVER",  "DO SOMETHING TO ME", and "CRYSTAL BLUE PERSUASION".

1969 brought yet another gold strike with "SWEET CHERRY WINE", a gorgeous song that embraces love & peace, anti-war and the counterculture in an inspiring upbeat soulful melody.  Followed by "BALL OF FIRE", which to date has sold over ten million copies. Next comes a couple gems from another astonishing album called 'TRAVELIN",  bringing two more hit singles "SHE", and "GOTTA GET BACK TO YOU".

Although Tommy James and the Shondells were soaring along in high pace gracing the charts with glorious hit after hit, living the musicians all amercian dream. The constant recording and touring was beginning to take it's toll. Tommy and the group decided to temporarily take a break. But unintentionally, over the duration of this leave, their lives began to follow different directions and the group disbanded.

Tommy James returned with a his new band "Neon". releasing his first solo album simply titled "Tommy James" (1970), which contained the last Tommy James and the Shondells hit "COME TO ME", along with Tommy's first solo charting single 'BALL AND CHAIN".  Over the next 18 months, came two more albums "CHRISTIAN OF THE WORLD" AND MY HEAD MY BED MY RED GUITAR".  The two albums combined put Tommy on the singles charts six more times with "CHURCH STREET SOUL REVIVIAL", ADRIENNE, I'M COMIN' HOME, NOTHING TO HIDE, TELL 'EM WILLIE BOY'S A COMIN and the MEGA-HIT "DRAGGIN' THE LINE".

Tommy's next five consequative charting singles "CAT'S EYE IN THE WINDOW", "LOVE SONG", "CELEBRATION", BOO BOO DON'T CHA BE BLUE", AND "CALICO", were his last recordings, before ending his long journey with Roulette Records.
 
Next we have "GLORY GLORY",  the only single James' recorded for MCA in late 1974, prior to his heading off to California to sign on with Fantasy Records, to  broaden his horizons with a new "hard pop" style of music. At which time, Tommy released his first album under the Fantasy label titled "In Touch", featuring the Tower of Power horn section and popular rock band Earthquake.  Which brings to us two more great hits. Including a cover single of Gary Glitter's "I LOVE YOU LOVE ME", and a ballad version of "TIGHTER TIGHTER". Followed by a second album "MIDNIGHT RIDER" (1977), rejoining Tommy with the legendary songwriter Jeff Barry, who wrote Tommy James and the Shondells, very first hit "HANKY PANKY". The single from this album was "LOVE IS GONNA FIND THE WAY",  a soft rock song featuring Michael McDonald (Dobbie Brothers), Timothy B. Achmidt (Poco, Eagles), and Chris Staehely (Spirit) on background vocals.

In 1972 Tommy returned to NYC and signed with Millennium Records and along came the next single "THREE TIMES IN LOVE", released in 1981 ranking #1. Followed by two more charting singles "YOU GOT ME" and "YOU'RE SO EASY TO LOVE". Completing another golden decade with his release of the album "HiFi" in 1989, with singles "GO" and "YOU TAKE MY BREATHE AWAY".

In the early 90's, Tommy founded his own label AURA RECORDS, and in 1995 reunited with producer Jimmy Wiser and recorded his first new album release under Aura titled "A Night In Big City", spawning the single "WHO DO YOU LOVE", receiving generous airplay & charting in numerous markets. 

Tommy released his first "live" album in 1997, "TOMMY JAMES AND THE SHONDELLS GREATEST HITS LIVE", recorded at The Bitterend, located in the historic Greenwich Village, NY. The album was released on both CD and DVD and became a monster hit with both radio and retail, bringing Tommy's music into a new millennium.

In 2004, Tommy released the single "I LOVE CHRISTMAS", the song has been played on over 3000 radio stations, becoming one of the most played songs. Next came the release of the album "Hold the Fire", producing another batch of new singles, including his gospel version of "SWEET CHERRY WINE", "ISN'T THAT THE GUY", and 'HOLD THE FIRE", which reached #2, along with "LOVE WORDS" going to #1, nearly 40 years to the day after Tommy James and the Shondells first release of "HANKY PANKY" made it's #1 ranked debut.

The last song on this album is a bonus track "LONG PONY TAIL", recorded  by Tommy and his first group Tom and the Tornadoes in 1962. This song is a classic late 50's -early 60's Rock N Roll swing, that is surely to be appreciated!

This two disc set, is the complete  paramount collectors set that has it all, from the early swing, sweet bubble gum pop, psychedelic, hard pop, classic rock, dance-party beats with quirky romantic hooks,  to inspirational Christian & soul songs embracing love and peace, and more..

James' himself has had thirteen charting solo singles. But, don't close the curtain on him just yet folks! Tommy and the "orginal" Shondells - Mike Vale, Eddie Gray, and Ron Rosman have reunited and are back in the studio making music together with all new projects in the works.. So be prepared to fasten your seat belts, before the next earth-shaking  blast hits!

Jan (editor)