From 1966 to 1970 not many Pop rock artists put out as many hits as Tommy James and the Shondells did. With classic Pop rock singles like Crimson and Clover, Mony Mony, Crystal Blue Persuasion, Hanky Panky and I Think We’re Alone Now which peaked at number 4 in the American singles charts. These songs have even become hits in later years for other artists that covered them. For this week we will focus on I Think We’re Alone Now because it is so hard to stay still while listening to the masterful rhythm section playing that is the backbone of the song.
Like many of these type artists back then Tommy James gets all the attention and fame but the work of musicians like the late Peter Lucia on drums and bass & piano players Mike Vale and George Magura, guitarist Ed Gray and organ player Ronnie Rosman and with other people or group members help in writing the songs or James might not have gotten so big.
One thing I did find interesting is that on Wikipedia for the 1967 album I Think We’re Alone Now the above musicians are credited with the song but when you look up the single version of I Think We’re Alone Now it says that James and Gray are the only regular musicians used on the single with session musicians doing the rest. However when looking up the session musicians music logs none of them list being on this song. Maybe if one of you music experts out there can give me a answer to this dilemma I would appreciate it. If the session musicians did play on this song I would like to give credit due to them.
Written by the late songwriter Ritchie Cordell the song tells a tell of a younger persons love for somebody and having to hide it from the adults.
“Children, behave”
That’s what they say when we’re together
“And watch how you play”
They don’t understand…
As for last weeks movie question the movie was Swing Vote and I still can not figure out how a song written about Lennon’s death (Murder) has to do with the movie.
Forgotten Rock Classics 