This Day In Music History: Tommy James

It was on this date in 1987 that a very unique situation was manifested in the US Billboard Singles Charts. Tommy James had one of his songs, “Mony, Mony” by Bill Idol reach number one. This by itself is not unique but the fact that the week before another of his singles recorded by Tiffany, “I Think We’re Alone Now” was number one is unique!

Tommy James & The Shondells Mony, Mony

It is very unusual for songs written almost twenty years earlier to be back to back number one hits by different recording artists. Tommy James was a great singer and songwriter with may classic American Pop hits. Along with the already mentioned songs, Tommy James wrote and enjoyed success with songs like “Crimson and Clover”, “Hanky Panky” “Crystal Blue Persuasion”, “Draggin’ The Line”  and “Sweet Cherry Wine”. Joan Jett achieved success with her cover version of “Crimson and Clover” as well.

Tommy James was one of the musical artists that was continually in a fight with the recording industry and was left somewhat pennyless with all the hits he penned and recorded with his group The Shondells. It is a shame that this has to happen to artists like Tommy James and others.

Tommy James & The Shondells I Think We’re Alone Now

Enjoy the music videos of Tommy James originals!

The Tommy James Story

“The music of Tommy James is heard continuously, everyday, in every country in the world: on the radio, television or a film soundtrack. To date, he’s sold over 100 million records and has been awarded 23 gold singles plus nine gold and platinum albums…

As of 2011, over 300 artists have recorded their rendition of a Tommy tune (among them Prince, R.E.M, Tom Jones, Cher, and Concrete Blond) or performed his songs in concert (including Bruce Springsteen, Kelly Clarkson, Santana, and Broken Bells).

Over the years, Tommy’s music has graced countless movies, television shows, and advertisements. Notable appearances on the big screen include spots in Forrest Gump, Oliver Stone’s Heaven And Earth, Cape Fear, Don’t Tell Mom The Babysitter’s Dead, We Are Marshall, Pirate Radio, and the 1999 summer blockbuster Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me.” The Official Site of Tommy James & The Shondells

 

DJ Mystical Michael Rhode Island DJ & NY DJ