Tommy James' "Greatest Hits Live" album was recorded at the Bitterend nightclub in Greenwich Village, NY.
The act opens with "Draggin' The Line", written by Tommy James and Bob King, which was originally released as a single under the Roulette Record Label in 1971. The song reached the top 40 US Billboard Hot 100 charts and also took the #2 spot on Cashbox Magazine, making it the biggest hit for James as a solo act. The song is a hard driven party-dance tune that borderlines between good old classic Rock N Roll and Psychedelia, in the sense of delivering a lucid-hypnotic feel for a real crowd pleaser. Following with "Crystal Blue Persuasion", a hit song for Tommy James and The Shondells in 1969, peaked at # 2 on the Billboards Pop Single Charts. This beautifully arranged song, tones down the set a bit creating a blissfull & peaceful relaxed state of mind, while holding the energy by keeping it cheerfully upbeat! Picking the crowd back up a notch with another high energy song, comes "Say I Am", a perfect example of some of the earlier soulful-blues, which gets the house shakin and rockin in good spirits!
If you have ever had your heartbroken in having to say goodbye to a temporary good time lover or like to get cozy with your partner on the dance floor and do a little buckle rubbing, the next song "Sugar On Sunday" is a gorgeously written and performed heartfelt melodic tune, that might just be the song that sparks a new flame of the evening for you. While keeping up the pace with "Gettin' Together" and "Tighter Tighter" which play out with great enthusiasm.
Next (one of my very own all time favorites), is one the most impacting songs of the 60's during the height of the Psychedelia phase, that totally tripped out America, as it swept across the nation attaining #1 on the US Billboards Hot 100 in1969, and # 1 in Canada. Although, performed here at the Bitterend slightly different from the original studio version, this song remarkably displays James' perfectionist song writing enhancements and performance skills, as he takes what is basically a classic bubble gum pop song and laces it with peculiar psychedelic trickeratron and sound distortions, including long repeated closing runs of wobbly tremolo vocals, which evokes the feelings of what it might be like to be at an orgy zoonked out on shrooms, while maintaining a gorgeous and charming melodic tune, that you can't help but fall in love with!
My Baby does the.."Hanky Panky"..Oh Yes! Another great classic dating back to 1963, originally written by Jeff Barry and Ellie Greenwich, for their group The Rainbows, as a B side to a single. At which time, was a very simple song that was never expected to do much and didn't! Until Tommy James and the original Shondells, took the song and recorded it for their very first album release as a garage rock song, by picking up the pace with hurling guitar riffs over hard driven drum beats. "Hanky Panky", became a #1 hit in the US, in 1966. The song is still a popular among cover artist to this day, along with many of James' other early songs still being played in nightclubs throughout the world!
"I Think Were Alone Now", brought to James by producers Ritchie Cordell and Bo Gentry, was the 4th smash hit single for Tommy James and The Shondells, recorded in 1967. Another lovely upbeat rhythmic pop song that will warm the heart, while keeping it in the groove... "Mony Mony", those of you whom are familiar with the history of this song, might agree that it is nearly impossible to drive by or think of a Washington Mutual sign, with out feeling the adrenalin rush of the words "Mony Mony" suddenly flowing through your mind with evoked feelings of joy! "Mony Mony" is a great classic, similar in nature to "Hanky Pank" and is perhaps one of the most popular cover artist songs and concrete evidence of how James' songs have passed the test of time in standing up on their own over the decades.
"Sweet Cherry Wine", released in 1969, likewise during the height of the psychedelia era, is one of the most creative songs in this set. The song delivers dreamy intoxicating instrumental arrangements with the use of the hammond organ and brass instruments that flows along nicely, while reflecting James' Christian beliefs with inspiring lyrics of the beauty in love and life in efforts to bring people together, by encouraging them to love and trust in one another and to drink the stimulating "Sweet Cherry Wine" - "The blood of Christ", and to open their minds and allow God into their hearts. All formatted in such a upbeat & cheerful, but yet groovy melody. In which, if one was to remove the lyrics/vocals, it would sound more like an advanced more serious form of a real trippy pychedelic pop song in which one may not associate as being a Christian song. Which makes this song unique and interesting compared to a lot of the Christian/soul songs of the times, and might account for this song ranking #7 on the US charts. Suggesting the huge appeal it must have had, with both the Christian and non-religious spectators. And given the continued popularity of the song in todays society, it still does!
The show comes to a close with "Mirage", a sweet fun paced pop/rock tune, which was released in 1967 on the album "I think We're Alone Now". The song hit number 10 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and #2 on the Canadian charts.
Finishing out the show with "Mony Mony" (reprise).
For those of you interested in hearing an articulately arranged live performance and getting an idea of the full impact of Tommy James' music over the decades, while experiencing the adrenalin pumping hypnotic feelings of love, peace and joy, while taking in a some real live all American musical history, I highly recommend this album!
In addition, this performance was filmed and is available on DVD, which can be purchased for a great price at www.tommyjames.com, amazon and other major outlets!
Reviewed: by Jan (editor)
09/03/09
