Crimson & Clover (album)

Crimson & Clover is the sixth album by Tommy James and the Shondells. It features the #1 hit "Crimson and Clover"[2] as well as the #2 hit "Crystal Blue Persuasion".[3] The album "Crimson & Clover", was released in December 1968[4] and reached a peak of #8 on the Billboard 200.[5]

Crimson & Clover
Studio album by Tommy James and the Shondells
Released	December 1968
Recorded	1968
Genre	Psychedelic rock, acid rock, pop rock
Length	28:24
Label	Roulette 42023
Producer	Tommy James and the Shondells
Tommy James and the Shondells chronology
Mony Mony (1968) Crimson & Clover (1968) Cellophane Symphony (1969)
Singles from Crimson & Clover
"Do Something to Me" Released: October 1968 "Crimson and Clover" Released: November 1968 "Crystal Blue Persuasion" Released: June 1969

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[1]

Based on suggestions from radio stations the group chose to create an extended five-and-a-half minute long version of the title song for the album. The first two verses were copied without lead vocals, and then overdubbed with guitar solos by Shondells guitarist Ed Gray using steel guitars and fuzz guitars, as well as an extended one-minute wah-wah pedal finish. During tape copying a slight speed error was inadvertently introduced. This resulted in a small drop in pitch during the new guitar solo sections, which went unfixed.[6][7]

The group had toured with Vice President Hubert Humphrey during his 1968 presidential campaign. Humphrey showed his appreciation by writing the liner notes for the Crimson and Clover album.

CD re-release

The version of Crimson and Clover on the 1991 "Crimson and Clover/Cellophane Symphony" CD is the same as the original album version; however, digital technology was used to fix the speed and pitch error mistake made in 1968. The CD booklet states that "Crimson and Clover" is now as it was "meant to be heard," and that Tommy James is "very satisfied" with the reissue of the recordings in CD format.

Track listing

No.	Title	Writer	Length
1.	"Crimson and Clover"	Tommy James, Peter Lucia	5:32
2.	"Kathleen McArthur"	Tommy James, Mike Vale	2:42
3.	"I'm a Tangerine"	Tommy James, Peter Lucia	3:36
4.	"Do Something to Me"	Jimmy Calvert, Norman Marzano, Paul Naumann	2:31
5.	"Crystal Blue Persuasion"	Eddie Gray, Tommy James, Mike Vale	4:02
6.	"Sugar on Sunday"	Tommy James, Mike Vale	3:23
7.	"Breakaway"	Tommy James, Mike Vale	2:45
8.	"Smokey Roads"	Tommy James	2:51
9.	"I'm Alive"	Tommy James, Peter Lucia	3:15
10.	"Crimson and Clover (reprise)"	Tommy James, Peter Lucia	1:03

Personnel

Adapted from AllMusic.[8]

• Eddie Gray – guitar, background vocals
• Bill Inglot – engineer (CD remastering)
• Tommy James – lead vocals, guitar, keyboards, producer
• Peter Lucia – drums, percussion, background vocals
• Ken Perry – engineer (CD remastering)
• Ron Rosman – keyboards, background vocals
• Michael Thom – liner notes
• Mike Vale – bass, background vocals

Charts

Album

Year	Chart	Peak Position
1969	Billboard 200	8

Singles

Year	Single	Chart	Peak Position
1968	"Do Something to Me"	Billboard Hot 100	38
	"Crimson and Clover"		1
1969	"Crystal Blue Persuasion"		2
		Adult Contemporary Chart	27

References

1. Crimson & Clover at AllMusic
2. Tommy James and the Shondells, "Crimson and Clover" Chart Position Retrieved February 7, 2015
3. Tommy James and the Shondells, "Crystal Blue Persuasion" Chart Position Retrieved February 7, 2015
4. James, Tommy (16 February 2010). Me, the Mob, and the Music: One Helluva Ride with Tommy James & The Shondells. New York: Scribner. ISBN 978-1-4391-2865-7.
5. Tommy James and the Shondells, Mony Mony Retrieved February 7, 2015
6. "Crimson & Clover and Cellophane Symphony". Angelfire.com. Retrieved 2012-01-05.
7. Me, the Mob, and the Music: One Helluva Ride with Tommy James and the Shondells
8. "Crimson & Clover/Cellophane Symphony – Tommy James & the Shondells | Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 24 December 2016.

External links

• The Official Site of Tommy James and the Shondells