Tommy James started his first band when he was 12 and went on to have a career in music that produced many classic songs over three decades. His first try was prematurely truncated when the group’s first single, “Hanky Panky,” didn’t chart because of poor distribution. The Shondells disbanded for a while until 1966 when a radio station in Pennsylvania started playing the song and demand for it grew. James traveled east to promote the song with a team of new Shondells (the old Shondelles weren’t interested) and quickly started releasing other hit singles, like “I Think We’re Alone Now,” “Mirage” and “Getting Together.”

The group used a rougher sound for 1968’s “Mony Mony,” heavy on the drumbeats that propelled the song to #3 in the charts. They followed that with the psychedelic “Crimson and Clover,” which went all the way to the top and became their greatest hit. The Shondells stuck with the psychedelic sound and released “Sweet Cherry Wine” next, a Top 10 success. “Crystal Blue Persuasion” was a mellow tune with a memorable flamenco guitar and it rose to the #2 spot.

In 1970, James left the Shondells for a solo career but the group—now named Hog Heaven—continued to record and tour without him. James released a solo Top 10 hit, “Draggin’ The Line,” and recorded other singles as well, sometimes with the ex-Shondells.

Any oldies station worth its salt will play Tommy James and the Shondells at least once a day. Their songs proved influential to a new generation of artists, like Joan Jett who had a Top 10 hit with her cover of “Crimson and Clover” in 1982. In 1987, perky teen chanteuse Tiffany took over the #1 spot with “I Think We’re Alone Now,” only to be supplanted by Billy Idol and his cover of “Mony Mony.”