Tommy James & the Shondells were lucky enough to be making pop-oriented rock & roll in an era when most of the rest of the rock music world was trying to make more serious records and even create art . The group members themselves were having the time of their lives playing concerts, making personal appearances, and experimenting with advancing their sound in the studio. Audiences loved their work and their records, and it only seemed to get better.
Their songs ran almost counter to the trend among serious rock artists. "Mony Mony," a number three hit coming out in the midst of Vietnam, the psychedelic boom, and just as rock music was supposed to be turning toward higher, more serious forms, was a result of the group looking for a perfect party record and dance tune.
The group did grab a piece of the prevailing style in late 1968 with "Crimson and Clover," an original by James and drummer Peter Lucia that utilized some creative sound distortion techniques. A number one hit that sold five million copies, it was the biggest single of the group's history and yielded a highly successful follow-up LP as well
The song features a tremolo effect on the guitar and an ending section with a tremolo effect on the vocals.
It spent 16 weeks on the U.S. charts, reaching number-one in the United States and other countries. The single has sold at least 5 and a half million copies, making it Tommy James and the Shondells' best-selling song. An extended version was released on the eponymously titled Crimson and Clover, and the song has been covered by many artists such as Joan Jett.
In 2006, Pitchfork Media named it the 57th best song of the 1960s.
"The above text is a mushup from AllMusic.com & Wikipedia."
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