Help: Remember Tommy James & the Shondells?

Subject: RE: Help: Remember Tommy James & the Shondells?
From: M.Ted
Date: 12 May 01 - 01:26 AM

That would be good--very good--you both can send me contact info,if that's OK, by PM-- this trip will be only a day or two, but--

Ivan, I worked mostly the run from Detroit thru AA to Niles, but in the years mentioned above--Mick, from the little I've heard about your activities, we may know of a few people in common, outside the music realm--

Subject: RE: Help: Remember Tommy James & the Shondells?
From: richlmo
Date: 11 May 01 - 11:48 PM

I seem to remember a story about Tommy James touring and the Shondells were local musicians that were found a few weeks before his show dates. The music was pretty basic and I don't remember any real lead breaks. Anyone else ever hear that story?

Subject: RE: Help: Remember Tommy James & the Shondells?
From: Big Mick
Date: 11 May 01 - 11:15 PM

M. Ted, you must let us know when you come back. I am only about an hour from Lansing and Ivan live there. We should meet for a pop and some music. And, of course, the obligatory trip to heaven, otherwise known as Elderly Instruments.

Subject: RE: Help: Remember Tommy James & the Shondells?
From: IvanB
Date: 11 May 01 - 10:48 PM

M.Ted, never took Amtrak from Lansing. Used to take the train from Ann Arbor to Niles back in my college days.

Subject: RE: Help: Remember Tommy James & the Shondells?
From: M.Ted
Date: 11 May 01 - 10:01 PM

Ivan,

Do you ever take the train back to Niles? I worked on the Amtrak trains for the State from 75-77--I used to turn around at Niles, so I was there as often as three or four times a week--

Subject: RE: Help: Remember Tommy James & the Shondells?
From: IvanB
Date: 11 May 01 - 09:28 PM

Interesting thread that I came to late. I graduated from Niles High in 1958. I didn't know Tommy James, but my ex-sister-in-law did. I can't remember if she was in the same class or not, but he was more a contemporary of hers. She claimed at one time that he was denying his Niles roots, but mention of them seemed pretty prominant whenever I saw him in later years. Last time was at the Michigan Festival in East Lansing, can't remember exactly which year he was there.

And, M.Ted, Lansing has been my home for almost 30 years now.

Subject: RE: Help: Remember Tommy James & the Shondells?
From: M.Ted
Date: 11 May 01 - 05:07 PM

I am in Washington DC area--left Michigan with few regrets back in 1978(you may remember, there was preciously little work for those who wanted to enter the job market then)--still go back to Lansing, in fact I'm going back tomorrow to surprise my mother for mother's day--Where are you?

Subject: RE: Help: Remember Tommy James & the Shondells?
From: Big Mick
Date: 11 May 01 - 01:16 PM

Damn, I forgot all about The Woolies and MC5 and Brownsville Station. Where the hell are you now, M.Ted? Obviously you are a Michigan boy. Have I asked you this before? You know how memory goes at our age.........LOL.

Mick

Subject: RE: Help: Remember Tommy James & the Shondells?
From: M.Ted
Date: 11 May 01 - 12:49 PM

Teegarden and VanWinkle, The Woolies, The Brownsville Station, Savage Grace, and the the greatest revolutionary, protopunk band of all time, THE MC5!!! KICK OUT THE JAMS... (and not "Brothers and Sisters)--It all makes me feel very old--

Subject: RE: Help: Remember Tommy James & the Shondells?
From: Big Mick
Date: 11 May 01 - 11:07 AM

Yessir, I do remember that. Used to be quite a circuit in these parts from 1965 to 1970. Tommy James, Terry Knight and the Pack (these boys became Grand Funk Railroad after Terry left and started wandering around Apple in a toga), Mitch Ryder and the Detroit Wheels, Bob Seger, Ted Nugent, Alice Cooper. Most of these bands were on the local circuit in those days. Saginaw - Bay City - Detroit - Grand Rapids. I could go on and on. The groups listed are just the tip of the iceberg. Scott Richards, Dick Wagner..........stop it, Mick and get back to work.

Subject: RE: Help: Remember Tommy James & the Shondells?
From: M.Ted
Date: 11 May 01 - 10:43 AM

Big Mick, If you remember, Tommy James was a Michigan boy, from Niles--

Subject: RE: Help: Remember Tommy James & the Shondells?
From: Big Mick
Date: 11 May 01 - 10:34 AM

M. Ted, I sure appreciate your posting that resource!! I read an article on this business once, and lost it. I forgot that until you wrote about it. Thanks a million for a great resource.

All the best,

Mick

Subject: RE: Help: Remember Tommy James & the Shondells?
From: Matt_R
Date: 11 May 01 - 10:33 AM

WOO!! My mom is from Upper Darby!

Subject: RE: Help: Remember Tommy James & the Shondells?
From: M.Ted
Date: 11 May 01 - 10:27 AM

Check with R&B Records Run by Val Shiveley, who now seems to have four million 45s in his Philadelphia store(which is actually in Upper Darby). There is no catalog, and his stock isn't posted on the internet-I always would just walk into the store, and hand one of the guys my list (Val was usually on the phone, and usually yelling) but I understand that you can send your "want lists" by phone, fax, or mail My experience has been if it is anywhere, he has it--P.O. Box B, Havertown, PA 19083. Call [phone] or fax [phone]. His prices are always fair, and he has reissues when they are available as well as the originals.

Subject: RE: Help: Remember Tommy James & the Shondells?
From: GUEST,Roger the skiffler
Date: 11 May 01 - 09:09 AM

For a reissue, Long Pony Tail is on this compilation record:
Here
and a full discography :
here
and :here
RtS

Subject: RE: Help: Remember Tommy James & the Shondells?
From: GUEST,Roger the skiffler
Date: 11 May 01 - 08:53 AM

Well, Amazon (UK version) has nearly a dozen of their CDs available (not all have tracks listed). If you must have vinyl there are lots of dealers out there on both sides of the pond who'll probably have them (at a price). I found using Tommy James got better results than using Shondells as a search term.
Good hunting!
RtS (singing" Mony Mony,Mony Mony"))

Subject: RE: Help: Remember Tommy James & the Shondells?
From: Matt_R
Date: 11 May 01 - 08:37 AM

Tommy James & The Shondells were really my first favorite music group ever. My parents have his greatest hits on LP, and I discovered it when I was 10. I played the heck out that record! Then I taped it, and used to listen to it everywere as well. It was no strange thing to see me outside swinging on the swing set, tape player going, singing "heyyyyyyyyyy....lala lala lala....and I don't hardly know her....lala lala lala..."

I'd be hard pressed to name a favorite...probably a tie between "Sugar On Sunday" and "Ball of Fire".

Subject: RE: Help: Remember Tommy James & the Shondells?
From: dwditty
Date: 11 May 01 - 06:18 AM

Try www.gemm.com Incredible.

dw

Subject: RE: Help: Remember Tommy James & the Shondells?
From: Bugsy
Date: 11 May 01 - 05:37 AM

I've got a video calles "Rockin'The Night Away" made in the early 90's with all the old stars ie. Tommy James, Donovan, Grass Roots, Dion, Jan & Dean, Sonny Bono(featuring Chastity's debut performance), Mamas and the Papas, etc etc.

I tell you, they should all have quit whilst they were ahead, with the exception of Donovan and Tommy James, who were both just as good as in the old days.

Cheers

Bugsy

Subject: RE: Help: Remember Tommy James & the Shondells?
From: Banjer
Date: 11 May 01 - 04:09 AM

I too, know not where to look but will try to find something. Do I remember TJ and the Shondells? Oh my, probably my all time fav by them has to be 'I Think We're Alone Now'...Thanks for rekindling some fond old memories.

...the beating of our hearts is the only sounnnd...thump-thump...thump-thump...'

Loved that drum beat!!!

Subject: RE: Help: Remember Tommy James & the Shondells?
From: Big Mick
Date: 11 May 01 - 02:30 AM

Wow, talk about bringing back old memories. Not sure how to help you with this one, but I will begin looking.

Mick

Subject: Remember Tommy James & the Shondells?
From: graywolf1980
Date: 11 May 01 - 02:26 AM

I'm looking for 2 45's, and I'm out of places to look. I've searched the internet over, with no luck. Tommy James and the Shondells was first called "Tom and the Tornados," and their 45 was called Long Pony Tail/Judy. They changed their name to the Shondells; they released one 45 as well called Pretty Little Redbird/Penny Wishing Well. Any idea on how I can get my hands on these 2 45's?

Thanks,

Peter J. Gossett Dreams of Music: Tommy James and the Shondells!