Fascinating; I wouldn't have known any of that (and, when I think of "Crimson an Clover" I think of Joan Jett's cover). I have a vague sense of there being a couple of sincerely religious pop songs that were mainstream hits in the late-60s/early-70s. But that may be wrong -- looking it up I see that "Spirit In The Sky" was just written on a whim: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spirit_in_the_Sky
I wonder if the line in the lyrics, "we ain't a marching anymore" is a reference to Phil Ochs, "I ain't marching anymore" -- the two songs are very different musically but the connection between the lyrics seems like it might not be a coincidence. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I_Ain%27t_Marching_Any_More_(song)
I would suspect that Tommy James knew of Phil Ochs' song and played on the phrase, so you're probably right that it's not a coincidence.
Lots of stuff coming out of Motown no doubt had gospel roots and religion undertones. That's where you might find religious pop songs. Also Godspell tunes, come to think of it -- "Day by Day" was a hit single.
Though a quick glance at Curtis Mayfield’s lyrics might suggest a simple Gospel song, “People Get Ready’s” messages of persistence and deliverance became a massive musical influence on the civil rights movement of the mid-1960s. Mayfield wrote the lyrics just before Martin Luther King Jr. marched through Chicago, which was The Impressions' hometown.
“It was warrior music,” civil rights activist Gordon Sellers told Rolling Stone, “It was music you listened to while you were preparing to go into battle.”
Not only did the song become a nationwide hit, it became so beloved locally that Chicago churches began including it in their songbooks.
That's a great example. It's a lovely tune and I don't remember it at all. (I was young and hung up on the Beatles.) But great story about its influence on the civil rights movement and churches!
I was just listening to the live version (from Curtis/Live! which is one of my favorite live albums ever) and it’s a powerhouse: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W5PBGBCXKDs
I admire James' late 1960s recordings for their technical virtuosity, but the Vietnam metaphor in "Cherry Wine" and the Christian subtext in "Crystal Blue" were unknown to me until now.
Me too, David. I found this in a list of anti-war songs, was taken by surprise, and just had to investigate.
The mob angle was the third surprise, but in interviews Tommy has said he couldn't write his autobiography and reveal it until the Genovese guys had all passed on. He didn't want to take the risk! Especially because he was going to reveal that they failed to give him $20-30 million they owed him under the contract. Pretty incredible.
I certainly knew about Mr. Levy's dealings, given that, besides Roulette, he also bankrolled a number of New York-area labels which specialized in R&B and doo wop. But Roulette itself issued a number of recordings in a wider variety of genres you wouldn't think a Mob front would have been involved in.
As music wasn't Levy's main business, he probably gave artists a lot more leeway to do their thing, as Tommy James said, to the benefit of the music-loving public. Tommy would no doubt say the Lord works in mysterious ways!
He did give, but he also took away. He stole the copyright on the doo-wop standard "Why Do Fools Fall In Love?" by putting his own name on as the author and intimidating the real authors like the gangster he was into silence. Eventually, a court case was launched that gave them proper recognition, though it occurred after Levy's death.
I'm glad you shared that example because I'm collecting ways in which the music industry has abused artists. Some of the other more legit label heads were not averse to similar activity in terms of manipulating or blackmailing artists into giving up copyrights. (I've heard of a case even in the 1990s.) But of course Roulette is one of the extreme cases, per your example. Tommy said that they never got the Roulette money owed them, but he left that label in '74 and did better getting paid by the next one. Beware the company you keep!
Tommy has gotten some good reissue companies like Rhino and Collectables to put his stuff out on CD, and probably got paid better than he did at Roulette..
Copyrights are a strange thing. People who had nothing to do with the composition can sometimes be listed as a co-author of things. And, as I noted, the proper composers can be denied credit, simply because they knew nothing about the copyright processing and left it to the label management (who sometimes took whole or partial credit) to handle it.
I'd never heard Pushin' Too Hard by the Seeds, so thanks for the introduction and rec, Daniel. I'll put it on the honorable mention list I'm going to send out when I finish my favorites, as I'm leaving out a bunch of songs that no doubt others would showcase or include (e.g., Lennon's Imagine!).
Ball and Chain and solo hit Draggin' the Line as well. Quite the songwriter.
So interesting. Great article! Because I grew up at the time of these popular songs, and they are etched into my brain, still love hearing them when they pop up - usually on the Sirius channels of the hits from the 60's and 70's. Nice Ellen!
The caption on my luthier's letterhead: "celebrate the Lord with strings". It could be said that faith is the birthplace of music. A word about Ellen from Endwell: I wish I were half as prolific; you are a force.
Love those Tommy James & The Shondells hits! I knew all about the mob stuff, but was not aware of the protest or religious themes, thanks for the details.
Interesting details on Tommy James! I have to admit to never having heard this song before. I know his other big hits but this one slipped by me!
You're always introducing me to songs I missed too. You have a better excuse as you were just a kid in 1969, right?
Fascinating; I wouldn't have known any of that (and, when I think of "Crimson an Clover" I think of Joan Jett's cover). I have a vague sense of there being a couple of sincerely religious pop songs that were mainstream hits in the late-60s/early-70s. But that may be wrong -- looking it up I see that "Spirit In The Sky" was just written on a whim: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spirit_in_the_Sky
I wonder if the line in the lyrics, "we ain't a marching anymore" is a reference to Phil Ochs, "I ain't marching anymore" -- the two songs are very different musically but the connection between the lyrics seems like it might not be a coincidence. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I_Ain%27t_Marching_Any_More_(song)
I would suspect that Tommy James knew of Phil Ochs' song and played on the phrase, so you're probably right that it's not a coincidence.
Lots of stuff coming out of Motown no doubt had gospel roots and religion undertones. That's where you might find religious pop songs. Also Godspell tunes, come to think of it -- "Day by Day" was a hit single.
Right, another example of what you're talking about would be Curtis Mayfield and the Impressions "People Get Ready".
It's interesting to see the notes on Genius: https://genius.com/The-impressions-people-get-ready-lyrics
------------------------quote------------------
Though a quick glance at Curtis Mayfield’s lyrics might suggest a simple Gospel song, “People Get Ready’s” messages of persistence and deliverance became a massive musical influence on the civil rights movement of the mid-1960s. Mayfield wrote the lyrics just before Martin Luther King Jr. marched through Chicago, which was The Impressions' hometown.
“It was warrior music,” civil rights activist Gordon Sellers told Rolling Stone, “It was music you listened to while you were preparing to go into battle.”
Not only did the song become a nationwide hit, it became so beloved locally that Chicago churches began including it in their songbooks.
--------------------end quote ------------------
That's a great example. It's a lovely tune and I don't remember it at all. (I was young and hung up on the Beatles.) But great story about its influence on the civil rights movement and churches!
I was just listening to the live version (from Curtis/Live! which is one of my favorite live albums ever) and it’s a powerhouse: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W5PBGBCXKDs
Lovely instrumentals on that. Thanks for sharing it here.
One of the few tunes of his that I remember from my youth. Thanks for this!
Glad to bring back a music memory, Al. Hope it's a good one.
I admire James' late 1960s recordings for their technical virtuosity, but the Vietnam metaphor in "Cherry Wine" and the Christian subtext in "Crystal Blue" were unknown to me until now.
Me too, David. I found this in a list of anti-war songs, was taken by surprise, and just had to investigate.
The mob angle was the third surprise, but in interviews Tommy has said he couldn't write his autobiography and reveal it until the Genovese guys had all passed on. He didn't want to take the risk! Especially because he was going to reveal that they failed to give him $20-30 million they owed him under the contract. Pretty incredible.
I certainly knew about Mr. Levy's dealings, given that, besides Roulette, he also bankrolled a number of New York-area labels which specialized in R&B and doo wop. But Roulette itself issued a number of recordings in a wider variety of genres you wouldn't think a Mob front would have been involved in.
I didn't realize that.
As music wasn't Levy's main business, he probably gave artists a lot more leeway to do their thing, as Tommy James said, to the benefit of the music-loving public. Tommy would no doubt say the Lord works in mysterious ways!
He did give, but he also took away. He stole the copyright on the doo-wop standard "Why Do Fools Fall In Love?" by putting his own name on as the author and intimidating the real authors like the gangster he was into silence. Eventually, a court case was launched that gave them proper recognition, though it occurred after Levy's death.
I'm glad you shared that example because I'm collecting ways in which the music industry has abused artists. Some of the other more legit label heads were not averse to similar activity in terms of manipulating or blackmailing artists into giving up copyrights. (I've heard of a case even in the 1990s.) But of course Roulette is one of the extreme cases, per your example. Tommy said that they never got the Roulette money owed them, but he left that label in '74 and did better getting paid by the next one. Beware the company you keep!
Tommy has gotten some good reissue companies like Rhino and Collectables to put his stuff out on CD, and probably got paid better than he did at Roulette..
Copyrights are a strange thing. People who had nothing to do with the composition can sometimes be listed as a co-author of things. And, as I noted, the proper composers can be denied credit, simply because they knew nothing about the copyright processing and left it to the label management (who sometimes took whole or partial credit) to handle it.
Great post. Tommy James is an underrated part of that era. Great radio songs. I liked Ball and Chain, the sort of hit he had after going solo.
How about Pushin Too Hard by The Seeds on your protest list.
I'd never heard Pushin' Too Hard by the Seeds, so thanks for the introduction and rec, Daniel. I'll put it on the honorable mention list I'm going to send out when I finish my favorites, as I'm leaving out a bunch of songs that no doubt others would showcase or include (e.g., Lennon's Imagine!).
Ball and Chain and solo hit Draggin' the Line as well. Quite the songwriter.
So interesting. Great article! Because I grew up at the time of these popular songs, and they are etched into my brain, still love hearing them when they pop up - usually on the Sirius channels of the hits from the 60's and 70's. Nice Ellen!
Thanks so much, Paul. Same here, they're like revisiting with old friends.
Apparently Tommy has a show on Sirius XM every Sunday, 5 – 8pm EST Channel 73 – 60s GOLD (from his website).
Thanks for that!
The caption on my luthier's letterhead: "celebrate the Lord with strings". It could be said that faith is the birthplace of music. A word about Ellen from Endwell: I wish I were half as prolific; you are a force.
Thanks, David. That is a really kind thing to say and an important way to think about music.
Played by the bedsides of dying friends, and at the funerals (an audience that weeps and will never applaud). Music runs deep.
Well said!
Love those Tommy James & The Shondells hits! I knew all about the mob stuff, but was not aware of the protest or religious themes, thanks for the details.
Yes, me too, and happy to add more details that I didn't know either. Thes 60s groups are full of surprises!