FIRST TIME HEARING Tommy James & The Shondells - I Think We`re Alone Now REACTION

[@billp8139]

As a DJ, I have to point out that Tommy James & the Shondells did "Mony Mony" before Billy Idol covered it and went to #1.

[@texano1957]

Yes a great song and great video too!

[@cosmiccowboy7764]

Most 80’s Gentlemen’s Clubs House song!

[@MrDoneboy]

Exactly!

[@JohnPilon082149051552]

Tommy in a interview reported that the title of MONY, MONY, came from writer’s block when he looked outside his hotel window to the neon sign for Mutual of New York, flashing into the night.

[@JohnPilon082149051552]

Song that provided many intimate moments for young lovers!

[@nolantomlinson7554]

My favorite Tommy James and the Shondells is Dragging the Line greatest bassline ever from that era I have always thought.

[@garyarnett1220]

Absolutely

[@TheSmileFetcher1961]

I love Draggin the Line. Great song! I do believe though, that Tommy was flying solo (no Shondells) at the time. I believe I read that somewhere not too long ago.

[@nolantomlinson7554]

@@TheSmileFetcher1961 wow you are correct it was one of his first big hits as a solo act! I was today years old when I learned this fact! In my mind he was always with the Shondells. I never realized they went their separate ways at some point.

[@roniboyd613]

Awesome!!

[@bojangles713]

Agreed💯 plus just one of the coolest sounding songs ever recorded...

[@mikerichards67]

Tommy James and the Shondell’s music is timeless,proof is that this song went to number one on the charts by a cover.

[@thomasgill2358]

That was Tiffany, wasn't it?

[@BROU-bb2uc]

​@@thomasgill2358Yes

[@richdiddens4059]

@@thomasgill2358 Yes. Her version hit #1 the week after Billy Idol's cover of their song Mony, Mony. Two Tommy James covers hitting #1 back to back.

[@taniele84]

And crimson and clover was covered too I don’t think it hit #1 on the charts, but it definitely did great I actually love that cover

[@williamlenderman387]

​@@thomasgill2358yes,16 year old Tiffany did a cover of this in 87.

[@gotham61]

15 year old Tiffany had a huge Billboard #1 hit with a cover of this in 1987.

[@CynicAtLarge]

And she should give all the money away she made from it. Horrible remake.

[@wantutosigh1117]

I love Tiffany's version.

[@Asian_Jeremy]

They actually reacted to Tiffany’s version

[@JaDav40]

Two remakes of Tommy James songs reached #1 consecutively in autumn 1987. Billy Idol's cover of "Mony Mony" followed Tiffany into #1. I don't think that has ever happened before or since.

[@michaellott2538]

Youre out of yout mind. She did really good with the remake. But the the original is is better.

[@jdw5678]

Tommy James & the Shondells need to be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame!

[@ralphrennick4636]

RRHOF is a parody of a HOF. Dolly Parton IN! Love her but RnR? LLCoolJ IN! Love Sam Hanna, but RnR? Acts that were huge on the radio and sales can’t get in. Tommy James, Guess Who, Monkees, Gary Lewis, Grassroots and on and on. I’ll never bother going to Cleveland to experience this joke.

[@marklynn3953]

@@ralphrennick4636hard agree.

[@11June22]

There are lots of bands that should have already been inducted into the Rock N Roll Hall of Fame. Tommy James and the Shondells is just one of them. Why many have no respect for the hall anymore. They put in people who don't deserve to be in the hall of fame.

[@kammidey]

At least ,Tommy James, should be inducted as a song writer

[@american_cosmic]

@@ralphrennick4636 I agree with you about the RARHOF... but I would still visit, they have so much cool stuff from over the years from artists that I absolutely *worshipped* at one point or another in my life.

[@tgriffin8179]

Crimson and Clover was my first exposure to these guys…bless y’all!

[@shawnk7832]

Crimson N Clover is Epic

[@matthewbecker964]

Tommy James and the Shondells, a perfect cross of hip and bubblegum. They had great hooks and Tommy J could sing. They were wholesome but dangerous.

[@CuriousGeorge1111]

Well said--I like that cross. Supertramp, The Cars, The Who (early stuff), many others I'll think of later. ; ) Peace.

[@PatrickChachulski]

Agreed! I don't think it's ever been said better! Apt description indeed!

[@Clayton-kf3su]

This IS the first song I think of. My girlfriend and I both turned 16 in 1967 and boy, did this song fit our circumstances. It was our song. I think of her so fondly when I hear this song.

[@maxr4448]

Thank You for you for your memory. I was nine, at the time. I liked song forever. Bless Blessed

[@glenndespres5317]

I was in 7th grade. This song was so perfect for that phase.

[@talyn468]

For me, the first song that comes to mind is "Draggin' The Line".

[@steveandtammyb]

That’s a great one!

[@garyarnett1220]

Me too

[@geoffreyweinreis4311]

Mirage is another great Tommy James hit. Dude had a lot of masterpieces.

[@markos_vault]

@@geoffreyweinreis4311 Ball of Fire and Baby I can't take it No More are overlooked

[@theresapike4065]

I saw Tommy James & the Shondells in an oldies concert in the 80's. The audience would not let them off stage. They did 3 encores. They were still great!!

[@markgotschall2914]

My daughter when she was 12 ran in all excited and told me about a new Tiffany song, I think we're alone now, had to tell her it was a cover song.

[@CynicAtLarge]

Bless you for educating your daughter.

[@pilesovinyl]

I think this was their very best record...and I LOVED all of his hits. He had like 30 hits!

[@markos_vault]

@@pilesovinyl Also he was involved with Alive and Kicking May have wrote Tighter Tighter, great song in 70

[@mikelasko8066]

For some reason I was always drawn to their song Sugar on Sunday

[@cynthiaschultheis1660]

MANFRED MAN'S "THERE SHE WAS, JUST WALKING DOWN THE STREET" SINGING "DO WAH DIDDY DIDDY DUM DIDDY DO!!!" 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼

[@MissMeliss1969]

I want them to do this one so bad!!!

[@jackempson3044]

Tommy James had many hits. He was the sound of an era.

[@alejandrobojorquez6181]

THE KINKS - " Tired Of Waiting For You " 1960s Rock n Roll classics 🎸

[@Jacob_D4433]

60's Gold! You'll have to check out another California based band that made it big in the late '60s, Gary Puckett & The Union Gap. Check out their 1968 hit, "Over You." Gary's voice is really something to marvel at. It helps that he's a really cool guy as well. He would make a great guest to interview for your creators page. So many stories to share from that incredible era in music! 💯🇺🇲🌟

[@davidclayton5152]

Definitely yes on Gary Puckett, great voice

[@cheryldillon7358]

I agree with Gary Puckett

[@jrox6091]

Last I heard, maybe 4 yrs ago, his beautiful voice still sounded great

[@TheParadoxDestroyer]

Tommy James and the Shondells are not a California based band. They are from Niles, Michigan. They worked with WLS radio station in Chicago to release many of their hits.

[@richdiana3663]

What a fantastic voice, so pure.

[@KimSimful]

Omg my brother played Hanky Panky over and over!! It’s the first one that comes to mind!

[@garyarnett1220]

AMBER totally nailed it when she said this song could come out any decade. 20 years later a cover of it by female singer Tiffany went to #1.

[@lisajudge6320]

Billie Joe Armstrong did a cover in 2020 for his "No Fun Mondays" 🔥🔥

[@RichardKauffman-or4cp]

Dragging The Line is my favorite indeed.

[@kbusby4824]

Same.

[@MetFan37]

@@kbusby4824 That was a solo hit.

[@robrobertson4619]

His song, “Draggin The Line” also has a killer base line going😉😁👍

[@magneto7930]

Hanky Panky was my first introduction to Tommy James and the Shondells. But you've already reacted to other artists covering their songs: Mony Mony by Billy Idol, Crimson and Clover by Joan Jett, and I Think We're Alone Now by Tiffany. So yes, their music is timeless!

[@pjmurphy920]

When I think of Tommy J. & The Shondell's, I first think of "Crimson and Clover," which is a fun, psychedelic song but I also love tonight's song a lot! Thanks, Amber & Jay!!

[@richeaton5752]

👍 The long version...

[@jollyrodgers7272]

DRAGGIN' THE LINE from 1970 remains Tommy's highest charted solo hit, and a favorite of mine.

[@steverey8362]

When the name Tommy James & The Shondells comes up, my mind goes straight to "Draggin’ the Line."

[@littleogeechee223]

And some of the greatest lines ever, “My dog Sam eats purple flowers…ain’t got much, but what we got’s ours. Digging the snow and the rain and the bright sunshine…dragging the line..”

[@hk43xx]

I saw them in concert in 2020, and they opened with "Draggin' The Line." It sounded so good live. It was amazing.

[@emmitstewart1921]

Tommy James was still in high school when he recorded Hanky Panky with a band of his classmates. It played a little in his area but that was all. He graduated and the band broke up. Two years later the song started playing across the country and he had to reform his band to take advantage. It is music history how much music he ended up creating

[@Fool3SufferingFools]

I think it was all new guys when he reformed the band, wasn’t it?

[@UseByDate-Expired]

He picked the first local band he could find to be The Shondells, but didn't remake the record. He used the same recording he made in school.

[@emmitstewart1921]

@@UseByDate-Expired True. He formed the new band so that he could go on the road. The new guys learned to play it from the original recording. It goes without saying that the new guys turned out to be a great band and together they proceeded to make hit after hit.

[@Robsan40]

The Union Gap "Young Girl" - One of the biggest songs of 1968 (An incredible year in rock).

[@lucieloves2000]

Crystal Blue Persuasion! My absolute favorite by them! 💞💞

[@markos_vault]

They had many very good sings. Mony Mony(which Tommy wrote) , Sweet Cherry Wine, Do Something to Me, Ball of Fire, Baby i cant Take it no More, and more. Tommy is a great singer and songwriter. Still performing, heard he sounds great

[@steveandtammyb]

I was 10 years old when this came out! Love it! I have a CD of their best hits and still love it! I think of all of their songs when I think of them because they had SO MANY great hits! I Think We’re Alone Now was the first one for me. Many others are: Crystal Blue Persuasion and Crimson and Clover as y’all mention. Also Hanky Panky, Ball of Fire, Mony, Mony, Just a Mirage, Draggin’ the Line, Sweet Cherry Wine, Do Something to Me, Sugar on Sunday, One, Two, Three and I Fell, Somebody Cares, I Can’t Take it No More.

[@janetwentz3259]

Love this song.

[@andydurazo5337]

Tommy James and the Schondells was covered by many artists and popular by the cover artists too! Billy Idol, Tiffany, Lena Lovitch, Joan Jett and The Blackhearts!

[@robertg7396]

In the late 80's, a teen singer named "Tiffany" went on a mall tour, as a virtually unknown. She sang this song, and her career exploded! She was basically an overnight sensation! You might want to check out her version, too. (For comparison) 😃

[@MichaelHHHH]

They already have a long time ago lol.

[@elizabethfranco1284]

They did 2 years ago!

[@wantutosigh1117]

It's disappointing they don't retain these songs.

[@hmmmyeahnahdoh823]

They reacted to it on 30 June 2022. It's still on KZbin. Another one of her hits was the Beatles cover "I saw him standing there" from the same self titled album.

[@bobbuethe1477]

It's at kzbin.info/www/bejne/n5XWaKqeqMqHnaM

[@maryeduvall9564]

When I was senior in high school (many, many yeas ago), we won a contest and Tommy and the Shondells played in our gym.

[@kimby81]

Very cool 😎

[@matthewwisner2153]

"The beating of our hearts is the only sound" The drum seems to follow a heart beat rhythm. The bass too, but it's faster, more anxious.

[@josephscally6270]

The song makes me smile because it reminds me of my early dating years. Hello young people think old guys like me never had crushes and secret moments and all the good stuff that comes with being young but we did.

[@rorygrime1202]

The songs of this time were so inspirational and fun. They still stand today.

[@GaryCain-qf5vi]

Tommy James always a Groovy 60's favorite 😍 Peace✌️and Love❤️ your 70 year old forever Young Hippie Gary 😊 Great Reaction 👍 I can hear my ❤️heart💙 beating 💓

[@katherinegrimes6528]

One of my favorite. I graduated in 66, this was big then.❤

[@peggykunkel9180]

I love this song. I just heard that in some areas of the country this song could only be played after midnight so it didn't influence teenagers.

[@jodyjackson5475]

Those were the days Miss that decent time

[@greg2976]

My childhood memories relived by this song !!!!!!!!! The 60's were the best!!!!!

[@clubberlange4119]

Amber you NAILED it. Tiffany covered the song in 1987 and had a huge hit. You should absolutely do her version as well.... if only to see what you would never believe..... Tiffany was a teenager and their marketing strategy was to have her play at malls all over the country. The video for Inthink were alone now is a great video diary of her mall storming tour. As for Tommy James... Mony Mony covered by Billy Ifol and Crimson and Clover covered by Joan Jett

[@pamjarrett-s9s]

Such a great song!

[@robertclymer6948]

I remember Tommy James & the Shondells as a Very young teenager growing up in Kalamazoo Mi. The original band was just South Of Kalamazoo In Michigan, however the town escapes me right now. We all loved them, and all the local High School bands played this song all the time. What a time to be alive. Love to all from Michigan.

[@oldiesgeek454]

@Robert. Is the city named Niles? 😊

[@garybradford8332]

I was class of '72 in Battle Creek Lakeview High. My girlfriend was a Crumpton and you might know their Auto Parts chain.

[@kevinwattswork6526]

Thanks!

[@DojoOfCool]

From back in the days where Social Media was friends driving around or going to a drive in with the radio blasting. No cellphone, no computers, none of today's tech and we got together to have fun hanging out, listening to music, and talking face to face.

[@angelomaurizio1668]

'Mirage' is my favorite out of all Tommy James songs. It was the second release after 'I Think We're Alone Now' from the same album (1967)

[@jrenwick903]

@angelomaurizio1668 Fun Fact, Did you know, that Mirage is actually I think we're alone now backwards! The group was drunk one night, and they played the song in reverse by accident, that's how they came up with Mirage!!! Look it up!!!

[@kathyrizzi8754]

Gosh I loved this band, I miss them & all the other greats from this era.👍👏👏👏🔥🔥💜💜☮️

[@mikepaulus4766]

First song I think of when I think of Tommy James And The Shondels is Mony Mony. Every local band plays it, everyone sings along, just like the Billy Idol cover of it.

[@oldiesgeek454]

Same here, Mony Mony is my favorite of his as well.

[@tpatrick44]

I grew up in Los Angeles…and when this song hit the Airwaves, their phones went NUTS 🥜 requesting this song. KHJ and KRLA had to come on the air and tell us they can only play it once an hour…so wait until the top of the hour to hear it continually throughout the day and night. This does remind me of my girlfriend Ginger at the time. This was our Song! The only other time the DJ’s had to interfere was with “A Day in the Life” by the Beatles…

[@savethelighthouse]

Hanky Panky is the quintessential TJ&S. The bowling alley jukebox or the county fair midway in August, blasting out over a pair of second hand Civil Defense loudspeaker horns.

[@Incognito2u]

I had the pleasure of meeting and spending the evening with Tommy back in the late 70's and he was the nicest guy you could hope to meet.

[@freethinker1913]

One of the coolest bits of trivia is that I Think We’re Alone Now has a b-side, Mirage, which was the band’s next hit single, and which had the melody of I Think We’re Alone Now played backwards. While recording the A-side, the reel-to-reel tape got played backwards by mistake and the band thought it could sound good as another song. And it does.

[@stevenblock9712]

This is from the beginning of their string of hits. Mony Mony, Mirage, and Hanky Panky are others from that period, which is before Crystal Blue Persuasion, Sweet Cherry Wine, Crimson and Clover, Draggin' the Line and others. Tommy is now a DJ on Sirius Radio's 60's station. He has plenty of interesting stories to tell. He was on the Roulette Records label, which was a front for the Mob as he tells in his book, Me, the Mob, and the Music.

[@oldiesgeek454]

@Steven. Tommy signed my copy of his book after his show 5 years ago. The book was supposed to be turned into a movie. Unfortunately it never came about. 😊

[@MKins71]

Kind of hard to believe that given today’s lyrics where anything goes that this song was considered very controversial for the time. Many stations either banned it or like someone mentioned before, it was played late in the night. But then again, Ed Sullivan banned Jim Morrison and The Doors for saying the word Higher in Light My Fire or The Rolling Stones were forced to change the lyrics to Let’s Spend The Night Together to let’s spend some time together.

[@Randy-ty8xn]

I'm first. Heck yeah! I'm an OG and love yall! Melissa Etheridge is coming to NC. Thought about y'all. Hope she goes to OK for you. This song was covered by a lot of artists but, I think Tiffany did it best after this rendition in the 1980's during her Mall Tour. You already reacted to it like 2 years ago. Like I said I am an OG. LOL. Tommy James cowrote this in the 1960s. This is the song I think of. BTW. Amber, love the hair. You look beautiful. You have had 3 beautiful kids and look like that. Jay is a lucky man. Love y'all. Meg

[@Steve-1951]

At 73 I'm so very thankful that I grew up in at time when music was musical. when songs had meanings that every teen could relate to. Thanks for reacting to so many great 60's songs!

[@lauriebarrett6789]

60's suggestion - "My Boyfriend's Back" by The Angels.

[@steveandtammyb]

That’s a song that I actually will go around the house singing fairly often! 😂

[@wayne_twentyfive]

Great song ! .. Written and produced by Richard Gottehrer, who went on to be associated with a number of well known new wave bands, including producing Blondie's excellent first 2 albums.

[@sam-wz8tu]

The drums mimic a beating heart.

[@oldermusiclover]

yep like the late James Jamerson did with My Girl on bass

[@Redtop-qh8zo]

I was 13, he was 16 and this was our song. Now we have two daughters in their 50’s, 8 grands, 12 great-grands‼️🔥❤️‍🔥🔥 GOD, Life and Love have been good to us!!!

[@rosemarychase6574]

I think that’s beautiful much love and happiness to you guys

[@joemc1960]

Favorite Tommy James song. Played the Philco Hip-Pocket record countless times.

[@TwylaCastleschouldt]

Love this song ! It is one of those songs that get stuck in your head the rest of the day and you just keep singing it . 😃

[@StarLTaylor]

I can remember riding my 10 speed bicycle with a tape player attached with string and listening to TJ&The Shondells cassette. Loved it!

[@rickteeter1421]

When I think of Tommy James I think of I Think We’re Alone Now since it was one of their first songs and it was a great make-out tune back in the day.

[@dreams2xs]

In the 1980's there were two songs on the top of the charts. They were #1 and #2 at the same time and they were both remakes of Tommy James songs. "Mony Mony" by Billy Idol , and "I think were alone now" by Tiffany. Tommy James is one of my Favorites and you need to check out Mony Mony and Draggin the Line.

[@tomfurci3701]

"Crystal Blue Persuasion" is my favorite, but so many of the other songs suggested are great too, including this song.

[@seanellio]

Dragging the Line is the first song I think of when I hear Tommy James.

[@darleneatkinson3906]

Rob Squad Reaction, I bought one of these Album records with 30 songs mix on it and that was the first time I heard Tommy James & The Shondells band it was 1976 year I got my first paycheck and went to Tower of Records seen this mix LP's record on sale for $3.99 and I got 30 songs. Listen to it had so many great songs on it I wore out the record from playing it so much. thanks for this reaction, Video It is hard to say what my favorite song is, but I believe it is Mony, Mony I love how this song was recorded but this song great also. I love being alone it makes for very peaceful life.

[@michaeldellobuono1858]

Dragging The Line everytime I think of Tommy James

[@mikepellerin4611]

Reminds me of being a kid in the 60s. I used to drag my portable record player out of my bedroom window and play records on my front porch for my friends. This song was a favorite of ours.

[@sherrybirchall8677]

OMG!!!! One of my favorites! I was 14, and I loved this song, and always sang along. Thanks for this guys!

[@BonniePicc]

I love crystal blue persuasion. It was well placed in breaking bad!

[@USMC-Veteran73-77]

That was a great one, my favorite.

[@dougbrowning82]

The most famous version of this song is Tiffany's 1987 dance-pop cover, which spent two weeks as Billboards #1 hit. She was only 15 at the time. She would later record it three more times in her career.

[@MrAL2491]

The first song I think of with Tommy James is Dragging' the Line. Loved your reaction to that one too!

[@richardkint6531]

Loved that bass! Tommy James & The Shondells had many hits and 3 of them were cover hits again in the 80's. Crimson & Clover by Joan Jett & the Blackhearts, Mony, Mony by Billy Idol and this song by Tiffany! My fave is Amber's pick, Crystal Blue Persuasion although I think they are most known by Crimson & Clover. "Hanky Panky" was their breakout hit!

[@MCW1955]

Yea yea love the bass. Lots of good bass in all his music.

[@erickent3557]

Captures the very physical excitement and anticipation of young love like no other. PAUL STANLEY album cover shirt! "Tonight You Belong To Me" from Paul's album is fantastic.

[@agbfish1]

I grew up in the 70s. Boy for the Times we would pick up the needle on the record player and play it again! 😂 this is one of those songs❤

[@cassieporter9262]

This song won me a 4-day, 3-night trip to Jamaica back in 1985 from a Boston radio station. :)

[@BethReed62]

We had this record when I was a kid. So many good songs. This was my favorite. And Hanky Panky.

[@KarenLWhiting]

Saw Tommy last year. Still great!

[@Terry-is7nk]

Tiffany took a cover of I Think We're Alone Now to #1 in 1987. You reacted to that one a couple years ago. In addition to the ones you mentioned you also reacted to Sweet Cherry Wine and Draggin' The Line. Keep up the good work!

[@fantasycamp4000]

The Shondells were a unique vibe at the time. I can remember the teenagers on my block having record listening parties. This and other Tommy James songs was some of the main groove.

[@terryburtner9682]

Two Tommy James covers went to number 1 back to back in the 80's, Tiffany's cover of this song and Billy Idol's cover of "Mony Mony."

[@christines1709]

This is one of my all-time favorites !

[@ronwalker403]

68 years old now. This stuff reminds me of childhood days running around with the transistor radios blasting all over the neighborhood. Every kid had one. We fell asleep listening to the hits of the day with a transistor under the pillow. The 60’s are the soundtrack of my childhood. Awesome period of time in music.

[@anthonyblakely399]

When I think of Tommy James & The Shondells I think of "Crystal Blue Persuasion" because it was the first song I heard from this band on the radio at the time. The message of the song brought "Hope" to my soul in a time in the 60's of disturbing issues worldwide. Good reaction guys!

[@rghilino6734]

It's a flat out sin that Tommy James and the Shondells are not in the Rock Hall of Fame.

[@badhabitbabbitt7655]

Tiffany, a 1980s teen pop singer, covered this as one of her initial hits. "Mony Mony" was also covered by Billy Idol.

[@fredeerickbays]

I love the double beat of the tap tap on the rim to say beating heart. I think of this one it did go to #4. But when U get right down to it all their tones r great. They never did bad one.

[@mikepaulus4766]

A cover of this song went to number one in 1987. Tiffany, the girl who sang it met Tommy James and apologized to him for doing the cover. He said "You don't apologize for number one." Tiffany's cover of I Think We're Alone Now traded top spots on the chart with Billy Idol's cover of Mony Mony, which is also a Tommy James song.

[@tombeyerlein3813]

Tommy and the Shondells had lots of great hits. This was one of my favorites. I fell in love with it when I was a kid and it was brand new and all over the radio!

[@Frankie--da-fixer]

Draggin the line is one of my favorites by this group:-)

[@xtiants]

"Sweet Cherry Wine" is a great one, with a message of peace and brotherhood, and rad music!

[@karensomething16]

8th grade just came flooding back! Thank you!

[@llusk6375]

Sweet Cherry Wine and Draggin' The Line are my favorites.

[@davidmckenzie420]

Great rock song/era.

[@kaybear1972]

One of my favorite songs when I was in jr high. Wow I haven’t heard this in years, Thank you!

[@Lamma-bighitter]

Part of the Era that's timeless and was loved by everyone from grade xchoolers to college in the 60's because everyone could relate to thre message from grassey lawns in the neighborhood to the back rows of the Drive-in movies. You need to try Fresh Air by QSMSstudio version and studio version of Don't leave me this way by Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes with Teddy Pendergrass for the keyboards and White Bird studio version oby It's a Beautiful Day... Guarantee you''ll both love them all. Thanks for getting to "I Think We're Alone Now that I requested a few months ago. All these studio versions have high quality sound needed for the great instruments.

[@deanakeefer1798]

I love this. This is a song I grew up listening to on the radio. Also danced to this at Teen Town.