Tommy James & The Shondells – Celebration (The Complete Roulette Recordings 1966 - 1973) @ Flac

Review by Mark Deming

Tommy James was one of the biggest pop stars of the '60s and early '70s, turning out a steady stream of radio-ready hits with his band the Shondells, including "Hanky Panky," "I Think We're Alone Now," "Mony Mony," "Crimson and Clover," "Crystal Blue Persuasion," and many more. He was also prolific; between 1966 and 1973, Roulette Records issued no fewer than 13 albums on James (most with the Shondells, some of the later releases solo), in addition to a bunch of non-LP singles. It's a hefty body of work, and the U.K. reissue label Grapefruit Records have given fans an opportunity to study it at length with Celebration: The Complete Roulette Recordings 1966-1973, a six-disc set that collects everything James released for the label, along with a few rarities and unreleased tracks. For 99-percent of all Tommy James fans, Celebration is everything they will ever need from his catalog and then some, and it does reveal a more interesting and varied career than one might expect if they only know the hits. His first two albums, Hanky Panky and It's Only Love (both 1966), are dominated by covers of R&B hits, and present the Shondells as a tight, no-frills show band fronted by a better-than-average blue-eyed soul shouter. I Think We're Alone Now and Gettin' Together (both 1967) introduce the Tommy James we know best; producers and songwriters Ritchie Cordell and Bo Gentry started working with James, and their rocking bubblegum smarts gave him the perfect vehicle for his voice and personality. With Crimson & Clover (1969), James, Cordell, and Gentry started wading into psychedelia, and Cellophane Symphony (1969) was where they dove in head first, and it's an impressively trippy and exploratory work. Travellin' and Tommy James (both 1970) marked the end of the Shondells and the beginning of James' solo period, as psychedelia gave way to a rootsy, soft rock sound. James embraced Jesus Rock on Christian of the World (1971), which feels sincere and welcoming in its spirituality and heartfelt midtempo rock, and My Head, My Bed, and My Red Guitar (1971) was an ambitious country rock project, recorded in Nashville with a crew of Music City session aces. Celebration is the record of an eclectic career from an era in which pop music went through a wealth of dramatic changes, and through it all, James is a versatile and consistently strong singer, as well as an able guitarist and songwriter when he chose to contribute. The 1989 compilation Anthology is a more compact career overview that will do the job for the vast majority of Tommy James fans, but if you have the time and the inclination to dig deep into the most vital and productive period of his life, Celebration is a superb box set that leaves no stone unturned.

CD 1 (31 / 1:16:39)

Hanky Panky (1966)

 01. Tommy James & The Shondells - Celebration 

 02. Tommy James & The Shondells - The Locomotion 

 03. Tommy James & The Shondells - Devil With A Blue Dress On & Good Golly Miss Molly 

 04. Tommy James & The Shondells - You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet 

 05. Tommy James & The Shondells - Mony Mony 

 06. Tommy James & The Shondells - Get Down Tonight 

 07. Tommy James & The Shondells - We Are Family 

 08. Tommy James & The Shondells - Twist And Shout 

 09. Tommy James & The Shondells - Don't Throw Our Love Away 

 10. Tommy James & The Shondells - Shake A Tail Feather 

 11. Tommy James & The Shondells - Soul Searchin' Baby 

 12. Tommy James & The Shondells - Lots Of Pretty Girls

Bonus Track

 

 13. Tommy James & The Shondells - Thunderbolt 

It's Only Love (1966)

 14. Tommy James & The Shondells - It's Only Love 

 15. Tommy James & The Shondells - Hold On A Little Bit Longer 

 16. Tommy James & The Shondells - It's Alright 

 17. Tommy James & The Shondells - Juanita (Nothin's Gonna Stop Our Love) 

 18. Tommy James & The Shondells - Big Time Operator 

 19. Tommy James & The Shondells - Ya Ya 

 20. Tommy James & The Shondells - We'll Have A World 

 21. Tommy James & The Shondells - Don't Let My Love Pass You By 

 22. Tommy James & The Shondells - Pick-Up 

 23. Tommy James & The Shondells - I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry 

 24. Tommy James & The Shondells - Fanny Mae 

 25. Tommy James & The Shondells - Some 

Bonus Tracks

 26. Tommy James & The Shondells - Hold On To Him 

 27. Tommy James & The Shondells - She Cried 

 28. Tommy James & The Shondells - Wiggle Wobble 

 29. Tommy James & The Shondells - The Cheater 

 30. Tommy James & The Shondells - Soul Serenade 

 31. Tommy James & The Shondells - As We Go Through Life 

CD 2 (25 / 1:01:29)

I Think We're Alone Now (1967)

 01. Tommy James & The Shondells - I Think We're Alone Now 

 02. Tommy James & The Shondells - Trust Each Other In Love 

 03. Tommy James & The Shondells - What I'd Give To See Your Face Again 

 04. Tommy James & The Shondells - Baby Let Me Down 

 05. Tommy James & The Shondells - Let's Be Lovers 

 06. Tommy James & The Shondells - Run, Run, Baby, Run 

 07. Tommy James & The Shondells - Mirage 

 08. Tommy James & The Shondells - I Like The Way 

 09. Tommy James & The Shondells - California Sun 

 10. Tommy James & The Shondells - (Baby, Baby) I Can't Take It No More 

 11. Tommy James & The Shondells - Gone, Gone, Gone 

 12. Tommy James & The Shondells - Shout 

Something Special! - Best Of Tommy James And The Shondells

 13. Tommy James & The Shondells - Out Of The Blue 

 14. Tommy James & The Shondells - Gettin' Together 

 15. Tommy James & The Shondells - Love's Closin' In On Me 

 16. Tommy James & The Shondells - Real Girl 

Gettin' Together (1967)

 17. Tommy James & The Shondells - I Want To Be Around You 

 18. Tommy James & The Shondells - There's So Much Love All Around Me 

 19. Tommy James & The Shondells - Some Happy Day 

 20. Tommy James & The Shondells - So Deep With You 

 21. Tommy James & The Shondells - Sometimes I'm Up (Sometimes I'm Down) 

 22. Tommy James & The Shondells - You Better Watch Out 

 23. Tommy James & The Shondells - Wish It Were You 

 24. Tommy James & The Shondells - World, Down On Your Knees 

 25. Tommy James & The Shondells - Lost In Your Eyes 

CD 3 (22 / 1:03:54)

Mony Mony (1968)

 01. Tommy James & The Shondells - Mony Mony 

 02. Tommy James & The Shondells - Do Unto Me 

 03. Tommy James & The Shondells - (I'm) Taken 

 04. Tommy James & The Shondells - Nightime (I'm A Lover) 

 05. Tommy James & The Shondells - Run Away With Me 

 06. Tommy James & The Shondells - Somebody Cares 

 07. Tommy James & The Shondells - Get Out Now 

 08. Tommy James & The Shondells - I Can't Go Back To Denver 

 09. Tommy James & The Shondells - Some Kind Of Love 

 10. Tommy James & The Shondells - Gingerbread Man 

 11. Tommy James & The Shondells - One Two Three And I Fell 

Crimson And Clover (1969)

 12. Tommy James & The Shondells - Crimson And Clover 

 13. Tommy James & The Shondells - Kathleen McArthur 

 14. Tommy James & The Shondells - I Am A Tangerine 

 15. Tommy James & The Shondells - Do Something To Me 

 16. Tommy James & The Shondells - Crystal Blue Persuasion 

 17. Tommy James & The Shondells - Sugar On Sunday 

 18. Tommy James & The Shondells - Breakaway 

 19. Tommy James & The Shondells - Smokey Roads 

 20. Tommy James & The Shondells - I'm Alive 

 21. Tommy James & The Shondells - Crimson And Clover (Reprise)

 Bonus Track

 22. Tommy James & The Shondells - Crimson And Clover (Radio Version) 

CD 4 (20 / 1:16:58)

Cellophane Symphony (1969)

 01. Tommy James & The Shondells - Cellophane Symphony 

 02. Tommy James & The Shondells - Makin' Good Time 

 03. Tommy James & The Shondells - Evergreen 

 04. Tommy James & The Shondells - Sweet Cherry Wine 

 05. Tommy James & The Shondells - Papa Rolled His Own 

 06. Tommy James & The Shondells - Changes 

 07. Tommy James & The Shondells - Loved One 

 08. Tommy James & The Shondells - I Know Who I Am 

 09. Tommy James & The Shondells - The Love Of A Woman 

 10. Tommy James & The Shondells - On Behalf Of The Entire Staff And Management 

Bonus Track

 11. Tommy James & The Shondells - Sweet Cherry Wine

Previously Unissued Until Westside CD 1997

 

 12. Tommy James & The Shondells - Contact 

Best Of Tommy James & The Shondells

13. Tommy James & The Shondells - Ball Of Fire 

Travelin' (1970)

14. Tommy James & The Shondells - Bloody Water 

 15. Tommy James & The Shondells - Red Rover 

 16. Tommy James & The Shondells - Candy Maker 

 17. Tommy James & The Shondells - She 

 18. Tommy James & The Shondells - Talkin' And Signifyin' 

 19. Tommy James & The Shondells - Travelin' 

 20. Tommy James & The Shondells - Gotta Get Back To You 

CD 5 (24 / 1:13:07)

Travelin' (continued)

 01. Tommy James & The Shondells - Early In The Mornin' 

 02. Tommy James & The Shondells - Moses And Me 

 03. Tommy James & The Shondells - Kelly Told Anne 

Tommy James (1970)

 04. Tommy James & The Shondells - Ball And Chain 

 05. Tommy James & The Shondells - Meet The Comer 

 06. Tommy James & TheShondells - Midnight Train 

 07. Tommy James & The Shondells - Light Of Day 

 08. Tommy James & The Shondells - Come To Me 

 09. Tommy James & The Shondells - I Lost My Baby 

 10. Tommy James & The Shondells - Lady Jane 

 11. Tommy James & The Shondells - Quick Silver 

Christian Of The World (1971)

 12. Tommy James & The Shondells - Christian Of The World 

 13. Tommy James & The Shondells - Rings And Things 

 14. Tommy James & The Shondells - I'm Comin' Home 

 15. Tommy James & The Shondells - Sing, Sing, Sing 

 16. Tommy James & The Shondells - Draggin' The Line 

 17. Tommy James & The Shondells - Sail A Happy Ship 

 18. Tommy James & The Shondells - Light Of Day 

 19. Tommy James & The Shondells - Bits And Pieces 

 20. Tommy James & The Shondells - I Believe In People 

 21. Tommy James & The Shondells - Church St. Soul Revival 

 22. Tommy James & The Shondells - Another Hill To Climb 

 23. Tommy James & The Shondells - Adrienne 

 24. Tommy James & The Shondells - Silk, Satin, Carriage Waiting 

CD 6 (19 / 1:04:15)

My Head, My Bed, And My Red Guitar (1971)

 01. Tommy James & The Shondells - Nothing To Hide 

 02. Tommy James & The Shondells - Tell 'Em Willie Boy's A' Comin' 

 03. Tommy James & The Shondells - White Horses 

 04. Tommy James & The Shondells - The Last One To Know 

 05. Tommy James & The Shondells - Rosalee 

 06. Tommy James & The Shondells - Paper Flower 

 07. Tommy James & The Shondells - Walk A Country Mile 

 08. Tommy James & The Shondells - Who's Gonna Cry 

 09. Tommy James & The Shondells - Forty Days And Forty Nights 

 10. Tommy James & The Shondells - Kingston Highway 

 11. Tommy James & The Shondells - I Live To Love A Woman 

 12. Tommy James & The Shondells - Fortunata 

 13. Tommy James & The Shondells - Dark Is The Night 

Non-LP Singles

 14. Tommy James & The Shondells - Cat's Eye In The Window 

 15. Tommy James - Love Song 

 16. Tommy James - Celebration 

 17. Tommy James - Boo, Boo, Don't 'cha Be Blue 

 18. Tommy James - Calico 

 19. Tommy James - Hey, My Lady 

Notes :

Tracks 1-1 and 1-13 to 1-25 are in mono. They rest is in stereo.

Tracks 1-1 to 1-12 originally released as Tommy James & The Shondells - Hanky Panky

Track 1-13 originally released on Tommy James & The Shondells - Hanky Panky / Thunderbolt

Tracks 1-14 to 1-25 originally released as Tommy James & The Shondells - It's Only Love

Tracks 1-26 to 1-31 and 4-12 originally released on Tommy James & The Shondells - It's A New Vibration: An Ultimate Anthology

Tracks 2-1 to 2-12 originally released as Tommy James & The Shondells - I Think We're Alone Now

Tracks 2-13 to 2-16 released on Tommy James & The Shondells - Something Special! The Best Of Tommy James And The Shondells

Tracks 2-14 to 2-25 originally released on Tommy James & The Shondells - Gettin' Together

Tracks 3-1 to 3-11 originally released as Tommy James & The Shondells - Mony Mony

Tracks 3-12 to 3-21 originally released as Tommy James & The Shondells - Crimson & Clover

Track 3-22 originally released on Tommy James & The Shondells - Crimson And Clover

Tracks 4-1 to 4-10 originally released as Tommy James & The Shondells - Cellophane Symphony

Track 4-11 is presented as the single edit found on Tommy James & The Shondells - Sweet Cherry Wine / Breakaway However, it is a later edit created by Rhino Records for a compilation

Track 4-13 released on Tommy James & The Shondells - The Best Of Tommy James & The Shondells

Tracks 4-14 to 5-3 originally released as Tommy James & The Shondells - Travelin'

Tracks 5-4 to 5-11 originally released as Tommy James - Tommy James

Tracks 5-12 to 5-24 originally released as Tommy James - Christian Of The World

Tracks 6-1 to 6-13 originally released as Tommy James - My Head, My Bed & My Red Guitar

Track 6-14 originally released on Tommy James - Cat's Eye In The Window

Track 6-15 originally released on Tommy James - Love Song / Kingston Highway

Track 6-16 originally released on Tommy James - Celebration / The Last One To Know

Tracks 6-17 originally released on Tommy James - Boo, Boo, Don't 'Cha Be Blue

Tracks 6-18 and 6-19 are supposed to be Tommy James - Calico / Hey, My Lady

However, the wrong version of Calico is included here. The version on this release is a song by the same which was released on Tommy James - In Touch

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