Tommy James and the Shondells - Crimson and Clover (1968)

In 1959, Tommy Jackson (soon Tommy James) was already singing in bands around his hometown. In one of his groups, he recorded a cover of the song “Hanky Panky” just before the group dissolved from the music scene. When the song became a huge hit a few years later, Tommy James found new Shondells to back him and continued the band. They had two number one singles and twelve top forty hits.

After releasing their hit “Mony Mony,” James wanted to take the group in a new direction. This song was the first example of that new direction. When James played it for WLS radio station in Chicago, off-air, the station secretly recorded the song and later played it on-air as their “world exclusive.” Despite never being fully completed, the song went to number one.



Tommy James and the Shondells - Crimson and Clover (1968)

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Lyrics:

Ah
Now I don't hardly know her
But I think I could love her
Crimson and clover

Ah
Well here she come walking over
Now I been waitin' to show her
Crimson and clover
Over and over

Yeah
My mind's such a sweet thing
I wanna do everything
What a beautiful feeling
Crimson and clover
Over and over

Crimson and clover, over and over
Crimson and clover, over and over
Crimson and clover, over and over
Crimson and clover, over and over
Crimson and clover, over and over
Crimson and clover, over and over…