Tommy James & the Shondells

01. Tommy James (vocals, guitar)
02. Larry Coverdale (lead guitar)
03. Larry Wright (bass)
04. Craig Villeneuve (keyboards)
05. Jim Payne (drums)
06. Joe Kessler (guitar)
07. Ron Rosman (keyboards)
08. George Magura (saxophone)
09. Mike Vale (bass)
10. Vinnie Pietropaoli (drums)

Posted by Roy on Wednesday, 02/13/2013 @ 18:05pm

Tommy James & the Shondells

01. Tommy James (vocals, guitar)
02. Larry Coverdale (lead guitar)
03. Larry Wright (bass)
04. Craig Villeneuve (keyboards)
05. Jim Payne (drums)
06. Joe Kessler (guitar)
07. Ron Rosman (keyboards)
08. George Magura (saxophone)
09. Mike Vale (bass)
10. Vinnie Pietropaoli (drums)
11. Eddie Gray (guitar)
12. Peter Lucia (drums)

Posted by Roy on Wednesday, 02/27/2013 @ 17:40pm

what a great band Let's hope they get in

Posted by Happy on Tuesday, 03/19/2013 @ 04:44am

Tommy James and the SHondells were about the only American band charting in the 60's. Everything else was British Invasion (Beatles, Stones, Dave Clark 5 and such).
Laura freaking Nyro gets in and Tommy James and the Shondells don't? WTF

Posted by George on Friday, 09/6/2013 @ 21:59pm

Stephen you did a great job Helping Tommy James.

Hello Stephen Laug are you guy I met backstage at westbury???

I wrote ShyBoy and worked with Tommy for many years.

Let me know.

Regards,

Mike Cerasoli (Tony's Tech)
mike.cerasoli@gmail.com

Posted by Defino PKA/TONY ST JOHN on Friday, 02/21/2014 @ 16:27pm

This list even missed some essential songs. I think we're alone now, Hanky Panky or Crystal Blue persuasion weren't essential songs? They are probably the most covered band from the 60's with the likes of Billy Idol, Joan Jett, and even Tiffany scoring hits with their songs. Hard to believe never even nominated.

Posted by Pete Miller on Wednesday, 06/25/2014 @ 17:04pm

Crimson and Clover covered by Joan Jett and the Blackhearts
Mony Mony covered by Billy Idol
I Think We're Alone Now covered by Tiffany

Posted by Roy on Saturday, 04/18/2015 @ 21:54pm

I Think I'm A Clone Now and Alimony are both parodies by "Weird Al" Yankovic of songs by Tommy James and the Shondells, which were covered by Tiffany and Billy Idol. Both songs were on "Weird Al" Yankovic's 1988 album, Even Worse.

Posted by Roy on Saturday, 04/18/2015 @ 22:15pm

Tommy James should have been inducted many years ago! No justice! Joan Jett in, but not TJ ?????? Hall of Fame is totally rigged.....what a joke!!!

Posted by Gary on Sunday, 11/27/2016 @ 14:40pm

Why didn't his performance with Joan Jett at the Rock Hall get him nominated yet?

Posted by Roy on Monday, 11/5/2018 @ 23:05pm

Joan Jett and the Blackhearts * Billy Idol * Tiffany * "Weird Al" Yankovic

Posted by Roy on Thursday, 11/8/2018 @ 22:09pm

Crimson and Clover covered by Joan Jett and the Blackhearts
Mony Mony covered by Billy Idol
I Think We're Alone Now covered by Tiffany

I Think I'm A Clone Now and Alimony are both parodies by "Weird Al" Yankovic of songs by Tommy James and the Shondells, which were covered by Tiffany and Billy Idol. Both songs were on "Weird Al" Yankovic's 1988 album, Even Worse.

Posted by Roy on Wednesday, 05/29/2019 @ 14:52pm

Another great band that shouldnt be forgotten. I think they should try a theme vote year. By decade or all solo artists voting system each year, may be more fair that way. So many solo artists and great bands from past decades being left out.

Posted by Donna on Wednesday, 11/27/2019 @ 03:12am

Why didn't his performance with Joan Jett at the Rock Hall induction ceremony get him nominated yet?

Posted by Roy on Wednesday, 11/27/2019 @ 06:17am

How does the rock n roll hall of fame overlook Tommy James and the Shondrells. They are pioneers of rock n roll and have obviously influenced other artists. Many others are being enshrined for much less and not even associated with the rock n roll genre. This is a huge injustice to music in general. Who knows what else he has done behind the scenes with songwriting and producing? This all started for me a few months ago when I played Hanky Panky on my Wurlitzer juke box and I got interested of who Tommy James is. Very deserving of this honor!

Posted by Brett Huffman on Sunday, 04/19/2020 @ 10:25am

Stop ignoring the 60's !

Posted by Duane Dudgeon on Friday, 07/31/2020 @ 21:49pm

When I see such minor bands and individual artists get inducted It makes me wonder about the median age of the voters. Is there an anti-white bias now? Look how long it took Chicago. Not only does Tommy Janes and the Shondells belong but Paul Revere and the Raiders are long overdue too. Just sayin'

Posted by Brian on Monday, 09/14/2020 @ 16:01pm

Oh yeah, Brian...if there's anything the Hall is...it is that it's 'anti-white'.. For sure....

Posted by Paul in KY on Tuesday, 09/15/2020 @ 08:31am

Six years since Joan Jett and the Blackhearts were inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame and Tommy James performed with them, and Tommy James and the Shondells still have not been nominated!

Joan Jett and the Blackhearts * Billy Idol * Tiffany * "Weird Al" Yankovic

1968 Crimson and Clover covered by Joan Jett and the Blackhearts in 1981
1968 Mony Mony covered by Billy Idol in 1981
1967 I Think We're Alone Now covered by Tiffany in 1987

Alimony and I Think I'm A Clone Now are both parodies by "Weird Al" Yankovic of songs by Tommy James and the Shondells, which were covered by Tiffany and Billy Idol. Both songs were on "Weird Al" Yankovic's 1988 album, Even Worse.

Posted by Roy on Friday, 03/5/2021 @ 05:23am

Tommy James and the Shondells should be in the RRHOF just for Crystal Blue Persuasion alone. But on top of that you have Mony Mony, I Think We're Alone Now, Sweet Cherry Wine, Hanky Panky, Mirage, Draggin the Line, Crimson and Clover. They sold more singles in 68-69 than anyone else and that was top 40's heyday. And now the Go-Gos are in. What are they thinking about? The bongos at the beginning of Crystal Blue Persuasion,...the lyrics and the production value still holds up 50 some years later.

Posted by Gregory on Thursday, 05/13/2021 @ 22:23pm

Tommy James and the Shondells should have been in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame a long time ago. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame has lost its purpose and it appears the criteria is more about politics in having to include rap artists and those artists that have little to do with rock and roll. Tommy James' book "Me, The Mob and the Music" is about to be made into a movie and in addition to the gold records that the band has received over the years, Tommy received five BMI Million Air Awards for 22 million plus songs played on the air. Mike Vale, Ron Rosman and Eddie Gray who were former Shondells continue to perform as the "Crystal Blue Band" and have garnered a large following and Tommy continues to perform at concert venues drawing fans of all ages.

Posted by Joyce Conroy on Monday, 06/14/2021 @ 15:57pm

How the Hell do Rap Singers and Hip-Hoppers get into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame before Tommy James and the Shondells?! In their own way, these guys are just as important to the evolution of Rock and Roll as the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, the Beach Boys, CCR, Led Zeppelin and so, so many other Rock Acts... for the life of me, I don't understand the politics of the Rock Hall or the BS of their Political Correctness... this is a Rock and Roll Institution, after all...

Posted by Chris Haislet on Monday, 08/9/2021 @ 14:51pm

Although I had a very inexpensive guitar hanging from my neck since I was 6, My parents bought me a Sears Silvertone guitar and a 5 watt amp in 1968 when I was 9. To say that TOMMY JAMES was not influential to musicians my age is absolutely ridiculous. It wasn't just the great songs but I can hardly imagine the sixties and seventies without that incredible voice. Listen to his song "SHE" and you'll understand what truly incredible singing is. Again, I don't know what the sixties and early seventies would have been like without CRYSTAL BLUE PERSUASION, SWEET CHERRY WINE, CRIMSON AND CLOVER, BALL OF FIRE, NOTHING TO HIDE, CHRISTIAN OF THE WORLD, DRAGGIN' THE LINE, etc. I'm sure that those who nominate artists will never see this but Let's get Tommy James inducted before it's too late for him to enjoy it!! And I Pray that he'll be with us for many more years. Lastly, I truly respect JOAN JETT for bringing TJ Onstage when she was inducted! Bob

Posted by beebob777 on Monday, 11/8/2021 @ 20:56pm

Crystal Blue Persuasion alone, not to mention multiple other timeless hits, is the penultimate 60's gorgeous psychedelic song and you need your brain and ears checked if you don't know Tommy James and the Shondells are decades overdue for induction. How can any hip hop/ rap groups proceed them in the R&R HOF? Politics, and woke idiocy! No sane rationale explains such extended oversight. Until induction, I will never go to Cleveland!!!

Posted by Carl Lowder on Sunday, 11/28/2021 @ 01:24am

Another great travesty in rock music there is no acceptable reason for Tommy James and the shondels not being in the rock and roll hall of fame
Ask any body in their 50 or 60s and then mention crimson and clover dragging the line mony mony and they could tell you where they were and who they were with when they heard these songs. Thats the lasting effect and the greatness of music. Its just not right

Posted by mike CORBETT on Friday, 01/14/2022 @ 18:15pm

So, what's wrong with a little bubble gum mixed in with a group's repertoire? Any musician is entitled to go with the flow of the times, to survive, mature, and still be creative enough to write and record some great songs that people loved and bought in huge numbers! "Mony Mony", "Crimson and Clover", "Sweet Cherry Wine", "Crystal Blue Persuasion", "Draggin' the Line"! Then to watch several latter day artists (in the R&RHOF) cover several of these classics and top the charts with them! What's wrong with the handful of people who dictate who's in and who's out? There are quite a few bands in Hall whose only claim to fame is that members who later went on to bigger, better and more successful. Example; The Velvet Underground (NO one bought their music!)! No one cared about Lou Reed! But because he wrote and sang a song about a guy who dressed like a woman he gets in the Hall? Just for that one very minor hit single? Just because Andy Warhol created the album cover of some album the group gets in the Hall? But Tommy James is ignored?

Posted by John Thomas on Tuesday, 06/7/2022 @ 17:53pm

Tommy James cannot be accused, credibly, of being a highly proficient musician. He is a HOF worthy artist, however. His crafted song structures, lyrics, vocals, listenability and genre range are all evidence of an abundance of talent. He holds cultural sway unmatched by any other artist today, as is demonstrated year after year with the countless soundtracks his songs grace. In 1982, at the Channel in Boston, TJ was walking through a packed house thanking his fans. I reached out with a poster and a pen for him to sign, I dropped the pen. I actually pointed to where the pen landed, waited for me to pick it up and then signed mt poster and shook my hand with a thanks. TJ's combination of talent and character in an age starving for genuine americana role models worthy of our trust...deserves recognition. Rock and Roll is not solely about slease and grit or Buddy Holly would not be in the HOF, think it over.

Posted by Mike K on Tuesday, 11/15/2022 @ 19:32pm

It is strange that Tommy James & the Shondells have not been nominated yet. Unfortunately, they may never be nominated in the future as the hall seems to close the door for 60s rock bands. It is a crime that they still haven't got in. Everyone aged 50-70 knew them well. They should be inducted if their peers like Hollies, Rascals are in.

Posted by power on Monday, 07/24/2023 @ 12:48pm

Yes. They are an iconic band with so many memorial songs. When songs pop into your head l ok le they do with this band you know they are a must selection into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Posted by Carl Hardy on Saturday, 05/25/2024 @ 08:29am

Tommy James's greatest hits have been covered by so many people in our lifetime, how does that not consider a deeper look into Hall of Fame induction? His music is timeless!

Posted by Earl Poteet on Monday, 05/27/2024 @ 09:56am

I don't know why they are not inducted, with all the acts that are NOT Rock N Roll that you have inducted! I am a rock n roll fan for as long as I can remember and I simply do not understand how so many true rock acts have been snubbed by the HOF. I know I am wasting my time here but I simply think if you are going to claim to be the The Rock and Roll HOF, you ought to induct rock and roll acts even pop acts like Tommy James. Please, get real here.

Posted by Ronald Medlin on Monday, 09/2/2024 @ 13:07pm