Tommy James & The Shondells - Anthology

One-hit wonders here, huge stars over there

Best known in the UK for the 1968 No 1 Mony Mony, Tommy James & The Shondells were Top 40 radio regulars in their native America for most of the latter half of the 60s. Their breakthrough came with the R&B bubblebum of Hanky Panky, setting the template for a string of unfussy three-chord dance-pop hits so basic they made Louie Louie sound like Rhapsody In Blue.

But the band matured quickly, fashioning ever more catchy and elaborate (yet structurally simple) symphonies to affairs of the teenage heart. Theirs was the original of I Think We’re Alone Now; they dabbled in what became known in the UK as Northern soul on the likes of Love’s Closin’ In On Me, and they married doo wop and psych on the ballad Crimson & Clover. Best of all was the laid-back comedown vibes of Crystal Blue Persuasion, which was arguably one of the greatest singles of the entire decade.

All the above make the cut on this 27-track compendium, a near faultless package of bygone pop excellence.

4 stars 4 stars 4 stars 4 stars

EMI/Zonophone | 3788412

Reviewed by Terry Staunton
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