Song Of The Day: Tommy James & The Shondells: “Crystal Blue Persuasion.”
3March 18, 2010 by Citizen192
Randy Newman’s “I Love LA” reminds me of “blond bombshells”, neon swimsuits and aerosol cans filled with hairspray. It’s not the Los Angeles I identify with, in the 80′s or now. But every time I hear Tommy James & The Shondells singing “Crystal Blue Persuasion”, I drift to a Los Angeles filled with laughing abuelitas, carne asada sharing the grille with bacon-wrapped hot dogs, up-to-no-good cousins, a 1955 Chevy Belair surrounded by grown men contemplating the next fix, playing catch in the front yard and, of course, drinking a Tecate out of a can.
I have four days left in Los Angeles and this is me getting ready to say goodbye.
Category Los Angeles, Music | Tags: Music, Song Of The Day, Tommy James & The Shondells, What I Am Listening To
there’s probably a musical/DNA formula that can determine how a band from the Midwest could write a song that would become an all-time Chicano Top 10 oldie. Something about the combination of Spanish guitar, organ and bongo drums…
I was convinced for a long time that the guys playing this song had handlebar mustaches and Smile Now/Cry Later tattoos.
for the longest time I swore this song was sung by some real Firme Vatos…boy was I in for a reality check to know white boys too have soul.