Tommy James and The Shondells were a band that, in the 60s, most people were familiar with. They had some hits and success, as we shall see soon. But, the song “Crimson and Clover,” when it was released, was a complete change of direction. Did it have a particular relevance? If so, what was the meaning behind “Crimson and Clover” by Tommy James and The Shondells?
Who Were They?
They were formed in Michigan in 1964. You will quite often see them described as being a Psychedelic Rock band. But, there wasn’t very much psychedelia in their early successful records.
In 1966, they covered The Raindrops’ song “Hanky Panky.” The original had been uncovered by a DJ in Pittsburgh and, for some reason, became popular. It was recorded as an opportunist release and reached #1 in America and #38 in the UK in 1966. Other releases did quite well, but then along came “Mony Mony” in 1968.
That reached #3 in America and #1 in the UK. It was pure riff-laden 60s Rock n Roll but still not much psychedelia in that one either. In Europe, it was “Mony Mony” they were most known for, and people saw them as just another rock n roll group. There were plenty of them around at the time, but that song had captured the imagination.
A Change Of Image
Songwriter, Bo Gentry, had been the main writer behind some of their material, including “Mony Mony.” But, he fell out with the band’s record company, Roulette Records, over a disagreement over some payments. They had lost an important part of their team.
However, there was another problem – public perception. Tommy James and The Shondells were labeled in some circles as a “Bubblegum” band. And, in some circles, but not all, that was almost an insult. “Bubblegum” had probably started with the song “Simon Says,” by the 1910 Fruitgum Company. The Shondells were starting to be cast in that mold.
With Bo out of the picture, Tommy James approached management and the band, suggesting that he should write a song for their next single. I don’t think there were many, in the band or out of it, that thought he could come up with a successful song.
An Experiment
It could all have gone horribly wrong. But, the experiment with the songwriting approach worked and paid some early dividends. They changed from being a simple Rock and Roll band to a more thoughtful and creative unit. And now, there was a little psychedelia involved.
Background to “Crimson and Clover“
The band was still experimenting with the sound when a rough mix of the song was given to a radio station for their opinions, and they leaked it. There was a rush release, and “Crimson and Clover” was an instant success. There was also an album of the same name, which peaked at #8 on the American album chart with a longer, full, unedited version of Crimson and Clover”.
The single didn’t chart in the UK but went to #1 in America. “Crimson and Clover” spent four months on the American chart. It sold over five million copies and became Tommy James and The Shondells biggest selling single. That figure, though, has never been verified, and the RIAA did not award the track gold record status.
Just Five Hours
That was all it took to record it, though it was, as I said, just a good demo. James played a lot of the instruments himself, except the bass and drums. Later, they said it was like a door had opened to their creative ideas, and there was no one there to slam it in the face. They even went so far as to design the album cover.
Some credit needs to be apportioned to Roulette Records. Despite its, at times, dubious reputation with unseemly characters, the company did encourage the band. It allowed them to move away from their previous musical existence to a new style.
Also, it finally killed off any lingering questions about them being a “Bubblegum” band. I wonder if that was part of the motivation for the style change and inspiration for “Crimson and Clover.”
Was It A Good Song?
It was viewed differently depending on where you were. In America, it received a lot of praise for its creativity. But, in the UK, not so much. The problem there was that in the UK, Progressive Psychedelic Rock had been on the menu for a while. And they were up against Pink Floyd and songs like “See Emily Play.”
They weren’t going to win that particular battle. The same applied to the rest of Europe. Dutch bands, like Shocking Blue, with songs like “Venus” and Golden Earring, led the psychedelic charge.
If you take a critical listen to the song…
It is quite good in many respects. Especially if you consider the time it was released. It is not going to test anyone musically. But, it does possess an ethereal quality created by the guitar with a very heavy tremolo.
The arrangement is productive, and he sings it very well. Again, with the help of some basic studio effects. It has a haunting sound as he works his way through the lyrics. You could argue that it deserves its place in the era of early Psychedelic Music.
An amusing side issue to the song is that it was doing well in the charts in the Christmas holiday of 1968. Some people thought it had a Christmas inference, and James was singing “Christmas is over” instead of “crimson and clover.”
The Edit
The original was longer than the standard Pop format for getting airplay. They didn’t quite have the clout of Bob Dylan, who got his six-minute “Like A Rolling Stone” played, eventually.
They managed to get it down to just over two and a half minutes. Nevertheless, the song still changed the persona of the band. This was a time when albums were becoming more important to the record-buying public.
“Album Rock” in the late 60s was gaining importance, and the music in them was changing. And this song was a prime candidate for attention and recognition. “Crimson and Clover” allowed them to move in those circles. Album bands were beginning to be considered the elite of the music world, so it was a good time to become associated with them.
And The Crimson?
Crimson, of course, is a hue of the color red that is often associated with passion and love. But, there seems to be a little disagreement about the use of the word in the title.
Tommy James originally wrote the song with the band’s bass player Mike Vale. But he wasn’t happy with the final result. So, he sat down with drummer Pete Lucia, and they rewrote it to reach the finished song.
Lucia later said that the color was the color of his hometown high school American football team in New Jersey. However, James said that crimson has always been his favorite color, which is why he chose it. The clover just seems to fit because it was a flower and gave the song the feeling of love blossoming. So, no deep hidden meanings in “Crimson and Clover“ there.
The Meaning Behind “Crimson and Clover” by Tommy James and The Shondells
And so, on to what the song “Crimson and Clover” means. The words are quite simple, and there are no double meanings or cryptic references included.
Although, some have indicated there could be a deeper meaning referring to drug use. Isn’t there always? Or possibly, the physical desire he feels for the woman in the song. This is backed up by the use of words like, “know her” and “show her”. Not sure how they can lead you to believe they indicate any such references. Surely they are just simple rhymes to go with “clover.”
On the most basic level, what “Crimson and Clover” is about is a man who meets a beautiful woman who he thinks he could fall in love with. It is a song exploring the concept of what some might call “love at first sight.”
Cover Versions
The song has been covered by various people over the years. Perhaps the most notable is Joan Jett’s version of “Crimson and Clover”. Kenny Laguna was a young songwriting colleague of Bo Gentry and was later Joan Jett’s manager for many years. Doubtless, he introduced her to the song of which he would have been well aware. Her vision reached #7 on the American chart.
Want To Learn About the Meaning Behind Other Famous Songs?
If so, check out our thoughts on The Meaning Behind “Paint It Black” by The Rolling Stones, The Meaning Behind “Lola” by The Kinks, the Meaning Behind “Hotel California” Song By The Eagles, the Meaning Of ‘American Pie’ Song Lyrics, and The Meaning Behind “Comfortably Numb” by Pink Floyd for more song info and insights.
The Meaning Behind “Crimson and Clover” by Tommy James and The Shondells – Final Thoughts
Some songs have great relevance in the careers of the artists and singers who write and/or record them. This song is one of those. It has a simple meaning with its basic lyrics. But, sometimes, the simple things are the best. You haven’t always got to be lyrically clever.
The band recorded and released several good tracks during the time that they were together. You can hear the best Tommy James & The Shondells songs right here.
Until next time, happy listening.
