ladyislingering

When I was 16 years old, my grandma gave me a record that changed my entire life. I was familiar with the band, of course, having grown up with the radio tuned to all the greats, from the 1950s-1970s (and occasionally the 80s, but let's not get ahead of ourselves here), but I had just started my vinyl collection and I was about to be blown away by the psychedelic sounds of Tommy James and his super-groovy Shondells.



This became an all-occasion album for me. I listened to it sober, drunk, high, low, happy, sad, angry, tired, heartbroken, anxious, hot, cold, whatever. It's still one of the greatest cure-all sort of albums for me.

This has been one of my most favorite songs of all time, ever since I was old enough to walk, I've been grooving to this beautiful anomaly of sound.

"Crimson and Clover"



I also enjoy Joan Jett's rendition, mostly because I adore Joan Jett.

This next one will always, always remind me of my grandmother. Because her name is Kathleen, and she was once one of the most important people in my life. She has since distanced herself from me, and I do miss having a grandmother; I'll feel a strong loss when she passes away and I'm worried that she'll never approve of me as a human being. As distasteful as I find her behavior and attitude, I love her dearly. This one's for "Kitty".

"Kathleen McArthur"

So respectable, so refined.



My first reaction to this song was something along the lines of "what the hell is this?" This is some really crazy psych stuff. It still sort of makes me shiver.

"I Am a Tangerine"



My mother loved this next song when I was a little girl. She was never one to turn the radio up too loud, or to really get excited about much, but she loved the hell out of this song (even before she was a crazy born-again Christian) and it will always remind me of her.

God, this is so goddamn groovy.

"Crystal Blue Persuasion"



This is my second favorite from the "Crimson & Clover" album. It will always remind me of the night before I left for Cincinnati, in 2007.

"Sugar on Sunday"



There's a secret message between "Breakaway" and "Smokey Roads", but I can't seem to find it anywhere. Anyone who has the LP or access to the full album might be interested to know, to my memory, that the backmasked bit says something like "Extrapolate the quadruped and turn it into something nutritious. Then, when the aurora rises in the heavens, I shall compensate thee amply."

I branched out a bit from "Crimson & Clover" (and I'm still finding little hidden gems) eventually, and happened upon this (which I'd known since forever, and even rather enjoyed Tiffany's version as well) -

"I Think We're Alone Now"



But did you know that this next track's melody is the above track, backwards?

"Mirage"



Here's something super sweet. (Maybe a little too sweet for some!)

"I Like the Way"



And here's something really funky.

"Gotta Get Back to You"



And a groovy video for an overplayed track that was once covered by Billy Idol.

"Mony Mony"



Some classic summertime driving music:

"Hanky Panky"



And finally, I think I've mentioned this song before, but it opened my eyes to a bad situation I was in, some time ago - and sure as hell, I took the warning to heart. Thanks, Tom. You saved my life.

"Get Out Now"



Anyone with even half a heart for 60s garage rock (or even bubblegum) needs to get themselves acquainted with these guys. It's for your own good.

__________________