Search - Tommy James & Shondells :: Tommy James & The Shondells - The Definitive Pop Collection

(Almost) All the Hits and Many of the Near Misses

Steve Vrana | Aurora, NE | 09/23/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"All of Tommy James & The Shondells top 40 hits are here--all fourteen of them, along with James' biggest solo hit, "Draggin' the Line." Beginning in 1966 with "Hanky Panky" through the end of the decade, The Shondells released a string of infectious hits. [Note: While "Hanky Panky didn't become a national hit until the summer of 1966, the original Shondells recorded the song on the Snap label in 1963 in Ohio where it became a regional hit when James was only 16!]



Essentially, this latest collection from Rhino is a re-release of their 1990 single-disc ANTHOLOGY. What THE DEFINITIVE POP COLLECTION does is add three songs and spreads it out over two discs. Since it lists for about the same price as the earlier collection, it's hard to complain; but there was certainly room for a more thorough coverage of the both the band and James' solo work.



For example, this new collection includes the band's final charting single, "Come to Me" from 1970; it reached only No. 47. In addition, James' solo "Nothin' to Hide" from MY HEAD, MY BED & MY RED GUITAR (which hit No. 41 in late 1971) is included. The only other track not found on ANTHOLOGY is James' own version of "Tighter and Tighter," which he had produced for Alive & Kicking. [Their version was the hit at No. 7 in 1970.] The only serious misstep is the omission of "I'm Comin' Home," James' follow-up single to "Draggin the Line", which reached No. 40. James had a string of solid solo albums which, given the space available on two CDs, should have been better represented. [Also missing is James' final chart entry, 1980's No. 19 hit "Three Times in Love," but that wasn't recorded for Roulette and obviously Rhino was unable to license the song.]



All told, this is a very thorough history of one of the great party bands of the Sixties. VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED"

Tommy James & The Shondells Definitive

B. Slovinec | Chicago, IL USA | 10/19/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is actually all their greatest hits. The only one miss is Gone, Gone,Gone, which I believe was one of their earlier songs, and may not have been a top 40. But this is without a doubt all their greatest hits, on 1 cd instead of 2. I really love it,and I hope you will too.

Most of the songs are really great and, and for me bring back great memories. Previously, I had to purchase 2 CD's to get the songs I wanted, which are now all on this CD. It's a keeper, for sure.

"

Has Every Song I Was Looking For

Diamond Girl | Michigan | 02/18/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Has it all and more - in the same format that I heard on the radio back then..... the music of drive-in movies, YMCA and park dances, sitting in our cars and listening to the radio in drive-in restaurants... good songs that reflected how I was feeling."