"Crimson and clover, over and over..."

Original Released on LP Roulette 42023
(1969/01)

"Crimson & Clover", the highest charting album by Tommy James And The Shondells (it made the Top 10), marked the arrival of the group's psychedelic style and featured the chart-topping title tune, "Crystal Blue Persuasion", which just missed the top of the charts, and the Top 40 hit "Do Something To Me". It's hard to believe that the elegant, eclectic pop recordings of this album were made by the same people who turned in the rockers "I Think We're Alone Now" and "Mony Mony." But Tommy James And The Shondells were pop professionals ready and willing to follow the Sgt. Pepper trend into experimentation, as long as it panned out commercially. Even the most dedicated hack gets lucky, however, and Tommy James was lucky more often than most. "Crimson & Clover" and "Crystal Blue Persuasion" retain a campy appeal ages after the '60s, and if the filler on the album is even sillier now than it was then ("Hello, banana, I am a tangerine," indeed!), it's no less fun. (William Ruhlmann in AllMusic)

«Dear Tommy and The Shondells:

What a wonderful team you are and what great help
you gave my 1968 Presidential Campaign. Thanks so ver much. 
You added vitality and pleasure to so many campaign rallys. 
You made sacrifices in my behalf, "you cooperated enthusiastically," 
you made my cause your own and helped it immeasurably.

No one will be happier than I to see your further success. 
You have what it takes for top stardom... youth, idealism, talent, and zest. 
I look forward to being with you on future occasions.

My deep appreciation and best wishes for the holidays 
and a New Year rich with blessings.

Sincerely, Hubert H. Humphrey, December 2, 1968»

(from the original back cover of "Crimson & Clover")

*

E agora uma pequena história relacionada com o tema "Kathleen McArthur", que um amigo brasileiro deste blogue - José Faria Gomes - nos disponibilizou, aqui há alguns anos atrás: «Corria o ano de 1969, tinha eu 16 anos e o grande sucesso musical era "Crimson & Clover", com Tommy James & The Shondells. Comprei o que na época chamava-se um Compacto Simples, com essa música no Lado A e "I´m Taken" no Lado B. Um de meus melhores amigos comprou o LP e disse-me que a canção, no LP, tinha uma versão mais longa e com um solo de guitarra diferente. Ele emprestou-me o disco e, ao escutá-lo por completo descobri a canção "Kathleen McArthur". Foi paixão à primeira vista. Jamais tinha ouvido o nome Kathleen antes e achei-o diferente, soava melodioso. Nos meus sonhos de adolescência divaguei e prometi a mim mesmo que se algum dia constituisse família e tivesse a oportunidde de vir a ser pai de uma menina esse seria o nome a dar-lhe. Casei-me em 1981 e, em abril de 1982, nasceu minha filha, Kathleen é claro. Em 1996 ao acessar um site do fã-clube da banda contei lá esta história. Aconteceu de o dono do site ser amigo pessoal do Tommy James e transmitir-lhe a história. Tommy James achou interessante e cedeu cópia da partitura original que me foi enviada via -e-mail. Kathleen, por coincidência, casa-se hoje e espero que eu lhe tenha incutido o gosto pela boa música».

I work for the father of Kath-a-leen McArthur

So respectable, so refined

I tend to the garden, I then clean the yard

And straighten up the "No trespassing" sign

Oh, they've got a fishing yacht and a limousine

And a very lovely daughter, Kath-a-leen.

In a house that's fit for twenty

there they sit with plenty

Independently, high society

Every morning when I meet her

I tip my hat to greet her

"Well hello, Kathleen, how are you today?"

Kathleen, so serene, Daddy's unaware

Of the mask you wear, and the love we share.

Yes, I work for the father of Kath-a-leen McArthur

So respectable, so refined.