Phil Nee Talks To TOMMY JAMES

Phil Nee recently interviewed Tommy James on his "Those Were The Days" radio program ...

And this seemed like a timely spot to run some of those excerpts, since Tommy's new album is out this week ...

Tommy James has long been a favorite with our Those Were the Days listeners.  He has played in every major city and many small towns across Wisconsin.  He even lived in the state for a couple of years (Monroe) while he was growing up.

He joined me in September of this year and we talked about how he has survived in the business and is happy to still be touring.

In 2010, Tommy released his excellent book Me, the Mob, and the Music. 

It is one of the best ever written about the music business.  

Plans continue for the book to become a movie.

 

 

Tommy was one of the first guests on my radio show.  

 

In 1990 he had a song called 'Go' which did well for WRCO back when we were an Adult Contemporary reporting station for the Gavin Report. That was the last time we had the chance to have Tommy join us by phone.  It was great to

get caught up.  

 

He has a new release that he is excited about.

Tommy has always been a good friend to Forgotten Hits (and we have been fans since we heard his very first hit record, "Hanky Panky," back in 1966.)  I've owned that "40 Year" package for several years now and it is an excellent collection.  (I also recently purchased and listened to his complete Roulette package, featuring every track he ever recorded for the label, and made some new discoveries along the way while listening to that one, as I didn't typically buy Tommy James and the Shondells albums when they were first released.)

 

His music has always done very well here in Chicago ...

 

Seven of his records have made it all the way to #1 here on our local charts ...

 

And he has earned a total of thirteen Top Ten Hits here in The Windy City!

 

TOMMY's BIGGEST HITS on the Chicagoland Charts:

1966	Tommy James and the Shondells	Hanky Panky	1
1966	Tommy James and the Shondells	Say I Am (What I Am)	2
1966	Tommy James and the Shondells	It's Only Love	10
1967	Tommy James and the Shondells	I Think We're Alone Now	1
1967	Tommy James and the Shondells	Mirage	1
1967	Tommy James and the Shondells	I Like The Way	13
1967	Tommy James and the Shondells	Gettin' Together	12
1967	Tommy James and the Shondells	Out Of The Blue	14
1968	Tommy James and the Shondells	Get Out Now	22
1968	Tommy James and the Shondells	Mony Mony	1
1968	Tommy James and the Shondells	Somebody Cares	14
1968	Tommy James and the Shondells	Do Something To Me	19
1969	Tommy James and the Shondells	Crimson And Clover	1
1969	Tommy James and the Shondells	Sweet Cherry Wine	4
1969	Tommy James and the Shondells	Crystal Blue Persuasion	1
1969	Tommy James and the Shondells	Ball Of Fire	9
1970	Tommy James and the Shondells	She	23
1970	Tommy James and the Shondells	Gotta Get Back To You	19

1971    Tommy James	Adrienne	35
1971    Tommy James	Draggin' The Line	1
1971    Tommy James	I'm Comin' Home	4
1971    Tommy James	Nothing To Hide	2
1972    Tommy James	Tell 'Em Willie Boy's A'Comin'	25

 

 

Be sure to listen to Phil Nee's THOSE WERE THE DAYS radio program tonight … and EVERY Satuarday Night on WRCO ... 6 pm – Midnight (Central):

WRCO AM FM Radio Richland Center Wisconsin

Just click on the 100.9 headphones and start streaming!