Me, the Mob, and the Music

One Helluva Ride with Tommy James and the Shondells

By: Tommy James, Martin Fitzpatrick

Narrated by: David Colacci

Length: 7 hrs and 51 mins

Publisher's summary

Everyone knows the hits: "Mony Mony," "I Think We're Alone Now," "Crimson and Clover," "Crystal Blue Persuasion." They are nuggets of rock and pop history. However, few know the unlikely story of how these hits came to be. Tommy James had been performing in rock bands in the Michigan area since the age of 12. Prompted to record a few songs by a local disc jockey in 1964, Tommy chose an obscurity titled "Hanky Panky," which became a minor local hit that came and went. Then, in 1966, the record was rediscovered by a Pittsburgh DJ who started playing it on heavy rotation, prompting a tremendous response. Soon every record mogul in New York was pursuing Tommy and the band. Then an even odder thing happened: every offer except one disappeared, and Tommy found himself in the office of Morris Levy at Roulette Records, where he was handed a pen and ominously promised "one helluva ride." Morris Levy, the legendary "godfather" of the music business, needed a hit, and "Hanky Panky" would be his. The song went to number one; Tommy went on to do much more; and Levy continued to reign.

Me, the Mob, and the Music tells the intimate story of the complex and sometimes terrifying relationship between the bright-eyed, sweet-faced blonde musician from the heartland and the big, bombastic, brutal bully from the Bronx, who hustled, cheated, and swindled his way to the top of the music industry. It is also the story of this swaggering, wildly creative era of rock 'n' roll---when the hits kept coming and payola and the strong arm tactics of the mob were the norm---and what it was like, for better or worse, to be in the middle of it.

©2010 Tommy James (P)2010 Tantor

Captivating

I found this was very interesting. I highly recommend you check it out. there was a ton of information that I never knew.

Drama In Real Life

The book was spellbinding and had too many good moments to single one out. The narrator made me feel like I was there. The language was bad, but I know that was a part of feeling the story.

Rock N Roll History

This is a good book. The best thing is you will learn Rock N Roll History that you can't find in other books.

Well Read and is an enjoyble listen.

Amazing!

I had a friend, deceased now, tell me about this part of the music industry... Being a professional songwriter, I found this book amazing!

Sounds like a true story, very good listen!

"It's a long way to the top if ya wanna Rock n Roll". Thank you.

Better than I expected

I didn’t know Tommy James’ music (well, I didn’t realize I knew the hits), but it looked compelling. I almost didn’t stick with it, but I’m glad I did because it got more compelling as it went. Great narration, better than average.

loved it should be a movie !!!!!!

i didnt want it to end. wish he would write part 2, what a story.

Interesting musical history.

So many great musicians from that era were never paid what they should have gotten.

One of the best music books ever - a MUST

Anyone who loves rock/pop music and will love this book. It's an astonishing true account of how the music business worked (and didn't) at this time in history. Jaws will drop, names and songs will be recognized - you will be both entertained and learn a ton about how music, aka the proverbial sausage, was made. This is an absolute MUST.

Great Read

if you like music you'll love this book and inside look behind the curtain of the music business.