Me, the Mob, and the Music

One Helluva Ride with Tommy James and the Shondells

By: Tommy James, Martin Fitzpatrick

Narrated by: David Colacci

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.

EXTREMELY INSIGHTFUL WITH A "CAN'T PUT DOWN " FEEL

Would you consider the audio edition of Me, the Mob, and the Music to be better than the print version?

I DID NOT READ THE PRINT VERSION.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Me, the Mob, and the Music?

INVESTIGATING MANY OF THE SIDE CHARACTERS MENTIONED IN THE BOOK.

Which scene was your favorite?

THERE WERE MANY, BUT I LIKED THE SCENES THAT REVIELED THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE MEMORIBLE SONGS FROM THE 60'S.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

YES AND I ALMOST DID.

Any additional comments?

THE INSITE INTO THE EARLY WORLD OF THE RECORD LABLE INDUSTRY WAS FOR ME FASINATING.

A great book for baby boomers

As a baby boomer, I found this a very interesting read. I'm not so sure those much younger than I am would appreciate it in the same way. Tommy James and the Shandells were a pretty hot group in the '60s and '70s. Learning about the history of this group, and all of the trials Tommy James went through and put himself through was very interesting to me. I got a little sick of the obscene language there for a while, but the book has a redeeming value when Tommy has to check himself into the Betty Ford Clinic for drug and alcohol addiction. Although I have never used drugs or alcohol, I know enough about the 12 step program that saves so many lives to know that you cannot get well without accepting God, whatever you understand Him to be. Tommy finally had to come to that realization, and was able to get his life back on track. It is a happy ending to a sordid story.

The narrator, David Colacci, did a great job. He is easy to listen to, and had a grasp of the many different characters. I just felt bad for him having to drop the F bomb so many times. I felt bad for myself having to listen to it . . . I know I could have turned it off, but it was really mainly in one part near the end of the book during a huge argument. I lived through it.