After I got into Christian music a friend told me that Tommy James had become a Christian and many of his songs reflected his faith. Like, "Sweet Cherry Wine" being about the Last Supper.
"To save us He gave us
Sweet cherry wine so very fine
We'll drink it right down pass it all around"
Or "Crystal Blue Persuasion" - God loves us.
"Maybe tomorrow when He looks down
Every green field and every town
All of his children every nation
There'll be peace and good brotherhood
Crystal blue persuasion"
I didn't see Tommy James in his hey day, only later as a revival act. I was shocked to hear, at the end of his concert, his final words - "Keep looking up; Jesus is coming". Pretty cool!
Ok, back to the book - "Me, The Mob and the Music". It's Tommy's story of growing up in Ohio, being in a band when he was 14, recoding "Hanky Panky" in 1964 and then it exploding nationwide in 1966, his Roulette records and some really bad mob guys. The president of Roulette Records was Morris Levy, said to be a gangster, who kept all Tommy's royalties, and yet Tommy regarded him almost like a father-figure until the day he died.
There's minor references to Tommy's faith, crazy road stories as you might expect. These glory days of the music business in the late 60's is a definite flashback and I caught myself saying "ah, I remember that", even though I was a pre-teen. Admittedly, by the end of the book, I was hoping for something more, but still a good read.
There will be something more; a movie based on Tommy's book! Plus, I believe TJ will write another book, and give insight to the music and maybe pick up on where he left off in this book regarding happenings in his life...at least I hope that is the case. Dale Smith, Lebanon, IN
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