Tommy James - Alive (Full Album)
15 videos • 15,280 views • by Tommy James Tommy James, legendary star of Tommy James and the Shondells, releases his first new album ten years, Alive. The 15 tracks were, produced by James, is available at digital outlets worldwide, with a CD release on June 7. “Alive was a very long time in the making.” says Tommy, who can be heard on his weekly Sirius XM 60s On 6 satellite radio show. “Some songs go back 30, 40, and even 50 years, and some are brand new.” Tommy James has long been known as an music innovator, and on he mixes up the diverse collection of pop-rock originals on Alive with collaborations on several tracks by Emmy Award-winning T.O.N.E-z, including a hip-hop infused version of Tommy’s 1971 Top 5 hit, “Draggin’ The Line”. “I'd been thinking about a remake of "Draggin' The Line" for a long time and felt that a street or rap version might be perfect. So I got a hold of T.O.N.E-z, who is a great friend and an amazing talent, to lay down a rap on "Draggin' The Line." Then, I called in another great friend, Stevie Van Zandt, to record a guitar solo.” says James. T.O.N.E-z also contributed to a unique cover of the Rolling Stone's "The Last Time" and “Slam”. Alive includes another creative remake of one of Tommy James and the Shondells’ biggest hits, "I Think We're Alone Now", also Top 5 on Billboard Hot 100, in 1967, and repopularized by teen star Tiffany in 1987. The soulful acoustic version has been a concert favorite as Tommy continues to tour the U.S., playing dozens of sold out shows annually. Tommy enlisted long time friend Gene Cornish from The Rascals to play guitar on the remake of "I'm Alive," a song originally recorded for The Shondell’s seminal Crimson and Clover album. Opening track “So Beautiful” is currently charted in the Top 30 at Adult Comtemporary radio; “From The Neck Up” has clever country flavor, and closing track “One Helluva Ride”, is a wink to Tommy James’ critically acclaimed autobiography, Me, The Mob and The Music, which has a film version in the works. James is a masterful writer and producer, revered for his cutting edge work on his multiple platinum hits “Crimson & Clover”, “Crystal Blue Persuasion” and “Sweet Cherry Wine”, amongst others. Alive was written and produced by Tommy, joined by with long time Shondell Jonathan Ashe, who played bass on "Mony Mony" back in 1968. “Jonathan was a constant presence as a co-writer and player on Alive.” says Tommy. “He really played a key part in the process, along with my buddy Jimmy "The Wiz" Wisner, who was my co-producer until he passed away.” says Tommy James. “ALIVE has really been a labor of love... a personal statement of where I am today.”