About The Song
“Crimson and Clover” is a 1968 song by the American rock band Tommy James and the Shondells, written by Tommy James and drummer Peter Lucia Jr. It marked a shift in the group’s sound and composition.
Released as a rough mix in late 1968 after a radio station leaked it, “Crimson and Clover” spent 16 weeks on the U.S. charts, reaching number one in the United States in February 1969, along with achieving the top spot in four other countries. The single, selling 5 million copies, stands as Tommy James and the Shondells’ best-selling song, though the RIAA did not officially award it a gold record.
In 2006, Pitchfork Media honored it as the 57th best song of the 1960s.
Composition and Recording: After “Mony Mony,” Tommy James sought to change the group’s direction and took control of producing his own material. Departing from the group’s primary songwriters, he collaborated with Peter Lucia Jr. on “Crimson and Clover.” The title, chosen before the song’s creation, combines James’s favorite color, crimson, and his favorite flower, clover. The recording process, completed in about five hours in late 1968, involved Tommy James playing most instruments, with Mike Vale on bass and Peter Lucia Jr. on drums. The song features a distinctive tremolo effect on the guitar and experimental vocal tremolo near the end.
Single Release: The rough mix of “Crimson and Clover” was initially shared with Morris Levy of Roulette Records for evaluation. Roulette Records intended to refine the mix, but a premature leak at a Chicago radio station, WLS, led to the song’s unplanned airing in November 1968. Listener response was positive, prompting Roulette Records to release the rough mix. The song entered the U.S. charts in December 1968, reaching number one in February 1969 for a brief period. It held the top spot on Cash Box Top 100 for one week and on both Billboard Hot 100 and Record World 100 Top Pops for two weeks. Internationally, it topped charts in several countries but did not chart in the United Kingdom. Despite the unconventional release, “Crimson and Clover” became a massive hit for Tommy James and the Shondells.
Video
Lyrics
Oh
Now I don’t hardly know her
But I think I could love her
Crimson and cloverAh
I wish she’d come walking over
Now I’ve been waiting to show her
Crimson and clover
Over and overYes (da-da, da-da, da-da)
My my, such a sweet thing (da-da, da-da, da-da)
I want to do everything (da-da, da-da, da-da)
What a beautiful feeling (da-da, da-da, da-da)
Crimson and clover (da-da, da-da, da-da)
Over and overCrimson and clover, over and over
Crimson and clover, over and over
Crimson and clover, over and over
Crimson and clover, over and over
Crimson and clover, over and over
Crimson and clover, over and over