Me, the Mob, and the Music: One Helluva Ride with Tommy James and The Shondells

( 17 )
Hardcover
$18.75
BN.com price
$25.00 List Price (Save 25%)
Marketplace (New and Used)
from
$1.99
$25.00 List Price (Save 92%)
Usually ships in 1-2 business days
All (37)  
Used (20)  
New (17)  
Close
Sort by
Page 1 of 4
Showing 1 – 10 of 37 (4 pages)
$1.99
(Save 92%)
New Chapter Recycling
Seller since 2010

Feedback rating:

(3293)

Condition:

New — never opened or used in original packaging.

Like New — packaging may have been opened. A "Like New" item is suitable to give as a gift.

Very Good — may have minor signs of wear on packaging but item works perfectly and has no damage.

Good — item is in good condition but packaging may have signs of shelf wear/aging or torn packaging. All specific defects should be noted in the Comments section associated with each item.

Acceptable — item is in working order but may show signs of wear such as scratches or torn packaging. All specific defects should be noted in the Comments section associated with each item.

Used — An item that has been opened and may show signs of wear. All specific defects should be noted in the Comments section associated with each item.

Refurbished — A used item that has been renewed or updated and verified to be in proper working condition. Not necessarily completed by the original manufacturer.

Very Good

Ships from: Lakewood, WA

Usually ships in 1-2 business days

  • •Canadian
  • •International
  • •Standard, 48 States
  • •Standard (AK, HI)
  • •Express, 48 States
  • •Express (AK, HI)
$1.99
(Save 92%)
New Chapter Recycling
Seller since 2010

Feedback rating:

(3293)

Condition: Good

Ships from: Lakewood, WA

Usually ships in 1-2 business days

  • •Canadian
  • •International
  • •Standard, 48 States
  • •Standard (AK, HI)
  • •Express, 48 States
  • •Express (AK, HI)
$1.99
(Save 92%)
Bargain Books 4U
Seller since 2010

Feedback rating:

(191)

Condition: Like New
Used Like New, no missing pages, no damage to binding, may have a remainder mark.

Ships from: East Patchogue, NY

Usually ships in 1-2 business days

  • •Canadian
  • •International
  • •Standard, 48 States
  • •Standard (AK, HI)
  • •Express, 48 States
  • •Express (AK, HI)
$2.00
(Save 92%)
Housing Works UBC NY
Seller since 2005

Feedback rating:

(3143)

Condition: Like New
Like New Minimal wear to cover. Pages clean and binding tight. Hardcover.

Ships from: New York, NY

Usually ships in 1-2 business days

  • •Canadian
  • •International
  • •Standard, 48 States
  • •Standard (AK, HI)
  • •Express, 48 States
  • •Express (AK, HI)
$2.50
(Save 90%)
abookheaven
Seller since 2011

Feedback rating:

(22)

Condition: Good
The pages have light edge tanning. This has normal wear & tear for being a used good book that follows the market place's descriptive guidelines as only being in good condition. ... All items ship within 24 hours Monday through Friday. We do not ship to detention/prison type facilities. Read more Show Less

Ships from: descanso, CA

Usually ships in 1-2 business days

  • •Canadian
  • •International
  • •Standard, 48 States
  • •Standard (AK, HI)
  • •Express, 48 States
  • •Express (AK, HI)
$4.43
(Save 82%)
Blue Turtle Books MI
Seller since 2005

Feedback rating:

(748)

Condition: New
2010 Hardcover New in new dust jacket. Tracking provided on most orders.

Ships from: Grand Rapids, MI

Usually ships in 1-2 business days

  • •Canadian
  • •International
  • •Standard, 48 States
  • •Standard (AK, HI)
  • •Express, 48 States
  • •Express (AK, HI)
$4.98
(Save 80%)
backpack_books
Seller since 2012

Feedback rating:

(144)

Condition: Like New
Great Shape! May have a publisher remainder mark. 1st ed. 2010 Hardcover.

Ships from: North Wales, PA

Usually ships in 1-2 business days

  • •Canadian
  • •International
  • •Standard, 48 States
  • •Standard (AK, HI)
  • •Express, 48 States
  • •Express (AK, HI)
$4.98
(Save 80%)
Armadillo Books PA
Seller since 2005

Feedback rating:

(7755)

Condition: Like New
Like New Great Shape! May have a publisher remainder mark. 1st ed. 2010 Hardcover.

Ships from: Norristown, PA

Usually ships in 1-2 business days

  • •Canadian
  • •International
  • •Standard, 48 States
  • •Standard (AK, HI)
  • •Express, 48 States
  • •Express (AK, HI)
$5.08
(Save 80%)
Adsrus Media IA
Seller since 2007

Feedback rating:

(1252)

Condition: Very Good
2010-02-16 Hardcover Book 1st Very good. No dust jacket as issued. Hardcover in dust jacket. Normal shelf and display wear. Minor cover wear...

Ships from: Des Moines, IA

Usually ships in 1-2 business days

  • •Canadian
  • •International
  • •Standard, 48 States
  • •Standard (AK, HI)
  • •Express, 48 States
  • •Express (AK, HI)
$5.36
(Save 79%)
Extremely_Reliable
Seller since 2007

Feedback rating:

(3210)

Condition: Good
Buy with confidence. Excellent Customer Service & Return policy.

Ships from: Richmond, TX

Usually ships in 1-2 business days

  • •Canadian
  • •International
  • •Standard, 48 States
  • •Standard (AK, HI)
Page 1 of 4
Showing 1 – 10 of 37 (4 pages)
Close
Sort by
NOOK Book (eBook)
$12.99
BN.com price

Available on NOOK devices and apps

  • Nook Devices
  • NOOK
  • NOOK Color
  • NOOK Tablet
  • Tablet/Phone
  • NOOK for iPad
  • NOOK for iPhone
  • NOOK for Android
  • NOOK for Android (Tablet)
  • NOOK Kids for iPad
  • PC/Mac
  • NOOK Study
  • NOOK for PC
  • NOOK for Mac

Want a NOOK? Explore Now

More About This Book

Overview

Everyone knows the hits: “Hanky Panky,” “Mony Mony,” “I Think We’re Alone Now,” “Crimson and Clover,” “Crystal Blue Persuasion.” All of these songs, which epitomize great pop music of the late 1960s, are now widely used in television and film and have been covered by a diverse group of artists from Billy Idol to Tiffany to R.E.M. Just as compelling as the music itself is the life Tommy James lived while making it.

James tells the incredible story, revealing his complex and sometimes terrifying relationship with Roulette Records and Morris Levy, the legendary Godfather of the music business. Me, the Mob, and the Music is a fascinating portrait 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.

Editorial Reviews

Justin Moyer
Though not well-positioned to pen a true-crime tell-all—James was the drug-addled victim of Levy's machinations, not a sinister goodfella—the songwriter shows how bare-knuckled mafia operators made money from rock-and-roll's turbulent adolescence.
—The Washington Post

Product Details

  • ISBN-13: 9781439128657
  • Publisher: Scribner
  • Publication date: 2/16/2010
  • Pages: 240
  • Sales rank: 287,488
  • Product dimensions: 6.48 (w) x 9.24 (h) x 0.98 (d)

Meet the Author

Tommy James
Tommy James

Tommy James (born Thomas Gregory Jackson, April 29, 1947, Dayton, Ohio) is the pop-rock star best known as the leader of Tommy James and the Shondells. Performing locally in Niles, Michigan, from the age of 12, James went on to record many top hits, including "Hanky Panky," "I Think We're Alone Now," "Mony Mony," "Crimson and Clover," "Sweet Cherry Wine," "Mirage," "Do Something to Me," "Gettin’ Together," "Crystal Blue Persuasion," and "Draggin' the Line." He has sold over 100 million records, has been awarded twenty-three gold singles, and nine gold and platinum albums. His songs are widely used in television and film, and have been covered by Joan Jett, Billy Idol, Tiffany, Tom Jones, Prince, and R.E.M. Tommy James continues to tour the country and record.

Read an Excerpt

Me, the Mob, and the Music

One Helluva Ride with Tommy James & The Shondells
By Tommy James

Scribner

Copyright © 2010 Tommy James
All right reserved.
ISBN: 9781439128657
PROLOGUE



May 21, 1990.


The day began with me rushing off to Chicago to do a concert promoting the release of my new album Hi-Fi and the single ?Go.? It was my first studio album in nearly ten years. I was to meet Ron Alexenburg, the head of Aegis Records, and my manager, Carol Ross, at Newark Airport to catch a flight to Chicago. The band had already gone ahead, and we were all pretty excited about starting the nineties off with a new project. A host of radio stations and press were going to be there. Because Chicago had launched so many of our past successes, it seemed the perfect city to begin our tour. As my wife, Lynda, and I were about to leave, the phone suddenly rang. I was in a rush and kind of annoyed when I answered. It was my accountant, Howard Comart. In a very subdued voice he said, ?Morris is asking for you. If you want to see him you?d better get up here right away.?


?Oh my God, Howard, I?m dashing out the door to do a show in Chicago. I?ll be back first thing tomorrow morning and I?ll come right up.? There was a pause. Howard said, ?Well, okay.? But there was a tremor in his voice. I gave him my hotel number in Chicago and told him to keep me posted.


When I got to the airport, I told Ron and Carol the situation, and it cast a shadow over our otherwise joyful morning. The Godfather of the music business, Morris Levy, was dying of cancer. We all had a feeling of disbelief because none of us had ever thought of Morris as anything but invincible. In his sixty-two years, he had created and controlled one of the biggest independent music publishing companies; managed and was partners with the most famous rock and roll disc jockey, Alan Freed; owned the most famous jazz club in history, Birdland; and owned one of the most successful independent record labels of the fifties and sixties, Roulette Records, which also was my record label for eight years.


Morris and I had been exchanging messages through Howard, our mutual accountant, for several weeks, almost like two kids passing notes back and forth in school. I knew he understood how saddened I was by the whole thing and that despite everything, I genuinely cared about him.


When we got off the plane at O?Hare, I was suddenly filled with the old excitement; a sold-out show, in Chicago, to promote a new record. It felt good to feel this again twenty-four years after first signing with Morris and Roulette. Our road manager met us at baggage claim, a limo was waiting outside, and we loaded up and headed for the hotel. The rest of the day went pretty smoothly, the sound check and all the backstage stuff. But all I kept thinking about was Morris. Lynda kept checking our messages at the hotel hourly.


The show went great; the audience went crazy, dancing in the aisles, standing on their seats screaming for more. We played a combination of the hits and the new stuff, but even on stage I was preoccupied. We ended the show with ?Mony Mony,? like we had done ten thousand times, and did the usual encore. Like always I was hot, sweaty, and out of breath when I came off stage. Carol and Ron met me by the stage door and we all walked back to the dressing room. I had an interview to do with a young radio guy from a local pop station. There was a lot of whooping and hollering around me as I sat down to catch my breath in front of the dressing room mirror. The DJ started asking me questions and I could see the cassette player rolling. The interview had begun. I started off with how great it was to be back in Chicago, then Lynda suddenly came into the room holding a piece of paper. She said, ?I?m sorry to interrupt, Tommy, but Morris Levy died.?


There was just silence. All day long I had been thinking about what I was going to say to him, and now I?d never get the chance. I?d heard stories of how emaciated he had become and had imagined what I would feel seeing him like that, but it didn?t matter now because I would never see him again.


At that point my interviewer said, ?Excuse me, Tommy, can I ask you a question?? I nodded and he said, ?Who is Morris Levy??


Wow, who is Morris Levy? I looked at him in astonishment and realized this kid couldn?t be more than twenty-one or twenty-two years old.


?How much time do we have??


?As much time as you want. I came for an in-depth interview.?


?Well, you?re going to get one. Is that tape recorder still running??


? 2010 Tommy James



Continues...
Excerpted from Me, the Mob, and the Music by Tommy James Copyright © 2010 by Tommy James. Excerpted by permission.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.

Table of Contents

Prologue 1

Chapter 1 Tuning Up 5

Chapter 2 Hanky Panky 39

Chapter 3 Say I Am 63

Chapter 4 I Think We're Alone Now 85

Chapter 5 Gettin' Together 105

Chapter 6 Mony Mony 133

Chapter 7 Crimson and Clover 149

Chapter 8 Crystal Blue Persuasion 163

Chapter 9 Ball of Fire 183

Chapter 10 Draggin' the Line 209

Acknowledgments 227

Customer Reviews

Average Rating 4
( 17 )

Rating Distribution

5 Star

(8)

4 Star

(5)

3 Star

(4)

2 Star

(0)

1 Star

(0)

Your Rating:

Review Guidelines
Add Recommendations
Your Name: Create a Pen Name or Leave Anonymously

Barnes & Noble.com Review Rules

Our reader reviews allow you to share your comments on titles you liked, or didn't, with others. By submitting an online review, you are representing to Barnes & Noble.com that all information contained in your review is original and accurate in all respects, and that the submission of such content by you and the posting of such content by Barnes & Noble.com does not and will not violate the rights of any third party. Please follow the rules below to help ensure that your review can be posted.

Reviews by Our Customers Under the Age of 13

We highly value and respect everyone's opinion concerning the titles we offer. However, we cannot allow persons under the age of 13 to have accounts at BN.com or to post customer reviews. Please see our Terms of Use for more details.

What to exclude from your review:

Please do not write about reviews, commentary, or information posted on the product page. If you see any errors in the information on the product page, please send us an email.

Reviews should not contain any of the following:

  • - HTML tags, profanity, obscenities, vulgarities, or comments that defame anyone
  • - Time-sensitive information such as tour dates, signings, lectures, etc.
  • - Single-word reviews. Other people will read your review to discover why you liked or didn't like the title. Be descriptive.
  • - Comments focusing on the author or that may ruin the ending for others
  • - Phone numbers, addresses, URLs
  • - Pricing and availability information or alternative ordering information
  • - Advertisements or commercial solicitation

Reminder:

  • - By submitting a review, you grant to Barnes & Noble.com and its sublicensees the royalty-free, perpetual, irrevocable right and license to use the review in accordance with the Barnes & Noble.com Terms of Use.
  • - Barnes & Noble.com reserves the right not to post any review -- particularly those that do not follow the terms and conditions of these Rules. Barnes & Noble.com also reserves the right to remove any review at any time without notice.
  • - See Terms of Use for other conditions and disclaimers.
Search for Products You'd Like to Recommend

Recommend other products that relate to your review. Just search for them below and share!

Create a Pen Name

Your Pen Name is your unique identiy on BN.com. It will appear on the reviews you write and other website activities. Your Pen Name cannot be edited, changed or deleted once submitted.

Your Pen Name can be any combination of alphanumeric characters (plus - and _), and must be at least two characters long.

Continue Anonymously

We're sorry, but penname is already taken.

Please select one of the following:
Your Pen Name can be any combination of alphanumeric characters (plus - and _), and must be at least two characters long.

Continue Anonymously

penname is available!

By visiting the BN.com website or marking a purchase on BN.com, a User is deemed to have accepted the Terms of Use.

Continue Anonymously

Welcome, penname

You have successfully created your Pen Name. Start enjoying the benefits of the BN.com Community today.

Sort by: Showing all of 17 Customer Reviews

  • Anonymous

    Posted April 17, 2010

    Great to Reminisce!

    As a child of the 60's, this book really took me back. The story behind Hanky Panky and Mony Mony were phenomenal to learn. This is the story of how Tommy Jackson became Tommy James. A good friend of mine signed with the same record company and he said the details of Tommy going to Morris Levy to get an advance was exactly like his experience. He was shaking in his boots. When he recommended the book, I had to buy it. "I Think We're Alone Now" was me and my first girlfriends favorite song. My kids rocked to Billy Idol's version of Mony Mony. Tommy James lived the rock n roll life that all of us kids dreamed of. He transcended so many changes in the music business (from 45s to LPs), changes in sound (bubble gum to psychedelic) and concert venues (he passed on Woodstock). And he got political in a totally unpredictable way. I loved the read. This book isn't great literature. It is just a great story of a rock n roll odyssey during a time of great growth and change in our world. Read it and have some fun.

    2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Posted January 7, 2011

    more from this reviewer

    Highly recommmended. The best.

    This was one of the most interesting books I have ever read. ***** Brings back memories of great songs and good times.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Posted December 28, 2010

    Could not put it Down

    Having met Tommy many times through the years one can attest to the fact he is a nice person. Tommy is a great singer, writer and all rounded musician. The book is aboslutly riviting.
    Once you start it you will find it difficult to put down. Begin reading it when you have time because you will not want to stop. Entertaining and serious at the same time.
    Try it, you will like it.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Posted July 6, 2010

    The Devil and Tommy Jackson

    Tommy Jackson (James) made a deal with the devil, personified by the head of Roulette Records Morris Levy. This book is mostly about that association. Parents, friends, musical collaborators, lovers, wives, his child, and even his music seem to be mentioned just to establish a chronology of the one relationship in his life that seems to have made an impression. I went into this book not knowing much about Tommy James. What I came out with is I don't especially care for him as a person. It's an interesting story and I still love the music. But man, for an autobiography he sure comes off shallow.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Posted April 10, 2010

    I Also Recommend:

    9780679730613

    Music and the mob - and rock and roll

    When one says "music and the mob," one usually expects Vegas and the Rat Pack to be the subjects. Not here. Tommy James goes from his Michigan home to Pittsburgh to be a star -- by the happenstance of his group the Shondells' record being picked up by a DJ there long after its release -- and the wheels turn from there (including the need to create a whole new set of Shondells). The story is full of twists and turns that lead to a deeply mob-connected recording executive and eventually gets us to John Lennon. How? I'm not going to spoil the twisted path for the reader who doesn't know it already.

    You won't necessarily like Tommy James after you read the book. While he doesn't spill all the beans, there's enough here to know that there are pieces to his character that many would find troublesome. Also, the writing is occasionally stilted. Nonetheless, the book's narrative is a great tale -- connecting to the greats of the rock era in many ways -- that is stranger than fiction in many ways. It's thus recommended without hesitation.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted July 13, 2010

    No text was provided for this review.

  • Anonymous

    Posted March 20, 2010

    No text was provided for this review.

  • Anonymous

    Posted March 16, 2010

    No text was provided for this review.

  • Anonymous

    Posted May 29, 2010

    No text was provided for this review.

  • Anonymous

    Posted October 12, 2010

    No text was provided for this review.

  • Anonymous

    Posted May 17, 2011

    No text was provided for this review.

  • Anonymous

    Posted October 14, 2010

    No text was provided for this review.

  • Anonymous

    Posted December 14, 2011

    No text was provided for this review.

  • Anonymous

    Posted March 2, 2010

    No text was provided for this review.

  • Anonymous

    Posted December 21, 2011

    No text was provided for this review.

  • Anonymous

    Posted February 23, 2010

    No text was provided for this review.

  • Anonymous

    Posted May 23, 2011

    No text was provided for this review.

Sort by: Showing all of 17 Customer Reviews
If you find inappropriate content, please report it to Barnes & Noble
Why is this product inappropriate?
Comments (optional)
500 character limit