Just a Mirage
This afternoon I reacquainted myself with some songs I loved when I was in middle school and the increasing crapulence of top-40 radio drove me from the dial. I took shelter in classics from an earlier age, among which were several songs by a band called Tommy James and the Shondells. Their big hits were “I Think We’re Alone Now”, “Crystal Blue Persuasion”, and two others of which I am decidedly more fond, namely “Crimson and Clover”, and, most of all, “Mirage”.
The “Crimson and Clover” you typically hear on the radio is trimmed of its awesome guitar interlude, and, I confess to also snipping a bit here to illustrate my favorite parts, especially the huge string bend at about 24 seconds:
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“Mirage” is one I almost forgot about forever, until it recently popped into my head, and I am glad it did; it’s a great song, though I wish it were about three minutes longer. It’s got harp glissandi and cool echo effects and a romantic story a middle school-age Dana really liked:
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And that doesn’t even get you to the excellent second verse or chorus.
Ah, nostalgia!
Filed under: Nostalgia, Popular Music on April 17th, 2008
I love those songs, too. My favorite is Crystal Blue Persuasion (or whatever Tommy James song comes on the radio at the time). Dale Smith
Don’t forget MONY MONY !