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Post by edehl on Sept 25, 2009 14:15:54 GMT -5
Next February, Tommy James is releasing his autobiography called, "Me, the Mob, and the Music". It's an account of his life with the Shondells and how they dealt with Roulette Records, which unbeknownst to them, was a front for the mob. Interesting! I guess Martin Scorcese is looking into making the story into a movie.
I love me some Tommy James and am soooo looking forward to reading his story.
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Post by Dawn on Sept 25, 2009 15:15:03 GMT -5
I hadn't heard about this - thanks for the heads-up! Not much has been written about Tommy in the rock histories I've read, so it will be good to get the complete story from his perspective. That is interesting about Roulette being a mob front - I'd never heard that before.
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Post by Ken on Sept 25, 2009 18:30:19 GMT -5
I am definitely looking forward to reading this!  Morris Levy the head of Roulette was a real "character" from what I've read about him. |
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Post by Dawn on Sept 25, 2009 21:52:00 GMT -5
I am definitely looking forward to reading this! Morris Levy the head of Roulette was a real "character" from what I've read about him. Agreed - he was largely responsible for the John Lennon "Roots" debacle as well. |
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Post by m c dornan on Sept 25, 2009 23:47:51 GMT -5
Hmmm. and Roulette released "Easier Said than Done', by the Essex, who were all Marines. So we have to explore the links between the Mafia and the Marines...  |
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Post by gremashlo on Mar 21, 2010 8:03:07 GMT -5
Tommy James' autobiography, "Me, the Mob and the Music" is a very interesting read, but it is really frustrating at times.
In it, James is VERY up front and honest with the mob control of Roulette Records (it seems that many labels wanted the Shondells after "Hanky Panky" became a fluke regional hit, but Morris Levy basically called all the other labels and made it clear that the record and the group were his ALONE--it was not until years later did Tommy figure this out)--he tells of the various goings-on at Roulette, which Levy ruled through sheer intimidation; how James simply was not paid (Levy would give him money as if James was a kid wanting his allowance--when in actuality Levy stole $40 million in royalties from James), and that Levy also wouldn't pay the songwriters, either, and would threaten them if they dared to get their money...but James also wrote that the time at Roulette was exciting and he had total musical freedom, because Levy had a genius for knowing a "hit" when he heard it, and trusted James to keep making hits for Roulette.
Also, Levy became a "father" figure to James, as he would counsel him on Tommy's increasing drug usage and paranoid behavior. Throughout the book, James is torn between Levy the thug and Levy the concerned boss who let him thrive as a musician.
What is maddening is that James really gives short shrift to his personal life--I would venture that 90% of the book is about his music career and Levy, while he was married three times and had a son in high school and once collapsed on stage after a drug overdose and was "pronounced dead". So, it is odd that James would be so open and up-front about his mob ties (which really didn't exist--James was NOT a mobster, he just happened to work for one, and saw just about everything) while revealing comparatively little about himself. What didn't deal with music was not covered, which makes me wonder what personal demons he wants to leave alone...
Still, a GREAT book about music, and a dark part of rock music's past. I recommend it.
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Post by gremashlo on Mar 22, 2010 21:45:41 GMT -5
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Post by m c dornan on Mar 23, 2010 17:59:44 GMT -5
So the Herald is now running the Globe's articles online? Maybe James' personal life is so dark and deep that the mob ties seemed wholesome in comparison! ;D |
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