Tommy James & The Shondells - Crystal Blue Persuasion - 1969

[atinob43]

love

[sapiscnn]

i think i'm addicted to this song

pl

[MasterAdam100]

@eyewarnedyou Around the same time. Remember dial up? Oh the whirls and sounds and troubles of just logging in. Now my iPhone has TONS more memory then my old "state of the art" Gateway did.

[3xefx8x]

Crystal Blue Persuasion another song about drugs, cool lol.

[MasterAdam100]

@eyewarnedyou And what the generation of yesteryear will not understand(some do) is the ever growing Internet generation. If you can't read sarcasm from text alone, then you wouldn't understand.

[marty6947]

hhhooooo hhoooo back from SE Asia and back to college....girls nibling on sen sen and no bra's....this was better country I came home to. lol

[bonroyal1]

God be with Tommy James & Shondells. Most people don't know what this song is about. I didn't know either till about 5 months ago. Check it out. Thanks you, Phil from Des Peres

[YOUREANGRY]

fuckin hippie music...

[chasyes1]

Love it!!!! Words and music great song

[thetrophy]

nice to see some youngin like ryanspeed talkin the truth it seems like most younger one dont want to admit that there is no new talent just a bunch of hacks

[MrTomNoel]

This song has a great example of what the old Roland Echoplex used to do to enhance the music of the 60's. What was amazing is that the use of a recording tape whipping around in a box could make that much of a difference in sound enhancement.

[meineyes]

universe good, sex good. yall dont know lady gaga, yall don't know spinal tap

[yariteok]

My childhood relived!!!!! They just dont make music like this anymore!!!!!

[aprilglaspieable]

I used the words crystal blue persuasion in a poem two years before this song came out.

[shonjevon]

dang. I'm getting stoned just watching the video. :)

[HisbrotherJames]

Great to hear this again

sp4 325th Combat Engineer 100% everything changed when arriving back in the World Tunes like this were the social network for us who were away from home

brought us young people together in one heart

[hiway108]

Brings back memories from years gone by

[rcamp72]

> MattHatter: I am sorry that you had to deal with the woman in 1974. It's good to know that you realize this was not the norm. I salute your honesty. To say it was the norm, as some do, is almost the same as saying that all the American G.I.s were doing the same things that some crazy nuts were doing at My Lai, and of course they certainly were not. I'm a historian and it's now common knowledge that the vast majority of U.S. G.I.s in Vietnam performed admirably, many heroically. Thanks...

[betsybk56]

Aww....for many of us these songs only bring back wonderful beautiful memories and any negative stuff is usually bullchit! It was a fun time to live...and as far as war goes, it still continues....After fighting war for many years, I realized it is one thing that we can depend on not to go away. :( Peace!

[sundown7]

The myth of "Hippies" spitting on returning troops is just as much of an exaggeration of facts now, as was then! If any such thing actually happened it was an anomaly, not the norm!

In '74, at an intersection, drove past what was obviously a soldier who just got back from Nam. We each slowed down, I said, "Welcome back" and he said, "it's good to be back" then he handed me a joint and drove on!!! Absolutely true!

[rockmetonite]

The world needs to learn how to feel good again.

[Pobnifus]

This song was in our wedding. In 1999.

But all you folks bitching about there being no good music today need to get off the top 20. There is more great music out there than ever before, and it's not hard to find.

[MattHatter]

@Pobnifus Well that's very nice of you to be positive like that and all. Yes, there is good music out there. I just discovered a band called Thee Oh Sees from San Francisco who are pretty awesome. There's The Bees from England, Tame Impala from Australia, etc. Good bands out there but NOWHERE do we have the absolute revolution in music that was the 1960's. We can have good music today, but we can't have the revolution that went along with it.

[rcamp72]

THIS BRINGS ME RIGHT BACK TO 1969, WHAT A YEAR! Listen people, I was there too, and people treated the soldiers with respect just like anyone else. The so called hippies, treated everyone with more respect than non-hip types treated others. We didn't look at strangers as potential rivals. We were beautiful in so many ways, knew it, felt it, and gave it away. About the soldiers there were a few incidents that got amplified by the media (Often the case. You could find people like that today.)

[specsintexas]

I lived in San Francisco in the 60's. I NEVER saw any hippie spit on any troops returning to the "World" through the port of San Francisco. NEVER. This is total Bull Shit dreamed up by the Goldwater conservatives at the time to discredit the students protesting the war. Those guys and gals returning were our classmates, friends and loved ones. Produce one real picture that substantiates this myth.

[MattHatter]

@specsintexas THANK YOU. I get so tired of people like Glenn Beck bringing this stuff up and convincing people it was true. My mother was a hippie from out of L.A. during the same time and told me the only time she knew of people getting pissed off at any soldier was during the Mayla Massacre in '70 (or however you spell it).

[329outlaw]

@MattHatter It was the My Lai Massacre and it happened March 16th, 1968.  I returned home in 1974 and a young woman in the airport walked up to me and slapped me and said I hope you die you baby killer. If I had not been in uniform I would not have looked at her and said thank you Ma'am. It was a difficult time for everyone back then, but we survived and we all learned. I saw both sides of what was going on as before I was drafted I did protest as well, but it was my duty to serve and I did!

[MattHatter]

@329outlaw Terribly sorry about getting the date wrong. I thought it was 1970 for some reason. Thank you for your service. I hope that woman was ashamed of herself at some point in her life. She sounds like she was certainly one sandwich short of a picnic!

[sapiscnn]

i live it

i was living on hayes and divisadero in sf going to school on haight and Masonic i saw it happen.

it was historic ,i would go do it again and again love was in the air.

pat

songs like this came out almost everyday.

[Panhead53]

I wonder how many peace and love people spit at my brothers coming back from Vietnam?

The peace sign is a symbol of hate to me-

It is a great song though....

[davie289]

wow..this song brings me back to the late 60's ...hot summer nights...

[PathfinderMac]

Actually the tune is'nt about Drugs It's about the the new,and better day coming! that's it .Read the words! your manager is so wrong!There was war and riots going on.lot's of termoil. I know I was there Chicago 68' convention riot chicago-8.The the song for what it's worth,or three dead in Ohio!at Kent state!Damn learn Your history.

[stillplayinsega]

My manager called me crystal blue persuasion today a couple times, when I asked what's that from she says its a song from the 70's about drugs

[leopili100]

es fabuloso

[lacherryruby]

Hippies rule Love, Peace and Happiness:)

[gazuaman]

one word...great!

[diskeywick]

That's your moment ,take it to the top ,i'll join you in a minute.

[barlababe]

wow...sure brings back some gooood memories :)

[irish89055]

Blue Chicago police Dept persuasion.... one of my favorite moments on tv in the late 60's...

[metanosis]

1 take on why commercial music today, seems to have lost feeling, meaning, spirit--is a spiritual take, many have said the soul of a nation is reflected in the music,music is spiritual at root, and today many, have been brought up being told they have no soul, that what is important in life is to get what you want, and satisfy your desires, pure materialistic consumerism....the 60's folks came from a society permeated with religion, and spirituality...is it any wonder the music is different??

[PaulGreen11]

@metanosis Thats right, no spirt in todays music. You got 40 year old rappers writting songs for 14 year olds.

[Hesperus135]

great song with great lyrics and intention...........even love the video! ....... but the drugs and naive f....ckin' stupidity of people who think that gettin f..cked-up is the answer to life..........................­. get straight............ get in touch with real Love and Life... Love is right next to you............. Reach out and pull her close! Skip the drugs... and overdoses! An old hippie knows far better !!!

[judithj1]

Possibly prettiest song of the 60's. Ah yes white Go-Go boots!

[burkeshaw]

I seem to remember a different version - without the brass @2:30, does anybody else? I think the brass ruins the Vibe of the song.

[SkidRowJosephine]

Cr@p, it's only a song.

Some of you act as if this is your life.

Kristsakes, grow up and put down the refer/hash.

[herelies]

nice subtle subliminal message...

T R I P



[fossil6591]

Maybe THE best song from the 60's...

[mrstevehartman]

@fossil6591 UGH.... REALLY ??

[kathykay2010]

Am I the only one who looks at this stuff and wonders who these people

are, where they were, where are they now and what has become of them?

Am I the only one who cares,? I mean besides me and MrPiturka!

[dredd96]

@kathykay2010 I care about them, too... And I wish I was of them and I try to be like they were. Those were great times to be alive!

[hightimesbruce]

This is basically the same song as "Crimson and Clover"...

[greenpilgrim50]

love is the answer

[rjc3208]

jmms429. Crystal Blue Persuasion Awesome. Now your talking my time. Great memorios thanks a million. Your friend dead head Ricky! (lol)

[deezzull1]

favorite song in this or any other world,,,,im 68 years old and this song keeps me fit, young and gorgeous,,,,,

[jimsandaju]

Music is not digital imitations of sound. Music is the essence of voices joined together in harmonic expression. All instruments have a voice (yes your voice is an instrument) and this song blends the electronic voice with the human voice to produce a great musical production. it's a shame today's artists think the computer is the sound generator... THEY KNOW NOT WHAT THEY ARE MISSING!!!

[betsybk56]

Oh my gosh...How I remember these days...I am in a dream watching & listening...Where did the years go??? *sigh*

[angelsaleena]

music to my ears. great hearing true talent. bands of today have no talent.

[ToeIn2194]

@angelsaleena Ditto! Tell it!

[ryanspeed]

Great Song! Although I didn't live in the 60's if there was a way to go back in time to this period I'd kidnap every great musical artist and bring them to the present. Why you might ask? Because today's music stinks like a run over decaying skunk! There's no talent, feeling, passion or expression in it what so ever. All we have is a bunch of half-assed goofy looking dimwits like Lady Gaga!

Who knows what the future of music will be like!? Thank goodness we still have the past to listen to!

[thatdamndog]

I thought it was window pane aci

[MdNgtRyder]

@thatdamndog nope blotter lmao

[sunra37]

Micro-dot acid!

[MsAndybobandy]

Trivia Q: To what drug did Crystal Blue refer?

[PleasantFellow]

@MsAndybobandy

Trivia A: No drugs.

When asked if "Crystal Blue" is a reference to the Book of Revelation, Tommy James replied: "Yes, it is. It's out of the Bible. The imagery was right out of Chapter 19 of the Book of Revelation, about the lake of crystal, and just what John sees. The imagery was just right there. 'Crystal blue persuasion,' although those words aren't used together, it was what the image meant to me."

Alternate answer: The drug of organized religion!

[thehappyinfidel2011]

If it wasn't for the sixties and the way things were. I believe none of us would be here right now. Can you say nuclear war?

[KlutzieeBoo]

This sonq is so beautiful(;

[mholub]

Brings me back to my high school days at Bay Shore High (Long Island, NY) GREAT stutt!!!!!!!

[kodachromefilm]

The '60's was such a bad time; we living in the hangover today of the '60's.

[nitewatcher47]

Music like this will never go out of style and will live on forever.



[TheElan911]

luv the part at 0:50 ........."Ain't it Beautiful OO Crystal Blue Persuasion"

[is1531]

Amazing song in 1969,but still amazing after all these years.

[dakota12170]

Still love this song. It was my wedding song back in 1977. Even if the marriage even after 18 years, still love to hear this song!

[bellamonde]

Hey, one of the greatest!

[82shepherd]

love this song.

[Oyatelawyer]

Only God could create a person with this much talent

[TIMOTHYSAARINEN]

Too bad so many druggies have tried to make this into a song about getting high, especially on crystal meth. The lyrics have nothing to do with drugs or taking drugs. Tommy James himself, said the lyrics were inspired by the bible. I may be an atheist, but this is a beautiful song.

[LyseieDarling]

love this song it remids me of the 70's loved lesting to all the music in those days

[stedude007]

The best of Tommy and company!! Great stuff!! I miss it!! TFO

[BlasSnake]

Que buena fue esa época! ..me hubiera gustado estar ahí!

[wendellder]

Folks, I think you miss the point of the song. The son is arising, most definitely.

[Merrygreenleaf]

One of the finest songs to come outta the 60s.....Peace, Love and Bliss....

[abubbles63]

i luv this song...

[fguka]

I really wanna lose my virginity to this song.

[MrTtillub]

@fguka i can help ! lol !!!

[mrgoodvibrations]

One of the best.....

[nana35816]

reminds me of the hippies and goa.

[roqbluffs]

Love it too! Beautiful! ThX!

[SIGNALSTAT]

the end is like guess whos coming to dinner.

[razzberrysunshine]

Cool I love this..Thanks for sharing~~

[realityxo]

TOMMY you are such an inspiration, and I thank you for being honest. We need more artists to speak out about the "WORD". You have an incredible voice. I FEEL THE VIBE.

[leo9productions]

Thank you for this... i knew this existed but could never find it on here :D

[Krangypoo]

@leo9productions Not sure how exactly it goes, but I think Roulette still owns the rights to Tommy James videos. Maybe it is Time Warner or Rhino since Roulette does not exist. But what a great video and song. I still have the 45 autographed by this kind and gentle man in Tommy James.

[sk8t3rgrl11]

dedicated to my lil sister crystal love you sis ! (: <3

[leeroytheguitarist]

Love is the answer

[sharegrace]

Jesus Christ bless all the wonded people in the world, wounded by war, drugs, deception etc.

When He looks down.... every green field every town

All of HIS children, in every nation

There will be peace and good brotherhood

Great Hammond organ and nylon string guitar