Blue Eyed Soul Music
The song was written by Tommy James, Eddie Gray, and Mike Vale. It has a soft swaying tempo to take us into a world of peace, harmony, and good brotherhood. Stories vary as to the inspiration, as it were, for the song. Some, including James, say the references are Biblical and are about the divine light of God and a new world order (i.e., from the Book of Revelation, Book of Isaiah, and the Book of Ezekiel). Others have thought it contains drug references to crystal meth or some blue-colored LSD tablets that were going around at the time. “Crystal Blue Persuasion” was a big hit for Tommy James & The Shondells, going to #2 on the U.S. Billboard hot 100 in 1968. It is also on their 1969 Crimson and Clover album.
There have been numerous cover versions of the song, including those by Tito Puente, Joe Bataan, The Heptones, Morcheeba, Concrete Blond, and John Wesley Harding. The song has also appeared in films,TV, and commercials. It was used in an episode of Breaking Bad titled “Gliding Over All,” where Walter White expands his crystal meth business overseas.
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[…] other songs by Tommy James and The Shondells: “Hanky Panky,” “Crystal Blue Persuasion,” “Crimson and Clover,” and “Mony […]