Crystal Blue Persuasion
Encyclopedia
"Crystal Blue Persuasion" is a 1969 song originally recorded by Tommy James and the Shondells and composed by Eddie Gray, Tommy James
and Mike Vale.
A gentle-tempoed groove, "Crystal Blue Persuasion" was built around a prominent organ
part with an understated arrangement, more akin to The Rascals
' sound at the time rather than James's other efforts of the time with psychedelic rock
.
It also included a melodic passages for an acoustic guitar, as well as a bass pattern, played between the bridge, and the third verse of the song.
The title of the song came to James while he was reading The Bible
's Book of Revelation
, according to James in a 1985 interview in Hitch magazine:
However, according to James's manager, James was actually inspired by his reading of the Book of Ezekiel
where it speaks of the Blue Shekinah Light which represented the presence of the Almighty God and the Books of Isaiah
and Revelation
where it speaks of a bright future of a brotherhood of mankind living in peace and harmony.
Many listeners thought "Crystal Blue Persuasion" was a drug song advocating the use of "crystal meth" (Methamphetamine
), while on the West Coast-- where at the time of the song's release there were several popular types of high quality blue-colored LSD tablets in circulation--listeners generally assumed James was referring to "acid". In 1979, noted music writer Dave Marsh
described it as "a transparent allegory about James' involvement with amphetamines." However, until the Controlled Substances Act
(CSA) was enacted into law by the Congress of the United States as Title II of the Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act of 1970
, most illicit amphetamine use involved the more readily available pharmaceutical grade pill form rather than the then-rare "crystal meth" form. It was after the pill form became harder to obtain on the street due to the CSA that "crystal meth" rose in popularity. Thus it is unlikely that "Crystal Blue Persuasion", being written before 1970, would refer to "crystal meth". Additionally, until the mid-70's methamphetamine was most commonly called "speed", or, in the case of cheap home-brewed stuff, "crank"; the term "methedrine", under which name it was once commercially manufactured, was generally used instead of "methamphetamine", a term more commonly heard after the drug's later resurgence in the 80's.
When released as a single in June 1969, "Crystal Blue Persuasion" became one of the biggest hits for the group, peaking at number two on the Billboard Pop Singles
chart. The single version differs from the album version of the song, with horn overdubs added to the mix and a longer bongos
overdub before the third verse.
A primitive non-representational music video
was made, that showed various scenes of late 1960s political and cultural unrest and desire for love and peace.
Tito Puente
, The Heptones
and Morcheeba
are among those who have covered the song.
(1999), The Secret Life of Girls (1999), Zodiac
(2007) , "The Nanny Diaries
" (2007), and "How to Make it in America
" (2010). It was also used in the pilot episode of the television series The Wonder Years
, and an Estee Lauder commercial.
Tommy James
Tommy James is an American pop-rock musician, singer, songwriter, and record producer, best known as leader of the 1960s rock band Tommy James and the Shondells.-Early life and career:...
and Mike Vale.
A gentle-tempoed groove, "Crystal Blue Persuasion" was built around a prominent organ
Organ (music)
The organ , is a keyboard instrument of one or more divisions, each played with its own keyboard operated either with the hands or with the feet. The organ is a relatively old musical instrument in the Western musical tradition, dating from the time of Ctesibius of Alexandria who is credited with...
part with an understated arrangement, more akin to The Rascals
The Rascals
The Rascals were an American blue-eyed soul group initially active during the years 1965–72. The band released numerous top ten singles in North America during the mid- and late-1960s, including the U.S. #1 hits "Good Lovin'" , "Groovin'" , and "People Got to Be Free"...
' sound at the time rather than James's other efforts of the time with psychedelic rock
Psychedelic rock
Psychedelic rock is a style of rock music that is inspired or influenced by psychedelic culture and attempts to replicate and enhance the mind-altering experiences of psychedelic drugs. It emerged during the mid 1960s among folk rock and blues rock bands in United States and the United Kingdom...
.
It also included a melodic passages for an acoustic guitar, as well as a bass pattern, played between the bridge, and the third verse of the song.
The title of the song came to James while he was reading The Bible
Bible
The Bible refers to any one of the collections of the primary religious texts of Judaism and Christianity. There is no common version of the Bible, as the individual books , their contents and their order vary among denominations...
's Book of Revelation
Book of Revelation
The Book of Revelation is the final book of the New Testament. The title came into usage from the first word of the book in Koine Greek: apokalupsis, meaning "unveiling" or "revelation"...
, according to James in a 1985 interview in Hitch magazine:
I took the title from the Book of Revelations[sic] in the Bible, reading about the New Jerusalem. The words jumped out at me, and they're not together; they're spread out over three or four verses. But it seemed to go together, it's my favorite of all my songs and one of our most requested.
However, according to James's manager, James was actually inspired by his reading of the Book of Ezekiel
Book of Ezekiel
The Book of Ezekiel is the third of the Latter Prophets in the Hebrew Bible, following the books of Isaiah and Jeremiah and preceding the Book of the Twelve....
where it speaks of the Blue Shekinah Light which represented the presence of the Almighty God and the Books of Isaiah
Book of Isaiah
The Book of Isaiah is the first of the Latter Prophets in the Hebrew Bible, preceding the books of Ezekiel, Jeremiah and the Book of the Twelve...
and Revelation
Book of Revelation
The Book of Revelation is the final book of the New Testament. The title came into usage from the first word of the book in Koine Greek: apokalupsis, meaning "unveiling" or "revelation"...
where it speaks of a bright future of a brotherhood of mankind living in peace and harmony.
Many listeners thought "Crystal Blue Persuasion" was a drug song advocating the use of "crystal meth" (Methamphetamine
Methamphetamine
Methamphetamine is a psychostimulant of the phenethylamine and amphetamine class of psychoactive drugs...
), while on the West Coast-- where at the time of the song's release there were several popular types of high quality blue-colored LSD tablets in circulation--listeners generally assumed James was referring to "acid". In 1979, noted music writer Dave Marsh
Dave Marsh
Dave Marsh is an American music critic, author, editor and radio talk show host. He was a formative editor of Creem magazine, has written for various publications such as Newsday, The Village Voice, and Rolling Stone, and has published numerous books about music and musicians, mostly focused on...
described it as "a transparent allegory about James' involvement with amphetamines." However, until the Controlled Substances Act
Controlled Substances Act
The Controlled Substances Act was enacted into law by the Congress of the United States as Title II of the Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act of 1970. The CSA is the federal U.S. drug policy under which the manufacture, importation, possession, use and distribution of certain...
(CSA) was enacted into law by the Congress of the United States as Title II of the Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act of 1970
Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act of 1970
The Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act of 1970, Pub. L. No. 91-513, 84 Stat. 1236 , is a United States federal law that, with subsequent modifications, requires the pharmaceutical industry to maintain physical security and strict record keeping for certain types of drugs...
, most illicit amphetamine use involved the more readily available pharmaceutical grade pill form rather than the then-rare "crystal meth" form. It was after the pill form became harder to obtain on the street due to the CSA that "crystal meth" rose in popularity. Thus it is unlikely that "Crystal Blue Persuasion", being written before 1970, would refer to "crystal meth". Additionally, until the mid-70's methamphetamine was most commonly called "speed", or, in the case of cheap home-brewed stuff, "crank"; the term "methedrine", under which name it was once commercially manufactured, was generally used instead of "methamphetamine", a term more commonly heard after the drug's later resurgence in the 80's.
When released as a single in June 1969, "Crystal Blue Persuasion" became one of the biggest hits for the group, peaking at number two on the Billboard Pop Singles
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
chart. The single version differs from the album version of the song, with horn overdubs added to the mix and a longer bongos
Bongo drum
Bongo or bongos are a Cuban percussion instrument consisting of a pair of single-headed, open-ended drums attached to each other. The drums are of different size: the larger drum is called in Spanish the hembra and the smaller the macho...
overdub before the third verse.
A primitive non-representational music video
Music video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
was made, that showed various scenes of late 1960s political and cultural unrest and desire for love and peace.
Tito Puente
Tito Puente
Tito Puente, , born Ernesto Antonio Puente, was a Latin jazz and Salsa musician. The son of native Puerto Ricans Ernest and Ercilia Puente, of Spanish Harlem in New York City, Puente is often credited as "El Rey de los Timbales" and "The King of Latin Music"...
, The Heptones
The Heptones
The Heptones are a Jamaican rocksteady and reggae vocal trio most active in the 1960s and early 1970s. They were one of the more significant trios of that era, and played a major role in the gradual transition between ska and rocksteady with their three-part harmonies.-History:Leroy Sibbles, Earl...
and Morcheeba
Morcheeba
Morcheeba are a British band, mixing influences from trip hop, rock, R&B, and pop.They have produced 7 albums since 1995, two of which reached the UK top ten.-Biography:...
are among those who have covered the song.
Appearances in film & television
"Crystal Blue Persuasion" has appeared in the films A Walk on the MoonA Walk on the Moon
A Walk On The Moon is a 1999 drama film starring Diane Lane, Viggo Mortensen, Liev Schreiber and Anna Paquin. The movie, which was set against the backdrop of the Woodstock festival of 1969 and the moon landing of that year, was distributed by Miramax Films.- Plot summary :Pearl Kantrowitz and her...
(1999), The Secret Life of Girls (1999), Zodiac
Zodiac (film)
Zodiac is a 2007 American mystery-thriller film directed by David Fincher and based on Robert Graysmith's non-fiction book of the same name. The Paramount Pictures and Warner Bros...
(2007) , "The Nanny Diaries
The Nanny Diaries
The Nanny Diaries is a 2002 novel by Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus, both of whom are former nannies. The book satirizes upper class Manhattan society as seen through the eyes of their children's caregivers....
" (2007), and "How to Make it in America
How to Make It in America
How to Make It in America is an American comedy-drama television series that premiered on HBO on February 14, 2010. The series follows the lives of Ben Epstein and his friend Cam Calderon as they try to succeed in New York City's fashion scene...
" (2010). It was also used in the pilot episode of the television series The Wonder Years
The Wonder Years
The Wonder Years is an American television comedy-drama created by Carol Black and Neal Marlens. It ran for six seasons on ABC from 1988 through 1993. The pilot aired on January 31, 1988 after ABC's coverage of Super Bowl XXII....
, and an Estee Lauder commercial.