Draggin' the Line
Encyclopedia
"Draggin' the Line" is a hit song by American rock
musician Tommy James
who went solo after Tommy James and The Shondells broke up in 1970. Released as a single
from his sophomore album, Christian of the World in 1971 on the Roulette Records
label, the song was James' biggest hit as a solo artist selling more than a million copies, and appears as the fifth track on James' 1991 retrospective album The Solo Years (1970-81) released by Rhino.
Written and produced by Tommy James and Bob King, "Draggin' the Line" reached the top 40 on the U.S.'s Billboard Hot 100
chart on June 26, 1971, climbed to a peak of #4 for the week of August 7, 1971, and remained in the top 40 rankings for 11 weeks total. The song reached even higher in Cash Box magazine's competing jukebox singles charts, attaining the #2 spot for the week of August 9, 1971. Draggin' the Line was ranked at #44 overall for hot songs of 1971 by U.S. music industry pillar Billboard magazine
.
"Draggin' the Line" has been described as a "lazy psychedelic shuffle whose hypnotic feel perfectly expressed its title" Exactly what the song is about is not clear. It has been speculated that the song's title and lyrics refer to cocaine
use, citing to the title, the lyrics, Tommy James' well documented drug use, and because another Tommy James and The Shondell's song, "Crystal Blue Persuasion
," has been previously associated with the use of speed, the song having been described in 1979 by noted music critic Dave Marsh
as "a transparent allegory about James' involvement with amphetamines."
"Draggin' the Line" has made many media appearances. Among others, in the 1991 film Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead
; as the opener in a 1999 Canadian film New Waterford Girl
; in a cover by R.E.M.
in 1999 for the Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me soundtrack; in Inside Deep Throat
, a 2005 documentary about the 1972 pornographic film Deep Throat
; is heard in the somber 2006 football drama We are Marshall
in the My Name is Earl
episode, Robbed a Stoner Blind, in CBS's crime drama Cold Cases, (episode 54) and was featured in "Anthem," a familiar Mitsubishi
commercial that debuted in October 2004. The commercial shows a long line of cars and sport utility vehicles cruising past Mitsubishi mechanics all dressed in red coveralls.
In 2000, Tommy James and the Shondells reprised 12 of their most famous songs at the well known Greenwich Village
nightclub, The Bitter End
. Though technically a solo hit for Tommy James, the band played "Draggin' the Line" as one of the twelve songs featured. Other hits played included "Crimson & Clover", "I Think We're Alone Now", "Hanky Panky", "Mony Mony
", and "Crystal Blue Persuasion
". The live set was filmed and was made into the 2000 movie, Tommy James & the Shondells: Live! At the Bitter End.
In 1998 The Roulette Story was released featuring "Draggin' the Line" as one of 84 tracks celebrating Roulette Records' notable 20-year music history (the label had closed its doors in 1977). In various versions, "Draggin' the Line" has appeared on at least 41 studio albums, including covers by AC-Rock, Rusty Bryant
, Crosswind Band, Barry Hay
, R.E.M.
, The Squirrels
, Vintage Buzz, The Wild Ones
and Steve Wynn
.
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
musician Tommy James
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:...
who went solo after Tommy James and The Shondells broke up in 1970. Released as a single
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
from his sophomore album, Christian of the World in 1971 on the Roulette Records
Roulette Records
Roulette Records is an American record label, which was founded in late 1956, by George Goldner, Joe Kolsky, Morris Levy and Phil Khals, with creative control given to producers and songwriters Hugo Peretti and Luigi Creatore. Levy was appointed as director...
label, the song was James' biggest hit as a solo artist selling more than a million copies, and appears as the fifth track on James' 1991 retrospective album The Solo Years (1970-81) released by Rhino.
Written and produced by Tommy James and Bob King, "Draggin' the Line" reached the top 40 on the U.S.'s Billboard Hot 100
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 on June 26, 1971, climbed to a peak of #4 for the week of August 7, 1971, and remained in the top 40 rankings for 11 weeks total. The song reached even higher in Cash Box magazine's competing jukebox singles charts, attaining the #2 spot for the week of August 9, 1971. Draggin' the Line was ranked at #44 overall for hot songs of 1971 by U.S. music industry pillar Billboard magazine
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
.
"Draggin' the Line" has been described as a "lazy psychedelic shuffle whose hypnotic feel perfectly expressed its title" Exactly what the song is about is not clear. It has been speculated that the song's title and lyrics refer to cocaine
Cocaine
Cocaine is a crystalline tropane alkaloid that is obtained from the leaves of the coca plant. The name comes from "coca" in addition to the alkaloid suffix -ine, forming cocaine. It is a stimulant of the central nervous system, an appetite suppressant, and a topical anesthetic...
use, citing to the title, the lyrics, Tommy James' well documented drug use, and because another Tommy James and The Shondell's song, "Crystal Blue Persuasion
Crystal Blue Persuasion
"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....
," has been previously associated with the use of speed, the song having been described in 1979 by noted music critic 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...
as "a transparent allegory about James' involvement with amphetamines."
"Draggin' the Line" has made many media appearances. Among others, in the 1991 film Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead
Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead
Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead is a 1991 comedy film directed by Stephen Herek starring Christina Applegate.Applegate stars as a teenager whose mother leaves for a two-month summer vacation in Australia, putting all five siblings in the care of a strict tyrannical elderly babysitter...
; as the opener in a 1999 Canadian film New Waterford Girl
New Waterford Girl
New Waterford Girl is a Canadian drama-comedy film, released in 1999. The film was directed by Allan Moyle, and written by Tricia Fish.New Waterford Girl stars Liane Balaban as Agnes-Marie "Moonie" Pottie, a teenager in New Waterford, Nova Scotia who dreams of life beyond her small-town home...
; in a cover by R.E.M.
R.E.M.
R.E.M. was an American rock band formed in Athens, Georgia, in 1980 by singer Michael Stipe, guitarist Peter Buck, bassist Mike Mills and drummer Bill Berry. One of the first popular alternative rock bands, R.E.M. gained early attention due to Buck's ringing, arpeggiated guitar style and Stipe's...
in 1999 for the Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me soundtrack; in Inside Deep Throat
Inside Deep Throat
Inside Deep Throat is a 2005 American documentary about the 1972 pornographic film Deep Throat and its effects on American society.The film is narrated by Dennis Hopper. The documentary was written, produced, and directed by Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato, and produced by Brian Grazer...
, a 2005 documentary about the 1972 pornographic film Deep Throat
Deep Throat (film)
Deep Throat is a 1972 American pornographic film written and directed by Gerard Damiano and produced by Louis Peraino and starring Linda Lovelace ....
; is heard in the somber 2006 football drama We are Marshall
We Are Marshall
We Are Marshall is a 2006 American drama film directed by Joseph McGinty Nichol about the aftermath of the 1970 plane crash that killed 37 football players on the Marshall University Thundering Herd football team as well as five coaches, two athletic trainers, the athletic director, 25 boosters and...
in the My Name is Earl
My Name Is Earl
My Name Is Earl is an American television comedy series created by Greg Garcia that was originally broadcast on the NBC television network from September 20, 2005, to May 14, 2009, in the United States...
episode, Robbed a Stoner Blind, in CBS's crime drama Cold Cases, (episode 54) and was featured in "Anthem," a familiar Mitsubishi
Mitsubishi
The Mitsubishi Group , Mitsubishi Group of Companies, or Mitsubishi Companies is a Japanese multinational conglomerate company that consists of a range of autonomous businesses which share the Mitsubishi brand, trademark and legacy...
commercial that debuted in October 2004. The commercial shows a long line of cars and sport utility vehicles cruising past Mitsubishi mechanics all dressed in red coveralls.
In 2000, Tommy James and the Shondells reprised 12 of their most famous songs at the well known Greenwich Village
Greenwich Village
Greenwich Village, , , , .in New York often simply called "the Village", is a largely residential neighborhood on the west side of Lower Manhattan in New York City. A large majority of the district is home to upper middle class families...
nightclub, The Bitter End
The Bitter End
The Bitter End is a nightclub in New York City's Greenwich Village. It opened its doors in 1961 at 147 Bleecker Street under the auspices of owner Fred Weintraub. The club changed its name to The Other End during the 1970s...
. Though technically a solo hit for Tommy James, the band played "Draggin' the Line" as one of the twelve songs featured. Other hits played included "Crimson & Clover", "I Think We're Alone Now", "Hanky Panky", "Mony Mony
Mony Mony
"Mony Mony" is a 1968 single by Tommy James & the Shondells, that reached #1 in the UK charts.-History:"Mony Mony" was credited to Tommy James, Bo Gentry, Ritchie Cordell, and Bobby Bloom. The hook in the song is said to have been inspired by James' view of a MONY sign atop the Mutual of New York...
", and "Crystal Blue Persuasion
Crystal Blue Persuasion
"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....
". The live set was filmed and was made into the 2000 movie, Tommy James & the Shondells: Live! At the Bitter End.
In 1998 The Roulette Story was released featuring "Draggin' the Line" as one of 84 tracks celebrating Roulette Records' notable 20-year music history (the label had closed its doors in 1977). In various versions, "Draggin' the Line" has appeared on at least 41 studio albums, including covers by AC-Rock, Rusty Bryant
Rusty Bryant
Royal G. "Rusty" Bryant was an American jazz tenor and alto saxophonist....
, Crosswind Band, Barry Hay
Barry Hay
Barry Andrew Hay is the vocalist/frontman for Dutch rock band Golden Earring.-Biography:Hay was born in Faizabad, India, and moved to the Netherlands at the age of eight. He lived in Amsterdam and later in The Hague. In the summer of 1967, he joined the Golden Earrings, as they were then called,...
, R.E.M.
R.E.M.
R.E.M. was an American rock band formed in Athens, Georgia, in 1980 by singer Michael Stipe, guitarist Peter Buck, bassist Mike Mills and drummer Bill Berry. One of the first popular alternative rock bands, R.E.M. gained early attention due to Buck's ringing, arpeggiated guitar style and Stipe's...
, The Squirrels
The Squirrels
The Squirrels are a novelty band based in Seattle, Washington. Founded in 1984 by lead vocalist Rob Morgan , the band has been through numerous lineups, but has stuck to the aesthetic that Peter Blecha describes as "cross-pollinat[ing] bubblegum sensibilities with punk attitudes."Although most of...
, Vintage Buzz, The Wild Ones
The Wild Ones (band)
The Wild Ones were an American rock band from New York City. They are perhaps best known for recording the first version of Chip Taylor's song "Wild Thing", which would later be a smash hit for The Troggs. Their version of "Wild Thing" was produced by Gerry Granahan. Their 1965 album The Arthur...
and Steve Wynn
Steve Wynn (songwriter)
Steve Wynn is a songwriter based in New York . He led the band the Dream Syndicate from 1981 to 1989 and afterward began a solo career.- Career in bands :...
.
External links
- Tommy James and The Shondells' Official Website
- "Draggin' The Line" lyrics at Yahoo Music (copyright EMI Longitude Music Inc.)
- "Draggin' The Line" recording at YouTube