I THINK WE'RE ALONE NOW ― TOMMY JAMES AND THE SHONDELLS
GENRE ― Pop Rock
"I Think We're Alone Now" is a song written and composed by Ritchie Cordell that was the title selection for a highly successful album released by the American recording artists Tommy James and the Shondells. "I Think We're Alone Now" was a 1967 US hit for James and the Shondells, reaching number 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The song has since been covered several times by other artists. The late 1987 recording by Tiffany reached number 1 on the charts of various countries including the US, UK, Canada, and New Zealand. One month earlier, another Tommy James song had also hit number 1—Billy Idol's version of "Mony, Mony". Other cover versions have also charted, including those by The Rubinoos (number 45 US, 1977) and Girls Aloud (number 4 UK, 2006).
Original Version ―
"I Think We're Alone Now" was a 1967 hit song for Tommy James and the Shondells, reaching number 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart during a 17-week stay. The recording was produced by Ritchie Cordell and Bo Gentry. Cordell wrote or co-wrote many songs for James, including the follow-up single "Mirage" and its B-side "Run, Run, Baby, Run", and 1968's "Mony Mony". Rock critic Lester Bangs called the single "the bubblegum apotheosis".
Like many early Tommy James and the Shondells releases, only band members Tommy James and Eddie Gray were featured on the record. (The rest of the band provided background vocals.) Studio musicians were used as the rest of the rhythm section to back up the Shondells. These musicians include Artie Butler playing Ondioline electric keyboard, Al Gorgoni on guitar, Joe Macho on bass, Paul Griffin on piano, and Bobby Gregg on drums.
"I Think We're Alone Now" stands out as one of James's most successful recordings. It was featured in the horror film Mother's Day (1980) and the science-fiction thriller 10 Cloverfield Lane (2016).
Like many early Tommy James and the Shondells releases, only band members Tommy James and Eddie Gray were featured on the record. (The rest of the band provided background vocals.) Studio musicians were used as the rest of the rhythm section to back up the Shondells. These musicians include Artie Butler playing Ondioline electric keyboard, Al Gorgoni on guitar, Joe Macho on bass, Paul Griffin on piano, and Bobby Gregg on drums.
"I Think We're Alone Now" stands out as one of James's most successful recordings. It was featured in the horror film Mother's Day (1980) and the science-fiction thriller 10 Cloverfield Lane (2016).
Content ―
The version that James and the Shondells originally performed uses hard-driving arrangements for its two verses, both fiercely performed so as to convey a sense of urgency. However, the refrain (performed twice) is almost whispered and indeed followed by a sound effect of crickets chirping, giving an atmosphere of forbidden activities that are being deliberately kept hidden. The fade-out uses the lyrics of the refrain, but this time, the hard-driving arrangements are resumed.
The lyrics themselves speak of parental prohibition, especially against sexual activities, and have both the narrator and the person being addressed "trying to get away into the night" to avoid, evade, or defy such prohibition.
The lyrics themselves speak of parental prohibition, especially against sexual activities, and have both the narrator and the person being addressed "trying to get away into the night" to avoid, evade, or defy such prohibition.
From Wikipedia and Google (image)
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