"Mony Mony" is a 1968 single by American pop rock band Tommy James and the Shondells,[4] which reached No. 1 on the UK Singles Chart[3] and No. 3 in the U.S. Written by Bobby Bloom, Ritchie Cordell, Bo Gentry, and Tommy James, the song has appeared in various film and television works such as the Oliver Stone drama Heaven & Earth.[5] It was also covered by English singer-songwriter Billy Idol in 1981. Idol's version, which took in more of a rock sound, became an international top 40 hit and additionally revived public interest in the original garage rock single. In 1986 it was covered by Amazulu, who gave it a ska rendition.[citation needed] Idol recorded a live version in 1985 and was ultimately released in 1987 where it became an even bigger hit than the Shondells 1968 original (Idol's original 1981 version failed to chart, although it did reach number seven on the dance charts) reaching No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100.
True story: I had the track done before I had a title. I wanted something catchy like "Sloopy" or "Bony Maroney," but everything sounded so stupid. So Ritchie Cordell and I were writing it in New York City, and we were about to throw in the towel when I went out onto the terrace, looked up and saw the Mutual of New York building (which has its initials illuminated in red at its top). I said, "That's gotta be it! Ritchie, come here, you've gotta see this!" It's almost as if God Himself had said, "Here's the title." I've always thought that if I had looked the other way, it might have been called "Hotel Taft".[6]
"Mony Mony" was the only song by the group to reach the top 20 in the United Kingdom; it reached No. 1 in the UK,[3] No. 3 in the U.S. and Canada, and became a Top 10 hit across western Europe. A music video was made featuring the band performing the song amidst psychedelic backgrounds. A decade and a half later, it would receive renewed play on MTV.[6]
Track listings and format
Vinyl
"Mony Mony" – 2:45
"One Two Three and I Fell" – 2:32
Chart performance
Chart performance for "Mony Mony" by Tommy James and the Shondells
British rock artist Billy Idol released a cover version in 1981 (on the Don't Stop EP). Along with the track "Baby Talk", Idol's version of "Mony Mony" went to No. 7 on the Billboard dance chart.[21] In his 2015 memoir, Dancing With Myself, he recalls his affection for the song originally stemmed from a sexual encounter he had as a youth where it played in the background.[22] Before proposing the cover to executives at Chrysalis Records, he originally suggested recording a cover of "Shout" before admitting his intentions for "Mony Mony".[22] A live recording of the song became a hit for Idol in 1987 as well, while promoting his then-forthcoming compilation work Vital Idol. The live version was released as a single and went to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, coincidentally displacing Tiffany's cover of another Tommy James song, "I Think We're Alone Now", from the top spot. It also finished directly behind the Tiffany song at No. 19 in the 1987 year-end Billboard chart.
Idol's version gave rise to an interesting custom. When the song was performed live in concert or played at a club or dance, people would shout a certain formulaic (and usually obscene) variation of a particular phrase in the two measures following each line, for example, "Hey, say what… get laid get fucked!" Or "Hey, motherfucker… get laid get fucked!"[23] This led to the song being banned at high-school dances across North America,[24] although the custom continues at Idol concerts & sporting events today.[25] It became so widespread that Idol would eventually commit the lyrics to record in the "Idol/Stevens Mix" of the song on the 2018 remix album Vital Idol: Revitalized.
Idol revived interest in the original garage rock song. The full studio version can be found on Idol's Greatest Hitscompilation album, a 2001 Capitol Records release. That album has received positive critical reviews, with Idol's cover of the James tune specifically praised.
Uses in popular culture
"Weird Al" Yankovic wrote a parody of this song from his album Even Worse, entitled "Alimony" (based on the live Idol version, complete with a live audience). It is about a recently divorced man complaining about his ex-wife taking everything he owns away from him in alimony payments.
Track listings and formats
(1981) US 7" vinyl
"Mony Mony" (single edit) – 3:23
"Baby Talk" – 3:10
(1981) UK 7" vinyl (33⅓ rpm) & 12" vinyl (45rpm)
"Mony Mony"
"Baby Talk"
"Untouchables"
"Dancing With Myself"
(1987) UK 7" vinyl
"Mony Mony" (live)
"Shakin' All Over" (live)
(1987) US 12" vinyl
"Mony Mony" (Hung Like a Pony Remix) – 6:59
"Mony Mony" (Steel-Toe Cat Dub) – 6:50
"Mony Mony" (live) – 4:00
"Mony Mony" (incorrectly listed as single edit) – 5:01
^Scapelliti, Christopher (1998). "Tommy James & the Shondells". In Graff, Gary; Durchholz, Daniel (eds.). MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide. Detroit: Visible Ink Press. pp. 590–591.
^ abcdefRice, Jo (1982). The Guinness Book of 500 Number One Hits (1st ed.). Enfield, Middlesex: Guinness Superlatives Ltd. pp. 118–9. ISBN0-85112-250-7.
