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Back in 1966, songwriter Richie Cordell, along with his silent partner Bo Gentry, wrote a ballad for Tommy James & The Shondells.
Note: Bo was "silent" because he was contracted to a different record company than Richie and Tommy, but an "under the table" deal had been struck to include him on royalty payments.
Anyway, Tommy liked the song, but not as a ballad, so he increased the speed to give it more urgency...and with help from the Shondells and a small group of studio musicians, a Great "Bubblegum" Song of the '60s was born.
"I Think We're Alone Now" made it to #4 on Billboard's Hot 100 and #7 in Canada--and here in the 2020's, it's still an iconic slice of a more innocent time. Sort of.
In 1987, however, the song was covered by a 15-year-old singer who was making a name for herself by touring the malls of America (as opposed to the actual Mall of America, which didn't yet exist) with her musical act.
Tiffany (Darwish) was under pressure by her manager to record the song for her debut album, and initially was NOT on board. She thought Tommy's version was too old fashioned and unhip and wanted nothing to do with it.
Then she found out the song was about teenage sex...and when she played the updated "Disco-style" backing track for her friends, they started to DANCE--instead of turning up their noses. She promptly changed her mind.
It was the right choice, because her version of "I Think We're Alone Now" quickly became a worldwide hit...charting in 18 countries...and reaching #1 in the US and Canada, as well as the UK, Ireland, New Zealand and South Africa!
After that, Tiffany had a short string of other Top 10 hits, which we will cover in the future...but "I Think We're Alone Now" took her from the mall to the mountaintop. (How's that for a metaphor?) I
t was a Great Song for Tommy James and The Shondells in 1966, and an even Greater song for Tiffany Darwish in 1987!
Tomorrow: Paradise, David Lee Roth Style
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