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Song Stories

“Crimson and Clover”

Tommy James and the Shondells | 1968

Tommy James and Shondells were one of the most reliable pop bands of the late Sixties, recording a string of hits throughout the second half of the Sixties. Written by James and drummer Pete Lucia, "Crimson and Clover" benefited from 24-track recording gear that brought an effects-laden sound to the band. It became the band's biggest hit, selling 5.5 million copies. "Nobody knew if it was going to be accepted," James told Rolling Stone. "When it first came out, everybody thought I had gone crazy. A lot of people thought their radios were broken." Honorable mention should go to Joan Jett's rocking version of the song, as well.

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Song Stories

“My President”

Young Jeezy | 2008

Young Jeezy teams up with Nas on this track, in which he compare his own success with the idea of an African-American winning the Democratic Party's nomination in the 2008 presidential election. "When I pulled up in my car, that s--- was unbelievable to people in my neighborhood because they were like, 'We grew up with him. How the hell did he accomplish this?'" he told Rolling Stone. "I feel like it was the same way with Obama. I grew up all this time, but I've never seen a black man this close to running this country."

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