Every time I turn on oldies radio it seems they're playing a James's hit. But you never hear him discussed at all when it comes to rock criticism and if he is, it's usually negative.

I'm just curious - Do you think he's a bubble gum rock'n'roll rip-off or under appreciated pop tunesmith?

I've always liked his hits. Can't say I've delved past the greatest hits stage. "Crimson and Clover" gets me singing every time it comes on.

I have a soft spot for almost everything on Oldies Radio...though I get mad whenever I hear something like A Well Respected Man or Care of Cell 44 and they call it a forgotten oldie

I've always liked them. Richie Cordell had a lot to do with their success since he wrote a bunch of their hits and produced a lot of the later stuff so he deserves a lot of the credit. Not sure if that means they should be less respected or whatever. Their songs are catchy and somewhat unique so whatever.

I actually saw him once in (probably) 1969, on a bill with Billy Joe Royal. I think it was a decent show. As others have said above, hard for me not to sing along to the radio hits, but I think the Hog Extravaganza and State Fair circuits are reasonable gigs for him these days.

Loved these guys when I was 10. My dad bought me their greatest hits tape and I wore it out. I rarely listen to them, but when I do I always dig it.

Just finished reading his book, "Me, The Mob, and The Music" (or something similar). Got it at library, easy read and entertaining. The older I get, the more respect I have for ANYONE who has done anything in pop music, especially after I read about all the crap one has to go through. Enjoyed all his hits back in the day and now. He said the book can come out now because all the threatening mobsters have died. HE writes he was owed $40 million (!) by Morris Levy, who was some character himself.

Crimson and Clover is a great, great song... structure, performance, arrangement. Interesting and oddball but also totally garage band. But it is a freakish one off event.

Like Concrete and Clay that is one of the great pop songs, but a one shot felicitous accident. Like Crimson and Clover often overlooked among 60's pop classics.

I'll take him over Tiffany or Billy Idol.

I've always liked this song by them.

like his songs, EXCEPT for the fact that he invented the concept of treehugging