“Mony Mony” #3 6/15/1968

One of the greatest party songs in rock history, and another summer jukebox memory of mine at the pool. Tommy James said the idea came to him one night on the terrace of his Eighth Avenue apartment in Manhattan. He and Ritchie Cordell were trying to come up with a slightly silly girl’s name for a song title, along the lines of “Sloopy” or “Bony Maronie.” Tommy looked across the NYC skyline and saw the Mutual of New York (MONY) insurance company sign. BAM! He later said had he looked the other way, the song could’ve been called “Hotel Taft.” A Billy Idol remake in 1987 gave rise to an obscene crowd chant, but I digress...