Written by the duo of Tommy James and drummer Peter Lucia Jr., it was intended as a change in direction of the group's sound and composition.

He departed from the group's principal songwriters Bo Gentry and Ritchie Cordell, and was given complete artistic control by Roulette Records.

Tommy James made a rough mix of "Crimson and Clover" to show to Roulette Records executive Morris Levy for evaluation.

A few days later, James stopped at Chicago radio station WLS, where he had previously had a positive experience, to get their reaction.

Morris Levy had initially pleaded with WLS not to play the record prematurely, before its release, but listener response changed his mind.

Internationally, the song reached number one in Canada, Germany, New Zealand, Singapore, South Africa, and Switzerland.

It also charted in Austria, Brazil, France, The Netherlands, Italy, Israel, Malaysia, Mexico, Philippines, and Puerto Rico.

Based on suggestions from radio stations, Tommy James and The Shondells chose to create a longer version of "Crimson and Clover" for the album.

In 1969 Gionchetta recorded the Italian version of the piece entitled Soli si muore (Alone you die), (text by Cristiano Minellono and Mogol) (Junior, JR 0053), also Michele and the Michelangeli recorded a cover in the same year (Ri-Fi, RFN-NP 16362) for the album Ritratto di un cantante (Portrait of a Singer) of 1970 (Ri-Fi, RFL-ST 14037).