Difference between revisions of "The Four Seasons" - New World Encyclopedia

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{{Infobox musical artist
 
{{Infobox musical artist
 
| Name            = The Four Seasons
 
| Name            = The Four Seasons
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| Img            = Frankie-valli.jpg
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| Img_capt        =  
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| Img_capt        = Frankie Valli in concert
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| Img_size        = 250
 
| Background      = group_or_band
 
| Background      = group_or_band
 
| Alias          = The 4 Seasons<br/>The 4 Seasons featuring the "sound" of Frankie Valli<br/>Frankie Valli & The 4 Seasons
 
| Alias          = The 4 Seasons<br/>The 4 Seasons featuring the "sound" of Frankie Valli<br/>Frankie Valli & The 4 Seasons
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| Associated_acts = [[The Four Lovers]]<br/>[[The Wonder Who?]]<br/>[[Frankie Valli]] (as solo artist)
 
| Associated_acts = [[The Four Lovers]]<br/>[[The Wonder Who?]]<br/>[[Frankie Valli]] (as solo artist)
 
| URL            =
 
| URL            =
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| Current_members = [[Frankie Valli]]<br/>currently group membership fluctuates
 
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| Past_members    = [[Tommy DeVito]] (1960-1970)<br/>[[Nick Massi]] ([[né]] Macioci) (1960-1965)<br/>[[Bob Gaudio]] (1960-1971)<br/>[[Charles Calello]] (1965)<br/>[[Joe Long]] (né LaBracio) (1965-1975)<br/>[[Bob Grimm (guitarist)|Bob Grimm]] (1970)<br/>[[Gary Volpe]] (1970-1971)<br/>[[Al Ruzicka]] (1971-1972))<br/>[[Joseph Steffanelli]] (1971-1972)<br/>[[Demetri Callas]] (1971-1974)<br/>[[Clay Jordan]] (1972-1973)<br/>[[Billy DeLoach]] (1972-1973, 1996-1997, 1998-2000)<br/>[[Paul Wilson]] (1972-1973)<br/>[[Lee Shapiro]] (1973-1980)<br/>[[Gerry Polci]] (1973-1977, 1979-1982, 1987-1990)<br/>[[Don Ciccone]] (1974-1979, 1981-1983)<br/>[[John Paiva]] (1975-1977)<br/>[[Robby Robinson]] (1978-1998,2000-?)<br/>[[Jerry Corbetta]] (1979-1985)<br/>[[Rex Robinson]](1979-2000)<br/>[[Larry Lingle]] (1981-1993)<br/>[[Lynn Hamman]] (1982-1988)<br/>[[Chuck Wilson]] (1982-1992)<br/>[[Robin Swenson]] (1985-1986, 1988-1990)<br/>[[Howard Laravea]] (1986-1988)<br/>[[Tim Stone]] (1990-1997)<br/>[[Zoro (drummer)|Zoro]] (1992-2000)<br/>[[Fino Roverato]] (1993-2000)<br/>[[Adrian Baker]] (1994-1995)<br/>[[Tommy Alvarado]] (Mid 90s)<br/>[[Warren Hamm]] (1997-2000)<br/>[[Rich Callaci]] (1998-2000)<br/>[[Steve Gregory]] (2001-2005)<br/>[[Keith Hubacher]] (2001-?)<br/>[[Matt Baldoni]] (2005-?)<br/>[[Gary Melvin]] (2006-?)
 
 
}}
 
}}
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'''The Four Seasons''' (known off and on since 1967 as '''Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons'''), are an [[United States|American]] [[popular music|pop]] and [[rock music|rock]] group, distinct from many similar groups of the early to mid-1960s in its traditional [[Italian-American]] sound. It also had a sound somewhat reminiscent of [[doo wop]], but it was not known as a doo wop quartet. By the mid 1960s it had become an internationally famous rock and roll group.
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'''The Four Seasons''' (known off and on since 1967 as '''Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons'''), are an [[United States|American]] [[popular music|pop]] and [[rock music|rock]] group, distinct from many similar groups of the early to mid-1960s for its high-pitched lead singing and creating street-corner harmonies, reminiscent of [[doo wop]].  
  
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In 1960, the group known as '''The Four Lovers''' evolved into The Four Seasons, with [[Frankie Valli]] as the lead singer, [[Bob Gaudio]] (formerly of [[The Royal Teens]]) on keyboards and tenor vocals, [[Tommy DeVito (musician)|Tommy DeVito]] on lead guitar and baritone vocals and [[Nick Massi]] on bass guitar and bass vocals (Massi was replaced in 1965 by [[Charles Calello]], who was in turn replaced in 1965 by [[Joe Long]] on bass guitar and bass vocals).
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In 1960, the group known as The Four Lovers evolved into The Four Seasons, with [[Frankie Valli]] as the lead singer. With songs like "Sherry," "Big Girls Don't Cry," and "Walk Like a Man," the Four Seasons burst onto the scene with an unprecedented series of number one hits. Later records, such as ''Dawn (Go Away)'' and ''Rag Doll,'' made them one of the most successful American groups in competing against the [[Beatles]] and other "British invasion" rock groups in 1964. By the mid 1960s, the Four Seasons had become an internationally famous rock-and-roll band. To date, they have sold over 100 million albums.
  
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The official name of the organization is the '''Four Seasons Partnership''', formed by Gaudio and Valli after a failed audition in 1961. While singers, producers, and musicians have come and gone, Gaudio and Valli remain the group's constant (with each owning fifty percent of the act and its assets, including virtually all of its recording catalog).<ref>Bronson, Fred. ''The Billboard Book of Number One Hits'', 3rd edition (Billboard Books, 1992) ISBN 0-8230-8298-9</ref><ref>Sasfy, Joe. Liner notes to ''Frankie Valli & the Four Seasons: 1962-1967'' (Warner Special Products, 1987: Time-Life Music The Rock 'N' Era 2RNR-15)</ref>
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After a dry spell in the late 1960s and early 70s, Valli and the Four Seasons made a comeback during the [[disco]] era with songs like "My Eyes Adored You," "December, 1963 (Oh, What a Night)," and "Grease."
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{{toc}}
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The Four Seasons (group members 1960&ndash;1965) were inducted into the [[Rock and Roll Hall of Fame]] in 1990 and the [[Vocal Group Hall of Fame]] in 1999.
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The Four Seasons (group members 1960&ndash;1965) were inducted into the [[Rock and Roll Hall of Fame]] in 1990 and the [[Vocal Group Hall of Fame]] in 1999. More recently, the [[musical]] ''Jersey Boys'' used their story and music to garner four [[Tony Awards]].
  
 
==History==
 
==History==
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===Before the Four Seasons===
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===The Four Lovers===
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Frankie Valli's first commercial release was "My Mother's Eyes" (as Frank Valley) in 1953. The following year, he joined the Variety Trio and formed the group that evolved into the Variatones (with brothers [[Tommy DeVito|Tommy]] and [[Nick DeVito]] and Hank Majewski),<ref>Jay Warner, ''American Singing Groups: A History from 1940 to Today'' (Hal Leonard Books, 2006) ISBN 0-634-09978-7</ref> which between 1954 and 1956, performed and recorded under a variety of names before settling on the name '''The Four Lovers'''.<ref>Fred Bronson. ''The Billboard Book of Number One Hits'', 3rd edition (Billboard Books, 1992) ISBN 0-8230-8298-9</ref><ref>Joe Sasfy. Liner notes to ''Frankie Valli & the Four Seasons: 1962-1967'' (Warner Special Products, 1987: Time-Life Music The Rock 'N' Era 2RNR-15)</ref> The same year, the quartet released their first record, "[[You're the Apple of My Eye]]," which appeared on the ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' [[Hot 100]] singles chart, peaking at #62.<ref>Whitburn, Joel. ''Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955-1993'', Billboard Publications 1994 ISBN 0-89820-105-5</ref>  Five additional Four Lovers singles (on [[RCA Victor]]) were released over the next year, with virtually no sales, airplay, or jukebox play. In 1957, the group's seventh single (this time on [[Epic Records|Epic]]) had a similar lack of success.<ref>Umphred, Neil. ''Goldmine's Rock'n'Roll 45RPM Record Price Guide'' (3rd edition), Krause Publications 1994 ISBN 0-87341-287-7</ref>
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In 1954, Frankie Valli's joined the Variety Trio to form the group that evolved into the Variatones, with brothers [[Tommy DeVito|Tommy]] and [[Nick DeVito]] and Hank Majewski. This ensemble performed and recorded under a variety of names in 1954 and 1956 before settling on the Four Lovers as its name. The quartet's first record, ''[[You're the Apple of My Eye]],'' reached number 62 on the ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' [[Hot 100]] singles chart. Five additional Four Lovers singles were released over the next year on [[RCA Victor]], with virtually no sales, airplay, or jukebox popularity. In 1957, the group's seventh single, this time on [[Epic Records|Epic]]), had a similar lack of success.
  
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From 1956 until 1960, the group stayed together, performing in clubs and lounges as The Four Lovers and recording on various record labels with various names: Frankie Tyler, Frankie Valley, Frankie Valley and the Travelers, Frankie Valle and the Romans, The Village Voices, and The Topics are some of the 18 "stage names" used individually or collectively by the members of the group.
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From 1956 until 1960, the Four Lovers stayed together, performing in clubs and lounges and recording on various record labels under a number of different names, including Frankie Tyler, Frankie Valley, Frankie Valley and the Travelers, Frankie Valle and the Romans, The Village Voices, and The Topics.
  
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In 1958, the group started working with producer [[Bob Crewe]], primarily with [[session musician|session work]] (Crewe wrote "I Go Ape," which Valli recorded with the intention of releasing it as a "solo" single). Later that year, the Four Lovers were performing in [[Baltimore, Maryland|Baltimore]] on the same stage as [[The Royal Teens]], who was riding the wave of success of "[[Short Shorts]]," a song that was co-written by then-15-year-old [[Bob Gaudio]], who was also the Royal Teens' guitarist.  
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In 1958, the group started working with producer [[Bob Crewe]], primarily with [[session musician|session work]]. Later that year, the Four Lovers were performing in [[Baltimore, Maryland|Baltimore]] on the same stage as [[The Royal Teens]], who were riding the wave of success of their hit song "[[Short Shorts]]," co-written by the 15 year old [[Bob Gaudio]]. The next year, Gaudio replaced Nick DeVito in the Four Lovers lineup, doubling on [[keyboard]] and [[guitar]], and [[Charles Calello]] replaced Majewski on bass. In 1960, Calello left and was replaced by [[Nick Massi]], but would soon return as the group's arranger.
  
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The next year, Gaudio replaced Nick DeVito in the lineup, with Gaudio doubling as both keyboardist and guitar, and [[Charles Calello]] replaced Majewski on bass (Callelo would soon return as the group's arranger). In 1960, Calello left and was replaced by [[Nick Massi]].
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Despite the change of personnel, the fortunes of the Four Lovers did not change, evening failing to win a job after auditioning at a bowling alley in 1961. According to Gaudio: "We figured we'll come out of this with something. So we took the name of the bowling alley. It was called the Four Seasons." This proved to be the turning point of the group. On a handshake between Bob Gaudio and lead singer Frankie Valli, the Four Seasons Partnership was formed.
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Despite the change of personnel, the fortunes of The Four Lovers did not change in the beginning of 1961, when they failed an audition for a lounge at a [[Union Township, Union County, New Jersey]], bowling establishment. According to Gaudio, "We figured we'll come out of this with something. So we took the name of the bowling alley. It was called the Four Seasons." Despite the last few years of frustration of the Four Lovers, this proved to be the turning point of the group: on a handshake between guitarist/keyboardist/composer Bob Gaudio and lead singer Frankie Valli, the Four Seasons Partnership was formed.
 
  
 
===The rise of the Four Seasons===
 
===The rise of the Four Seasons===
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The Four Seasons released their first single in 1961 ("Bermuda"/"Spanish Lace" on [[Gone Records]]). While the single did not chart, the songs gave the group enough of a following to be signed with [[Vee Jay Records]] late that year.  
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[[Image:August Wilson Theatre NYC.jpg|thumb|300px|The [[Tony Award]]-winning [[musical]] ''Jersey Boys'' is based on the career and music of the Four Seasons.]]
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The Four Seasons released their first single in 1961 ("Bermuda"/"Spanish Lace" on [[Gone Records]]). While the single did not chart, the song gave the group enough of a following to be signed with [[Vee Jay Records]] later that year.  
  
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In 1962, the group released their first album featuring the single "[[Sherry (song)|Sherry]]," which was not only their first charted hit but also their first number one song. Under the guidance of [[music producer|producer]]/[[songwriter]] [[Bob Crewe]], The Four Seasons followed up "Sherry" with several [[gold record|million-selling]] hits, including "[[Big Girls Don't Cry (Four Seasons song)|Big Girls Don't Cry]]" (their second #1 hit), "[[Walk Like a Man (song)|Walk Like a Man]]" (their third #1), "[[Candy Girl (Four Seasons song)|Candy Girl]]," "[[Ain't That a Shame]]," and several others. In addition, they released a Christmas album in December of 1962 and charted with a unique rendition of "[[Santa Claus Is Coming to Town]]."  
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In 1962, the group released its first album featuring the single, "[[Sherry (song)|Sherry]]." The song's unique sound took it to number one on the pop charts. Under the guidance of [[music producer|producer]]/[[songwriter]] [[Bob Crewe]], the Four Seasons followed up "Sherry" with several more [[gold record|million-selling]] hits, including "[[Big Girls Don't Cry (Four Seasons song)|Big Girls Don't Cry]]" (their second number one hit), "[[Walk Like a Man (song)|Walk Like a Man]]" (their also number one), "[[Candy Girl (Four Seasons song)|Candy Girl]]," "[[Ain't That a Shame]]," and several others. The also released a [[Christmas]] album in December of 1962 and charted with a unique rendition of "[[Santa Claus Is Coming to Town]]."  
  
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From 1962 to early 1964, only the [[Beach Boys]] matched the Four Seasons in record sales in the United States, and their first three Vee Jay non-holiday single releases marked the first time that a vocal group hit #1 on the ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' singles charts with three consecutive entries (ignoring their version of "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town").
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From 1962 to early 1964, only the [[Beach Boys]] matched the Four Seasons in record sales in the United States, and their first three with Vee Jay. Their non-holiday releases—ignoring their version of "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town"—marked the first time that a vocal group hit number one on the ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' singles charts three times in a row.
  
 
===From Vee-Jay to Philips===
 
===From Vee-Jay to Philips===
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Despite the group's success, Vee Jay Records was in financial distress. Vee Jay released several early [[Beatles]] singles in America, and when The Beatles became wildly popular, Vee Jay was swamped with a flood of orders. (Vee Jay shipped more than two million Beatles records in a single month.) The huge demands of mass production, and the cash flow problems involved, found Vee Jay hard pressed to stay afloat.
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Despite the group's success, Vee Jay Records was in financial distress. The label eventually filed for bankruptcy, and a royalties dispute between Vee Jay and the Four Seasons headed to the courtrooms. At the end of 1963, the group moved to [[Philips Records]], a division of [[Mercury Records]]. (In the settlement of the lawsuit against Vee Jay in 1965, Vee Jay retained release rights for all material the group recorded for the label. The group was obligated to deliver one final album to Vee Jay, which they did in the form of a live LP.)
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The label eventually filed for bankruptcy, and a royalty dispute between Vee Jay and The Four Seasons headed to the courtrooms. At the end of 1963, after several successful albums and lack of money from them, The Four Seasons left Vee Jay Records and moved over to [[Philips Records]], a division of [[Mercury Records]]. In the settlement of the lawsuit against Vee Jay in 1965, Vee Jay retained release rights for all material the group recorded for the label and exercised them liberally over the following three years. The group was obligated to deliver one final album to Vee Jay, which they did in the form of a live LP.
 
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The change of label did not diminish the popularity of the Four Seasons in 1964, nor did the onslaught of the [[British Invasion]] and [[Beatlemania]]. However, "[[Dawn (Go Away)]]" (recorded for [[Atlantic Records]], which rejected it) was kept from the #1 spot on the Hot 100 by no fewer than three [[Beatles]] singles in the March 21, 1964, edition (two weeks later, the top 5 slots were filled by Beatles singles).
 
  
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In mid-July of that year, the Four Seasons made their fourth trip to the top of the singles charts with "[[Rag Doll (Four Seasons song)|Rag Doll]]"; additional massive-selling singles from 1964 on their new label included "[[Ronnie (Four Seasons song)|Ronnie]]," "[[Big Man in Town]]," "[[Save It For Me]]," "[[Bye, Bye, Baby (Baby Goodbye)]]" (originally "Bye Bye Baby"), and "[[Girl Come Running]]." In the meantime, Vee Jay continued releasing Four Seasons singles from their vault, including "[[Stay (Maurice Williams song)|Stay]]" and "Alone." The ultimate in Vee Jay recycling occurred on October 1, 1964, when the label produced a double album consisting of reissues of old Four Seasons recordings and the Vee Jay ''[[Introducing... The Beatles]]'' album (from 1963) and dubbed it ''[[The Beatles vs. the Four Seasons]]'' ("The International Battle of the Century!").
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The change of label did not diminish the popularity of the Four Seasons in 1964, nor did the onslaught of the [[British Invasion]] and [[Beatlemania]]. However, "[[Dawn (Go Away)]]" was kept from the number one spot by several simultaneous Beatles hits. In mid-July of that year, the Four Seasons made their fourth trip to the top of the singles charts with "[[Rag Doll (Four Seasons song)|Rag Doll]]." Additional big-selling singles from 1964 included "[[Ronnie (Four Seasons song)|Ronnie]]," "[[Big Man in Town]]," "[[Save It For Me]]," "[[Bye, Bye, Baby (Baby Goodbye)]]," and "[[Girl Come Running]]." In the meantime, Vee Jay continued releasing Four Seasons singles from its vault, including "[[Stay (Maurice Williams song)|Stay]]" and "Alone."  
  
 
===One group, several acts===
 
===One group, several acts===
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Nick Massi left The Four Seasons in September 1965. The group's arranger, [[Charles Calello]] (a former member of the Four Lovers), stepped in as a temporary replacement. A few months later, [[Joe Long]] was permanently hired. Joe became the mainstay on bass and backing vocals until 1975. Joe also served as concert emcee and conductor. In the meantime, The Four Seasons released recordings under a variety of names, including The Valli Boys, [[The Wonder Who?]], and [[Frankie Valli]] (every Valli "solo" recording from 1965 to "[[My Eyes Adored You]]" in 1975 had the same personnel and production team as the Four Seasons disks that were recorded at the same time: his first post-1961 single without the Four Seasons was 1975's "[[Swearin' to God]]").
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Following several personnel changes, the Four Seasons released recordings under a variety of names, including The Valli Boys, [[The Wonder Who?]] and [[Frankie Valli]]. More Top 20 singles credited to the Four Seasons followed in 1965, 1966, and 1967, including "[[Let's Hang On!]]," "[[Don't Think Twice]]" (as the Wonder Who?), "[[Working My Way Back to You]]," "[[I've Got You Under My Skin]]," "[[Can't Take My Eyes Off You]]" (released as a Valli "solo"), and "[[C'mon Marianne]], which was their last Top Ten hit of the 1960s.
  
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More Top 20 singles credited to the Four Seasons followed in 1965, 1966, and 1967, including "[[Let's Hang On!]]," "[[Don't Think Twice]]" (as the Wonder Who?), "[[Working My Way Back to You]]," "[[Opus 17 (Don't You Worry 'Bout Me)]]," "[[I've Got You Under My Skin]]," "[[Can't Take My Eyes Off You]]" (released under Valli's name as a "solo" single), "[[Beggin']]," "[[Tell It to the Rain]]," "[[C'mon Marianne]]" (their last Top Ten hit of the 1960s), and "[[I Make a Fool of Myself]]" (Frankie Valli "solo"). By late 1967, like that of their West Coast brethren, [[The Beach Boys]], the Four Seasons' record sales were tapering off. "[[Will You Love Me Tomorrow]]" provided a "last hurrah" for the group in early 1968 (reaching #24 on the Hot 100), just before Valli's last "solo" hit of the 1960s, the #29 "[[To Give (The Reason I Live)]]."
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By late 1967, however, the Four Seasons' record sales were tapering off. "[[Will You Love Me Tomorrow]]" provided a "last hurrah" for the group in early 1968 (reaching number 24 on the Hot 100, just before Valli's last "solo" hit of the 1960s, the number 29 "[[To Give (The Reason I Live)]]."
  
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===The end of the '60s and a change to Motown===
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===A change to Motown===
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By 1969 the group's popularity was deteriorating as public interest moved away from [[doo wop|street corner]] [[pop music|pop]] and towards rock with a harder edge, deeper soul music, and music with more socially conscious lyrics. The group's last single on Philips, "Patch of Blue," featured the group's name as "Frankie Valli & the Four Seasons," but the change in billing did not change the act's lack of success in 1970.  
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By 1969, the public interest moved away from [[doo wop|street corner]] [[pop music|pop]] and toward rock with a harder edge, deeper soul music, and music with more socially conscious lyrics. The group's last single on Philips, "Patch of Blue," featured the group's name as "Frankie Valli & the Four Seasons," but the change in billing did not change the act's lack of success.
  
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After leaving Philips, the newly rechristened act signed onto [[Motown Records]] with disastrous results. The first LP, ''Chameleon'', failed to sell after it was released by Motown subsidiary label [[MoWest Records]] in 1971. A Frankie Valli "solo" single from 1971 ("Love Isn't Here" on Motown) and three Four Seasons singles ("Walk On, Don't Look Back" on MoWest in 1972, "How Come" and "Hickory" on Motown in 1973) - sank without a trace. A recording that was destined to reach the upper parts of the [[UK singles chart]], "[[The Night (song)|The Night]]," was not commercially released as a single by Motown in the United States after promotional copies (showing the artist as Frankie Valli) were distributed in 1971.
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After leaving Philips, the rechristened act signed onto [[Motown Records]] with disastrous results. The first LP, ''Chameleon,'' failed to sell for the Motown subsidiary label [[MoWest Records]] in 1971. Several additional releases did no better. In late 1973 and early 1974, the Four Seasons recorded eight songs for a planned second Motown album, but the company refused to move forward with plans to release it to the public, leading to the Four Seasons and Motown parting ways.
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In late 1973 and early 1974, The Four Seasons recorded eight songs for a planned second Motown album, which the company refused to release to the public. Later in 1974, the record label and The Four Seasons parted ways. On behalf of the Four Seasons Partnership, Valli initially tried to purchase the entire collection of master recordings the group made for Motown; upon hearing the amount needed to buy them all, he arranged to purchase one recording for $4000 (US): "[[My Eyes Adored You]]."
 
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Valli took the tape to [[Private Stock Records]] owner and founder [[Larry Uttal]], who, after repeated listenings of the Four Seasons recording, wanted to release it as a Frankie Valli "solo" single. While the group remained unsigned in the latter part of 1974, Valli had a new label &mdash; and a new solo career.
 
  
 
===Renaissance===
 
===Renaissance===
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While the hits for the Four Seasons had dried up in the first half of the 1970s, the group never lost its popularity as a performing act. Longtime member Joe Long stayed in the group until 1975. The new lineup boasted two new lead singers in [[Don Ciccone]] (formerly of [[The Critters]]) and Gerry Polci, who eased the singing load on an ailing Frankie Valli (who was gradually losing his hearing due to [[otosclerosis]]. Eventually, surgery restored most of his hearing).  
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[[Image:Frankie-vallie-closeup.jpg|thumb|Frankie Valli]]
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Despite this dry spell as a recording group, the Four Seasons never lost its popularity as a performing act. In 1975, Valli and Gaudio managed to get the group signed with [[Warner Bros. Records]] as the [[disco]] era dawned. At the same time, Private Stock Records released ''[[The Four Seasons Story]],'' a two record compilation of the group's biggest hit singles from 1962 to 1970. It quickly became a [[gold record]], selling over one million copies before the [[RIAA]] started awarding [[platinum record]]s for million-selling albums.  
  
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As "My Eyes Adored You" climbed the Hot 100 singles chart in early 1975, Valli and Gaudio managed to get The Four Seasons signed with [[Warner Bros. Records]] as the disco era dawned. At the same time, Uttal was persuaded to release ''[[The Four Seasons Story]]'', a two record compilation of the group's biggest hit singles from 1962 to 1970. It quickly became a [[gold record]], selling over one million copies before the [[RIAA]] started awarding [[platinum record]]s for million-selling albums.  
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In 1975, record sales exploded for both Valli and the Four Seasons, as both acts had million-selling singles in the United States. "My Eyes Adored You" hit number on the Hot 100 for Valli in March, and "[[Who Loves You]]" peaked at number three in November for the group. In the United Kingdom, [[Motown Records|Tamla Motown]] released "[[The Night (song)|The Night]]" as a single, and it reached the number seven position on the [[UK singles chart]].  
  
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In 1975, record sales exploded for both Valli and the Four Seasons as both acts had million-selling singles in the United States ("My Eyes Adored You" hit #1 on the Hot 100 for Valli in March, "[[Who Loves You]]" peaked at #3 in November for the group). In the United Kingdom, [[Motown Records|Tamla Motown]] released "[[The Night (song)|The Night]]" as a single and had it reach the #7 position on the [[UK singles chart]].  
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Until this point, all Valli's "solo" hits were, in fact, Four Seasons productions, but in the summer of 1975 Valli had his first truly solo hit when the Bob Crewe-produced "[[Swearin' to God]]" followed "My Eyes Adored You" into the upper reaches of the Hot 100, peaking at the number six position during the growing disco craze.  
  
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Valli had his first truly solo hit in the summer of 1975 (all of his prior "solo" hits were in fact Four Seasons productions) when the Bob Crewe-produced "[[Swearin' to God]]" followed "My Eyes Adored You" into the upper reaches of the Hot 100, peaking at the #6 position and capitalizing on the growing disco craze. The song was released in three forms: the eight-minute long album version, the ten-minute-long extended [[12 inch single]] version, and the three-minute-long single version.
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The album ''[[Who Loves You]]'' became a surprise million-seller for the group. It was the first Four Seasons album to feature lead vocals by singers other than Valli. Gerry Polci did the majority of the lead vocals, sharing them with Valli and Don Ciccone. "[[December, 1963 (Oh, What a Night)]]" had Polci sing lead in the first verse, Ciccone in the second, and Valli doing lead vocals only in the chorus. With this song, the Four Seasons hit number one for the fifth time. Although the group also scored a minor hit with "Silver Star," "December 1963" marked the end of the Four Seasons' hit recordings.
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The album ''[[Who Loves You]]'' became a surprise million-seller for the group as it was the first Four Seasons album to feature lead vocals by other than Valli. Gerry Polci did the majority of the lead vocals, sharing them with Valli and Ciccone. The title song had Valli doing the lead on the verses, but none of the trademark falsettos in the chorus; "[[December, 1963 (Oh, What a Night)]]" had Polci sing lead in the first verse, Ciccone in the second, and Valli doing lead vocals only in the chorus; "[[Silver Star (song)|Silver Star]]" had Polci doing all the lead vocals, with Valli absent from the recording aside from doing some harmony vocals.
 
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The following year had The Four Seasons hitting #1 for the fifth time with "December, 1963." Although the group also scored a minor hit with "Silver Star," "December 1963" also seems to mark the end of the Seasons' hit recording (a remix version of "December 1963" returned them briefly to the upper reaches of the ''Billboard'' singles charts almost two decades later).
 
  
 
===After disco===
 
===After disco===
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The success of ''Who Loves You'' increased the popularity of the Four Seasons as a touring group and reignited recording unit, but when 1977's ''[[Helicon]]'' album was released by Warner Bros., the climate was changing again, both for the group and for Valli. The new record yielded only one single, "Down the Hall," which limped onto the Hot 100. At the same time, Valli's string of solo hits had come to an end as he parted ways with Private Stock Records.
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In 1978, Valli reached hit number one again with his solo single, "[[Grease (song)|Grease]]," while the [[Grease (movie)|motion picture of the same name]] became the highest-grossing musical in cinematic history. Both Valli and the group released singles and albums on an occasional basis, but after "Grease," only a remixed version of their biggest seller, "December 1963," would visit the upper half of the Hot 100 (in 1994).
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Excluding Valli's 1978 "[[Grease (song)|Grease]]" single, which hit #1 while the [[Grease (movie)|motion picture of the same name]] became the highest-grossing musical in cinematic history, the last Top 40 hit for the group was behind them. Both Valli and the group released singles and albums on an occasional basis, but after "Grease," only a remixed version of their biggest seller, "December 1963" would visit the upper half of the Hot 100 (in 1994).
 
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In 1984, a long-awaited collaboration between the Four Seasons and the Beach Boys, "[[East Meets West]]," was released on FBI Records, owned by the Four Seasons Partnership. The record didn't sell.
 
−
 
 
−
Even after the rise and fall of the group's sales in the disco era, The Four Seasons, in one version or another (the group became a sextet as [[Jerry Corbetta]], formerly of [[Sugarloaf]], joined the lineup), continued to be a popular touring act, with Valli being the only constant in the midst of a fluctuating lineup. Although Gaudio is still officially part of the group (he and Valli are still equal partners in the Four Seasons Partnership), he now restricts his activities to writing, producing, and the occasional studio work.
 
−
 
 
−
The latest edition of The Four Seasons, including Valli, is conducting a North American tour in the latter half of 2007. Incidental to this tour, the massive 3-CD + 1 DVD box set ""Jersey Beat: The Music Of Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons"" was released in mid-2007, marketed as the most comprehensive collection of Four Seasons music yet. The album title "Jersey Beat" is a play on both "[[Jersey Boys]]," a musical play about the Four Seasons, and "[[Mersey Beat]]," a reference to the early [[Beatles]] music scene alongside the [[River Mersey]] in [[Liverpool, England]].
 
  
 +
In 1984, a long-awaited collaboration between the Four Seasons and the [[Beach Boys]], "[[East Meets West]]," was released on FBI Records, owned by the Four Seasons Partnership, but the record did not sell well.
  
 +
The latest edition of The Four Seasons, including Valli, is conducted a North American tour in the latter half of 2007. Incidental to this tour, the massive 3-CD + 1 DVD box set, ''Jersey Beat: The Music Of Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons,'' was released in mid-2007, marketed as the most comprehensive collection of Four Seasons music yet. The album title, ''Jersey Beat,'' is a play on both ''[[Jersey Boys]],'' a musical play about the Four Seasons that won four [[Tony Awards]], and "[[Mersey Beat]]," a reference to the early [[Beatles]] music scene alongside the [[River Mersey]] in [[Liverpool, England]].
  
 
== U.S. Discography ==
 
== U.S. Discography ==
−
=== US Albums===
+
=== U.S. Albums===
 
Reissues are excluded. This does not include Frankie Valli solo albums, "solo" or otherwise, except as noted below.
 
Reissues are excluded. This does not include Frankie Valli solo albums, "solo" or otherwise, except as noted below.
 
{|width="100%" align="center"|
 
{|width="100%" align="center"|
Line 106: Line 87:
 
*1964: ''[[Rag Doll (Four Seasons album)|Rag Doll]]''
 
*1964: ''[[Rag Doll (Four Seasons album)|Rag Doll]]''
 
*1964: ''[[More Golden Hits of The Four Seasons]]''
 
*1964: ''[[More Golden Hits of The Four Seasons]]''
−
*1964: ''[[Girls, Girls, Girls - We Love Girls]]''
+
*1964: ''[[Girls, Girls, Girls--We Love Girls]]''
 
*1964: ''[[The Beatles vs. The Four Seasons]]''
 
*1964: ''[[The Beatles vs. The Four Seasons]]''
 
*1965: ''[[The Four Seasons Entertain You]]''
 
*1965: ''[[The Four Seasons Entertain You]]''
Line 121: Line 102:
 
*1972: ''[[Chameleon]]''
 
*1972: ''[[Chameleon]]''
 
*1973: ''[[Inside You]]'' (cancelled)
 
*1973: ''[[Inside You]]'' (cancelled)
 +
*1974: ''[[The Greatest Hits of the Fabulous Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons]]'' <small>(4 LP boxed set)</small>
 
|width="50%" valign="top"|
 
|width="50%" valign="top"|
−
*1974: ''[[The Greatest Hits of the Fabulous Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons]]'' <small>(4 LP boxed set)</small>
 
 
*1975: ''[[Who Loves You]]''
 
*1975: ''[[Who Loves You]]''
 
*1975: ''[[The Four Seasons Story]]'' <small>(2 LP compilation)</small>  
 
*1975: ''[[The Four Seasons Story]]'' <small>(2 LP compilation)</small>  
 
*1976: ''[[Helicon (album)|Helicon]]''
 
*1976: ''[[Helicon (album)|Helicon]]''
 
*1980: ''[[Superstar Series Vol. 4]]''
 
*1980: ''[[Superstar Series Vol. 4]]''
−
*1981: ''[[Reunited - Live with Frankie Valli]]'' <small>(2 LP set)</small>
+
*1981: ''[[Reunited--Live with Frankie Valli]]'' <small>(2 LP set)</small>
 
*1982: ''[[The Complete Musical Treasury]]'' <small>(4 LP boxed set)</small>
 
*1982: ''[[The Complete Musical Treasury]]'' <small>(4 LP boxed set)</small>
 
*1984: ''[[Certified Gold (album)|Certified Gold]]'' (Volumes I, II, and III)
 
*1984: ''[[Certified Gold (album)|Certified Gold]]'' (Volumes I, II, and III)
 
*1985: ''[[Streetfighter (album)|Streetfighter]]''
 
*1985: ''[[Streetfighter (album)|Streetfighter]]''
−
*1985: ''[[Silver Anniversary Collection]]'' <small>(AKA 25th Anniversary Collection - 3 LP set)</small>
+
*1985: ''[[Silver Anniversary Collection]]'' <small>(AKA 25th Anniversary Collection--3 LP set)</small>
−
*1987: ''[[Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons, 25th Anniversary Collection]] - 4 LP box w booklet; Rhino Records RNRP 72998-1
+
*1987: ''[[Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons, 25th Anniversary Collection]]--4 LP box w booklet; Rhino Records RNRP 72998-1
 
*1988: ''[[Anthology (Four Seasons album)|Anthology]]''
 
*1988: ''[[Anthology (Four Seasons album)|Anthology]]''
 
*1988: ''[[Hits (Four Seasons album)|Hits]]''
 
*1988: ''[[Hits (Four Seasons album)|Hits]]''
Line 149: Line 130:
 
|}
 
|}
  
−
=== Selected US singles ===
+
=== Selected U.S. singles ===
 
{{main|List of U.S. singles by Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons}}
 
{{main|List of U.S. singles by Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons}}
  
−
US [[Billboard Hot 100|peak chart position]] on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 singles chart follows the name. Frankie Valli "solo" singles are also omitted but can be found [[List of U.S. singles by Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons|here]]. Only singles that reached a position of #30 or higher on the Hot 100 are listed here.
+
U.S. [[Billboard Hot 100|peak chart position]] on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 singles chart follows the name. Frankie Valli "solo" singles are also omitted, but can be found [[List of U.S. singles by Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons|here]]. Only singles that reached a position of #30 or higher on the Hot 100 are listed here.
  
 
{|width="100%" align="center"|
 
{|width="100%" align="center"|
Line 160: Line 141:
 
*1963: "[[Walk Like a Man (Four Seasons song)|Walk Like a Man]], #1
 
*1963: "[[Walk Like a Man (Four Seasons song)|Walk Like a Man]], #1
 
*1963: "[[Ain't That a Shame]]," #22  
 
*1963: "[[Ain't That a Shame]]," #22  
−
*1963: "[[Candy Girl (Four Seasons song)|Candy Girl]]"/"[[Marlena (song)|Marlena]]" #3 (Marlena #36)
+
*1963: "[[Candy Girl (Four Seasons song)|Candy Girl]]"/"[[Marlena (song)|Marlena]]," #3 (Marlena #36)
 
*1964: "[[Dawn (Go Away)]]," #3
 
*1964: "[[Dawn (Go Away)]]," #3
 
*1964: "[[Stay (Maurice Williams song)|Stay]]," #16
 
*1964: "[[Stay (Maurice Williams song)|Stay]]," #16
 
*1964: "[[Ronnie (Four Seasons song)|Ronnie]]," #6
 
*1964: "[[Ronnie (Four Seasons song)|Ronnie]]," #6
 
*1964: "[[Alone (Why Must I Be Alone)|Alone]]," #28  
 
*1964: "[[Alone (Why Must I Be Alone)|Alone]]," #28  
−
*1964: "[[Rag Doll (Four Seasons song)|Rag Doll]], #1
+
*1964: "[[Rag Doll (Four Seasons song)|Rag Doll]]," #1
 
*1964: "[[Save It For Me]]," #10
 
*1964: "[[Save It For Me]]," #10
 
*1964: "[[Big Man in Town]]," #20
 
*1964: "[[Big Man in Town]]," #20
Line 171: Line 152:
 
*1965: "[[Girl Come Running]]," #30
 
*1965: "[[Girl Come Running]]," #30
 
|width="50%" valign="top"|
 
|width="50%" valign="top"|
−
*1965: "[[Let's Hang On!]]," #3
+
*1965: "[[Let's Hang On]]," #3
 
*1965: "[[Don't Think Twice, It's All Right|Don't Think Twice]]," #20
 
*1965: "[[Don't Think Twice, It's All Right|Don't Think Twice]]," #20
 
*1966: "[[Working My Way Back to You]]," #9
 
*1966: "[[Working My Way Back to You]]," #9
Line 185: Line 166:
 
*1994: "December, 1963 (Oh, What a Night)," #14 <small>(remixed dance version)</small>
 
*1994: "December, 1963 (Oh, What a Night)," #14 <small>(remixed dance version)</small>
 
|}
 
|}
−
 
−
==''Jersey Boys''==
 
−
 
−
''[[Jersey Boys]]'', a [[musical play]] based on the lives of The Four Seasons, directed by [[Des McAnuff]] (''[[Tommy (rock opera)|The Who's Tommy]]'', ''[[700 Sundays]]'') premiered at his [[La Jolla Playhouse]] and opened on November 6, 2005 to generally positive reviews and subsequently won multiple [[Tony Awards]].
 
−
 
−
The original cast included [[John Lloyd Young]] as Frankie Valli, Daniel Reichard as Bob Gaudio, Christian Hoff as Tommy De Vito, and J. Robert Spencer as Nick Massi. The play portrays the history of The Four Seasons in four parts, with each part narrated by a different member of the band and supposedly reflecting that band member's perspective on the band's history. The author of the book of the play, Rick Elice, interviewed Valli, Gaudio, and De Vito in writing the play, and pieced together Nick Massi's point of view based on those interviews (Massi passed away before the play was written). The Broadway production won four 2006 Tony Awards including Best Musical, Best Actor (for John Lloyd Young as Frankie Valli), Best Featured Actor (for Christian Hoff as Tommy DeVito), and Best Lighting Design.
 
−
 
−
There are currently three productions of ''Jersey Boys'' running outside New York. The first opened at the [[Curran Theatre]] in San Francisco on December 10, 2006, leaving that venue for the [[Ahmanson Theatre]] in Los Angeles on May 3, 2007. (This company is currently touring the United States.)<ref>[http://jerseyboysblog.com/?cat=30 Jersey Boys National Tour · Jersey Boys Blog<!-- Bot generated title —>]</ref> The second opened in San Francisco on May 4, 2007, closed on September 30 of that year, and opened on October 6 at the [[LaSalle Bank Theatre]] in [[Chicago]], [[Illinois]] for an open-ended run.<ref>[http://jerseyboysblog.com/?cat=38 Jersey Boys San Francisco/Chicago Company · Jersey Boys Blog<!-- Bot generated title —>]</ref> Currently in previews is the Las Vegas-bound company, also at the Curran Theatre in San Francisco.<ref>[http://jerseyboysblog.com/?cat=39 Jersey Boys SF Holiday Engagement · Jersey Boys Blog<!-- Bot generated title —>]</ref><ref>http://shnsf.com/shows/show.asp?key=18&subkey=509</ref> It opens at the new [[Palazzo Hotel]] in April 2008.<ref>[http://jerseyboysblog.com/?cat=33 Jersey Boys Las Vegas · Jersey Boys Blog<!-- Bot generated title —>]</ref><ref>[http://www.lvrj.com/living/7289631.html ReviewJournal.com - Living - Musical 'Jersey Boys' coming to Palazzo<!-- Bot generated title —>]</ref>
 
−
 
−
Another completely new production opened at the [[Prince Edward Theatre]], [[London]] in February 2008.<ref>[http://www.jerseyboyslondon.com/jerseyboys.asp Jersey Boys - The Story of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons<!-- Bot generated title —>]</ref><ref>[http://jerseyboysblog.com/?cat=35 Jersey Boys London · Jersey Boys Blog<!-- Bot generated title —>]</ref> A production in [[Melbourne, Australia]] is planned for 2009.<ref>[http://www.theage.com.au/news/entertainment/lets-hear-it-for-the-jersey-boys/2008/01/28/1201369041880.html Let's hear it for the Jersey Boys - Entertainment - theage.com.au<!-- Bot generated title —>]</ref>
 
  
 
==Notes==
 
==Notes==
Line 200: Line 171:
  
 
==References==
 
==References==
−
Jersey boys : the story of Frankie Valli & the Four Seasons
+
*Coté, David, and Bob Gaudio. ''Jersey Boys: The Story of Frankie Valli & the Four Seasons''. New York: Broadway Books, 2007. ISBN 9780767927581.
−
by David Coté;  Bob Gaudio
+
*Friedlander, Paul, and Peter Miller. ''Rock & Roll: A Social History''. Boulder, Colo: Westview Press, 2006. ISBN 9780813343068.
−
New York : Broadway Books, ©2007.  
+
*Warner, Jay. ''American Singing Groups: A History from 1940 to Today''. Milwaukee, Wisc.: Hal Leonard Books, 2006. ISBN 0-634-09978-7.
−
Editions: 2 Editions 
 
−
ISBN: 9780767927581 0767927583
 
−
 
 
−
 
 
−
Jay Warner, American Singing Groups: A History from 1940 to Today (Hal Leonard Books, 2006) ISBN 0-634-09978-7
 
−
 
 
−
==External links==
 
−
*[http://www.genuine-imitation-life-gazette.com Genuine Imitation Life Gazette] Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons fan site.
 
−
*[http://www.rockhall.com/hof/inductee.asp?id=104 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame page on The Four Seasons]
 
−
*[http://www.vocalgroup.org/inductees/the_four_seasons.html 'The Four Seasons' Vocal Group Hall of Fame Page.]
 
−
*[http://www.the-four-seasons.com The Four Seasons.com] fan site
 
−
*[http://jerseyboysblog.com The Jersey Boys Blog] Dedicated to Jersey Boys; the Tony award-winning smash hit Broadway & National Tour musical of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons
 
−
*[http://www.JerseyBoysBroadway.com "Jersey Boys," the Broadway Musical based on the life of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons]
 
−
*[http://www.seasonally.co.uk/ The Four Seasons In The UK] Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons UK Enthusiasts and Historical Society site.
 
−
*[http://movementbureau.blogs.com/chameleon/ 'chameleon' ] Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons UK Enthusiasts and Historical Society research blog.
 
  
−
{{DEFAULTSORT:Four Seasons, The}}
 
  
 
[[Category:art, music, literature, sports and leisure]]
 
[[Category:art, music, literature, sports and leisure]]
 
[[Category:music]]
 
[[Category:music]]
 +
[[category:Musicians]]
 
{{Credit|217961954}}
 
{{Credit|217961954}}

Latest revision as of 20:38, 24 January 2020

The Four Seasons
Frankie Valli in concert
Frankie Valli in concert
Background information
Also known as The 4 Seasons
The 4 Seasons featuring the "sound" of Frankie Valli
Frankie Valli & The 4 Seasons
Origin Newark, New Jersey
Genre(s) Pop, R&B, Doo Wop, Rock, Motown, Disco
Years active 1960–present
Label(s) Vee Jay Records, Philips Records, Motown, Warner Bros. Records, MCA, Curb
Associated acts The Four Lovers
The Wonder Who?
Frankie Valli (as solo artist)

The Four Seasons (known off and on since 1967 as Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons), are an American pop and rock group, distinct from many similar groups of the early to mid-1960s for its high-pitched lead singing and creating street-corner harmonies, reminiscent of doo wop.

In 1960, the group known as The Four Lovers evolved into The Four Seasons, with Frankie Valli as the lead singer. With songs like "Sherry," "Big Girls Don't Cry," and "Walk Like a Man," the Four Seasons burst onto the scene with an unprecedented series of number one hits. Later records, such as Dawn (Go Away) and Rag Doll, made them one of the most successful American groups in competing against the Beatles and other "British invasion" rock groups in 1964. By the mid 1960s, the Four Seasons had become an internationally famous rock-and-roll band. To date, they have sold over 100 million albums.

After a dry spell in the late 1960s and early 70s, Valli and the Four Seasons made a comeback during the disco era with songs like "My Eyes Adored You," "December, 1963 (Oh, What a Night)," and "Grease."

The Four Seasons (group members 1960–1965) were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1990 and the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 1999. More recently, the musical Jersey Boys used their story and music to garner four Tony Awards.

History

The Four Lovers

In 1954, Frankie Valli's joined the Variety Trio to form the group that evolved into the Variatones, with brothers Tommy and Nick DeVito and Hank Majewski. This ensemble performed and recorded under a variety of names in 1954 and 1956 before settling on the Four Lovers as its name. The quartet's first record, You're the Apple of My Eye, reached number 62 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart. Five additional Four Lovers singles were released over the next year on RCA Victor, with virtually no sales, airplay, or jukebox popularity. In 1957, the group's seventh single, this time on Epic), had a similar lack of success.

From 1956 until 1960, the Four Lovers stayed together, performing in clubs and lounges and recording on various record labels under a number of different names, including Frankie Tyler, Frankie Valley, Frankie Valley and the Travelers, Frankie Valle and the Romans, The Village Voices, and The Topics.

In 1958, the group started working with producer Bob Crewe, primarily with session work. Later that year, the Four Lovers were performing in Baltimore on the same stage as The Royal Teens, who were riding the wave of success of their hit song "Short Shorts," co-written by the 15 year old Bob Gaudio. The next year, Gaudio replaced Nick DeVito in the Four Lovers lineup, doubling on keyboard and guitar, and Charles Calello replaced Majewski on bass. In 1960, Calello left and was replaced by Nick Massi, but would soon return as the group's arranger.

Despite the change of personnel, the fortunes of the Four Lovers did not change, evening failing to win a job after auditioning at a bowling alley in 1961. According to Gaudio: "We figured we'll come out of this with something. So we took the name of the bowling alley. It was called the Four Seasons." This proved to be the turning point of the group. On a handshake between Bob Gaudio and lead singer Frankie Valli, the Four Seasons Partnership was formed.

The rise of the Four Seasons

The Tony Award-winning musical Jersey Boys is based on the career and music of the Four Seasons.

The Four Seasons released their first single in 1961 ("Bermuda"/"Spanish Lace" on Gone Records). While the single did not chart, the song gave the group enough of a following to be signed with Vee Jay Records later that year.

In 1962, the group released its first album featuring the single, "Sherry." The song's unique sound took it to number one on the pop charts. Under the guidance of producer/songwriter Bob Crewe, the Four Seasons followed up "Sherry" with several more million-selling hits, including "Big Girls Don't Cry" (their second number one hit), "Walk Like a Man" (their also number one), "Candy Girl," "Ain't That a Shame," and several others. The also released a Christmas album in December of 1962 and charted with a unique rendition of "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town."

From 1962 to early 1964, only the Beach Boys matched the Four Seasons in record sales in the United States, and their first three with Vee Jay. Their non-holiday releases—ignoring their version of "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town"—marked the first time that a vocal group hit number one on the Billboard singles charts three times in a row.

From Vee-Jay to Philips

Despite the group's success, Vee Jay Records was in financial distress. The label eventually filed for bankruptcy, and a royalties dispute between Vee Jay and the Four Seasons headed to the courtrooms. At the end of 1963, the group moved to Philips Records, a division of Mercury Records. (In the settlement of the lawsuit against Vee Jay in 1965, Vee Jay retained release rights for all material the group recorded for the label. The group was obligated to deliver one final album to Vee Jay, which they did in the form of a live LP.)

The change of label did not diminish the popularity of the Four Seasons in 1964, nor did the onslaught of the British Invasion and Beatlemania. However, "Dawn (Go Away)" was kept from the number one spot by several simultaneous Beatles hits. In mid-July of that year, the Four Seasons made their fourth trip to the top of the singles charts with "Rag Doll." Additional big-selling singles from 1964 included "Ronnie," "Big Man in Town," "Save It For Me," "Bye, Bye, Baby (Baby Goodbye)," and "Girl Come Running." In the meantime, Vee Jay continued releasing Four Seasons singles from its vault, including "Stay" and "Alone."

One group, several acts

Following several personnel changes, the Four Seasons released recordings under a variety of names, including The Valli Boys, The Wonder Who? and Frankie Valli. More Top 20 singles credited to the Four Seasons followed in 1965, 1966, and 1967, including "Let's Hang On!," "Don't Think Twice" (as the Wonder Who?), "Working My Way Back to You," "I've Got You Under My Skin," "Can't Take My Eyes Off You" (released as a Valli "solo"), and "C'mon Marianne, which was their last Top Ten hit of the 1960s.

By late 1967, however, the Four Seasons' record sales were tapering off. "Will You Love Me Tomorrow" provided a "last hurrah" for the group in early 1968 (reaching number 24 on the Hot 100, just before Valli's last "solo" hit of the 1960s, the number 29 "To Give (The Reason I Live)."

A change to Motown

By 1969, the public interest moved away from street corner pop and toward rock with a harder edge, deeper soul music, and music with more socially conscious lyrics. The group's last single on Philips, "Patch of Blue," featured the group's name as "Frankie Valli & the Four Seasons," but the change in billing did not change the act's lack of success.

After leaving Philips, the rechristened act signed onto Motown Records with disastrous results. The first LP, Chameleon, failed to sell for the Motown subsidiary label MoWest Records in 1971. Several additional releases did no better. In late 1973 and early 1974, the Four Seasons recorded eight songs for a planned second Motown album, but the company refused to move forward with plans to release it to the public, leading to the Four Seasons and Motown parting ways.

Renaissance

Frankie Valli

Despite this dry spell as a recording group, the Four Seasons never lost its popularity as a performing act. In 1975, Valli and Gaudio managed to get the group signed with Warner Bros. Records as the disco era dawned. At the same time, Private Stock Records released The Four Seasons Story, a two record compilation of the group's biggest hit singles from 1962 to 1970. It quickly became a gold record, selling over one million copies before the RIAA started awarding platinum records for million-selling albums.

In 1975, record sales exploded for both Valli and the Four Seasons, as both acts had million-selling singles in the United States. "My Eyes Adored You" hit number on the Hot 100 for Valli in March, and "Who Loves You" peaked at number three in November for the group. In the United Kingdom, Tamla Motown released "The Night" as a single, and it reached the number seven position on the UK singles chart.

Until this point, all Valli's "solo" hits were, in fact, Four Seasons productions, but in the summer of 1975 Valli had his first truly solo hit when the Bob Crewe-produced "Swearin' to God" followed "My Eyes Adored You" into the upper reaches of the Hot 100, peaking at the number six position during the growing disco craze.

The album Who Loves You became a surprise million-seller for the group. It was the first Four Seasons album to feature lead vocals by singers other than Valli. Gerry Polci did the majority of the lead vocals, sharing them with Valli and Don Ciccone. "December, 1963 (Oh, What a Night)" had Polci sing lead in the first verse, Ciccone in the second, and Valli doing lead vocals only in the chorus. With this song, the Four Seasons hit number one for the fifth time. Although the group also scored a minor hit with "Silver Star," "December 1963" marked the end of the Four Seasons' hit recordings.

After disco

In 1978, Valli reached hit number one again with his solo single, "Grease," while the motion picture of the same name became the highest-grossing musical in cinematic history. Both Valli and the group released singles and albums on an occasional basis, but after "Grease," only a remixed version of their biggest seller, "December 1963," would visit the upper half of the Hot 100 (in 1994).

In 1984, a long-awaited collaboration between the Four Seasons and the Beach Boys, "East Meets West," was released on FBI Records, owned by the Four Seasons Partnership, but the record did not sell well.

The latest edition of The Four Seasons, including Valli, is conducted a North American tour in the latter half of 2007. Incidental to this tour, the massive 3-CD + 1 DVD box set, Jersey Beat: The Music Of Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons, was released in mid-2007, marketed as the most comprehensive collection of Four Seasons music yet. The album title, Jersey Beat, is a play on both Jersey Boys, a musical play about the Four Seasons that won four Tony Awards, and "Mersey Beat," a reference to the early Beatles music scene alongside the River Mersey in Liverpool, England.

U.S. Discography

U.S. Albums

Reissues are excluded. This does not include Frankie Valli solo albums, "solo" or otherwise, except as noted below.

  • 1962: Sherry & 11 Others
  • 1962: Four Seasons Greetings (reissued 1966 as The Four Seasons Christmas Album)
  • 1963: Big Girls Don't Cry and 12 Others
  • 1963: Ain't That a Shame and 11 Others
  • 1963: Golden Hits of The Four Seasons
  • 1964: Born to Wander
  • 1964: Dawn (Go Away) and 11 Other Great Songs
  • 1964: Folk Nanny (later renamed Stay & Other Great Hits)
  • 1964: Rag Doll
  • 1964: More Golden Hits of The Four Seasons
  • 1964: Girls, Girls, Girls—We Love Girls
  • 1964: The Beatles vs. The Four Seasons
  • 1965: The Four Seasons Entertain You
  • 1965: The Four Seasons Sing Big Hits by Burt Bacharach, Hal David, and Bob Dylan
  • 1965: Recorded Live on Stage
  • 1965: Gold Vault of Hits
  • 1966: Working My Way Back to You
  • 1966: Second Gold Vault of Hits
  • 1966: Lookin' Back
  • 1968: Edizione d'oro (Gold Edition) (2 LP greatest hits package)
  • 1969: Genuine Imitation Life Gazette
  • 1970: Brotherhood of Man
  • 1970: Half and Half (half as Four Seasons, half as Frankie Valli "solo")
  • 1972: Chameleon
  • 1973: Inside You (cancelled)
  • 1974: The Greatest Hits of the Fabulous Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons (4 LP boxed set)
  • 1975: Who Loves You
  • 1975: The Four Seasons Story (2 LP compilation)
  • 1976: Helicon
  • 1980: Superstar Series Vol. 4
  • 1981: Reunited—Live with Frankie Valli (2 LP set)
  • 1982: The Complete Musical Treasury (4 LP boxed set)
  • 1984: Certified Gold (Volumes I, II, and III)
  • 1985: Streetfighter
  • 1985: Silver Anniversary Collection (AKA 25th Anniversary Collection—3 LP set)
  • 1987: Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons, 25th Anniversary Collection—4 LP box w booklet; Rhino Records RNRP 72998-1
  • 1988: Anthology
  • 1988: Hits
  • 1990: Rarities (Volumes I and II)
  • 1992: Hope and Glory
  • 1993: The Four Seasons Dance Album
  • 1993: Dance Album
  • 1994: Sing for You
  • 1995: Oh What a Night
  • 1996: Four Seasons with Frankie Valli
  • 1999: Rock and Roll Collection (3 CD set)
  • 2001: In Season: The Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons Anthology (2 CD set)
  • 2001: Off Seasons: Criminally Ignored Sides from Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons
  • 2002: The Very Best of Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons
  • 2007: Jersey Beat: The Music Of Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons (3 CD + 1 DVD box set)

Selected U.S. singles

U.S. peak chart position on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart follows the name. Frankie Valli "solo" singles are also omitted, but can be found here. Only singles that reached a position of #30 or higher on the Hot 100 are listed here.

  • 1962: "Sherry," peaked at #1 on Billboard Hot 100
  • 1962: "Big Girls Don't Cry," #1
  • 1963: "Walk Like a Man, #1
  • 1963: "Ain't That a Shame," #22
  • 1963: "Candy Girl"/"Marlena," #3 (Marlena #36)
  • 1964: "Dawn (Go Away)," #3
  • 1964: "Stay," #16
  • 1964: "Ronnie," #6
  • 1964: "Alone," #28
  • 1964: "Rag Doll," #1
  • 1964: "Save It For Me," #10
  • 1964: "Big Man in Town," #20
  • 1965: "Bye, Bye, Baby (Baby, Goodbye)," #12 ("Bye Bye Baby" on initial release)
  • 1965: "Girl Come Running," #30
  • 1965: "Let's Hang On," #3
  • 1965: "Don't Think Twice," #20
  • 1966: "Working My Way Back to You," #9
  • 1966: "Opus 17 (Don't You Worry 'Bout Me)," #13
  • 1966: "I've Got You Under My Skin," #9
  • 1966: "Tell It to the Rain," #10
  • 1967: "Beggin'," #16
  • 1967: "C'mon Marianne," #9
  • 1967: "Watch the Flowers Grow," #30
  • 1968: "Will You Love Me Tomorrow," #24
  • 1975: "Who Loves You," #3
  • 1975: "December, 1963 (Oh, What a Night)," #1
  • 1994: "December, 1963 (Oh, What a Night)," #14 (remixed dance version)

Notes

References
ISBN links support NWE through referral fees

  • Coté, David, and Bob Gaudio. Jersey Boys: The Story of Frankie Valli & the Four Seasons. New York: Broadway Books, 2007. ISBN 9780767927581.
  • Friedlander, Paul, and Peter Miller. Rock & Roll: A Social History. Boulder, Colo: Westview Press, 2006. ISBN 9780813343068.
  • Warner, Jay. American Singing Groups: A History from 1940 to Today. Milwaukee, Wisc.: Hal Leonard Books, 2006. ISBN 0-634-09978-7.

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