Formed in New Jersey, USA. 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 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 later in 1965 by Joe Long on bass guitar and bass vocals).
While singers, producers, and musicians have come and gone, Gaudio and Valli remain the group's constant.
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.
In 1962, the group released their first album featuring the single "Sherry", which was not only their first charted hit but also their first number one song. Under the guidance of producer/songwriter Bob Crewe, The Four Seasons followed up "Sherry" with several million-selling hits, including "Big Girls Don't Cry" (their second #1 hit), "Walk Like a Man" (their third #1), "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".
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 singles charts with three consecutive entries (ignoring their version of "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town").
At the end of 1963 The Four Seasons left Vee Jay Records and moved over to Philips 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.
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 #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).
In mid-July of that year, the Four Seasons made their fourth trip to the top of the singles charts with "Rag Doll"; additional massive-selling singles from 1964 on their new label 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 their vault, including "Stay" and "Alone."
More Top 20 singles credited to the Four Seasons followed in 1965, 1966, and 1967, including "Let's Hang On!", "Don't Think Twice", "Working My Way Back to You", "Opus 17 (Don't You Worry 'Bout Me)", "I've Got You Under My Skin", "Beggin'", "Tell It to the Rain" and "C'mon Marianne" . 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).
By 1969 the group's popularity was deteriorating as public interest moved away from street corner 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.
Various incarnations of the group have toured and recorded up till this day.
source: wikipedia and record booklets
Band Members:
Frankie Valli: Born 1934, vocals. Lead singer, original member and frontman. t"
Bob Gaudio: Born 1942, keyboards, singer and songwriter. Founder member and writer or co-writer of most of their biggest hits
Bob Crewe: Born 1931, producer and songwriter . Co-writer of many of their biggest hits
Tommy DeVito: Lead guitar and vocals. Original member
Nick Massi: Bass and vocals. Original member.
Discography 1962-69:
1. Sherry & 11 Others - VeeJay 1962 Tracks:
1. Big Girls Don't Cry / 2. Yessir That's My Baby / 3. Peanuts / 4. La Dee Dah / 5. Teardrops / 6. Apple of My Eye / 7. Never On Sunday / 8. I Can't Give You Anything But Love / 9. The Girl in My Dreams / 10. Oh Carol / 11. Lost Lullabye / 12. Sherry
Rating : 6
2. Four Season's Greetings - VeeJay 1962
Tracks:
1. Merry Christmas Medley / 2. What Child is This / 3. The Carol of the Bells / 4. Excelsis Deo Medley / 5. First Christmas Night Medley / 6. Joy to the World Medley / 7. Santa Claus is Coming to Town / 8. Christmas Tears / 9. I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus / 10. The Christmas Song / 11. Jingle Bells / 12. White Christmas
Rating : 3
3. Folk Nanny - VeeJay 1963 Tracks:
1. Connie-O / 2. Last Lullaby / 3. Hi Lillie Hi Lo / 4. Goodnight My Love / 5. Soon / 6. Stay / 7. Silver Wings / 8. Star Maker / 9. Teardrops / 10. Long Lonely Nights / 11. Melancholy / 12. One Song
Rating : 5
4. Big Girls Don't Cry and Twelve Others - VeeJay 1963 Tracks:
1. Walk Like A Man / 2. Silhouettes / 3. Why Do Fools Fall In Love / 4. Tonite, Tonite / 5. Lucky Ladybug / 6. Alone / 7. One Song / 8. Sincerely / 9. Since I Don't Have You / 10. My Sugar / 11. Hi-Lili, Hi-Lo / 12. Big Girls Don't Cry / 13. Goodnight My Love
Rating : 6
5. Ain't That a Shame and 11 Others - VeeJay 1963 Tracks:
1. Candy Girl / 2. Happy Happy Birthday Baby / 3. Honey Love / 4. Soon (I'll Be Home Again) / 5. Stay / 6. Dumb Drum / 7. Marlena / 8. Long Lonely Nights / 9. New Mexican Rose / 10. That's The Only Way / 11. Melancholy / 12. Ain't That A Shame
Rating : 4
6. Born to Wander - Philips 1964 Tracks:
1. Born to Wander / 2. Don't Cry, Elena / 3. Where Have All the Flowers Gone / 4. Cry Myself to Sleep / 5. Ballad for Our Time / 6. Silence Is Golden / 7. New Town / 8. Golden Ribbon / 9. Little Pony / 10. No Surfin' Today / 11. Searching Wind / 12. Millie
Rating : 5
7. Dawn (Go Away) and 11 Other Great Songs - Philips 1964 Tracks:
1. Big Man's World / 2. You Send Me / 3. Mountain High / 4. Life Is But A Dream / 5. The Church Bells May Ring / 6. Dawn (Go Away) / 7. Only Yesterday / 8. 16 Candles / 9. Breaking Up Is Hard To Do / 10. Earth Angel / 11. Don't Let Go / 12. Do You Want To Dance
Rating : 5
8. Rag Doll - Philips 1964 Tracks:
1. Save It For Me / 2. The Touch Of You / 3. Danger / 4. Marcie / 5. No One Cares / 6. Rag Doll / 7. An Angel Cried / 8. Funny Face / 9. Huggin' My Pillow / 10. The Setting Sun / 11. Ronnie / 12. I've Got You Under My Skin
Rating : 6
9. Entertain You - Philips 1965 Tracks:
1. Show Girl / 2. Where Is Love? / 3. One Clown Cried / 4. My Prayer / 5. Little Darlin' / 6. Bye Bye Baby (Baby Goodbye) / 7. Betrayed / 8. Somewhere / 9. Living Just for You / 10. Little Angel / 11. Big Man in Town / 12. Toy Soldier
Rating : 5
10. Sing Big Hits by Burt Bacharach...Hal David...Bob Dylan - Philips 1965 Tracks:
1. What the World Needs Now is Love / 2. Anyone Who Has a Heart / 3. Always Something there to Remind Me / 4. Make it Easy on Yourself / 5. Walk on By / 6. What New Pussycat / 7. Queen Jane Approximately / 8. Mr Tambourine Man / 9. All I Really Want to Do / 10. Blowing in the Wind / 11. Like a Rolling Stone / Don't Think Twice
Rating :
11. Working My Way Back to You - Philips 1966 Tracks:
1. Working My Way Back to You / 2. Pity / 3. I Woke Up / 4. Living Just for You / 5. Beggars Parade / 6. One Clown Cried / 7. Can't Get Enough of You Baby / 8. Sundown / 9. Too Many Memories / 10. Show Girl / 11. Comin' Up in the World / 12. Everybody Knows My Name
Rating : 4
12. New Gold Hits - Philips 1967 Tracks:
1. C'mon Marianne / 2. Let's Ride Again / 3. Beggin' / 4. Around And Aroud / 5. Good Bye Girl / 6. I'm Gonna change / 7. Tell It To The Rain / 8. Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow / 9. The Puppet Song / 10. Bye Bye Baby
Rating : 4
13. The Genuine Imitation Life Gazette - Philips 1969 Tracks:
1. American Crucifixion Resurrection / 2. Mrs. Stately's Garden / 3. Look Up Look Over / 4. Something's on Her Mind / 5. Saturday's Father / 6. Wall Street Village Day 7 . Genuine Imitation Life / 8. Idaho / 9. Wonder What You'll Be / 10. Soul of a Woman
Rating :
14. Brotherhood - Philips 1970 Tracks:
1. Blues in the Night/Just in Time / 2. Hi Lili Hi Lo / 3. Individual Introductions / 4. Mack the Knife / 5. A Sunday King of Love / 6. By Myself/Ja Da/We Three/Day In Day Out / 7. Brotherhood of man
Rating :
15. Half & Half - Philips 1970 Tracks:
1. Emily / 2. And That Reminds Me / 3. Circles in the Sand / 4. Sorry / 5. The Girl I'll Never Know (Angels Never Fly This Low) / 6. She Gives Me Light / 7. To Make My Father Proud / 8. Patch of Blue / 9. The Morning After Loving You / 10. Any Day Now / Oh Happy Day (Medley)
Rating :
16. Chameleon - Moe West 1972 Tracks:
1. A New Beginning / 2. Sun Country / 3. You're a Song / 4. The Night / 5. A New Beginning / 6. When the Morning Comes / 7. Poor Fool / 8. Touch the Rainchild / 9. Love Isn't Here (Like It Used to Be)
Rating :
17. Who Loves You - Warner 1975 Tracks:
1. Silver Star / 2. Storybook Lovers / 3. Harmony, Perfect Harmony / 4. Who Loves You / 5. Mystic Mr. Sam / 6. December, 1963 (Oh, What a Night) / 7. Slip Away / 8. Emily's (Salle de Danse)
Rating :
18. Helicon - Warner 1977 Tracks:
1. If We Should Lose Our Love / 2. Let's Get It Right / 3. Long Ago / 4. Rhapsody / 5. Helicon / 6. Down the Hall / 7. Put a Little Away / 8. New York Street Song (No Easy Way) / 9. I Believe in You
Rating :
19. Streetfighter - Curb 1985 Tracks:
1. Streetfighter / 2. Veronica / 3. Moonlight Memories / 4. Book of Love / 5. Did Someone Break Into Your Heart Last Night / 6. Commitment / 7. Once Inside a Woman's Heart / 8. What About Tomorrow
Rating :
20. Hope and Glory - Curb 1992 Tracks:
1. Love Has A Mind Of Its Own /2. Learn How To Say Goodbye / 3. Hope And Glory / 4. This Time / 5. You And Your Heart So Blue / 6. Run For Your Life / 7. Help Me To Believe In You / 8. State Of My Heart / 9. The Girl Of My Dreams / 10. Even Now / 11. Just The Way You Make Love / 12. The Naked I
Rating :
21. Dance Album - Curb 1993 Tracks:
1. Naked I / 2. Learn How to Say Goodbye / 3. Love Has a Mind of It's Own / 4. Help Me to Believe in You / 5. Book of Love / 6. You and Your Heart So Blue / 7. State of My Heart / 8. December, 1963 (Oh, What a Night) / 9. Who Loves You
Rating :
Essential Albums!
Original albums as listed and rated on “Rate Your Music” - July 17 - 2008
188 Sherry & 11 Others - 1962
272 Four Season's Greetings - 1962
991 Folk Nanny - 1963
215 Big Girls Don't Cry and Twelve Others - 1963
485 Ain't That a Shame and 11 Others - 1963
691 Born to Wander - 1964
419 Dawn (Go Away) and 11 Other Great Songs - 1964
203 Rag Doll - 1964
593 Sing Big Hits by Burt Bacharch...Hal David...Bob Dylan - 1965
623 Entertain You - 1965
960 Working My Way Back to You - 1966
708 New Gold Hits - 1967
304 The Genuine Imitation Life Gazette - 1969
Check and Rate Here!
- "rateyourmusic.com"
My Suggestion For a 80 minutes (app.) Best Of Compilation:
1. Silence is Golden ( Crewe/Gaudio ) Born to Wander
2. Walk Like a Man ( Crewe/Gaudio ) Big Girls Don't Cry
3. Connie-O ( Crewe/Gaudio ) Folk Nanny
4. Let's Hang On ( Crewe/Randell/Linzer ) Single 1965
5. Rag Doll ( Crewe/Gaudio ) Rag Doll
6. Sherry ( Crewe ) Sherry
7. Bye Bye Baby ( Crewe/Gaudio ) Entertain You
8. Big Girls Don't Cry ( Crewe/Gaudio ) Folk Nanny
9. Big Man in Town ( Crewe/Gaudio ) Entertain You
10. Peanuts ( Cook ) Sherry
11. I've Cried Before ( Crewe/Gaudio ) Single 1962
12. Why Do Fools Fall in Love ( Lymon/Merchant/Santiago ) Big Girls Don't Cry
13. Since I Don't Have You ( Beaumont/Vogel . ) ) Big Girls Don't Cry
14. Dawn ( Crewe/Linzer ) Dawn
15. Girl Come Running ( Crewe/Gaudio ) Single 1965
16. Toy Soldier ( Crewe/Gaudio ) Single 1965
17. Working My Way Back ( Randell/Linzer ) Working My Way Back
18. Tell it to the Rain ( Petrillo/Cefelli ) New Gold Hits
19. Will You Love Me Tomorrow ( Goffin/King ) New Gold Hits
LINKS:
Collins' Oldies Website
Discography