The Four Seasons (group)
|
|
The Four Seasons are an American pop and doo wop group, distinct from many similar groups of the 1950s and 60s in their traditional Italian-American sound.
| Contents |
Overview
Lead singer Frankie Valli began recording in 1953, but the group (Valli, Bob Gaudio on keyboards, Tommy DeVito on lead guitar, and Nick Massi on bass), which formed in 1960, didn't release their first hit until 1962, with "Sherry", produced by Bob Crewe. Massi left the band in 1965 and was briefly replaced by arranger Charles Calello before Joe Long became a mainstay on bass for the next 10 years. After many more personnel changes, the band still tours today, but Valli is the only original member left.
The Four Seasons followed up "Sherry" with several well-remembered hits, including "Big Girls Don't Cry", "Walk Like a Man" and "Candy Girl". In the mid 1960s, the British Invasion slowed down their career somewhat, but the Four Seasons released several more big hits in 1964, such as "Dawn", "Rag Doll", "Big Man in Town", "Ronnie" and "Save It for Me". By the end of the decade, however, the group's popularity was deteriorating, as public interest moved towards rock with a harder edge and more socially conscious lyrics. The band would, however, enjoy a brief revival in their popularity in the mid 1970s, with the hits "Who Loves You", "Swearin' to God", and "December, 1963 (Oh What a Night)". The latter of the 3 songs was re-introduced in 1994 with the original vocals but an edgier dance background beat and reached #14 on the pop charts.
The band name is also the name of a legal partnership, The 4 Seasons Partnership, that Valli and Gaudio entered into at the start of their careers, agreeing to split all the proceeds from their musical efforts 50-50. The partnership continues to this day.
The Four Seasons were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1990, and the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 1999. "Jersey Boys," a musical play based on the lives of The Four Seasons, is running at the La Jolla (California) Playhouse through January 2, 2005 and is headed for Broadway.
Discography
- 1962 Sherry & 11 Others
- 1962 Four Seasons' Greetings
- 1963 Big Girls Don't Cry and Twelve Others
- 1963 Ain't That a Shame and 11 Others
- 1963 Folk Nanny
- 1964 Born to Wander
- 1964 Dawn (Go Away) and 11 Other Great Songs
- 1964 Rag Doll
- 1964 The Beatles Vs. The Four Seasons
- 1964 Girls, Girls, Girls - We Love Girls
- 1965 The 4 Seasons Entertain You
- 1966 Live on Stage
- 1966 Working My Way Back to You
- 1966 Lookin' Back
- 1966 The 4 Seasons' Christmas Album
- 1968 Edizione D'oro
- 1969 The Genuine Imitation Life Gazette
- 1969 Peanuts
- 1970 Half and Half
- 1972 Chameleon
- 1975 Fallen Angel
- 1976 Helicon
- 1981 Reunited - Live with Frankie Valli
- 1985 Streetfighter
- 1990 Live, Vol. 1
- 1990 Live, Vol. 2
- 1992 Hope & Glory
- 1993 The Four Seasons Dance Album
- 1993 Dance Album
- 1994 Sherry/Big Girls Don't Cry
- 1994 Sing for You
- 1995 Oh What a Night
- 1995 Who Loves You
- 1996 Four Seasons with Frankie Valli
Some Four Seasons hits
- Sherry
- Big Girls Don't Cry
- Walk Like A Man
- Candy Girl
- Marlena
- Dawn (Go Away)
- Stay (originally by Maurice Williams & the Zodiacs)
- Ronnie
- Alone (originally by the Shepherd Sisters)
- Rag Doll
- Save It For Me
- Big Man In Town
- Bye Bye Baby (Baby Goodbye)
- Girl Come Running
- Let's Hang On
- Don't Think Twice (It's Allright) (The Wonder Who?)
- Working My Way Back To You
- Opus 17 (Don't You Worry 'Bout Me)
- I've Got You Under My Skin
- Tell It To The Rain
- Beggin'
- Can't Take My Eyes Off You (Frankie Valli)
- C'mon Marianne
- Will You Love Me Tomorrow (originally by The Shirelles)
- My Eyes Adored You (Frankie Valli)
- Swearin' To God (Frankie Valli)
- Who Loves You
- December 1963 (Oh What a Night)
External links
- Rock and Roll Hall of Fame page on The Four Seasons (http://www.rockhall.com/hof/inductee.asp?id=104)
- Vocal Group Hall of Fame page on The Four Seasons (http://www.vghf.com/Inductees/four_seasons.htm)
- The Four Seasons.com (http://www.the-four-seasons.com) fan site
Other meanings
For other meanings of "The Four Seasons", see The Four Seasons (disambiguation page).pl:The Four Seasons sv:The Four Seasons