Powszechnie lubiana amerykańska grupa wokalna. Powstała w 1956 r. w składzie:
Frankie Valli (właśc. Francis Castellucio, ur. 3.05.1937 r. w Newark w stanie New Jersey, USA), bracia
Nick i
Tommy DeVito (ur. 19.06.1936 r. w Bellville w stanie New Jersey, USA) i
Hank Majewski.
Początkowo występowała pod nazwą
The Variatones, a później jako
The Four Lovers, kiedy to odniosła niewielki sukces kompozycją
Otisa Blackwella "You're The Apple Of My Eye". Po rezygnacji wytwórni
RCA z usług kwartetu i nagraniu singla dla
Epic, w 1958 r. Valli opuścił chwilowo zespół, by pod pseudonimem
Frank Tyler zadebiutować jako solista kompozycją Boba Crewe
"I Go Ape".
W zespole sygnującym kolejne płyty rozmaitymi nazwami Nicka DeVito i Majewskiego zastąpili z czasem
Nick Massi (właśc. Nicholas Macioci ur. 19.09.1935 r. w Newark w stanie New Jersey, USA) z formacji
Hugh Garrity & The Hollywood Playboys i
Bob Gaudio (ur. 17.11.1942 r. na Bronxie, dzielnicy Nowego Jorku. USA), poprzednio członek grupy
The Royal Teens. Za namową spółki autorskiej Crewe i Gaudio zespół przyjął nazwę
The Four Seasons i pod nią nagrał singel
"Spanish Lace" dla
End Records.
Kontrakt z wytwórnią
Vee Jay zaowocował przebojem
"Sherry", który we wrześniu 1962 r. wszedł na szczyt amerykańskiej listy przebojów. Połączenie brawurowego falsetu z typowo popową wokalną harmonią uczyniło z Four Seasons ulubieńców Ameryki. Przebojami stały się też kolejne single: nagrany w dwa miesiące później
"Big Girls Don't Cry" i
"Walk Like A Man" z marca 1963 r. Sukcesy były efektem pomysłowej, często na granicy szarży, wokalizy i prostej, unikającej technicznych ulepszeń produkcji nagrań. Wszystko to nadawało kwartetowi rzadkie w tamtych czasach brzmienie.
Światowa renoma trwała w 1964 r., kiedy to The Four Seasons przyszło zmierzyć się z samymi Beatlesami. Status grupy umocnił wydany przez Vee Jay album prezentujący oba zespoły w roli zmagających się rywali. Charakterystyczne, że gdy w pierwszym kwartale 1964 r. czwórka z Liverpool okupowała cztery z pięciu pierwszych miejsc listy bestsellerów amerykańskiego tygodnika "Billboard", jedynym opierającym się jej niezmiennie na pozycji trzeciej przeciwnikiem był singel The Four Seasons
"Down (Go Away)". Latem ich subtelny temat
"Rag Doll" królował już niepodzielnie na listach w USA.
W 1965 r. odszedł Nick Massi, zastąpiony przez
Joe Longa (ur. 5.09.1941 r.), a grupa pod pseudonimem
Wonder Who nagrała jako muzyczny żart kompozycję
Boba Dylana "Don't Think Twice It's All Right". Równocześnie Valli kontynuował karierę solisty. Pod koniec lat sześćdziesiątych albumem
Genuine Imitation Life Gazette The Four Seasons próbowali stworzyć nowy, bardziej pogłębiony wizerunek. Płytę przyjęto jednak chłodno, a po jej wydaniu Gaudio zastąpił Boba Crewe w roli producenta.
W 1970 r. po odejściu Tommy'ego DeVito to on przejął wraz z Vallim przynoszące krociowe zyski prawa autorskie The Four Seasons.
Krótkotrwały romans z wytwórnią
Tamla Motown Berry Gordy'ego zaowocował longplayem
Chameleon, który mimo ciepłych recenzji sprzedawał się słabo. Za to Valli zabłysnął w Wielkiej Brytanii dzięki dyskotekowym sukcesom nowej wersji piosenki "You're Ready Now" (11. miejsce w Top 20 w 1971 r.).
Na początku lat siedemdziesiątych skład The Four Seasons był płynny, a Gaudio, zaniechawszy koncertów w 1974 r., skoncentrował się na produkcji nagrań. W 1975 r. Valli pomimo postępujących zaburzeń słuchu wrócił na szczyt list przebojów piosenką
"My Eyes Adore You". Sukcesy
"The Night", starego tematu z albumu Chameleon, i nowej kompozycji
"Who Loves You" potwierdziły nie malejącą popularność Four Seasons.
Wkrótce miał nastąpić pełny renesans na fali ogarniającego Amerykę dyskotekowego szaleństwa. Nostalgiczny temat
"December 1963 (Oh What A Night)" odniósł w 1976 r. wielki sukces po obu stronach Atlantyku. W rok później Valli definitywnie rozstał się z zespołem, ostatecznie wybierając karierę solisty. Trafił wkrótce na czoło amerykańskiej listy przebojów tytułową kompozycją
Barry'ego Gibba z filmu
"Grease".
W zespole funkcję głównego wokalisty przejął perkusista Gerry Polci. Valli raz jeszcze powrócił do Four Seasons na podwójnym, nagranym na żywo w Madison Square Garden albumie
Reunited Live. Współpraca z
The Beach Boys przy singlu
"East Meets West" z 1984 r. przyniosła w konsekwencji studyjną płytę
Streetfighter nagraną z udziałem... Valliego. Pomimo formalnego opuszczenia zespołu,Valli często pojawia się do dziś na koncertach Four Seasons.
Single |
Tytuł | Wykonawca | Data wydania | UK | US | Wytwórnia
[US/UK] | Komentarz |
You're the apple of my eye/The girl in my dreams | Four Lovers | 05.1956 | - | 62[5] | -/RCA Victor 6518 | [written by Otis Blackwell][produced by Otis Blackwell] |
Sherry/I've cried before | Four Seasons | 08.1962 | 8[16] | 1[5][14] | Vee Jay 456/Stateside SS 122 | [gold-US][written by Bob Gaudio][produced by Bob Crewe][1[1][11].R&B; Chart] |
Big girls don' t cry/Connie-O | Four Seasons | 10.1962 | 13[10] | 1[5][16] | Vee Jay 465/Stateside SS 145 | [gold-US][1[1][13].R&B; Chart][written by Bob Crewe, Bob Gaudio][produced by Bob Crewe] |
Santa Claus is coming to town/Christmas tears | Four Seasons | 12.1962 | - | 23[3] | Vee Jay 465/- | [written by John Frederick Coots and Haven Gillespie][produced by Bob Crewe][#12 hit for George Hall in 1934r] |
Walk like a man/Lucky Ladybug | Four Seasons | 01.1963 | 12[12] | 1[3][13] | Vee Jay 485/Stateside SS 169 | [written by Bob Crewe, Bob Gaudio][produced by Bob Crewe][3[12].R&B; Chart] |
Peanuts EP. [Never on sunday/I can't give you anything but love/La dee dah] | 03.1963 | - | 108[4] | Vee Jay EP 1-901/- | - |
Since i don't have you EP. [[Alone/Why do fools falls in love?/Silhouettes]] | 04.1963 | - | 123[2] | Vee Jay EP 1-902/- | - |
Ain' t that a shame/Soon [I'll be home again] | Four Seasons feat Frankie Valli | 04.1963 | 38[3] | 22[9] side B:77[7] | Vee Jay 512/Stateside SS 194 | [written by Dave Bartholomew, Fats Domino][produced by Bob Crewe] |
Candy girl/Marlena | Four Seasons | 07.1963 | - | 3[13] side B:36[8] | Vee Jay 539/- | [written by Larry Santos][side B written by Bob Gaudio][produced by Bob Crewe][13[9].R&B; Chart] |
New Mexican rose/That's the only way | Four Seasons | 10.1963 | - | 36[7] side B:88[3] | Vee Jay 562/- | [written by Bob Crewe,
Charles Calello][produced by Bob Crewe] |
Dawn [Go away]/No surfin' today | Four Seasons | 02.1964 | - | 3[13] | Philips 40166/- | [written by Bob Gaudio, Sandy Linzer][produced by Bob Crewe] |
Stay/Goodnight my love | Four Seasons | 02.1964 | - | 16[11] | Vee Jay 582/- | [written by Maurice Williams][produced by Bob Crewe] |
Ronnie/Born to wander | Four Seasons | 04.1964 | - | 6[10] | Philips 40185/- | [written by Bob Crewe, Bob Gaudio][produced by Bob Crewe] |
Alone/Long lonely nights | Four Seasons | 06.1964 | - | 28[9] side B:102[3] | Vee Jay 597/- | [written by Morty Craft-Selma Craft][produced by Bob Crewe][side B: #45 pop hit for Lee Andrews & The Hearts in 1957r] |
Rag doll/Silence is golden | Four Seasons | 06.1964 | 2[13] | 1[2][12] | Philips 40211/Philips BF 1347 | [gold][silver-UK][written by Bob Crewe/Bob Gaudio][produced by Bob Crewe] |
Save it for me/Funny face | Four Seasons | 08.1964 | - | 10[8] | Philips 40225/- | [written by Bob Crewe/Bob Gaudio][produced by Bob Crewe] |
Sincerely/One song | Four Seasons | 08.1964 | - | 75[8] | Vee Jay 608/- | [written by Harvey Fuqua and Alan Freed][produced by Bob Crewe] |
Apple of my eye/Happy happy birthday baby | Four Seasons | 10.1964 | - | 106[3] | Vee Jay 618/- | [written by Otis Blackwell] |
Big man in town/Little angel | Four Seasons | 11.1964 | - | 20[7] | Philips 40238/Philips 340 057 BF | [written by Bob Gaudio][produced by Bob Crewe] |
Bye ,bye baby [Baby goodbye]/Searching wind | Four Seasons | 01.1965 | - | 12[9] | Philips 40260/- | [written by Bob Crewe/Bob Gaudio][produced by Bob Crewe] |
Toy soldier/Betrayed | Four Seasons | 04.1965 | - | 64[5] | Philips 40278/- | [written by Bob Crewe/Bob Gaudio][produced by Bob Crewe] |
Since i don't have you/Tonight-tonight | Four Seasons | 04.1965 | - | 105[2] | Vee Jay 664/- | [written by Vogel, Beaumont, Rock, Taylor, Verscharen, Martin, Lester] |
Girl come running/Cry myself to sleep | Four Seasons | 06.1965 | - | 30[7] | Philips 40305/- | [written by Bob Crewe/Bob Gaudio][produced by Bob Crewe] |
Let' s hang on/On Broadway tonight | Four Seasons | 10.1965 | 4[16] | 3[16] | Philips 40317/Philips BF 1439 | [written by Bob Crewe/Sandy Linzer/Bob Gaudio/Denny Randell][produced by Bob Crewe] |
Don' t think twice/Sassy | As Wonder Who ? | 11.1965 | - | 12[11] | Phillips 40 324/- | [written by Bob Dylan][produced by Bob Crewe] |
Little boy [In grown up clothes]/Silver wings | Four Seasons | 12.1965 | - | 60[6] | Vee Jay 713/- | [written by Bob Crewe/Bob Gaudio][produced by Bob Crewe] |
Working my way back to you/To many memories | Four Seasons | 01.1966 | 50[3] | 9[9] | Philips 40350/Philips BF 1474 | [written by Sandy Linzer, Denny Randell][produced by Bob Crewe] |
Opus 17 [Don' t worry ' bout me]/Beggars parade | Four Seasons | 05.1966 | 20[9] | 13[8] | Philips 40370/Philips BF 1493 | [written by Sandy Linzer, Denny Randell][produced by Bob Crewe] |
On the good ship Lollipop/You' re nobody till somebody loves you | As Wonder Who ? | 07.1966 | - | 87[3] side B:96[1] | Phillips 40 380/- | [written by Richard A. Whiting, Sidney Clare][produced by Bob Crewe][piosenka z filmu "Bright eyes][#4 hit for Rudy Vallee in 1935r][side B:#14 hit for Russ Morgan in 1946r] |
I' ve got you under my skin/Huggin' my pillow | Four Seasons | 09.1966 | 12[11] | 9[10] | Philips 40393/Philips BF 1511 | [#3 hit Roy Noble-1936r][written by Cole Porter][produced by Bob Crewe] |
Tell it to the rain/Show girl | Four Seasons | 12.1966 | 37[5] | 10[10] | Philips 40412/Philips BF 1538 | [written by Mike Petrillo-Chubby Cifelli][produced by Bob Crewe] |
Beggin'/Dody | Four Seasons | 03.1967 | - | 16[9] | Philips 40433/- | [written by Bob Gaudio-Peggy Farina][produced by Bob Crewe] |
C' mon Marianne/Let's ride again | Four Seasons | 06.1967 | - | 9[10] | Philips 40460/- | [written by Russell Brown, Raymond Bloodworth][produced by Bob Crewe] |
Lonesome road/Around and around [4 Seasons] | As Wonder Who ? | 07.1967 | - | 89[4] | Phillips 40 471/- | [written by Gene Austin/Nathaniel Shilkret][produced by Bob Crewe][#3 hit for Ted Lewis in 1930r] |
Watch the flowers grow/Raven | Four Seasons | 10.1967 | - | 30[7] | Philips 40490/- | [written by Raymond Bloodworth,L.R. Brown][produced by Bob Crewe] |
Will you love me tomorrow ?/Around and around | Four Seasons | 02.1968 | - | 24[8] | Philips 40523/- | [written by Carole King, Gerry Goffin][produced by Bob Crewe] |
Saturday's father/Good-bye Girl | Four Seasons | 06.1968 | - | 103[5] | Philips 40 542/- | [written by B. Gaudio, J. Holmes][produced by Bob Crewe] |
Electric stories/Pity | Four Seasons | 12.1968 | - | 61[6] | Philips 40577/- | [written by Sandy Linzer/Mike Petrillo][produced by Bob Gaudio/Bob Crewe] |
Idaho/Something' s on her mind | The Four Seasons Feat. Frankie Valli | 03.1969 | - | 95[2] side B:98[1] | Phillips 40 597/- | [written by Jake Holmes, Bob Gaudio][produced by Bob Crewe] |
And that reminds me [My heart reminds me]/The singles game | Four Seasons | 09.1969 | - | 45[7] | Crewe 333 | [written by Al Stillman, Paul Siegel, Camillo Bargoni][produced by Bob Crewe,Bob Gaudio] |
Patch of blue/She gives me light | Frankie Valli & Four Seasons | 05.1970 | - | 94[2] | Philips 40662/- | [written by Chubby Cifelli/Mike Petrillo][produced by Bob Crewe,Bob Gaudio] |
The night | Frankie Valli & Four Seasons | 04.1975 | 7[9] | - | -/Mowest MW 3024 | [written by Bob Gaudio/Al Ruzicka][produced by Bob Gaudio] |
Who loves you | Four Seasons | 08.1975 | 6[9] | 3[20] | Warner/Curb 8122/Warner Bros K 16602 | [written by Bob Gaudio/Judy Parker][produced by Bob Crewe] |
December 1963 [Oh what a night]/Slip away | Four Seasons | 12.1975 | 1[2][10] | 1[3][27] | Warner 8168/Warner Bros K 16688 | [gold-UK][gold-US][written by Bob Gaudio/Judy Parker][produced by Bob Gaudio,Bob Crewe] |
Silver star/Mystic Mr. Star | Four Seasons | 05.1976 | 3[9] | 38[8] | Warner/Curb 8203/Warner Bros K 16742 | [written by Bob Gaudio/Judy Parker][produced by Bob Gaudio,Bob Crewe] |
We can work it out | Four Seasons | 12.1976 | 34[4] | - | -/Warner Bros K 16845 | [written by John Lennon,
Paul McCartney][produced by Lou Reizner] |
Down the hall/I believe in you | Four Seasons | 07.1977 | - | 65[6] | Warner 8407/- | [written by Bob Gaudio,
Judy Parker][produced by Bob Gaudio
] |
Rhapsody | Four Seasons | 06.1977 | 37[3] | - | -/Warner Brothers K 16982 | [written by Bob Gaudio,
Judy Parker][produced by Bob Gaudio
] |
Down the hall | Four Seasons | 08.1977 | 34[5] | - | -/Warner Brothers K 16982 | [written by Bob Gaudio,
Judy Parker][produced by Bob Gaudio
] |
Spend the night in love/Slip away | Four Seasons | 12.1980 | - | 91[5] | Warner 49597/- | [written by Lenny Lee Goldsmith][produced by Bob Gaudio, Charlie Calello] |
December 1963 [Oh what a night][reissue] | Four Seasons | 10.1988 | 49[5] | - | -/Warner BR 45277 | [written by Bob Gaudio, Judy Parker ][produced by Bob Gaudio] |
Big Girls Don't Cry[reissue] | Four Seasons | 10.1988 | 91[1] | - | MCA MCA-53440/Curb ZB 42287 | [written by Bob Gaudio, Bob Crewe][produced by Bob Crewe] |
December 1963 [Oh what a night][reissue] | Four Seasons | 08.1994 | - | 14[27] | Curb 76 917/- | |
Beggin | Frankie Valli / The Four Seasons | 07.2007 | 32[21] | - | -/679 Recordings 679L146CD/- | [written by Bob Gaudio, Peggy Farina][produced by Bob Crewe] |
Albumy
|
Tytuł | Wykonawca | Data wydania | UK | US | Wytwórnia
[US] | Komentarz |
Sherry and 11 others | Four Seasons | 10.1962 | 20[1][07.63] | 6[27] | Vee Jay 1053 | [produced by Bob Crewe] |
Big girls don' t cry and twelve others | Four Seasons | 03.1963 | - | 8[19] | Vee Jay 1056 | [produced by Bob Crewe] |
Ain' t that a shame and 11 others | Four Seasons | 07.1963 | - | 47[12] | Vee Jay 1059 | [produced by Bob Crewe] |
Golden Hits of The Four Seasons | Four Seasons | 09.1963 | - | 15[56] | Vee Jay 1065 | [produced by Bob Crewe] |
Born to wander | Four Seasons | 02.1964 | - | 84[9] | Phillips 129 | [produced by Bob Crewe] |
Dawn [Go away] and 11 other great songs | Four Seasons | 03.1964 | - | 6[25] | Phillips 124 | [produced by Bob Crewe] |
Stay and other Great Hits [compil] | Four Seasons | 06.1964 | - | 100[5] | Vee Jay 1082 | [produced by Bob Crewe][tytuł oryginalny "Folk-Nanny"] |
Rag doll | Four Seasons | 08.1964 | - | 7[26] | Phillips 146 | [produced by Bob Crewe] |
More Golden Hits by The Four Seasons[compil] | Four Seasons | 09.1964 | - | 105[5] | Vee Jay 1088 | |
The Beatles vs. Four Seasons [reissue] | Four Seasons | 10.1964 | - | 142[3] | Vee Jay 30 | |
The 4 Seasons entertain you | Four Seasons | 04.1965 | - | 77[13] | Phillips 164 | |
The 4 Season' s Gold Vault of Hits | Four Seasons | 12.1965 | - | 10[88] | Phillips 196 | [gold-US][produced by Bob Crewe] |
Big Hits by Burt Bacharach...Hal David...Bob Dylan... | Four Seasons | 12.1965 | - | 106[10] | Phillips 193 | |
Working my way back to you | Four Seasons | 01.1966 | - | 50[15] | Phillips 201 | [produced by Bob Crewe] |
2nd Vault of Golden Hits | Four Seasons | 12.1966 | - | 22[53] | Phillips 221 | [gold-US][produced by Bob Crewe] |
Lookin' back [compil] | Four Seasons | 12.1966 | - | 107[9] | Phillips 222 | |
New Gold Hits | Four Seasons | 06.1967 | - | 37[25] | Phillips 243 | [produced by Bob Crewe] |
Edizione D' oro [The 4 Seasons Gold Edition-29 Gold Hits] | Four Seasons | 12.1968 | 11[7][04.71] | 37[21] | Phillips 6501 | [gold-US][produced by Bob Crewe] |
The Genuine Imitation Life Gazette | Four Seasons | 02.1969 | - | 85[11] | Phillips 290 | [produced by Bob Crewe] |
Half & half | Four Seasons | 06.1970 | - | 190[2] | Phillips 600341 | |
Big ones | Four Seasons | 11.1971 | 37[1] | - | Phillips 6336-208 [UK] | |
Who loves you | Four Seasons | 11.1975 | 12[17] | 38[31] | Warner/Curb 2900 | [produced by Bob Gaudio] |
The Four Seasons Story | Four Seasons | 12.1975 | 20[8] | 51[17] | Private Stock 7000 | [produced by Bob Crewe] |
Greatest hits | Four Seasons | 11.1976 | 4[21] | - | K-Tel NE 942 [UK] | [produced by Bob Crewe/Bob Gaudio] |
Helicon | Four Seasons | 05.1977 | - | 168[5] | Warner/Curb 3016 | |
The collection | Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons | 05.1988 | 38[9] | - | Telstar STAR 2320 [UK] | [produced by Bob Crewe/Bob Gaudio] |
The very best of Frankie Valli and Four Seasons | Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons | 03.1992 | 7[16] | - | Polygram TV [UK] | [produced by Bob Crewe/Bob Gaudio] |
The definitive Frankie Valli and Four Seasons | Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons | 10.2001 | 26[6] | - | WSM [UK] | [produced by Bob Crewe/Bob Gaudio] |
The Very Best Of - Jersey's Best | Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons | 04.2008 | 25[42] | - | Rhino 8122799376 | [produced by Bob Crewe/Bob Gaudio] |
Working My Way Back to You | Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons | 06.2011 | 12[29] | - | Rhino 5052498377022 | [produced by Bob Crewe/Bob Gaudio] |
Jersey Beat... The Music of | Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons | 03.2013 | 53[5] | - | Rhino 8122748522 | [produced by Bob Crewe] |