One of my recent vinyl acquisitions was a 2 record "best of" set featuring Franki Valli and the Four Seasons. The band consisted of four Jersey boy Italians guys who love to harmonize. (I can remember being confused by their name when I was younger...shouldn't it be FIVE guys if it's "Franki Valli AND the Four Seasons?' Would the more technically correct name be "Franki Valli OF the Four Seasons?" Or "The Four Seasons Feat. Franki Valli?" *End hair splitting*
Having grown up listening to oldies radio, I've heard all of their hits before including "Walk Like a Man," "Big Girls Don't Cry," and "Rag Doll" (not the Aerosmith version). To fill in some gaps in my knowledge while listening to it yesterday, I hopped on Wikipedia and learned that in 1968 they put out a psychedelic album with "relevant" lyrics, called The Genuine Imitation Life Gazette.
I can imagine how difficult it must have been for some bands to "change with the times" as a marketing gimmick instead of organically. The Four Seasons had a particular style and formula that suited them, and to put out an album like this must have seemed pretty jarring to their fans. Other, hipper record buyers may have scoffed at it upon release, seeing it as not genuine. I listened to a few tracks on Youtube and the music is pretty enjoyable, but there is no way I would have known it was the Four Seasons by listening alone. It just didn't contain those trademark harmonies the boys were known for.
I like the picture of them featured on the album too, where they're wearing matching "Austin Powers" outfits, a few of them even sporting facial hair, which was de rigueur at the time. At any rate, after disbanding in the early '70s they got back together in the disco era for a renaissance in popularity, with songs like "Who Loves You" and "December 1963 (Oh What A Night)." In the 1980s started touring the oldies circuit, where they have been ever since. I wonder if they ever think of the album they put out so long ago, that now can only be viewed by fans (and themselves) as a novelty?
Frankie Valli had mobster connections. I'm sure the rest of the band didn't care if he took lead for the band, in fear of getting whacked.
ReplyDeleteFrom what I understand, Franki Valli IS the Four Seasons. As in, he's the only original member left (kind of like Mike Love with the Beach Boys until the recent, long-awaited reunion).
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