Anthology

by

The Four Seasons

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From 1962 to 1967 the Four Seasons had eighteen Top Twenty hits (including their cover of Dylan's "Don't Think Twice" recorded as The Wonder Who). And they're all here along with their two mid-Seventies smashes "Who Loves You" and the million-selling "December, 1963 (Oh, What a Night)." Nearly every hit was written or co-written by group member Bob Gaudio, and all featured the most recognizable falsetto voice in pop music belonging to Franki Valli.

What makes their string of hits all the more amazing is that more than half of them came in the wake of the British Invasion. In fact, "Rag Doll"--only one of two million-sellers in their career--was the only chart-topper by a male vocal group in 1964. [According to the liner notes, the song was inspired by a girl who cleaned the windows of Gaudio's car as he was stopped at a light.] And to illustrate the Four Seasons' influence on the music scene, it was that single's B-side ("Silence Is Golden") that was covered note-for-note by the Tremeloes that gave that British band the biggest hit of their career.

With Bob Crewe's Phil Spector-inspired production and Charles Callelo's arrangements, the Four Seasons hits included "Sherry," "Big Girls Don't Cry," "Walk Like a Man" and "Rag Doll"--all No. 1's.

If you have the disposable income, you might want to spring for the 3-CD 25th Anniversary Collection, which features their lesser hits and most of Valli's solo singles. However, this single-disc collection has all the essentials and is the one release that all except the die-hard fans will really need. ESSENTIAL