have on CD. The research focused on the best quality work of with a wide range of artists during the early part of his career from 1958 to 1965 but focused on some kind of link with the Four Seasons either in sound, writing and production support, or backing vocals. Of course without the contri- bution of those who took part this can only be a part history. So where do we start? Obviously Bob’s biggest breakthrough sense that they enjoyed their work was in 1958 with his breakthrough just wasn't there. It seemed that Joe with The Rays and Frank C. Slay Jnr. Long was playing both straight man The story goes that….”The Rays were and comic when he tried to keep the black and from . Hal Miller show alive with his comments and and Davey Jones had formed the barbs, and he came very close to group which recorded at Chess pulling it off. Records. There they met However, he couldn't do it alone, and Bob Crewe and Frank Slay Jr (in that may have put the writing 1955) who signed them to their XYZ on the wall for him. Nothing in this as Back in 2001 UK fans of Bob label in 1957 after releases on Chess meant to be critical or derogatory of and Argo. Rock’n’Roll legend has it any individual, especially , Crewe were enjoying the work of that while Crewe was riding a train who is held in highest esteem. It's girl group and Northern Soul through Pennsylvania, it stopped at a just unfortunate that a time had to enthusiasts Mick Patrick and town and the composer spied a cou- come when the Four Seasons would Malcolm Baumgart who persuaded ple silhouetted in the window of a no longer exist as they were com- Westside to release the Dynavoice house and came up with an idea for a posed in the early years, their heyday. Story in tribute to the the work Bob song. He took his idea to Frank Slay. Joe Long was in many respects, a Crewe did in establishing this label Frank, a Texan who had worked for part of the cement that held that and the wide range of sounds and the British Information Service had group together, and you can see that styles generated between 1965 and met Bob at a party and as the two got there was nothing that he wouldn't do 68. on so well together they joined up as to enhance the group. The days The UK Historical Group has followed a composing team. Bob was to do when the group was the most impor- all Four Seasons related music over this later with the young talented tant thing are gone. However, the the years and as collectors we have to create one Four Seasons were something awe- sought out sound-alike tracks from of the best song writing partnerships some and enjoyable to listen to, and Bob and the other Seasons on a vari- of the sixties. The duo (Crewe/Slay) to especially watch. For anyone who ety of recordings. wrote a ballad called ‘Silhouettes’ and grew up with the early Four Seasons, The unfortunate deletion of this great went into the studio to record it with to listen to or see any other lineup double CD and the limited prospect of the Rays. “Silhouettes” with its except the Frankie, Bob, Tommy and release of any other examples of the unashamedly sentimental content Nick/Joe can be likened to a rare recordings of ‘season’s’ related would have been wretched schmaltz renouned chef sampling another work seems to have condemned this in a pop crooners hand, but Hal cook's efforts at his own prized cre- great music to remain hard to get on Miller’s warm, rich lead and the ation. Usually his comment will be CD. This prompted us to review our groups doowahing back-up were able "good, but not perfect," or "there's collections and identify the very best to give the record a rock-a-ballad something missing." That early group of these 1960’s experiments in edge. Bob gave a dub of the disc to was truly something to behold. They search of that elusive hit. In the past Hy Lit, a popular WFIL disc jockey, were truely greater than the sum of we have had the Danish ‘bootleg’ who took it home to listen to with a the individualk parts. It's to them ‘Fantastic First Years’ CD in 1995 dozen others. Legend goes the DJ fell that one has to say "Thanks for the which captured some of the early asleep while the records were being memories." Joe Szulczewski recordings before the spun on his automatic record player Four Seasons were created. This fea- and “Silhouettes” got half a dozen tured some ‘Seasons” connections spins before Hy Lit woke up to shut but in our view only scratched the sur- off the machine. He was so taken with face of what Bob and the guys did the song that he took it with him to together. So under our banner of play on his show the next day. The Ultimate Compilations we have master was quickly picked up by reviewed those tracks we have on Cameo and by September 1957 with vinyl which we would most like to exposure on American Bandstand became a hit”.On XYZ102 and subse- with “Navy Blue” and “”. Bob Gaudio’s writing. quently Cameo 117 and entered the Looking through her back catalogue The flip side of the Scott O’Berle 1964 Billboard Top 100 on 14/10/57. It we found some great productions single provides another chance for eventually reached Nr 3 on both the which are typical of the songs Bob Frankie Valli to imitate himself perfect- pop and r&b charts. A great start for was producing on the Seasons via the ly on “You’re my Dream Girl”(Sears). ‘’ and ‘Rag Doll’ in Another catchy track with the 1963/64. The track “Hello Heartaches” Seasons trying hard not to sound just on LP 20th Century Fox TFS-3133 in like themselves. 1964 written and produced by Bob Larry Santos was a good friend of and arranger Sid Bass illustrates the Bob Crewe and the Seasons and in warm sound brilliantly. an attempt to ‘kick-start’ his career he Bob Gaudio commented in an inter- recorded as Larry and The Legends view in 1972 that no-one ever cov- and in 2/64 released “ Don’t You Pick ered the Four Seasons big hits on My Baby”(Atlantic 2220). This because they could’t handle the vocal innovative arrangement by Charles range. Well we found a version of Calello with sound effects was anoth- “Big Girls Don’t Cry” from an er driving/marching beat from Bob EP(Cameo Parkway 217001) by the Crewe with the Four Seasons provid- Orlons in 1962 were they do a cred- ing strong backing vocals which track one as the Four Seasons itable version. somewhat outshine Mr Santos. recorded the track immaculately for Many people don’t know that Bob pro- Written also by this trio it remains the ‘Big Girls Don’t Cry’ album featur- duced some of the best known soul another essential Seasons collec- ing their own superb harmonies and artists of the sixties including Ben E. table. Valli’s soaring falsetto. King, and Chuck Johnny Cabott , was another mystery Of course ‘Sherry’ wasn’t the Four Jackson. In 1962 a version of one-off experiment with Bob Gaudio Seasons first record . That honour fell “Tomorrow” appeared on the Chuck and the rest of the Seasons. Re-work- to the doomladen and appalling Jackson “Encore” album (Wand ing the old classic by Cole Porter ‘Bermuda’ with it’s staccato chanting 1009). A track also recorded by Bob and slightly off key vocal. A track Bob on Mathew Reid( who we will return to must have persuaded the group to do. later) this recording captures the Well enter the alternative version he warmth of Chucks wonderful voice in produced by Linda Scott on an enjoyable Crewe/Bass song. Canadian-American 134. This 1962 On “I Had A Dream” version of this early fifties C.Strother again gives an almost perfect alterna- song captures a feel which is happier tive version of many songs made for and reflects losing love in the idyllic the Four Seasons. Penned by the Bermuda environment. It was emerging talents of and released 12/61, entered the Billboard with Bob, it uses all charts 10/2/62 and reached no. 7 the harmony and arrangement tricks Bob Gaudio was experimenting also to be heard on a 1964 Seasons during this period and contributes reg- album and Diane nearly hits the ularly to this set. Writing ‘Lonely Girl falsetto ending. Clearly a strain Blue’ was one thing but surely that is Frankie would have found comfort- Frankie Valli’s voice singing the hook . able. Released in 1962 on Coral62314 this Mathew Reid remains a mystery to us has been a long standing argument but he had some success with a amongst collectors, it certainly catchy song made up of lyrics from improves the overall track along with Top Forty songs of previous years. the Seasons backing. Maybe Bob or “Faded Roses (The Top Forty Song)” Frankie can tell us? (Scepter 1238 released 7/62) is a typ- Another attempt to use Frankie Valli ical attempt by Bob Crewe using a under a pseudonym was the emer- Bob Gaudio melody in a novelty “Night and Day” (Columbia 42283 gence of Scott O’Berle on his 1964 approach to getting a hit. The result is released 1/62) was to produce an outing (ATCO 6293). Released 4/64 quite a listenable performance innovative arrangement with great the ‘A’ side “Cupid’s Poison Dart” Back to Chuck Jackson and the sec- harmony. Billed as Johny Cabott and remains Frankie’s poorest disguise on ond Crewe produced track to appear the Group it is really The Four this Capello penned track. The on “Encore”. This time a Bob Gaudio Seasons with guest vocalist! Seasons provide typical harmony penned song, “Another Day”. With Of all the girl group attempts by Bob backing. An essential Seasons collec- Frankie Valli’s falsetto soaring in the Crewe the Rag-Dolls were perhaps table! background and the Seasons harmo- the most commercial. Unlike the Toys Diane Renay was probably Bob ny this builds to an intense ‘bridge’ they lacked any soul edge being pure Crewe’s favourite girl singer during and then fades out into a nothing end- pop and the reply to “Rag Doll” the early sixties. He was able to gen- ing. A very strangely structured track although too obvious produced a erate some reasonable hits for her that has a moody feel not untypical of good quality single in 1964 on “Society Girl” due to the excellent writ- included as the peak of Bob alterna- ing of Crewe, Randell and Linzer . All tive Seasons sound worked on a girl Bob’s production techniques and group, the tremendous Seasons imitation harmonies by the marching/stepping arrangement mir- girls (rumoured to also be the ‘Beach roring the lyrics of “Dawn”. The obvi- Girls’ on “Skiing In the Snow” ). ous reply to one of the Seasons most Another essential collectable. famous lines ’Dawn, go away from Van Trevor was another male vocalist me’ has the Rag Dolls singing ‘Dusty, who had a release on Atlantic2175 take me away from here” , This is (12/62) produced by Bob. “Tuesday another Crewe/Linzer/Randell ultimate Girl” (Boulanger) rocks along with a Seasons sound-a-like on Mala 493 great rhythm track to a catchy tune (issued 1/65, it entered Billboard giving us a typical Bob Crewe produc- Bob Crewe designed the Toys charts 23/1/65 with a highest position tion. Classic album cover of No. 55). Tracey Dey like Diane Renay was a pure Four Seasons song “Jane” for Tracey Dey again and another Bob gifted vocalist trying hard to get that Mathew Reid. Opening with an intro Crewe reply record, “Jerry I’m your breakthrough single and some songs reminiscent of their version of “A Sherry” (Vee Jay 467 released 10/62). and performances deserve more Sunday Kind of Love” the arrange- This the reply to ‘Sherry’ blatently credit than being lost on dusty old sin- ment and the backing captures all of copies the song with alterative lyrics. gles .The first of our selected songs the mid sixties harmonies we loved by A long established collectable with produced by Bob on her is probably the group. This is an essential exam- Seasons fans this track has recently inspired by the 1960’s epic film. ple of their work. appeared on CD for the first time. “Teenage Cleopatra”(Beverly) is an On the ‘Fantastic First Years’ you will Great arrangement though. unlikely song but works quite well in find Hal Millers version of “An Angel Few soul legends like Jerry Butler the girl group style of the time. Cried” with it’s dramatic building could fail to produce a great perfor- The Orlons limited work with Bob pro- arrangement. Never one to waste a mance on a song as good as duced a creditable single based on good arrangement Bob resurrected “Whatever You Want” (Vee Jay 486). the “Knock, Knock (Who’s There)” this Bob Gaudio melody with new A Crewe/ Gaudio composition this joke.(Cameo 332 ). Released 7/64, it words to produce a completely differ- song should have been a major hit. entered the Billboard charts 29/8/64 ent song “King Of The Released 1/63, it entered the and achieved a highest position of Mountain”(Wand LP 655). Chuck Billboard charts 30/3/63 and only No. 64. Male lead and female backing Jackson handles the vocal superbly to achieved no. 68 - but remains a soul bounce this vocal back and forth on deliver a soulful lead and an intense classic. The performance speaks for the 1964 track written by Bob and vocal climax to match the arrange- itself. Larry Santos. ment. Superb. “Who’s That” (Liberty 5560L)is a good Another Diane Renay track that Bob Gaudio described example of the high capability of Bob Crewe’s ability to Tracey Dey when the material is generate enthusiasm good. The arrangement of a and a positive attitude Crewe/Gaudio song is a typical drum in the studio as a major laden mid-tempo performance with contribution to the suc- ‘sha-la-la’ backing to Tracey’s solid cess of his productions vocal and well worth inclusion as one but that alone is not of Bob’s best productions with her. enough if the material Released 8/63, it entered the or artist is not good Billboard charts 14/9/63 and achieved enough. “Why Start” a highest place of No. 75 (L’Heureaux)by Mathew Lenny Henry had a few tracks pro- Reid on ABC 10259 duced by Bob. “Across The Street” (released 12/61) is (ATCO 6291)has the honour of being included here only released twice. Recently issued on because of the excel- ACE’s ‘Getting’ To Me’ compilation, it lent bass vocal by Nick is a great soul track written by Massi as the Seasons Crewe/Callelo/Harris with a typical do their best to lift this arrangement by Charlie Callelo. track. On Atlantic Released 3/64, it entered the 2175(released 12/62) Billboard chart 30/5/64, and reached we found the ballad “I Want To Cry “ No. 75.We close the CD with three of sounds remarkably like a Four by Van Trevor. Another Boulanger the best. First, the writers favourite Seasons song from the “Rag Doll” penned song it doesn’t match later track by Tracey Dey, “I Wont album is the Crewe/Lanning penned. ballads by Bob like “The Sun Ain’t Tell”.(Amy 912). This soulful Crewe “Please Forget Me”. Soaring har- Gonna Shine” but perhaps Bob was Gaudio composition is a wonderfully monies feature on this melodic mid- working his future arrangements out arranged track featuring chanting paced drum laden ballad. here. backing of ‘oo-mow-mow’ . Tracey’s Bob Crewe wrote and produced the “Dusty” by The Rag Dolls had to be lead vocal is powerful and gutsy. Just Heatherton / Lesley Gore song but a great Crewe original), "Big City Boy" (written by Crewe with ), "See How They Run" (the Toys' song but with a very different arrangement) and "Teach Me Tonight" (a duet by Diane and Crewe), all mas- tered from Diane's own one-of-a-kind molybdenum acetates”. Visit Dianes site and you can hear some of these these tracks. New Release I just received a new CD titled "A essential girl group music with enough Bob Crewe enjoying a drink with friends Tribute To The Four Seasons and soul to match any Northern Soul Their Sound Vol. 1". This contains 27 track. And what an ending! Next the B sound-a-like tracks, which are listed side of the Johnny Cabott single More Crewe next page. Some of these have been (Columbia 42283) featuring “the Following on from our recent discussed by this group, but others Group’ which is of course the Four review of Bob’s career we have I've never heard of before. Some are Seasons. “On My Own Again” tagged continued to gather interesting better than others. It's unclear just as a Bob Crewe composition but comment on him from various what the Vol.1 implies. Perhaps Vol. 2 surely Bob Gaudio is a contributor. Internet sources and our own only if Vol1 sells well? Or perhaps This is pure Four Seasons harmony archives.From the All Music Guide: Vol. 2 is planned as a collection of but amazingly before their first hit “One of the most successful pop-rock sound-a-likes for another group? If ‘Sherry’!. We close this ‘some of the producers of the 1960s, Bob Crewe is you're interested, I purchased this best of’ set with the old Cliff Richard primarily known for his work with the from Rock Goldmine ad. Their order hit “Blue Turns To Grey”. This though Four Seasons, many of whose hits he line is 360-769-0456 (9-3 PST). is the alternative version by Tracey also had a hand in writing. Crewe $18.99 +shipping. They also have a Dey. The song appeared on the also got hits with Diane Renay, Mitch website at www.rockclassics.com, but Rolling Stones album ‘December’s Ryder, Freddy Cannon, and several this item is not listed there yet. I've Children (and Everybody’s)’ in 1966 others. Crewe signed the Four dealt with them many times over the so how did it appear on Amy 917 in Seasons in the early '60s, at first years, and have always had a good 1964? Maybe Tom Crewe’s visit to the using them as backup vocalists for experience. Jose Sanchez UK and relationship with Andrew other artists. Crucial to the balance of Oldham can explain this! By far the the Four Seasons' arrangements were Internet News best version of this great Oldham/ their sophisticated harmonies, in Deejays could influence songwrit- Richards song this features a terrific which both Frankie Valli's falsetto and ers to change their songs around a arrangement and another quality the backup vocalists had a lot of pres- little...just as a personal favor. vocal performance. ence. It's sometimes forgotten that Sherry -- The Four Seasons So that is Volume One. Was Bob Crewe's Four Seasons discs also 1962 Position: #1 Label: Vee-Jay Crewe’s production style simply for- adeptly incorporated imaginative "Sherry" was the first of fifteen Top 10 mula based? Did he just re-process touches of other instruments that hits for the Four Seasons and estab- this on Bob Gaudio’s quality made them stand out from the pack of lished their trade- mark sound, melodies?..and who was Mathew other pop/rock records in the early Frankie Valli's unique falsetto. The Reid and how did he come to work and mid '60s. For instance, there group was new to most of America in with Bob and the Seasons ...what did were the heavenly glissandos of 1962, but it wasn't an overnight sen- Sandy Linzer and Denny Randell add "Candy Girl," the tremoloed guitars of sation. Valli (born Francis to the production…or some may say it "Silence Is Golden," the bells on Castellucio), for example, had been was all down to Charles Callelo’s "Dawn," the space-age organs and singing for ten years and had formed great arrangements. Well our galloping rhythms of "" the nucleus of the Four Seasons research will continue and future arti- (which perhaps owe something to Joe seven years earlier, in 1955. It was cles will give you the answers we get. Meek's production of the Tornados' called the Variety Trio, then the In the meantime there are lots more "Telstar"), and the sad harmonica on Variatones, and finally, the Four of these experiments by Bob Crewe, "." “ Lovers. By 1961, the new lineup was Bob Gaudio and the Four Seasons to Whilst from Spectropop we found in place, taking its name from the be found for Volume 2. Let us have the following information: Four Seasons bowling alley in New your suggestions and questions for Regarding Diane Renay's new dou- Jersey, where they auditioned for but next time. Ken Charmer : Oct 2002 ble-CD "Diane Renay Sings Some didn't get, a job singing in the lounge. Note: This is not a commercially Things Old And Some Things New" Their first single, "Bermuda", was available CD although we wish it Mick Patrick wrote: “The best tracks released on Gone Kecords in 1961. It was! Thanks to George Ingram, on the CD are the FOUR previously flopped. The group needed a hit to Ray Nichol and Stefan Wreidt for unheard BOB CREWE productions: break through. They came up with help with this CD/article. "Live And Learn" (not the Joey "A Tribute To The Four Seasons and songs were picked for airplay. Spector had given the song its name, but he'd Their Sound Vol. 1" - Track Listing actually never heard it. "We listened 1. A Tribute To The Four Seasons - Society's Children to it," he recalls, "and everybody said, 2. Playgirl - Playground 'Oh wow, what a different sound. 3. Baby Mine - Mickey Farrell and The Dynamics Listen to this guy with the falsetto, 4. Cupid's Poison Dart - Scott Oberle he's unreal. Who is that guy?' 3. Come On - The Devons Nobody knew who he was. Everybody 6. Where Are You When I'm Lonely - The Stowaways thought they were a black group at 7. 50 Miles In Twenty Hours - The Blisters first." WMCA, whose audience was 8. Wait A Minute - Tim Tam and The Turn-Ons building rapidly, started playing the 9. Candy Baby - Adrian Baker record, and soon the station's chief 10. Share Me - The Eccentrics rival, WABC, picked it up as well. 11. Cheryl Anne - The Madisons "Sherry" quickly broke out of New 12. Last Time (I'll Cry Over You) - Rudy York and rose to #l in the nation, 13. Hey Summer - Stephen Crane Village - Feat. Bobby Valli launching the career of the Four 14. I'll Walk Alone - The Faces Seasons and making Jack Spector's 15. Your Baby Ain't Your Baby Anymore - Paul Da Vinci then-three-year-old daughter a part of 16. Don't Pick On My Baby - Larry and The Legends rock 'n' roll history. 17. Candy Andy - The Shoestring 18. Kimberly - Tim Tam and The Turn-Ons Did you know:? 19. Big Town - The Fraternity Brothers Shannon Gaudio is Bob's son. His 20. One Plus One - The Expressions daughters are Lisa Gaudio D'Amica 21. Sleep Sleep Sleep - The Demotrons and Danielle Gaudio Lalehzar. He 22. Love Sick Beggar - Tony Sara also has 2 grandchildren. Shannon 23. Rag Doll Boy - The Prophets works at Universal Records and is 24. You've Got A Bomb - The Cyclone III talking to Bob and Harry Weinger 25. Little Angel - The Skunks about the possibility of issuing the 26. Cheryl Ann - Tim Tam and The Turn-Ons Motown unreleased tracks. 27. Valerie - Playground one that was easy to write, but harder almost changed it to "Jackie" (a tie-in And Finally a question to name. with Jackie Kennedy, who was at the for Joe Long: THE STORY: height of her popularity). But in the John Riley: One afternoon in 1962, Bob Gaudio, end, Crewe rejected both of those Just a quick question about live per- who had sung with ideas, and they stuck with "Terry" a lit- formance of "Saturday's Father" - I before joining Frankie Valli's Four tle while longer. assume you must have done the song Lovers, was getting ready to go down One of Crewe's best friends in the for a while when it was a single to a Four Seasons rehearsal. Before music business was Jack Spector,a release - if so how did you handle on he left, he sat down at a piano for fif- top-rated deejay on New York's stage the section of the song that is a teen minutes. The music for an entire WMCA radio. They'd known each recording of children playing? These song came out. He didnít have a tape other for years, before either was in days the technology available would recorder in those days, so he quickly the big time, and now in New York the no doubt make that no problem, but wrote down some words and made up two would hang out sometimes, eat- how would it have worked in the late the title, "Terry", as a way of remem- ing hot dogs at Nathan's in Brooklyn. 60's? bering the new melody. He didn't One day Crewe excitedly told Spector Joe Long: intend to keep the lyrics, but when he about this new group he wanted to Actually, we never performed got to rehearsal, everybody liked record, and their great song, "Terry". "Saturday's Father" on stage. them. Only the name needed to be As Spector recalled: "I said, 'Hey, However, we did other songs that changed. dummy! Don't call it 'Terry'. Make it used tape sounds, that were executed At that point, the Four Season's pro- 'Cheri'-that's my daughter's name.' He by our sound man. For instance,when ducer was Bob Crewe,a singer- said, 'Oh, no problem.' It was that we did "", we would turned-songwriter/producer who simple. I'm sure that if you ask him have thunder at the appropriate time. worked with acts like , today, he may have forgotten The kids in "Saturday's Father" were Freddy Cannon, and Danny and the about...why it was called 'Sherry'. But Bob's and Frankie's.We were at Bob's Juniors. The group called up Crewe this was just an offhand remark that house, doing some work. The kids from rehearsal and sang Gaudio's happened in early 1962." were outside playing. Bob and I new song, "Terry", to him over the Subsequently, Crewe left the Peri grabbed a portable tape machine, and phone. Crewe was wild about the label, signed the Four Seasons to the followed the kids around while they song, but the name became an issue. Chicago-based VeeJay Records, and played. We then edited the tape down They almost changed it to "Peri", the financed the recording session of to what we needed.We did Saturday's name of the Crewe what was now "Sherry." The record Father on the Kraft Summer Theater. worked for (Peri was also the name of made its way to WMCA and was But, we sang live to pre-recorded the label-owner's daughter). And they reviewed in a deejay meeting-where tracks, so the kids were already there.