(Continued from Part One)
Massi left the group in 1965, with Calello stepping in temporarily before being replaced by Joe Long. The Four Seasons were once again stopped short of the Top 10 with "Bye, Bye, Baby (Baby, Goodbye)".
They rebounded with "Let's Hang On!", a #3 smash.
In 1966, the group landed in the Top 10 again with "Working My Way Back To You".
Their song "Opus 17 (Don't You Worry 'Bout Me)" peaked at #13, one of The Top Unknown/Underrated Songs of the Rock Era*.
Later in the year, the Four Seasons returned to the Top 10 with "I've Got You Under My Skin".
They reached #10 with "Tell It To The Rain".
In 1967, the 4 Seasons released the single "C'mon Marianne", a #9 hit.
By 1969, music was trending towards harder rock, and the Four Seasons signed a recording contract with Motown, but the label refused to release their second album, and the deal was off by 1974.
Valli bought one of the songs the group recorded for Motown, "My Eyes Adored You" and took it to Larry Uttal, founder of Private Stock Records. Uttal liked it, but wanted to release it as a solo single by Valli, and the song went to #1.
Meanwhile, the Four Seasons continued to perform with different lineups. Don Ciccone, formerly with the Critters, and Gerry Polci joined Valli and Gaudio. Revived by Valli's solo success, that foursome signed a recording contract with Warner Brothers Records. The group released the compilation album The Four Seasons Story, which sold over one million copies.
Valli had two more hits during this time, "Swearin' To God" and "Our Day Will Come", featuring a then-unknown Patti Austin on backing vocals.
By 1969, music was trending towards harder rock, and the Four Seasons signed a recording contract with Motown, but the label refused to release their second album, and the deal was off by 1974.
Valli bought one of the songs the group recorded for Motown, "My Eyes Adored You" and took it to Larry Uttal, founder of Private Stock Records. Uttal liked it, but wanted to release it as a solo single by Valli, and the song went to #1.
Meanwhile, the Four Seasons continued to perform with different lineups. Don Ciccone, formerly with the Critters, and Gerry Polci joined Valli and Gaudio. Revived by Valli's solo success, that foursome signed a recording contract with Warner Brothers Records. The group released the compilation album The Four Seasons Story, which sold over one million copies.
Valli had two more hits during this time, "Swearin' To God" and "Our Day Will Come", featuring a then-unknown Patti Austin on backing vocals.
The Four Seasons scored a big comeback with their album Who Loves You in 1975. The title song rose to #3.
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Who Loves You sold over one million copies. "December, 1963 (Oh, What A Night)" featured Polci on lead vocals and went to #1. It was the last big hit the group ever had.
But the group had scored a big comeback, which boosted demand for live performances. Jerry Corbetta of Sugarloaf joined the group for a period, but Valli was the only constant member and he remains so to this day.
Jersey Boys, a huge Broadway hit based on the story of the Four Seasons, also boosted interest in the group, which released the box set Jersey Beat...The Music of Frankie Valli & the 4 Seasons in 1997.
The Four Seasons chalked up an amazing 56 hits, with 17 of those reaching the Top 10 and four #1's.
The Four Seasons were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1990 and the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 1999. They have sold over 100 million records worldwide.
But the group had scored a big comeback, which boosted demand for live performances. Jerry Corbetta of Sugarloaf joined the group for a period, but Valli was the only constant member and he remains so 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. They have sold over 100 million records worldwide.
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