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30-448: The Four Seasons evolved from The Four Lovers , which recorded under a variety of names between 1956 and 1960. Lead singer Valli had recorded under several pseudonyms as well, including Frankie Tyler and Frankie Valley. Songwriter/guitarist/keyboardist Bob Gaudio did the same (as Turner Disentri, i.e., "Turn of the Century") and bassist/arranger Nick Massi (as Alex Alda) after they joined

60-650: A 1957 hit by Little Joe and the Thrillers), as by The Wonder Who (without the question mark). As was the case with previous Four Seasons releases of the song, the Wonder Who single didn't sell and didn't chart. Two more Wonder Who? singles were released by Philips. Three of the four sides made it onto the lower reaches of the Hot 100. "Don't Think Twice" and the other charting Wonder Who? recordings were included on Four Seasons albums, which, in their original releases, made no mention of

90-540: A change: the Four Lovers were no more, and The Four Seasons Partnership was founded. By the end of 1962, the quartet of Valli, Gaudio, Massi, and Tommy DeVito would have two singles reach the top spot on the Hot 100. RCA Victor LPM 1317 , released September 1956 (reissued in 1978 as RCA LP 7131). It is a collection of cover versions with a few originals tossed in. A variety of musical styles are represented here, rhythm and blues ("This Is My Story" and "Lawdy Miss Clawdy",

120-434: A dent on the Hot 100, reaching the #87 position. " You're Nobody till Somebody Loves You " was another chestnut, having been a hit for Russ Morgan in 1946 and recorded by numerous artists since then. It was composed by Morgan, Larry Stock , and Harry Cavanaugh . When the version credited to The Wonder Who? appeared on the Hot 100 at the #96 position, it marked the only time that two positions were simultaneously occupied by

150-564: A female singer's audition for two New York record men. One of the two record men, Peter Paul, was suitably impressed enough to become their manager. A week later, they were themselves auditioning for RCA. RCA signed them up that day and the group selected a new name, The Four Lovers. The group which ended up recording as The Four Lovers was Frankie Valli (lead vocal, drums), Thomas DeVito (vocal, guitar), Philip Mongiovi (Drums), Henry Majewski (vocal, guitar) and Nicolas DeVito (vocal, bass). The quartet released seven singles and one album under

180-516: A few alternate takes thrown in. In addition to the complete contents of the Joyride album and a few songs that were recorded in the Joyride sessions, the CD contains all songs that The Four Lovers released as singles on RCA Victor. Thus it contains the entire Four Lovers output except the two sides on their 1957 Epic single ("My Life for Your Love" and "Pucker Up"). Swearin%27 to God " Swearin' to God "

210-635: A gig in Baltimore, the group met Bob Gaudio , keyboardist and songwriter for The Royal Teens ; when Garrity returned to the Hollywood Playboys, Gaudio agreed to join the band, while Massey (who eventually changed the spelling of his name to "Massi," matching Valli's) abandoned his solo career after one single to rejoin the band permanently in 1960. In addition, their contract with Crewe allowed them to record individually or collectively for Crewe's Peri Records, as they did under multiple "stage names" . By

240-548: A short time ending when Tommy DeVito fired his brother Nick and Majewski because, as he recalled in 2008, they refused to travel to a gig, booked by Tommy, at which they were to have opened for Tony Bennett . Majewski attributed his departure to creative differences between him and the rest of the group. Two members of the Hollywood Playboys, keyboardist Hugh Garrity and guitarist/arranger Nickie Massey , temporarily filled in, although for part of 1959 Massey left to front his own group and Charles Calello took over his position. At

270-502: A single — two years earlier, Peter, Paul, and Mary had reached the #9 position on the Hot 100 with their version of the song — but the recording by Valli and the band could not be released as either a Valli solo single or a Four Seasons single. Sold in a picture sleeve with a connect the dots puzzle, the record with the truncated name ("Don't Think Twice") was released as by "The Wonder Who?" in November 1965. It reached No. 12 on

300-451: Is a song written by Bob Crewe and Denny Randell . It was recorded by Frankie Valli and released in May 1975 as a single from his album Closeup . It is a love song whose lyrical hook is a more literal use of the expression "I swear to God" (i.e., "I mean this sincerely"): The first Valli song to incorporate the disco style (it runs four minutes as a single but just over ten minutes on

330-453: The Billboard Hot 100 chart, with both names appearing simultaneously in the chart in several issues of the magazine. On the heels of recording a live album of Broadway tunes (to complete the settlement of the group's lawsuit with Vee-Jay), Valli, Crewe, and Gaudio had planned on recording an album consisting entirely of songs written by Bob Dylan , but as recording progressed, the concept

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360-469: The A-side failed to sell or chart, including the one credited to The Wonder Who (without the question mark). "My Sugar" is a Gaudio-Crewe composition that made its first appearance on the 1963 Four Seasons album Big Girls Don't Cry and Twelve Others . This marks the first release of this recording on a Four Seasons (or Wonder Who) single. Four Lovers The Four Lovers was a band formed in 1956 which

390-569: The Four Lovers in 1959. Aside from the first Four Lovers single, " You're the Apple of My Eye " in 1956, the group's (and Valli's) records failed to chart. In 1958, The Four Lovers obtained a three-year artist contract with producer Bob Crewe , which gave the group a steady stream of session work (Valli can be heard singing in the background of " Rock and Roll Is Here to Stay " by Danny and the Juniors ) in addition to recording for Crewe's Peri Records. Since

420-467: The Four Lovers name, with only their debut single, Otis Blackwell 's " You're the Apple of My Eye " achieving significant national sales to appear on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart. The single got them their first national television appearance, on The Ed Sullivan Show in 1956. RCA gave up on the Four Lovers when the group's fifth straight single failed to chart in 1957 and finally dropped

450-590: The Four Seasons left the label for Philips . While Vee-Jay started recycling Four Seasons product in 1964, Phillips started releasing new Four Seasons records with increasing frequency as the British invasion began. With the blessing of Philips officials, Valli rekindled his solo career in the latter part of 1965, releasing records that were credited to him and having the group as backing musicians. In 1966 and 1967, Four Seasons records and Frankie Valli singles were listed on

480-456: The Hot 100, and as it was sliding down the chart in January 1966, a Frankie Valli solo single ("(You're Gonna) Hurt Yourself") and a Four Seasons single (" Working My Way Back to You ") were also in the upper half of the chart, giving three simultaneous hit records by the group under different guises. In the wake of "Don't Think Twice", Vee-Jay reissued a Four Seasons recording, "Peanuts" (originally

510-466: The Hot 100. "Around and Around" was a Four Seasons original composed by Gaudio and Crewe. While it appeared on this single as a song by The Wonder Who?, the same take later appeared on the B-side of the 1968 Four Seasons single " Will You Love Me Tomorrow " and was credited to the group. Vee-Jay 717 , released March 1966. Composed by "Little Joe" Cook , "Peanuts" was originally a #22 hit for Little Joe and

540-504: The Thrillers in 1957 (their only chart recording). In January 1963, Vee-Jay Records released a Four Seasons single with "Peanuts" as the A-side and " Stay " as the B-side. After various disk jockeys started playing "Stay" on the radio, Vee-Jay superseded the release, issuing new singles with "Stay" on the A-side and "Goodnight My Love" as the B-side. Several subsequent reissues with "Peanuts" as

570-495: The album), "Swearin' to God" features Patti Austin singing a response to Valli's praise in the bridge . "Swearin' to God" hit number 6 on the U.S. Billboard charts and also charted #31 in the UK. Cash Box said of the edited single version that "Frankie's distinct vocal delivery meets a big, brassy arrangement and the result is a song that will surely skyrocket to the top." This 1970s single –related article

600-658: The beginning of The Four Lovers, the group performed in clubs and lounges in New Jersey and offered songs in a variety of styles, from country and western to pop to doo wop to rockabilly to Broadway tunes, with a sprinkling of Italian love songs thrown in. In 1960, The Four Lovers became The 4 Seasons, named after a bowling alley in Union Township, New Jersey . The session work (and recording under various names) continued, but now with Valli, Gaudio, and Crewe trying to sell both Gaudio compositions and Four Seasons recordings,

630-411: The end of the contract, the Four Lovers had become a complete outfit with an "in-house" composer (Gaudio) and an associated producer (Crewe) and arranger (Massi). They were no longer dependent on outside songwriters to provide them with hits. In mid-1960, as the contract was expiring, a failed audition at a New Jersey bowling establishment led to a handshake agreement between Valli and Gaudio that signified

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660-562: The fictitious group, and the only Wonder Who? single that had both sides chart. Philips 40471 , released July 1967. Composed by Gene Austin and Nathaniel Shilkret , " Lonesome Road " was first recorded by Austin, accompanied by Shilkret directing the Victor Orchestra, in 1927 and has since been recorded by over two hundred famous artists. It was used in five motion pictures, including the motion picture Show Boat . The version by The Wonder Who? reached No. 89 in its brief appearance on

690-442: The group finally achieved national distribution under its own name for the first time in four years. While the first single failed to sell, the second one, " Sherry ", started a string of successes for The Four Seasons. From 1962 to 1966, it has been estimated that The Four Seasons had sold about 50 million records, more than any recording act except The Beatles . In the midst of a royalty dispute with Vee-Jay Records in late 1963,

720-629: The group from its label. The group promptly signed to Epic Records but was quickly dropped when its first single for the label also failed to chart. As a consequence, the discouraged group temporarily disbanded. At a 1958 recording session, Valli met record producer Bob Crewe , who signed the Four Lovers to a three-year artist contract. The Four Lovers worked steadily as session artists, primarily as background singers and background musicians, in addition to resuming their live performances in various clubs and lounges between New York City and Philadelphia They continued to tour nationwide in small gigs for

750-437: The latter a Lloyd Price chestnut), western ("San Antonio Rose", later a hit for Floyd Cramer ), pop ("For Sentimental Reasons" and "Memories of You"), and early rock'n'roll (their version of "White Christmas" and "Such a Night", both popularized by The Drifters ). SIDE 1 SIDE 2 Rhino R2 90142 (CD) , released July 1993. This is essentially a reissue of a 1989 German compilation album ( The Four Lovers 1956 ) with

780-519: The name that was created for single release. While "Lonesome Road" became the last Wonder Who? single, the group continued to release both Four Seasons and Frankie Valli solo singles until 1975, when Valli had recorded " Swearin' to God " without any participation from the group (his previous hit, " My Eyes Adored You ", was recorded as a Four Seasons recording, but was released as a solo record). All Wonder Who? singles were produced by Bob Crewe. Philips 40324 , released October 1965. "Don't Think Twice"

810-561: Was given to Bob Gaudio and Bob Crewe. Philips 40380 , released June 1966. Composed by Richard A. Whiting and Sidney Clare , "On the Good Ship Lollipop" debuted in the 1934 Shirley Temple motion picture Bright Eyes and is most identified with Temple singing it, but the most successful commercial release of the song was by Rudy Vallee , reaching No. 4 on the Billboard chart in 1935. The Four Seasons/Wonder Who version barely made

840-409: Was modified to include songs by Burt Bacharach and Hal David . Valli was not happy with his vocals on the various takes of " Don't Think Twice, It's All Right " when he recorded the song with a "joke" falsetto vocal (an impression of jazz musician Rose Murphy ) to reduce the tension in the studio. An executive of Philips Records heard the recording with a "joke" vocal and wanted it to be released as

870-531: Was originally recorded by composer Bob Dylan (as "Don't Think Twice, It's All Right") on his 1963 album, The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan . Peter, Paul, and Mary released the most commercially successful version of the song in September 1963. It reached No. 9 on the Hot 100 singles chart. The Wonder Who? version peaked at No. 12 in December 1965. "Sassy" was an original instrumental by the Four Seasons. Composing credit

900-624: Was the result of vocalist Frankie Valli joining The Variatones (first Tommy DeVito , lead guitar; James Gregorio Valeo, then Henry Majewski, rhythm guitar; Frank Cottone, accordion; and Billy Thompson, drums) in 1954. The Four Lovers achieved minor success before a name change to The Four Seasons in 1960. During those five years, the group members also included Nicolas DeVito (vocals, electric bass), Hugh Garrity (vocals, guitar), Charles Calello (bass), Nick Massi (bass, vocals), Bob Gaudio (keyboards, vocals), and Philip Mongiovi (drums). The Four Lovers' big break came in early 1956 when backing up

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