Jersey Beat: Music of Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons

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As the music and legacies of various rock legends--Elvis, the Beatles, the Stones, Dylan, the Beach Boys, Bruce Springsteen--have been thoroughly celebrated, analyzed, and overanalyzed by rock critics, fans, and reissuers, the Four Seasons--New Jersey's premiere pop act before Springsteen or Bon Jovi--remained grossly overlooked and underappreciated. To the uninformed, their pre-Beatles roots--stretching back to the doo-wop era--or sure slickness might have fostered the misconception they were somehow less "hip." Musicians, however, knew better. Dylan, Springsteen, Neil Diamond, Billy Joel, and Brian Wilson among them thoroughly understood and appreciated the Seasons' vision, centered around their harmonies, Frankie Valli's vocal virtuosity, and the stellar work of songwriter-organist Bob Gaudio who, with producer Bob Crewe, created the now-classic Seasons sound, which withstood Beatlemania and everything afterward. The recent Tony Award-winning musical Jersey Boys helped sweep aside those decades of neglect by reintroducing the Four Seasons to a new audience. Rhino's magnificent package--four CDs on 84 tracks and a DVD of rare performances--explores the music that inspired it all, beginning with their 1962 debut hit "Sherry," through magnificent, timeless mini-dramas like "Dawn," "Rag Doll," and "C'mon Marianne" and tongue-in-cheek efforts like their version of Dylan's "Don't Think Twice (It's All Right)" by the "Wonder Who." Along with various rarities, the collection includes Valli's solo hits. "Can't Take My Eyes Off You" and "Swearin' to God" reaffirm his stature as one of that era's great vocalists. The DVD includes performances from a 1963 Steve Allen show and a 1971 appearance on Britain's Top of the Pops. --Rich Kienzle

Title Tracks for Jersey Beat: Music of Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons

1. Sherry [Disc 1]
2. Big Girls Don't Cry [Disc 1]
3. Walk Like A Man [Disc 1]
4. Ain't That A Shame [Disc 1]
5. Candy Girl [Disc 1]
6. Marlena [Disc 1]
7. Peanuts [Disc 1]
8. Alone (Why Must I Be Alone) [Disc 1]
9. Stay [Disc 1]
10. Little Boy (In Grown Up Clothes) [Disc 1]
11. Dawn (Go Away) [Disc 1]
12. Big Man's World [Disc 1]
13. Marcie [Disc 1]
14. Silence Is Golden [Disc 1]
15. Huggin' My Pillow [Disc 1]
16. Ronnie [Disc 1]
17. Rag Doll [Disc 1]
18. Save It For Me [Disc 1]
19. Big Man In Town [Disc 1]
20. Bye, Bye, Baby (Baby, Goodbye) [Disc 1]
21. Betrayed [Disc 1]
22. Toy Soldier [Disc 1]
23. Girl Come Running [Disc 1]
24. Let's Hang On! [Disc 1]
25. Don't Think Twice (It's All Right)[Disc 1] -- The Wonder Who?
26. The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine (Anymore) [Disc 1] -- Frankie Valli
27. (You're Gonna) Hurt Yourself [Disc 1] -- Frankie Valli
28. Pity [Disc 1]
29. You're Ready Now [Disc 1] -- Frankie Valli
30. Cousin Brucie Go Go [Disc 1]
31. Working My Way Back To You [Disc 2]
32. Can't Get Enough Of You Baby [Disc 2]
33. Everybody Knows My Name [Disc 2]
34. Comin' Up In The World [Disc 2]
35. Beggars Parade [Disc 2]
36. Opus 17 (Don't You Worry 'bout Me) [Disc 2]
37. I've Got You Under My Skin [Disc 2]
38. The Proud One [Disc 2] -- Frankie Valli
39. Tell It To The Rain [Disc 2]
40. Beggin' [Disc 2]
41. Can't Take My Eyes Off You [Disc 2] -- Frankie Valli
42. C'mon Marianne [Disc 2]
43. Lonesome Road [Disc 2] -- The Wonder Who?
44. Around And Around (Andaroundandaround) [Disc 2]
45. I Make A Fool Of Myself [Disc 2]-- Frankie Valli
46. Watch The Flowers Grow [Disc 2]
47. Raven [Disc 2]
48. To Give (The Reason I Live) [Disc 2]-- Frankie Valli
49. Will You Love Me Tomorrow [Disc 2]
50. Good-Bye Girl [Disc 2]
51. Saturday's Father [Disc 2]
52. Electric Stories [Disc 2]
53. Something's On Her Mind [Disc 2]
54. Idaho [Disc 2]
55. Genuine Imitation Life [Disc 2]
56. And That Reminds Me (My Heart Reminds Me) [Disc 3]
57. The Girl I'll Never Know (Angels Never Fly This Low) [Disc 3] --
58. She Gives Me Light [Disc 3]
59. Patch Of Blue [Disc 3]
60. Heartaches And Raindrops [Disc 3]
61. Lay Me Down (Wake Me Up) [Disc 3]
62. Where Are My Dreams [Disc 3]
63. Sleeping Man [Disc 3]
64. The Night [Disc 3]
65. My Eyes Adored You [Disc 3] -- Frankie Valli
66. Swearin' To God (Single Version) [Disc 3] -- Frankie Valli
67. Who Loves You [Disc 3]
68. Our Day Will Come (Single Version) [Disc 3] -- Frankie Valli
69. December, 1963 (Oh, What A Night) [Disc 3]
70. Silver Star (Single Version) [Disc 3]
71. Fallen Angel [Disc 3] -- Frankie Valli
72. Rhapsody [Disc 3]
73. Grease [Disc 3] -- Frankie Valli
74. East Meets West [Disc 3] -- with the Beach Boys
75. Streetfighter [Disc 3]
76. Hope And Glory [Disc 3]
77. Big Girls Don't Cry [DVD] -- from The Steve Allen Show (2/14/63)
78. 1964 Medley: Sherry/Walk Like A Man/Big Girls Don't Cry/Dawn (Go
79. Working My Way Back To You [DVD] -- from Hullabaloo (2/7/66)
80. Can't Take My Eyes Off You [DVD] -- Frankie Valli from The Bitter End
81. Let's Hang On! [DVD] -- from Top Of The Pops (2/25/71)
82. Saturday's Father [DVD] -- from The Kraft Music Hall (7/3/68)
83. (You're Gonna) Hurt Yourself [DVD] -- Frankie Valli from The Joey
84. I've Got You Under My Skin [DVD] -- from Top Of The Pops (2/25/71)
85. Dawn (Go Away) [DVD] -- from Los Angeles Coliseum Concert (11/25/72)
86. Who Loves You [DVD] -- Promo Film (1974)
87. Rhapsody [DVD] -- Promo Film (1976)
88. December, 1963 (Oh, What A Night) [DVD] -- Promo Film (1975)

Customer Reviews

Average Customer Review

(41 customer reviews)

68 of 71 people found the following review helpful

A REAL revelation, honest to gosh...the east coast Beach Boys perhaps???, June 7, 2007

Larry Davis "powerpoplarry" (NYC/Long Island, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Jersey Beat: Music of Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons (Audio CD)

This set literally blew me away...literally, like where was I??!!?? I have to be honest, I saw this set and thought, hmmmm, nice packaging, then I saw it for a great price, so I thought I'd bite. Rhino recently put out the 2CD "Definitive Pop Collection", which was decent, but I thought a better collection could be done...then I saw this set.

Now, I figured, I wanted a well-done proper anthology of their work, so I can put it all into proper perspective. I knew, and loved, a bunch of their hits, and Frankie's solo hits, but not them all, so I wanted to hear them all, in chronological order. I originally thought Frankie and the Jersey boys to be prefabricated, with songs by outside songwriters, and no more than a guilty pleasure. I figured, if I didn't enjoy it, I knew I can sell it to a friend who loves their work.

Well, I opened it up first and went right to the 84-page booklet, nicely put together by-the-way. Saw the main essay was written by none other...Read more

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful

A master class in the legacy of The Four Seasons., July 17, 2007

M J Heilbron Jr. "Dr. Mo" (Long Beach, CA United States) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Jersey Beat: Music of Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons (Audio CD)

This is all you will ever need. This has everything you want.
"Jersey Beat" is a perfect box set covering the careers of The Four Seasons and Frankie Valli. Like many people, after seeing the remarkable "Jersey Boys", I sought out some Four Seasons music, and ordered THIS.

Jackpot.

All important (and many peripherally interesting) songs are here, remastered as good as they're probably ever going to get. Big hits, B-Sides, those weird "Wonder Who" songs...they sound glorious.

The three CD's cover "Sherry" all the way to an unusual Four Seasons-Beach Boys "duet." And it's one heck of a ride. Those early singles have not lost an ounce of their power. The 70's songs...like "Who Loves You" and "December 1963"...also hold up surprisingly well.

Classic singles abound..."Walk Like A Man", "Dawn", "Rag Doll"...even slightly cheesy material like the solo "Swearin' To God" comes to life here. I discovered other tunes to love...like "Alone" and...Read more

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful

Great for new fans, frustrating for older fans..., January 18, 2008

Somewhere in Texas (Planet Texas) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Jersey Beat: Music of Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons (Audio CD)

I had high hopes that Rhino would give the 4 Seasons the killer multi-disc set they deserved. And this is the closest they have come to doing so. It's frustrating to long time fans who have bought earlier best-of's and wanted improved sound quality, maybe a few alt-takes, stereo remixes and more gems. Die hard Seasons fans didn't get it again. Like the 25th Anniversary set, this set really needed a 4th CD for more goodies. 3 CD's just doesn't do the 4 Seasons justice with over 40 years of recordings.

And the sound quality isn't much an improvement than the older Rhino, Curb and Ace UK reissues. It's just been remastered louder than before with more compression and bass EQ for the IPOD generation (a fault of most newly "remastered" CD's - some have already complained, so hang onto those 80-90's vintage Seasons CD's!).

The choice to have the 62-65 material in mono and then everything after "Lets Hang On!" in stereo is bewildering. Most of the Seasons early 60's...Read more

Jersey Beat: Music of Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons

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Title Tracks for Jersey Beat: Music of Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons

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