Romancing the 60's

 (35 customer reviews)

The years fall away as these songs work their magic. I can still remember being 12 years old and visiting a friend who, while we were looking at baseball cards, decided to turn on his older brother's record player. "Rag Doll" happened to be on the platter, and something about that soaring falsetto and the song's poignancy captured my heart. As I listen to this incredible man's newest release over 40 years later, I realize that my heart has never quite been freed. The genius of this recording is that they didn't do what I feared, try to mask the "Sound of Frankie Valli" with over-production and background singers. Apparently, they had the wisdom to realize that there was absolutely no need. Valli has proven again and again over the years that great talent is truly timeless. The choice of songs, the respectful and beautiful arrangements (Gaudio HAD to have a huge hand in this, right?!) and Frankie's amazing voice and masterful phrasing make this a wonderful testament to a great...Read more

In the wake of the megasuccess of the play Jersey Boys, the story of Frankie Valli, the man himself puts his inimitable stamp on classics from the 60s, with impeccable production from Bob Gaudio, an original Four Season. The singing is emotional, the orchestrations are beautifully complex, and the songs are timeless. One highlight is the guest appearance of the cast of Jersey Boys, singing background on--what else?--"On Broadway." My personal favorite is "Any Day Now," and "Spanish Harlem" is another winner. Listen for Paul Shaffer and Will Lee from the Letterman band, among the all-star lineup of musicians.

With the enormous success of Jersey Boys on Broadway, it's no surprise that Frankie Valli was going to head back to the recording studio along with long time associate Bob Gaudio. If you expect the hard driving harmony sound of the Four Seasons, then you might be a tad disappointed with this latest effort from the 70 year old Valli. "Romancing The Sixties", finds Valli in fine vocal form, but this cd has a totally mellow feel from start to finish. I find nothing wrong with hearing classic tunes Like "Sunny", "On Broadway", "Any Day Now", "What Becomes Of The Broken Hearted", etc, but the truth of the matter is, Valli's prior solo work packs a hell of alot more punch. After listening to this cd a few times, the listener comes away with the feeling that the originals are superior in almost every case. I do not consider this a spectacular effort by any means, and would have preferred some newly written material. I have always been a great fan of Frankie Valli, and I would love to...Read more