It was a few years ago that we received a listing in Word from Tom Cramlington that attempted to gather all of the research that had been done on The Four Seasons Partnerships records for the CD catalogue re-issues of the groups albums from the 1960s.
Appearing pretty comprehensive we thought it would provide a good base for research and for adding the various new data that occasionally surfaced re alternative tracks and unreleased material. A sort of catch-all that listed all of the vinyl sources for the numbered Master tracks that are listed in those researched CD projects and sometimes on the 45s. Well after 10 years it has proved robust with corrections and additions and has grown into a pretty comprehensive reference document for all of their work.
When were were anonymously donated a copy of the Motown Tape Index for their years at the label in the 1970s with comprehensive listings of the unreleased material we felt that this was an important addition and allowed us to extend the listing to 1974 albeit in a different format as the extent of the information warranted a spreadsheet.
We’ve continued to add information as it has surfaced and now we have published our updated listings to a new ‘Sessions/Masters’ Web Page. Previously this was titled as a ‘Sessionography’ page but as it does not document accurately the 4 Seasons sessions we have re-titled the listings. As far as we know there are no records of these individual sessions and the original multi-track tapes from the sessions may no longer exist according to anecdotal evidence. The listing does however list the registered Master Nrs as lodged with record companies and it does attempt to identify the recording/session date. In the case of the Motown Tape Index it does identify the multi-track session tapes which may still exist in the Motown vaults.
There is an Introduction that explains the background to Sections and there are notes re each Section at the start. Below is a summary of the status of each section and the latest updates.
- 1. Early recording up to and including The Four Lovers 1958
This remains unchanged and documents the research done for the ‘Early Fantastic Years’ CD project and the Four Lovers ‘Bear Records’ CD issue. It is comprehensive and sourced from the CD researcher.
- 2. The Four Seasons Recordings 1961 to 1963 (Gone and Vee Jay)
- 3. Recordings under other names and backing work to others. 1958 to 1963
Researched from 45s this is largely a result of speculative detective works and anecdotal evidence of other tracks the group have or may not have appeared on. With little to confirm the details it remains an area for on-going research but the vocals are clear on many as those of the group. It also contains some projects they experimented with producing and some where Bob Crewe used them as vocalists (as evidenced in ‘Jersey Boys’).
- 4. The Philips Era 1964 to 1970 and pre-joining Motown
This Section is now updated to include notes from interviews with ‘arrangers’ Artie Schroeck and Charles Calello as well as information from the Mercury/Philips Book of Masters. It includes previously unknown and in some cases unheard recordings from 1968 and alternative versions between 45 and LP issues(some MONO, some STEREO mixes)
- 5. The Mowest/Motown Recordings 1971 to 1974 (as an excel spreadsheet due to available and complex information re the tape index and artists cards)
This remains unchanged from the annotation of the Motown Tape Index sent to us anonymously in 2010. The continued existence of these analogue tapes has not been verified.
These lists remain a ‘Work in Progress’ but until more verifiable data surfaces it remains the summary of known and published information on the ‘timeline’ of the group’s recordings for the period. We will push the limits in terms of further research over the next year, asking questions re what remains in Master archives and where. The documentation is going hand in hand with our preservation and digital re-mastering of the MONO archive that can only be found on vinyl(apart from a handful of well produced CD sets with good MONO Mastering). We will re-visit details and implications of the latest edits over the next few months as we seek to uncover further information on the Master files and their availability….or lack of it? Both projects represent the most advanced Four Seasons research being undertaken at this time as far as we know. But we are always open to help re this, and we will collaborate with anyone in compiling ‘the body of knowledge’…..of our favourite group.
We believe in this work and are seeking to register the archive with The International Association of Music Libraries, Archives and Documentation Centres and to pursue more data to verify and expand the information.
Casey Chameleon
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