Another year and another Newsletter from George Ingram has arrived chronicling the latest and the past data for Four Seasons fans. But the one thing that has changed since Newsletter 50 is that the identity of what the Four Seasons were/are has ‘morphed’ into the Jersey Boys(in what must be the biggest ever ‘tribute band’ franchise) and Frankie Valli and his Band impersonating both the Jersey Boys and The Four Seasons. And just to confuse matters even more we have two of the 1970s Four Seasons ‘hit group’ performing as the ‘Hit Men’.
So if this Newsletter No 58 is somewhat confusing for fans new and old then you are forgiven as a read through brings home how much things have changed not only since 1977 but since 2007. The LP and Singles information is laid out for 1977 and so to the recent 2013 releases. With download only collections abounding now and ‘out-of-copyright’ re-issues surfacing keeping a log of these and updating the CD discography at our web site is proving to be impossible. What is there on the web-site is a reference file(compiled by Stefan Wriedt from George Ingram’s Newsletters) for what came out between 1986 and 2011 and we will leave it there.
One of the landmark articles of the 70s is included in this newsletter(although as it appears on the GILG web site we have simply linked to it rather than re-scan).This article pulls no punches on the difficulties the group had. Also the differences in the story of the writing of ‘Sherry’ between Bob Crewe and Bob Gaudio are perhaps symptomatic of their on-going ‘different perspectives’ as is their dispute over Bob Gaudio’s credits on the long-list of hits. Bob Gaudio is painfully honest re his ‘call’ to get the group to do ‘Genuine imitation Life Gazette’ as well as the aftermath. But although Valli’s extensive recording efforts at Motown are mentioned no-one back then knew what we know now in terms of the unreleased material amazingly still in the vaults at Motown. Far less successful groups have had their tape history poured over and documented and preserved over the years yet it is still down to this group of ‘music detectives’ to unearth the real story and the list of music. As for their release….well (as usual)‘dream on’.
The final section with the listing of ‘Frankie Valli On Record ‘ shows just how far we have come. With the advent of the internet it has been possible to gather so much more detailed data on the releases of the group both before and after their first success as the Four Seasons. There are still gaps and our ‘music detectives’ continue to seek ‘the final word’. That information is down to us….not The Four Seasons Partnership. But one question remains………is there enough interest to keep the research going. Maybe the time is coming to leave the Four Seasons Story to the Jersey Boys fans?
Another great effort by George but clearly we are reaching the ‘last knockings’
Casey
Please don't give up!!!
Jersey Boys fans aren't really Four Seasons fans. They are more interested in theater than the history of the group. Grateful as we are that the play has generated so much needed interest.
Without your efforts we may never have gotten to hear:
I Wonder Why
Make Your Tomorrow Tonight
Hymn To Her
Lovers
Etc.
Not to mention the 1974 Florida concert.
If not you...then who???
Posted by: Ray Ricci | 03/25/2014 at 11:57 AM