It was 1976 in the UK and music was exploding into the charts again. The excitement of collecting records and going to see it performed 'live' was everything to us. We'd had 'My Eyes Adored You' hit Nr 1, 'Who Loves You' change the Radio Airwaves and 'The Night' emerge from the club scene to rocket into the charts as a 'long-lost' oldie re-issue. Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons where about to hit the peak. Overnight top stars and their biggest ever hit was about to hit Nr 1.
They toured, we saw them, they were 'our' Four Seasons. We saw them on TV every other week . It was 'hedonistic' and the natural and only way to find out more about the music and the band was to join the fan club. Friends were made , expectations raised and support given to the group and their management. They were all great musicians, all but Don had been trained by Jazz musicians, and so their performances were superb then and remain historically important.
Well 42 years on it is a different world as we approach the end of the line in terms of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons. The fan club died in 1981and the fan group that succeeded still hoped for whatever line-up Frankie Vall could employ to come visit and take us back to those times. There will be time to reflect on this life of fandom and The Four Seasons Story for old and new fans post the November/December UK tour but for now we can reminisce.
John Hornsby[a long-standing fan from the US fan club] sent me his cassette tapes and I have managed to salvage in reasonable sound the Midnight Special TV Shows from the mid 1970s. They don't do full justice to what we experienced 'live' but these tracks capture the essence of what I wrote in the opening paragraph. It's good to have been able to tweak these old tape recordings and share them with you in a CD Download.
And to finish as Bonus Tracks is what I have been shouting about for the last 8 years. It was 37 years since Valli/Gaudio left Motown and that music ended with the 'Inside You' album when these songs surfaced. Something Vall and Gaudio had nothing to speak about as they didn't own the masters. They still don't. Motown Universal do. No completed songs remained we were told. Jersey Boys was the big earner.......nobody wanted to know nor do they now. That is oficial as far as BG and FV are concerned. But we have these hissy old acetate recordings. I've re-mastered these again this last year with new tools to clean them without damaging the detail. The completed Masters are sitting in the Motown Vaults with up to 50 other unheard and unreleased tracks. We know exactly where and they could be recovered tomorrow. Motown Universal wont act without FV and BG support and that is not forthcoming. Hence our continuing campaign for their official release sometime. I spoke to Lee Shapiro back in 2011 when these acetate dubs turned up and he recalled the session, the fact that Motown musicians played and the Seasons[including Gerry Polci and Nick Massi sang, Charlie Calello arranged with Kenny Nolan] and Bob Crewe danced on the recording console! He also confirmed Bob Crewe had them complete union session contracts and the masters were completed and handed to Motown. As was ‘I Wonder Why’ . More re all the sessions down the line!!!!!
So as we head into the Farewell Concert Tour of the UK and US just enjoy what the 70s gave us and still could if sometime someone listens to our Facebook group – The Four Seasons UK Motown Unreleased Campaign. You'll find links there to this music for a short period. Enjoy. Casey Chameleon
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