Back in 2011 I started to document the travesty of mis-information that 'faithful' and 'trusting' Four Seasons fans have had to suffer for what was then 37 years. It is now over 43 years since we were told.......nothing was left in the vaults.
In one of my blog posts[15thJanuary 2011] I was able to reveal the existence of completed 'unreleased' tracks by the group still lying in the Universal Motown vaults when I said....
”Since The Four Seasons left Motown in 1974 and the subsequent release of the ‘Inside You’ album (Motown M6-852S1) in September 1975, fans have questioned whether any other tracks remained left in the vaults.
Rumour and myth have circulated since and it is amazing that no definitive answers have been found. But now in what is to me a ‘shocking’ disclosure we can prove that the answer is YES completed masters do exist and with examples and research we will show all fans the potential which has been wasted.”
Well I have been documenting and sharing data and music re this lost period ever since in a Campaign to get someone to act and preserve and release up to 50 tracks unheard since the 1970s.
And now just as another piece of evidence arrives, others realise the potential ....... there is a possible acknowledgement by Bob Gaudio to Universal Motown......and some hope emerges that, finally, these sessions will be researched. We've established real interest from Record Companies and some hope a project will ensue.
And coincidentally, as hope arises of a release, we are able to re-visit P Tapes 2105/2110/2111 and the rehearsal recordings for tracks that would eventually surface on the group's 'only' album release whilst under contract there. The Chameleon Sessions Re-visited is a set of rehearsals of tracks that would when complete comprise a very different and 'progressive' Four Seasons album. Critics and fans have said since how significant an album it was artistically and some [like me] rate it as the groups best ever album[notwithstanding the cult following of 'Genuine imitation Life Gazette']
11 tracks, 8 of which would [when complete] create a stunning album. One in instrumental form, raising the question of whether it was ever completed with vocals, and 2 completed and unheard tracks which have never been released which sound really good. Up-tempo driving Four Seasons songs completely different to the album eventually created[but none the less stunning]
This is also our chance to hear, for the first time ever, studio session work pre-release with missing dubs, differences in instrumentation and alternative vocal elements. We all know it has happened with the Beach Boys Sessions and this is a 'snatched' example of Bob Gaudio working up the songs to their final Masters. On our Facebook Campaign Group we will share these moments re-mastered as we bring to fans the Sound Engineers dubs[presumably the legendary Russ Terrana's acetates] salvaged from cassette tape.
And now these are perhaps a prelude to what Universal Motown can do with the support of the artists?. Is that support 'real' and will the project happen? Well in the words of the Bob Crewe penned song amongst these early sessions by the group at Motown......'Time Will Tell'?
Casey Chameleon
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