Back is 2011 we published the research at the time re the 1969 release of the biggest and BEST EVER albums of the Four Seasons 1960s hits all in newly mastered Stereo mixes. That article can be found here
In conducting the FSP Archive research we advised Snapper Music that the inclusion of this Double Album was essential to the Box Set, if the original Master Tapes could be found ?. We had of course preserved via vinyl dub the 1972 high quality pressing versions and held these Re-Mastered in our own archive. But we have advocated and told Snapper that we wanted the original Masters.
Bill Inglot advised that two sets of tapes existed. A Scotch Tape Safety Copy and the same on Ampex Tape were found and transferred to the UK Sound Engineer for evaluation and Re-Mastering. The best sound quality versions will be selected for inclusion. Why these could not be found and supplied to ACE Records back in the 1990s has never been explained ?
Some fans were critical at the time of the past release of this album on CD by ACE Records of London in September 1997 as that was mainly Mono versions of their hits, but that was not really their fault as at the time the FSP could not find or provide these as the ORIGINAL FULL Master Tapes . Some doubted they had survived but we were delighted that 2 safety Copies do and Snapper's Sound Engineer has them.
Chuck Walker wrote the sleeve notes for that unfortunately 'inaccurate' release of the album by ACE on CD for the first time. Chuck has revised the information on the CD release here to create an accurate summary of the original album tracks, there importance and highlights, especially those that were appearing for the first time in Stereo, and the other mixes used to create the vinyl album. The original Double Album reached # 38 on the US Billboard Album Chart. Chuck's notes.......
“The Philips Release of Edizione D’Oro in December 1968 marks the end of what some consider the Golden Era of The 4 Season hit single releases. It spans the years 1962-1968. Like many aspiring artists it took a while for the group to find their niche and unique sound which they became famous for.
'Edizione D’Oro' differs from the previous Greatest Hits Albums in both design and musical content. First pressings of the two record set came in a distinctive gold foil gatefold album cover along with a poster/calendar for the following year. This distinctive higher cost packaging was somewhat unique at the time for pop/rock albums, but became typical in later years. The album cover had their name and album title in gothic lettering which resembled a window in a cathedral. The album was released and first promoted during the 1968 Christmas season causing some consumer confusion as at first glance it appeared to be a Christmas album.
The Inner gatefold contained brief notes by Dick Clark explaining how he helped them promote “Sherry” and the group with an appearance on his nationally televised American Bandstand Show. Later pressings of the album changed the gold foil to a gold printed cover, the big 4 on the front from red to white and eliminated the poster/calendar.
The 4 Seasons, somewhat older than the typical rock record buyer, were finding it difficult to connect and having minimal commercial success in their later Philips years. They were playing concerts as the opening act for Frank Sinatra in Las Vegas. Youthful record buyers connected them more with their parent’s era than the youthful sounds of the late 60’s. This trend would continue to be apparent as radio transitioned from AM to FM Stereo stations. After the Woodstock Music Festival in 1969, it was clear younger people were into different styles of music than being offered by The 4 Seasons.
Record companies also made a dramatic shift in their marketing mid-1968. Historically nearly all singles had been issued in Mono. Albums were typically released in two versions Mono and Stereo. In 1968 production of Mono albums ceased and hence forward only a Stereo album with mono compatability was produced. Existing Mono records were dumped into the cut out bins by record companies and were available at deep discounts for several years.
This transition to all stereo may have been the reason Crewe and Philips decided on a new Greatest Hits Album. There was however, a problem. Bob Crewe, like many independent producers had focused on the Mono singles market. Mixes of singles he produced until 1968 were all done in Mono, and if there was enough success for an album it may have Stereo mixes or simply re-channeled mixes to simulate stereo. Actual true stereo versions were limited [particularly pre 1967 due to 4 and 8 track Studio Tape capability] and in many cases had a tendency to mix vocals primarily on one channel and instruments on the other. [and a separation of Frankie Valli from the 4Seasons]
Ten of the tracks are from the Vee Jay era (62-64). Seven were first issued as singles, “Peanuts” on an EP and later a single rerelease. “Stay” and “Alone” were released to take advantage of the market after the Group parted company and moved to Philips. Most are reworked mixes of various Vee Jay Stereo album versions. The only one with significant differences from the Vee Jay albums is “Ain’t That A Shame” which is missing Nick Massi’s vocals, which were apparently never included in the final [STEREO] mix.
The remaining 18 songs are from the Philips era (64-68). Seven appear for the first time in true stereo.
“Dawn (Go Away)” is based on the version cut at Atlantic when they were trying to negotiate a contract in late 1963. It has a more prominent guitar riff and is missing Frankie’s vocal introduction which was later spliced to the single master by Bob Crewe.
“Big Man In Town” is a modified mix with all vocals centered for a more balanced presentation.
“Save It For Me” is clearly a different take or mix as the vocals are slightly different and the organ different than the single version.
“Girl Come Running” is an alternate edit restoring the [final mix] vocal introduction not present on the single.
Sadly “Ronnie” is only in Re-channeled form as no known Stereo master was ever produced.
“Rag Doll” finally appeared in true Stereo. All previous versions were either mono or re-channeled. Even today this version is rarely heard on CD.
“Let’s Hang On” is an alternate edit without the spoken vocal introduction heard on the hit single version.
“Silence is Golden”, the flip side of the Rag Doll single and originally heard on the “Born To Wonder” Album appears for the first time in a true Stereo mix. It is a powerful early message song and could have been a successful single on its own right. In fact it was in 1967 by the British group The Tremeloes.
Eight of the remaining ten songs are updated Stereo versions from previous album releases.
“Watch The Flowers Grow” and “Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow” make their first true Stereo appearances, having not previously appeared on any albums.”
The benefits of the latter [post 1966] versions of the tracks 'Watch The Flowers Grow', and 'Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow' shows in their overall much superior 'soundstage' as Bob Crewe was able to benefit from the 16 track technology at Mirasound Studio [NYC] and the mixing skills of George Schowerer. We will write more re these days in a future blog post with an interview with George.
By 1968 Bob Crewe was able to review with the engineer at the time Ray Ciccala, six of the surviving Stereo mixes . A note found in the FSP Tape Boxes shows the Takes found and reviewed and selected as UNIQUE mixes.. Here is a tape of that search through the surviving TAKES. The sound file accompanying it lets you hear that audio review. This was uncovered as part of the FSP Archive research. The tracks found in this review of the multi-tracks and mixed to new Stereo mixes were....
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Dawn
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Silence is Golden
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Girl Come Running
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Save It For Me
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Big Man In Town
The mixes selected are different to any earlier releases and The You Tube video file of this research is below.
The result of our research will, we hope, be by far the Best Ever HITS Collection of the groups 60s successes on CD and a totally essential part of this BOX Set and something fans have been calling for for decades.
Ken Charmer and Chuck Walker – October 2021
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