So in Spring 2022 as we approach the release of the Snapper Music Box Set I have shared the accumulated information from Universal Motown's paper records from the 1970s . The research from the start of the century has been a core reason for the incorporation in a 'catalogue' based box set and I have done the Research Plan blog posts and maintained the social media Facebook Page “The Four Seasons Motown Unreleased Campaign' because we and Snapper Music with Bob Gaudio have not had the disclosure of the full story of what IS in the vaults and the comprehensive feedback from Universal to the research team I was a member of. Back in 2018 when Snapper Music were in contract discussions with Gene Zacharewicz at Universal it was confirmed that there were between 38-50 tapes that needed be researched to identify the released and 'unreleased' tracks that have survived. The Vault Service Tape Manager Andy Skurow was to research the Tapes and by early 2019 he had identified 19 unreleased vocals and had a further 11 that needed to be reviewed. This was based on the Tape Boxes and internal correspondence. Bob Gaudio was concerned re the complexity and uncertainty but eventually accepted he would review 2 track Masters and then Mix from 16/32 track those he and Frankie approved. It is clear the Vault manager simply read what was on the tape boxes and he said that listening tests of the multi-tracks was needed. It was eventually agreed he was to supply Bob and Frankie with either ALL of the Multi – tracks or selected and discovered 'unreleased' vocals. I believe he supplied a restricted selection. That is my opinion, but whatever happened we [Bob Fisher and I] were left out of the 'loop'. The Four Seasons at Motown has always been maintained by a veil of secrecy particularly in the days of lawyer Peter Bennett who told me any tracks there had been wiped or were demo's.....but facts are facts and I have told Harry Weinger at Universal that 'openness and transparancy' should be the way to work with researchers like myself and former Motown people such as Bob Fisher[unfortunately Bob passed away during our project]. I have only published all we know now because Universal have always operated a 'smoke and mirrors' approach rather than collaborative re these tracks. Unfortunately this is still a failure of the Record Industry and even Bob Gaudio[and maybe Frankie] have wanted this archive hidden from research for over 43 years.
As a part of the Snapper Research team we did NOT get to see the Tape Box scans[even though these were made available to Bob Gaudio], other than one, and our Tape Index Spreadsheet was criticised as 'loaded with errors'. Given that this was a Motown Tape Index supplied back at the start of the century from their paper/computer records this was a surprise as it was a follow on to the original listing of unreleased titles supplied in the 1990s by Tom DePerrio, and was confirmed by Cary Mansfield and corroborated in many cases by Artists Cards in 2011. The details provided by Universal Motown to Snapper and Bob Gaudio was clearly incomplete and did not target the Tapes identified fully re the location advised on Artists Cards as these Project Plan Notes show. Delays within Universal [pre-pandemic] and pressure to complete contracts on this key part of the Box set did not help. After this superficial review it is no wonder Bob Gaudio was reluctant to review the tapes due to the time and cost involved and he rightly expected more from them. T tape safety copies and P tape transfers have not been fully followed up, and this exercise does Universal no credit nor the Archive Management Team. Feedback to Snapper revealed some previously unknown recordings [like 'Chained' and 'Starvin' For Your Love'] and it did indicate that most of the tracks we had discovered as having had Motown Master Nr's were existing most likely completed tracks. Andy Skurow did not share data with us and we believe Bob Gaudio as he should. In many cases Stereo Mix Downs existed but were not supplied. We could have helped trace down more but maybe it would have added work for the Vault Issue Department.?
I do know that Bob Gaudio appreciates that there is a sizeable group of fans and collectors in the world that have worked very hard to get the material that is going into the Box Set. He trusted us to find what we could in the Four Seasons Partnership[FSP] storage facility of tapes and the quality of what he has reviewed and approved for release from Universal Motown is superb. He asked back in 2019.....”Someone at Universal, if possible, could get a 2-track on the songs that Frankie put vocals on. Snapper have agreed to cover the cost, if indeed it is reasonable. Once I can decide with Frankie, what is acceptable for release with Snapper, I would then require 16/24 or 32 tracks. I would then mix them down for the Snapper project. I hope this isn’t too much to deal with, because revisiting the past can sometimes be painful. But apparently, there is a world of fans who would appreciate everyone’s efforts. I thank you for all for your time.”......We reckon he did the best he could in in the time available for inclusion and for contracts to be set. It is just unfortunate that 'I Will Love You Like A Man' was left out after approval for perhaps LGBTQ sensitivity reasons.
From the tracks listed re vocals existing the Vault Manager made some mistakes but fortunately Bob has found vocals and mixed and approved them for the 13 tracks included. This just confirms the need for 'listening tests'. As a bonus we found alternative mixes of several tracks in the FSP archive supplied back in 1973/74 as sample mixes which we have salvaged so that they can be added to Disc 22 to show the alternative mixes considered at the time. The results overall for this CD are amazing and whilst we haven't heard the rest of the 'unreleased' that we have listed we have evidence that many other tracks with vocals have been found and survive. We believe the whole of the sessions history at Motown should be researched and made available to fans as has the Beach Boys catalogue of session masters and alternate takes.
The problem is that Universal Motown OWN these masters and whilst in this day and age after 50 years the Masters should, in any reasonable persons eyes, revert to Bob and Frankie , Universal are NOT going to give up masters to their former artists. That is policy. They have licensed both released and some unreleased but will not give up ownership, especially for a music legend like Frankie Valli. The multi-track tapes represent a gold-mine of the creative skills of artists and producers and they will issue tracks from them when money is to be made from them.......hence the current Stoney/Meatloaf compilation....so soon after his passing.
The notes I have compiled in the Research Plan demonstrate the sources to be checked to verify where completed tracks have survived and not just what appears on the Tape Boxes. If and when the FSP want to or feel able to challenge ownership then maybe we will hear more or maybe Universal Motown will be open to licensing with an independent Record Label in the future.......but don't hold your breath – it has taken 14 years since the first and only CD release of their Motown released tracks. Mixing and evaluation is a cost I know Bob Gaudio questions as worthwhile spending for release, as is challenging Universal's ownership. As collectors and researchers we know that such finds will be treasures for us and future generations and a good long-term investment for the FSP and if the opportunity to preserve them exists, in the future, we are ready and willing to help and have a plan and know the sources. …....until someone listens to all of the tapes and tells all.
The Motown Master Nr list of Frankie Valli and Four Seasons tracks is given in the link below indicating probably completed tracks with the released tracks being highlighted in yellow. So there are a minimum of 32 UNRELEASED Completed Masters...we have identified locations for 90%....and this summer will see the release of another 13 as highlighted in blue. And whilst we are still alive to say it.......this is our history, and I will keep the FB Campaign Page going and we should all blame Universal Motown for what we and the FSP don't have. They have simply passed all the work to Bob Gaudio for the listening tests and may not have supplied all of the Tapes we have listed. We want more....particularly the missing Bob Crewe productions from 1973......But this Box Set is a godsend....a real treasure for all fans and collectors.....in spite of Universal.
More details on tracks found.....probably!!.......next time
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