That 'Four Seasons' Sound

Seasons's Connections - Sandy Linzer and Denny Randell

 

As anyone who has taken a slight interest in the credits on the 4 Seasons album knows, Denny Randell and Sandy Linzer had a big contribution to the success that came their way from 1964 to 1966. And whilst Sandy has taken a quiet role in communicating this on the www Denny has a very strong and entertaining presence.

Charles Calello interviews would challenge and perhaps contradict Wikipedia’s bio and the assertion that Al Kasha brought these two together for as we read it Charlie met Sandy and introduced him to Bob Crewe and Bob Gaudio because he saw talent in the young writer’s lyrics. Denny Randell had been trying to get into producing records during 1963 and early 1964 and did several demo’s with Jean and Don Thomas young writers/session members like him at Shapiro Bernstein and Bob Crewe heard of him through this role. Although as Denny recalls it was Al Kasha who introduced him to Bob Gaudio. It is clear Bob Crewe brought them together and to prominence as 4 Seasons writers and that connection runs through much of their music as does their association with Charles Calello. Whilst Sandy has 422 contributions to titles in the BMI database it is Denny (with only 377) who has ensured his music is best promoted on the WWW.

His web site is one of the best and most entertaining on the internet to feature music from the last 50 years. Whilst he only actually features 8 songs he wrote and recorded with Frankie Valli and The 4 Seasons, he arranged and conducted another 6. Perhaps his departure(with Sandy Linzer) from the Bob Crewe fold in Spring 1966 was premature, but his talent continued to shine through with a wide range of songs and artists as his music page shows. It features an A to Z of 148 songs

From female and group pop to Northern Soul and disco...this is a great playlist.

With such anthems from Wigan Casino as…

Plus this classic by Barbara Lewis also recorded by Little Patti..

The set offers a look beyond Linzer-Randell’s initial Four Seasons brilliant success to their work as key writers of the period. Their work with The Toy’s and The Rag Dolls is legendary.

 

The Rag Dolls last single......

Bob Crewe’s creation of The Rag Dolls with Linzer and Randell and vocalist Jean Thomas makes a fascinating read……..click this link for the free pdf at Jean’s web site.

And 80s stars Odyssey owe their success to the writing duo…and Charles Calello-(sorry Frankie their version is the best!!)

If you are a fan of The Four Seasons then Linzer and Randell are at the core of your music likes.

The Songwriters Hall Of Fame surely beckons them soon?

Casey Chameleon

UK fans hunt down the ‘Hit Men’ - EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

The Four Seasons are portrayed as having links to the mafia in Jersey Boys, but by the time we UK fans saw them in the mid 1970s any hint of that was dismissed  as those Seasons  were a clean cut bunch of guys in their mid-thirties with huge musical talent. A NEW line-up with a NEW sound. 

Well 35 years on they are still hugely talented and 3 of them are once again regularly demonstrating this in the band ‘The Hit Men’….but there are no criminal connections here. It is just hit songs!!

We don’t feature or support ‘Four Seasons’ or Jersey Boys tribute bands but when former Four Seasons start playing the songs they made famous again we start to take notice. And when they start recording again that is cause for celebration.

The group which is now a six piece band comprises former Four Seasons – Lee Shapiro, Gerry Polci and Don Ciccone – together with Jimmy Ryan, Larry Gates and Russ Velazquez

 

As Frankie Valli played only a minor vocal part in their hit numbers back then they are able to reproduce the sound from those times even without him.

We contacted the band’s arranger and conductor Lee Shapiro and he gave us an EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW which we are able to share via this blog. Just click on the audio files to hear ‘Kenny’ and Lee discussing the Four Seasons.

Question: How did you come up with the idea of the ‘Hit Men’?

Question: What is the biggest benefit you have found from performing again?

Question: Do the audiences see you at all as the Four Seasons you were or as a NEW band.?

Question: What can you tell us about the ‘Live’ album CD? Does it include any of your UK hits like ‘Silver Star’ and ‘Down The Hall’?

Question: When is the CD out and what are the chances of a UK visit?

Go to the Hit Men Facebook page….

Order the CD here

Or visit their blog here

The group are at Mexicali next weekend and we will have our correspondent’s there to rate the performance. More from Lee and the guys as they expand their concert performances and profile.

And here’s a very special Christmas single to all fans….with ‘Seasons greetings’ to all from us and the guys

Casey Chameleon