Comments on: Big Girls Don’t Cry and Twelve Others

By: Len Gersten

Len Gersten — Mon, 02 Apr 2007 05:16:09 +0000

Dear David,

It’s very nice of you to offer me a “bit of memorabilia” for getting the correct answer (even though it was really my second guess), but the truth is, I find your comments and the opportunity to converse with you via this blog invaluable prizes all by themselves. But again, thank you for the generous offer. As an avid Four Seasons and now Jersey Boys fan, I would hate to see you have to part with an item that would probably have some sentimental value to you. Please keep sharing your wonderful insights and perhaps one day I’ll be fortunate enough to make your acquaintance and learn more about your experience with and knowledge of Frankie and The Seasons. Hopefully will trade some other posts on this blog in the near future.

Until then,

Len Gersten

By: JIm Hicks

JIm Hicks — Sun, 01 Apr 2007 13:21:34 +0000

Hi-Lilli, Hi-Lo was a pop standard that hit the charts for the Dick Hyman Trio way back in 1956. That same year, Roger Williams hit the charts with it as his 4th hit. Most likely, it was one of those “someone else’s latest hit” that the boys would have performed as The Four Lovers.

For some reason, I remember “Peanuts” being the B-side of one of their Vee-Jay singles, as it is included on the Rhino set which only has their hits singles.

Jim Hicks

By: David Cace

David Cace — Thu, 29 Mar 2007 15:13:26 +0000

Len

“Since I Don’t Have You’ was the album cut the 4 Seasons did in every concert I ever attended from 1963 through 1970 and that includes with Nick and Joe (and Charlie Callello – I actually saw Mr. Callello once as a performing member), and was usually the first or second song performed in the show. I suppose it was a good warming up song.

I believe you got all the album cuts released as a single from this album, in addition to the hit song “Alone” (I think “Tonight, Tonight” was a “B” side but let me check that). There were also some album cuts from the “Ain’t That A Shame” album released as a single, in addition to the hit song “Stay” but I supppose we’ll get to that when the Jersey Boys Blog covers that album.

Len, send me your contact information through the Jersey Boys Blog Administrator and I will find some bit of memorabilia from the “old days” to send you.

By: Len Gersten

Len Gersten — Thu, 29 Mar 2007 05:12:43 +0000

In response to David Cace’s trivia queries, I saw The Four Seasons perform live for the first time at Madison Square Garden in 1976, so I can only offer a wild guess that the song they performed live from this album during their concerts from ’63 to ’70 is (and I’m assuming the song was a non-charting entry) “Peanuts.” Actually, it was a toss-up for me between “Peanuts” and “Since I Don’t Have You.” And in answer to your second question, I believe both these songs were released by Vee Jay Records as the A-sides of their respective singles. I also happen to know that “Sincerely” was released as a 45 rpm record at about the same time as “Save It For Me” on the Philips Record label (August 1964) and peaked at number 75 on the Hot 100.

I would be very interested in learning the name of the song you are referring to in your initial question, as well as any releases I may have left out (or to confirm the information I shared) concerning your latter question.

Thanks,

Len

By: Jack Griffin

Jack Griffin — Mon, 26 Mar 2007 00:08:05 +0000

I bought the “Big Girls Don’t Cry…” CD last year, and thought it was a fair listen. I would have to say “Silhouettes” was my favorite track, but other than that and “Big Girls Don’t Cry,” I wasn’t pleased. I think the “Dawn (Go Away)…” album was much better.