Comments on: Friday Flashback: A Salute to the Song That Almost Never Saw the Light of Day… http://jerseyboysblog.com/friday-flashback-a-salute-to-the-song-that-almost-never-saw-the-light-of-day/5381 Dedicated to Jersey Boys, the Tony Award-winning smash hit Broadway & international musical of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons. Tue, 23 Jan 2018 04:11:24 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.5.1 By: Doris thomsom http://jerseyboysblog.com/friday-flashback-a-salute-to-the-song-that-almost-never-saw-the-light-of-day/5381/comment-page-1#comment-1117843 Doris thomsom Sat, 24 Jan 2015 01:59:56 +0000 http://jerseyboysblog.com/friday-flashback-a-salute-to-the-song-that-almost-never-saw-the-light-of-day/5381#comment-1117843 I was a student at what was then Bryant College in Providence. The sororities and fraternities were given free tickets. It was a great concert, one which brings back wonderful memories. It wasn’t often one could see so many stars in the same venue at the same time…Magical.

]]> By: Ray http://jerseyboysblog.com/friday-flashback-a-salute-to-the-song-that-almost-never-saw-the-light-of-day/5381/comment-page-1#comment-456979 Ray Mon, 06 Jun 2011 11:36:29 +0000 http://jerseyboysblog.com/friday-flashback-a-salute-to-the-song-that-almost-never-saw-the-light-of-day/5381#comment-456979 I can tell you first hand about this event. It was filmed at the Warwick Musical Theater (The Tent) in Rhode Island in September 67.

The summer season was over for this theater. One night some friends and I were driving by and happened to see an ABC trailer. We were curious and decided to check out what was happening. At this point there was no notice of any kind about this show. We walked inside and there they were…The Four Seasons, Neil Diamond, Flip Wilson, Buffalo Spingfield (Neil Young/Stephen Stills) Believe it or not there was no security of any kind so we were able to hang out and witness rehersals, production chit chat and talk freely to the artists in between rehersals. It took several days and over that time other people were arriving..Aretha, Smokey, Astred Gilberto, Flip Wilson an obscure girl group called “The Cake” and others.

It was quite an experience to witness all these artists under one roof(tent)and see the various interactions. Frankie was introduced to Aretha for the first time.

The “That’s Life” finale was pretty much impromptu and not really rehearsed as much. As David says it was soon to be a classic performance and re-visited on the Mike Douglas show.

A few days before final filming, a notice went out on radio and tickets were given out free of charge to anyone who wanted to go.

Ray

]]> By: David Cace http://jerseyboysblog.com/friday-flashback-a-salute-to-the-song-that-almost-never-saw-the-light-of-day/5381/comment-page-1#comment-455526 David Cace Sat, 04 Jun 2011 12:51:31 +0000 http://jerseyboysblog.com/friday-flashback-a-salute-to-the-song-that-almost-never-saw-the-light-of-day/5381#comment-455526 This is the best “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You” you will hear because Frankie sang it accompanied by Bob on organ, Tommy on guitar, Joe on bass and the Four Seasons concert band – Frankie’s many other TV performances of CTMEOY were either done to the recorded track or whatever TV show house band he was appearing on (Mike Douglas, Joey Bishop etc.). If you never heard Frankie sing CTMEOY in concert in the 1967-69 time frame this is as close to being in concert with Frankie, Bob, Tommy and Joe as you will get. The only other concert performance of Frankie, Bob, Tommy and Joe that I can think of is from one of Murray The K’s TV shows “”At Shea” (as in Shea Stadium the recently demolished former home of the New York Mets) – in particular “Tell It To The Rain.”

The closing song from Popendipity was Frank Sinatra’s “That’s Life” performed by Frankie, Aretha Franklin and Smokey Robinson. Frankie subsequently performed “That’s Life” with Aretha Franklin on the Mike Douglas show – that performance is captured on the DVD in “Jersey Beat” but it was done first on Popendipity.

]]> By: Ted Hammond http://jerseyboysblog.com/friday-flashback-a-salute-to-the-song-that-almost-never-saw-the-light-of-day/5381/comment-page-1#comment-455368 Ted Hammond Sat, 04 Jun 2011 04:50:56 +0000 http://jerseyboysblog.com/friday-flashback-a-salute-to-the-song-that-almost-never-saw-the-light-of-day/5381#comment-455368 Distilling internet links about Popendipity, it was basically a one time only concert aired on November 16, 1967. It was a fill in program during a strike. IMDB doesn’t have anything on it, like who played on the concert. Neil Diamond was on the program also, and of course, much to the amazement of Beatles, Beach Boys and Bee Gees pop fans, Bob Gaudio later produced six Neil Diamond albums. Not that there is a connection to Popendipity, which, of course, is a contraction of Popular and Serendipity. I assume from that name that it was hastily arranged light rock concert, that kind of came together accidentally. I don’t remember the program.

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