New JB Blog Poll: What’s Your Favorite Frankie Valli Solo Hit?
March 3rd, 2007It’s time for a new Jersey Boys Blog Poll: What is your favorite solo hit recording by the legendary Frankie Valli?
In addition to Jersey Boys showstoppers—“My Eyes Adored You,†“Can’t Take My Eyes Off You,†and “Fallen Angel,†Frankie Valli had many other hits on the Billboard Hot 100 Chart from the mid 1960s through the late ‘70s. Therefore, we thought we’d highlight some of Valli’s hits that made it to the Billboard Hot 100, and find out which one is your favorite. Below are some fun facts about Frankie Valli’s solo hits:
The Sun Ain’t Gonna Shine (Anymore): Although this song never made it to the Hot 100 Chart in 1965 when it was released (peaking at #128), the Walker Brothers’ 1966 rendition climbed to #13 on Billboard. Bob Crewe and Bob Gaudio composed this incredible song.
(You’re Gonna) Hurt Yourself: Released in 1966, the first Frankie Valli solo song to hit the Hot 100 peaked at #39, and was written by Charles Calello and Bob Crewe.
The Proud One: This song, written by Crewe and Gaudio, stalled at Number 68 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1966. In 1975, the Osmonds’ remake peaked at #22 on the chart.
Can’t Take My Eyes Off You: This 1967 Crewe/Gaudio masterpiece peaked at #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and is a certified gold record.
I Make A Fool of Myself: Valli’s follow-up to the monster hit CTMEOY, written by Crewe and Gaudio, climbed to #18 on the Hot 100 in 1967.
To Give (The Reason I Live): This poignant song, composed by Crewe and Gaudio, had some theatrical undertones and showcased Valli’s amazing vocals. It was released in late 1967, and reached Number 29 in 1968.
The Girl I’ll Never Know (Angels Never Fly This Low): This song, written by Raymond Bloodworth and Russell Brown, reached #52 on the chart for Frankie in 1969.
My Eyes Adored You: This Bob Crewe/Kenny Nolan ballad hit the Hot 100 in the fall 1974 and rose to the Number One position in March 1975 and is a certified gold record.
Swearin’ to God: This disco-inspired follow-up smash to “My Eyes Adored You,†written by Bob Crewe and Denny Randell, climbed to #6 in the summer of 1975 on the Hot 100.
Our Day Will Come: This Mort Garson/Bob Hilliard tune originally topped the charts by Ruby and the Romantics in 1963. Valli’s disco version rose to #11 in the fall of 1975.
Fallen Angel: This phenomenal Guy Fletcher/Doug Flett ballad surprisingly didn’t receive the attention and airplay it deserved, and only peaked at #36 on Billboard.
We’re All Alone: Valli’s rendition of this Boz Scaggs’ love song only reached #78 on the Hot 100 in 1976. The following year, Rita Coolidge’s version climbed to #7 on the charts.
Grease: Written by Barry Gibb, the theme song from the blockbuster hit movie became Valli’s second Number One solo hit, remaining in the top position for two weeks during the summer of 1978. This single is also Valli’s only platinum single.
Before you vote, you might want to take a moment to listen to these terrific Frankie Valli hits
You can vote for your favorite Frankie Valli hit in the current poll on the sidebar to the right, or from the JB Blog Polls page.
I listened closely on the Anthology CD’s to many of the songs that didn’t get a lot of airplay when first released. Some are amazing…my friend, 4 Seasons historian David Cace, introduced me to “To Give”, which I don’t even recall from its initial release. I can’t stop listening to it now. Please give all the songs above a listen before voting! Great summary above, JB Blogmaster.
And a suggestion to the Blogmaster: at some point, you may want to poll which 4 Seasons/Frankie Valli remake by other artists is the fans’ favorite. In addition to those cited above, the ones that immediately come to mind are Robert John’s remake of “Sherry”, the various remakes (Lettermen, Nancy Wilson, Lauryn Hill, Barry Manilow) of “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You”, the Barry Manilow remake of “Let’s Hang On”, Jackson Browne’s remake of “Stay”, the Spinners “Working My Way Back to You”, Donny Osmond’s “C’mon Marianne”, and the list goes on and on.
Comment by Howard — March 4, 2007 @ 1:38 am
After having seen Jersey Boys again last night and after just listening to the excerpts of songs to vote for on the current Valli Solo Hit Poll, it is uncanny how John Lloyd Young sounds so much like Frankie Valli. In fact, I think it would be difficult for anyone to tell the difference. Maybe the song currently leading in the poll is in this position because it is also a solo in the show.
Comment by Beverley Micciche — March 4, 2007 @ 11:44 am
Great suggestion, Howard! Another one of my favorites is the Manhattan Transfer’s rendition of “Let’s Hang On.”
Comment by Administrator — March 4, 2007 @ 10:41 am
I just put in my vote for my most favorite Frankie Valli Solo Hit and noticed one 1966 Frankie Valli Solo release was missing from the list, not that I would have voted for it, quite the contrary, but it was an early 1966 Frankie Valli Solo release and did get some air play (I would have to look up the highest position it reached on the charts, but it wasn’t very high, maybe 25 or so in NY, probably lower nationally) but in a strange sort of way it had some significance in 4 Seasons’ history, and that song was “You’re Ready Now.” If memory serves me, it was released between “You’re Gonna Hurt Yourself” and “The Proud One.” And it was the last Frankie Valli Solo release on the “Smash” label, “The Proud One” being Frankie’s firt solo release on “Philips.”
“You’re Ready Now” in interesting and historically significant for two reasons. First, the “B” side to “You’re Ready Now” is another even more obscure song, at least that is until “Jersey Boys” and that song is “Cry For Me.” Daniel Reichard’s version is much better and the arrangement is far superior. “Cry For Me” never appeared on an album and I believe only appears on some CD reissues so if you don’t have the “You’re Ready Now” 45 rpm record, you probably never heard Frankie sing “Cry For Me.” It has female background singers and a rather strange arrangement, kind of “winding.” You have to hear it.
Second, as more fully discussed in the often mentioned Rex Woodard article (the first one this time), “You’re Ready Now” was “discovered” by some “offshore” UK DJ in late 1970, some 4 years after its original release, who liked it and thought it was a fine example of a “soul” record. I never got that impression, even remotely, but I am not the UK DJ. In any event, “You’re Ready Now” caught on on mainstream UK radio and thus the unexpected demand for a hurry-up UK tour in 1971 to capitalize on the popularity of a “new” Frankie Valli and the 4 Seasons hit song. The Jersey Boys Blog recently posted a 1971 UK TV appearance featuring Bob Grimm as a member of the 4 Seasons. If it weren’t for “You’re Ready Now” Bob Grimm’s battlefield promotion from back-up guitar playing band member to performing “Season” may not have occurred (Demetri Callas a few months later becoming the new permanent performing lead guitarist).
Comment by David Cace — March 10, 2007 @ 1:11 pm