Photo Flashback: ‘The 4 Seasons Entertain You’ 1965 Album Cover!
February 7th, 2013“The 4 Seasons Entertain You” was the first 1965 album released by the group in March of that year. Check out the phenomenal track list, which includes hits such as “Big Man In Town” and “Bye, Bye, Baby (Baby Goodbye),” along with showtunes such as “Where Is Love?” (from Oliver!) and “Somewhere” (from West Side Story), and of course “Living Just for You,” written by the late, great Nick Massi!
- Show Girl
- Where Is Love?
- One Clown Cried
- My Prayer
- Little Darlin’
- Bye, Bye, Baby (Baby Goodbye)
- Betrayed
- Somewhere
- Living Just for You
- Little Angel
- Big Man in Town
- A Sunday Kind of Love
This Four Seasons album cover is one of my personal favorites since Tommy DeVito, Bob Gaudio, Nick Massi, and Frankie Valli are on stage in concert! For you guys who were lucky enough to have seen them in concert back in the ’60s, does this photo capture the magic of their live performances?
It really does. This was one of my favorite albums from the guys.
It showed their versatility in being able to perform different types of music.
My first Seasons’ concert was way back in 1964 at the CYC in Scranton. I was with my older brother. The place went dark and you could see one of the ushers coming out with a flash light to guide the guys up the steps to the stage. They grabbed their instruments and you then heard a couple strums of the guitar by Tommy and the bass by Nicky and of course a little from Bob’s Hammond organ.
Then it went quiet.
A few seconds later and you heard 3 drum taps and all of a sudden they break into the beginning of “Since I Don’t Have Youâ€. They opened with this song for a number of years back then. When I heard Frankie start to hit the stratosphere with this song, I remember turning to my brother and saying. “WOW, this sounds even better than the albumâ€.
I was hooked forever.
We did get to see Nicky perform again with the group later that summer at Rocky Glen Park for WARM Day. WARM was a local radio station that everyone listened to back then. They would hold all day Free concerts at the park. The Seasons came to perform about 3 summers in a row before anywhere from 20,000 to 25,000 people. Bobby Vinton, the Beau Brummels, Len Barry and others performed here over the years.
Also, got to hear Joe Long with the guys for the first time back at the park in 1966 …
Comment by Jerry — February 7, 2013 @ 12:27 pm
The ARSA website reveals that WARM was often one of the first stations nationwide to play, often called “break” in the industry, Four Seasons records.
Comment by Ted — February 7, 2013 @ 1:00 pm
Jerry describes it perfectly. “Since I Don’t Have You” continued as the opening song through 1970, except when the 4 Seasons performed with a full orchestra and then usually opened with “(Songs with the word) Music Medley.”
When Joe Long joined the group he shared a microphone with Tommy, and during song breaks he would stand center and provide the between song banter and set up for the next song or comedy routine…that role having previously been split between Tommy and Frankie. Nick would stand center, of course, for his solo numbers but would otherwise share the microphone with Bob as shown on the album cover.
There were two printings of the “Entertain You” album. The cover shown above is the second printing. Note the insert in the top right hand corner that says “Features the New Hit Toy Soldier and Bye Bye Baby.” The first printing did not include “Toy Soldier.” Thus, song number 12 on the album “A Sunday Kind of Love” was replaced on the second printing by “Toy Soldier,” making “A Sunday Kind of Love” a “Rarity” in the 4 Seasons’ catalogue, i.e., if you don’t have the first printing of “Entertain You” you may not have heard the 4 Seasons’ beautiful cover version of “A Sunday Kind of Love,” although it has appeared on subsequent CD releases (and the Brotherhood of Man album release as I recall). I will also note that the singing of “A Sunday Kind of Love” in Jersey Boys in the Church scene is a pretty faithful rendition of the recording, although truncated to fit the scene.
Comment by David Cace — February 7, 2013 @ 3:09 pm
It’s intresting to note that you have the newer lp cover with the older track listing as “Sunday Kind Of Love” was replaced by “Toy Soldier” since it became a mild hit after early pressings.
I spent a few years waiting for “Sunday Kind Of Love” to pop up again and sure enough a budget lp came out on the Pickwick label (Brotherhood Of Man) and there it was.
I don’t remember seeing them performing in proper suits/ties..I think they reserved those threads for the night club circuit. I was too young to get in.
This was a great lp. Maybe the last of their Neo-DooWop sound before changing their style.
Comment by Ray — February 7, 2013 @ 3:20 pm
Jerry, Ted, David, & Ray–Thanks so much for sharing your amazing memories of the 60s 4 Seasons’ shows (and the WARM station)…
The shows sounded phenomenal–the minute the music started on stage–but here’s what puzzles me: Although the Seasons’ did a great recording of “Since I Don’t Have You,” it wasn’t a hit for them…So, I wonder why, back in the day, the guys didn’t begin with one of their big hits? (I get the “Music Medley” w/the full orchestra, but I’ve just been curious what you guys think.) I’m guessing that it was to really highlight Frankie’s fab vocal range and to show their versatility as real showmen/entertainers, not just some guys with great Top 40 hits. Am I on the right track, or maybe it was to “save” the hits for later in the show to get the audience really into it?
By the time I started seeing Seasons in the 70s (Joe Long was still w/the band), they’d begin w/a big hit, such as “Working My Way Back To You.”
Comment by Susie — February 7, 2013 @ 10:10 pm
Interesting question, Susie.
In my opinion, they opened with certain songs that allowed them to warm up and perhaps do sound checks and such. In the early days “Since I Don’t Have You” was a perfect example. Drums begin followed by guitar, organ, bass then vocals. It may have allowed them to test the sound system. They were always very particular about their “live” sound.
Opening with “I Got Love” for example wasn’t a hit but it’s a song that you probably wouldn’t put in the middle of a show. Same for the “Music” medley.
They really mixed it up with hits and lesser known songs that would have a greater impact on the show.Let’s say they did “Moody’s Mood For Love” then came right back with “Tell It To The Rain”, it had a certain “wow” factor.
They usually saved the “Sherry” medley for near the end, again, creating the biggest impact.
They were entertainers and always knew how to please their audiences.
Comment by Ray — February 8, 2013 @ 7:30 am
Thanks, Ray–that just fascinates me how versatile & powerful the Seasons’ show must have been in the ’60s–from Moody’s Mood, then coming right back w/Tell It To The Rain…
Also–Ray, I’m curious, since the guys weren’t wearing suits at the concert venues (that weren’t night clubs), what kind of stuff were they wearing? Casual matching shirts & pants, or some sort of matching sweaters? I’m just so interested about their style back then.
By the time I was seeing “Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons” of the mid ’70s, I remember them wearing white bell-bottomed pants & these shirts w/striped doves on them (sheesh!), then of course, the leisure suits a couple years later.
Comment by Susie — February 17, 2013 @ 10:09 am
Susie,
I think if you look at all the lp covers/backs through the years you get a pretty good idea of what they were wearing in concert.
Suits (even tuxedos) seem to be reserved for special
gigs be it TV, famous night spots (Coconut Grove,Copa etc.) Seemed to be more casual on the college circuit.
As you mentioned by the time the 70′s came all hell broke loose!
Comment by Ray — February 22, 2013 @ 11:34 am
I remember attending a 4 seasons concert at rocky glen park, PA in the 60′s. which years did they perform there? any photos of these concerts online?
thanks
Comment by sue fuller — July 13, 2014 @ 9:19 am
I went to a concert (possibly WARM) in the summer at Rocky Glen or Ghost Town and could have been the summer of ’63 or ’64. Appearing were the Four Seasons, Herman’s Hermits, Mer-Lyn, and a few other acts. I wish I had the total program. If anyone could provide a date or at least the year I can check the newspaper archives. Thank you.
Comment by Gini — January 24, 2015 @ 5:03 pm