Comments on: Rockers on Broadway–Jersey Boys Cast Salute the Jackson 5!

By: Ted Hammond

Ted Hammond — Sun, 20 Feb 2011 22:39:19 +0000

Borders Books is closing its local store here, and I bought the book “1001 Songs You Must Hear Before You Die” by Robert Dimery at the closeout sale. Like most other lists of this nature, Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons are underrepresented. In fact, the UK Northern Soul favorite “The Night” is the only song in the 1001 outlined, though there are 10001 other songs listed in an index, including several more from FV4S. There is a worthwhile quote though, along the lines of my previous comments. From Page 310, “The Four Seasons were the act that Berry Gordy would play to his Motown songwriters to give them an idea of what they should be aiming for.”

So perhaps they were the Four Seasons of Berry Gordy’s life!

By: Ted Hammond

Ted Hammond — Thu, 27 Jan 2011 04:41:56 +0000

I just found this release dated today from the Chameleon UK FV4S Fan Website.

http://www.seasonally.co.uk/NewsJan-Mar2011/TimepieceMotownPart3.pdf

Apparently, “Maybe Tomorrow” was just falling off the charts in October, 1971, when the Four Seasons signed to Motown. The original plan was reportedly for Berry Gordy and the rest of the aforementioned “The Corporation”, who composed and produced much of the J5′s early works, to work closely with Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons to return them to their former 1960s glory. That didn’t happen, but perhaps FV4S attained greater fame in the long run because it didn’t.

By: Ted Hammond

Ted Hammond — Mon, 29 Oct 2007 18:51:00 +0000

JBs did J5′s songs so well, they should cut a CD of their lesser know songs and release it! “Maybe Tomorrow” would be perfect!

Further research shows that “The Corporation” who wrote and produced many of the Jackson 5′s hits, included, among others Berry Gordy, Jr. and Freddie Perren. As we know, Berry Gordy, Jr. signed The Four Seasons, when they were at the nadir of their popularity, to Motown in the early 70s (The “Hickory” 45 even had the Rand McNally Map Logo on Motown, and the “Chameleon” LP was on Mowest), and Berry Gordy also sold the rights to “My Eyes Adored You” back to the Four Seasons Partnership when they began their mid 70s resurgence with Private Stock and Warner/Curb.

So Berry Gordy and the original Jersey Boys also go way back.

By: Damaris Dugan

Damaris Dugan — Mon, 29 Oct 2007 14:48:19 +0000

Thank You Kathy! For posting the video of Jersey Boys performing Jackson 5 songs. The Rockers on Broadway show this year was one of the best ones I have been too. Even though they were all good shows, “The Salute to Motown” was one big party. Everyone loved it and we were still dancing in the streets after the show was over. This is just another example of how talented our Jersey Boys cast is and lets not forget those incredible talented band members who provided the music for all the performers.
Great show guys!

By: Ted Hammond

Ted Hammond — Sun, 28 Oct 2007 23:22:11 +0000

In the song “Maybe Tomorrow” by the Jackson 5, there is of course the line “You are the Four Seasons of my life”. Though written by a group of songwriters known as “The Corporation”, and whose individual names escape me, and given the fact only now being revealed that the Four Seasons inspired many other artists, one could wonder if the original Jersey Boys were in some way an inspiration for the J5.