Today in Four Seasons History: November 17, 1962
November 17th, 2011Forty-nine years ago today, on November 17, 1962, â€Big Girls Don’t Cry†by The Four Seasons hit Number One on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. This was the quartet’s second consecutive chart-topper that remained in the top position for FIVE consecutive weeks from November 17, 1962-December 21, 1962. Additionally, the song spent three consecutive weeks in the top spot of Billboard’s R&B chart!
Written by Bob Crewe and Bob Gaudio, “Big Girls Don’t Cry” became a certified gold single by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).
I adore this video–do I post it enough?! Does anyone remember seeing this live back in the day? My story’s a little different about seeing this clip for the first time. Back somewhere in ’75, there was a salute to Ed Sullivan on TV and of course, I went nuts (following The Four Seasons forever). Well, the next day at school, (picture this: junior high kids wearing uniforms)–four cool popular eighth grade guys were hanging out in the hallway (no streetlamp) attempting to harmonize and Carlo Lombardi (he ended in a vowel–why do I remember this guy?) attempted the falsetto!
Okay, bells were going off big time–considering there was a dance coming up later that week and we all had to bring our 45s! Along with the hits of the day (yes, I brought “My Eyes Adored You”) and a bunch of other hits you can think of from the mid-70s, I brought my “Big Girls Don’t Cry” single. Carlo and his friends, and truth be told, the whole dance party connected! I do believe I also won brownie points with the teachers, who were our chaperones. The usual cranky teachers couldn’t quit smiling and Carlo insisted on playing it again and again!
We’d love for you to share your BGDC memories!
I remember vividly first hearing BGDC on my local stations, and then on my first visit to the Chicago area in November. It was in heavy rotation on both the fulltime Top 40 Station, WLS, and the R & B/Top 40 station, WYNR. I would flip the dial back and forth between 890 and 1390 and hear it sometimes twice an hour.
Vivian Carter, the “Vee” from Vee-Jay Records, began her radio career just before WYNR when 1390 was still WGES, and perhaps played some role in getting the early Four Seasons songs played on R & B stations.
Comment by Ted Hammond — November 17, 2011 @ 9:33 am
Let’s see: Frankie up front, (facing the camera with instruments) Tommy to the left, Nick to the right, and Bob to the left in the back…does this remind anyone of the line-up from the scene in Jersey Boys recreating the 4 Seasons appearance on American Bandstand.
Comment by David Cace — November 19, 2011 @ 10:24 pm