Bob Gaudio Reflects on the Enduring Appeal of The Four Seasons’ Music
August 20th, 2009Toronto Star’s Bruce DeMara notes that even Four Seasons songwriter/keyboardist Bob Gaudio can’t quite believe it.
In Toronto, the original Broadway cast recording of Jersey Boys placed third in CD sales for the week of Aug. 3 to 9 and The Very Best of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons placed fifth. The two albums have been dancing on the local CD charts, tracked by Neilsen SoundScan, off and on for the better part of a year – almost since the musical Jersey Boys opened here a year ago.
“That is certainly extraordinary,” said Gaudio, 66, one of the original Rock and Roll Hall of Fame band members and a member of the Songwriters Hall of Fame. So, what’s the enduring appeal of the famous foursome’s music?
“If I knew that, I’d do it all over again, wouldn’t I?” said Gaudio, with a chuckle. “There’s certainly been a whole lot of reminiscing since we put together Jersey Boys,” Gaudio said, referring to the musical that first opened in 2005 before heading to Broadway.
“We’ve found ourselves speaking to the people for one reason or another and I really wish I could be a lot more specific and intellectual about this. I’m sure somebody can analyze better than I can. You know, we just do what we do and it’s always been from the heart,” Gaudio said.
I think David and Howard would agree with me, that the fact that it took so long to get the recognition Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons deserved, is that the British Invasion happened, and musical tastes changed with both the anti Vietnam War politics and “street pharmaceutical” culture that followed, heavily influencing the music.
Not that the Four Seasons didn’t have their own subtle songs along some of those lines. Try listening to “Little Pony (Get Along)”, set in the immediate post Civil War era. I guarantee that it’s as sad as any song by Dickey Lee, and as skeptical about war as “What’s Goin’ On” by Marvin Gaye.
Comment by Ted Hammond — August 21, 2009 @ 5:20 pm