Confessions of a Wanna-be Record Producer
March 24th, 2006I confess…I’ve always dreamed of being a record producer…
Listening to the “Jersey Boys Original Broadway Cast Recording,” followed by the Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons’ “Anthology” made my unusually long 90-minute bumper-to-bumper commute yesterday much more bearable.
Being at a complete stop for 20 minutes, I got to thinking about these recordings and thought it’d be great to hear a compilation of the Four Seasons’ hits with those of the Jersey Boys cast back to back.
Okay, the rough commute continued. As I was stuck again, in another 15-minute gridlock, I started thinking: Instead of a compilation, how about a possible new recording featuring Frankie Valli & the Jersey Boys???
As a wanna-be record producer, I came up with a few songs that might work on this album:
- An updated edition of “Beggin,” with Valli & John Lloyd Young sharing the leads, and the Jersey Boys harmonizing in the background?
- Maybe a rendition of Billy Joel’s tribute to the Four Seasons, “Uptown Girl”?
- Perhaps a couple of duets featuring Valli & Young, such as Act One’s standards, “I’m in the Mood for Love/Moody’s Mood for Love,” or “My Mother’s Eyes”? (Hey, Frank Sinatra recorded “Duets” back in 1993 & it was big!)
- Or, better yet, maybe genius Bob Gaudio composer/producer could pen some new tunes for this Valli/Jersey Boys recording?
What are your chart-topping ideas?
Nice ideas, Susie. I’m glad gridlock can be productive. I have a nice idea too, but I’m keeping it to myself until I can get around to producing it! Best, Charles
Comment by calexan — March 24, 2006 @ 2:39 pm
I’ve gotta go with the long, long awaited “jazz” album. Frankie doing standards sans falsetto. The Seasons catalog has now received its due.
Frank has finally gotten his recognition through this wonderful show. That’s really all some of us wanted.
Let him do something he enjoys.
If he doesn’t have the popularity to back a new recording, now,…he never will!
Comment by Ray Ricci — March 24, 2006 @ 2:45 pm
Yes Susie, I guess we are all frustrated record producers. While I too have many thoughts, I’ll just say that the Jersey Boys already performed something that would be a hit – the a capella version of Rag Doll that they performed on the Today Show. If there ever was a 4 Seasons’ song that could be performed a capella it is Rag Doll.
Comment by David Cace — March 24, 2006 @ 4:49 pm