August 10, 2007

Frankie Valli Singing “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You”

August 10th, 2007

Forty years ago, Frankie Valli’s “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You” peaked at Number Two on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

« Jersey Boys Cast Recording Back to Number Two On Chart!   Daniel Reichard’s Summer Mix Tape Concerts TONIGHT! »

18 Comments »

  1. Notice the little horn section at the end of the video at the right. That was the 4 Seasons traveling band at that time along with drummer Joey Cass in the back. And prior to Can’t Take My Eyes Off You the traveling “band” consisted of Joey Cass (and Ronald Roach before him). But as you can hear, even with the little horn section, the bulk of the instrumentation was done by Tommy, Bob and Joe Long. What these guys could do instumentally is very much understated, and underappreciated. They were fabulous musicians, as was Nick before Joe.

    So the line in Jersey Boys about adding a horn section and then seeing the horn section come out on the walkway as the character Frankie Valli sings Can’t Take My Eyes Off You is historically accurate. What is not historically accurate in Jersey Boys is that Tommy had left the band and Bob wasn’t a performing member any longer when Can’t Take My Eyes Off You hit the charts in the early summer of 1967. As one can see from this video, that was not the case. Historically, Nick had been gone from the band not quite 2 years, but Tommy was still with the group and would be for 3 1/2 more years and Gaudio as a performing member for another year plus after that.

    Comment by David Cace — August 10, 2007 @ 10:31 am

  2. I just saw Jersey Boys in Los Angeles and Rick Faugno’s resemblance to Frankie Valli (especially in this clip) is staggering.

    Comment by Gary — August 10, 2007 @ 11:18 am

  3. As I watch and listen to Frankie sing this beautiful song, I see JLY. Gary says the resemblance to Rick Faugno’s Frankie is staggering and I “ditto” his words regarding JLY.

    Each day, I become more mesmirized by the Jersey Boys phenomenon and more appreciative of the collective and individual talent and creative genius of everyone involved in the writing, directing, producing, staging, orchestration, and performing of this once in a lifetime experience.

    I am so thankful to be part of the glorious event. IE

    Comment by irene eizen — August 10, 2007 @ 11:36 am

  4. Unfortunately my employer decided to put some kind of software that screws up my ability to watch YouTube and could not enjoy the clip.

    After watching the CTMEOY versions on both Ovation cable channel’s special programming of “Popular Music – The Atlantic Crossing” a few weeks ago, which had a feature on Bob Crewe, Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, and the DVD portion on the “Jersey Beat” CD set, I really can’t wait to see Frankie Valli sing “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You” in person again. It will have been over 20 years since I last watched him in the SF area, but will be well worth it this October.

    I just love that song and even after these long years since being released, the interview with Bob Crewe on that Ovation Channel program summed it up when he got goosebumps describing how he and Bob Gaudio changed it up from a simple ditty to the song that we love so much.

    Also, the only song I’ve heard Rick Faugno sing was “Sherry” with Jennifer Evans at a public appearance in SF. He definitely is a great actor and would love to see him again, especially in Sacramento next month.

    Comment by Mike B. Magbaleta — August 10, 2007 @ 12:40 pm

  5. David, Gary, Irene–your comments are wonderful, but would you please tell GAVA (or whomever) to “(re)RELEASE THE SONG ALREADY” so that Frankie can be the only artist to hit the Billboard Hot 100 in all six decades of its existence?!!

    Isn’t it amazing that 40 years ago, CTMEOY couldn’t overtake the Association’s “Windy” for the #1 spot?

    Question for Gary: Are you Erich’s father? If so, please check out Andrea’s FF interview; Erich’s getting Andrea the ticket was a wonderful gesture.

    Comment by Howard Tucker — August 10, 2007 @ 12:47 pm

  6. Did anyone else get a chill watching this performance. I wonder if JLY watched this video as part of his research. His portrayal of Frankie Valli performing this song is very similiar! Also, I loved the audience reaction. They knew that they were watching something very special. I love that song!!!

    Comment by Lauren — August 10, 2007 @ 2:05 pm

  7. I am also struck by the similarities of this video with John Lloyd’s singing of this song in Jersey Boys. JLY captures the real essence of Frankie Valli, the performer, and that is why he owns the Tony!!

    Comment by Beverley Micciche — August 10, 2007 @ 4:04 pm

  8. Lauren

    I wasn’t at this performance but I did see Frankie perform CTMEOY live STARTING in 1967 and the dialogue in the play between Crewe and Gaudio about the crowd going wild is exactly true. And, I might add, this could be said about all the hit songs the 4 Seasons, or Frankie solo, performed live back in the ’60s.

    The 4 Seasons did a lot of comedy in their act, sophisticated comedy, not “monkey songs or some s__t” including Frankie’s laugh out loud funny version of I’m in the Moody For Love/Moody’s Mood For Love, not the “straight” version that is in the play. But even with the comedy, the last 30-40 minutes of their show was non-stop hit after hit, and mostly the up-tempo hits like Tell It To The Rain, C’mon Marianne, Let’s Hang On, with a dramatic I’ve Got You Under My Skin and Rag Doll thrown in for effect, and of course the big first 3 No. 1 songs, done as a medley in the later part of the ’60s with Bye Bye Baby as the closer.

    Comment by David Cace — August 10, 2007 @ 4:14 pm

  9. What a great video clip. This is classic Frankie Valli at his best. He has amazing talent, charisma, and audience appeal, and makes this beautiful song his own. JLY has those qualities as well, and does the same thing in Jersey Boys. Similar performances, but each with his own unique take on it. I’ve had the great good fortune of seeing both of them do CTMEOY, and they’re each amazing!

    Pamela

    Comment by Pamela — August 10, 2007 @ 7:46 pm

  10. I was so impressed with John Lloyd Young. I could not believe that he sounded so much like Frankie.To watch the video of Frankie at that age, his style,the voice, JLY has it all!I’m going to Atlantic City August 24th to see Frankie (and comparing JLY).I love the way they both sing. Thea

    Comment by THEA — August 10, 2007 @ 9:14 pm

  11. Wow, I love that rendition Frankie does there. I can’t wait to see him again in October. I think it’s been over 15 years since I last saw him in Reno. It will be interesting to see what has transpired with his act since then. Like Irene, I am a total JLY fan although I have also seen Rick, Chris and Jarrod perform. All are good, but there is just something about JLY’s performance that really tugs at the old heartstrings.

    Comment by LindaL — August 10, 2007 @ 10:13 pm

  12. It is more surprising that a song so much in the MOR/AC tradition, like “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You” did not make the Billboard Middle Of The Road/Adult Contemporary charts at all, than that it did not hit #1. It probably was too mellow for most Top 40 Program Directors to take off all at once on the national Pop charts. It’s eight weeks in the Top 10 put it ahead of many #1 songs of that year, as does it’s 16 weeks in the Hot 100. It’s airplay and sales were apparently spread over a longer time period. It still got the RIAA Gold Record, and is #5 on BMI’s 100 most played songs of the century, thanks in part to numerous covers and medleys.

    Comment by Ted Hammond — August 12, 2007 @ 2:26 pm

  13. My gosh, Ted, I am reviewing the Easy Listening Billboard Charts right now (as they were called in the 1960′s and 1970′s), and sure enough, Frankie’s CTMEOY didn’t chart at all. However, the Lettermen’s remake (in a medley w/Goin’ Out of My Head), which entered on 12/23/67, did go to #2, and Percy Faith’s instrumental version entered on 10/26/67 and rose to #24. Nancy Wilson’s vocal entered on 12/27/69 and went to #28. Makes one wonder how these charts were compiled.

    Between 1968 and 1974 Frankie did hit the “Easy Listening” chart three times: in 1968 with “To Give” (#17), “The Girl I’ll Never Know” (#32) in 1969, and “My Eyes Adored You” (#2) in 1974-1975.

    Comment by Howard Tucker — August 12, 2007 @ 10:45 pm

  14. Back then, artists initially established as Pop or Rock had a hard time breaking into the EZL/MOR/AC Charts. Covers of “I’ve Got You Under My Skin” and “And That Reminds Me” were also original enough quality arrangements and performances that they should also have made the Adult Charts. Nowadays, with programs American Idol, adults are exposed to new artists like Kelly Clarkson almost immediately, and they chart AC almost immediately. American Bandstand probably didn’t have the adult appeal of American Idol. Or perhaps there was just a resistance by PDs of Adult Contemporary Radio Stations to artists that were considered Rock and Roll.

    Comment by Ted Hammond — August 13, 2007 @ 10:11 am

  15. To Ted and Howard,

    It was really interesting and informative reading your comments (#12 through #14 above) regarding the history of what is now called the “Adult Contemporary” charts and Frankie Valli, as well as The 4 Seasons, inclusion (or lack of) on that particular listing. Although I am quite familiar with the chart action Frankie Valli and Company had on the Hot 100 throughout the years, I was unaware of their placements on the “Easy Listening” charts. Thanks for the discussion.

    Comment by Len Gersten — August 13, 2007 @ 7:14 pm

  16. Some Frankie Valli Adult Contemporary solo chartings we may not have mentioned in other threads include “We’re All Alone” at #27 (also #78 Hot 100), “Easily” at #26 (also #108 Bubbling Under), and “Save Me, Save Me” at #48. As you see, what charts later in a Pop artist’s career on Adult Contemporary charts is often surprising when compared to what didn’t chart at all earlier in their career. This is also true of many other artists, however. I guess the fans mature along with the music.

    Another surprise is Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons Billboard R & B Chart History. “Sherry” and “Big Girls Don’t Cry” both hit #1 R & B, “Walk Like A Man” hit #3 R & B, and Candy Girl hit #13. On the solo side, “Swearin’ To God” hit #31 and “Grease” hit #40 on the R & B Billboard Charts.

    We should thank Joel Whitburn for his wonderful reference books, which are also quoted in virtually every artist’s compilation liner notes.

    Comment by Ted Hammond — August 14, 2007 @ 5:26 pm

  17. A nice little tune “Fancy Dancer ” made it to #79 on the Hot 100 chart in 1979 and “Where Did We Go Wrong” went to #13 on the AC chart in 1980. I wish both were included in the Rhino boxed set. Both have not been on CD format.

    Comment by richard — August 15, 2007 @ 11:31 pm

  18. When I was in high school, shortly after the Lettermen medley came out, our band played “Goin’ Out Of My Head/Can’t Take My Eyes Off Of You”. I always got a kick out of the sheet music, which had Bob Crewe and Bob Gaudio listed as the composers, along with Teddy Randazzo and Bob Weinstein for the other part of the medley. Getting recognition by the older musical generation by selecting that song for performance, was an indication to me that Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons had already achieved a great deal of respect in the musical world.

    Comment by Ted Hammond — August 16, 2007 @ 1:15 pm

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