385. The Four Seasons – December, 1963 (Oh, What a Night) (1976)

The Intro

The Four Seasons are one of the the US’s most influential doo-wop and pop groups, and along with The Beach Boys, the only ones to enjoy chart success before, during and after the British Invasion of the 60s. Those Jersey boys had five number 1s in the US (plus two solo singles by Frankie Valli), but the nostalgic December 1963 (Oh, What a Night) was the only one to top the UK charts.

Before

The Four Seasons began in Newark, New Jersey with Valli, their most famous member. In 1954, the singer joined forces with guitarist Tommy DeVito and formed The Variatones. For the next two years the group performed under a variety of names before settling on The Four Lovers. In 1956 they released their first single, You’re the Apple of My Eye, and many more followed over the next few years, but to no success.

1959 was an important year in the group’s development. They started working with producer and songwriter Bob Crewe and Bob Gaudio joined the line-up. The following year, The Four Lovers failed an audition at bowling establishment The Four Seasons but according to Gaudio they decided something good must come out of the failure, so they named themselves after the venue and on a handshake agreement between Gaudio and Valli, the Four Seasons Partnership was formed. The original line-up had Valli as lead singer, Gaudio on vocals, guitar and keyboards, DeVito on vocals and guitar and Nick Massi on vocals and bass. They spent much of 1961 recording for artists on Crewe’s labels Topix and Perri.

The Four Seasons’ debut single Bermuda/Spanish Lace got nowhere but all would change with the follow-up, Sherry. Released in 1962 on Vee-Jay Records, it became their first US number 1, went to eight in the UK, and is considered an early-60s classic. The hits came thick and fast, most notably Big Girls Don’t Cry in 1962 and Walk Like a Man in 1963 also becoming US number 1s.

Following a dispute with Vee-Jay, which was also mired in a dispute with The Beatles and Capitol Records, they jumped ship to Philips in 1964. The hits continued, including number 1s Rag Doll/Silence Is Golden the latter a UK number 1 for The Tremoloes in 1967. Massi left in 1965 and after their arranger and former Four Lovers member Charles Calello stood in briefly, to be replaced by Joe Long.

They recorded under several guises over the next few years – as The Valli Boys and The Wonder Who?, and Valli continued to release solo records. His version of The Sun Ain’t Gonna Shine Anymore, later a UK number 1 for The Walker Brothers, tanked in 1965, but Can’t Take My Eyes off You was a US number two in 1967. However there was a noticeable decline in sales in the late-60s. Considering how unfashionable doo-wop had become, it’s a wonder they could even still enter the charts. But their version of Will You Love Me Tomorrow was their last top 40 US hit for seven years. In a bid to become relevant they recorded a concept album, covering social issues rather than their usual collection of love songs. The Genuine Imitation Life Gazette, released in 1969, performed badly, and The Four Seasons left Philips soon after.

In 1972 The Four Seasons released their first and only album on Motown. Chameleon failed to sell, although one single from it, The Night, credited to Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons, became a favourite among the Northern Soul scene in the UK and was re-released in 1975, charting at seven. Long left, replaced by Don Ciccone and Gerry Polci took up the drumkit. John Paiva joined as lead guitarist in 1973.

Valli had been forced to sing less as a result of hearing loss, so these new members took the brunt of the singing until he had surgery. Meanwhile, Valli went to return to number 1 in the US, when he bought the master recordings for My Eyes Adored You from Motown and took them to Private Stock Records. This single helped the band get signed to Warner Bros. Records.

Who Loves You (a reference to Kojak?) was their first album with the new line-up and it completely turned around their fortunes. They wisely added a disco sound just as the genre was exploding in the US, and perhaps their fans from 10 years previous were ready to relive their youth. Its title track went to three in the US and six in the UK and December, 1963 (Oh, What a Night) came out next.

Originally, this track was called December 5, 1933 with co-writer Gaudio celebrating the repeal of Prohibition, but his future wife and lyricist Judy Parker agreed with Valli that it wasn’t quite right. Parker suggested it should be about the courtship between her and Gaudio. It ended up being a man having a nostalgic look back at losing his virginity.

Review

Were you not to pay close attention to the lyrics, you’d possibly not realise this. I’ll admit I thought it was about a first kiss, or just a date. That’s partly down to the sweetness of the melody and the production, which is slick and drips of innocence and young love and of course those famous Four Seasons vocals only add to that feel. This sole UK number 1 doesn’t actually feature Valli very much. He’s only singing backing vocals and the bridge. Polci is on lead, making this a rare number 1 to feature a singing drummer. And that’s Ciccone describing the orgasm (‘And I felt a rush like a rolling ball of thunder/Spinning my head around and taking my body under’). Belying the innocence are lyrics like ‘you know I didn’t even know her name’ – was she a prostitute?! And ‘Oh my, as I recall it ended much too soon’. TMI, guys.

Knowing how risque this actually is has improved my opinion of it, and like I said, it’s really well-produced. I like the phasing on Valli’s parts – was that done to mask how much is singing prowess had dropped at the time? Whatever the reason, I’m a sucker for 70s noises like this and Shapiro’s keyboards. What I’m not too keen on is the trademark Valli falsetto lead sound of their earlier material – it sets my teeth on edge, so I welcome the difference here. Although Valli is responsible for one of my favourite movie themes – Grease (1978). Brilliant and so cool.

After

The combination of that disco sound and heavy dose of nostalgia for halcyon days made December, 1963 (Oh, What a Night) a smash, and two more from the album, Fallen Angel and Silver Star, went to 11 and three respectively that year. But this return to peak form wasn’t to last. With the exception of Grease, neither the group or Valli troubled the top 30 in either the US or UK again.

The line-up has fluctuated ever since, the only constants being Valli and Gaudio (who is permanently behind the scenes), but they have remained a big draw through their live shows. In 1984 they collaborated with The Beach Boys on the LP East Meets West but it was a surprising flop. Dutch DJ and producer Ben Liebrand updated their number 1 for the 80s dancefloors, but December, 1963 (1988) didn’t trouble the charts. In 1992 the last Four Seasons album to date, Hope + Glory, was released. Valli has occasionally appeared on TV as an actor, most notably in The Sopranos.

Then in 2005 the hugely successful jukebox musical Jersey Boys, chronicling the career of The Four Seasons, brought the band back in the public eye and has toured ever since. A film adaptation produced and directed by Clint Eastwood followed in 2014.

Of the original line-up, Massi died of cancer in 2000 and DeVito of COVID-19 in 2020.

The Outro

December, 1963, renamed Oh What a Night, was also a hit for British dance act Clock in 1996, where it peaked at 13.

The Info

Written by

Bob Gaudio & Judy Parker

Producer

Bob Gaudio

Weeks at number 1

2 (21 February-5 March)

Trivia

Deaths

23 February: Artist LS Lowry

Meanwhile…

2 March: Brent Cross Shopping Centre opens in London.

4 March: The Maguire Seven are found guilty of the offence of possessing explosives used in the Guilford pub bombings of 1974 and subsequently wrongly convicted for 14 years. The decision was reversed in 1991. On the same day, the Northern Ireland Constitional Convention was formally dissolved in Northern Ireland, resulting in direct rule from London via the British parliament.

368. Bay City Rollers – Bye Bye Baby (1975)

The Intro

Taking over the mantle of The Osmonds, the Bay City Rollers were the teen pop phenomenon of the mid-70s. With their cherubic looks, long hair and parent-friendly rock singles, for a time they were considered to be the next Beatles, and were adored by their loyal ‘Tartan Army’.

Before

Their roots began in Edinburgh, Scotland, in 1964, with a trio called The Ambassadors. The Longmuir brothers, Alan on acoustic, younger brother Derek on drums, and older cousin Neil Porteous, also on acoustic. They only ever performed once, at a family wedding. From there, they became The Saxons, with Alan changing to electric bass and school pal Gordon ‘Nobby’ Clark joining as singer. While still at school, the band would perform at local dance halls.

Several line-up changes down the line, The Saxons met former big band leader Tam Paton for the first time, and he added them to his roster. By then their repertoire consisted of covers of The Kinks and mainly contemporary US artists.

Some time in the late 60s they decided they wanted a cool, American-sounding name. They settled on ‘Rollers’ but wanted a random US place chosen by a dart throw at a map. The first attempt would have seen them become the Arkansas Rollers, but the second attempt saw the dart land near Bay City, Michigan. Among the nascent Bay City Rollers line-up were bassist David Paton, from 1969 until 1970, and keyboardist Billy Lyall, from 1969 to 1971. Together, they founded Pilot, who hit number 1 in February 1975 with January.

In 1971 the Bay City Rollers signed with US label Bell Records and released their first single, a cover of Keep on Dancing, which was a hit for The Gentrys in 1965. The Rollers were an instant hit, soaring to nine in the UK. But two singles in 1972 failed to chart. That year Eric Faulkner joined the ranks as guitarist. Fourth single Saturday Night narrowly missed out on a chart place the following year and Clark became disillusioned and quit. He was replaced by Les McKeown and when 16-year-old Stuart ‘Woody’ Wood replaced John Devine on guitar, the classic line-up was formed.

Despite never quite reaching the top spot, 1974 was a hell of a year for the boys. Debut LP Rollin’ scored them three top 10 hits with Remember (Sha-La-La-La) (six), Shang-A-Lang (two), Summerlove Sensation (three) and non-album single All of Me Loves All of You reached four. They were one of the country’s biggest-selling acts, and in 1975, ‘Rollermania’ was coined as they embarked on a UK tour. Tartan was in vogue.

Their next single and the one that finally went to number 1 was the opening track on forthcoming second album Once Upon a Star. Bye Bye Baby had been a hit in the US for doo-wop legends The Four Seasons in 1965, when it was known as Bye Bye Baby (Baby Goodbye). Penned by group members Bob Crewe and Bob Gaudio, the original is leaden by comparison, but Crewe and Gaudio knew how to write hits, and this is the third cover of their songs to reach number 1 – The Walker Brothers had The Sun Ain’t Gonna Shine Anymore in 1966 and The Tremeloes covered Silence Is Golden a year later. The Four Seasons would have a number 1 in their own right too, co-written by Gaudio, but that’s a year away at this point.

Review

The Rollers’ version is much better, with fuller instrumentation and a faster, more effective rhythm. It opens with a mournful McKeown coming to terms with the fact his time with his loved one is up because he has to leave. But it’s not for the usual reasons you’d find in love songs – especially not by a bunch of squeaky-clean pop idols. No, Bye Bye Baby is about a man saying goodbye to his lover because he’s already married. The evidence is there for all to hear: ‘You’re the one girl in town I’d marry/Girl, I’d marry you now if I were free’… and:

‘Should have told you that I can’t linger
There’s a weddin’ ring on my finger
She’s got me and I’m not free’.

I have to confess I quite like Bye Bye Baby. The subject matter gives it an extra dimension, and Phil Wainman’s production makes it an infectious singalong. I doubt I’d ever put it on by choice, but over the years I’ve found myself singing it at random times, so it’s got under my skin. On the basis of this song alone, I’d argue Bay City Rollers were a better than average mid-70s pop band, but having heard other material, the constant ‘shang-a-langing’ gets really bloody tedious.

After

Bye Bye Baby held the top spot for six weeks and became 1973’s bestseller, and there was more to come in 1975 for the Rollers. During its number 1 run, the band even got their own children’s TV series, featuring the lads in comedy sketches and star guests dropping by. What was it called? Shang-a-Lang, of course.

The Info

Written by

Bob Gaudio & Bob Crewe

Producer

Phil Wainman

Weeks at number 1

6 (22 March-2 May) *BEST-SELLING SINGLE OF THE YEAR*

Trivia

Births

9 April: Footballer Robbie Fowler
20 April:
Civil servant Oliver Robbins
2 May:
Footballer David Beckham

Deaths

27 March: Composer Sir Arthur Bliss
3 April: Actress Mary Ure
14 April: Actor Michael Flanders
23 April: Actor William Hartnell
24 April: Badfinger singer Pete Ham (see Without You)

Meanwhile…

25 March: A large rally by the National Front was held in London in protest against European integration.

5 April: One season after their relegation, Manchester United were promoted back to the First Division.

9 April: Classic historical comedy film Monty Python and the Holy Grail was released.

13 April: Cambridgeshire Police believe a 22-year-old woman who was raped at her bedsit was the sixth victim of a rapist who had been operating across the city since October 1974.

24 April: Unemployment exceeds the 1,000,000 mark for March 1975.

26 April: A conference of Labour Party members voted against continued membership of the EEC.
Also on this day, Derby County won the Football League First Division title for the second time in four seasons.