The Four Seasons Albums Ranked
The Four Seasons is an American rock band formed in 1960 in Newark, New Jersey. Since 1970, they have also been known at times as Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons. The band evolved out of a previous band called The Four Lovers, with Frankie Valli as the lead singer, Bob Gaudio on keyboards and tenor vocals, Tommy DeVito on lead guitar and baritone vocals, and Nick Massi on bass guitar and bass vocals. On nearly all of their 1960s hits, they were credited as The 4 Seasons. The legal name of the organization is the Four Seasons Partnership, formed by Gaudio and Valli, and was taken after a failed audition in 1960. While band members have come and gone, Gaudio and Valli remain the band’s constants, with each owning 50% of the act and its assets, including virtually all of its recording catalog. Gaudio no longer plays live, leaving Valli as the only original member of the band who still tours as of 2022. Here are all of The Four Seasons’ albums ranked.
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10. Chameleon
“I initially thought the album as basically depressing because I distrusted the New Beginnings concept (due to the failing relationship at hand). After listening to You’ve Got Your Troubles and liking the band’s version, I listened to the whole album and was very pleased.”
9. The 4 Seasons Entertain You
“By late 1964 Charlie Calello was firmly established as the arranger/conductor of choice for Seasons offerings and his mastery at melding the group’s sound into high quality pop rock is well showcased in this set which was released in the Spring of 1965. Callelo has the credit on all but two of these sides, the exceptions being Big Man In Town and Little Angel which were both sides of the Seasons single release in October 64 where Denny Randell took the arranging role.”
8. 2nd Vault Of Golden Hits
“The vocal group that became the Four Seasons went through many personnel changes and a couple of record labels before naming themselves after a New Jersey bowling alley. A failed 1961 single didn’t do well, but when keyboardist/guitarist Bob Gaudio came up with a tune that he and producer Bob Crewe chose to call “Sherry,” things really started happening. Lead singer Frankie Valli negotiated with Vee Jay Records to release this record. When it received airplay a deal with Vee jay was inked, making the boys this label’s first white singing group.”
7. Dawn (Go Away) And 11 Other Great Songs
“The title song is by far the reason to have this album. A few of the covers (e.g., “Breaking Up Is Hard to Do”) are pretty good. Overall, more of the same patented Four Seasons sound, probably thanks in substantial part to Season Nick Massi, who arranged the vocal parts.”
6. The 4 Seasons’ Gold Vault Of Hits
“This is the one – any best of the 4 seasons should have all of these tracks on it. Apart from the gorgeous singing and the great songs listen to the drum and rhythm guitar sound; I always thought this was a big influence on Bruce Springsteen’s sound circa ‘Born To Run’, and this impression is strengthened by Springsteen’s guitarist, co-star and musical consultant of ‘the Sopranos’, Steve Van Zandt’s choice of a few 4 seasons numbers for the Sopranos’ soundtrack (Frankie Valli, 4 seasons phenomenal lead singer, had a sizable recurring role in the series, too).”
See more: The Moody Blues Albums Ranked
5. Born To Wander
“This sounds like a real bad idea, the four seasons do folk music. When you listen to the album you find they make an excellent folk group. The vocals on this album are beautiful and it’s a great slice of early 60’s American folk. Stand out tracks are “Born To Wander”, “Where Have All the flowers gone”
4. Big Girls Don’t Cry And Twelve Others …
“Walk Like A Man” is probably their best song ever, with “Big Girls Don’t Cry” being as much of a classic. There’s some filler on here as most other pop LPs from the early 60’s, but everything is top notch vocally and the backing tracks are usually done with craft and creativity that most early 60’s LPs lack. Though not as satisfying as Sherry, still has some worthwhile album tracks.”
3. Rag Doll
“In the summer of 1964, the British Invasion was underway, but American musicians had not yet had time to assimilate its influence; the major American pop acts were still essentially vocal-harmony groups, the most prominent of which were the Four Seasons and the Beach Boys. Like the BBs, the Four Seasons had their own songwriter — Bob Gaudio, who wrote all 12 songs on this album (some are co-credited to producer Bob Crewe).”
2. The Genuine Imitation Life Gazette
“I wasn’t expecting this king of album from a band I know for Doo-wop songs, but I was pleasantly surprised at how much their sound can stretch out, into a very theatrical and Beach-Boys-esque style. The vocals are similar to how they were on Sherry, both in musical style and quality of sound, which I thought set them apart and gave them a very nostalgic feel on a somewhat experimental and unique album.”
1. Sherry & 11 Others
“This is an absolutely fantastic album, and one of my all time personal favorites. Every song has the incredible catchiness and enthusiasm as the first 2 huge hit singles of which are included. “Peanuts” is irresistable for example, a song which should’ve been a huge hit. The covers of “La Dee Da” and “Never On Sunday” are also great, all of the aforementioned three songs having more of that incredible Valli falsetto. “Lost Lullabye” is gorgeous as far as original songs on the album.”
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