10
'Grease'
Frankie scored his second chart-topping single with the theme song from the 1978 mega-hit musical film 'Grease,' which starred John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John. 'Grease' was composed by Barry Gibb of the Bee Gees, hot off the heels of their record-setting 1977 'Saturday Night Fever' soundtrack.
09
'Let's Hang On'
This No. 3 hit from 1965 was the last single to feature the band's original lineup, with singer-bassist Nick Massi leaving fellow founding members Frankie Valli, Bob Gaudio, and Tommy DeVito shortly thereafter. In the five short years since they formed in 1960, the Four Seasons recorded an incredible 15 Top 40 songs. In 1990, all four men were voted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
08
'Working My Way Back to You'
In this song -- one of the two Top 10 four seasons songs from 1966 -- Valli admits he's done his lover wrong, begs forgiveness and vows to earn her heart back -- all in just over three minutes. The song was written by Sandy Lizner and Danny Randell, who composed several hit records for the Four Seasons over the years. In 1980, The Spinners took their own version of the song to No. 2 on the pop charts.
07
'Can't Take My Eyes Off You'
Valli is credited with being one of the first singers of the rock era to release solo records while still maintaining his place within a band. So Gwen Stefani, Phil Collins and countless other artists probably owe him a thank-you card. His first few solo singles failed to make much of a dent on the charts, but this 1967 No. 2 hit firmly established him as a double-threat on the pop charts, and is still considered one of the best Frankie Valli songs ever.
06
'Rag Doll'
Although Frankie Valli is often considered both the face and voice of the band, many of the best Four Seasons songs were written or co-written by keyboardist and founding member Bob Gaudio, including this No. 1 hit from 1964. 'Rag Doll' helped the Four Seasons maintain their popularity during the famous "British Invasion," where The Beatles, The Rolling Stones and dozens of other UK acts were dominating the US record charts and radio airwaves.
05
'Walk Like a Man'
This is of the best examples of Frankie Valli's famous falsetto singing, perfectly complemented by the bass vocal counterpoint of fellow founding member Nick Massi. This No. 1 hit from 1963 is one of many Four Seasons songs featured in the hit Broadway play 'Jersey Boys.' The band played a big role in bringing this production to the stage, with Gaudio writing the music for this dramatic re-telling of their their life story.
04
'Big Girls Don't Cry'
How's this for a good day's work? Reportedly, two of the Four Seasons' best songs ever -- 'Big Girls Don't Cry' and 'Sherry' which became their first two No. 1 hits -- were recorded during the same studio session. They were both released in 1962, and both stayed on top of the pop charts for five weeks. Songwriter Gaudio has stated he got the title for this one while watching a 1955 movie called 'Tennessee's Partner,' which starred our 40th president, Ronald Reagan.
03
'Who Loves You'
This 1975 comeback hit -- currently featured as the closing song for the 'Jersey Boys' musical -- ended the Four Seasons' five-year drought on the pop charts. It also showed the band embracing disco-styled syncopated rhythms, keyboards and strings, moving away from their original doo-wop-influenced pop music.
02
'Sherry'
The Four Seasons' first chart-topping single apparently took more time to name than to write. Gaudio has stated that he composed the song in under 15 minutes, but then changed the woman's name several times, finally settling on Sherry, after the daughter of his friend Jack Spector. Plus, Spector just happened to be a disc jockey in New York City. Smart businessmen, those Jersey boys.
01
'December, 1963 (Oh What a Night!)'
Following their comeback hit 'Who Loves You' in short order, was this (even bigger) hit from the same album. Valli shares lead vocals with the band's new rhythm section of Gerry Polci and Don Ciccone, during this fond remembrance of a special night years ago when a woman (quite possibly a paid stranger, if you believe the 'Jersey Boys' Broadway version) introduced a young man to the ways of love.
1. mines 'Stay' ! but they're so many great songs I'm not surprised it didnt make the top ten
Posted at 4:19PM on Sep 9th 2010 by jules