The Four Seasons: Frankie Valli, Bob Gaudio, Tommy DeVito, Nick Massi.
Recorded in 1963.
Personnel: Frankie Valli (vocals).
Recording information: Stea-Phillips, N.Y.C; Stea-Phillips, New York, NY.
Photographer: Otto Fenn.
The Four Seasons' 1963 third album is typical of its (pre-Beatle) time, in that it's arranged to center around a hit or two, including one from a previous album. The brash, strengh-in-adversity anthem "Walk Like a Man" and the recycled "Big Girls Don't Cry" are innovative reworkings of the East Coast harmony-vocal style as well as clear signposts toward the pure-pop ear candy the Seasons and genius producer/songwriter Bob Crewe would pursue down the road. The rest is a mixture of originals by Crewe, '50s doo-wop tunes the group had cut their teeth on (Frankie Lymon's "Why Do Fools Fall in Love?"), and pre-rock standards like "Hi-Lili, Hi-Lo." The group's singing, of course, is glorious throughout.