“OPUS 17” * The 4 Seasons * Philips Records (1966)
BOB CREWE REGENERATES GROUP WITH OLD STANDARD WITH NEW SOUND
NEW YORK — The Four Seasons on Philips Records is one of the hottest recording groups in the business and the reason undoubtedly is because independent producer Bob Crewe keeps them fresh. The producer has come up with an entirely new sound for the group’s next release, to be released within the next three to four weeks.
Taking an old standard, “I’ve Got You Under My Skin,” Crew revamped the song and gave it a modern arrangement. “This Cole Porter song never gets old,” he said, “and the way we’ve recorded it, it’s got to be the biggest record the group has ever had. It’s a whole new departure.”
Crew said that he and the group had wanted to “go a little bit different. Every time we’ve done this, it’s been a good shot in the arm.” The group’s recent hits, “Ragdoll” and “Opus 17,” were in this vein,” he said. “And because we try to be inventive, we keep the record buyers from ever getting tired of our sound. There is very little this group can’t do. They’ve been hot since 1962.”
The Four Seasons, Crewe said, have been responsible for selling more than 80 million singles and albums in the U.S. and around the world. END
(Information and news source: Billboard; August 13, 1966).
From the MCRFB NEWS archive: 1964
GROUP EXITS VEE-JAY LABEL; CREWE TO CONTINUE PRODUCTION REIGN WITH GROUP AT PHILIPS
CHICAGO — The Four Seasons have been signed by Philips Records. The group has enjoyed a half-dozen singles smashes in the last 16 months, three were No. 1 entries previously held on the Billboard charts. All of their hits, as well as five of the group’s albums, were introduced on the Vee-Jay label.
Under the terms of the new deal, Philips will release recordings by the group throughout the world through its overseas affiliate. Their initial single, “Dawn,” is due out at once. Disks by the group will continue to be produced by Bob Crewe.
The original Vee-Jay deal involved an agreement between Crew’s production firm from the label, with the masters leased to Vee-Jay. A Crew spokesman stated that they terminated this arrangement last year because of what they called “breaches” and violations in the agreement found with Vee-Jay Records. Since that time, the group has been without a recording contract.
Among the Four Seasons principal hits were “Sherry,” “Big Girls Don’t Cry,” “Walk Like A Man,” “Ain’t That A Shame,” “Candy Girl” and “New Mexican Rose.” END
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(Information and news source: Billboard; January 18, 1964)