Customer Reviews

Romancing the 60's

5 star:		(19)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

The years fall away as these songs work their magic. I can still remember being 12 years old and visiting a friend who, while we were looking at baseball cards, decided to turn on his older brother's record player. "Rag Doll" happened to be on the platter, and something about that soaring falsetto and the song's poignancy captured my heart. As I listen to this incredible man's newest release over 40 years later, I realize that my heart has never quite been freed. The genius of this recording is that they didn't do what I feared, try to mask the "Sound of Frankie Valli" with over-production and background singers. Apparently, they had the wisdom to realize that there was absolutely no need. Valli has proven again and again over the years that great talent is truly timeless. The choice of songs, the respectful and beautiful arrangements (Gaudio HAD to have a huge hand in this, right?!) and Frankie's amazing voice and masterful phrasing make this a wonderful testament to a great career. Time has moved on and on, and my musical tastes have changed, but if I live to be 100, I'll never forget that Saturday afternoon in my friends basement, and that sad girl in the hand-me-down clothes.

In the wake of the megasuccess of the play Jersey Boys, the story of Frankie Valli, the man himself puts his inimitable stamp on classics from the 60s, with impeccable production from Bob Gaudio, an original Four Season. The singing is emotional, the orchestrations are beautifully complex, and the songs are timeless. One highlight is the guest appearance of the cast of Jersey Boys, singing background on--what else?--"On Broadway." My personal favorite is "Any Day Now," and "Spanish Harlem" is another winner. Listen for Paul Shaffer and Will Lee from the Letterman band, among the all-star lineup of musicians.

With the enormous success of Jersey Boys on Broadway, it's no surprise that Frankie Valli was going to head back to the recording studio along with long time associate Bob Gaudio. If you expect the hard driving harmony sound of the Four Seasons, then you might be a tad disappointed with this latest effort from the 70 year old Valli. "Romancing The Sixties", finds Valli in fine vocal form, but this cd has a totally mellow feel from start to finish. I find nothing wrong with hearing classic tunes Like "Sunny", "On Broadway", "Any Day Now", "What Becomes Of The Broken Hearted", etc, but the truth of the matter is, Valli's prior solo work packs a hell of alot more punch. After listening to this cd a few times, the listener comes away with the feeling that the originals are superior in almost every case. I do not consider this a spectacular effort by any means, and would have preferred some newly written material. I have always been a great fan of Frankie Valli, and I would love to rate this five stars, but if I have to appraise this effort honestly it is average at best.

I recently began buying Four Seasons cd's due to seeing the Jersey boys and attained a new appreciation for Frankie Valli in the past year. Well, when I bought this cd, I figured, he is 73 now, but since I am buying his stuff like crazy this past year or so, why not give it a shot. WOW, his voice is high and wonderful. I actually like the underlying maturity in his voice on this album, mixed with the sharp high of his natural voice, yes I now do believe he has a natural highness to his voice and it is spotlighted here. Not falsetto, but a natural wonderful high. The music arrangements, wonderful and not just done quickly, this is a very diverse and complex sound. The credits say it is arranged by Artie Schroek, and I think I saw him in Atlantic city with his wife Linda November performing in Bally's. I never would have guessed he was this talented the night I saw him as I do remember I enjoyed Linda's performance, but here is the proof. Artie, you don't know me but Kudos to you and Bob Gaudio for presenting Frankie in his nwonderful presentation for us all to enjoy. Reminds me of the wonderful work done by Nora Jones. Hey, maybe it id time for an album by Frankie of new stuff, done this way..hint...hint. Anyway, these are not simply covers, this is Frankie Valli style and I think Frankie Valli is the word all over again, even though I missed it the first time around. I was just a baby during Grease is the word time.

THIS ALBUM WAS MADE TO ENJOY WHILE YOUR MAKING LOVE OR JUST RELAXING. FRANKIE'S VOICE SOUNDS BETTER THEN EVER AND THE MUSICAL PRODUCTION OF THIS ALBUM IS AMONG THE BEST EVER MADE. IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR AN UPBEAT FOUR SEASONS ALBUM, THIS NOT THE ONE TO BUY. IF YOU ARE LOOKING TO HEAR A SMOOTH LISTENING DISC WITH ONE OF THE GREATEST VOICES OF ALL TIME, AS THE TITLE IMPLIES, THEN THIS DISC IS A DEFINITE BUY AND WELL WORTH THE MONEY.

Frankie's classic falsetto may be a bit faded, but this is still one outstanding album. It certainly doesn't hurt that many of favories are on it. It is the only CD I own where every song is on my mp3 player.

One of the masters of the Babyboom generation, though a little older than the rest of us. For his age, Valli does a reasonable job on this album. Even the great Sinatra lost his voice when he was about Valli's age. Age and voice criticism aside, he does a reasonable cover of these classic rock standards. Personally, I would like to see him cover some the doo-wop classics from the 1950's and early 1960's. I think he might excel at some of those old standards, him being from the East Coast and all. "When You Tell Me Good-Bye", "Let It BE Me", "My Girl/Groovin(My # 1 favorite cut)", "What Becomes Of The Broken Hearted" and "On Broadway" are my favorite cuts. I'm in hopes this will be not be all we hear from him concerning covering old favs from the past. Bob Gaudio, the true genius behind the Four Seasons, has once-again done a masterful job of vocal arranging. Musical arranger's and conductor's Artie Schroeck and Charles Calello are to be commended as well.

Romancing the '60s gives us thirteen great tracks by the great Frankie Valli. The quality of the sound is rather good but on this album Frankie sings in a much more subdued, less energetic manner, as if eh is indeed romancing the 1960s.

"Take Good Care Of My Baby" features Frankie sounding great as he croons this ballad very well. The tempo is much slower than I'm used to and I'm not quite sure that I like it. The musical arrangement makes good use of the strings in a way that the original track didn't. "My Cherie Amour" works better as this ballad always was a slower tempo ballad. Frankie sounds much better on this track; and the harmonica arrangement works very well for "My Cherie Amour."

Listen also for "Spanish Harlem." This ballad gets the royal treatment from Frankie; and the percussion makes the music shine! Frankie's excellent diction bolsters his performance. "Then You Can Tell Me Goodbye" also sees Frankie score a hit with a very romantic interpretation of this classic ballad; and I like the female backup. "Then You Can Tell Me Goodbye" has a great arrangement for the piano and percussion, too.

"What A Wonderful World" works well as Frankie puts his own stamp on this beautiful number made so famous by the immortal Louis Armstrong. The strings sound great and Frankie never sings a superfluous note. "This Guy's In Love With You" is certainly "mood music" from an era gone by; but when Frankie sings it, this number sounds as fresh as ever!

"What becomes Of The Broken Hearted" has Frankie singing a bit more energetically than he does on the other tracks; I think it works very well here. The CD concludes with "On Broadway." Frankie does this up right with a great female chorus.

Frankie Valli sounds wonderful for a 73 year old man. His fans will consider this a must have CD. However, the more casual fan may be turned off by these tracks which don't have Frankie singing in his beautiful falsetto voice with lots of punch.

I just love this CD. It has the wonderful sounds of Frankie Valli and the love songs that we love. I am glad I purchased it

I purchased this CD after going to a Frankie Valli concert where they were selling it for $24.99. Glad I didn't wait in that ridiculously long line to purchase it there. I bought mine on Amazon at a fraction of the price, and I love it!!! Frankie has put his spin on some old favorites and they are terrific!! Not bad at all for a guy who is now 76 years old!