Customer Reviews

Working My Way Back to You/Genuine Imitation Life

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I bought this because I was aware of the The Genuine Imitation Life Gazette for years. It flopped. It was their ambitious attempt at psychedelia. This is what Lillian Roxon said about it in her Rock Encyclopedia..."They have recently released a "modern album" complete with protest, symbolic lyricism, and complex arrangement and orchestration. It was not well received." Does that make it a bad album? No, it's excellent. Yes, they were channelling the Beach Boys on much of the album and Mrs. Stately's Garden is not my favorite track. However, it is still excellent. Mostly, the album is about a marriage that falls apart, child visitation etc., probably things Frankie Valli was going through. It is a great mix. If you can find this CD with the bonus tracks (like the heavily psychedelic Electric Stories) buy that one instead. It was only out on CD briefly. Also, the liner notes are excellent, and John Lennon told Bob Gaudio that he loved The Genuine Imitation Life Gazette. IMHO that's a good recommendation. The other CD in this two-fer is Working My Way Back to you. It's very good. These are two cd's that you need to learn, you can't just listen to it once and love it - they have to be listened to repeatedly, but your effort will be rewarded. I am glad I bought this CD.

I have been a Four Seasons fan for YEARS, but have never had the opportunity to hear the complete Genuine Imitation Life Gazette. It was hyped up to be the Seasons version of Pet Sounds (Beach Boys) and Sgt. Pepper (Beatles). I think it was this hype that heightened my expectations, and even though some songs are good, it doesn't quite live up to those expectations. Don't get me wrong; the album is filled with lavish productions and melodies, but it seems to be all over the place. Kind of like an over-production.

That is basically my only critisism of this item. Being the Four Seasons, and being the re-release of one of their greatest hyped-album (along with the fantastic Working My Way Back To You), this is an easily earned 4-star package.

Working my way back to you is worth every penny you pay for this package. The "gazette" was not one one for me, despite owning the LP. I'm a big fan of the 4 seasons. Have close to 20 of their LP's. Saw them in concert.
I'm glad working my way back to you became available.

Exactly what I expected, which was as advertised. My only interest was in the "The Genuine Imitation Life Gazette" disk of the product.

"Working My Way Back to You" will undoubtedly provide both hard-core and even casual fans of the group hours of listening pleasure. The title track and "Can't Get Enough of You Baby" (later covered with resounding success by Smashmouth) will, of course be familiar to most, but this album offers an assortment of truly wonderful and rarely-if-ever heard gems. It's interesting to note that tracks such as "Pity", "Too Many Memories", and "Comin' Up in the World" serve as thematic counterparts to many of the songs on the 1966 (same release year) Rolling Stones classic album "Aftermath" (i.e. "Stupid Girl","Under My Thumb", and "Doncha Bother Me"). Like the Stones, Beatles, and Beach Boys (think "Pet Sounds") of this era, "Working..." is not weighted down by any album filler..."The Genuine...Gazette", too me, is an afterthought. But "Working.." alone is more than worth the price of admission.

Would never have bought the working my way back part of the cd, except it is bundled together with "Genuine".

Genuine Imitation Life Gazette is still worth it. One of the best "parodies" around, with some interesting music.