Forever Frankie Valli & the Four Seasons

Audio Compact Disc

Label: Madacy Special Markets

Style: Early Pop/Rock

Forever Frankie Valli & the Four Seasons

UPC: 628261325627

Release Date: 08/01/2011

Original Release Date: 08/01/2011

Number of Discs: 3

William Ruhlmann

A budget box set might seem like a contradiction in terms, but that's what this is. The box is actually a metal can, and inside are three previously released ten-track budget compilations of the music of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, all from Rhino's Flashback division: Sherry and Other Hits (not to be confused with the 4 Seasons' 1962 debut album, Sherry & 11 Others); Big Girls Don't Cry and Other Hits (not to be confused with the 4 Seasons' 1963 album Big Girls Don't Cry and Twelve Others), and My Eyes Adored You and Other Hits. Almost all of the tracks were actually credited separately to either the Four Seasons or to lead singer Frankie Valli as a solo act when first released, rather than to Frankie Valli & the Four Seasons together. (The only exception is the version of "Book of Love" from the 1985 album Streetfighter, the most recently recorded track here by far.) Plenty of the hits of both are included in what is really a miscellaneous batch of 30 tracks lasting only 90 minutes despite being spread across three discs; plenty of the hits are missing, too, among them "Rag Doll," "Let's Hang On!," "Working My Way Back to You," "I've Got You Under My Skin," "Tell It to the Rain," "Can't Take My Eyes Off You," "C'mon Marianne," and "Grease." Several of these Top Ten hits are mentioned in Dave Roy's error-filled liner notes, which makes their omission all the more notable. On the plus side, the collection is inexpensive, retailing upon release for less than $20, and the box can be reused for storing old buttons. ~ William Ruhlmann, Rovi