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Monday, February 18, 2013

"Where Did We Go Wrong" by Frankie Valli

Song#:  0257
Date:  07/19/1980
Debut:  96
Peak:  90
Weeks:  4
Genre:  Pop, Adult Contemporary



Pop Bits:  With The 4 Seasons, Valli amassed five #1 hits and another ten Top 10's over a 24-year period. But Valli also did something that was a bit unusual during the early years of the group; he did solo recordings. In that time period it was highly unusual for an artist to be part of a very successful group and then also record solo work on the side. But it worked for Valli and it paid off in 1967 with his #2 hit "Can't Take My Eyes Off You." His biggest solo hit was the #1 title song to the film "Grease" in 1978. He continued to chart songs with The 4 Seasons and as a solo artist through to 1980 where both he and The 4 Seasons ended their chart careers. This song, a duet with Chris Forde, was Valli's last to hit the chart. By the end of the year, The 4 Seasons would have their last chart song as well.

ReduxReview:   Solo and with The 4 Seasons Valli has recorded some amazing songs. This ain't one of them. Like a lot of the old guard of music who hit it big in the 60s and 70s, Valli and the group would not be able to get a foothold in the 80s. By this time, they would basically become "nostalgia" acts. But that can be a good thing later on when something like the Broadway show "Jersey Boys" hits and regenerates interest in the music. Anyway, by this time the music was just not there and this is an utterly forgettable tune. "Where Did We Go Wrong?" Recording this...

ReduxRating:  3/10

Trivia:  Double Shot!  1) Valli's professional singing career started in 1951 but it wouldn't be until 1962 that The 4 Seasons had their first major hit with the #1 "Sherry." For some of those years music was not really bringing in an income so Valli had a second job to make money - he was a barber.  2) During most of the 70s, Valli suffered from otosclerosis, an abnormal bone growth in the ear that leads to hearing loss. There were times that Valli had very little hearing and had to sing from memory. After several surgeries, his hearing was mostly restored by 1980.

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