British guitarist analyses Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons 

The more I learn about vocal technique, the more amazed I am at the amount of control singers like Frankie Valli have, and how hard they work to make it sound effortless. Your ability to hear and understand it well enough to explain it like you do is impressive too! Thanks, Fil!

Fil, I just love how you're interested in these classic artists & are able to break down their songs so well. This Motown girl looks forward to your music lessons every time. Take care!

When this song came out all the guys called me Sherry. Oh to be young again. I loved the song my eyes adored you. Beautiful song. Thank you Fil🤘

As an alto, I'm always impressed by a beautiful tenor who can hit all those notes that I can't. Thanks as always Fil!

I love when you follow up! Your vocal and guitar demonstration adds so much understanding for me, thank you!

I have never owned even one of Frankie Valli's songs, yet I know every single song you mentioned in this analysis. Wonder how that happened! Not surprised he had record label drama like all the rest. Thanks for the background, Fil!

Pretty surprising to see you review these guys, but a pleasant surprise. They were overlooked after guitar rock took over.

ALRIGHT!!!! I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR BARRY GIBB AND FRANKIE SING A SONG TOGETHER😍😍😍

Thanks so much for the spot on analyzing of one of my favorite groups Fil, I'm 70 now and have seen Frankie and the Seasons 4 times starting back in the 60s, you always have a way of explaining so that even as me as a novice can understand !

Don’t miss the show “ Jersey Boys” if it comes around again. It’s one of the best musicals ever!

My favorite song....🤣🤣🤣 it is the ring tone on my phone. Thanks Fil 😁

Man I remember hearing this song when I was 8 years old and watching my teenage cousin Diane singing and dancing around the kitchen. Never forget that moment! Thanks Fil!! 👍

I grew up on my older sisters records. This is one of them as well as Gene Pitney who also a unique and beautiful voice.

"Oh what a night" was another song of my childhood in the early seventies.

I have very limited understanding of singing but thanks to you I can at least have it explained to me in terms on my level. You're a gifted teacher. Thanks Fil!

I grew up with this stuff as a kid of 7 in '64. Lou Christi was another. This is why King Diamond and Mercyful Fate didn't shock me sound wise in the early '80s.

Falsetto isn't a vocal styling that I normally care for, but Frankie did it so well I love their tunes anyways. But his non-falsetto work was also great. Just a talented guy.

Hi Fil! Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons were a huge part of my teenage years! I followed them through the years, and when Jersey Boys came to the theater I was there dancing along! Love them..no matter what they sing! ✌️

Use to sing this song to my sister Cheri even thought not spelled the same. Love their singing anytime Thanks for talking about their music. I think a lot of musicians got mishandled because of not knowing and over trusting the business people out to make money.

Very interesting analysis, packed with loads of information !! As an aside “Sherry “ was the third song I was taught by my guitar instructor! Thought I’d never get those chord changes! Thanks Fil!

So much talent in a 2.3min song... although it was a very specific sound, I wonder how far a singer could get these days in the pop charts with technique like that?

Great take two Fil on this amazing band! What an incredible voice register Frankie Valli has which gave way to some of the most sensational songs of all time! Cheers Mario! 😎🤘👌

Great review Fil ! Still have my original 45 rpm copy I bought as a kid. Nobody can analyze music the way you do.

I was in the Navy when this was released in August 1962. Two months later, my ship was heading to Cuba because of the Cuban Missile Crisis, and my closest friend on board had this record and a portable record player. By the time the crisis was over, and we headed back to home port Norfolk, VA, we had worn that record OUT!! lol Ahoy!! :)

This was a great analysis and I always learn a lot when you perform a demonstration. Thanks! ^m^

"Sherry" has something which Frank Zappa was used to listen to and liked to persiflage. Like in "Joe's garage". It's a wonderful sing-along. I recognized Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons the first time with the song "The night" when I was about ten or eleven years old. It was played broadcasted by German radio stations. Nice to be a boomer.

Funny how one group or song can bring back 100 memories in a second . I really like how you explain things. You hear things you never heard before. Thanks Fil.

Fil you are the best with the analysis. It's like a school course and really enjoyable. Thank you. Fun on the Four Seasons especially and your own voice.

Thank you Fil! I remember when Sherry first came out , where I was and what I was doing. Frankie's voice was different. It made you stand up and take notice! It was right before the Beatles first hit here in the states. The Four Seasons got me ready for them with their unique sound. Great days indeed!

Thanks for helping me understand chest and head voice better. I tend to stay in Chest voice, and as I ascend, I make like I’m Ethel Merman on stage, and just belt it out full power. Then my voice instructor says, “you’re straining “ 😤🤯🤣. Ha! BTW: fav Frankie song is “Cant Take My Eyes Off You.” I think circa 1965. It’s literally the first song I have a memory of. I thought it was so beautifully romantic. But then the beat picks up and Frankie goes into chest voice and belts it out. Not a lot of falsetto in it. A more mature song I should say. It’s no “Walk Like A Man- so camp the drag entertainer Divine would perform it in a deep voice in drag lol - nor “Rag Doll.” Geez

Great Analysis, Fil. There are some classical trained operatic singers like my step-father who have no "head voice" or falsetto. He has a very strong tenor voice, but NO falsetto. Frankie did it effortlessly.

As a kid I pissed my two younger brothers off by making them sing "Sherry" with me all the time. Still one of my faves.

Great one Fil I was wrong it was Dion that plays the guitar and was on the same tour as Buddy Holly, Jeff in LA USA

Thanks Fil for reviewing Frankie Valli! I just came home from "Jersey Boys" and I thought of you when Tommy was being dragged off to jail, and he was calling to Frankie to practice and to "Use your chest voice!"

oh good feeling music,in any voice, Fil i am impressed with you!

Fil, I hope you don't mind my mentioning this: *1:58* If I'm not mistaken, you played a second inversion arpegiatted C major chord--G, C, E--which were the opening notes to the song. Additionally, you brought up an excellent point about vocal consistency regarding Frankie Valli's lead vocals in order to prevent vocal straining. Obviously Frankie knew what worked best for him vocally at the time. I've noticed in other songs where male falsetto has been utilized, usually above E5--e.g. the Beach Boys, the Sweet--their voices had that shrill sound. Again, another fab analysis!

Great stuff, Phil, I love the variety of your videos. Keep em coming!

When I would hear them on the radio I always liked it. You have mastered your analysis Fil! The vocal & guitar demonstrations make me understand a little better especially not being a musician. If you play piano I wish you would demonstrate on the piano too. 😍😚💕👏

What a treat, thanks Fil! Loving your vocal lessons. Growing up with these guys in the 60s was so much fun. My daughter bought me a ticket to Jersey Boys for Christmas a few years ago and its one of my favourite stage shows. By the way, greetings from Mostar, Herzegovia. I'm enjoying your company on my year-long travels and am grateful for you being a reassuring "constant" in my nomadic life.

Amazing! They not only survived the “British Invasion”, they also stayed productive and relevant for a good long time! 2 suggestions, Fil: Big Head Todd and the Monsters (in particular Angela Dangerlove or Sister Sweetly) Ben Harper and the Innocent Criminals (Show Me a Little Shame)

I am like Linda Z, never owned an album but I know everyone of them. Your methods of teaching music appreciation are sure appreciated by all us subs.

Fil, you are awesome!!!!!! thank you and take care!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

One song by this group that’s a ground breaker for them was using sound separation for right and left ears - hint use ear phones to get the whole affect - a great driving beat and tremendous vocals. The song is ‘C’mon Marianne’.

He lasted 50 years for a reason.. Great sound.. How about some Diana Ross and Supremes?

in 1962 I was in middle school. I went by my nickname Sherry. I had people sing this at me, to me, so many times I groaned when it played. Now I love it. Thanks for the memories.~ Sherry Muzik

You rock, Fil!! lots of ❤️ from Jersey! - I’m from the same area (next town over) as all the guys in the 4 Seasons 💕💕💕

Yeah, Frankie Valli one of my faves. I did what Fil suggested and I also went and listened to a 1982 concert by Frankie Valli (and the Four Seasons, all of the band could also sing) In the 1982 concert version I was thinking "why doesn't Frankie sing closer to the mic as the audio is terrible" Turns out the 1982 video comes in only 360P, 128kbps (only moderate audio quality at that resolution) The "Sherry" video comes to me in 1080P 192kbps (I have a 150mbps down 30 mbps up internet connection). Now even my ears can hear that much of a difference. So, when we say "at least the song is available on RU-vid" there is a chance the audio will be terrible. This means, (if you like quality audio) buy the CD, secondly, download (FLAC format in 320kbps) the song from a source with a high data stream rate. Here is a current RU-vid chart. 320kbps is what to look for (will not find it on RU-vid.) This bit rate issue has more to it than I present here (compression and loss is also a problem) I always listen on headphones (cans). I was going to get into the difference between MP3 and FLAC (a lossless format) but Fil would probably ban me. I will say that most people are saying "is the streaming or the download better than the CD" I always prefered buying the CD (handle your CD's with care) over streaming or download. Strange how the much maligned CD is the standard of comparison (just buy the CD and you can forget all this mess). Thanks Fil. Resolution Audio Bit Rate Compression Original 192 kbps AAC 1080p 192 kbps AAC 720p 192 kbps AAC 480p 128 kbps AAC 360p 128 kbps AAC 240p 64 kbps MP3

Hi Fil...Friends of mine are getting their star in Hollywood today...I am friends with Tony Butala of The Lettermen and they are being honored. I know they do a different kind of sound, but wondered if you ever covered their close harmony. Tony has shared many fun stories of other singers!

That transition that he makes from head to falsetto between G4 and C5 is just amazing in how easy he makes it sound. I learned how to sing like this from mimicking Frankie Valli as well as McCartney (singing his best Little Richard & backup girl parts lol) when I was a _little_ kid. Served me well in composition hard rock & metal bands later. Used to wow friends and family being able to cop these kinds of bits, and still could up until about 48 years of age. Cigarettes are bad, m'kay? Btw, if you think this one's tough, try on "Candy Girl" for size. = )

Love these guys! My fave song of theirs is December ‘63 (Oh What A Night).

Beggin & Silver star were my fav's!!...

FOUR SEASONS VERSION OF IVE GOT YOU UNDER MY SKIN IS AWESOME😍😍😍😍

Bob Gaudio is one of the greatest song writers ever!

I saw Frankie and some permutation of the Four Seasons at a pretty cool county fair in Minnesota, probably in the late 80s. I have never been a big Frankie fan but that concert was ROCKIN'. I did, however, wonder at the time if I was listening to a live performance or some alternative. Whichever, it was a lot of fun!

This is a great analyses of Frankie Valli's voice and how it all works. I always wondered how he (and others) were able to sing like that! I would like to see you do an analyses on the singer's voice of the band Crash Test Dummies because he sings so low. Thanks Fil.

Great breakdown... as usual... cheers

A big fan back in the day. It was fun trying to sing along with Frankie's unique vocals/phrasing. Liked all their work but "Oh What A Day" is my favorite. Maybe you can add 'rock tenor' Myles Kennedy to your list of future analyses. It would be your choice but I really like some of the acoustic work he has done with Slash.

Fil, please look at the Young Rascals (live) It's A Beautiful Morning (1968) I saw them live in 1969. Keep up the great work! Jack

Haha. I just watched Frankie get whacked tonight! Thankfully, it was just season 6 of the Sopranos tele show! I still have my old 45 rpm copy of Sherry...

My best friends name is sherry , I always sing it to her , drives her nuts, Classic!

When you hear one of their songs, you'll want to hear another, IMO, and that was a great great analysis Fil. I can't help it, I love Frankie's voice.

Classic unique vocal effortlessly from chest to head voice. Unmistakable voice of Frankie Valli. I was just a boy when The Four Seasons were all over the radio with hit after hit. Interesting history with the unfortunate all too common record company drama from the industry bloodsuckers. Great Knowledgeable analysis Fil! 🎼🎶🎵🇨🇦

Please oh please Have a listen to everybody knows my name Frankie Valli,s voice at its best going from head voice to falsetto without a break

Great analysis Fil. as You may know Bob Crewe was big in the music industry for over three decades. the sounds of Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons where among a wide range of genre I liked growing up. thanks for the follow up Fill.

Sure would have liked to hear, Mary Ann. That song had grit. You would have a blast analyzing that one, Fil. Frankie covers a lot of range changes.

11:47 I'd always assumed they'd asked Frankie to sing the Grease theme song in part because he'd first been popular in or around the 1950s, when the movie takes place. Barry Gibb still got paid plenty. Lol.

Fil, keep up the great work Brothed

Although it was a bit before my time, I love their music. There’s just something about their uniqueness that I love. That was a fun song to feel pretty grownup when you’re young.. Big Girls don’t cry was one of my faves.

I learned abou their story from the film Jersey Boys taken from the Broadway musical of the same name and then I hit Wikipedia and learn the changes to their story as portrayed on the film.

Thank you❤️

Yay!

Impressive clarification of vocal sounds in Sherry.

😉

great stuff I subscribed.

Ok, I'm ready!

These guys are a result of the Italian American immigration experience. They way the learned to sing. The common ground, background and shared experiences are the reason they sounded the way they do. Definitely part of the Tri-State sound.

Years ago I heard a bit of trivia, I think it was by Casey Kasem on American Top 40. Anywho, the song "Sherry" was originally written as "Terry" after someone's girlfriend. If I remember right, the Label execs felt Terry was an obscure name for a girl and that it might not sell. I believe it was the record producer who had a daughter named Sherry and he wanted the song to be rewritten after the name of his daughter; it was, and the song became a timeless hit. You have to wonder if it would have made it if it were about Terry instead.

Hi Fil !!!! E5 and above, isn't that getting into countertenor territory Fil?

Thank you, Fil. The Four Seasons are my favorite American band (after Jay and the Americans). Have you heard Frankie Valli's solo performance of the song (made famous by the Walker Brothers) "The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine Anymore"? It was written by his band-mates Bob Crewe and Bob Gaudio, and Frankie's version was the original recording of this song. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-avLhAqacG08.html

Very cool stuff Fil.... informative & interesting like always especially with the guitar teaching tool ✌😎 This is another song that reminds me of the movie Hollywood Knights ( The movie is loaded with great classic hits ! It's about a Car Club on Halloween night in the late 60's ) A must watch if you are a car guy or loves great music 🎥😉 Request: Joni Mitchell Coyote ( live from the Last Waltz )

i thought you only did Guitar analyses, obviously when people think of The Four Seasons they don't usually think of Guitar. but "Lets Hang On" has a great little guitar riff intro, the song "Toy Soldier" has a little chorus riff I've always liked as well.

He sure bought back an awsome one :-)

FIL, YOU GAVE A GREAT LOW DOWN ON THIS BAND, A LOT OF THINGS THAT I DID NOT KNOW, YOU MENTIONED VEE JAY RECORDS, THE VERY FIRST BEATLE ALBUMS THAT WERE SOLD IN THE U.S. , WERE ON THE VEE JAY LABEL, I STILL HAVE THEM, YOU ROCK, COUSIN FIGEL

Nice work on the analysis as always Fil, but Frankie's not exactly my cup of cheese. Rock! :-)

Since Frankie was a member of The Four Seasons shouldn't it be Frankie Valli and The Three Seasons. They were usually billed as The Four Seasons featuring Frankie Valli. When Bob Gaudio wrote "Sherry" he said he had been inspired by "Hey Baby" by Bruce Channel which was released earlier in 1962. You can hear the similarities in the song structure and arrangement.

As usual my friend another excellent analysis, and I don’t know if you are familiar with Steve Terreberry,but he’s a pretty funny guy and a darn good guitarist👍

Originally entitled “Jackie” for Jacqueline Kennedy.

I can't believe Frankie still has his voice!!! So many of his generation have lost their power.

I would love to see you react to anything by "Karolina Protsenko Violin" she is other worldly in her violin playing. Young girl street performer in CA. Her playing Digs into you soul. You will be blown away by the depth like santana emparts with his guitar.her videos on you tube have 285,747,006 views since Sep 3, 2018 so it might be worth a look

When I was a kid I imagined that Frankie had a midget squeezing his nertz for those falsetto parts. Mostly because my older brother told me that. Now I can't hear him sing without thinking about it.

*SHERRY AUDIO VIDEO* - ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-jMcWldfg28s.html

Just how much range can Frankie cover with that voice? I was told years ago, but I never knew if what I was told was correct.

There's a video on RU-vid of the follow-up song Big Girls Don't Cry with a live lead vocal. Maybe that would have been a better choice from a copyright point of view.

What about the song “How loves you” I think all the at the band at the time where capable singers.

I don’t think Frankie needed to worry about Barry Gibb in 1978 - you couldn’t get any more popular than The Bee Gees that year.

Have you listed to Good News Bad News by Family?

People are going to be listing to a lot of great music now. I mean real great music

Fil, love all your videos. Is Frankie singing or lip syncing in his current live concerts? Lots of controversy about this. Thanks

Hey Fil, did you ever check out the young girl, Emma Robinson, her Rhianna cover. She sings like she uses auto tune, but doesn't

Just wondering if you've done a review on the band Sweet?