The Very Best of Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons

iTunes Review

No one could electrify the radio airwaves with a wail of pure desire like Frankie Valli in his prime. In heartfelt harmony with his fellow Four Seasons or on his own, he kept the vibrant spirit of ‘50s doo-wop alive well into the disco era. This no-filler collection gives a sense of how Valli and the group adapted to musical trends while staying faithful to their street-corner R&B roots. The quartet’s mid-‘60s singles stand as true works of art as well as popular favorites — hits like “Sherry,” “Let’s Hang On,” “Walk Like a Man,” and “Big Girls Don’t Cry” match the Four Seasons’ glorious vocalizing with unstoppable drum-driven rhythm tracks. Valli dives into the material with real sensitivity, connecting with the romantic pathos of “Dawn (Go Away),” “Rag Doll,” and similar tunes, animating each lyric with his airborne falsetto. He’s just as good on more adult-oriented, glossed-up numbers like “Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You.” Among his 1970s output, the nostalgic “December 1963 (Oh What a Night)” and the zesty “Who Loves You” update his sound in fine style. No matter what sonic context he found himself in, Valli never lost his poise or his passion.