NEW RELEASE OF THE MONTH
JULY 2014
JERSEY BOYSMUSIC FROM THE MOTION PICTURE & BROADWAY MUSICAL
"Jersey Boys" recounts the story of The Four Seasons. The musical has been a hit all over the world and is now a film directed by Clint Eastwood. Its soundtrack album creatively brings together the 3 sources of the show's major asset: the music. Some tracks are the original recordings by Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, others feature selections from the Broadway cast and the screen versions. 
The album opens with the brief "Prelude", essentially a slice of the intro for "Can't Take My Eyes Off You" which leads us smoothly into "December '63 (Oh What A Night)". The makeover works a treat here, setting the mood for a fun look back on an amazing catalogue of hit songs. 
Valli delivers a solo on  the moving "My Mother's Eyes". John Lloyd Young portrayed Valli on both the stage and screen. We are introduced to him on the brief "I Can't Give You Anything But Love". He really shines on "A Sunday Kind Of Love" where the original is fused with the new version.
"Moody's Mood For Love" lets the latter display his smooth falsetto amid a lush jazzy treatment. His co-star Erich Bergen has the role of Bob Gaudio, a member of the group and co-writer of many of its hits. He sings "Cry For Me", recreating the sound of the era.   
A trio of #1s is led by "Sherry". Young is in fine voice here, confidently performing the group's first hit. "Big Girls Don't Cry" follows and is augmented by the fresh production that never strays far from the (still superior) original. Ditto for the better executed "Walk Like A Man".
Kimmy Gatewood, in her role as Angel #1, performs a faithful cover of the 1963 girl group smash hit "My Boyfriend's Back".  
"My Eyes Adored You" has a poignant moment in the show and film, but the song has not aged as well as the bulk of the material here. 
The magic returns however, with "Dawn (Go Away)". Young's strong vocal is complemented by the new production. The same can easily be said about "Big Man in Town" and its upbeat 21st century tweak. Sadly, "Beggin'" falls flat, despite featuring a blend of Valli & The 4 Seasons, Young and Ryan Molloy who is currently portraying the former in the Broadway cast.
Young leads us into a stellar medley of more Four Seasons classics: "Stay", "Let's Hang On!", "Opus 17 (Don't You Worry 'Bout Me)" and "Bye Bye Baby". Next, "C'mon Marianne" mixes Young with the original recording. The show served as a reminder of just how many great and timeless songs the group scored with. Yet, there are still more to come...
Show-stopper "Can't Take My Eyes Off You" has aged like a good wine over the decades. Young belts this out enthusiastically and the aural brilliance is enhanced by the instrumentation. This is the album highlight. 
The fun continues with Young's energetic rendition of "Working My Way Back To You", before Valli changes the mood for the touching "Fallen Angel". It's not a great song, but is apt for its context in the plot development. 
The enjoyment level is thrust back upward with "Who Loves You", another standout from the group. Here, the track bursts through with Valli's original and Young. "Sherry" and "December '63" are revisited over the end credits. This medley features the film version's Four Seasons, with Young and Bergen joined by Michael Lomenda (as Nick Massi) and Vincent Piazza (portraying Tommy De Vito). The album serves up 3 final reminders of the original group's magic harmonies: "Sherry", "Dawn (Go Away)" and "Rag Doll".   
The new soundtrack serves as an entertaining celebration and compilation of the 'Jersey Boys' phenomenon. The Four Seasons songbook had remained underrated until the stage show revealed its lingering power. So many of their songs will stand the test of time.