In 1960, the group known as The Four Lovers evolved into The Four Seasons, with Frankie Valli as the lead singer, Bob Gaudio (formerly of The Royal Teens) on keyboards and tenor vocals, Tommy DeVito on lead guitar and baritone vocals, and Nick Massi on bass guitar and bass vocals.
The Four Seasons and the Beach Boys were virtually the only American groups whose successful careers were not derailed when the Beatles and the British Invasion bands hit the States in 1964. In fact, 1964 ranks as the Four Seasons' biggest year of all, despite the insurgency from abroad, which attests to their durability and appeal among America's teenagers. That appeal stemmed from the Four Seasons' ability to complement spotless Italian-American doo-wop harmonies with the forceful falsetto and three-octave range of lead vocalist Frankie Valli - the other members were Bob Gaudio on keyboards and tenor vocals, Tommy DeVito on lead guitar and baritone vocals, Gerry Polci on drums, and Nick Massi on bass guitar and bass vocals. Frankie Valli and Tommy DeVito previously performed with Nick DeVito (Tommy's twin brother) and Hank Majewski as the Four Lovers. later on the Four Season where heavley shaped by the songwriting of band member Bob Gaudio, with arrangements and production that drew upon everything from Phil Spector's "Wall of Sound" to the danceable beat of Motown's pop/R&B singles. During a hitmaking streak that spanned the years 1962-68, the Four Seasons netted two dozen Top Forty singles, including the Number One hits "Sherry," "Big Girls Don't Cry," "Walk Like a Man" and "Rag Doll." They've sold over 100 million records worldwide, making them the most successful white doo-wop group in rock and roll history.
At their peak, the Four Seasons made recordings that expressed the tough-but-tender sensibility of their home turf in the Northeast much in the way the Beach Boys encapsulated the world of Southern California in harmony and song. In the words of Billy Joel, a longtime fan who grew up listening to them on Long Island, "The Four Seasons had wonderful chord progressions, beautiful writing, terrific production fantastic harmony, records that really spoke to us."
The band released their first hit "Sherry" in 1962. Under the guidance of producer/songwriter Bob Crewe, The Four Seasons followed up "Sherry" with several well-remembered hits, including "Big Girls Don't Cry", "Walk Like a Man" and "Candy Girl". In the mid 1960s, the British Invasion slowed down their career somewhat, but the Four Seasons released several more big hits in 1964, such as "Dawn", "Rag Doll", which was the first single on WABC Radio, New York to be "pick hit of the week" one week and the number 1 single the following week, "Big Man in Town", "Ronnie" and "Save It for Me". Nick Massi left the Four Seasons in 1965 and was replaced by Joe Long who became the mainstay on bass and backup vocals until 1976. Several more Top 10 singles followed, including "Let's Hang On", "Working My Way Back To You", "Can't Take My Eyes Off You", and "C'mon Marianne"; but by late 1967, the group's popularity was deteriorating, as public interest moved towards rock with a harder edge and more socially conscious lyrics. The band would, however, enjoy a brief revival in their popularity in the mid 1970s, with the hits "Who Loves You", "Swearin' to God", and their last number one hit "December, 1963 (Oh, What a Night)".
Wall Street Village Day
The Four Seasons Lyrics
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And while the people watch them play
The players watch the people
On a Greenwich Village day
Paisley people dressed in colors wearing what they have to say
Some are paisley, some are grey
See them masquerading
People there for the show
They came to see - what, they don't know
The Village stores are filled with all kinds of groovy trash and trinkets
And there are scores, the bottoms for everyone who wants to think it
What a wonderful day
To make-believe away
But they can't stay
Tomorrow
Downtown people on the corner watching other people play
And while the people watch them play
The players watch the people
On a Wall Street kind of day
Pinstripe people dressed in colors wearing what they have to say
Some are paisley, some are grey
See them masquerading
On a Wall Street kind of day
People there for the show
They came to see - what, they don't know
The Uptown stores are filled with all kinds of stylish trash and trinkets
And there are scores, the bottoms for everyone who wants to think it
What a wonderful day
To make-believe away
But who's to say
You call the game another name
It's still the same
On a Wall Street Village day
The Four Seasons's song Wall Street Village day captures the stark contrast between the bohemian Greenwich Village and the buttoned-up world of Wall Street. The lyrics describe two groups of people, uptown and downtown, observing each other on their own respective "kind of day." In Greenwich Village, "paisley people" dress in vibrant colors, "masquerading" and celebrating freedom of expression. On the other hand, Wall Street is populated by "pinstripe people," also wearing what they have to say, but with a more corporate and status-conscious bent.
The song acknowledges the pleasures of escapism, with references to "groovy trash and trinkets" and a "wonderful day to make-believe away." However, the lyrics also hint at the transitory nature of such pleasures, with the refrain "they can't stay tomorrow" repeated throughout the song. The closing lines suggest that no matter how different the settings or the players in them, the underlying game is the same.
Line by Line Meaning
Uptown people on the corner watching other people play
Observing individuals gathered near the street corner in Uptown, New York City, intently watching others engage in some kind of activity.
And while the people watch them play
As these spectators curiously watch the activity at hand...
The players watch the people
...the active individuals also scrutinize the spectators who are watching them.
On a Greenwich Village day
...all taking place on a bright, sunny day in Greenwich Village.
Paisley people dressed in colors wearing what they have to say
These individuals of Greenwich Village have made their fashion choices wisely, from brilliant paisley garments to somber greys, often conveying a message through their attire.
Some are paisley, some are grey
This emphasizes the diversity of color choices made by these Greenwich Village locals.
See them masquerading
Their dress and maintenance of a public self-image portrays well-crafted performances while out in the Village.
People there for the show
Individuals have come to enjoy the scene, perhaps even without a clear understanding of what will be taking place.
They came to see - what, they don't know
The excitement of discovering something new delights these visitors, even if it's unclear what that new thing might be yet.
The Village stores are filled with all kinds of groovy trash and trinkets
The stores around the area are packed with an assorted collection of items ranging from cool artifacts to prized souvenirs.
And there are scores, the bottoms for everyone who wants to think it
Anyone can find something appealing that strikes their fancy, regardless of how strange others may think it is.
What a wonderful day
The pleasant weather and jovial activity truly make it a blissful afternoon in Greenwich Village.
To make-believe away
It's a perfect time to escape to a different reality, to lose oneself in the current activity and forget daily life for a while.
But they can't stay
Unfortunately, the afternoon will draw to a close and the travelers will have to return to their usual lives.
Tomorrow
The song leaves off in the present, hinting at the promise of another time to relive this same experience once again.
Downtown people on the corner watching other people play
The song switches to Wall Street, instead showcasing individuals gathered near the street corner in Downtown, New York City, intently watching others engaging in some kind of activity.
The players watch the people
Much like in Greenwich Village, the players perform their activity while also monitoring those who have come to spectate.
On a Wall Street kind of day
All of it happening on a typical day in the financial district, with a different tone of course.
Pinstripe people dressed in colors wearing what they have to say
Individuals in Wall Street taking to their fashion choices with equal intent, donning smartly tailored pinstripes, conveying no less a message than the free-spirited folks in Greenwich Village.
It's still the same
The two scenes may seem different from an outsider's perspective, but each event is merely a representation of New York City at its core and a slice of the way of life for its citizens.
Contributed by Hannah O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.