(The Hit Hammer is where I'm reviewing each #1 song on the Billboard Hot 100. Starting from when the chart started in 1958 and eventually working my way to the present. To see my inspiration and more information about this blog, please CLICK HERE)
The Four Seasons - "December, 1963 (Oh, What a Night)"
Hit Number 1: March 13, 1976
Stay at Number 1: 3 Weeks
On November 22, 1963, John F. Kennedy was shot and killed in Dallas. This was obviously a dark moment in American history, and a lot of people were left shaken up by it. JFK was one of the most beloved presidents ever (at least in his current time of being president), and even though he was a Democrat, a lot of conservatives liked him a lot too. JFK was known for being popular with the younger generations mostly because of his determination to get an American into space, and his general positive outlook on the country's future. (This, of course, would eventually happen but not under Kennedy's watch) But all of that went away after he was killed, leaving the month of December of '63 as a time of mourning by America, and a time where a lot of Americans weren't having much fun. Fun they wouldn't have until the Beatles arrived, anyway. But Bob Gaudio of the Four Seasons was doing alright in December of '63. He had just met a girl, Judy Parker, and the two began a courtship together. This was largely what would eventually inspire the Four Seasons' fifth and final #1 hit.
The Four Seasons have appeared in this series a few times, but it's been a while. You have to go back all the way to 1964 when they hit #1 with "Rag Doll." The band's front man, Frankie Valli, however, appeared in this blog fairly recently with "My Eyes Adored You," which hit #1 in the first half of '75. This was that weird phase of pop music where a bunch of random acts from the early '60s were getting hits. It's the nostalgic era, and I think we have American Graffiti to thank for this era in pop music. Not that this was a bad era for pop music, just out of left field. We've never seen anything like it since. But all of a sudden, Valli was a star again, and this meant so could the Four Seasons. Though it was brief, the Four Seasons indeed found themselves on the map once again, long after Valli abandoned his falsetto and their signature doo-wop sound had died. The band released their 1975 album Who Loves You, with the title track becoming a major hit, peaking at #3. (It's a 6)
Gaudio had been working on a new song to be included on the Who Loves You album, and his inspiration, strangely, was when prohibition ended on December 5, 1933. His song was celebrating the end of the prohibition era, which is strange for two reasons. One: it's simply a strange thing to write a song about. Two: Gaudio wouldn't be born for another nine years after prohibition, so, why does he give a shit about that? I think the other Four Seasons members, mainly Frankie Valli, agreed with me, and so did Parker. They thought it would make more sense to make the song about a nostalgic love. One where a guy recalls his first time having sex several years back. And they also thought it would be a good idea to change the setting from 1933 to 1963, that way it has some close resemblance to Gaudio and Parker's real-life relationship. And then "December, 1963" was born. Considering the fact Gaudio would have been 21 in December of 1963, I doubt that this would have been his first time having sex, but I guess I could be wrong. Only reason I say that is because it makes the story in the song more fictional, rather than it really being about Gaudio's... first time. To each their own.
With that being said, it's clear that the song is, in fact, about a guy that's losing his virginity. Several years pass and he reflects on that night, thinking about how amazing that night was. As he says: "What a lady, what a night!" But this is one of those songs that the words aren't what sticks with you, it's the melody. Three of the Four Seasons take turns singing on the song, with drummer Gerry Polci and bass player Don Ciccone singing with Valli. The song almost sounds like magic at work: there's a banger bass line, close harmonies, a heart-thumping drum pattern and what even sounds like synths at some points. Synths! In 1976! I also like how when each singer sings his part, it sounds totally different from the other parts. Polci sings the sweeter verses, which sound like a typical '70s soft rock ballad. But then Valli has that "kill the lights" presence in his part when he sings "Oh I...." He takes the center stage beautifully, dare I say similarly to what he did on "Can't Take My Eyes Off You," an absolute banger from 1967. (It made it to #2 that year. It's immortal and it's also a 10) Then Ciccone has a nice little "mini falsetto" part, singing "I felt the rush like a rollin' boom of thunder."
I like the song not only because it's always changing, but because it's just flat out good. "Who Loves You" was kind of the same, but it was lacking the exciting feel that "December, 1963" has. It's a song about losing your virginity, and the rush of excitement one feels when they go through their first time, and the song captures that stuff. This guy was thrilled to the core when he was going through it, and he's still excited about it even years later. It must have been a hell of a lady, and it was surely one hell of a night. Even though everyone else was upset about the loss of their president. But it's impossible to be upset about "December, 1963." This thing slaps.
The Four Seasons' comeback didn't last long, however, and they won't appear in this blog again. But, Frankie Valli will after getting involved with one of the greater movie soundtracks in the '70s, if not one of the best ever. We'll get to that soon enough.
GRADE: 8/10
JUST MISSED:
Gary Wright's hypnotic, truly dreamy sounding "Dream Weaver" peaked at #2 behind "December, 1963 (Oh, What a Night)". It's a 9.
IN POP CULTURE:
Ben Liebrand remixed "December, 1963" and made it into a club-dance sort of song in 1988. He even released it as a single, and it did pretty well, making it to #14. (It's way too similar to the original, so I don't know what the hell to rate it) Frankie Valli wasn't a fan of it though, saying: "I'll never like it better than when it was pure." Regardless of what you may think of it, here it is:
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