Chameleon (The Four Seasons album)
| Chameleon | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
.JPG) | ||||
| Studio album by The Four Seasons | ||||
| Released | May 1972 | |||
| Recorded | 1972 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 33:33 | |||
| Label | MoWest | |||
| Producer | Bob Gaudio | |||
| The Four Seasons chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Professional ratings | |
|---|---|
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic |    |
Chameleon is a 1972 album by The Four Seasons notable for being their only album recorded for Motown. The album met with limited success in the US; no single was even issued from the album in America. "The Night", however, met with success in the UK and peaked at No. 7 in 1975, becoming a Northern Soul mainstay.[2]
Track listing
| Track | Song | Writer(s) | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "A New Beginning (Prelude)" | Bob Crewe, Bob Gaudio | 1:21 |
| 2 | "Sun Country" | Bob Gaudio | 4:07 |
| 3 | "You're a Song (That I Can't Sing)" | Bob Gaudio, Brit Gaudio | 3:11 |
| 4 | "The Night" | Al Ruzicka, Bob Gaudio | 3:22 |
| 5 | "A New Beginning" | Bob Crewe, Bob Gaudio | 4:45 |
| 6 | "When the Morning Comes" | Bob Gaudio | 4:37 |
| 7 | "Poor Fool" | Al Ruzicka | 4:20 |
| 8 | "Touch the Rainchild" | Al Ruzicka, Bob Gaudio | 4:22 |
| 9 | "Love Isn't Here (Like it Used to Be)" | Bob Gaudio, Brit Gaudio | 3:44 |
Non-album singles
The following singles were recorded during the band's tenure at Motown; none of these appeared on Chameleon. Some, however, later turned up on Frankie Valli's 1975 "solo" album Inside You, which was a collection of unreleased songs and outtakes from Chameleon.[3]
- "Walk On, Don't Look Back" - MoWest 5026
- "How Come?/Life and Breath" - Motown 1255
- "Hickory/Charisma" - Motown 1288
- "You've Got Your Troubles/Listen to Yesterday" - Motown 1251
- "The Scalawag Song (And I Will Love You)" - Motown 1279
Legacy
Although reception at the time of release was lukewarm, opinions today from both fans and critics are very positive.[4] Noted for the distinctive Motown sound combined with the sounds of the Four Seasons, the album's "slick pop production values" made for a unique album in their catalog.[5] Unavailable on Compact Disc until 2008, the compilation Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons: The Motown Years finally made this album, Frankie Valli's "Inside You", and non-album singles accessible to a new audience on a 2-disc set.
"The Night" was covered by Lene Lovich on her 1979 record Flex.
Personnel
- Frankie Valli - vocals
- Joe Long - bass guitar, vocals
- Bob Gaudio - producer, keyboards, piano, vocals
- Demetri Callas - lead guitar, vocals
- Additional personnel
- Paul Wilson - drums
- Al Ruzicka - keyboards
References
- ↑ Allmusic review
- ↑ Chin, Brain. Frankie Valli & the Four Seasons: The Motown Years, Liner Notes (2008)
- ↑ Chin, Brain. Frankie Valli & the Four Seasons: The Motown Years, Liner Notes (2008)
- ↑ "Motown Anthology Reviews" (PDF). The Four Seasons UK Appreciation Society. Retrieved 31 January 2011.
- ↑ Lindsay Planer. "Allmusic". Chameleon. Retrieved 31 January 2011.
