Greatest Hits, Vol. 1
New Jersey's favorite sons in the days before Bruce Springsteen, Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons were practically the only group from the doo-wop era to continue to thrive during (and after) the British Invasion. Aside from a natural facility for four-part harmony, the group had the added advantage of keyboardist Bob Gaudio (who wrote most of the group's hits) and producer Bob Crewe, who gave the songs a Spector-esque sheen. This disc collects the best Four Seasons stuff from 1962 to 1965, including "Sherry," "Big Girls Don't Cry" and "Dawn (Go Away)." It's an appealing package, but provides an incomplete picture of the group; Four Seasons fans should definitely check outVolume 2, which includes more complex later hits like "Let's Hang On" and "Working My Way Back To You."--Dan Epstein