December, 1963 (Oh, What a Night)
{{Short description|1975 single by the Four Seasons}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2021}}
{{redirect|December, 1963|the month|December 1963}}
{{Infobox song
| name = December, 1963 (Oh, What a Night)
| image = December 1963 Oh, What a Night by the Four Seasons US single side-A.png
| alt = side-A label
| caption = Side A of the US single
| type = single
| artist = the Four Seasons
| album = Who Loves You
| B-side = Slip Away
| recorded = November 1975
| studio = Sound Factory (Hollywood)
| genre = * Disco
- doo-wop{{cite web|first= Tom |last= Breihan |title= The Number Ones: Frankie Valli’s "Grease"|website= Stereogum |date= December 27, 2019 |url= https://www.stereogum.com/2068180/the-number-ones-frankie-vallis-grease/columns/the-number-ones/|quote= ...with the 1976 nostalgia-dazed Four Seasons doo-wop disco number “December, 1963 (Oh, What A Night).”|accessdate= July 7, 2023}}
- pop{{cite magazine|last= Billboard Staff|title= The 500 Best Pop Songs: Staff List|magazine= Billboard |url= https://www.billboard.com/lists/best-pop-songs-all-time-hits/|date= October 19, 2023|accessdate= February 24, 2024|quote=...with the group (and Frankie Valli solo) catching up to soft rock and disco, proving it still had the pop chops of a decade earlier.}}
- soft rock
| length = * 3:36 (album version)
- 3:20 (single version)
| label = * Warner Bros.
| writer = * Bob Gaudio
| producer = Bob Gaudio
| prev_title = Who Loves You
| prev_year = 1975
| next_title = Silver Star
| next_year = 1976
| misc = {{external music video|header=Official music video|{{YouTube|mTUhnIY3oRM|"December, 1963 (Oh What A Night!)"}}}}
}}
"December, 1963 (Oh, What a Night)" is a song originally performed by American band the Four Seasons, written by original Four Seasons keyboardist Bob Gaudio and his future wife Judy Parker, produced by Gaudio, and included on the group's album Who Loves You (1975).
The song features drummer Gerry Polci on lead vocals, with Frankie Valli, the group's usual lead vocalist, singing the bridge sections and backing vocals and bassist Don Ciccone singing the falsetto part.
Song origins
According to the co-writer and longtime group member Bob Gaudio, the song's lyrics were originally set in 1933 with the title "December 5th, 1933", celebrating the repeal of Prohibition,{{cite web
| url = http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=1901
| title = December 1963 (Oh What a Night)
| work = Songfacts.com
| access-date = 2010-01-09
}} but after the band revolted against what Gaudio would admit was a "silly" lyric being paired with an instrumental groove they knew would be a hit,{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JbR-Wj6yL6w |title=December, 1963 (Oh, What a Night) The Story Behind The Song |publisher=Top 2000 a gogo |author=Netherlands Public Broadcasting |accessdate=2024-02-11 }} Parker, who had not written a song lyric before by that point, wrote a new set of lyrics. By Gaudio's account, the song was a recollection of his and Parker's first meeting.{{cite web|url=http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2011-02-15/entertainment/fl-bob-gaudio-interview-20110215_1_frankie-valli-bob-crewe-harmony |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140718034136/http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2011-02-15/entertainment/fl-bob-gaudio-interview-20110215_1_frankie-valli-bob-crewe-harmony|archive-date=2014-07-18|title=Gaudio put words in Valli's mouth |website=Sun-sentinel.com |access-date=2014-12-16 }} In real life, Parker and Gaudio had not met until 1973, when both were working as producers for Motown Records.{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=September 2017 |title=Judy Gaudio, Co-Writer of Four Seasons Hits, Dies |url=https://bestclassicbands.com/judy-parker-gaudio-9-19-17/ |access-date=2024-01-12 |website=Best Classic Bands |language=en-GB}} Parker recalled writing the lyrics from the perspective of a man recalling his first intimacy with a woman, recalling that she still wanted to portray it in a way that was family-friendly because of the Four Seasons' (and Parker's own) clean reputation.
The idea of having Polci and Ciccone sing lead vocals instead of Valli came from Warner Bros., who had been impressed when they had received a demo of their previous single "Who Loves You", with Ciccone on lead vocals. They reasoned that new lead vocalists would help differentiate the Four Seasons from the solo records Valli was then also cutting for Private Stock Records, briefly designating Ciccone as the band's new lead vocalist. Although Valli was angered by the suggestion, the album ultimately relied upon Polci and Ciccone as lead vocalists for the rest of the songs on the album.{{cite web|title=Gary James' Interview With Don Ciccone Of The Four Seasons|url= http://www.classicbands.com/FourSeasonsInterview.html|access-date=2020-07-24|publisher= classicbands.com|first=Gary|last=James}}
Reception
The single was released in December 1975 and hit number one on the UK Singles Chart on February 21, 1976.{{cite book | first= David | last= Roberts | year= 2006 | title= British Hit Singles & Albums | edition= 19th | publisher= Guinness World Records Limited | location= London | isbn= 1-904994-10-5 | page= 323}} It repeated the feat on the US Billboard Hot 100 on March 13, 1976, remaining in the top spot for three weeks and one week on Cash Box. Billboard ranked it as the No. 4 song for 1976. On April 10 the same year, it topped the RPM National Top Singles Chart in Canada.{{cite web |url=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?brws_s=1&file_num=nlc008388.4102a&type=1&interval=24&PHPSESSID=kjerdnvbvl3a8p4jfufutrc7u6 |title=Item Display – RPM – Library and Archives Canada |publisher=Collectionscanada.gc.ca |access-date=January 9, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121021073952/http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?brws_s=1&file_num=nlc008388.4102a&type=1&interval=24&PHPSESSID=kjerdnvbvl3a8p4jfufutrc7u6 |archive-date=October 21, 2012 |url-status=dead }} It was the final Four Seasons' song to reach number one, although Valli would have one final chart-topper as a solo act in 1978 with theme song to the film Grease.
Billboard said that it has "the flavor and fun of '60s rock with a disco feel," and praised the production and the lead and harmony vocals as well."{{cite news|title=Top Single Picks|newspaper=Billboard|access-date=July 13, 2020|date=December 13, 1975|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-Billboard/70s/1975/Billboard-1975-12-13.pdf|page=58}} Cash Box said it has "one of the sweetest melody lines you'll have heard throughout 1975" and that the song is "easy enough to sing along to, combined with an unforgettable bass line."{{cite news|title=CashBox Singles Reviews|date=December 20, 1975|page=28|access-date=December 11, 2021|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/70s/1975/CB-1975-12-20.pdf|newspaper=Cash Box}} Record World called it a "disco flavored item in [the Four Seasons'] timeless harmony mold."{{cite magazine|magazine=Record World|date=December 20, 1975|accessdate=2023-02-12|title=Single Picks|page=14|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Record-World/70s/78/RW-1978-12-20.pdf}}
Ben Liebrand remix
In 1988, Dutch DJ and producer Ben Liebrand remixed the song and re-released it as a single.{{cite web|url=http://www.discogs.com/Frankie-Valli-Four-Seasons-December-1963-Oh-What-A-Night-Ben-Liebrand-Remix/release/2546434 |title=Frankie Valli & Four Seasons, The – December 1963 (Oh, What A Night) (Ben Liebrand Re-mix) (CD) at Discogs |year=1992 |publisher=Discogs.com |access-date=January 9, 2012}}{{cite web|url=http://www.discogs.com/Four-Seasons-December-1963-Oh-What-A-Night/release/1281008 |title=Four Seasons, The – December 1963 (Oh, What A Night) (Vinyl) at Discogs |year=1993 |publisher=Discogs.com |access-date=January 9, 2012}} In 1993, Curb Records, who released the original version of the song, picked up the 1988 remix and released it to the U.S. market. The 1993 re-release spent 27 weeks on the Hot 100 (matching the chart life of the original 1975 single). The peak position of the remix version was #14. Adding together the two 27-week chart runs for the 1975 original single and the remixed version (for a combined total of 54 weeks, two more weeks than a full year) gave the song the longest tenure ever on the Billboard Hot 100 music chart up to that time.[{{BillboardURLbyName|artist=the four seasons|chart=all}} Billboard.com review of album "Oh, What a Night"]{{dead link|date=January 2012}} This remixed version has a duration of five minutes. It also became the Four Seasons' sole charting song on the Pop Airplay chart, hitting a peak of #6.
Music video
A music video was produced to accompany the original 1975 release. It featured the band performing on a stage along with scenes of a 1950s/early 1960s diner where they were all together with young women dressed in period outfits and drinking ice cream sodas.
Personnel
- Gerry Polci – drums, lead vocals (verses)
- Frankie Valli – backing vocals, lead vocals (first bridge)
- Don Ciccone – backing vocals, bass, lead vocals (second bridge)
- John Paiva – electric guitar
- Lee Shapiro – keyboards, synthesizers, horn and string arrangements
- Bob Gaudio – keyboards, producer
Charts
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
=Weekly charts=
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Chart (1993–1995)
!Peak |
|---|
| {{single chart|Australia|3|artist=The Four Seasons|song=December, 1963 (Oh, What a Night)|access-date=May 19, 2020}} |
| {{single chart|Canadatopsingles|23|chartid=2669|access-date=May 19, 2020}} |
| {{single chart|Canadaadultcontemporary|27|chartid=2663|access-date=May 19, 2020}} |
| {{single chart|New Zealand|2|artist=The Four Seasons|song=December, 1963 (Oh, What a Night)|access-date=May 19, 2020}} |
| US Billboard Hot 100
| style="text-align:center;"|14 |
| US Pop Airplay (Billboard)
| style="text-align:center;"|6 |
| US Cash Box Top 100{{cite web|url=https://www.popmusichistory.co.uk/_files/ugd/b4848d_4f9128176360450ba51be67a0468e9fa.pdf|title=U.S. Cash Box Charts|website=popmusichistory|access-date=January 4, 2022}}
| style="text-align:center;"|11 |
{{col-2}}
=Year-end charts=
| class="wikitable" |
| align="left"|Chart (1993)
! style="text-align:center;"|Rank |
|---|
| Australia (ARIA){{cite web|url=https://www.ariacharts.com.au/annual-charts/1993/singles-chart|title=1993 ARIA Singles Chart|publisher=ARIA|access-date=July 12, 2019}}
| style="text-align:center;"|14 |
| class="wikitable" |
| align="left"|Chart (1994)
! style="text-align:center;"|Rank |
|---|
| US Billboard Hot 100{{cite web|url=http://longboredsurfer.com/charts.php?year=1994 |title=Billboard Top 100 – 1994 |website=Longboredsurfer.com |access-date=August 27, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090301121519/http://longboredsurfer.com/charts.php?year=1994 |archive-date=March 1, 2009 }}
| style="text-align:center;"|89 |
| class="wikitable"
!Chart (1995) !Rank |
| New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ){{cite web|url=https://nztop40.co.nz/index.php/chart/?chart=3884|title=End of Year Charts 1995|publisher=Recorded Music NZ|access-date=December 3, 2017}}
|align="center"|46 |
{{col-end}}
Certifications
{{Certification Table Top}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Australia|type=single|award=Platinum|relyear=1975|certyear=1993|certref=|access-date=July 12, 2019}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=New Zealand|type=single|artist=Four Seasons|title=December 63 (Oh What a Night)|award=Gold|relyear=1975|id=1995-01-27|source=newchart|access-date=2024-11-20|certyear=1976}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|type=single|artist=Frankie Valli/The Four Seasons|title=December 1963 (Oh What a Night)|award=Platinum|relyear=2005|certyear=2021|id=14327-3489-1|access-date=April 16, 2021}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|type=single|artist=The Four Seasons|title=December, 1963 (Oh, What a Night)|award=Gold|relyear=1975|certyear=1976|access-date=July 12, 2019}}
{{Certification Table Bottom|streaming=true}}
Clock version
{{Infobox song
| name = Oh What a Night
| cover = Oh_What_a_Night.jpg
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = Clock
| album = About Time 2
| released = {{start date|1996|8|26}}{{cite magazine|title=New Releases: Singles|magazine=Music Week|page=31|date=August 24, 1996}}
| recorded =
| studio =
| venue =
| genre =
| length = 3:28
| label = MCA
| writer =
| producer =
- P. Pritchard
- S. Allan
| prev_title = Whoomph! (There It Is)
| prev_year = 1995
| next_title = U Sexy Thing
| next_year = 1997
}}
British pop-dance act Clock released a dance cover of "Oh What a Night" in August 1996. It peaked at number 13 in both Ireland and in the UK; in the latter country, it stayed at its peak for four nonconsecutive weeks.
=Track listings=
{{Track listing
| headline = CD single, UK (1996)
| title1 = Oh What a Night
| note1 = radio mix
| length1 = 3:23
| title2 = Oh What a Night
| note2 = club mix
| length2 = 5:12
| title3 = You Give Me Love
| note3 = Time Ladies Please mix
| length3 = 4:42
| title4 = You Give Me Love
| note4 = Ten to Two mix
| length4 = 5:18
}}
{{Track listing
| headline = CD single, France (1996)
| title1 = Oh What a Night
| note1 = radio mix
| length1 = 3:24
| title2 = Oh What a Night
| note2 = Soul mix
| length2 = 3:26
}}
=Charts=
{{col-begin|width=74%}}
{{col-2}}
==Weekly charts==
{{col-2}}
==Year-end charts==
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |
| scope="col"| Chart (1996)
! scope="col"| Position |
|---|
| scope="row"|UK Singles (OCC){{cite magazine|first=|last=|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1997/Music-Week-1997-01-18.pdf|title=Top 100 Singles 1996|magazine=Music Week|date=January 18, 1997|page=25|access-date=May 6, 2022}}
| 76 |
{{col-end}}
Other covers
The French singer Claude François also recorded a version of this song called "Cette année-là".{{Cite web|url=https://www.ultratop.be/nl/song/f921/Claude-Francois-Cette-annee-la|title=Claude François – Cette année-là|website=Ultratop|accessdate=2022-06-12}} The song is featured in the French jukebox musical Belles belles belles based on the works of Claude François, as well as in Jersey Boys, in which the song is inserted into the story's timeline in 1963.Brickman, Marshall; Elice, Rick (2004). Jersey Boys: The Story of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons. Act I, scenes 28–29. pp.83–87.
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{YouTube|fhc13WNMNpg|Listen to "December, 1963 (Oh, What A Night)"}}
{{The Four Seasons}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:December, 1963 (Oh, What A Night)}}
Category:Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles
Category:Cashbox number-one singles
Category:UK singles chart number-one singles
Category:Number-one singles in South Africa
Category:RPM Top Singles number-one singles
Category:The Four Seasons (band) songs
Category:Clock (dance act) songs
Category:Songs about nostalgia
Category:Songs written by Bob Gaudio
Category:Song recordings produced by Bob Gaudio