Can't Take My Eyes Off You Explained

Can't Take My Eyes Off You
Cover:Can't Take My Eyes Off You.jpg
Caption:Cover of the 1967 US single
Type:single
Artist:Frankie Valli
Album:Frankie Valli: Solo[1]
B-Side:The Trouble with Me
Recorded:April 1967
Studio:A & R (New York City)
Label:Philips
Producer:Bob Crewe
Prev Title:The Proud One
Prev Year:1966
Next Title:I Make a Fool of Myself
Next Year:1967

"Can't Take My Eyes Off You" is a 1967 song written by Bob Crewe and Bob Gaudio, and first recorded and released as a single by Gaudio's Four Seasons bandmate Frankie Valli. The song was among his biggest hits, earning a gold record and reaching No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 for a week,[2] making it Valli's biggest solo hit until he hit No. 1 in 1975 with "My Eyes Adored You".[3]

Gaudio describes the song as "the one that almost got away" until Windsor, Ontario, radio station CKLW (a station also serving the Detroit metro on the American side of the border) intervened. In 1967, the record's producers urged Paul Drew, program director at the legendary station, to consider the tune for rotation. For much of the 1960s and 1970s, CKLW was credited with launching hit records via its powerful signal, blanketing the Great Lakes region. Drew did not warm to the song at first, but accepted an invitation to hear it live at the Roostertail, where Valli was performing a weeklong stint with the Four Seasons. Drew liked what he heard and added the song to his station's playlist. "The switchboards lit up, and the rest, as they say, is history", Gaudio recalled.[4]

Valli recalled in 2014 that "Can't Take My Eyes Off You" was the first step in the fulfillment of his goal to sing music that did not require him to use falsetto: "I didn't want to sing like that my whole life. Once we established the sound, the plan was that eventually I would do solo [records] and some things I really wanted to do. I was very lucky to make the transition to 'My Eyes Adored You' and 'Swearin' to God,' which had none of that." Valli also recalled that the record had been mothballed by The Four Seasons' record company for a year because of their fear that The Four Seasons (who had already lost Nick Massi in 1965) were breaking up, to which Valli insisted that he had no intentions of ever leaving The Four Seasons.[5]

"Can't Take My Eyes Off You" has been recorded in many other arrangements, many of which have charted in different countries.

Credits

The song was written by Bob Crewe and Bob Gaudio. Melodic elements bear a similarity to passages from the Adagio of Spartacus and Phrygia section of the 1956 ballet Spartacus (Suite No. 2) by Aram Khachaturian.[6]

The original recording, from an arrangement by Gaudio and Artie Schroeck, was made at A & R Studio 2 (formerly Columbia Studio A), at 799 7th Avenue in New York City, with Crewe producing and Phil Ramone engineering.

Reception

Billboard described the single as "strong rhythm ballad material from the pen of Bob Crewe and Bob Gaudio with an exceptional Valli vocal combined with an exciting Artie Schroeck arrangement."[7] Cash Box called the single a "smooth, gentle, softly spoken romancer".[8]

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1967–68)Peak
position
Australia (Go-Set)[9] 15
Canada RPM Top Singles[10] 2
US Billboard Hot 100[11] 2
US Cash Box Top 100[12] 1

Year-end charts

Chart (1967)Rank
Canada[13] 18
US Billboard Hot 100[14] 10
US Cash Box[15] 3

Boys Town Gang version

Can't Take My Eyes Off You
Type:single
Artist:Boys Town Gang
Album:Disc Charge
Released:July 29, 1982
Genre:Post-disco
Length:

3:28 - 7” version

9:47 - Album version

Label:Moby Dick
Producer:Bill Motley
Prev Title:Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours
Prev Year:1982
Next Title:Brand New Me
Next Year:1984

In 1982, San Francisco-based post-disco band Boys Town Gang released a dance version of the song which reached the top spot in the Netherlands, Belgium, and Spain and number four in the United Kingdom.[16] [17] This version was also successful in Japan, receiving a gold digital certification by the Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ) in 2011.

Track listings

7-inch single

  1. "Can't Take My Eyes Off You" – 3:28
  2. "Can't Take My Eyes Off You" (reprise) – 4:42

7-inch single

  1. "Can't Take My Eyes Off You" – 3:40
  2. "Disco Kicks" – 4:04

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1982–1983)Peak
position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[18] 21
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[19] 1
Ireland (IRMA)5
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[20] 1
UK Singles (OCC)[21] 4
West Germany (Official German Charts)[22] 43

Year-end charts

Lauryn Hill version

Can't Take My Eyes Off of You
Type:song
Artist:Lauryn Hill
Album:The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill
Released:August 25, 1998
Genre:Pop
Length:3:41
Label:Ruffhouse, Columbia
Producer:Lauryn Hill

Lauryn Hill's version of the song was recorded in 1997, while Hill was eight months pregnant with her first child.[23] It was first featured in the movie Conspiracy Theory (1997). While the song was not featured on the soundtrack, a radio jockey at KMEL in San Francisco put the song on a CD and began playing it;[24] more radio stations followed suit, causing a domino effect around the U.S.,[25] [26] ultimately leading the song to peak at number two on the Rhythmic Top 40 chart, despite Hill's label's not releasing the song as a single.[27] [28] Due to the popularity of the song it was added as a hidden track on The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill.[29]

This version was also nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance in 1999, becoming the first hidden track to ever receive a Grammy nomination.[30] [31] Consequence of Sound named it the best hidden track of all time.[32] In 2014, VH1 also named it the best hidden track of all time.[33] Academy Award–winning actor Forest Whitaker was inspired to name his daughter True, after hearing Hill's version of the song.[34]

Charts

Chart (1998–1999)Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[35] 8
US Rhythmic (Billboard)[36] 2
US Hot 100 Airplay (Radio Songs)[37] 35

Other cover versions

The song has been recorded by many artists. Among the most notable examples are the following:

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Official Frankie Valli Site. November 25, 2017.
  2. Billboard Hot 100 . . July 22, 1967 . July 31, 2015.
  3. Book: The Billboard book of number 1 hits. 398. Bronson, Fred.
  4. Web site: The Four Seasons Rocked at The Roostertail in Detroit! · Jersey Boys Blog.
  5. News: Willman . Chris . June 6, 2024 . Frankie Valli on Jersey Boys and His Unlikely Success: 'The Way I Grew Up, It Was Basically Against All Odds' . May 31, 2023 . . en.
  6. Web site: Chicago Classical Review » » Violinist strikes sparks with belated Shostakovich premiere at Grant Park .
  7. News: Billboard. February 27, 2021. April 29, 1967. 16. Spotlight Singles.
  8. CashBox Record Reviews . April 29, 1967 . 22 . January 12, 2022 . Cash Box.
  9. Web site: Go-Set National Top 40, 27 September 1967 . November 26, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120614152501/http://www.poparchives.com.au/gosetcharts/1967/19670927.html . June 14, 2012 . dead .
  10. Web site: RPM Top 100 Singles – July 15, 1967.
  11. Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955–1990 –
  12. Web site: Cash Box Year-End Charts: Top 100 Pop Singles, July 15, 1967 . Tropicalglen.com . December 23, 1967 . April 18, 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180930105232/http://tropicalglen.com/Archives/60s_files/1967YESP.html . September 30, 2018 . dead .
  13. Web site: RPM Top 100 Singles – January 6, 1968.
  14. Web site: Musicoutfitters.com . Musicoutfitters.com . April 18, 2017.
  15. Web site: Cash Box YE Pop Singles – 1967 . Tropicalglen.com . December 23, 1967 . April 18, 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180930105232/http://tropicalglen.com/Archives/60s_files/1967YESP.html . September 30, 2018 . dead .
  16. Web site: Top 40-lijst van week 24, 1982 . Top40.nl . September 30, 2016.
  17. Book: Roberts, David. 2006. British Hit Singles & Albums. 19th. Guinness World Records Limited. London. 74. 1-904994-10-5.
  18. Web site: Kent Music Report – National Top 100 Singles for 1983 . . Imgur.com . January 22, 2023.
  19. Web site: Boys Town Gang – Can't Take My Eyes Off You. ultratop.be.
  20. Web site: Boys Town Gang – Can't Take My Eyes Off You. Steffen. Hung. hitparade.ch.
  21. https://www.chartsurfer.de/artist/boys-town-gang/can-t-take-my-eyes-off-you-song_ehcp.html chartsurfer.de
  22. Web site: Can't Take My Eyes Off You . chartsurfer.de . April 3, 2024.
  23. Web site: The Quietus Features Anniversary 20 Years On: The Miseducation Of Lauryn Hill Revisited. May 5, 2021. The Quietus. en-us.
  24. Web site: Lauryn Hill: "Can't Take My Eyes Off You" from The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill. May 5, 2021. HiddenSongs.com. en-US.
  25. Book: Billboard. March 27, 1999. Nielsen Business Media, Inc.. en.
  26. Book: Billboard. May 9, 1998. Nielsen Business Media, Inc.. en.
  27. Web site: May 26, 1975. Lauryn Hill | Awards. September 30, 2016. AllMusic.
  28. Book: Billboard. December 5, 1998. Nielsen Business Media, Inc.. en.
  29. Web site: Knowledge Drop: Lauryn Hill Reportedly Recorded "Can't Take My Eyes Off Of You" While Lying On The Floor. May 5, 2021. Genius. en.
  30. Web site: Kot. Greg. 10 NOMINATIONS PUT LAURYN HILL ATOP GRAMMY HEAP. December 19, 2018. chicagotribune.com. January 6, 1999 .
  31. Web site: January 25, 2015. Manna for fans: the history of the hidden track in music. March 2, 2021. The Guardian. en.
  32. Web site: July 8, 2014. 20 Best Hidden Tracks on Albums. March 2, 2021. Consequence of Sound. en-US.
  33. Web site: Runtagh. Jordan. Surprise! The 12 Greatest Hidden Tracks In Music. https://web.archive.org/web/20220528032850/https://www.vh1.com/news/h04i6d/12-greatest-hidden-tracks. live. May 28, 2022. May 5, 2021. VH1 News.
  34. Web site: True Whitaker, Daughter of Forest Whitaker, Is Delighted to Share Her Name With True Thompson, Daughter of Khloé Kardashian. October 16, 2021. W Magazine. April 17, 2018 . en.
  35. Web site: australian-charts.com – Discography Lauryn Hill. March 2, 2021. australian-charts.com.
  36. News: Lauryn Hill. March 2, 2021. Billboard.
  37. Lauryn Hill. March 2, 2021. Billboard.
  38. Book: Whitburn, Joel . Joel Whitburn

    . Joel Whitburn . 1993 . Top Adult Contemporary: 1961–1993 . Record Research . 139.

  39. Web site: Official Singles Chart Top 40 | Official Charts Company . Officialcharts.com . September 30, 2016.
  40. Love, Andy by Andy Williams, album sleeve, 1967. New York: Columbia Records CS 9566
  41. Web site: Official Singles Chart Top 40 | Official Charts Company . Officialcharts.com . September 30, 2016.
  42. Web site: Item Display – RPM – Library and Archives Canada . Collectionscanada.gc.ca . September 30, 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160601164200/http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?&file_num=nlc008388.9258&type=1&interval=50&PHPSESSID=2vo7nds4pse2i889njf2aru315 . June 1, 2016 . dead .
  43. Web site: Pet Shop Boys Chart History Billboard . www.billboard.com . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20171111220255/http://www.billboard.com/music/pet-shop-boys/chart-history . November 11, 2017.
  44. Web site: JAARLIJST 1992 . Members.chello.nl . September 30, 2016.
  45. Web site: Allender . Mark . Songs of the Heart: The Story of Bud and Irma Akendorf Review . May 2, 2024.
  46. Web site: Roßbach . Daniel . Fiebrig . Sebastian . #22 – Wie Torsten Mattuschka zu seinem Lied kam . Und niemals vergessen . August 30, 2022 . German . November 18, 2019.
  47. Web site: BBC Sport – Kelly Jones sings Gary Speed tribute. https://wayback.archive-it.org/all/20111203174237/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/15995644.stm. dead. December 3, 2011. wayback.archive-it.org.

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