Artist:Frankie Valli
Song:Grease
Album:The Very Best of Frankie Valli & the Four Seasons
Grease topped the charts in 1978. It was Frankie Valli's final number one hit. Of course it was the theme for the 1978 film Grease. It played over the opening credits. I thought it might be a discography orphan but it does appear on a Frankie Valli album. By 1978 Valli's career was in decline. Things weren't going well since his 1974 number one hit My Eyes Adored You. And his label Private Stock went out of business. Meanwhile Robert Stigwood was producing the 1978 film adaptation of the Broadway musical Grease. He felt the film needed a theme to play over the opening credits. So he called Barry Gibb. He wanted it to sound contemporary but with retro vocals. He chose Valli because his vocal range was similar. Valli agreed despite suffering a loss of hearing due to otosclerosis. He also was looking for a new record deal. Gibb brought Peter Frampton in to play guitar. The rest of the band were session guys who played on Andy Gibb's album. Grease was one of four original songs added to Grease. Director Randal Kleiser didn't like the song. But Stigwood got his way and it played over the opening credits. Grease topped the charts and it got Valli a record deal with Curb Records. Grease was added to the 1978 album Frankie Valli...Is the Word mostly produced by Bob Gaudio. Grease didn't help Valli's album sales. Folks bought the Grease soundtrack album. Grease is Valli's final number one hit. You can get it on this Rhino comp. Valli continues to tour as part of The Four Seasons. He released a new album A Touch of Jazz in June. Here's Frankie Valli performing Grease on Soul Train 1978.
I loved the Four Seasons and Frankie Valli. I still listen to many of his early songs and thoroughly enjoy them.
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