Both groups started hitting the charts around the same time, each defining both the East and the West Coast sound. Trademark falsettos were the name of the game … and Frankie Valli and Brian Wilson had two of the best.
The Four Seasons’ broke through in a VERY big way in 1962 with their #1 Hit “Sherry”. In fact, their first three commercially released singles ALL went to #1. By the time “Watch The Flowers Grow” hit the charts, The Four Seasons had already scored SIXTEEN National Top 10 Hits (including one under the pseudonym “The Wonder Who”.)
The Beach Boys hit The Top Ten for the first time that very same year with “Surfin’ Safari”. They would go on to have a total of fifteen National Top Ten Hits before “Wild Honey” cracked the charts.
In the 1980’s the two groups would team up for a one-off single called “East Meets West”. It totally bombed (and was quite awful ... such a shame when one considers the amount of pooled talent on this one recording.)
The Four Seasons saw a resurgence in their career in the mid-‘70’s with their disco hit “Who Loves You” and one of the most over-played oldies classics of all time, “December, 1963 (Oh What A Night”), a #1 Record in 1976. The hit musical “Jersey Boys” told their story to the world several years later.
The Beach Boys last hit the #1 spot in 1988 with “Kokomo”, ironically a song NOT written by their leader, Brian Wilson. (In fact, Brian wasn’t on the record at all!) They continue to tour in two factions to this day as both The Beach Boys (featuring Mike Love and Bruce Johnston) and The Brian Wilson Band, which often features Al Jardine (and sometimes David Marks and Blondie Chaplin) on board.
Also new on the chart this week are "I Second That Emotion" by Smokey Robinson and the Miracles (#74),"Paper Cup" by The Fifth Dimension (#80) and "She's My Girl" by The Turtles (#89).
The Beatles complete the recording of their next single, "Hello Goodbye". Backed with "I Am The Walrus", it will be released on November 24th (and go right to #1 … quite possibly their least-deserving #1 record.)
Once again The Monkees earn a Gold Record Award for the pre-order sales of their next LP "Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn and Jones, Ltd." It will be officially released on November 6th.
President Lyndon Johnson holds a secret meeting with a group of the nation's most prestigious leaders (later dubbed "the Wise Men") and asks them to suggest ways to unite the American people behind the war effort. They conclude that the American people should be given more optimistic reports on the progress of the war.
