The Four Seasons: The Genuine Imitation Life Gazette CD Track Listing

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The Four Seasons The Genuine Imitation Life Gazette (1969)
Originally Released January 1969\nCD Edition Released 1988 ??\n\nAMG EXPERT REVIEW: This wildly ambitious opus lives up to its reputation as the most bizarre album in the Four Seasons' catalog. With the help of young songwriter Jake Holmes, the straightest of pop groups went psychedelic to create a concept album that casts a satirical eye on American life. The end result is often excessive both lyrically and sonically, but it's also relentlessly inventive, skillfully constructed, and never dull. Genuine Imitation Life Gazette never feels like a cheap cash-in because the group chases its cosmic muse without any worry of pandering to commercial concerns. In fact, fans of concise Four Seasons pop classics like "Dawn" and "Big Girls Don't Cry" will be shocked by songs like "American Crucifixion Resurrection" and "Soul of a Woman," both multi-minute epics that abandon tight pop song structure in favor of symphonic structures spiked with all manner of psychedelic sonic trickery and elliptical, satirical lyrics reminiscent of Van Dyke Parks' late-'60s work. The best of these epics is "Genuine Imitation Life," a critique of artificial pleasures in modern life set to a psychedelicized lounge backing that remains surprisingly sharp by modern standards. These moments are interspersed with shorter songs that combine sharp lyrics with lysergic but catchy melodies: highlights include "Mrs. Stately's Garden," a jazzy, up-tempo pop track with society send-up lyrics worthy of Ray Davies, and "Saturday's Father," a haunting ballad that underscores its tale of a divorced father visiting his kids with a ghostly tapestry of vocal and keyboard textures. Despite all these musical flights of fancy, Genuine Imitation Life Gazette retains a stylistic consistency throughout thanks to the group's stellar vocals. Valli delivers some of his finest leads on songs like "Genuine Imitation Life" and "Saturday's Father" and the rest of the group provides lush, flawless harmonies that match the varying moods of each song. The end result is an album that, while not for all tastes, offers a stunning example of the artistry of the Four Seasons at their most ambitious. -- Donald A. Guarisco\n\nAmazon.com Customer Review (Import Expanded Version 2002)\nAn Album in the Shadows, February 23, 2005 \nReviewer: Kevin Killian (San Francisco, CA United States)\nRecently with all the hoopla over Brian Wilson's release of the SMiLE album, it set me thinking back to the past when his influence, and the Beatles and other progressive rock groups, caused a whole generation of pop musicians to change their ways very drastically, and I recalled this fine LP from 1968. GENUINE IMITATION LIFE GAZETTE was modelled after Orson Welles and the Mercury Project of the WPA era and their "living newspaper," so every track on the LP was inspired by an article ripped out of the headlines of the day. \n\nThe "living newspaper" device was of course the feature of Irving Berlin's early 30s musical AS THOUSANDS CHEER so it wasn't exactly original even to Orson Welles. \n\nThe music was superb, but it wasn't what 4 Seasons fans were expecting and many of us were appalled and betrayed. For myself, I couldn't make up my mind. Part of me preferred the old pop sounds of OPUS 17, etc. But another part of my liked the seriousness, the depth, the symphonic touches, even the pretension of the title, which blended in the old Douglas Sirk IMITATION OF LIFE, with all its camp association, with an assertion of "genuine-ness" like Miller Beer. \n\nToday I prefer it to SMiLE in many ways. If SMiLE has the "Americana" thing going on better, this LP has a better mesh of voices and instruments, and the political statements are clearer and more cohesive. It's unbelievable is what it is. The bonus tracks help put the material into perspective, though they're not strictly "Gazette" material. \n\nAmazon.com Customer Review (Import Expanded Version 2002)\nToday is Father's Day., May 7, 2005 \nReviewer: Johnny Heering "trivia buff" (Bethel, CT United States)\nThe Genuine Imitation Life Gazette was, more or less, The Four Seasons answer to Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. The Four Seasons adopted a more mature sound here, with the songs being about "issues". It's a very good album, but it was a flop at the time. Some people will tell you that is because people rejected the "new" sound of The Four Seasons. But I would contend that the album flopped because all the songs released as singles from the album bombed. "Saturday's Father" charted at #103, "Something's On Her Mind" bottomed out at #98 and "Idaho" did the "best" at #95. So, that would indicate that most people never got to hear any of the songs from this album. And if they didn't hear anything from the album, they weren't likely to buy the album, unless they were already big Four Seasons fans. Which is unfortunate, because it is a very good album. The CD includes four bonus tracks, which were all singles that were recorded around the same time as the album. Here is the complete track listing: \n\n1. American Crucifixion Resurrection \n2. Mrs. Stately's Garden \n3. Look Up Look Over \n4. Something's On Her Mind \n5. Saturday's Father \n6. Wall Street Village Day \n7. Genuine Imitation Life \n8. Idaho \n9. Wonder What You'll Be \n10. Soul of a Woman \n11. Watch the Flowers Grow \n12. Raven \n13. Will You Love Me Tomorrow \n14. Electric Stories \n\nAmazon.com Customer Review (Import Expanded Version 2002)\nThe 4 Seasons most impressive album., October 15, 2004 \nReviewer: Somewhere in Texas (Planet Texas)\nAfter years of making outstanding hit singles and surviving the Top 40 onslaught of teen idols, surfin'/car songs, girl groups, Motown, garage bands and the British Invasion, the 4 Seasons were hit with another challenge in 1967-8. Pet Sounds and Sgt Pepper's had instantly changed the rules for Pop LP making, and like other hitmakers they set out to create an concept album that would impress the growing number of "progressive free-form FM" stations at the time and then-new magazines like Rolling Stone. \n\nLike so many mainstream Pop artists who appealed to the AM Radio-16 Magazine croud and then tried to court the progressive LP buyer "Genuine Imitation Life Gazette" sold poorly. The teenyboppers were confused at hearing this drastically different, advanced music while the hippies and counterculture laughed at the Seasons' attempt to "be hip". \n\nThat's a shame because this is the Seasons most impressive album, lyrically and musically. After years of making good to excellent albums consisting of big hit singles with disjointed (though many times oustanding) originals and cover versions, they instead created a "real" album that flows nicely together with wonderful songs and adventurous arrangements. \n\nThat this album didnt sell well and that singles like the catchy "Somethings On Her Mind" didnt score on AM radio is a mystery. Compared to other concept albums of the time it sounds more modern and less dated. An interesting attempt to blend the legendary Seasons falsetto vocal harmonies with psychedelic arrangements, thoughtful lyrics and modern production techniques. \n\nSadly, the Seasons were never the same after this album flopped. The group further moved toward an adult MOR direction and the original four-member hitmaking line-up (stable since 1966) broke up in 1970. \n\nThe remastered CD sounds great dispite some loud tape hiss. But ACE (and Rhino's earlier reissue) removed and changed much of the cover artwork to fit on the samll CD booklet. I suggest digging around used record stores (or on E-bay) and finding an original American copy of the LP. The cover and insert are a lot of fun to read for all the in-jokes, and I think it's one of the best album covers of the late 60's. The Seasons were much more than just 3 minute hitmakers - this album shows it. \n\nAmazon.com Customer Review (Import Expanded Version 2002)\nRewarding, March 31, 2004 \nReviewer: C-Train (CT, USA)\n1960's pop/rock and Motown were the first music I ever heard, as I parents tended to play the oldies stations on the radio. So it wasn't surprising when the first music I bought when I was 11 years old was the 4 seasons. Though that was only 10 years ago, I've always had an appreciation for music of past eras. Eventually I became familar with their career and began to look for rarities and oddities. I bought this CD on Ebay last year and for the most part, I was pleasantly surprised. The 4 Seasons were known for early to mid-60s pop/soul/R&B singles. This album, released as music became more signifcant an art form at the end of the 60s, was undoubtedly a shock to people familiar with 'Dawn' or songs like that. The song structures are symphonic, with pop, rock, jazz, and classical inflections (had it also had blues it would have been true acid-rock!), varying tempos, and the themes mature and political. There are progessive synthesizer touches, a heavier bottom end than their earlier recordings, and the lyrics are sharp. Some songs sound like they were compressed thru tin-foil. But I like vinyl, and a bit of tape hiss, so it didnt bother me too much. I enjoy how cohesive and interesting the album was. With the exception of 'Mrs. Stately's Garden' (which sounded like it was compressed through a storm drain) I thought the album was very listenable. In a way the album was revolutionary. It dealt with the tumult of the country in an adult way. It was a protest album where the songs were beautiful and the voices croon, instead of violent, dark, angry spittle. I was reminded of when R.E.M.'s 'Automatic For The People' was released in the midst of early 90s grunge/metal. Were the 4 Seasons band-wagoning the anti-war culture? Not really. But it doesn't matter. Because they took an artistic risk, and created a lost pop classic. All it needs now is digital re-mastering. \n\nAmazon.com Customer Review (Import Expanded Version 2002)\nSoulful, heartfelt, fun and interesting, August 24, 2002 \nReviewer: Andrew S. Hartwell (Selden, NY USA)\nFrom the day I first found the LP in an old W.T. Grants department store, I have marvelled at the complexity and craftsmanship that combined to create this masterpiece.\n\n"Soul of a Woman" is poignant, sad, uplifting and moving with each passing second. I sit in the dark and listen to this and I am moved to tears and smiles. \n\n"Wall Street Village Day" is so enjoyable a tune and the 'message' is as true today as it was in the '60's and early '70's. Of course, we were all hippies then - either in plain view, or silently within our hearts. Besides, poking fun at excess and disparity is always acceptable behavior in my mind.\n\nA man I worked with plans to retire to Idaho. I simply had to play "Idaho" for him one time at a meeting. He is going to retire there anyway!\n\nSo many songs on this album are filled with passion. In many cases, Frankie Valli never sounded more adult or assured than he does on this album.\n\nThis isn't like anything else the Four Seasons - or anyone else -ever recorded before. I love it. You will too - if you can find a copy.\n\nThe search is worth the effort! Enjoy! \n\nAmazon.com Customer Review (Import Expanded Version 2002)\nMasterpiece, February 7, 1999\nReviewer: A music fan\nI think this is one of the greatest albums of all time! The Four Seasons never really got into social commentary, but this album only proves the masterworks they might have produced on the subject had it not bombed (peaking at a very low 85 for one of the most succesful groups of the sixties). The first few listenings of this album let you know why it never quite took off, it was far ahead of its time and very out of character for the group that sang "Big Girls Don't Cry"! After about my fifth listening (I am only 15 years old and dug this thing up for fifty cents on a vinyl record; it was well worth what I paid!) I realised this album is a very underappreciated and forgotten (if it was ever remembered) work of art! The songs range from the ultra-social consciousness of "American Crucifixion and Resurrection" and "Genuine Imitation Life" to the biting social commentary on "Mrs. Stately's Garden" and "Wall Street Village Day" to the feministic "Look Up Look Over" and "Soul of a Woman" and catchy hit single "Something's on her Mind". I believe "Saturday's Father" is probably the first song of the sixties to address the weekend father. "Wonder What You'll Be" is a really great and understated melody, and while "Idaho" was probably only included (like "Sloop John B" on Pet Sounds) as the hit single regardless of where it actually fit into the concept of the album; it could be thought of as the daily intrusion of advertisements in the everyday life of Americans. The CD version also includes some excellent bonus cuts like "Electric Stories". This album featured a revolutionary newspaper gatefold cover to house the revolutionary-if-only-it-had-hit music inside. Well, after all my rambling, basically I'd like to say this: This album is worth it!\n\nAmazon.com Customer Review (Import Expanded Version 2002)\nThis rare Frankie Valli/Four Seasons concept album is a gem., September 9, 1998\nReviewer: A music fan\nThis is the Four Seasons/Frankie Valli album which stripped away the Crewe/Gaudio/Calello hit formula on songs such as "Dawn (Go Away)", "Ronnie", "Let's Hang On"--for at least a short period of time. The orchestral arrangements are, by turns, bombastic, edgy, sparse, ahead of its time. The patented Frankie Valli falsetto is used sparingly, but that's fine. The lead vocals are shared by composer/keyboardist Bob Gaudio, Tom Devito and Joe Long, which finally brought some of pop rock's best background vocals upfront. The songs,"Saturday's Father" and "Idaho" were cut as singles, getting moderate airplay in the sixties. The jazz-tinged "Wall Street Village Day" is Bob Gaudio at his most sublime on piano and organ. (Gaudio and lyricist/hi-hatter Jake Holmes later produced what I consider a pop music masterpiece-- "Watertown" for Frank Sinatra.) If you can find this album--and I think Amazon.com can get it for you--you will be delighted. It is a 5 star gem.\n\nHalf.com N/A
This rock cd contains 10 tracks and runs 45min 22sec.
Freedb: 840aa00a
Buy: from Amazon.com

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