If you didn’t know any better and simply heard “My Eyes Adored You” on the radio in 1974, you would have thought it was just a well-constructed comeback hit for Frankie Valli as he attempted a solo career. But the story was much more complicated than all that.
Videos by American Songwriter
The song had actually been sitting on the shelf for a while, unloved by the label for which it was recorded and turned down by many others. And it was actually a Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons recording, even though it wasn’t credited as such when released.
The “Eyes” Have It
In the first half of the ’60s, there was no act as reliable in churning out hit pop singles as The Four Seasons. With Frankie Valli and his unmistakable falsetto on lead vocal, incredible doo-wop-flavored harmonies, and razor-sharp songs often written by band member Bob Gaudio, the formula was airtight.
But musical tastes shifted rapidly in the decade, spurred by the British Invasion and harder rock sounds, leaving Valli and company struggling to maintain their earlier success. They bounced around to a few labels, and even tried a concept album near the end of the decade to shake things up. Nothing seemed to be working.
Things seemed promising when the ’70s dawned and the Four Seasons signed with Motown Records. Hopes of a resurgence abounded with this iconic label guiding such a hallowed act. But Motown was in a period of transition, with label founder Berry Gordy too occupied by other projects to give the act the attention he promised.
One album and a few singles later, the Four Seasons had little to show for their output at Motown in terms of sales or chart success. A second album was completed, but Motown showed no desire to put it out. Valli and his collaborators wanted to buy all the masters, but the cost was too prohibitive. They had to settle for taking a single song.
The song they chose was “My Eyes Adored You.” It was written by longtime Four Seasons producer Bob Crewe and Kenny Nolan, who’d go on to have a solo hit down the road with “I Like Dreamin’.” Nolan started writing the song as “Blue Eyes in Georgia,” before Valli suggesting shifting the lyrical focus based on one of the lines.
“My Eyes Adored You” was shopped around to several labels, all of which passed. The label that stepped up, Private Stock, insisted the song be released as a Frankie Valli release, worried the Four Seasons were too old-fashioned for modern audiences. Whether that had an effect is hard to say, but the bottom line is that the song soared to No. 1, making it the first song credited to Valli alone to reach the top.
Examining the Lyrics to “My Eyes Adored You”
“My Eyes Adored You” tells a sweet but sad tale about two people who were close as kids but were pulled apart by passing time and changing priorities. As a youngster, the narrator couldn’t initially make his move: My eyes adored you / Though I never laid a hand on you.
They do eventually become a couple, but it’s short-lived: Till we grew into the me and you / That went our separate ways. The narrator reveals how he chose the lure of fame over the simple pleasures of this relationship. It’s a decision he comes to regret: Still I reminisce ’bout the girl I miss / And the love I left behind.
Although it took a somewhat pothole-laden path to get to the top, “My Eyes Adored You” helped rejuvenate the career of Valli, who’d release No. 1 a few years later with “Grease.” The Four Seasons enjoyed their own resurgence as well with some disco-flavored hits, further proof of the impact of this little song that no one initially wanted but everyone eventually loved.
Photo by Bobby Bank/WireImage
Leave a Reply
Only members can comment. Become a member. Already a member? Log in.