Song #81 - "Big Girls Don't Cry" - The Four Seasons

#1 for weeks of November 17, 24, and December 1, 8, and 15th, 1962. 

     "Big Girl Don't Cry" was not only The Four Seasons second chart topper in a row, it also had the same amount of time as "Sherry" on top of the charts at 5 weeks. But did the song deserve the same amount of time on top as its predecessor?  Dr. Rock will have to see...

     Just like "Sherry", "Big Girls Don't Cry" was written by Bob Gaudio (this time with Bob Crewe as co-author). Both songs feature a section with a bass vocal spotlight. Both also showcase the group's harmonies on the title line, and of course, both feature Frankie Valli's vocal range from tenor to falsetto. 

     Speaking of Frankie's falsetto, I personally feel that his rather strident "Cry-e-i-e-i" type lines in the song are a bit over the top. In fact, I can imagine that if this was someone's first exposure to The Four Seasons, they might be turned off of the group entirely for that reason alone. 

     To be honest though, "Big Girls Don't Cry" would not rank among my top favorite Four Seasons songs. Not that it's a bad song, but I just feel that it's a bit of a retread on the superior "Sherry". Either way, some of the group's subsequent hits would eclipse both of these songs so it is nonetheless an important milestone in the group's career. 

Final Verdict - While I would certainly consider other Four Seasons songs superior to this one, "Big Girls Don't Cry" is still a catchy song that encompass all the ingredients of the Four Seasons and thus, is certainly worth a listen. If you are trying to get a friend into the Four Seasons though, play them something like "Rag Doll" or "Let's Hang On" instead. 

                Last Up For 1962 - "Telstar" by The Tornadoes. 

           Until Next Time - Remember that big rocks don't cry.