The Beatles vs. The Four Seasons (United States, 1964)
Buy The Beatles vs. The Four Seasons on vinyl
Court rulings during litigation with Capitol Records prohibited Vee-Jay from issuing any new Beatles material but did not prohibit repackaging old material, as Vee-Jay had done earlier with Introducing The Beatles by re-releasing it as Songs, Pictures And Stories Of The Fabulous Beatles. Interestingly, Vee-Jay lost the rights to The Four Seasons at about the same time as it did the Beatles due to non-payment of royalties but retained rights to issue whatever Four Seasons songs it still had the masters of.
In order to milk as much profit from Beatles as possible and stay within legal limitations, Vee-Jay issued this double record set which contained the previously released LPs Introducing The Beatles and The Golden Hits Of The 4 Seasons (VJLP 1065/VJSR 1065). The liner notes for the Beatles are identical to those on Songs, Pictures And Stories Of The Fabulous Beatles. Vee-Jay anticipated slow sales due to the higher price charged as a double LP and consequently distributed less than 20,000 copies.
Track list
The Beatles disc, Side A
The Beatles disc, Side B
- Please Please Me
- Baby It’s You
- Do You Want To Know A Secret
- A Taste Of Honey
- There’s A Place
- Twist And Shout
The Four Seasons disc, Side A
- Sherry
- I’ve Cried Before
- Marlena
- Soon (I’ll Be Home Again)
- Ain’t That A Shame
- Walk Like A Man
The Four Seasons disc, Side B
- Connie-O
- Big Girls Don’t Cry
- Starmaker
- Candy Girl
- Silver Wings
- Peanuts
Release history
- Vee-Jay VJDX-30 (mono), released August 1964
- Vee-Jay VJDXS-30 (stereo), released August 1964
Back cover
Linear notes
PAUL McCARTNEY
Paul is sometimes called the “Nut Beatle” or “Beatle Nut” because he is the zaniest of the group — he has the quickest wit — loudest laughter and craziest sense of humor and is a habitual practical joker. Paul is the only Beatle with jet black hair — he has a strong straight nose and full lower lip and gleaming white teeth. He hates to shave and calls it the curse of mankind. He favors tight clothes and in case you’d like to shop for him his collar size is 15″ and his waist size 30″. He is indifferent to what he eats and can make do with very little sleep – he loathes pajamas and prefers to sleep raw — hates tub baths and loves showers. Oh yes, and one more thing, he hates jelly beans.
JOHN LENNON
Although he was reluctant to allow himself to be called the Chief Beatle, John Lennon still refuses to accept the title of ‘Leader.’ “We’ve always been a group, not anyone of us worked harder that the other.” John is a natural born leader but none the less fun loving than the other Beatles. He is nearsighted and off stage wears glasses. As a child he lived a life of uninterrupted calm and cannot recall any childhood sadness — his mother died after his 14th birthday and this event remains the greatest tragedy of his life. After John met Paul McCartney they both began to teach themselves the guitar and after school they would “rush through their tea and practice the guitar.” They called themselves the Nurk Twins — although they had no way of knowing it at the time, John and Paul laid the foundation for what was to become in an astonishingly short time a group known as The Beatles.
GEORGE HARRISON
George plays the lead guitar, the one with the deadpan face working in the middle between John and Paul — he is also probably the best musician, having taken lessons which makes him the only one in the group with formal musician training. George is the quietest of the Beatles and he is also the youngest of the group. His interest cover a wide spectrum and he secretly nurses a desire to become a serious guitarist one day and would love to play a Spanish guitar unamplified. He is a devotee of the great guitarist Andrews Segovia. George was the only one of the Beatles who had been to the United States before the group came here in February and he had the privilege of meeting President Kennedy at that time. The most striking thing in George’s appearance is his lean face highlighted by large hazel eyes shadowed by his hair worn in the shaggy Beatle cut. Lamb chops are his favorite food although he is not very much concerned with food. His collar size is 14″, chest 38″, waist 30″ — he is one of four children and was a better than average student in school.
RINGO STARR
Ringo is the most easily identified of all the Beatles — for one reason or another most people can pick him out from the group. He is the shortest Beatle and the only one with blue eyes and although John Lennon looks like the oldest Beatle this dubious distinction belongs to Ringo. When the spotlight falls on Ringo the clamoring shouting and squealing becomes deafening — why is not easily discernible — he only sings occasionally and of course is known as the drummer of the group. He is not the best looking and in fact has a nose that rivals Jimmy Durante and Danny Thomas — but he has a sad little boy lost look and this could possible be the key to his charm. Ringo is the newest member of the group joining them in August ’62 – his nickname of Ringo came about because he wears a lot of rings — he is never without less than three or more than five — he is not only the shortest Beatle but the lightest weighing only 136 lbs, -— his hair is brown and he is the only one with gray streaks in his mop and the gray is natural. Ringo’s father is a house painter and his mother works as a barmaid to augment the family income — and whenever he can he rushes home to visit his family. He is very fond of good food and will send back his steak if it is not blood red. He can’t stand girls who wear jeans “When they’re not built for it,” loves blue silk shirts, big brassy cuff links, leather coats and suede boots — as he himself admits, in a clothing store he’s like a drunken sailor.
PAUL McCARTNEY
Real Name: Paul McCartney
Birthplace: Liverpool, England
Birthdate: June 18, 1942
Height: 5′ 11″
Weight: 160 lbs.
Hair: Jet Black
Eyes: Brown
Education: Liverpool Institute
Marital Status: Single
Plays: Guitar, piano, drums, and banjo
Favorite Singers: Ray Charles, Peggy Lee
Favorite Actress: Ann Margaret
Instrument he plays most: Guitar
JOHN LENNON
Real Name: John Lennon
Birthplace: Liverpool, England
Birthdate: October 9, 1940
Height: 5′ 11″
Weight: 150 lbs.
Hair: Brown
Eyes: Brown
Education: Quarry Bank High School & Liverpool Art College
Marital Status: Married – One child
Plays: Guitar, harmonica, piano, and banjo
Instrument he plays most: Guitar
Work before becoming a singer: Poet
Favorite singing group: Shirelles
Type of music he likes most: Traditional jazz
Favorite Food: Steak & chips
Favorite Actress: Brigitte Bardot
GEORGE HARRISON
Real Name: George Harrison
Birthplace: Liverpool, England
Birthdate: February 25, 1943
Hair: Dark brown
Eyes: Hazel
Education: Liverpool Institute
Marital Status: Single
Plays: Guitar & one finger piano
Favorite Instrument: Guitar
Favorite Hate: Having his hair cut
Dislikes Most: Traveling on buses
Favorite actress: Elizabeth Taylor
RINGO STARR
Real Name: Richard Starkey
Birthplace: Liverpool, England
Birthdate: July 7, 1940
Height: 5′ 8″
Hair: Brown
Eyes: Blue
Education: St. Silas & Dingle Vale Secondary Modern School
Marital Status: Single
Plays: Drums
Favorite Singers: Dinah Washington, Ray Charles
Dislikes Most: Riding a scooter
Favorite Cartoon: Donald Duck
Favorite Actress: Brigitte Bardot
4 SEASONS BIOGRAPHY
Within four weeks after their release of “Sherry,” the Four Seasons became the No. 1 best selling American vocal group. Their name today has become a household word among record buyers of all ages.
The group consists of Frankie Valli, whose voice you most associate with the “sound” of the group, Bob Gaudio, the youngest member of the Four Seasons, Nick Massi, and Tommy DeVito. Except for Bob Gaudio who joined the group after leaving the Royal Teens, the other three boys had been working together for about six years as the “Four Lovers.” There smash hits such as “Walk Like a Man,” “Sherry,” “Marlene,” “Big Girls Don’t Cry,” “Rag Doll” etc., have earned for them a position as one of the all time best sellers in the history of the record business.
FRANKIE VALLI
Real Name: Frank Castelluccio
Born: May 3, 1937 in Newark, New Jersey
Height: 5′ 6″
Weight: 120 lbs.
Married — Three children (3 girls)
Sings lead or first tenor with the group. Started singing while in grammar school. Also plays drums. Is self-taught
Hobbies: Likes to sketch and draw cartoons. He also likes to print and make signs.
Sports: Enjoys playing tennis and camping
Favorite Type of Music: Big band jazz (especially Stan Kenton). Is a big fan of Leonard Bernstein.
BOB GAUDIO
Real Name: Robert Gaudio
Born: November 14, 1942 in the Bronx, New York
Height: 6′ 2″
Weight: 175 lbs.
Marital Status: Single
Sings second tenor with the group. Also plays piano and organ. Started writing music when he was about twelve years old. Started taking piano lessons when he was eight.
Hobbies: Spends most of his spare time writing songs. Wrote “short shorts” when he was sixteen.
Sports: Loves football
Favorite Type of Music: Is a modern jazz fan. Was influenced in his playing by Lennie Tristano.
NICK MASSI
Real Name: Nicholas Macicci
Born: September 19, 1935 in Newark, New Jersey
Height: 5′ 7″
Weight: 160 lbs.
Married: Three children (2 boys and 1 girl)
Sings bass with the group. Also does vocal arrangements. Plays the guitar and bass. Has been playing and singing for the last ten years.
Hobby: Writing songs.
Sports: Horseback riding, bowling and billiards
Favorite Type of Music: Likes anything Leonard Bernstein does in the form of music, whether it’s writing or playing.
TOMMY DEVITO
Real Name: Thomas De Vito
Born: June 19, 1936 in Belleville, New Jersey
Height: 5′ 7″
Weight: 160 lbs.
Married: Two children (1 boy and 1 girl)
Sings baritone with the group and plays guitar. Has been playing and singing for the last ten years.
Sports: Is a fine golfer
Favorite Type of Music: Loves mood music, especially Montovani.
