Rag Doll (Four Seasons song)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

“Rag Doll”
Single by The Four Seasons from the album Rag Doll
B-side	"Silence Is Golden"
Released	June 1964
Format	7"
Genre	Rock
Length	2:54
Label	Philips Records
Writer(s)	Bob Gaudio-Bob Crewe
Producer	Bob Crewe
Certification	RIAA gold
The Four Seasons singles chronology
Alone (1964) Rag Doll (1964) Save It for Me (1964)

"Rag Doll" is a popular song written by Bob Crewe and Bob Gaudio. It was recorded by The Four Seasons and released as a single in 1964. The single reached #1 on the US charts in July of that year and remained in the top position for 2 weeks.

The song was quite an accomplishment for Crewe and Guadio and the Four Seasons, ascending to the top of the charts during 1964, "the year of The Beatles," a tough time for U.S.-based pop acts to have chart success.

According to songwriter Bob Gaudio, the recording was inspired by the activities of a young girl as he was stopped in traffic in Manhattan. As he waited for the traffic signal to change, a dirty-faced girl proceeded to clean the windshield of his automobile for some spare change. When Gaudio reached into his wallet, he was surprised to find that all he had was currency, and none of the bills were smaller than $10. He gave the girl in tattered clothes a $10 bill. Her look of utter astonishment stayed in Gaudio's mind as he approached the recording studio. "Rag Doll", with a few tweaks by Bob Crewe, was the result.

Preceded by "I Get Around" by The Beach Boys

Billboard Hot 100 number one single July 18, 1964

Succeeded by "A Hard Day's Night" by The Beatles