| "December, 1963 (Oh, What a Night)" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single by The Four Seasons | ||||
| from the album Who Loves You | ||||
| B-side | "Slip Away" | |||
| Released | December 1975 | |||
| Format | 7" | |||
| Recorded | November 1975 | |||
| Genre | Rock-Disco | |||
| Length | 3:36 3;20 (single version) |
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| Label | Warner / Curb Records | |||
| Writer(s) | Bob Gaudio, Judy Parker | |||
| Producer | Bob Gaudio | |||
| Certification | RIAA gold | |||
| The Four Seasons singles chronology | ||||
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"December, 1963 (Oh, What a Night)" is a hit single by The Four Seasons, written by original Four Seasons keyboard player Bob Gaudio and his future wife Judy Parker, produced by Gaudio, and included on the group's 1975 album, Who Loves You.
The song features drummer Gerry Polci on lead vocals, with usual lead Frankie Valli singing the bridge sections and backing vocals.
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The song was originally about the repeal of Prohibition with the title of "December 5th, 1933,"[1] but the lyrics were changed at the urgings of Frankie Valli and lyricist Parker. The song became a nostalgic remembrance of a young man's "first time" with a woman. In the Broadway play Jersey Boys, the song accompanied the Bob Gaudio character being set up with a prostitute by the record label, in order to lose his virginity.
The song is an up-tempo, piano-led dance song with a distinct and easily recognisable opening piano riff, it is written in 4/4 and in the key of D-flat major
The single was released in December of 1975 and hit number one on the UK Singles Chart on February 21, 1976. It repeated the feat on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 on March 13, 1976, remaining in the top spot for three weeks and one week on Cash Box. On April 10th of the same year, it topped the RPM National Top Singles Chart in Canada.[2] New drummer Gerry Polci and bassist Don Ciccone shared lead vocals with long-time frontman Frankie Valli.
In both 1988 and 1993, the song was remixed by Dutch deejay and producer Ben Liebrand and rereleased as a single.[3][4] The 1993 rerelease spent 27 weeks on the Hot 100 (matching the chart life of the original 1975 single). The peak position of the 1993 remix version was #14. Adding together the two 27-week chart runs for the 1975 original single and the 1993 remix version (for a combined total of 54 weeks, two more weeks than a full year) gives the song the longest tenure ever on the Billboard Hot 100 music chart.[5]
A music video was produced to accompany the original 1975 release.[6]
| Chart (1976) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| UK Singles Chart | 1 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 1 |
| Canadian RPM Top Singles Chart | 1 |
| Chart (1994) | Peak position |
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 14 |
| End of year chart (1976) | Position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100[7] | 4 |
| End of year chart (1994) | Position |
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100[8] | 89 |
| Preceded by "Forever and Ever" by Slik |
UK number-one single February 21, 1976 (2 weeks) |
Succeeded by "I Love to Love (But My Baby Loves to Dance)" by Tina Charles |
| Preceded by "Love Machine" by The Miracles |
Billboard Hot 100 number-one single March 13, 1976 - March 27, 1976 |
Succeeded by "Disco Lady" by Johnnie Taylor |
| Preceded by "All by Myself" by Eric Carmen |
Cash Box Top 100 singles March 20, 1976 |
Succeeded by "Dream Weaver" by Gary Wright |
| Preceded by "Dream Weaver" by Gary Wright |
RPM number-one single (Canada) April 10, 1976 |
Succeeded by "Lonely Night (Angel Face)" by Captain and Tennille |