Let's Hang On!
Encyclopedia
"Let's Hang On!" is a song composed by Bob Crewe
, Sandy Linzer, and Denny Randell that was popularized by The Four Seasons
in 1965. The single reached the number three position in the Billboard Hot 100
singles chart, the group's highest placement since "Rag Doll" hit the top spot in July 1964.
This was the last Four Seasons hit to feature bass singer/bassist Nick Massi
. The same month "Let's Hang On!" was released, Massi left the group and was temporarily replaced by the band's arranger Charles Calello before Joe Long
came in as Massi's full-time replacement.
The popularity of "Let's Hang On!" has been attributed to the inclusion of several devices into the recording: a two-line introduction (sung by lead singer Frankie Valli
), the use of two fuzz guitars (one guitarist playing low notes, another playing high notes on a fuzz bass), a chorus loaded with hooks
and sung in falsetto
, and backing vocals giving counterpoint
with Valli's lead vocal. It re-established the group's presence in the Top Ten (of the Hot 100) as The Four Seasons were in a flurry of activity, recording albums both as The Four Seasons and as supporting musicians for Valli's rekindled "solo" career.
The single's B-side, "On Broadway Tonight", was the theme of a CBS-TV variety series (1964–1965) hosted by Rudy Vallee
.
In 1981, the song was revived by Barry Manilow
who hit number six on the Billboard AOR chart, number 32 on the Hot 100,[] number 12 in the United Kingdom sales charts and was certified silver http://www.everyhit.com/searchsec.php number 16 in the German single charts and number 8 in the Irish single charts and was certified gold in its first week.
Bob Crewe
Bob Crewe is an American songwriter, dancer, singer, manager, record producer and fine artist. He is known for producing, and co-writing with Bob Gaudio, a string of Top 10 singles for The Four Seasons...
, Sandy Linzer, and Denny Randell that was popularized by The Four Seasons
The Four Seasons (group)
The Four Seasons are an American rock and pop band who became internationally successful in the mid-1960s. The Vocal Group Hall of Fame has stated that the group was the most popular rock band before The Beatles...
in 1965. The single reached the number three position in the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
singles chart, the group's highest placement since "Rag Doll" hit the top spot in July 1964.
This was the last Four Seasons hit to feature bass singer/bassist Nick Massi
Nick Massi
Nick Massi was the bass singer and bass guitarist for the Four Seasons. He was born in Newark, New Jersey...
. The same month "Let's Hang On!" was released, Massi left the group and was temporarily replaced by the band's arranger Charles Calello before Joe Long
Joe Long
Joe Long is best known as the bass guitarist for The Four Seasons....
came in as Massi's full-time replacement.
The popularity of "Let's Hang On!" has been attributed to the inclusion of several devices into the recording: a two-line introduction (sung by lead singer Frankie Valli
Frankie Valli
Frankie Valli is an American musician, most famous as frontman of The Four Seasons. He is well-known for his unusually powerful falsetto singing voice...
), the use of two fuzz guitars (one guitarist playing low notes, another playing high notes on a fuzz bass), a chorus loaded with hooks
Hook (music)
A hook is a musical idea, often a short riff, passage, or phrase, that is used in popular music to make a song appealing and to "catch the ear of the listener". The term generally applies to popular music, especially rock music, hip hop, dance music, and pop. In these genres, the hook is often...
and sung in falsetto
Falsetto
Falsetto is the vocal register occupying the frequency range just above the modal voice register and overlapping with it by approximately one octave. It is produced by the vibration of the ligamentous edges of the vocal folds, in whole or in part...
, and backing vocals giving counterpoint
Counterpoint
In music, counterpoint is the relationship between two or more voices that are independent in contour and rhythm and are harmonically interdependent . It has been most commonly identified in classical music, developing strongly during the Renaissance and in much of the common practice period,...
with Valli's lead vocal. It re-established the group's presence in the Top Ten (of the Hot 100) as The Four Seasons were in a flurry of activity, recording albums both as The Four Seasons and as supporting musicians for Valli's rekindled "solo" career.
The single's B-side, "On Broadway Tonight", was the theme of a CBS-TV variety series (1964–1965) hosted by Rudy Vallee
Rudy Vallée
Rudy Vallée was an American singer, actor, bandleader, and entertainer.-Early life:Born Hubert Prior Vallée in Island Pond, Vermont, the son of Charles Alphonse and Catherine Lynch Vallée...
.
In 1981, the song was revived by Barry Manilow
Barry Manilow
Barry Manilow is an American singer-songwriter, musician, arranger, producer, conductor, and performer, best known for such recordings as "Could It Be Magic", "Mandy", "Can't Smile Without You", and "Copacabana ."...
who hit number six on the Billboard AOR chart, number 32 on the Hot 100,[] number 12 in the United Kingdom sales charts and was certified silver http://www.everyhit.com/searchsec.php number 16 in the German single charts and number 8 in the Irish single charts and was certified gold in its first week.