Little Joe - Little Joe Sure Can Sing! (1968)

"Got to Get You Into My Life" by Little Joe

When Royal Teens started falling apart with band members getting drafted or leaving the group for college, Bob Gaudio was convinced to abandon ship and join up with Franki Valli's outfit by mutual friend Joe Pesci.  Joe Pesci was a child actor and, at this point, a rock and roller.  In 1968, he released his debut album Little Joe Sure Can Sing! through Brunswick Records under his Little Joe moniker.

Fun Facts:  His first single, as Jonathan Marcus, featured backing vocals from Gaudio and The Four Seasons.  After this album, he teamed up with fellow future Scorsese character actor Frank Vincent to form a comedy duo as Vincent & Pesci.

Here is the discography surrounding Little Joe's debut album:

What About Me? (1966 single as Jonathan Marcus)

Little Joe Sure Can Sing!

Holiday (1968 single)

Can You Fix the Way I Talk for Christmas (1972 by Vincent & Pesci)

"Holiday" by Little Joe

"Can You Fix the Way I Talk for Christmas" by Vincent & Pesci

"Mad About You Baby" by Jonathan Marcus

Pass the Headphones!!

Royal Teens - Original Short Shorts and Others (1961)

"Harvey's Got a Girl Friend" by Royal Teens

Bob Gaudio, chief hitmaker for The Four Seasons, joined the group when they were floundering without a name.  Before he joined, he was a member of the Royal Teens and the co-writer of their hit song "Short Shorts".  The band never released an album so this tour stop is represented by their compilation album Original Short Shorts and Others.

Note:  The album was picked over other compilation albums for its cover and the date given is the year of the latest released track on the album.

Here is the complete discography for Royal Teens:

Boil and Bubble (1955 single by The Heartbeats)

Blanche (1956 single by The 3 Friends)

I'm Only a Boy (To Her) (1956 single by The 3 Friends)

Now That You're Gone (1957 single by Three Friends)

We Made a Vow (1957 single by The Corvells)

Short Shorts (1957 single)

Harvey's Got a Girl Friend (1958 single)

My Kind of Dream (1958 single)

Sham Rock (1958 single)

Who Is Eddie? (1958 single by Eddie Reardon with The Three Friends)

Believe Me (1959 single)

Leotards (1959 single)

Sittin with My Baby (1959 single)

Caveman (1959 single by Joe Villa and Royal Teens)

Alright Baby (1959 single by Rockin' Saints)

Cheat on Me, Baby (1960 single by Rockin' Saints)

Sick Manny's Gym (1960 single by The Musclemen)

Was It a Dream (1960 single)

With You (1960 single)

Mickey Mouse Got a Girl Friend (1960 single by Joey Villa)

Little Trixie (1961 single)

Original Short Shorts and Others

Short Short Twist (1962 single)

Mona Lisa (1962 single by Joe Villa)

Summer's Over (1963 single by Tom Austin & His Healeys)

I'll Love You (Till the End of Time) (1965 single)

I'll Love You (Till the End of Time) (1965 single as The Bluetones)

Save Me (From Your Madness) (1978 single by Tom Austin)

Short Shorts and More Golden Classics (1989 compilation album)

Let's Rock (1997 compilation album)

"Short Shorts" by Royal Teens

"Why" by Royal Teens

"Planet Rock" by Royal Teens

"Alright Baby" by Rockin' Saints

Pass the Headphones!!

The Four Lovers - Joyride (1956)

"This Is My Story" by The Four Lovers

The Rolling Stones closed out the T.A.M.I. Show's parade of stars; thus ends this themed leg of the Tour.  In contemplating the Tour's exit route from the Show, I wondered whether there were some artists that almost joined history but never made the concert lineup.  Word is that The Beatles were touring Europe at the time (explaining the replacement Brian Epstein acts that represented Liverpool) and were probably too big a get.  But the only act that I could find that was actually asked to be on the Show yet ended up missing out was The Four Seasons.  Apparently, the foursome asked for too much money and priced themselves out.

The Four Seasons started as The Four Lovers, a vocal rock group with a fluctuating lineup anchored by Frankie Valli and Tommy DeVito.  They released some singles and their only album Joyride in 1956 on RCA Victor.  After a couple of years underperforming expectations, they dropped The Four Lovers moniker and started anew working under a flurry of band names with producer Bob Crewe as session artists for an array of singers and studio creations.

Here is the complete discography for The Four Lovers:

My Mother's Eyes (1953 single by Frankie Valley)

Somebody Else Took Her Home (1954 single by Frankie Valley and The Travelers)

You're the Apple of My Eye (1956 single)

Honey Love (1956 single)

The Four Lovers (1956 EP)

Jambalaya (1956 single)

Joyride

Joyride (1956 EP)

Happy Am I (1956 single)

Shake a Hand (1957 single)

Pucker Up (1958 single)

I Go Ape (1958 single by Frankie Tyler)

Come Si Bella (1959 single as The Romans)

Please Take a Chance (1959 single by Frankie Vally)

Tell Me You Care (1959 single by Nickie and The Nite Lites)

Talk to Audrey (1960 single by The Hollywood Playboys)

Too Young to Start (1961 single by The Village Voices)

Ten Million Tears (1961 single by Turner DeSentri)

Trance (1961 single by Billy Dixon and The Topics)

An Angel Cried (1961 single by Hal Miller and The Rays)

Betty Jean (1961 single by Johnny Halo)

Lollypops Went Out of Style (1961 single by Matthew Reid)

(I Wish It Were) Summer All Year 'Round (1961 single by Miss Frankie Nolan)

Little Pony (1961 single by Alex Alda)

The Ballad of Mr. Nixon (1961 single by Nick Masi)

Lost Lullaby (1962 single by Billy Dixon and The Topics)

Are You Happy Now (Yeah Yeah Song) (1962 single as The Rays)

The Girl in My Dreams (1962 single as The Topics)

You Can't Fool Me Baby (1963 compilation song by The Hollywood Playboys)

Too Pooped to Popeye (1963 single by Hughie Garrity and The Hollywood Playboys)

The Four Lovers 1956 (compilation album)

"You're the Apple of My Eye" and "Please Don't Leave Me" by The Four Lovers (Live on Ed Sullivan)

"Joyride" by The Four Lovers

Pass the Headphones!!