The Genuine Imitation Life Gazette (Philips, 1968)
Posted: Thu Jan 10, 2008 6:42 pm
Ten new tracks of outstanding quality, a massive multi-page album cover in the style of a newspaper, massive promotion and the first real flop for the group.
Why? Because new audiences would not allow The Four Seasons to progress into this concept album. The buying public was just not ready for it.
And yet now it is very highly regarded, and rightly so. Wonderful long tracks such as "American Crucifiction & Ressurrection" and "Soul of a Woman" are not at all tedious, but rich and full performances with sparkling vigour. A wonderful and woefully under-rated album that simply did not catch the mood at the time.
Why? Because new audiences would not allow The Four Seasons to progress into this concept album. The buying public was just not ready for it.
And yet now it is very highly regarded, and rightly so. Wonderful long tracks such as "American Crucifiction & Ressurrection" and "Soul of a Woman" are not at all tedious, but rich and full performances with sparkling vigour. A wonderful and woefully under-rated album that simply did not catch the mood at the time.