December, 1963 (Oh, What a Night)

The Four Seasons, Frankie Valli & the Four Seasons

About December, 1963 (Oh, What a Night)

"December, 1963 (Oh, What a Night)" is a song 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 album, Who Loves You (1975). The song features drummer Gerry Polci on lead vocals, with the usual lead Frankie Valli singing the bridge sections and backing vocals, and bass player Don Ciccone (former lead singer of The Critters) singing the falsetto part (And I felt a rush like a rolling ball of thunder / Spinning my head around and taking my body under).  


Year:
1993
6:14
3,686 
#1

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Oh, what a night
Late December back in '63
What a very special time for me
As I remember, what a night

Oh, what a night, you know I didn't even know her name
But I was never gonna be the same
What a lady, what a night
Oh, I, I got a funny feelin' when she walked in the room
Oh my, as I recall it ended much too soon

Oh what a night, hypnotizin' mesmerizing me
She was ev'rything I dreamed she'd be
Sweet surrender, what a night
I felt a rush like a rollin' ball of thunder
Spinnin' my head around n' takin' my body under

Oh, what a night
Oh, I, I got a funny feelin' when she walked in the room
Oh my, as I recall it ended much too soon

Oh, what a night
Why'd it take so long to see the light
Seemed so wrong, but now it seems so right
What a lady, what a night

I felt a rush like a rollin' ball of thunder
Spinnin' my head around n' takin' my body under
Oh what a night
Oh what a night
Oh what a night
Oh what a night

 The easy, fast & fun way to learn how to sing: 30DaySinger.com


The Four Seasons

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. Since 1970, they have been known off and on as Frankie Valli & The 4 Seasons, Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons, or simply The Four Seasons. more »

1 fan

Written by: Bob Gaudio, Judy Parker

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


11 facts about this song

Songwriters
"December, 1963 (Oh, What a Night)" was co-written by Bob Gaudio, a band member of The Four Seasons, and his future wife Judy Parker.
Release and Success
The song was released in December 1975 and became a major success, reaching No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1976.
Re-Release
In 1994, a remix of this song was re-released, which again achieved considerable popularity, reaching No. 14 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
Sales Achievement
"December, 1963 (Oh, What a Night)" became one of The Four Seasons' biggest hits, selling over three million copies in the U.S.
Unique Characteristics
The song is unique for its use of a French horn as the lead instrument. It also stands out as it begins with its catchy, memorable bassline.
Stamped in History
Despite the group’s catalog of hits, "December, 1963 (Oh, What a Night)" holds the honor of being The Four Seasons' longest-charting song.
Initial Concept Change
Initially, the song was going to be titled "December 5th, 1933," and was about the repeal of Prohibition, but the lyrics were changed to be about a man's first time with a woman.
UK Chart History
In the UK, the song first reached No. 5 in the charts and then on its re-release in 1994, it managed to climb up to No. 1.
Broadway Cameo
The song is also performed in the musical "Jersey Boys," which chronicles the career of The Four Seasons.
Lead Vocals
The song features drummer Gerry Polci and Frankie Valli sharing lead vocals, which was unusual as most of The Four Seasons’ songs feature Valli as the sole lead vocalist.
Evolving Lyrics
This song's lyrics evolved over a period of time, being tweaked from the original concept about Prohibition to finally settling on the theme of a nostalgic recollection of a youthful romantic encounter.

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