You didn’t want to mess with them in a dark alley. It was more spiritual and floaty, whereas the Four Seasons were like a gang. They were like the neighborhood guys.”īilly Joel went on to explain, “(The Beach Boys') stuff was softer and more polished. There was a kind of a sense that the Four Seasons were our East Coast band, and the Beach Boys were the West Coast band. The “Piano Man” talked in depth about his appreciation for the group in the liner notes for their new, career-spanning 44-CD, single LP box set, Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons – Working Our Way Back To You: The Ultimate Collection.ĭuring a new chat with journalist Ken Sharp at Rock Cellar, Billy spoke candidly about one of his earliest and most enduring influences: “I was immediately attracted to their music when I first heard Frankie Valli singing 'Sherry.' This is something really different. Billy Joel has certainly put his money where his mouth is regarding his love for Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons.
