I’d like to call attention to one track that really
seems to be overlooked on the new batch of Hit Parade
releases distributed in the USA by Eric Records.
(www.ericrecords.com)
Ronnie by The Four Seasons was the April 1964 follow-
up to their first Philips single, Dawn (Go Away).
Mixed to mono by producer Bob Crewe, it has always
existed that way ever since on commercial releases.
That is until the recent Hit Parade “Stereo Explosion
– Early 60s Pop” release which gives us some idea what
this great song would have sounded like in stereo back
in the day.
Recently, someone commented to me “If Phil Spector had
produced the 4 Seasons, this is what it would have
sounded like.” And I wholeheartedly agree. Though Bob
Crewe tried many times to emulated the “Spector”
sound, he finally accomplished it with Ronnie, where
the drums of Buddy Saltzman literally propel the song.
In preparation for the 4 Seasons Philips hit set,
“Edizione D’ Oro,” Crewe remixed some of the
previously available mono tracks to stereo for the
first time. Ronnie was the only non-stereo track on
the set, indicating 4 years after it’s appearance on
the charts, the multi’s for Ronnie had been lost or
destroyed.
Now in 2021, with the most modern technique of
Digitally Extracted Stereo, we are finally able to
hear a DES stereo version of Ronnie. I will even go
one step further and say the new version, not only
retains the hit sound of the single, but but actually
improves on the sound of the original hit single. I
say this because of the airiness (if there is such a
word) that really opens up the high end of the
recording.
That’s my opinion.. If you’ve heard this version, I’d
like to hear yours.
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