Let's Hang On!

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"Let's Hang On!"
Single by the Four Seasons
from the album Gold Vault of Hits
B-side"On Broadway Tonight" (from the album Rag Doll)
ReleasedSeptember 1965[1]
Genre
Length3:15
LabelPhilips
Songwriter(s)Bob Crewe-Sandy Linzer-Denny Randell
Producer(s)Bob Crewe
The Four Seasons singles chronology
"Since I Don't Have You"
(1965) 		"Let's Hang On!"
(1965) 		"Don't Think Twice"
(1965)

"Let's Hang On!" is a song composed by Bob Crewe, Sandy Linzer, and Denny Randell that was popularized by the Four Seasons in 1965.

The Four Seasons version[edit]

The Four Seasons' recording reached No. 3 in the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart, the group's highest placement since "Rag Doll" hit the top spot in July 1964.[4]

This was the last Four Seasons hit to feature bass singer/bassist Nick Massi. The same month "Let's Hang On!" was released, Massi left the group and was temporarily replaced by the band's arranger Charles Calello before Joe Long came in as Massi's full-time replacement.

The popularity of "Let's Hang On!" has been attributed to the inclusion of several devices into the recording: a two-line introduction (sung by lead singer Frankie Valli), the use of two fuzz guitars (one guitarist playing low notes, another playing high notes on a fuzz bass), a chorus loaded with hooks and sung in falsetto, and backing vocals giving counterpoint with Valli's lead vocal. It re-established the group's presence in the Top Ten (of the Hot 100) as The Four Seasons were in a flurry of activity, recording albums both as The Four Seasons and as supporting musicians for Valli's rekindled "solo" career. In the UK, the song was a No. 4 hit for the group.[5]

Billboard described the song as having a "hard-driving dance rhythm."[6] Cash Box described it as a "hard-rockin’ fast-moving rhythmic ode about a lucky fella who is mighty pleased that he’s fortunate enough to have met the girl of his dreams."[7]

The single's B-side, "On Broadway Tonight", was the theme of a CBS-TV variety series (1964–1965) hosted by Rudy Vallee.

Chart history[edit]

Barry Manilow cover[edit]

"Let's Hang On!"
Single by Barry Manilow
from the album If I Should Love Again
B-side"No Other Love"
ReleasedMarch 1982
GenreSoft music
Length3:15
LabelArista
Songwriter(s)Bob Crewe-Sandy Linzer-Denny Randell
Producer(s)Barry Manilow
Barry Manilow singles chronology
"Somewhere Down the Road"
(1981) 		"Let's Hang On!"
(1982) 		"Oh Julie"
(1982)

In 1981, the song was revived by Barry Manilow who hit No. 6 on the U.S. Billboard Adult Contemporary chart and No. 32 on the Hot 100.[15] The single climbed to No. 12 in the United Kingdom[16] and was certified silver,[17] while peaking at No. 4 in Australia, No. 16 in Germany and No. 8 in Ireland.

Other cover versions[edit]

In 1966 Jan & Dean recorded "Let's Hang On!" for their 1966 Filet Of Soul album.

In 1969 Johnny Johnson and the Bandwagon covered the song and took it to No. 36 in the UK singles chart. Australian soft rock group, Dove, provided their rendition in 1975.[22]

In 1980, the song was covered by British doo-wop band Darts who took it to No.11 in the UK singles chart. This was the band's last UK top 40 single.[23]

In March 1990, British band Shooting Party covered the song. It peaked at 66.[24]

In 1995, The Manhattan Transfer covered the song on their album Tonin', featuring lead guest vocals by the original singer Frankie Valli. The album reached No. 123 on the Billboard 200.

References[edit]

  1. ^ The Four Seasons; Frankie Valli (1991), Greatest Hits, Volume 2, Internet Archive, Warner Special Products, retrieved 2023-01-30
  2. ^ a b A. Guarisco, Donald. "Let's Hang On song review". Allmusic. Retrieved 11 November 2022.
  3. ^ A. Jasen, David (2013). A Century of American Popular Music. Taylor & Francis. p. 118. ISBN 9781135352646. Retrieved 7 October 2022.
  4. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits: Eighth Edition. Record Research. p. 238.
  5. ^ a b "Official Charts Company". Officialcharts.com. Retrieved 15 August 2018.
  6. ^ "Spotlight Singles" (PDF). Billboard. September 18, 1965. p. 18. Retrieved 2021-03-10.
  7. ^ "CashBox Record Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. September 25, 1965. p. 10. Retrieved 2022-01-12.
  8. ^ "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. 1965-11-22. Retrieved 2018-04-14.
  9. ^ Flavour of New Zealand, 30 December 1965
  10. ^ "SA Charts 1965–March 1989". Retrieved 5 September 2018.
  11. ^ a b Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955-1990 - ISBN 0-89820-089-X
  12. ^ "Cash Box Top 100 Singles, December 11, 1965". Retrieved 15 August 2018.
  13. ^ "Top 100 Hits of 1966/Top 100 Songs of 1966". Musicoutfitters.com. Retrieved 15 August 2018.
  14. ^ "Cash Box YE Pop Singles - 1966". Tropicalglen.com. Archived from the original on 17 February 2017. Retrieved 15 August 2018.
  15. ^ "Barry Manilow - Awards - AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 15 August 2018.
  16. ^ "Official Charts Company". Officialcharts.com. Retrieved 15 August 2018.
  17. ^ a b "British single certifications – Barry Manilow – Let's Hang On". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 19 January 2021.
  18. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Let's Hang On". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved March 1, 2018.
  19. ^ "National Top 100 Singles for 1982". Kent Music Report. 3 January 1983. Retrieved 22 January 2023 – via Imgur.
  20. ^ Whitburn, Joel (1999). Pop Annual. Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin: Record Research Inc. ISBN 0-89820-142-X.
  21. ^ "Platinum and Gold Singles 1982". Kent Music Report. 28 February 1983. Retrieved 10 November 2021 – via Imgur.
  22. ^ McFarlane, Ian (1999). "Encyclopedia entry for 'Dove'". Encyclopedia of Australian Rock and Pop. St Leonards, NSW: Allen & Unwin. ISBN 1-86508-072-1. Archived from the original on 3 August 2004.
  23. ^ "Official Charts Company". Officialcharts.com. Retrieved 15 August 2018.
  24. ^ url=https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/23073/shooting-party/
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