When I recently revisited The Deer Hunter, an early scene caught my attention in which the young men sing today’s featured song, Can’t Take My Eyes Off You. It struck me that this track should have been part of my music project from the outset – so here I am, making amends. From the moment the horns announce its arrival, the song is irresistible, carried by Frankie Valli’s high-pitched, tender vocal. You can’t help but be swept along. Then it suddenly changes gear as the horns return and Valli launches into “I love you, baby, and if it’s quite all right,” transforming the song into something bolder and a little more risqué. You can almost picture a can-can kick line: dancers locked arm-in-arm, legs flying in perfect unison.
Released in 1967, Can’t Take My Eyes Off You perfectly captures the spirit of its era – almost like a musical time capsule. Call me a fuddy-duddy, but it’s the kind of song I find myself appreciating more with age. And yes, as the saying goes, they really don’t make them like this anymore. Since then, it has been covered hundreds of times and has become a fixture in film and television soundtracks, cementing its status as a pop classic.
The following was abridged from the WIkipedia article below:
The song was written by Bob Crewe and Bob Gaudio, and first recorded and released as a single by Gaudio’s Four Seasons bandmate Frankie Valli. The song was among his biggest hits, earning a gold record and reaching No. 2 on the Billboard for a week, making it Valli’s biggest solo hit until he hit No. 1 in 1975 with My Eyes Adored You.
Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You bears melodic elements to passages from the Adagio of Spartacus and Phrygia section of the 1956 ballet Spartacus (Suite No. 2) by Aram Khachaturian.
Bob Gaudio called “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You” – “the one that almost got away” until radio intervened. Initially lukewarm, CKLW program director Paul Drew changed his mind after hearing Frankie Valli perform it live at Detroit’s Roostertail in 1967. Once added to CKLW’s rotation, the switchboards lit up – and the song’s path to classic status was sealed.
Valli recalled in 2014 that Can’t Take My Eyes Off You was the first step in the fulfilment of his goal to sing music that did not require him to use falsetto: “I didn’t want to sing like that my whole life. Once we established the sound, the plan was that eventually I would do solo [records] and some things I really wanted to do…”.
[Verse 1]
You’re just too good to be true
Can’t take my eyes off of you
You’d be like Heaven to touch
I wanna hold you so much
At long last love has arrived
And I thank God I’m alive
You’re just too good to be true
Can’t take my eyes off you
[Verse 2]
Pardon the way that I stare
There’s nothing else to compare
The sight of you leaves me weak
There are no words left to speak
But if you feel like I feel
Please let me know that it’s real
You’re just too good to be true
Can’t take my eyes off you
[Interlude]
[Chorus]
I love you, baby, and if it’s quite alright
I need you, baby, to warm the lonely night
I love you, baby, trust in me when I say
Oh, pretty baby, don’t bring me down, I pray
Oh, pretty baby, now that I found you, stay
And let me love you, baby, let me love you
References:
1. Can’t Take My Eyes Off You – Wikipedia
“The more I live, the more I learn. The more I learn, the more I realize, the less I know.”- Michel Legrand
Observation Blogger 
I immediately recognized the song, based on a 1981 disco/dance-vibe version by Boys Town Gang I heard back in the ’80s. I’m not sure I had ever heard the first recording by Frankie Valli – undoubtedly, it’s a pretty catchy song.
Your post prompted me to check SecondHandSongs.com to see to what extent “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You” has been covered: That website lists an impressive 494 versions, including both covers with vocals and instrumental renditions!
Thanks for the link Christian and the confirmation of the obscene quantity of versions.
Of course I know this song. I was in a “wedding band” when I was a teenager ~ we played church dances for the grownups ~ & this was one of the tunes we always played.
I was never into Frankie Valli & the Four Seasons ~ mostly because I’m not into falsetto voices. But now that I’m older, I like them better. This tune is definitely their best song.
Cool, how you used to sing it in your teenagehood and I understand completely how you like it better now. I’m not a fan of that music in general, and I always disliked his other big hit ‘My Eyes Adored You’, but I love the charm and groove of – ‘Can’t Take My Eyes Off You’ – the original!!!
No, we didn’t have a singer for this band. It was instrumental only. I played trombone & when our piano player quit, I switched to piano.
I didn’t like “My Eyes Adored You” either. I HATED “Big Girls Don’t Cry. “Sherry” OK but that falsetto is like nails on a chalkboard.
I really like “Who Loves You” & I LOVE “Oh What a Night”. The thing with “Oh What a Night” is that I didn’t like it at first. But my BF’s kid brother really loved this song & I picked up on that. Dino was a sweet kid, I wonder what happened to him.
BTW ~ I had lost touch of that particular BF & everyone I asked said he just disappeared. But recently, I came across him on FB. Married for a long time & with kids & now grandchildren. I wouldn’t have recognized him. Of course, we’ve all changed.
You talented so-and-so, playing piano as well.
I’m embarrassed to admit that when I read the titles “Sherry” and “Big Girls Don’t Cry” — songs I adored in my youth — I had no idea they were by The Four Seasons or had forgotten completely. Now I know what you mean about the falsetto.
“Who Loves You” reminds me a lot of the Beach Boys’ “Don’t Worry Baby” — but no group is going to surpass their harmonies or Wilson’s falsetto.
“Oh What a Night” is a song I danced to in nightclubs more than any other. I had no idea who sang it until now. Like your BF’s kid brother, I used to love it; now I wouldn’t mind if I never heard it again. So I’m contrary to you on that one — strange, huh? Interesting about your BF.
I feel indebted to you for your all-in-one music education on The Four Seasons. It goes without saying — gee, I needed that. Thanks, Polly!