Ain't That a Shame and 11 Other Hits

The second album by the Four Seasons issued in 1963 (and their fourth in less than a year) shows the group stretched a little thin. And, of course, in those days, before the Beatles shook up the pop music industry, albums were a different story than what they became, especially from record companies that were starting to struggle for air, as Vee-Jay Records was. Four of the strongest songs here, "Candy Girl," "Marlena," "New Mexican Rose," and the title track all appeared on singles in 1963 and the other great performance on the album, Maurice Williams' "Stay," would also be released as a single by Vee-Jay early in 1964. The rest of the songs vary, from their calypso-like cover of the Clyde McPhatter song "Honey Love" to comic-novelty pieces ("Dumb Drum"), little of it is distinguished musically. "Melancholy" is the one production that reaches the standard of the group's earlier work.