Can't Take My Eyes Off You

"Can't Take My Eyes Off You" is a 1967 song written by Bob Crewe and Bob Gaudio. It was recorded as a single by Frankie Valli. The song was among his biggest hits, earning a gold record and reaching No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 for a week, stuck behind "Windy" by the Association.[2] Gaudio was a bandmate of Valli's in the Four Seasons. It was Valli's biggest solo hit until he hit No. 1 in 1975 with "My Eyes Adored You".[3]

For the Nancy Wilson album, see Can't Take My Eyes Off You (album).

"I Love You Baby" redirects here. For the films of that name, see I Love You Baby (film) and I Love You, Baby.

"Can't Take My Eyes Off You"
Cover of the 1967 US single
Single by Frankie Valli
from the album Frankie Valli: Solo[1]
B-side	"The Trouble With Me"
Released	May 1967 (1967-05)
Recorded	April 1967
Genre	Pop rock
Length	3:24
Label	Philips
Songwriter(s)	Bob Crewe Bob Gaudio
Producer(s)	Bob Crewe
Frankie Valli singles chronology
"The Proud One" (1966) "Can't Take My Eyes Off You" (1967) "I Make a Fool of Myself" (1967)

Bob Gaudio, an original member of the Four Seasons, refers to "Eyes" today as "the one that almost got away" until Windsor, Ontario radio station CKLW (a station also serving the Detroit metro on the American side of the border) intervened. In 1967, the record's producers urged Paul Drew, program director at the legendary station, to consider the tune for rotation. For much of the '60s and '70s, CKLW was credited with launching hit records via its powerful signal, blanketing the Great Lakes region. Drew didn't warm to the song at first, but accepted an invitation to hear it live at the Roostertail, where Frankie Valli was performing a weeklong stint with the Four Seasons. Drew liked what he heard and added the song to his station's playlist. "The switchboards lit up, and the rest, as they say, is history," Gaudio recalls.[4]

"Can't Take My Eyes Off You" has been recorded in many other arrangements, many of which have been on the charts in different countries. The song is a staple of television and film soundtracks, even being featured as part of the plot of some films, such as when the lead characters sing or arrange their own version of the song. The Valli version was also used by NASA as a wake-up song on the STS-126 Space Shuttle mission, to celebrate the wedding anniversary of astronaut Christopher Ferguson, one of the mission's crew members.

Credits

The song was written by Bob Crewe and Bob Gaudio. Arrangement was done by Artie Schroeck and Gaudio. The original recording was made at A & R Studio 2 (formerly Columbia Studio A) 799 7th Avenue in New York City, with Bob Crewe producing and Phil Ramone engineering.

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (1967) Peak position Australia (Go-Set)[5] 15 Canada RPM Top Singles[6] 2 US Billboard Hot 100[7] 2 US Cash Box Top 100[8] 1

Year-end charts Chart (1967) Rank Canada[9] 18 US Billboard Hot 100[10] 10 US Cash Box[11] 3

Boys Town Gang version

"Can't Take My Eyes Off You"
Single by Boys Town Gang
from the album Disc Charge
Released	July 29, 1982
Recorded	1982
Genre	Post-disco, Funk
Length	3:28
Label	Moby Dick
Songwriter(s)	Bob Crewe, Bob Gaudio
Producer(s)	Bill Motley
Boys Town Gang singles chronology
"Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours" (1982) "Can't Take My Eyes Off You" (1982) "Brand New Me" (1984)

In 1982, San Francisco based disco band Boys Town Gang performed a disco version of the song which reached number one in the Netherlands, Belgium, Spain and number four in the United Kingdom.[12][13] This version was also successful in Japan, receiving a gold digital certification by the RIAJ in 2011, and is also on games such as Just Dance 4.

Track listings

7" Single

1. Can't Take My Eyes Off You - 3:28
2. Can't Take My Eyes Off You (Reprise) - 4:42

7" Single

1. Can't Take My Eyes Off You - 3:40
2. Disco Kicks - 4:04

Charts

Chart (1982)	Peak position
UK Singles Chart[14]	4
German Singles Chart	43
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[15]	1
Belgian Singles Chart[16]	1

Cover versions

The song has been recorded by many artists. Among the most notable examples are the following:

• The Lettermen (#7 in 1967, in a medley with "Goin' Out of My Head")
• A version by Andy Williams made it to #5 on the UK singles chart in 1968.[17] The arranger and producer was Nick DeCaro and the conductor was Eddie Karam.[18] This version is included in the soundtrack of the 2001 film Bridget Jones's Diary. It is also included in the soundtrack for Black Mirror Season 5 Episode 2; Smithereens.[19] In 2002 he recorded a new version of the song, as a duet with British actress and singer Denise van Outen, which reached #23 in the UK singles charts.[20]
• Maureen McGovern (#27 on the US Adult Contemporary chart in 1979; #5 Canadian AC in 1980).[21]
• 1991, Pet Shop Boys used part of the song on their version of U2's "Where the Streets Have No Name", which reached #4 in the U.K. and #72 in the U.S.
• 1992, Dutch singers Gerard Joling and Tatjana Šimić recorded a duet version of the song (including a rap segment by Darrell Bell), which peaked at #5 in the Dutch Top 40 charts.[22]
• 1993, the song was recorded by a-ha singer Morten Harket for the soundtrack of the movie Coneheads (1993).[23]
• 1998, Lauryn Hill (#35 on the Hot 100 Airplay chart and #2 on the Rhythmic Top 40 chart in 1998 and #8 on the Australian Singles Charts).[24] This version was also nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance in 1999.[25]
• 1999, Heath Ledger, in 10 Things I Hate About You
• 2002, Muse, on Dead Star/In Your World
• 2004, Jennifer Peña recorded a Latin version of the song, "No Hay Nadie Igual Como Tú", which reached #33 on the Latin charts.
• 2011, Stereophonics frontman Kelly Jones sang an acoustic version of the song in tribute to former Wales national football team manager Gary Speed. The song was adopted as an anthem for Welsh football fans during Speed's playing career with Wales after being used in a BBC Wales promo for the 1994 World Cup qualifying campaign.[26]
• In 2013, the vocal harmony group the Overtones covered the song for the official soundtrack of the German film Buddy.
• In 2014, John Lloyd Young covered the song for the movie Jersey Boys about the band the Four Seasons in which he played Frankie Valli. He was also the original performer on the Broadway musical of the same name which premiered in 2005.
• In 2019, Surf Mesa covered the song as a single under the title "ILY (I Love You Baby)". It received 1 Platinum and 4 Gold certification.
• In 2020, Valli released a new single, titled "Te Quiero Baby (I Love You Baby)" with Latin pop singer Chesca and Cuban-American rapper Pitbull. The single serves as a parody to the original Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons 1967 smash hit single, "Can't Take My Eyes Off You".[27]

References

1. "Official Frankie Valli Site". Retrieved 2017-11-25.
2. "Billboard Hot 100". 1967-07-22. Retrieved 2015-07-31.
3. Bronson, Fred. The Billboard book of number 1 hits. p. 398.
4. "The Four Seasons Rocked at The Roostertail in Detroit! · Jersey Boys Blog".
5. "Go-Set National Top 40, 27 September 1967". Archived from the original on 8 July 2012. Retrieved 26 November 2019.
6. "RPM Top 100 Singles - July 15, 1967" (PDF).
7. "Frankie Valli Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved January 2, 2019.
8. "Cash Box Year-End Charts: Top 100 Pop Singles, July 15, 1967". Tropicalglen.com. 1967-12-23. Archived from the original on September 30, 2018. Retrieved 2017-04-18.
9. "RPM Top 100 Singles - January 6, 1968" (PDF).
10. "Musicoutfitters.com". Musicoutfitters.com. Retrieved 2017-04-18.
11. "Cash Box YE Pop Singles - 1967". Tropicalglen.com. 1967-12-23. Archived from the original on 2018-09-30. Retrieved 2017-04-18.
12. "Top 40-lijst van week 24, 1982". Top40.nl. Retrieved 2016-09-30.
13. Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 74. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
14. chartsurfer.de.
15. Hung, Steffen. "Boys Town Gang - Can't Take My Eyes Off You". hitparade.ch.
16. "Boys Town Gang - Can't Take My Eyes Off You". ultratop.be.
17. "Official Singles Chart Top 40 | Official Charts Company". Officialcharts.com. Retrieved 2016-09-30.
18. Love, Andy by Andy Williams, album sleeve, 1967. New York: Columbia Records CS 9566
19. "Andy Williams - Can't Take My Eyes Off You (Black Mirror Season 5 Original Soundtrack)". youtube.com.
20. "Official Singles Chart Top 40 | Official Charts Company". Officialcharts.com. Retrieved 2016-09-30.
21. "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. Archived from the original on 2016-06-01. Retrieved 2016-09-30.
22. "JAARLIJST 1992". Members.chello.nl. Retrieved 2016-09-30.
23. "Coneheads - Original Soundtrack | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. 1993-07-20. Retrieved 2016-09-30.
24. "Lauryn Hill | Awards". AllMusic. 1975-05-26. Retrieved 2016-09-30.
25. Kot, Greg. "10 NOMINATIONS PUT LAURYN HILL ATOP GRAMMY HEAP". chicagotribune.com. Retrieved 19 December 2018.
26. "BBC Sport - Kelly Jones sings Gary Speed tribute". wayback.archive-it.org. Archived from the original on 2011-12-03.
27. {{cite web|url=https://open.spotify.com/track/50mnK809qBPYOyy1rCctzA?si=6g-khsdgSuWos-2EDwFuFw%7Ctitle=Te Quiero Baby (I Love You Baby)|website=Spotify

External links

• "Official Frankie Valli Site". Retrieved 2010-2-16.
• Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics
• RIAA - Gold & Platinum Searchable Database