"Big Man in Town" is a song popularized by The Four Seasons and written by Four Seasons member

Bob Gaudio Robert John Gaudio (born November 17, 1942) is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and record producer, and the keyboardist and backing vocalist of the pop/rock band the Four Seasons. Gaudio wrote or co-wrote and produced the vast majori ...

. The single was released by

Philips Records Philips Records is a record label founded by the Dutch electronics company Philips. It was founded as Philips Phonographische Industrie in 1950. In 1946, Philips acquired the company which pressed records for British Decca's Dutch outlet in A ...

in October 1964 and reached the #20 position on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 chart. "Big Man in Town" was released at a time in which Four Seasons material was being issued on an almost-weekly basis, between releases on

under their group name and reissues on the group's former label

Vee-Jay Vee-Jay Records is an American record label founded in the 1950s, located in Chicago and specializing in blues, jazz, rhythm and blues and rock and roll. The label was founded in Gary, Indiana in 1953 by Vivian Carter and James C. Bracken, a ...

. The rate of releases would be soon to increase as — with the blessing of Philips Records executives — lead singer

Frankie Valli Francesco Stephen Castelluccio (born May 3, 1934), better known by his stage name Frankie Valli, is an American singer, known as the frontman of the Four Seasons beginning in 1960. He is known for his unusually powerful lead falsetto voice. ...

would be rekindling a long-dormant "solo" career with the rest of the group as backing musicians. The song is also featured in the Tony Award-winning musical ''

Jersey Boys ''Jersey Boys'' is a jukebox musical with music by Bob Gaudio, lyrics by Bob Crewe, and book by Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice. It is presented in a documentary-style format that dramatizes the formation, success and eventual break-up of th ...

''. This is one of the few Four Seasons songs that does not end on a fade. ''

Billboard A billboard (also called a hoarding in the UK and many other parts of the world) is a large outdoor advertising structure (a billing board), typically found in high-traffic areas such as alongside busy roads. Billboards present large advertise ...

'' described the song as having a "good teen lyric with big sound." ''

Cash Box ''Cashbox'', also known as ''Cash Box'', was an American music industry trade magazine, originally published weekly from July 1942 to November 1996. Ten years after its dissolution, it was revived and continues as ''Cashbox Magazine'', an online ...

'' described it as having "a haunting ' Rag Doll'-like opener" and said that it "moves along in ultra commercial stomper cha cha fashion."

References

Songs written by Bob Gaudio The Four Seasons (band) songs 1964 singles Song recordings produced by Bob Crewe 1964 songs Philips Records singles {{1960s-single-stub