THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

863-Boys Town Gang-Can’t Take My Eyes Off You.

1982-Number 4 single.

Best Bit-At 4.31. This is one of the most covered songs in the world ever, and has been interpreted in many different musical genres.

The Boys Town Gang was the brainchild of the American DJ and music producer Bill Motley, who formed the ‘Boys Town Gang’ in 1980, in San Francisco, California, United States, to cater for the large gay community. The Boys Town Gang comprised of four members, Cynthia Manley, between 1980-1981, Jackson Moore, between 1981-1984, Tom Morley, between 1980-1984, and Bruce Carlton, between 1981-1984. Motley would record mainly classic 1960’s, and 1970’s hits, in a ‘Post Disco’ style, with both the use of an orchestra, and synthesizers. The Boys Town Gang released three studio Albums between 1981-1984, and 11 singles between 1981-1985, with a further four singles issued from 1988-1997. Although they never troubled the American Billboard Hot 100 singles chart, three of their tracks did make the Billboard ‘Dance Club Songs’ chart. Their greatest success was in Europe, where their version of ‘Can’t Take My Eyes Off You,’ reached Number 4 in the UK, and Number 1 in Spain, and Belgium. The Boys Town Gang’s debut Album ‘Cruisin’ the Streets,’ featured lead vocals by Cynthia Manley, who departed the group soon after, and was replaced by Jackson Moore for the second Album, which included, ‘Can’t Take My Eyes Off You.’ For the third and final Album Bill Motley introduced guest artists, including ‘Two Tons O’ Fun,’ ‘Sylvester,’ (1947-1988) (see also best songs 162) ‘Margaret Reynolds,’ and ‘Marlena Shaw’ (see also best songs 98.)

The music of the Boys Town Gang can be described as ‘Post Disco,’ and ‘Hi-NRG’ (see also best songs 534.) ‘Post Disco’ is the term used to describe the period of 1979-1986, in the aftermath of ‘Disco’ music, which had been the most popular music genre during the 1970’s, but had run it’s course, with many coming to despise it, probably through being force fed it from the various media outlets. Whereas ‘Disco’ music had been played live in the recording studios by orchestras, ‘Post Disco’ saw the orchestras replaced by drum machines, synthesizers, and sequencers. During the early years of the 1980’s Electronic instruments were becoming more and more prevalent, and by the mid 1980’s they had become the dominant force in ‘Pop Music,’ with artists such as Madonna, (see also best songs 774 and 587) New Order, (see also best songs 885 and 619) and the Pet Shop Boys,’ (see also best songs 871 and 378) bringing ‘Electronic Music’ into the mainstream.

‘Can’t Take My Eyes Off You’ (see also best songs 112) is one of the most covered songs of all time, it was written by the legendary song writing team of Bob Crewe, (1930-2014) and Bob Gaudio, (see also best songs 1007-914-739-499-393-284-164-112 and 83) with the original version of the song being recorded by Frankie Valli (see also best songs 739-284 and 83) in 1967.

Bob Crewe was born Robert Stanley Crewe on November 12th, 1930, in Newark, New Jersey, United States, he died on September 11th, 2014, at the age of 83, having been in declining health for several years following a fall. In 1953 Bob Crewe created a songwriting partnership with Frank Slay Jr. (1930-2017) and the duo are best remembered for writing the ‘Doo-Wop’ anthem ‘Silhouettes.’ It was in the early 1960’s that Crewe first began writing with Bob Gaudio, with their first composition ‘Sherry,’ making Number 1 on Billboard in 1962, for the Four Seasons. Crewe also had great success in the 1970’s, when teaming up with Kenny Nolan. Two of their songs ‘My Eyes Adored You,’ by Frankie Valli, and ‘Lady Marmalade,’ by Labelle, became back to back Number 1 singles on the American Billboard Hot 100 singles chart in 1975. In the stage musical and film, the ‘Jersey Boys,’ Crewe was portrayed as openly gay, but his brother Dan Crewe in an interview has said that his brother was discreet about his sexuality, particularly during the time he was working with the Four Seasons. Dan Crewe said,’Whenever he met someone, he would go into what I always called his John Wayne mode, this extreme machoism.’

‘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.’