Dawn (Go Away)
Encyclopedia
"Dawn" is a song written by Bob Gaudio
and Sandy Linzer and recorded by The Four Seasons
in January 1964 as the Four Seasons were involved in a royalty dispute with Vee-Jay Records
. As the lawsuit was making its way through the American
judiciary system, the group recorded "Dawn" and a handful of other songs and withheld the master tapes from Vee-Jay, which then claimed breach of contract
. The dispute would not be settled until 1965, a year after the Four Seasons officially left Vee-Jay.
Later that month, Atlantic Records
rejected "Dawn". The group signed with Philips Records
, a subsidiary of Mercury Records
, shortly thereafter. "Dawn (Go Away)" was released even later that month. It took only four weeks for "Dawn" to climb the Billboard
Hot 100 chart to #3 - and was prevented from going higher by the then-omnipresent "I Want to Hold Your Hand
" and "She Loves You
" (which turned out to be the top two singles for the 1964, according to Billboard). "Dawn" stayed at #3 for three weeks, until it was pushed out of the spot (and the Top Five) by three other Beatles singles ("Twist and Shout
", "Please Please Me
", and "Can't Buy Me Love
").
The single version (with a two-line sung introduction) was never recorded in true stereo. Early "stereo" album releases were rechanneled (with the high and low frequencies on one channel and the midrange on the other); later stereo issues, from the Edizione d'Oro greatest hits album onward, offer a different take of the recording, beginning with a short drum intro, featuring a louder drum backing and slightly different vocals. Both versions are two minutes, ten seconds long.
"Dawn (Go Away)" was the only Philips single crediting the Four Seasons that did not have the notation "featuring the 'sound' of Frankie Valli".
Bob Gaudio
Robert John "Bob" Gaudio is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and record producer, and the keyboardist/backing vocalist for The Four Seasons.-Early career:...
and Sandy Linzer and recorded by The Four Seasons
The Four Seasons (group)
The Four Seasons are an American rock and pop band who became internationally successful in the mid-1960s. The Vocal Group Hall of Fame has stated that the group was the most popular rock band before The Beatles...
in January 1964 as the Four Seasons were involved in a royalty dispute with Vee-Jay Records
Vee-Jay Records
Vee-Jay Records is a record label founded in the 1950s, specializing in blues, jazz, rhythm and blues and rock and roll. It was owned and operated by African Americans.-History:...
. As the lawsuit was making its way through the American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
judiciary system, the group recorded "Dawn" and a handful of other songs and withheld the master tapes from Vee-Jay, which then claimed breach of contract
Breach of contract
Breach of contract is a legal cause of action in which a binding agreement or bargained-for exchange is not honored by one or more of the parties to the contract by non-performance or interference with the other party's performance....
. The dispute would not be settled until 1965, a year after the Four Seasons officially left Vee-Jay.
Later that month, Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records is an American record label best known for its many recordings of rhythm and blues, rock and roll, and jazz...
rejected "Dawn". The group signed with Philips Records
Philips Records
Philips Records is a record label that was founded by Dutch electronics company Philips. It was started by "Philips Phonographische Industrie" in 1950. Recordings were made with popular artists of various nationalities and also with classical artists from Germany, France and Holland. Philips also...
, a subsidiary of Mercury Records
Mercury Records
Mercury Records is a record label operating as a standalone company in the UK and as part of the Island Def Jam Motown Music Group in the US; both are subsidiaries of Universal Music Group. There is also a Mercury Records in Australia, which is a local artist and repertoire division of Universal...
, shortly thereafter. "Dawn (Go Away)" was released even later that month. It took only four weeks for "Dawn" to climb the Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
Hot 100 chart to #3 - and was prevented from going higher by the then-omnipresent "I Want to Hold Your Hand
I Want to Hold Your Hand
"I Want to Hold Your Hand" is a song by the English rock band The Beatles. Written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney, and recorded in October 1963, it was the first Beatles record to be made using four-track equipment....
" and "She Loves You
She Loves You
"She Loves You" is a song written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney based on an idea by McCartney, originally recorded by The Beatles for release as a single in 1963. The single set and surpassed several records in the United Kingdom charts, and set a record in the United States by being one of the...
" (which turned out to be the top two singles for the 1964, according to Billboard). "Dawn" stayed at #3 for three weeks, until it was pushed out of the spot (and the Top Five) by three other Beatles singles ("Twist and Shout
Twist and Shout
"Twist and Shout" is a song written by Phil Medley and Bert Russell. It was originally titled "Shake It Up, Baby" and recorded by the Top Notes and then covered by The Isley Brothers. It was covered by The Beatles with John Lennon on the lead vocals and originally released on their first album...
", "Please Please Me
Please Please Me
Please Please Me is the debut album by the English rock band The Beatles. Parlophone rush-released the album on 22 March 1963 in the United Kingdom to capitalise on the success of singles "Please Please Me" and "Love Me Do" .Of the album's fourteen songs, eight were written by Lennon–McCartney...
", and "Can't Buy Me Love
Can't Buy Me Love
"Can't Buy Me Love" is a song composed by Paul McCartney and released by The Beatles on the A-side of their sixth British single, "Can't Buy Me Love"/"You Can't Do That".-Interpretation:...
").
The single version (with a two-line sung introduction) was never recorded in true stereo. Early "stereo" album releases were rechanneled (with the high and low frequencies on one channel and the midrange on the other); later stereo issues, from the Edizione d'Oro greatest hits album onward, offer a different take of the recording, beginning with a short drum intro, featuring a louder drum backing and slightly different vocals. Both versions are two minutes, ten seconds long.
"Dawn (Go Away)" was the only Philips single crediting the Four Seasons that did not have the notation "featuring the 'sound' of Frankie Valli".