Original Version
Keyboardist/songwriter Bob Gaudio had not written a Four Seasons single since 1965's "Girl Come Running", although he had written or co-written almost every Four Seasons hit up to then.
"Beggin'", the second single from the Four Seasons' New Gold Hits album in 1967, marked Gaudio's "return" as the Seasons' songwriter, with a combination of Valli's impassioned soul singing and the band's more contemporary instrumentation. It also was the first Seasons single since "Dawn (Go Away)" on which Gaudio collaborated with a lyricist other than producer Bob Crewe, as lyrics were contributed by Peggy Farina (aka Peggy Santiglia of The Angels, who sang lead on the 1960s hit "My Boyfriend's Back" and was frequently used as a background singer by Crewe).
It reached the #16 position on the Hot 100 charts, continuing the group's string of Billboard Top 20 hits. However, it was overshadowed by Valli's "solo" recording of "Can't Take My Eyes Off You", a Gaudio-Crewe composition, which rose to number two. It was the last Gaudio composition for the Four Seasons to chart in the Top 20 until 1975's "Who Loves You".
The song is included in Act Two of the Broadway musical about the Four Seasons, Jersey Boys.
Read more about this topic: Beggin'
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