"Oh, what a night, late December back in '63. What a very special time for me" sings Gerry Polci (usual lead Frankie Valli was relegated to a supporting role for this release), getting all dewy eyed about the time he got his cherry popped by some anonymous female ("I didn't even know her name"). While this might seem a risqué subject matter for a chart topper, it gets away with it through a good natured disco beat and general lack of sleaze. Polci doesn't afford the moment any monumental significance (unlike Bobby Goldsboro in 'Summer (The First Time)' - what is it with virginity losing and brackets???), and neither is the "I felt a rush like a rolling bolt of thunder" a seedy nudge nudge in the ribs; 'December, 63' is an affectionate, inoffensive remembrance delivered with a fond smile ("as I recall it ended much too soon") and not a leering smirk.
Musically too, The Four Seasons had re-booted their sound from their 1960's doo-wop roots to cash in on the disco scene. And while writer Bob Gaudio was no Giorgio Moroder in those stakes, he injects 'December 63' with enough bounce to keep it rolling along from start to finish with Valli chipping in with enough of his falsetto to keep the hardcore fanbase happy. More than that, it gives the sixties nostalgia of the lyric a genuine sixties voice to provide a familiar anchor amongst all the newness. A decent song.
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