Frankie Valli – Grease

When Grease arrived in cinemas in 1978, it quickly became a cultural phenomenon—helped in no small part by its hit-packed soundtrack. Among its standout songs was the disco-flavored title track, “Grease,” performed by Frankie Valli.

Interestingly, “Grease” was not part of the original Broadway musical. It was one of four new songs written specifically for the film, and the only one not performed by the movie’s cast. Instead, it was delivered by Valli, whose powerful falsetto was already familiar to audiences from his years fronting The Four Seasons.

The song was written and produced by Barry Gibb of the Bee Gees, with guitar work by Peter Frampton. Gibb had already conquered the charts with Saturday Night Fever two years earlier, but producer Robert Stigwood wanted Grease to have its own identity. Rather than having Gibb sing, Stigwood tapped Valli, whose voice offered both familiarity and freshness on late ’70s radio. Gibb did, however, contribute backing vocals to the recording.

Valli had actually been offered the role of the Teen Angel in the film. That part went instead to Frankie Avalon, who performed “Beauty School Dropout.” Valli later explained his decision: while Avalon’s song did not chart as a single, both men profited greatly from their respective contributions through soundtrack royalties. Choosing the theme song turned out to be a wise move, as Valli’s “Grease” became a major hit.

Released as a single on May 6, 1978, the track gave Valli his second solo chart-topper, following “My Eyes Adored You” in 1975. It soared to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and helped propel the Grease soundtrack into one of the best-selling albums of the year.

Fun fact: while the film is set in the 1950s, the title song is unmistakably a product of the disco-driven 1970s. And in Mexico, the movie was released under the title “Vaselina.”

Single Details

• Title: Grease
• Performer: Frankie Valli
• Songwriter/Producer: Barry Gibb
• Release Date: May 6, 1978
• Label: RSO Records
• Album: Grease: The Original Soundtrack from the Motion Picture

Chart Performance (Weekly Charts)

• US Billboard Hot 100: #1
• Canada RPM Top Singles: #1
• Australia (Kent Music Report): #2
• New Zealand (RIANZ): #5
• UK Singles Chart: #3
• Ireland (IRMA): #2
• Netherlands (Dutch Top 40): #2
• South Africa (Springbok Radio): #4
• West Germany: #24