"Silver Star" is the opening song on the Four Seasons album Who Loves You. As was the case of all the songs on the LP, it was written by Bob Gaudio and Judy Parker and produced by Gaudio.Joel Whitburn, The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits (5th edition), Billboard Books 1992 Fred Bronson, The Billboard Book of Number One Hits (3rd edition), Billboard Books 1992 Drummer Gerry Polci sang lead. Frankie Valli's contribution was limited to harmony vocals, since he was gradually losing his hearing in the 1970s due to otosclerosis. An operation restored most of Valli's hearing in the 1980s.Fred Bronson, The Billboard Book of Number One Hits (3rd edition), Billboard Books 1992
Reception Billboard said that "Silver Star" is an "infectious rocker with a disco feel," saying further that it sounds "in spots" like early Who songs. Cash Box called the song "an up-tempo cut, with strong emphasis...on vocal harmony," stating that "acoustic guitars hold up the rhythm tracks" and that "the song has a couple of interesting breaks that work well to hook the listener into the song." Record World said that it "should keep the group's streak [of hits] alive without any difficulty."
Chart performance Released shortly after the #3 (US) hit "Who Loves You" and the #1 "December, 1963 (Oh, What a Night)", both of which Polci was also lead or co-lead, the single was an edited version of a six-minute, nine second, song that married lyrics of love and Western movies with a disco beat that was the signature of "Who Loves You". The single reached #38 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song was far more successful in the United Kingdom, however, reaching #3 on the UK singles chart,Jay Warner, American Singing Groups: A History From 1940 to Today (Hal Leonard Books 2006) although its chart run was short-lived and somewhat erratic there. The group played the song on the 8 April 1976 broadcast episode of Top of the Pops (with Noel Edmonds hosting). Valli also appeared on the same episode as a solo artist performing his 1976 hit "Fallen Angel".
Weekly charts Chart (1976)PeakpositionAustralia (Kent Music Report)84Belgium (Ultratop)22Canada RPM Top Singles45Canada RPM Adult Contemporary40Netherlands (Single Top 100)22US Billboard Hot 100Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955–1990 - 38US Billboard Adult Contemporary24US Cash Box Top 10068 US Radio & Records Pop Adult/4025 US Record World Singles Chart95West Germany (Official German Charts)29
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