THEIR songs have featured in countless movies, have been covered countless times by some of the world’s biggest artists and the story of the Four Seasons is as remarkable as their success.

Smash West End show Jersey Boys tells that tale of four musicians from New Jersey who, from humble beginnings, rose to the top of the music business and reigned supreme for years.

Along the way Frankie Valli and his counterparts faced plenty of uphill battles, from spells behind bars to getting their first record played, being paid a pittance despite making millions, mounting debts and unhappiness at home, and this, the first UK touring version of Jersey Boys, explores all their struggles and how it influenced their music.

Dark at times – the boys had plenty of links to the mob - particularly when Frankie’s eldest daughter dies from drugs prompting him the haunting song Fallen Angel, Jersey Boys is a display of real artistry. Leading this extraordinary masterclass in vocal ranges is Tim Driesen, as Frankie Valli, who hits the highest of notes in songs such as Sherry and Big Girls Don’t Cry with astounding clarity, but is equally smooth swooning his way through Can’t Take My Eyes Off You and My Eyes Adored You.

Sam Ferriday is Bob Gaudio, the writer behind all the hits, and Lewis Griffiths plays a droll Nick Massi. Both their voices would normally earn them the lead in any other musical but this is a show all about the music. Habitual gambler Tommy DeVito, who racked up a million dollars of debt the Four Seasons paid back, is played by Stephen Webb, with a faultless mafia-come-Jersey accent. Each of the four are fantastic singers in their own right but, as the Seasons themselves discovered way back when, they are so much the better when their multi-layered tones unite to create songs which caught the world’s attention more than 50 years ago and have stood the test of time.

Rarely off stage as each of the foursome each take turns at narrating, this is a slick show which packs in a lot of story and even more songs. Choosing instead to include only parts of some songs to fit the narrative, Jersey Boys doesn’t have many full company numbers, a surprising omission owing to such a huge catalogue of hits, and there are few opportunities to really get into the spirit of the music. However, that didn’t stop Bristol giving Jersey Boys a standing ovation on its second night of its run at the hippodrome on Wednesday night.

Jersey Boys is on at the Bristol Hippodrome until Saturday, June 13.