Bee Gees - Greatest Review
Posted by Mitch Michaels on 09.28.2007
The Bee Gees’ disco classics get remastered and remixed…
My Story
This summer, we celebrated the 40th anniversary of The Summer Of Love, a social music that spread to music and made stars out of the likes of The Mamas & The Papas, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin and several others. 2007 also marks another anniversary: the 30th anniversary of Saturday Night Fever, a movie that brought disco to the mainstream and made mega-stars out of the Bee Gees, who provided much of the film’s soundtrack. Recent reissues have brought the Bee Gees back into the spotlight, and with disco-hating seemingly always en vogue, the Bee Gees have remained above reproach. With a remastering effort, how will the Bee Gees most notable hits hold up after all these years?
Their Story
The Bee Gees formed, officially, in the early 60’s, though the band (UK-born brothers Barry, Maurice and Robin Gibb) had been singing together since the mid-50’s (when oldest brother Barry was only 9 years old). Discovered by Brisbane, Australia DJ Bill Gates, he helped the brothers get some of their most important early gigs, including a local TV show in 1962. They recorded their first single that same year and, in 1965, released their first album, The Bee Gees Sing 14 Songs By Barry Gibb, on Festival Records.
Unfortunately, Bee Gees Sing and its follow-up, Spicks And Specks, failed to move much on the Australian charts. The Bee Gees decided it was time to leave Oz and head back to their native UK, where band like The Beatles and The Yardbirds had exploded onto the music world. Perhaps a good omen, as soon as the brothers headed out for Europe, Spicks And Specks hit #1 on the Aussie charts.
One in England, the Bee Gees hooked up with Polydor Records. They also added two new members to the band. While Barry and Robin were mainly vocalist (Barry also played guitar occasionally), the brothers had relied on Maurice, who played bass, piano, organ and other instruments, as the group’s sole musician. In 1967, guitarist Vince Melouney and drummer Colin Petersen came aboard, thus fleshing out the group in the studio and, especially, live. They released their first UK/US single later that year. “New York Mining Disaster 1941” became a sizable hit for the young group, going #14 in the US and #12 in the UK (thanks in part to a rumor that the Bee Gees were actually The Beatles – they had the same management). “To Love Somebody” (#17) and “Holiday” (#16) followed, and the Bee Gees became a genuine hit. Polydor secured US distribution for the band, and their original Australian releases and their 1967 Polydor release Bee Gees 1st became available via Atco in the United States. A new single, “Massachusetts”, hit #11 in the US, but topped the charts in the UK, generating even more buzz for the act.
With Bee Gees 1st a #7 hit in the US, the band released two albums in 1968. Horizontal included “Massachusettes” and the UK hit “World”, while Idea gave them their first two Top 10 US hits, “I Started A Joke” and “I’ve Gotta Get A Message To You”. Both albums were Top 20 hits in the UK and the US.
Unfortunately, the recording of their 1969 album Odessa proved to be the undoing of the band. Both Colin Petersen and Vince Melouney had split prior to the Odessa sessions, leaving the band with replacement drummer Geoff Bridgeford and no lead guitarist. Upon completion of the record, the brothers were at odds on what song should be released as the first single. The dispute became heated and Robin Gibb gave his notice, severely hurting the group’s sound. Barry, Maurice and the remainder of the band plowed on, but it wasn’t the same. Odessa’s only single, “First Of May”, was a Top 40 hit in the US, and Odessa managed to crack the Top 20 Pop albums, but the band’s post-Robin follow-up, Cucumber Castle, was a major commercial disappointment. It barely cracked the US Top 100, and, of its three charting singles, “Don’t Forget To Remember” ranked the highest at only #73. To contrast that, 1969’s Best Of Bee Gees was a Top 10 success, perhaps signaling that the group’s best years were behind them.
The feud between Barry and Robin spilled over, and after Cucumber, Maurice and Barry split up, too. Fortunately, the break-up didn’t last long. In 1970, all three Gibb brothers reformed (with Bridgeford still on drums) to record 2 Years On. Though not as successful as their earlier releases, 2 Years managed to crack the US Top 40 and spawn the Top 3 hit “Lonely Days”.
The years after 2 Years On still saw the Bee Gees struggling. Though 1971’s “How Can You Mend A Broken Heart?” became a big #1 hit in the US, their album Tralfagar (which featured new guitarist Alan Kendall) once again barely cracked the Top 40. 1972’s To Whom It May Concern also spawned a pair of Top 20 songs, but reached only #35 on the US charts. It should also be noted that none of the Bee Gee’s albums following Cucumber Castle were charting in their native UK.
In 1973, the Bee Gees released Life In A Tin Can, their first and only album with drummer Jim Keltner. The record only managed to produce the minor hit “Saw A New Morning”, which barely made the Pop 100. The album stalled at only #68. Best Of Bee Gees, Vol. 2 was also released that year, only making #98 on the charts. 1974’s Mr. Natural, featuring new drummer Dennis Bryon, fared even worse, failing to chart any singles or come anywhere near the Top 100.
The Bee Gees continued to tour and try new things throughout the early 70’s, but nothing was connecting with fans. They changed up their sound, departing from their signature R&B, jumped labels (to RSO), moved to the US…but nothing worked. Luckily, the band had one more trick up their sleeve. In 1975, the band released Main Course, a dance-heavy record which featured new keyboardist Blue Weaver. The set caught fire when the song “Jive Talkin’” spent two weeks at #1 on the US charts. A second single, “Nights On Broadway”, also went Top 10, and Main Course became the Bee Gees first Top 20 album in six years. It was also the band’s first studio album to go gold.
Children Of The World followed in 1976, producing the hit gold singles “Love So Right” and “You Should Be Dancing”, which was another #1 hit. Children topped even Main Course’s success, reaching #8 and a platinum certification. The next year, the Bee Gees released their first live album, Here At Last…Bee Gees…Live!, which blended the band’s hits new and old. It was another Top 10, platinum success.
Live! wouldn’t be the band’s biggest success of 1977, though. The band was approached that year about contributing tracks to the soundtrack for a film called Saturday Night Fever. The band agreed, offering up several tunes for the LP. Little did they know then, Saturday Night Fever would become one of the biggest American films of the decade, launching the disco genre into the stratosphere. The soundtrack, today at sales of over 15 million, is one of the best selling albums of all time. It spawned hits for the Bee Gees, including the #1 platinum hits “Stayin’ Alive” and “Night Fever”.
In 1978, the Bee Gees were perhaps the most successful band in the world. They’d racked up eight gold and platinum records (with a ninth to come later that year, “Too Much Heaven”), and six gold and platinum records, including 1977’s Bee Gees Gold, Vol. 1. The next year, they released the platinum Spirits Having Flown, their first #1 album in both the US and the UK. In fact, it was their first album to chart in England since Cucumber Castle. It also produced yet another #1 hit, “Tragedy”, which was certified platinum, and “Love You Inside Out”, which was certified gold.
At the end of the 70’s, the Bee Gees released the compilation album Greatest, which collected their best songs of the disco era and their famous love ballads. It would be the band’s third and final #1 album and has since reached double platinum status.
In 1980, the disco era was beginning to wane. It was the beginning of a long decline for the Bee Gees, as their music went from international soundtrack to a joke seemingly overnight. Future albums by the band failed to crack the Top 40. A sequel album to Saturday Night Fever (Staying Alive) went platinum, but was hardly taken seriously.
The 90’s saw a Bee Gees comeback, as their album Still Waters was a Top 20 hit, reaching platinum status. A new live album and DVD, One Night Only, was also a huge hit, as the DVD was certified 5x platinum. Two 2000’s hits collections, Number Ones and The Record were certified gold.
In 2001, Maurice Gibb died of heart failure and Barry and Robin Gibb called it quits for the band, thus closing the books on a massively successful recording career.
The Album
On September 18, 2007, Reprise Records released Greatest, a remastered and expanded version of the Bee Gees 1979 double platinum compilation. The expanded double disc version features the extra tracks “Stayin’ Alive (Promo 12” Version)” and the previously unreleased “Warm Ride”, which was written for Motown act Rare Earth. It also features four new remix and the hidden track “Stayin’ Alive (Teddybears Remix)”. Greatest has not been available on CD since 2001.
The Band: 9.0
Barry Gibb: rhythm guitar, vocals
Robin Gibb: vocals
Maurice Gibb: rhythm & electric guitars, bass, vocals
Dennis Bryon: drums, percussion
Blue Weaver: keyboards, synthesizers
Alan Kendall: electric & steel guitars
While disco may forever be looked down upon, this remastered version of the Bee Gees’ greatest hits from the disco era sounds just as good as it did in the 70’s dance clubs. Whether you like the genre or not, you can’t deny the greatness of the Gibb brothers’ harmonies, and Barry Gibb’s falsetto is like from some sexy, androgynous other world.
The songs are expertly arranged on this album, moving from the saccharine but quite-listenable ballads to the downright funky beats of classics like “Night Fever” and “Stayin’ Alive”. It’s easy to forget how great the Bee Gees were at making music. Their tracks are well produced with exact precision and, amazingly, completely alive. The sound this band was putting down in the 70’s can barely be reproduced today with the best computers.
While the big get on this album may be the remixes, which attempt to bring disco classics into the language of todays’ club scene, those tracks actually wind up sounding more dated than the source material. Just another testament that no one can do what the Bee Gees did quite like they did it.
The Songs: 8.0
Disc One:
1. Jive Talkin’
2. Night Fever
3. Tragedy
4. You Should Be Dancing
5. Stayin’ Alive
6. How Deep Is Your Love
7. Love So Right
8. Too Much Heaven
9. (Our Love) Don’t Throw It Away
10. Fanny (Be Tender With My Love)
11. BONUS TRACK: Warm Ride
12. BONUS TRACK: Stayin’ Alive (Promo 12” Version)
Disc Two:
1. If I Can’t Have You
2. You Stepped Into My Life
3. Love Me
4. More Than A Woman
5. Rest Your Love On Me
6. Nights On Broadway
7. Spirits (Having Flown)
8. Love You Inside Out
9. Wind Of Change
10. Children Of The World
11. BONUS TRACK: You Should Be Dancing (Jason Bentley/Phillip Steir Remix)
12. BONUS TRACK: If I Can’t Have You (Count Da Money Remix)
13. BONUS TRACK: Night Fever (Future Funk Squad Remix)
14. BONUS TRACK: How Deep Is Your Love (Supreme Beings Of Leisure Remix)
If you’re looking for Bee Gees hits, you’ve found them. All of the band’s big singles from the disco era are here and they’re undeniable. While the disco genre itself may have gotten boring, repetitive and sappy, the Bee Gees kept their end of the deal up, with energetic, catchy singles that will have even the staunchest retro-disco hater grooving. The entire first CD is gold, with the band’s biggest dance floor hits. The extra track “Warm Ride” is a nice addition, a slow-paced harmony showcase. The extended version of “Stayin’ Alive” closes things out and, actually, “Stayin’ Alive” doesn’t need extended.
The second disc is the band’s ballads and it’s a little less enjoyable. The album may be better sequenced by blending this material, but as is, song after song about love can get a little tiresome. Not that there aren’t good songs. One interesting inclusion is the country flavored “Rest Your Love On Me”, which actually made the Country charts back in 1980.
Finally, you have the remixes, which are less than inspiring. When you add the thrumming electro-beats of today to Bee Gees classics, it removes the raw energy of the track completely. While “Night Fever” is handled well (by Future Funk Squad), the other cuts here are easy to skip past. Still, it’s a nice nod and bait for the buyer.
The 411: The Bee Gees Greatest is already a hit and this remastered version only assures us of that. The remastered songs sound crisp and lively and the hits are endless. “Warm Ride” is a nice addition to the Bee Gees canon, but the rest of the bonuses here, you could do without. Still, if you don’t have a Bee Gees comp, this is the best place to start as it contains their definitive hits and then some. And if you can’t decide if you wanna replace that Greatest LP from 1980, trust me, your ears will thank you.
