Best of Bee Gees

by Bee Gees

Overview

If anyone needs conclusive proof that the brothers Gibb weren't always the chest-medallion-flashing kings of mainstream disco or, since about 1980 on, meaningless AOR washouts, the nearly 40-minute collection of the Bee Gees' earliest hits will suffice in spades. At their (perhaps, in hindsight) surprising best, the threesome, along with capable if generally unremarkable rhythm section members Melouney and Colin Peterson, created a slew of tender, affecting, and quite lovely hits. While the Stones/proto-metal crowd of the time probably thought them unbearably wimpy, their songwriting acumen, combined with their harmonies, fine production by Robert Stigwood, and ace orchestral/band arrangements by Bill Shephard, holds up astonishingly well. For all that the band clearly was often following the lead of the more elaborate Beatles songs of the same time -- consider the watery piano line opening "Words" as one example of many -- the Bee Gees didn't so much ape as they did come up with their own flavor. Considering that everyone from Catherine ("Every Christian Lion Hearted Man Will Show You") and Jimmy Somerville ("To Love Somebody") to Low ("I Started a Joke") and Jose Feliciano ("I've Gotta Get a Message to You") has covered something from this collection is testimony to the songs' continuing influence. Other times the connections to the future are subtler but still present -- "I Can't See Nobody," sonically and lyrically, has the same deep blue/string-backed feeling as Verve's "History." Sometimes the line between emotion and deep schmaltz is pretty fine, admittedly. However, when Robin's lead vocal on "I Started a Joke" hits the high notes while his brothers add soft backup as the music swells, it's just one example of many why the Bee Gees deserved their long overdue induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. ~ Ned Raggett

Product Details

Release Date:	11/11/2008
Label:	Reprise / Rhino / Beegees/Reprise / Wea
UPC:	0081227988500
Rank:	31297

Tracks

1. Holiday
2. I've Gotta Get A Message To You
3. I Can't See Nobody
4. Words
5. I Started A Joke
6. Tomorrow, Tomorrow
7. First Of May
8. World
9. Massachusetts
10. To Love Somebody
11. Every Christian Lion Hearted Man Will Show You
12. New York Mining Disaster 1941

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Bee Gees   Primary Artist
Bill Shephard   Conductor
Bill Shepherd Singers   Conductor
Maurice Gibb   Vocals
Colin Petersen   Drums
Vince Melouney   Guitar
Barry Gibb   Guitar,Vocals
David Katz   Violin
Robin Gibb   Vocals

Technical Credits

Bee Gees   Arranger,Producer
Bill Shephard   Arranger
Bill Shepherd Singers   Arranger
Haig Adishian   Cover Design
Tom Coyne   Mastering
Maurice Gibb   Composer
Phil Dennys   Arranger
Robin Gibb   Composer
Robert Stigwood   Producer
Ossie Byrne   Producer
Barry Gibb   Composer
David Katz   Orchestra Contractor