Customer Reviews

2 Years on

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

When Cucumber Castle(see review)became their first commercial flop due to Robin's absence,the album and it's accompanying film of the same name were both their first disappointments. Likewise, Robin's solo album(Robin's Reign)was also a commercial flop.

When Robin returned(it would take his father constantly pressuring him and it would have Stigwood filing a lawsuit on him for leaving to get him to return),the Bee Gees began work on their next album.Robert Stigwood was also in tow to co-produce the album with them.A single entitled Lonely Days was released in November of 1970.It became their first stateside top five single (#3,in the U.K.,it reached #31) and their first stateside gold single.2 Years On would be released a month later.It would restore them to the top forty on the US albums chart by reaching #32.

Robin's return restored the magic.There were still bitter rivalries going on between them.You can easily see this by observing that the brothers collectively write only three songs together(Back Home,Man For All Seasons and Lonely Days)Robin and Maurice wrote two together(title track and Sincere Relation).The remainder would be solo writing efforts with Barry writing four(Portrait Of Louise,The 1st Mistake I Made,Tell Me Why and Every Second,Every Minute),Robin writing two(Alone Again and I'm Weeping)and Maurice writing only one(Lay It On Me).Despite the negative circumstances,the brothers admirably set aside all personal differences to work together.The result is a very eclective and beautiful pop album.Arguably,it's one of pop music's finest moments.

2 Years On features some of the brothers finest songwriting moments.Lonely Days reflects how the days and nights would be if a man didn't have his woman around.The title track reflects the period when the brothers were apart from each other(When one brother leaves,you will feel that a part of you is missing).Man For All Seasons(the B-side of Lonely Days and would later be covered by Oliver on his Prisms album.Oliver is famous for making Good Morning Starshine a hit)reflects on the Bee Gees future musically(when they would changed musical directions starting with Life In A Tin Can,Mr.Natural and Main Course.See reviews on those albums for more information).Alone Again and I'm Weeping each reflect on how Robin felt about his brothers fighting amongst themselves.Sincere Relation shows what the brothers hope to restore between themselves despite their differences.The 1st Mistake I Made is actually a song that happens to be a hyperbole.Even though the song is about a man letting a woman he loved go.It also symbolizes that they made a mistake letting Robin go.As you can see,most of these songs were personal reflections of the last two years.

Musically,the Bee Gees faithfully deliver their fine talents. Lonely Days has a beautiful sounding Bach style piano and violin section that'll make you feel like you're in heaven.Back Home and Every Second,Every Minute each have an infectious sounding rock guitar riff that would rival The Beatles.Lay It On Me has a "nice,feel-good" type of country sound whose violin would even make Charlie Daniels jump for joy.It also displays Maurice's vocal talents.The organ on I'm Weeping will also make you feel as broken hearted as Robin felt if you had to go through what he was going through at the time.Other songs such as 2 Years On(title song),Portrait Of Louise,Man For All Seasons,Sincere Relation,The 1st Mistake I Made,Alone Again and Tell Me Why further demonstrate the brother's magic,versatility and timeless virtuosity that the Bee Gees are universally known for.It's also proof that when these three brothers collectively create something,it's magical.It's also a beautiful and an ethereal experience.As Maurice once said himself "One Of Us Is O.K.Two Of Us is Pretty Good.The Three Of Us Together is Magic".2 years On proves this in more ways than one.

Once Again,Stigwood and the brothers collectively create an eclective and beautiful sounding pop album.Again,it's arguably one of pop music's finest moments.

Overall,2 Years On is an essential album that no Bee Gees fan should be without.

Barry Gibb once mentioned that "2 Years On" was the weakest album the trio had recorded. True. Granted that it garnered the huge American hit "Lonely Days", the rest of the album seems like leftovers from their attempts at solo careers. Wince while listening to "I'm Weeping". Shake your head in bewilderment at "Tell Me Why". "Lay It On Me" passes the test, but it seems Maurice shot his entire solo wad on that one. Do note however, that the song "2 Years On" is a rare early Robin and Maurice collaboration. "Man For All Seasons" clearly hints at the Gibbs' easily obtained falsettos to come. "The 1st Mistake I Made" is a surprising success, if a bit long. Strong emotional strings and guitar/piano riffs can't help but 'get you'. Otherwise the remainder of the songs are 'fluff'. This 'fluff' led to a magnificnet album less than a year later. The fantastic "Trafalgar"; the album that brought the Brothers Gibb into maturity.

Two Years On is a great BeeGees album. The songs show many vocal talents and harmonious varieties. One example is one of my favorite song on the album,"Alone Again". They also add harmonies in "Man For All Seasons" and "Portrait of Louise". "Lonely Days" is the biggest hit on this album, reaching #1 in the U.S. You'll probably want to sing this song, even if your a woman. "Every Second, Every Minute" is shockingly a great song, and "I'm Weeping" is a great ballad-type solo by Robin."Back Home" and "Lay It On Me" are the only boring songs on this album. "Tell Me Why" is a classic and the album song "Two Years On" is an incredible song, although some of the notes are used way too much. I also love Robin's "Sincere Relation". I'm very curious of who George is."The 1st mistake I Made" sounds alot like "Alive", except that same tune repeats over and over and over again. It just gets boring after a minute. But overall, this album has two hit songs, and the rest of them are also incredible.

Well, what can I say--a friend of mine awoke my interest in this LP long after I bought it--the first time I heard it I didn't pay much attention--but after a second hearing--I loved it--this is an excellent example of the Brothers Gibb's three part harmony--"A Man For All Seasons" deserved more airplay back in 1971--this was when the Brothers focused on their ARTISTRY and not what the record label thought the public wanted to hear--this is music history that should be noted and studied in the years to come--"Back Home" is a rocker (I mean --Alan Kendall on lead guitar--he can jam with the best of em), and good ol Moe Gibb shines with "Lay It On Me"; "Sincere Relation" can compete with the mood music of today as well as "The First Mistake I Made"--but "Portrait of Louise"? I tell you, they just don't record songs like that anymore--call me a sentimentalist--so what? If you haven't heard "2 Years On" (or any Bee Gees LP/CD pre "Saturday Night Fever"), you are in for a treat that will (pardon the cliche), tantalize the palate. Happy Listening!!

This may not be the Bee Gees' best album, but there is a lot to like about it. It sounds as though the brothers are feeling each other out in order to get the magic back. They succeed very well on a couple of songs. Lonely days gives me the feeling that they are back together and Alone Again in my opinion has the greatest harmonies of the Bee Gees' career. I would recommend this album for that song alone.

The finest album the Bee Gees ever did, one of the greatest rock albums ever."Lonely Days" has such a cool groove! There's the heartbreaking "Sincere Relation" and "First Mistake I Made"! Rockers could learn how LESS IS MORE buy studying the minimalist "Back Home" and "Every Second". You need this CD!

This was the first album that all 3 brothers were on since the incredible double album "Odessa". Robin had left the band after that album was recorded due to frustrations between he, Barry and their manager, Robert Stigwood. Stigwood had favored Barry's songs over Robin's and there was growing frustrations on Robin's part so he left the group to begin a solo career. Now all 3 brothers were back and the other members of the band had a complete makeover as well.

Gone were their childhood friends guitarist, Vince Melouney & drummer, Colin Petersen and the band would now feature: Geoff Bridgford - drums 1969-72, Alan Kendall - lead guitar 1971-80, 87-01, Dennis Bryon - drums 1974-80
Blue Weaver - keyboards 1975-80. These wonderful musicians would form the new foundation along with Barry who would continue to play acoustic and backing guitar, Maurice who would play bass, piano, keyboards and several other instruments and Robin who would be both lead and backing vocalist. These would be the band members who were to be a part of the incredible success in the mid to late 1970's and begin that process in the late 1960's to early 70's by experimenting with new styles of writing, arranging and recording.

The album had more of a country feel to it which is why I believe it didn't do so well on the "pop" charts as many were confused as to how to rate it. It did yield another #1 hit for the band, "Lonely Days" and overall I think was a fine album. You could tell they all 3 had grown and it was a transition of sorts especially bringing Robin back into the fold. Other great songs on the album were the title track, "Portrait Of Louise", Man For All Seasons", "The Mistake I Made", "Alone Again" & one of my personal favorites, "Every Second, Every Minute". Overall, it's not their strongest album but, at the same time, it still is a fine product, as, of course, it's The Bee Gees! I'd recommend this album to anyone, especially those who may not be as familiar with their earlier material, in particular that of the early to mid 1970's.

There are all sorts of hidden gems in the albums they released during this time and even though they were in their frist major transition period, they were still writing and recording number hit songs that topped the charts from the U.S. to Hong Kong!

A platter from their dreary early-70's phase, this is a must-have for die-hards and a must-to-avoid for fans of Saturday Night Fever. Despite being considered one of their least inspired albums, this one is not without its highlights, such as the top ten hit LONELY NIGHTS. Also memorable is the Maurice Gibb composition LAY IT ON ME, a bluesy, swamp-rockin' diddy which often found airplay on FM underground radio before the Bee-Gees became too uncool for the rock crowd in the late 70's. This, along with several other tracks on the album, is great fun to play for Bee-Gee haters who never thought the Gibb's could produce such a hard-edged sound. In short, if you like the Gibb's early stuff, you should like this...but if you are strictly a Disco-era person, I don't think You'll dig this record.

Note: This is a re-issue until Rhino Records releases the Remastered Expanded version.

Barry Gibb once mentioned that "2 Years On" was the weakest album the trio had recorded. True. Granted that it garnered the huge American hit "Lonely Days", the rest of the album seems like leftovers from their attempts at solo careers. Wince while listening to "I'm Weeping". Shake your head in bewilderment at "Tell Me Why". "Lay It On Me" passes the test, but it seems Maurice shot his entire solo wad on that one. Do note however, that the song "2 Years On" is a rare early Robin and Maurice collaboration. "Man For All Seasons" clearly hints at the Gibbs' easily obtained falsettos to come. "The 1st Mistake I Made" is a surprising success, if a bit long. Strong emotional strings and guitar/piano riffs can't help but 'get you'. Otherwise the remainder of the songs are 'fluff'. This 'fluff' led to a magnificnet album less than a year later. The fantastic "Trafalgar"; the album that brought the Brothers Gibb into maturity.

Don't get me wrong. This album has wonderful songs in it. Where would Lonely Days be without this album? And then there's Man For All Seasons, another little hit. Portrait of Louise has beautiful voices in it, and so does the very catchy Alone Again. Every Second, Every Minute is another great solo by Barry. Lay It On Me is almost horrible, and Tell Me Why is quite boring. Overall, some great songs, some good songs, and just a couple dull songs makes this a good enough album to want.