Customer Reviews

Bee Gees First Album

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I swear I bought this album for my younger sister Nancy's Christmas present in 1967, and I did'nt really mean to open the shrinkwrap and fall so much in love with the darn thing that I never quite got around to giving it to her. But that's what happened and I stuck with the Bee Gees for a long time after that too! You try buying Traffic, Procol Harum, Marvin Gaye, and Sly albums and then sneaking in the latest offering from the Gibb brothers and see how your 'hip' quotient dips. I did'nt care because I knew , based on the number of soul artist's covers of Bee Gees songs, that someone hipper than me was listening and hearing these amazingly soulful songs. With thirty years plus hindsight, I'd still swipe it again from my younger sister, and after re- hearing "To Love Somebody", "One Minute Woman", "I Can't See Nobody", and "Close Another Door" , heck ,I might just buy her her own copy. Next Christmas.

The Brothers Gibb first international album is a masterpiece of songwriting, singing and production. Squeezed in the time zone of British Pop Groups ala the Beatles, they had small chance of doing well, considering they had the same vocal harmonies that the Beatles had (although they started them earlier than the Beatles in Manchester, England). Other than that, this set contains classic, everlasting songs that continue to be covered by other artists. Nearly EVERY song has been sung by another artist and "To Love Somebody" has been covered more than 250 times, according to Rolling Stone. Not a small achievement, by any mean, by three teenagers! Hats off to the three teen brothers who took the current technology of the time and survived, despite the georgeous Beatles, "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" of 1967. What a start!

Footnote: 1980's Bee Gees technical engineer, Scott Glasel mentioned to me that whenever he feels a need for inspiration, he puts on Bee Gees First.

The Bee Gee's first album reminds the listener that the Gibb brothers were capable of crafting great psychedelic pop before they mutated into the kings of disco. This album contains Beatlesque harmonies, well crafted pop songs with charmingly obscure lyrics, and folk rock enhanced by Bach-like baroque brass and string arrangements. Think the Beatle's "Penny Lane" trumpet chorus. There's even some Gregorian chant on "Every Christian Lion-Hearted Man". The Bee Gees produced excellent high concept pop music and a long string of chart topping singles prior to jumping on the disco bandwagon, in the mid-seventies when their brand of pop fell out of fashion. Their reinvention of themselves as a disco group was so startling that many of their earlier fans jumped ship. The Bee Gees endured, thanks to "Saturday Night Fever, and reached an even larger audience of disco devotees. In hindsight, the early Bee Gees were far more intresting than the reinvented Bee Gees 2.0 Disco Edition. The Bee Gee's first album is makes a compelling case for the first edition of Gibb brothers.

This misleadingly titled album (the Bee Gees actually had released two LP's in Australia prior to this, their first American release) is arguably the brothers' greatest. Its loopy, progressive pop-rock begs the oft-belabored question of who influenced whom (if you know what I mean) by its sheer eclectic audacity and humor. It also contains some of the best of the group's early hits: "New York Mining Disaster 1941" (now there's a catchy little title for a single), "Holiday," and the oft-covered "To Love Somebody." But it is between these hits that the album's real charms lie. Tracks like the quasidelic "Red Chair Fade Away" and "Every Christian Lion-Hearted Man Will Show You" (complete with mellotron and pseudo-Gregorian chant); wierd, convoluted romanticism ("Turn Of The Century") and just plain wackiness ("Craise Finton Kirk Royal Academy Of Arts," "In My Own Time") all betoken a greatness the Bee Gees would find themselves hard-pressed to follow up (and live down). Essential.

After nine years in Austrailia,which included having their own TV show,a recording contract with Festival records and winning awards for top songwriting team of the years 1965 and 1966 as well as a special award as Austrailia's best group of 1966,the Gibb family alongside their talented trio of sons Barry,Robin and Maurice(a.k.a.The Bee Gees,after other names such as The Rattlesnakes and Wee Johnny Hayes and the Bluecats.The name Bee Gees is not an acronym of Brothers Gibb but was given by a race track organizer named Bill Good and a DJ named Bill Gates[not the Microsoft mogul of the same name]who would eventually become their first managers by having them use their initials)packed up a boat to return home to England.Almost immediately after they left,Spicks and Specks would become their first Austrailian #1.Soon,another song entitled I Was A Lover.A Leader of Men would become their second Austrailian #1.The Gibb family were now residing in London.Immediately,they began recording demos and sent them to Nems in hopes of having Brian Epstein,the Beatles manager,to become their manager.They would wind up with Robert Stigwood,who at the same time was trying to contact them when he heard they were now living in London,soon signed them to a five year management deal.They would sign a recording contract with Polydor in the U.K. and the Atlantic records division of ATCO in the U.S.A.What Stigwood didn't realize at the time was that he was taking up a trio of brothers who would become"The Greatest Family Musical Outfit the World Would Ever Know."To hype them,a single entitled New York Mining Disaster 1941("1941" throughout this review)would be released jointly by Polydor in the U.K.and ATCO in the U.S in April 1967(issued to radio stations and record store owners on a plain white label pressing).People on both sides of the Atlantic bought the record and it hit #12 in the U.K.and #14 in the U.S.A.Bee Gees 1st would be released in July of the same year.It would quickly become their first top ten album in both the U.K. and the U.S.A.by reaching #8(U.K.)and #7(U.S.)respectively.Two more singles would be released which were To Love Somebody(U.K.#41 U.S.#17)and Holiday(U.S.#16).

One listen to Bee Gees 1st and you'll know why it was so successful.This album is chock full of beautiful sounding pop songs.The melodies are soothing and relaxing.As for the songs on this album,the majority of them are written by Barry and Robin.The only three exceptions are Every Christian Lion Hearted Man Will Show You("Christian" throughout this review),I Close My Eyes and Close Another Door which were written by all three brothers collectively.

1st features some fine songwriting moments."1941" is loosely about the 1966 mining disaster at Aberfan in Wales where over 200 children were crushed to death.To Love Somebody(originally written for Otis Redding and later covered by Janis Joplin,former Bronski Beat and Communards lead singer Jimmy Somerville and Michael Bolton)is about a person who doesn't know the true value of loving somebody the same way they are being loved.Holiday reflects on how people view things from their own perspective.Cucumber Castle is not only about an imaginary castle in an imaginary land but also feeling at home no matter where you roam(three years later,this song would serve as an inspiration for a TV film that starred Barry and Maurice.Co-starring Vincent Price,Frankie Howerd,Spike Milligan and LULU who would later become Maurice's first wife)."Christian"(the B-Side of Holiday)shows that every Christ like person can sometimes provide you with answers even when you feel there's nobody to turn to.I Can't See Nobody(the B-Side of "1941")is a story about a man showing the lady of his life that he sees nobody but her when he sees her.Turn Of The Century is a flight of fancy about a man building a time machine to travel to the future to see what will happen in the future(H.G.Wells,who wrote the novel"The Time Machine"probably influenced this song).Close Another Door(the B-Side of To Love Somebody)reflects on childhood and growing up.It's also a fine way to close this album.With the album being over,you close the door and open a new door when you purchase the next album.These and the remainder of the songs demonstrate the exquisite songwriting that would become an enduring Bee Gees trademark.

Musically,the brothers alongside Colin Petersen and Vince Melouney(the only native Austrailians in the band at the time)deliver some beautiful pop sounds.The organ on Holiday,the violin and harp on To Love Somebody and the opening strings on "1941" will make you feel like you're floating on a cloud.The "Christian" song's opening middle and closing chants send shivers up the spine alongside the violin.Each and every one of these songs is soothing,relaxing and calming.While the Beatles and the Rolling Stones offered music for you to dance,the Bee Gees offered relaxing music,which especially works after you've had a hard day.

Vocally,the brothers also deliver.Robin does a heavenly poetic vocal on Holiday and a reassuring vocal on I Can't See Nobody.Barry and Robin display a fine duet on "1941".Of course,Barry's voice highlights the majority of this album.Each ands every song here is a true stroke of genius.In fact,Craise Finton Kirk is a true example of this genius.This song actually sounds like it was recorded off the radio.But then again,that was only for the Stereo version of the album.The mono version of the song is crystal clear.

Altogether,the brothers alongside Robert Stigwood and Austrailian producer and long time friend Ossie Byrne,produce a debut album that not only serves as an introductory piece but also a precursor of better things to come.The cover artwork by Klaus Voorman(see my Idea review for more information regarding Klaus Voorman)is actually a psychadelic entry showing what's in store for you when you listen to this album.This album is also a pure work of art.

Overall,this album should be in every Bee Gees fans library.

Bee Gees 1st has always been a great record, a tribute to the Beatlies of Rubber Soul and Revolver without every sounding anything but unique. "Cucumber Castle" alone would have met a great lp, to say nothing of the actual hits gathered here. The record is also one of the best artifacts of the golden age of multi-track recording--the time of Sgt. Pepper's--a stunning listening experience when it first appeared, especially through headphones. The vinyl has gobs of detail and depth.

Unfortunately, the much anticipated CD demonstrates once again how little RSO values its enviable musical assets. This CD is not re-mastered; in fact, it sounds as if it was re-recorded from an lp. There's significant pitch variation on the opening cut, "Turn of the Century," and throughout the CD lacks the vividness and lushness of the original record. Too bad. It can only be hoped that the label will eventually follow even the modest example of MCA with its recent Who re-releases, which sound terrific. Until then, this cd will have to do for convenience, but it's not really the record those young boys made before they'd even thought of disco.

Disco fans looks elsewhere unless you want to have your horizons broadened and your minds blown. Whimsical pop psychedelia in the vein of The Beatles, Kaleidascope UK, Nirvana UK, and even early Pink Floyd, plus two classic soul ballads. This an essential album for fans of 60s psychedelia and rock in general.

The Bee Gees "1st" nationally released album appropriately titled "Bee Gees' 1st", is a very strong debut from one of popular music's treasure trove of superb performers and composers.

Containing the 3 hits: To Love Somebody, New York Mining Disaster 1941, and Holiday, the Bee Gees' 1st contains the classic Bee Gees song "I Can See Nobody", plus some pretty, psychedelic material, as well as what I call "quirky ditties", and soft "mainstream" ballads.

The whole album is superb and probably one of my favorites of the '60s albums other than Odessa, which is a must!

Bottom Line: Excellent choice for Bee Gees fans that are more familiar with their "disco era" material and want to discover their first wave of fame beginning with this marvelous album.

Ten years before the Bee Gees became the Kings of Saturday Night Fever their first album was released during the Summer Of Love in 1967. The brothers (along with guitarist Vince Melouney and drummer Colin Peterson) had hit it big back in their native Austrailia with the single SPICKS AND SPECKS. Capitalizing on their success the group decided to move to England to be a part of the British Invasion. Signing with Robert Stigwood of Polydor Records the band began recording their major label debut immidiately after arriving in the UK.

Fans of the Bee Gees so called disco era will be suprised to find an album filled with wonderfully arranged progressive pop rock tunes. On 'The Bee Gees 1st' the band sounds more like the Beatles during their Revolver Era rather than the high pitched falsetto act of the late 1970's. This isn't necessarily a bad thing considering that this album along with their other sixties works has aged better than their late 70's records.The album was a massive success when released it reached #7 in the US and spawned 3 top 20 singles. The three top twenty singles were the classic NEW YORK MINING DISASTER 1941, the haunting HOLIDAY and the awesome love ballad TO LOVE SOMEBODY. However these cuts do not over shadow the rest of the albums tracks. The b-sides were equally as powerful like the psychadelic EVERY CHRISTIAN LION HEARTED MAN WILL SHOW YOU or the soulful I CAN'T SEE NOBODY or the tempo changing CLOSE ANOTHER DOOR. Other songs like IN MY OWN TIME (which sounds like Taxman) and CUCUMBER CASTLE sound like the work of The Beatles! ONE MINUTE WOMAN is an underrated love ballad. PLEASE READ ME is an awesome rocker. TURN OF THE CENTURY is a catchy opener as is I CLOSE MY EYES. CRAISE FINTON KIRK ROYAL ACADEMY OF ARTS is a delightful piano ditty and RED CHAIR FADE AWAY is psychadelic pop rock.

Overall 'The Bee Gees 1st' is a must. I have never been a huge fan of their music but I like this album a lot. It's beautifully crafted progressive pop rock with some lush string and horn arrangements. If you like the Beatles during their Revolver Era or The Monkees than this album is for you. Truly a wonderful piece of music and a fun album to listen to. Highly recommended!

Other than their harmonies, it's difficult to connect the Bee Gees "debut" with the later disco music that brought them to international stardom. But this early work (actually their 3rd LP, despite the title) features all of the melodic seeds that would sustain their career through various ups and downs.

This is my favorite Bee Gess LP, and includes superb songs such as the hit singles "New York Mining Disaster," "To Love Somebody" and "Holiday," along with the rocking "In My Own Time" (covered brilliantly by The Three O'Clock a couple of decades later).

Whether or not their sound aped the Beatles, their voices formed a distinctive blend, and the songwriting of Robin and Barry Gibb had a unique, often meloncholy, stamp upon it. Though it was recorded 33 years ago, it's still a good spin!