22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Amazing Collection -- But Now Outdated, November 6, 2004
This review is from: Greatest (Audio CD)
The Bee Gees started the second phase of their extraordinary careers with 1975s stellar "Jive Talkin'" (#1 for 2 weeks in 1975) a song that heralded the beginning of their rule as disco masters. They continued their ascent with the equally danceable "You Should Be Dancing" (#1 for 1 week in 1976) and peaked a few years later with their trio of #1 hits from "Saturday Night Fever" - "How Deep Is Your Love" (#1 for 3 weeks in 1977), "Stayin' Alive" (#1 for 4 weeks in 1978), and "Night Fever" (#1 for 8 weeks in 1978). The brothers managed to stay on top of the music world with their next CD, "Spirits Having Flown," which yielded 3 more #1 hits - "Too Much Heaven" (#1 for 2 weeks in 1979), "Tragedy" (#1 for 2 weeks in 1979), and "Love You Inside Out" (#1 for 1 week in 1979).
"Greatest" was released in 1979, on the heels of this phenomenal late 70s success. In addition to these great #1 songs, the set includes their two other Top 10s from the period - "Nights on Broadway" (#7 in 1975) and "Love So Right" (#3 in 1976). One of my favorite songs here is "Fanny (Be Tender with My Love)" which only went to #12 in 1976 but is a beautiful ballad worthy of greater attention. The Bee Gees were so huge at the time that they even managed to score a hit on the country chart: "Rest Your Love on Me," the b-side of "Too Much Heaven," peaked at #39 in 1979.
I also really enjoy the non-hits, some of which were singles for others. "(Our Love) Don't Throw It All Away," for example, peaked at #9 in 1978 for their brother, Andy Gibb. In addition, two other songs from "Saturday Night Fever" are included: "If I Can't Have You" (#1 for 1 week in 1978 for Yvonne Elliman) and "More Than a Woman" (#32 in 1978 for Tavares). I particularly like "If I Can't Have You": their version adds some fantastic urgency to the lyrics - a really great song. Finally, some top-notch album cuts are here: "Love Me," "You Stepped Into My Life," and "Children of the World" (from 1976's "Children of the World"); "Spirits (Having Flown)" (from 1979's "Spirits Having Flown"); "Wind of Change (from 1975's "Main Course"). I'm really surprised that "Love Me" was never released as a single, as it sounds like a sure-fire hit.
I really love "Greatest," and the Bee Gees have been enjoying a critical and popular rediscovery in recent years; they were even inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1997. This collection, however, has gone out of print and been replaced by the subsequent "The Bee Gees - Their Greatest Hits: The Record," a 2-disc set with 40 songs. That collection comprises hits from their entire career, from "New York Mining Disaster" (#14 in 1967) to "Alone" (#28 in 1997). However, "Greatest" is much more focused on their disco era success and thus sounds very cohesive.
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15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Bee Gees - the Glory Years., January 15, 2003
This review is from: Greatest (Audio CD)
The Bee Gees would have been hailed as the second coming of the Beatles if the public weren't so quick to peg them as a disco band. Their "Saturday Night Fever" soundtrack proved to be both a blessing and a curse for the trio-turned-duo, who hit pay dirt in the late seventies with signature dance hits like "Night Fever," "Staying Alive," and "More Than a Woman." While that soundtrack gave them international fame, they never really lived down their reputation as "that disco group." But if you strip their songs of their dance-heavy production, you will find killer hooks, above-average lyrics, and expertly crafted pop songs that rival anything by their rock peers. This hits collection compiles the band's era from 1975-79, and while it does feature the above mentioned "SNF" tracks, there are also other gems such as the underrated love song "You Stepped Into My Life" and the near-perfect "Tragedy." There's a more recent double disc set available, but I prefer "Greatest" because it compiles the group's work from 1975-79 more comprehensively. So if the Brothers Gibb still conjures up images of disco cheese, you owe it to yourself to give these two discs a spin and listen closer with an open mind.
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19 of 21 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The best Bee Gees Greatest Hits collection ever!, June 19, 1999
By A Customer
This review is from: Greatest (Audio CD)
An excellent disco era faze collection with two great double CD's has all the brothers Gibb Barry, Maurice and Robin. Boogie classics style funky music hits ever. Like songs they sing are highlighted with "Staying Alive", "How Deep Is Your Love", "You Should Be Dancing" and "More Than A Woman" from the Saturday Night Fever movie soundtrack phenomenon trilogy. These were most popular tunes that I remember back then from the past. Again the best works compilation disc ever included with 20 song tracks in this Bee Gees mid seventies CD right here!
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