How Old Are You [Import]

Robin Gibb | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (June 30, 1998)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: Polygram Int'l
• ASIN: B000006YYW
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (27 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #115,291 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

27 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A Rare Collector's Item; You Better Really Like The Gibbs, June 11, 2001

By 

Martin A Hogan "Marty From SF" (San Francisco, CA. (Hercules)) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (2008 HOLIDAY TEAM)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: How Old Are You (Audio CD)

In 1970, Robin Gibb unamiacally left his brothers to record, "Robin's Reign", a terrible, unfinished album redeemed only by a #2 UK single called "Saved By The Bell" (topped on the charts by "Honky Tonk Women" - go figure!). This current album released in 1983 contains help from the Bee Gees old band members and twin brother Maurice. It did well in Europe and drowned in the then, anti-Bee Gees USA.

The first song, "Juliet" (which went to #1 in Europe) is a thumper, falsetto-riddled uptempto masterpiece still used in their concerts. "How Old Are You", "In And Out Of Love", "Kathy's Gone" and "Another Lonely Night In New York" (another hit) are nearly as good. From then on, it all goes downhill.

The drum beats become monotonous, the lyrics banal and Robin's high-shrilled attempts at reaching the highest falsetto notes imaginable are mind-numbing. "Don't Stop The Night" and "I Believe In Miracles" will send you running to the medicine cabinet for pain relievers! My God, that screeching!

Considering that half of the songs are very good is enough reason to purchase this CD. If that isn't enough reason, then think about the fact that in probably less than a year, you'll have to pay some scalping rare-records Bozo a fortune for it. Have a good time and watch that volume.

21 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Catchy Gibb songwriting with Euro-synth backdrop., June 1, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: How Old Are You (Audio CD)

If you're reading this, you're probably a die-hard Bee Gees fan, so you'll want this album anyway. Robin's subsequent solo efforts "Secret Agent" and "Walls Have Eyes" sound more confident and commercial and are worth looking for, but this one has its moments.

"Juliet" was a hit in Europe and has energy and hooks to spare. The title track is a hummable rocker with some notable ELO influence. "Another Lonely Night In New York" is a trademark heartbroken-Robin ballad, with beautifully layered electronica and vocals. However, it's hard to believe that this album came from two-thirds of the group (Maurice co-produced) that created the studio masterpiece "Spirits Having Flown" just four years earlier. The instrumentation on "How Old Are You" is far less varied, the sound isn't as clear, the melodies contain fewer surprises...it almost seems like they've regressed or perhaps recorded it in a hurry.

Many times, Robin sounds like he's trying to approximate the Bee Gees' late-70s vocal style with lots of overdubbing. It still sounds decent, but without Barry, it's just not the same. The synths get a little muddy at times--he didn't use them as effectively as early-80s counterparts Duran Duran and Human League, for example. Robin must have recognized this because his followup solo albums feature a more unique vocal style and more agile use of technology. One more thing...the album artwork is simply gorgeous. Robin has always been a master of conveying loneliness and heartbreak, and the beautiful cinema photos complement the solitary theme perfectly.

12 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I think that this album is Great! Far better then the first., July 23, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: How Old Are You (Audio CD)

I love his records! I think that this album is great because it gives him a seperate body of work that can really stand him out from Barry and Maurice... Another Lonely Night in New York is a great tune as well as Juliet... It is a real shame that there are no more solo efforts from Robin... I buy the Bee Gee albums just to listen to the songs he sings. I like it that way even if other Bee Gee people don't... I just wish that he would do more solo... This and his last album should have been treated better...