Bee Gees

Main | Biography | Articles | Album Reviews | Photos | Videos | Discography

Album Reviews

Photo

Bee Gees

The Studio Albums 1967-1968

RS: 2.5of 5 Stars Average User Rating: 4of 5 Stars

2007

Play View Bee Gees's page on Rhapsody

At the beginning of 1967, the three Gibb brothers got on a boat and left behind a marginal Australian career with hopes of making it big in England. By April they had an international hit with "New York Mining Disaster 1941," which established their formula for the next few years: melodic ballads frosted with inscrutable lyrics, orchestral arrangements and precise, high-pitched harmonies. At the time, rumors circulated that the Bee Gees were the Beatles recording under a pseudonym (the Bee Gees' name was supposedly code for "Beatles Group") -- hard to believe, considering this was the same band that would go on to sell 15 million copies of the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack. Take that as evidence either of the public's hunger for anything vaguely Beatlesque or that a whole generation really was stoned beyond all comprehension. The 1960s Bee Gees were polished, technically gifted -- and, it must be said, a bit priggish. "I'm afraid that I can't agree with the Beatles' recording of 'I Am the Walrus,' " said Barry Gibb in 1967. "They never had to use dirty words before, but they are using them now. What's the point?"

With stereo and mono mixes of their first three albums -- 1967's Bee Gees 1st and 1968's Horizontal and Idea -- plus three extra discs of B sides and outtakes, this lovingly compiled box set is the holy grail for the sort of Bee Gees fanatic willing to argue that 1st is marginally better than its two successors. The rest of us are better off enjoying individual tracks: "I Started a Joke" (from Idea) is the best word salad here, with lead vocals by Robin Gibb -- it seems evocative but actually makes no sense. Other highlights include the more direct "To Love Somebody" (from 1st), intended for Otis Redding before his fatal plane crash. But far too many tracks bog down in syrupy strings and sodden tempos -- listeners today may find themselves wishing that disco had come ten years earlier.

GAVIN EDWARDS

(Posted: Mar 9, 2007)

Advertisement

News and Reviews

Advertisement

Your Turn

Give us your review of The Studio Albums 1967-1968

Review 1 of 2

dlt writes:

3of 5 Stars









































































































Otis Redding Died

But Eric Burdon recorded a version of To Love Somebody. And the Bee Gees
Proved that it's one of their good songs
From that period












Mar 30, 2007 20:08:57

Off Topic Report Abuse

Review 2 of 2

Spuggard writes:

4of 5 Stars


Yeah, well, anyone who would be interested in this box set
probably ain't expecting disco goodies. The RS reviewer
should
have simply reviewed a greatest hits collection - we all know
those songs are good. For those of us who really do love the
Bee Gees 1st, yeah, there's plenty to love here. Syrupy strings,
sodden tempos, hell yeah, and it sounds great - it's the sound
that's half the fun on this material. Hey kids, learn why that
Jimmy Fallon / Justin Timberlake SNL bit is so funny. Nahh,
just download this box set from your friends. I'm sure they all
have it. Especially the hits.

Mar 13, 2007 15:53:58

Off Topic Report Abuse

Previous Next

Advertisement

 

Everything:Bee Gees

Main | Biography | Articles | Album Reviews | Photos | Videos | Discography

 

RSS Subscribe to Rolling Stone Bee Gees feed

See all available RSS feeds / learn more

Advertisement

Advertisement