So the Bee Gees release their difficult
third album - and it is a triumph. This is
the album where the group began to really
'find their feet'. The experimentation and
uncertain tone of the first two albums is
replaced with an assured, but still highly
experimental, collection of songs. But all
the major Bee Gees hallmarks are now there.
Lush production, delicious melodies, bizarre
subject matter, dark humour and those
umnmistakable harmonies. This is all topped
off with some rather wonderful solo work,
particularly from Robin and Barry. The nasal
Robin lead that would come to define the Bee
Gees in the late 1960s - and which would
contribute to giving the Bee Gees a unique
identity that would lift them up above other
similar new bands of the time - is also
present and correct.
Most people know the Bee Gees' second number
one hit, 'I've Gotta Get A Message To You',
which is included on this CD and follows the
brothers' developing theme of death and lost
love. But the real stand-out track is 'I
Started A Joke'. This is quite simply one of
the greatest songs the Bee Gees recorded
and, whilst relatively little known in the
UK, has gained a large amount of respect
from serious music lovers. The lucid, crisp
melody, the tight production, the
self-pitying lyrics (another Bee Gees theme
of the period, usually with Robin on lead),
and Robin's disconsolate lead vocal. Bee
Gees songs don't get much better than this.
Whilst there are a number of other winning tracks
on this album ('Let There Be Love', 'Kilburn
Towers', 'Swan Song'), a number of the
tracks are slightly inconsequential ('Kitty
Can', 'Indian Gin And Whisky Dry', 'I Have
Decided To Join The Airforce'). It is this
fact alone that prevents the album achieving
five stars.
The 'Expanded and Remastered' version,
released January 2007, includes a bonus CD
with previously unreleased tracks and demos.
Send your review
of this album to BeeGeesReviews.info and if
we publish it you will get paid!
Where to Buy
Buy 'Expanded and Remastered' version (released January 2007)
Buy original CD version (released 1989)
|
