How Can You Poll a Broken Heart - the Robin Gibb Memorial BEE GEES TRACKS POLL RESULTS

17 ballots received, thanks to everyone who voted! Eligible songs included any tracks written (either in part or in whole) or performed by the Bee Gees at any point throughout their 4-decade career. Even with such a small voting pool, there was not a single song that appeared on every ballot. And nowwwwww......

50. Woman in Love (writers: Barry and Robin Gibb)
Performed by Barbra Streisand on her 1980 album "Guilty"
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x1ys7l_barbara-streisand-woman-in-love_music

After the success enjoyed by the Bee Gees in the late 1970s, the band was asked to participate in musical endeavors for other artists, and Streisand asked Barry Gibb to write an album for her.[2] This album ultimately became Guilty. "Woman in Love", as the lead single, became one of the most successful songs of Streisand's music career. It spent a total of three weeks at the number-one position on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, Streisand's fifth (and last to date) number one on this chart. It also spent five weeks atop the adult contemporary chart, her sixth number one on that tally.[3] The song also proved very popular internationally, reaching number one in many countries, including the United Kingdom.

About midway through the song, Streisand holds a note for about 10 seconds while singing the line: I stumble and fall / But I give you it all (the word "all" is the one held for that duration). During the chart run of "Woman In Love", Casey Kasem claimed in an edition of the radio program American Top 40 that this was the longest unaltered note held by a soloist in a number-one song[citation needed], though it would be later surpassed by Whitney Houston in her smash single "I Will Always Love You".

sorry, I dunno how to embed non-youtube videos :(

oh also
34 points (2 votes)

49. (Love is) Thicker Than Water (writers: Barry and Andy Gibb)
36 points (1 vote)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dqCmGQKmGnw

1977 7" single, the second of four consecutive US Number 1 singles penned by Barry Gibb (a feat unmatched to this day by any other writer)

Off to an interesting start! I'm not really familiar with their work for other artists, so this is shaping up to be very educational!

btw Shakey how many results will you be revealing today?

I'm so glad this poll finally LIVES!

This poll will live forever.

i'm going to get a lot out of these results.

thinking of going the bottom 20 today

TIE
49. A Very Special Day (Writer: Robin Gibb)
36 points (2 votes)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BbjwR2GeztM

A cut from the second, unreleased Robin Gibb solo album from 1970 (the first being "Robin's Reign"). Reviewed here.

Less votes = more obscurities! Fun.

TIE
48. Chain Reaction (Writers: Barry, Robin and Maurice Gibb)
37 points (2 votes)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VFsS55TryZ4

Performed by Diana Ross, with the Bee Gees providing backing vocals. Released on the album "Eaten Alive" (1985). The single became her first #1 single in the UK since I'm Still Waiting in 1971, and was her last appearance on the Billboard Hot 100.

48. Throw a Penny (Writers: Barry and Robin Gibb)
37 points (3 votes)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Bcd-zmB4vk

The second single from the Bee Gees' 1974 album "Mr. Natural". Only released in the U.S., the single did not chart and continued a series of unsuccessful singles for The Bee Gees during this time. In the liner notes for the Tales from the Brothers Gibb box set, Barry Gibb commented on this song by saying "Where are we going?"

appreciate the explanatory blurbs. feel like this thread will remain a really useful tool for those of us who need to explore the catalog further.

47. An Everlasting Love (Writers: Barry Gibb)
38 points (2 votes)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GKRUtu8BXHM

From Andy Gibb's 1978 album "Shadow Dancing", with Barry providing vocals and an orchestral arrangement as well. Reached No. 5 in America.

Interesting that so far most are recorded-by-other-artists tracks

46. Black Diamond (Writers: Barry, Robin, and Maurice Gibb)
39 points (2 votes)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KwfJs1937s0

The first track recorded for the Bee Gees' 1969 album "Odessa". Largely performed by the twins with Robin singing lead and harmony and playing the piano and mellotron, and Maurice providing backing vocals, bass, piano, guitar, and Mellotron. (Drums provided by their erstwhile drummer Colin Petersen). An ostensible "deep cut", never issued as a single.

Odessa is SO FUCKING GOOD!

TIE
45. Seven Seas Symphony (Writers: Barry, Robin and Maurice Gibb)
40 points (1 first place vote)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CzYBcSdp1wc

One of three instrumental, orchestral tracks released on the Bee Gees' 1969 album "Odessa".

45. Don't Throw It All Away (Our Love)(Writers: Barry Gibb, Blue Weaver)
40 points (3 votes)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_JUdT3s_fGM

Originally released as the third single from Andy Gibb's 1978 album "Shadow Dancing", reaching No. 9 on the Billboard Hot 100. Andy Gibb's version of the song added a bridge section not on the original Bee Gees' version. The Bee Gees version of the song was recorded in 1977 during the sessions for Saturday Night Fever, but was not released until the compilation Bee Gees Greatest 1979. Singer/actress Jennifer Love Hewitt also covered the song on her 1996 self-titled album.

45. Indian Gin and Whisky Dry (Writers: Barry, Robin and Maurice Gibb)
40 points (2 votes)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8CcHfz61Aa0

A "deep cut" from the Bee Gees' 1968 album "Idea".

I should've voted for Chain Reaction and Woman In Love, glad they got a placing here

according to wikipedia the bros were initially worried that "Chain Reaction" was too "motown" for Diana and they were hesitant to offer it to her

the great thing is it still sounds like a Bee Gees song - like she's a guest singer.

44. I Laugh in Your Face (Writers: Barry, Robin and Maurice Gibb)
41 points (2 votes)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MH2LXAWYyYY

Another non-single cut from the Bee Gees' 1969 album "Odessa".

a personal opinion - I didn't vote for this song but it is great in its oddness, one of the things the bros excelled at. Just the idea of having a big melodic pop song with the vocal hook being "I laugh in your face" is awesome.

The circus is coming to see you
The elephant smiles
Ev’rybody can hear you say that’s out of style
My brother is friendly for reasons, if I am the same
Just for four hundred seasons we all live in rain

So I laugh in your face. you're only one race
Yes I laugh in your face and I’m right
You lie just like the rest. but there’s nobody best
So I laugh in your face and I’m right

I’ll pull out your plug so your small
You’ll slide down the drain
On the steps of st. peter’s you all look the same

So I laugh in your face. you're only one race
Yes I laugh in your face and I’m right
You lie just like the rest but there’s nobody best
So I laugh in your face and I’m right

My first to place!

TIE
43. Kilburn Towers (Writers: Barry, Robin and Maurice Gibb)
42 points (2 votes)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m8n8S4HsArI

Non-single cut from the Bee Gees' 1968 album "Idea".

43. Edge of the Universe (Writers: Barry, Robin and Maurice Gibb)
42 points (2 votes)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ZnZx1S7P2Y

From the Bee Gees' 1975 album "Main Course, and released as the b-side to the "Nights on Broadway" single. Recorded on the same day as "Fanny (Be Tender With My Love)" and "Jive Talkin'".

43. Nobody's Someone (Writers:
42 points (2 votes)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RBYzNhudcSo

Originally recorded for inclusion on 1969's "Odessa" but shelved until the 2009 3-CD deluxe reissue.

43. Please Read Me (Writers: Barry and Robin Gibb)
42 points (2 votes)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T4gU-I3w2Uo

From the 1967 album "Bee Gees 1st" (actually their third, but their first international release following their arrival in the UK). Also covered by Nina Simone on her 1968 album "'Nuff Said". Note: The brothers often spoke of their hits from "Bee Gees 1st" as having been written by all three rather than what was shown on the official writing credit.

lotsa ties itt!

Wow @ Nobody's Someone making it!

yeah the ties kind of level off once we get to tracks that received more than a couple votes

glad to see Please Read Me place, such a striking Beatles-pastiche - sounds like a Rubber Soul outtake.

I'm glad you're scoring on a liberal tie method (thus including many more songs in the "top 50").

(I don't do that in my own polls, but this poll is all about exposure)

Somebody voted "Seven Seas Symphony" as their #1? Wow!

This is off to an intriguing start!

hurrah to the other "Seven Seas Symphony" voter (my #1)

just to be clear, you were the lone voter for that one Euler

dammit, well, you are all wrong

I laugh in your face

LOL

Spotify playlist -- collaborative if I fail to keep up while at work.

http://open.spotify.com/user/124420673/playlist/54TCvvJ2yOMoYxl2fu6mQ5

I had a chance to listen to a fair bit of material for this poll in the end, & it's funny how bad they were as lyricists until the disco era. Like the Odessa songs, which I love, are pure nonsense lyrically.

e.g.

Your lips could never show a smile
You never tried, you just put me in a file
I never lived inside your hole, child
I thought you needed me, I never had no style

Never say, never say never again
Never say, never say never again
You said goodbye, I declared war on Spain
Never say, never say never again

Your eyes could never show a grin
You never tried, you just put me in a tin
I never lived inside your hole child
You know I needed you and look at the shape I'm in

Never say, never say never again
Never say, never say never again
You said goodbye, I declared war on Spain
Never say, never say never again

song's a jam btw

oh I see Shakey already posted the "I Laugh In Your Face" lyric for similar effect

"You said goodbye I declared war on Spain" is a great lyric fuiud

Yes, love their nonsense lyrics
Sort of a cross between a teenager's idea of poetry with added self-conscious psychedelic weirdness

not that I'm denying their penchant for nonsense... but I see them as keeping pace with Donovan and the Beatles and the Move et al in terms of going for this silly/surreal material. I think where it gets weird is that the Gibbs didn't really draw a line between their nonsense and their more earnest melodrama, often they're combined in the same song. And then occasionally they'd hit these story-in-song type things (like NY Mining Disaster or Gotta Get A Message to You) where the juxtaposition of bizarre historical details and genuine pathos actually complement each other.

xp

I love them too, as sung, but they scan hilariously.

"You said goodbye I declared war on Spain" is like some Wes Anderson dialogue

just reread the "Odessa" lyric & it's another doozy. something about an iceberg & a ship sinking & the Vicar? is "Odessa" the name of the ship? I constructed a story for the album, making it a concept album, about Stalin in Baku, but I dunno, 1899, maybe it's like Tommy, who can put that together.

lol yeah Odessa is very wtf. there was no HMS Veronica iirc.

would totally watch a staged opera of "Odessa" - would open with the shipwreck, maybe killing the parents of a child who lives in Barry's orphanage in Marley Purt Drive, Edison shows up and plays some records, kid escapes from the orphanage and falls in love with Melody Fair, she ditches him, he declares war on Spain, then Xmas and oops I'm old it's the 1st of May what have I done with my life

also there's a song sung around a lamppost in there somewher

ends with a huge international number, lots of flags

aaaaanyway

42. Shadow Dancing (Writers: Barry, Robin, Maurice and Andy Gibb)
44 points (4 votes)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ga8sDvcVvCo

Spent 7 weeks at the top of the Billboard charts in 1978, his third and final chart-topping hit in the US.

The song was written by Andy and his brothers (Barry, Maurice and Robin Gibb) in Los Angeles, while the trio of brothers were working on the film Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. "And one night," Andy would recall, "while we were relaxing, we sat down and we had to start getting tracks together for the album" (also titled Shadow Dancing, which would eventually hit #7 on the U.S. album charts). "So we literally sat down and in ten minutes, we had a group going, (singing) the chorus part. As it says underneath the song, we all wrote it, the four of us."

I didn't realize til after I submitted my ballot how great Shadow Dancing is, kicking myself for not voting.

such a great track

Yeah, it was my only Andy song. I went soft on the disco stuff, but "Shadow Dancing" is just undeniably great.

41. The Flag I Flew (Writer: Robin Gibb)
49 points (2 votes)

Unfortunately I can't find a youtube of this. here's a pic of Robin instead.

http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/pictures/2012/5/21/1337557346443/Robin-Gibb-life-in-pics-006.jpg

This is another track from Robin's unreleased "Sing Slowly Sisters" solo album from 1970, which was abandoned when Robin rejoined his brothers to work on "2 Years On".

40. For Whom the Bell Tolls (Writers: Barry, Robin and Maurice Gibb)
51 points (2 votes)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YMhF6dskM5k

Released as the Bee Gees' second single from their album "Size Isn't Everything" in 1993. It peaked at #4 on the UK charts.

For Whom the Bells Tolls is typical of post-80s Bee Gees, in that it sounds lush and good and but I never remember it when the song's over.

I had never heard of it prior to this poll (which goes for several of their other late-period tracks as well)

I am one of the votes on each of these. Love them both. Robin's vocal break in the chorus of "For Whom the Bell Tolls" is amazing. And "The Flag I Flew" is just heartmeltingly good.

39. Don't Wanna Live Inside Myself (Writer: Barry Gibb)
59 points (3 votes)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G0L_3SehWCk

The second single from the Bee Gees 1971 album "Trafalgar". Even though this was the follow-up to the huge hit "How Can You Mend a Broken Heart", the song not chart. Robin, in the liner notes of Tales from the Brothers Gibb box set, described the song as "...the dawning, or the closing, of the 'gotta find out who I really am' era."

lol Robin

dawning..or closing...lol

beautiful tune from a really solid, underrated album imho

38. Paradise (Writers: Barry, Robin and Maurice Gibb)
60 points, 2 votes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ho35ySu18QA

From the Bee Gees 1981 album "Living Eyes". "Living Eyes" was chosen to be the first ever album to be manufactured on CD, for demonstration purposes, and was featured on the inaugural issue of the Compact Disc trade magazine

Wow, I never knew that about the first cd thing!

Also, YAY! This was my #2!

TIE
37. I Can't See Nobody (Writers: Barry, Robin and Maurice Gibb)
62 points (5 votes)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RkeVEqxdUIA

From the Bee Gees' 1967 album "Bee Gees 1st", and the b-side to "New York Mining Disaster 1941". Live footage above is from the 1973 Love Sounds Special (live in Japan).

Personally I would just like to interject that this clip is a great example of how insanely perfect their harmonies were, particularly live, surpassing the Beach Boys and pretty much any other vocal group ensemble in rock.

37. Sweet Song of Summer (Writers: Barry, Robin and Maurice Gibb)
62 points (2 votes)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Ic0rPq30Vc

A "deep cut" from the Bee Gees 1972 album "To Whom It May Concern". In the 2010 documentary In Our Own Time, Maurice explained (in archival footage) that by 1972 they didn't really know who their audience was, hence the title.

37. Guilty (Writers: Barry, Robin and Maurice Gibb)
62 points (3 votes)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xr-fOJdeUus

Released as a single from Barbra Streisand's 1980 album of the same name, "Guilty" peaked at #3 on the US Billboard Hot 100 pop chart. "Guilty" won a Grammy Award in the category Best Pop Vocal Performance, Duo or Group.

36. Too Much Heaven (Writers: Barry, Robin and Maurice Gibb)
65 points (5 votes)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SINhvDM7qF4

"Too Much Heaven" was the Bee Gees' contribution to the "Music for UNICEF" fund. They performed it at the Music for UNICEF Concert on 9 January 1979. The song later found its way to the group's thirteenth original album, "Spirits Having Flown". The recording process was the longest of all the tracks on "Spirits Having Flown" as there are nine layers of three-part harmony, creating 27 voices.

oops forgot to note that Sweet Song of Summer had one #1 vote

Even tho Guilty is the beginning of Barry being the man in charge, esp. when it comes to writing and recording demos for other artists, I find it interesting that all the big hits ("Guilty, "Islands," "Heartbreaker") continued to have co-writing credits by all three brothers.

yeah I had assumed "Guilty" was a Barry/Barbra co-write

35. Odessa (City on the Black Sea) (Writers: Barry, Robin and Maurice Gibb)
66 points (2 votes, 1 first place vote)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xiQ6gHcrSiQ&feature=fvwrel

The title track of the Bee Gees' 1969 double album opus. Wikipedia says the geography of the song is "not to be taken literally."

please do not use Bee Gees for geographical reference points lol

34. Trafalgar (Writers: Maurice Gibb)
71 points (4 votes)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M9qpERA1kJM

The title track to the Bee Gees' 1971 album "Trafalgar". Maurice is the sole band member to appear on the recording, singing and playing every instrument.

30. Grease (Writer: Barry Gibb)
74 points (3 votes)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tXsrHGOQe5I

The title song for the musical motion picture "Grease", sung by Frankie Valli. It became a No. 1 single in the United States in 1978. The song was written to order for Robert Stigwood, and recorded shortly after filming for the 1978 musical film "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band", which was probably when Gibb invited Peter Frampton to the session, The other uncredited musicians were some of those from the Andy Gibb album that was being made around the same time.

argh that should be 33

Hats off to whoever had "Sweet Song of Summer" at #1!

32. Words (Writers: Barry, Robin and Maurice Gibb)
79 points (7 votes)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PfxD4ERYLa0&feature=fvwrel

Released as a single in 1967 by the Bee Gees, reaching #8 in the UK and #15 in the US. Originally written and intended for Cliff Richard, it has since been covered by many artists, including Elvis Presley, Rita Coolidge, and Boyzone.

31. I Just Want to Be Your Everything (Writer: Barry Gibb)
87 points (4 votes)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S-xfFqWaK1s

The first single released from Andy Gibb's debut album, "Flowing Rivers", it became the first of three consecutive number one Billboard Hot 100 singles. Although brother Barry is the only credited writer for the song, both he and Andy wrote "Everything" in Bermuda as a tribute to Andy's recent marriage and his new wife. The song features guitar work by Joe Walsh.

last one for today...

30. Lemons Never Forget (Writers: Barry, Robin and Maurice Gibb)
88 points (4 votes)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JFnvk8x0-f8

Non-single track from the Bee Gees' 1968 album "Horizontal".

Results so far

30. Lemons Never Forget
31. I Just Want To Be Your Everything
32. Words
33. Grease
34. Trafalgar
35. Odessa (City on the Black Sea)
36. Too Much Heaven
37. **TIE** I Can't See Nobody, Sweet Song of Summer, Guilty
38. Paradise
39. Don't Wanna Live Inside Myself
40. For Whom the Bell Tolls
41. The Flag I Flew
42. Shadow Dancing
43. **TIE** Kilburn Towers, Edge of the Universe, Nobody's Someone,
Please Read Me
44. I Laugh in Your Face
45. **TIE** Indian Gin And Whisky Dry, (Our Love) Don't Throw It All Away, Seven Seas Symphony
46. Black Diamond
47. An Everlasting Love
48. **TIE** Throw a Penny, Chain Reaction
49. **TIE** A Very Special Day, (Love is) Thicker Than Water
50. Woman in Love

*35. Odessa (City on the Black Sea) (Writers: Barry, Robin and Maurice Gibb)
66 points (2 votes, 1 first place vote)*



/The title track of the Bee Gees' 1969 double album opus. Wikipedia says the geography of the song is "not to be taken literally."/

TOO LOW!

My #1

The live rendition Shakey posted upthread is good, but let's all take a few minutes to bask in the afterglow of the studio version of this brilliant, tragically underappreciated song I almost made my #1:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_VMBGsQgMf8

Andy Gibb will forever be lumped into the teenybopper-idol ghetto, putting out his last record when he was 23. In stark contrast to the banal and sophomoric fare usually sold to this demographic (hello, One Direction), Andy dropped this catchy yet wonderfully complex ditty, chock full of starts and stops, crunge-y dissonant guitar riffs, enough time-signature shifts to do Dave Brubeck proud, and two contrasting instrumental bridges - the first which adroitly reverses its way back to the main verse over a bed of guitars and synths not heard anywhere else in the record, the second which takes the song for a unexpectedly quiet and contemplative turn, before wordless vocals repeating the main verse return for one of the longest fadeouts this side of "Hey Jude".

This was the second of three consective US #1 hits for AG. But it only reached #13 in Australia, and missed the charts altogether in the UK. Hit or no, it's an exquisite slice of 1977 pop, a standout even in a year bursting through its seams with great music.

Deeply regretting not giving Andy a listen before voting. Best discovery of the poll so far for me. "Shadow Dancing" is all time!

Hats off to whoever had "Sweet Song of Summer" at #1
That'd be me. Having poked fun at Maurice's moog-ing in the voting thread, I thought I owed him one. It is an amazing track all things considered though.

Fascinating results so far - lots for me to educate myself about.

Great footage here of Andy Gibb doing Love Is Thicker Than Water and Shadow Dancing on an Olivia Newton John TV special (with ABBA!)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ViIUlPADAzw

29. World (Writers: Barry, Robin and Maurice Gibb)
92 points (5 votes)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wc2hq3vbO7w

The second UK single from the Bee Gees second album "Horizontal", released in 1967. Though it was a big hit in Europe, Atco Records did not issue it as a single in the United States.

28. Love You Inside Out (Writers:
98 points (4 votes)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cbPRTI_ugys

A 1979 hit single for the Bee Gees, from their album "Spirits Having Flown". It reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 for one week in June 1979 interrupting Donna Summer's "Hot Stuff", It would be the ninth and final number-one hit for the Bee Gees in the US.

Allegedly, the brothers sent off a special version to Robert Stigwood with the alternate line "backwards and forwards with my cock hanging out" (instead of "with my heart hanging out"), just to see if he was paying attention. (He was).

"Love You Inside Out" was a statistically important single for The Bee Gees. It helped them rewrite the history books in several ways when it reached number one on June 9, 1979.

1) It was the group's ninth number one single in the U.S. (tenth if you include "Lonely Days", which reached number one on the Cashbox charts in 1971). That is the most number one singles of any artist during the 1970's.
2) It was The Bee Gees sixth consecutive number one single. The only other group to achieve this was The Beatles.
3) It was the third consecutive number one single from "Spirits Having Flown", which followed three consecutive number one singles from their previous album "Saturday Night Fever". No other artist has ever had three consecutive number one singles from two successive albums.

er written by Barry, Robin and Maurice Gibb

also received one first place vote

Allegedly, the brothers sent off a special version to Robert Stigwood with the alternate line "backwards and forwards with my cock hanging out" (instead of "with my heart hanging out"), just to see if he was paying attention. (He was).

omg please tell me this has been bootlegged

I love the cascading chorus melody of "World" so much.

Agreed. It's a great song.

Also that really farfisa-ish organ during the verses.

think that's a mellotron

and now, the last tie in the countdown...

What CAN'T a mellotron do?!

TIE
27. Spirits Having Flown (Writers: Barry, Robin and Maurice Gibb)
101 points (5 votes)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=whzH79zwQd0

The title track from the Bee Gees' 1979 album. Not issued as a single at the time of the album's release

27. Holiday (Writers: Barry and Robin Gibb)
101 points (6 votes)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_bOwDli7Nck

From 1967's "Bee Gees 1st". Released as a single in the US, reaching #16 on the charts, but not in the UK (where "World" was released instead).

The "If not you're just/Throwing stones/Throwing stones/Throwing stones" couplet from "Holiday" is possibly the single most melancholy moment in their massive catalog.

Just updated the Spotify playlist, fyi...

http://open.spotify.com/user/124420673/playlist/54TCvvJ2yOMoYxl2fu6mQ5

26. Lonely Days (Writers: Barry, Robin and Maurice Gibb)
103 points (5 votes)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gpIcjNa1cqQ

Featured on the 1970 Bee Gees album "2 Years On", in the US it reached #3, their highest chart up to that point. Recorded on the same night as "How Can You Mend a Broken Heart?", immediately following their reunion.

So tempted to "TOO LOW" right now... :)

Didn't make my ballot.

yeah was kinda surprised this was the consensus track from 2 Years On. Also surprised it was their highest charting US single up to that point, that just seems bizarre. It's a bit stiff imho.

It's ALMOST such a great song, but it just falls short...like the verse and chorus are both pretty awesome, but they don't quite fit together; and then they just seem to get tired of the song by the end and start with that "wherewouldibewithoutmywoman" jokey delivery and, well...I still kinda love it. When they come back to the chorus the second time, that stomping beat just feels so huge and intense.

25. Emotion (Writers: Barry and Robin Gibb)
104 points (5 votes)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2mkTg1Cyun4

A 1977 single recorded by Australian pop singer Samantha Sang. Written by Barry & Robin Gibb and produced by Barry (who also provide backing vocals), the song was Sang's only hit single, reaching #3 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1978. It was intended for use in the 1977 film Saturday Night Fever, but ended up being featured in the film The Stud starring Joan Collins.

video cracks me up btw

24. Run To Me (Writers: Barry, Robin and Maurice Gibb)
106 points (6 votes)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VctuC3-ko78

the leadoff single from the Bee Gees album To Whom It May Concern released in October 1972. "Run to Me" saw the Bee Gees return to the UK Top 10 after a three year absence, climbing to #9 while in the US it reached #16. Covered by Barry Manilow and Dionne Warwick, Brenda Lee, Jerry Vale, Johnny Mathis, Marie Osmond, Matthew Sweet and Susannah Hoffs, Oscar de la Hoya, and Sarah Vaughn.

Too low!

Oscar de la Hoya

I know. I lol'd

This is disappointing on several levels:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mT2_wpPAVOQ

The title track from the Bee Gees' 1979 album. Not issued as a single at the time of the album's release

In US, does that mean? I'm pretty sure "Spirits Having Flown" was a single in the UK.

yeah but that was later, for a charity thing

Oh OK. An underrated song, anyway - though not by ILM apparently :)

er wait, no it was one of their other late 70s bajillion sellers that was the UNICEF single, my mystake...

Though not issued as a single in conjunction with the parent album, it was issued as a single in the UK to promote the compilation Bee Gees Greatest, which was released in December, 1979.

I was thinking of Too Much Heaven

23. Spicks & Specks (Writers: Barry Gibb)
120 points (7 votes, 1 first place vote)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e88n68HviAE

The first single from the Bee Gees' 1966 Australian album "Monday's Rain". The album was subsequently quickly re-released as "Spicks and Specks" to capitalize on the success of the single. The success of "Spicks and Specks" across Australia, where it was a top-five hit in every state, propelled the Gibb brothers to move to England in 1967 to further their musical career.

Good song, but an odd choice for a #1.

Aussies...

:)

look, I will admit it was my typing-teacher's go to song in our typing class and because of hearing it EVERY week for an entire year it burrowed it's way into my head and I've loved it ever since then....even if it reminds me of repetitive typing drills whenever I hear it now

I stand by my choice

and Barry's big booming voice gives me chills

so there

22. Every Christian Lion Hearted Man Will Show You (Writers: Barry, Robin and Maurice Gibb)
123 points (5 votes)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-KzkIQonfk8

The B-side to "Holiday" in the US, taken from the Bee Gees' 1967 album "Bee Gees 1st". Covered by Killdozer & Alice Donut, Goon Moon (aka Twiggy Ramirez from Marilyn Manson + Chris Goss), the Flaming Lips, and Johnnie Young.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=18W4iHkrgRE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PxFgiFGGo1I

The first place I ever heard the song was a cover by The Posies. Then bought Bee Gees' 1st. Then became lifelong Bee Gees stan. Thanks, Posies!

21. Melody Fair (Writers: Barry, Robin and Maurice Gibb)
128 points (6 votes)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ftI8XSMo4ww

Released in 1969 on the Bee Gees album "Odessa", and later featured in the 1971 movie "Melody". Scottish singer (and wife of Maurice Gibb) Lulu released a version as the title song to her 1970 album "Melody Fair".

The first place I ever heard the song was a cover by The Posies. Then bought Bee Gees' 1st. Then became lifelong Bee Gees stan. Thanks, Posies!

― Johnny Fever, Tuesday, June 19, 2012 3:33 PM (16 minutes ago) Bookmark

yeah that was my introduction to the song, too. great heavy cover!

hmm dunno how I missed that one. a popular tune with the Gen X kids apparently

20. Heartbreaker (Writers: Barry, Robin and Maurice Gibb)
129 points (6 votes)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fW0S0-K3xlM

1982 single written and produced for Dionne Warwick, peaked at #10 on the Billboard Hot 100. Warwick admitted in The Billboard Book of Number One Adult Contemporary Hits by Wesley Hyatt that she was not fond of "Heartbreaker" (regarding the song's international popularity, she quipped, "I cried all the way to the bank"), but recorded it because she trusted the Bee Gees' judgment that it would be a hit. It turned out to be Warwick's most successful solo hit of the 1980s.

yaaaaaaaaaaaaaay

Dionne Warwick not otm, Heartbreaker is awesome

Love the demo for this that Barry did. Some of his highest falsetto stuff.

19. Tragedy (Writers: Barry, Robin and Maurice Gibb)
145 points (8 votes)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SPcsMMEMbfw

Single from the 1979 Bee Gees album "Spirits Having Flown", reached #1 in both the US and the UK. For the explosion effect, Barry cupped his hands over a microphone and made an exploding sound. Several of these sounds were then mixed together creating the large boom heard on the record.

Barry Gibb, human beatbox

guitar on this is very proto-George Harrison to my ears

Some great footage of this song (specifically, the "explosion" overdubbing) being recorded in the In Our Own Time documentary (which is available on Netflix, for those who haven't seen it).

what is the most recent instance of this sort of squealing falsetto coming back into fashion...? It's such a strange vocal style that seems to periodically become popular (Four Seasons/Frankie Valli, Bee Gees, etc.) and then vanish.

Frankly I can only take so much of it, and Barry definitely over-did it imho (fucked up his back too, iirc)

18. You Win Again (Writers: Barry, Robin and Maurice Gibb)
149 points (8 votes)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kses3SfG-lU

A single from the Bee Gees' 1987 album "ESP", it hit #1 n Britain, Ireland, Switzerland, Germany, Austria, Denmark and Norway, as well as making the top 10 in Italy, the Netherlands, Australia and Sweden. It also topped the Eurochart for 4 weeks. When this reached #1 on October 17, 1987 in the UK, it made the Bee Gees the first group to score a UK #1 hit in each of three decades: the 1960s, '70s, and '80s.

I had never heard of this song before this poll.

love!

17. You Should Be Dancing (Writers: Barry, Robin and Maurice Gibb)
152 points (8 votes)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_JoZS6LgqYI

A single by the Bee Gees, from the album "Children of the World" in 1976. The single hit number one for one week on the American Billboard Hot 100, number one for seven weeks on the US Hot Dance Club Play chart, and in July the same year, reached number five on the UK Singles Chart.[1] The song also peaked at number four on the Billboard R&B chart. It was this song that first launched the Bee Gees into disco stardom, and the first chart-topper in which Barry Gibb uses his now-trademark falsetto.

xoist it does have that slightly yuk mechanical 80's sound that I don't love, but it's just so goshdarn catchy I can't help loving it

You should be dancing? One word: HORNS

I guess the Scissor Sisters do the Barry falsetto... dunno how popular they are really. Does Timberlake ever do it, aside from the SNL parody? It's definitely in his range.

16. New York Mining Disaster 1941 (Writers: Barry, Robin and Maurice Gibb)
153 points (8 votes)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Z6_Ik7WrYY

The first Bee Gees song to be released in the United States, and their first song to hit the charts in the US[1] or UK. At the time, rumours circulated that the Bee Gees were The Beatles recording under a pseudonym (the Bee Gees' name was supposedly code for "Beatles Group"), in part because the record referenced NEMS Enterprises (Brian Epstein's management agency, which had just been joined by Bee Gees' manager Robert Stigwood).

According to the liner notes for their box-set Tales from the Brothers Gibb (1990), this song was inspired by the 1966 Aberfan mining disaster in Wales. In the second and third verses, the lyrical lines get slower and slower, as to indicate that life is about to expire for the miners.

Maurice Gibb recalled in an interview with Mojo magazine: "The opening chord doesn't sound like a conventional A minor. Barry was using the open D tuning he'd been taught when he was nine, and I was playing it in conventional tuning. It gives an unusual blend. People went crazy trying to figure out why they couldn't copy it."

In the movie Cucumber Castle – the movie that the Bee Gees starred in minus Robin Gibb – Maurice's character begins to sing this song while playing the banjo, only to end abruptly when a pie is thrown at his face.

15. I've Gotta Get a Message to You (Writers: Barry, Robin and Maurice Gibb)
154 points (8 votes)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4fAp2dJxycw

recorded by the Bee Gees in 1968, which became their second number-one single on the UK Singles Chart, and reached number eight on the US pop chart. In the UK the song was released as a single only. The song appeared on the US edition of the Bee Gees' third album "Idea".

Largely written by Robin, and intended originally for Percy Sledge (who did actually cover it later). Also covered by Swamp Dogg, Dusty Springfield, and Jose Feliciano.

14. Massachusetts (Writers: Barry, Robin and Maurice Gibb)
165 points (10 votes)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SCQIXK0-FVU

Written and recorded in 1967, and originally intended to be recorded by the Seekers, this song eventually appeared on the Bee Gees' 1968 album "Horizontal". It was their first Number 1 hit in Australia and the UK and eventually became one of the best-selling singles of all time, selling over 5 million copies worldwide. Strangely, even though "Massachusetts" was a worldwide number one single, it only reached #11 in the United States in... the state of Massachusetts.

er that last part should have been struck

in the state of Massachusetts

13. Islands in the Stream (Writers: Barry, Robin and Maurice Gibb)
166 points (7 votes)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lixDK_tMEhE

written by the Bee Gees and sung by American country music artists Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton. It was released in August 1983 as the first single from Rogers' album "Eyes That See in the Dark" and the second pop number-one for both Rogers and Parton (Rogers having been there with 1980's "Lady" and Parton with 1981's "9 to 5").

Islands in the Stream is, to me, one of the most perfect duets. The lyrics, the phrasing, everything is just so well crafted. I know it was originally written as a solo (right?)...I can't even imagine it as a solo thing now.

the Barry demo version is him singing solo with harmony vocals on the choruses iirc

but yeah this is really some beautiful alchemical combo, the perfect intersection of a bunch of different styles

Fanny (Be Tender With My Love)(Writers: Barry, Robin and Maurice Gibb)
182 points (9 votes)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xgDbE6WOyws

Written and performed by the Bee Gees for their Main Course album in 1975. It was the third single release from the album and peaked at number 12 on the United States Billboard Hot 100 singles chart. This song was the debut of Barry's high falsetto/disco voice.

seems like an absolutely filthy songtitle in retrospect.

er that's no. 12. sorry.

and the last one for today, an unfairly overlooked gem imho

11. Mr. Natural (Writers: Barry and Robin and Maurice)
188 points (7 votes, 1 first place vote)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Wufvuw9WQ0

written by Barry and Robin Gibb recorded and released in 1974 by the Bee Gees. Released during a period in which The Bee Gees just had an album (A Kick In The Head Is Worth Eight In The Pants) rejected by their manager Robert Stigwood, Mr. Natural barely scraped the lower end of the Billboard Hot 100 climbing to #93 despite promotional appearances on The Mike Douglas Show and The Merv Griffin Show.

results so far

11. Mr. Natural
12. Fanny (Be Tender With My Love)
13. Islands In The Stream
14. Massachusetts
15. I've Gotta Get A Message To You
16. New York Mining Disaster 1941
17. You Should Be Dancing
18. You Win Again
19. Tragedy
20. Heartbreaker
21. Melody Fair
22. Every Christian Lionhearted Man Will Show You
23. Spicks & Specks
24. Run To Me
25. Emotion
26. Lonely Days
27. Holiday
27. Spirits Having Flown
28. Love You Inside Out
29. World
30. Lemons Never Forget
31. I Just Want To Be Your Everything
32. Words
33. Grease
34. Trafalgar
35. Odessa (City on the Black Sea)
36. Too Much Heaven
37. **TIE** I Can't See Nobody, Sweet Song of Summer, Guilty
38. Paradise
39. Don't Wanna Live Inside Myself
40. For Whom the Bell Tolls
41. The Flag I Flew
42. Shadow Dancing
43. **TIE** Kilburn Towers, Edge of the Universe, Nobody's Someone,
Please Read Me
44. I Laugh in Your Face
45. **TIE** Indian Gin And Whisky Dry, (Our Love) Don't Throw It All Away, Seven Seas Symphony
46. Black Diamond
47. An Everlasting Love
48. **TIE** Throw a Penny, Chain Reaction
49. **TIE** A Very Special Day, (Love is) Thicker Than Water
50. Woman in Love

the Barry demo version is him singing solo with harmony vocals on the choruses iirc

and the last one for today, an unfairly overlooked gem imho

yeah I was bummed when it slipped out of the top 10.

That was my #1...can't believe it didn't make the top 10! Oh well...

I shortlisted "Mr. Natural" but ultimately it missed the cut, instead opting for a couple of other tracks from the album I like better. Mr. Natural is one of these transitional albums that catches a band halfway between their old sound they've grown tired of and a new sound they're striving for but haven't quite yet found.

I have no idea whether the top 10 will be deep-cut fan faves or the big hits. There are several of the latter I didn't vote for.

Mr. Natural is one of these transitional albums that catches a band halfway between their old sound they've grown tired of and a new sound they're striving for but haven't quite yet found.

Agreed, but that doesn't apply to the title cut. There's nothing "old Bee Gees" or "semi-disco" about it -- if anything, it's a very rare dip into blue eyed soul. But even there, the chorus is so elongated, it's not like anything in the genre.

One other thing I think "Mr. Natural" has going for it: the lyrics appear to be an extraordinary metaphor for the band's quest to regain artistic and commercial momentum at the time:

Burning embers.
I still remember all of those little things.
But I can't feel it so much 'cause I am so out of touch
with my heart and it won't sing.
Rusty rainbows.
That's how the pain goes, turning me inside out.
Well, I come home at night and you are out of my sight.
Yes. I'm dying and there ain't no doubt.
Well, I'm dying and there's no way out.

Well I try try try try try....
Mr. Natural (come on baby)
When I walk in the rain you won't know that I'm crying.
A smile on my face and I'm trying.
I'm trying to understand that a love that is lost can never be found again.
And you can see me dance, I look like a happy man.

Just when I think I'm getting it over, an old friend I should see.
He said he knew you well, and baby I could tell.
You know he knew you more then me.
I went home laughing and inside I'm crying.
We had a special thing.
You know I loved you so much, but girl I'm so out of touch
with my heart and it won't sing.
You know my heart just won't sing.

Well I try try try try try.....
Mr. Natural (come on baby)
When I walk in the rain you won't know that I'm crying.
A smile on my face and I'm trying.
I'm trying to understand that a love that is lost can never be found again.
And you can see me dance, I look like a happy man.

Still I try try try try try.....
Mr. Natural (come on baby)
Well I try try try try try
Mr. Natural (come on baby)
(repeat verse and fade out)

I really wanted to vote for this song, but ultimately there were 30 I liked better

It's ok -- not everyone can be right 100% of the time.

Very nicely done cover of "Emotion" by Beyonce and company worth posting here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xWKdMmH0B-E

I voted for Mr Natural but I can't remember where I placed it. But it's great

I think "Mr. Natural" might be the most emotionally vivid song in their catalog. They have plenty of other songs that successfully convey powerful emotions, but they usually seem to be done in much broader strokes. Like, just to pick examples off the top of my head, I know the guy in "I Started a Joke" is bummed out, and I FEEL it, very powerfully, through the words and the music, but in the end I still don't really know precisely what his deal is. The dude in "New York Mining Disaster 1941" is PROBABLY GOING TO DIE REALLY SOON, but he doesn't connect with me the same way the narrator in "Mr. Natural" does. And the way the song is constructed, the way that chorus just keeps going and going, winding up and getting so tense, that the resignation in "And you can see me dance, I look like a happy man" hits me so hard...I mean, it's not often that I legitimately empathize with the narrator of a song, and I guess, subconsciously, that's really important to me?

I don't know, I had more to say, but I'm only semi-articulate as is, so I don't want to overdo it. Anyway: best Bee Gees song.

There's about 10 songs here I strongly considered but didn't vote for

I'm gonna have to listen to "Mr. Natural" some more. Maybe it will grow on me.

I'm glad this song has found some champions - NTI otm about the lyrics and the structure of the chorus.

and now the top 10...

10. Night Fever (Writers: Barry, Robin and Maurice Gibb)
197 points (10 votes)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FECFb1_YdII

First appeared on the soundtrack to "Saturday Night Fever". Producer Robert Stigwood wanted to call the film Saturday Night, but singer Robin Gibb expressed hesitation at the title. Stigwood liked the title Night Fever but was wary of marketing a movie with that name.

"Night Fever" remained the number one Billboard Hot 100 single for over two months in 1978. It also replaced Andy Gibb's "Love Is Thicker Than Water" at number one, and was in turn replaced by Yvonne Elliman's "If I Can't Have You" - all of which were written and produced by the Gibb brothers.

wow @ the chart facts

I can't help but love every single track from the SNF soundtrack -- I mean the movie on its own kills me, but goddamn so many good Bee Gees songs on there (not to mention the others).

I get a good feeling from this song.

yeah, no other songwriting team has done that.

xp

Sorry, can we just backtrack a bit and talk about the sheer levels of awesome in Barry's outfit in that "I've Gotta Get a Message to You" video posted above?

That's some inspirational bizness there.

Oh, and hi everyone. I never post here, but I voted in this thanks to Naive Teen Idol pestering me into it. Great list so far.

there is a similar, even better video coming up imho

also NY Mining Disaster had one first place vote, sorry for the omission

9. I Started A Joke (Writers: Barry, Robin and Maurice Gibb)
209 points (11 votes)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w1Ye-3aop7A

From the Bee Gees' 1968 album "Idea". Curiously, not released as a single in the UK, but hit #6 in the US. According to Robin Gibb, the melancholic melody of the song was inspired by the sounds on board an aeroplane:

“The melody to this one was heard aboard a British Airways Vickers Viscount about a hundred miles from Essen. It was one of those old four engine 'prop' jobs, that seemed to drone the passenger into a sort of hypnotic trance, only with this it was different. The droning, after a while, appeared to take the form of a tune, which mysteriously sounded like a church choir. So it was decided! We accosted the pilot, forced him to land in the nearest village and there; in a small pub, we finished the lyrics. Actually, it wasn't a village, it was the city, and it wasn't a pub, it was a hotel, and we didn't force the pilot to land in a field... but why ruin a perfectly good story?"

I have a friend who grew up thinking this song was written from the perspective of Adolf Hitler, an interpretation which has always stuck with me.

I love that plane story!

Wow, that Hitler thing is crazy, but I totally can see it.

Long-ish story: so when I was a little kid (we're talking like 6 or 7), I "inherited" my mother's old collection of 60s 45s, which included a healthy number of old ATCO Bee Gees singles from the era -- "I Started a Joke" was one of them, "Holiday" was one of them... this is where my love of the Bee Gees began, and I would spend HOURS sitting in my room playing these things on my little portable Winnie-the-Pooh turntable, analyzing both sides, sorting into piles (pile 1: both sides are good songs; pile 2: only the A side is good; pile 3: only the B side is good; pile 4: both sides stink) but THIS single took me a LOOOOONG time to process.

I mean, I was a happy little kid, and the "starting a joke" part didn't make sense to me with the very sad tone of the lyrics. Why was he crying if everyone else was laughing at his awesome joke? As I played it over and over, I finally "got" it and it has been a favorite ever since. It definitely introduced little Hutlock to the concept that songs could be SAD SAD SAD and not just happy or lovey-dovey or whatever. Compare it to "Holiday" for instance, which has a similar tone, but a "you're so great and I love you" message to it.

Anyway, a formative record in my life.

8. If I Can't Have You (Barry, Robin and Maurice Gibb)
233 points (10 votes)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yf1QLjXmoHk

Released as the B-side of the Bee Gees' "Stayin' Alive" single in 1977 and subsequently covered by Yvonne Ellimann for the "Saturday Night Fever" soundtrack.

Although Yvonne Elliman had cut her 1976 album "Love Me" with producer Freddie Perren, who was a major force in the disco movement, "Love Me" had showcased Elliman not as a disco artist but rather as a pop ballad singer, notably on the title cut, a Barry Gibb composition which had provided Elliman with an international hit. It was originally intended that Elliman's contribution to the "Saturday Night Fever" soundtrack would be another ballad written by the Gibb brothers, "How Deep Is Your Love".

Meanwhile, the Bee Gees produced their own version of "If I Can't Have You" for the film. However, RSO Records chairman and Bee Gees manager Robert Stigwood, who was executive-producing the "Saturday Night Fever" album, dictated that the Bee Gees themselves record "How Deep Is Your Love" with Elliman being given a shot at the disco-style "If I Can't Have You".

The decision proved a success, as the soundtrack's first single, the Bee Gees' version of the ballad "How Deep Is Your Love", shot to number one, followed to the top spot by the soundtrack's second and third singles, also by the brothers Gibb, "Stayin' Alive" and "Night Fever". Elliman's "If I Can't Have You", produced by Perren, was released as the fourth single off the "Saturday Night Fever" album in February 1978. The first single off the "Saturday Night Fever" soundtrack not performed by the Bee Gees, "If I Can't Have You" would become the fourth #1 hit from the film, reaching the top spot on the Hot 100, ending an eight-week #1 tenure by "Night Fever".

Wow, every one of the eight Bee Gees-penned songs from the SNL soundtrack except "More Than A Woman" was a US #1 hit. (the Bee Gees version of that song wasn't released as a single, despite frequent radio airplay).

Hutlock!

Fun fact about "Night Fever": looped sections of its rhythm track are the basis for "More Than a Woman" and "Stayin' Alive" (and according to the engineer, "Woman In Love" on the Streisand record, but I'm not sure I believe that). Less fun fact: it's because the drummer's dad died and he had to leave the sessions for a few days.

Wow, that is a fun fact!

The Bee Gees' version is so much better than Yvonne Ellimann's imo. Those harmonies are so crucial!

(oops, xpost)

ah right yeah I had meant to include that about the drum track, that story was linked in the noms thread iirc. they used a really short loop too, like 4 bars!

I've never heard the Bee Gees' own version of "IICHY". Unlike, say, "Emotion", which easily translates to falsetto (and the reality matches what I expected), I can't really hear in my head how they'd do the chorus.

I was ridiculed on some other thread about it. But something about the Bee Gees' version of "If I Can't Have You" has never worked for me. One of the chords in the chorus seems off somehow.

7. Stayin' Alive (Barry, Robin and Maurice Gibb)
235 points (10 votes, 2 first place votes)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I_izvAbhExY

This is from some movie iirc

Fun fact about "Night Fever": looped sections of its rhythm track are the basis for "More Than a Woman" and "Stayin' Alive" (and according to the engineer, "Woman In Love" on the Streisand record, but I'm not sure I believe that). Less fun fact: it's because the drummer's dad died and he had to leave the sessions for a few days.

I've read it's his mom who died. As a result, a looped section of the "Night Fever" drum track was used for "Stayin' Alive", but the unchanging beat, which anticipated the sound of drum machines, suited the song perfectly. Still, it's sadly ironic that the famed rhythm track to a song called "Stayin' Alive" resulted from the drummer's parent dying.

Yeah, I agree with NTI about "If I Can't Have You" - in most things, I prefer the Bee Gees version (like "More Than a Woman" which was my #2), but not this one. It just doesn't sound right to me somehow, can't put my finger on it. I might have to A-B the two of them soon and see if I can figure it out.

Also, "Stayin' Alive" didn't make my ballot and I thought I'd be the only one - looks like 5 others didn't vote for it either? Stand and be counted! (not a bad record at all, I don't dislike it, etc., just not one of my faves)

Didn't make my ballot either. Still, #7 seems about right to me for "Stayin' Alive." Feel like it's kind of like their "Stairway to Heaven" -- once uniformly regarded as their best work, then discarded as lesser known stuff came into favor and once again regarded as a high point (if no longer *the* high point).

High five, Matthew!

Boom!

Re. the drum track from "Night Fever" -- the story I read says "Drummer Dennis Bryon's father passed away in England just days into the sessions, and he flew across the Channel to be with his family.:

Found here: http://mixonline.com/mag/audio_bee_gees_stayin/index.html

<end quote>

You mean Wikipedia is wrong?

At least for mainstream America, "Stayin' Alive" was the disco song, and thus was banished from radio for 15 years

Maybe we can call every Byron in the English phone books to get to the bottom of this once and for all. "WHICH OF YOU PEOPLE IS DEAD?"

Again, I would note that the "Woman In Love" part of that story is clearly wrong, so...

I don't think I voted for it, there's other stuff on the SNF sdtk I like more and I knew it was gonna get a ton of votes anyway

In the '80s, they used to show these specials on NBC that were made up of hit songs set to music videos that were collages of footage from various Disney cartoons. I used to tape them and watch them over and over again. This was my first exposure to "Stayin' Alive", so my vote had heavy nostalgic vibes attached.

6. How Can You Mend a Broken Heart (Writers: Barry and Robin Gibb)
267 points (12 votes, 1 first place vote)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wOGODoE4qKc

Written by Barry and Robin Gibb in August 1970, when the Gibb brothers had reconvened following a period of break-up and alienation. They said that they originally offered it to Andy Williams, but ultimately the Bee Gees recorded it themselves and included it on their 1971 album, "Trafalgar". Maurice Gibb possibly had a hand in the writing of "How Can You Mend A Broken Heart" although the song is officially credited to Barry and Robin Gibb. In the US, the song became the Bee Gees' first #1 hit. Most famously covered by Al Green on his album "Let's Stay Together".

next up, the highest placing entry with zero first place votes...

My #2. Al Green has nothing on their version.

Not on my ballot. It was the very last song I cut from my list, primarily because I couldn't decide if I preferred the Al Green version to the original or not.

Al's version is great, but it's basically identical to the Bee Gees' version, just with a different singer.

My #1. Not necessarily their best song, and I'm not even sure it's my favorite, but it's the one I can most strongly relate to. I wish that weren't true....

Essay by the late Martin Skidmore of this parish on (mainly) Al Green's version:
http://freakytrigger.co.uk/ft/2004/11/everything-they-say-about-soul-is-wrong/

5. Jive Talkin' (Writers: Barry, Robin and Maurice Gibb)
280 points (13 votes)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_W42rMjYWlk

Single from the Bee Gees' 1975 album "Main Course", it hit number one on the Billboard Hot 100 and reached the top-five on the UK singles chart in the summer of 1975. Largely recognised as the group's "comeback" song.

The song was originally called "Drive Talking". The song's rhythm was modelled after the sound their car made crossing the Julia Tuttle Causeway each day from Biscayne Bay to Criteria Studios in Miami.[1]

According to Maurice, while hearing this rhythmic sound, "Barry didn't notice that he's going "Ji-Ji Jive Talkin'", thinking of the dance, "You dance with your eyes"...that's all he had...exactly 35mph...that's what we got." He goes on to say "We played it to Arif (producer Arif Mardin), and he went "Do you know what "Jive Talkin'" means? And we said, well yeah, it's, ya know, you're dancing. He says NO...it's a black expression for bullshitting. And we went OH, REALLY?!?". Maurice goes on to describe how Arif gave them "the groove, the tempo, everything." Robin then goes on to mention that, because they were English, they were less self-conscious about going into the "no go areas", referring to musical styles that were more black in styles, etc. He then said "We didn't think that there was any "no go" areas, it's music!"

Upon its release to radio stations, the single was delivered in a plain white cover, with no immediate indication of what the song's name was or who sang it. The DJs would only find out what the song was and who played it when it was placed on the turntable; RSO did provide the song with a label on the record itself. It was the second time in the band's career that this strategy had been employed to get airplay for their music, after a similar tactic had popularised their debut US single New York Mining Disaster 1941 in 1967.

On Iron Maiden's song "More Tea Vicar", towards the end, Bruce Dickinson sings a bit of the song in a voice imitating The Bee Gees as a joke, then follows it up with "No, no no! You got the wrong track, you have to go in the studio next door." Then sings "Okay" in a Bee Gees voice.

Wow, that's hilarious that they didn't even know what the phrase meant. I love it.

Yeah I'd heard that before. I don't really get the "dancing with your eyes" thing or how anyone would interpret "jive talking" as a dance...

IIRC that song was the first time I'd ever heard the word "jive". Didn't know what it meant back then either

you jive turkey

I was ridiculed on some other thread about it. But something about the Bee Gees' version of "If I Can't Have You" has never worked for me. One of the chords in the chorus seems off somehow.

― Naive Teen Idol, Wednesday, June 20, 2012 10:07 AM (1 hour ago)

I think the chords are the same, but the Bee Gees version has an embellishment on the chord after the "Go crazy is what I will do" line. Is that the part you're talking about?

Key centers are so far apart in the two versions. Bee Gees did it in E, Elliman version is in B.

lol Shakey. It always makes me think of Airplane

4. How Deep Is Your Love? (Writers: Barry, Robin and Maurice Gibb)
286 points (13 votes, 1 first place vote)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XpqqjU7u5Yc

Written and recorded by the Bee Gees in 1977 and released as a single in September. Originally intended for Yvonne Elliman, it was ultimately used as part of the soundtrack to the film Saturday Night Fever. It was a number three hit in the United Kingdom and Australia. In the United States, it topped the Billboard Hot 100 and stayed in the Top 10 for a then-record 17 weeks. The single spent six weeks atop the US adult contemporary chart. It is listed at # 20 on Billboard's All Time Top 100. Alongside "Stayin' Alive", it is one of the group's two tracks on the list. Covered by bajillion people.

It's impossible for me to be impartial or objective when ranking the SNF songs, especially "How Deep Is Your Love" which is so inextricably linked to my first-ever middle-school slow dances.

The main thing I remember about that video is just how much taller Barry is than his brothers. Gotta be a solid 4 or 5 inches there.

One of my earliest home tapes is a cover of "How Deep Is Your Love", with me on backing vocals, keyboards, and maybe guitar, can't remember, with an excellent vibraphone player I haven't seen since. Not bad considering how young I was and the limitations of overdubbing with only a 2-track reel-to-reel. I need to digitize this stuff someday.

Interestingly, given that he isn't really featured on it, this is the song Robin wanted played at his funeral.

Re. "How Can You Mend..." to me, the Al Green version is...what you'd expect: soulful, melismatic, heartfelt. The Brothers' version, OTOH, is pure melodrama with a hit of country heartbreak. The ensemble vocal on "Please/Help me mend my/Broken heart" at the end of the chorus is among the most powerful moments in their catalog.

OK baffled now as to what at least one of the top 3 is. All the 'big hitters' seem to have gone(?)

NB - this is not an invitation to post guesses.

*Excitement* = what I'm trying to say, basically.

Re. "How Can You Mend..." to me, the Al Green version is...what you'd expect: soulful, melismatic, heartfelt. The Brothers' version, OTOH, is pure melodrama with a hit of country heartbreak. The ensemble vocal on "Please/Help me mend my/Broken heart" at the end of the chorus is among the most powerful moments in their catalog.

― Naive Teen Idol, Wednesday, June 20, 2012 6:57 PM (1 minute ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

Yeah, that harmony on the lines quoted above is heavenly, as is the "da-da-da-DA-da" ad-lib part at the end.

OK baffled now as to what at least one of the top 3 is. All the 'big hitters' seem to have gone(?)

NB - this is not an invitation to post guesses.

*Excitement* = what I'm trying to say, basically.

― Jeff W, Wednesday, June 20, 2012 6:57 PM (7 minutes ago)

Just so you know, we are all totally guessing in our heads.

But yeah, I don't want to see a bunch of guesses posted either -- looking forward to the surprises!

(but I will say that my #1 hasn't been posted yet, so I have to hope that's up here...)

3. More Than a Woman (Writers: Barry, Robin and Maurice Gibb)
306 points (11 votes, 1 first place vote)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HjZmSkUL6Ws&feature=fvwrel

Written and recorded by the Bee Gees for the "Saturday Night Fever" soundtrack. Not released as a single.

*cross arms, spin round and round and round and round*

the phrasing of the verses is great, I'm so addicted to this song...the samba(?) beat, all of it

My #2. In my head, this is TOTALLY tied to the scene in the movie.

my mind plays out the choreography every time I hear it

every
single
time

A bit surprised this is #3 actually, but it makes sense.

It does, because it is awesome.

2. Nights on Broadway (Writers: Barry, Robin and Maurice Gibb)
309 points (14 votes, 2 first place votes)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=322iA3nSMqs

From the "Main Course" album released in 1975. The second single released from the album, it immediately followed their number-one hit "Jive Talkin'".

"Nights on Broadway" reached number seven on the American Billboard Hot 100 singles chart, giving the Bee Gees back-to-back top 10 hits for the first time in seven years (since 1968).

Oh, damn -- my #1. I had hopes.

Great tune, but I had it at 18 myself.

My number 1 hasn't appeared yet, so I'm hoping that is a good sign for things to come...

it's my #1 too, I'm guessing. (and there's no way it won't appear at this point)

1. Backtafunk (Writer: Barry Gibb
712 points (19 votes, 6 first place votes)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B8wmItpZRRo

d'oh

Not as good as "Meaningless Songs In Very High Voices" by The Hee Bee Gee Bees but a worthy winner lol.

Nights on Broadway!!

yay I'm glad it got so high, it's so fkn good

I do really love that live take on "Nights..." by the way, almost more so than the studio cut. Fun to see Maurice hit those high notes!

There was some debate as to how *live* it really is.

Can I just...

http://www.nbc.com/saturday-night-live/video/barry-gibb-talk-show/1329182

On Midnight Special?! Oh come on, now... Totally live, straight into the boards!

;-)

Can I just...

http://www.nbc.com/saturday-night-live/video/barry-gibb-talk-show/1329182

― Peppermint Patty Hearst (VegemiteGrrl), Wednesday, June 20, 2012 7:53 PM (2 minutes ago)

I thought this was funny when it first aired and it holds up well, but I gotta say, Timberlake clearly never studied Robin. He's dancing around WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY too much!

otm but the teeth are pretty spot on, lol

the 'Robin, do you have anything to add?' "Naw I don't" is classic

we should discuss their worst songs at some point too

looks pretty live to me. they brought a huge band with them!

Bee Gees tour in 1980 was my first concert ever. I was 8. It was magic. I had seats 10th row center. It was definitely a big band with a BIG sound.

omg that must have been amazing

He's feathered his hair ever since.

1. To Love Somebody (Writers: Barry, Robin and Maurice Gibb)
369 points (13 votes, 3 first place votes)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dx_R5ZMs4mo

The second single released by the Bee Gees from their third album, "Bee Gees 1st". It was written by Barry Gibb and Robin Gibb, Produced by Robert Stigwood.

At the request of Robert Stigwood, the band's manager, Barry and Robin Gibb wrote "To Love Somebody", a soulful ballad in the style of Sam & Dave or The Rascals, for Otis Redding. The Bee Gees recorded "To Love Somebody" at IBC Studios, London in March 1967 and released it as a single in mid-July 1967 in the U.S. Redding died in an aeroplane crash later that year, before having a chance to record the song.

The song enjoyed only modest chart success, reaching #41 in the UK and #17 in the US. It has been covered extensively over the years, with versions recorded by the Animals, P.P. Arnold, Leonard Cohen, Billy Corgan & Robert Smith, Janis Joplin, Gram Parsons, Nina Simone, Dusty Springfield, and Simply Red.

TOTALLY amazeballs, yes. I still remember the fireworks they set off during "tragedy" -- one of those idelible childhood memories.

Also: YESSSSSSSSSSS! That's my #1, right where it belongs! Whoooo!

Billy Corgan & Robert Smith

Say what?

Anyway, YAY #1!!!

please nobody post that cover please

aha, that's the one I was forgetting. And I voted for it! By this point I was assuming SNF era must come out on top.

Not gonna lie: I'm a little disappointed. Like this song (my #23), don't love it unconditionally.

OMG can totally hear Otis Redding singing "To Love Somebody" and killing it. If only.

well basically anything that got a first place vote was gonna place, this came out on top expressly because it had the most first place votes. I think it's definitely among the best of their early period material.

and yeah the Otis thing... man, what a loss.

songs that received at least 2 votes but didn't place:

When the Swallows Fly
Lamplight
Idea
Juliette
Dogs
Kathy's Gone
One
Down The Road
Love So Right
My Thing
The Worst Girl in This Town
Alone
Please Don't Turn Out the Lights
Boys Do Fall In Love
Morning of My Life

Thanks for running this poll, Shakey Mo.

Yeah, this was great fun...even if we had to bully people into participating!

I think it's definitely among the best of their early period material.

Regardless, Shakey, this was awesome. Thanks for pushing this thing through to the finish line.

my pleasure. I hope it makes some new fans, at least. it is very strange to me that such a huge/seminal act is so underappreciated by an (ostensible) community of music nerds.

whyyyyyyyyyyyy didn't I vote for To Love Somebody

oversight of the century holy shit

but yay it made #1 without me

So which song appeared on the most total ballots, regardless of placement?

Backtafunk

Also, Primal Scream covered "To Love Somebody" at the Cleveland gig on their Screamadelica tour back in the day. I got to meet/greet/etc. (ahem) with them afterwards and I gushed all over Bobby Gillespie about them playing a Bee Gees tune and he had no idea -- said that they learned it from Gram Parsons.

Perfect.

So which song appeared on the most total ballots, regardless of placement?

Looks like "Nights on Broadway" with 14.

yep

That's cool - I'm still baffled/impressed that there wasn't one single tune that made all the ballots. I would have thought at least one (maybe more like 5) of the big hits would have, considering there were only 17 voters. Speaks well to the depth of the catalog for sure.

yeah I think that's entirely down to them having four decades of material

...and only 17 people voting probably.

nah more voters would have meant even less ballot uniformity

Wait, right.

Naive Teen Idol, math major. :-)

Not enough of a Bee Gees fan to vote but enough of one to be enormously grateful to Shakey for this poll. I've put it all into a Spotify playlist and I'm looking forward to going through the non-hits.

You mind sharing it?

Thanks from me too, Shakey. I hate it when people say they didn't vote because ... but that was me here - I'd've been voting for the SNF stuff and nothing else, and figured the poll didn't need me ignorantly boostering just their best-known hits.

I wasn't even going to open the thread, but I'm glad I did. The fun facts with entry were a great idea.

I'm looking forward to going through the non-hits.

that should cut the list down to about 6 songs :)

Final results

1. To Love Somebody
2. Nights on Broadway
3. More Than a Woman 
4. How Deep is Your Love
5. Jive Talkin'
6. How Can You Mend A Broken Heart
7. Stayin' Alive
8. If I Can’t Have You
9. I Started A Joke
10. Night Fever
11. Mr. Natural
12. Fanny (Be Tender With My Love)
13. Islands In The Stream
14. Massachusetts
15. I've Gotta Get A Message To You
16. New York Mining Disaster 1941
17. You Should Be Dancing
18. You Win Again
19. Tragedy
20. Heartbreaker
21. Melody Fair
22. Every Christian Lionhearted Man Will Show You
23. Spicks & Specks
24. Run To Me
25. Emotion
26. Lonely Days
27. Holiday
27. Spirits Having Flown
28. Love You Inside Out
29. World
30. Lemons Never Forget
31. I Just Want To Be Your Everything
32. Words
33. Grease
34. Trafalgar
35. Odessa (City on the Black Sea)
36. Too Much Heaven
37. **TIE** I Can't See Nobody, Sweet Song of Summer, Guilty
38. Paradise
39. Don't Wanna Live Inside Myself
40. For Whom the Bell Tolls
41. The Flag I Flew
42. Shadow Dancing
43. **TIE** Kilburn Towers, Edge of the Universe, Nobody's Someone,
Please Read Me
44. I Laugh in Your Face
45. **TIE** Indian Gin And Whisky Dry, (Our Love) Don't Throw It All Away, Seven Seas Symphony
46. Black Diamond
47. An Everlasting Love
48. **TIE** Throw a Penny, Chain Reaction
49. **TIE** A Very Special Day, (Love is) Thicker Than Water
50. Woman in Love

Playlist here. I know almost the entire Top 20, then it gets a bit spotty. Never got around to Odessa, Trafalgar, etc.

spoti.fi/M6rCfH

Thanks!

*25. Emotion (Writers: Barry and Robin Gibb)
104 points (5 votes)*

"Spicks and Specks" would have made a great Spïnäl Tap song title

I saw them at Maple Leaf Gardens just prior to Saturday Night Fever, but I don't think I was ever that big a fan.

1. “More Than a Woman,” Tavares (40)
2. “Night Fever,” Bee Gees (36)
3. “If I Can’t Have You,” Yvonne Elliman (33)
4. “To Love Somebody,” Bee Gees (30)
5. “How Can You Mend a Broken Heart,” Al Green (28)
6. “Run to Me,” Bee Gees (26)

muh ballot

To Love Somebody - 40
Paradise - 36
Nights on Broadway - 33
World - 30
You Win Again - 28
Every Christian Lion Hearted Man Will Show You - 26
I Believe in Miracles (Robin Gibb) - 25
Spicks and Specks - 24
Stayin' Alive - 23
Suddenly - 22
Cryin' Every Day - 21
I Laugh in Your Face - 20
Nobody's Someone - 19
Bury Me Down by the River - 18
Tragedy - 17
One - 16
Lonely Days - 15
Kitty Can - 14
Holiday - 13
You Know It's for You - 12

Thanks for posting!Here's mine:

To Love Somebody
More Than a Woman
Heartbreaker (Dionne Warwick)
Fanny (Be Tender With My Love)
Emotion (Samantha Sang)
I Started A Joke
I Just Wanna Be Your Everything (Andy Gibb)
New York Mining Disaster 1941
Love You Inside Out
I've Gotta Get a Message to You
Edge of the Universe
Run To Me
How Deep Is Your Love?
Jive Talkin'
Holiday
All This Making Love
Islands in the Stream
Nights on Broadway
I Can't See Nobody
Words
Night Fever
You Should Be Dancing
Spicks & Specks
Too Much Heaven
Massachusetts
Mr. Natural
Wildflower
Morning of My Life
If I Can't Have You (Yvonne Elliman)
Living Eyes

Just compared the final list to my ballot -- looks like 26 of my 30 made it. Would love to see some other folks' individual ballots if anyone feels like posting them...

great stuff! here's my ballot:

Love You Inside Out
More Than A Woman
To Love Somebody
Lonely Days
Words (Elvis Presley)
Tragedy
Hudson's Fallen Wind (Robin Gibb)
Paradise
Fanny (Be Tender With My Love)
Every Christian Lionhearted Man Will Show You
Spicks & Specks
I Just Want To be Your Everything (Andy Gibb)
Jive Talkin'
Heartbreaker (Dionne Warwick)
Nights On Broadway
An Everlasting Love
(Our Love) Don't Throw It All Away (Andy Gibb)
Guilty (Barbra Streisand & Barry Gibb)
You Should Be Dancing
Alone
Give A Hand, Take A Hand (P P Arnold)
Shadow Dancing (Andy Gibb)
Stayin' Alive
Kathy's Gone (Robin Gibb)
I Started A Joke
Walking Back To Waterloo
Boys Do Fall In Love (Robin Gibb)
How Can You Mend A Broken Heart
Night Fever
How Deep Is Your Love

Mine:
1. Nights on Broadway
2. How Can You Mend a Broken Heart?
3. I Started a Joke
4. Mr. Natural
5. Lamplight
6. Odessa (City on the Black Sea)
7. Fannie (Be Tender With My Love)
8. The Flag I Flew
9. Run To Me
10. Massachusetts
11. For Whom the Bell Tolls
12. Islands in the Stream
13. Kathy's Gone
14. A Very Special Day
15. Heartbreaker
16. World
17. Melody Fair
18. I've Gotta Get a Message to You
19. I Can't See Nobody
20. Juliet
21. Method to My Madness
22. My Life Has Been a Song
23. To Love Somebody
24. Holiday
25. How Deep Is Your Love
26. Please Don't Turn Out the Lights
27. The Worst Girl In This Town
28. Indian Gin and Whisky Dry
29. He Can't Love You
30. First of May

Whoops -- Method to My Madness didn't chart, either. Great song, that.

Here’s my ballot. Mostly consensus picks:

01 Sweet Song of Summer
02 Spirits (Having Flown)
03 How Deep Is Your Love
04 Grease
05 Guilty
06 If I Can't Have You
07 You Should Be Dancing
08 Tragedy
09 More Than A Woman
10 Too Much Heaven
11 Edge of the Universe
12 Robot
13 To Love Somebody
14 Emotion
15 Jive Talkin'
16 How Can You Mend A Broken Heart?
17 Paying The Price Of Love
18 I Held a Party
19 You Win Again
20 Trash (from 'Sesame Street Fever')
21 I've Gotta Get a Message to You
22 Melody Fair
23 Chain Reaction
24 Night Fever
25 Stayin' Alive
26 Words
27 Morning of My Life
28 Woman In Love
29 Nights On Broadway
30 Spicks and Specks

sort of kicking myself for forgetting to include the anecdote about how they wrote/came up with the idea for NY Mining Disaster 1941 (ie, warming up by singing in an echo-y stairwell outside the studio and thinking about how it sounded like they were at the bottom of a mineshaft)

also meant to point out that every single album through 1987 was represented in the final results, with two exceptions: Life in a Tin Can and Cucumber Castle (if only one more person had voted for Maurice's "My Thing" arggh!)

all the anecdotes about how they were inspired to write songs based on car and plane engine sounds and did diy explosion sound effects w/ microphones are so cool, goes to show how resourceful and kinda avant garde they could be for 'professional pop hitmakers' of their era

also interesting to note that their "commercial nadir"(from To Whom it May Concern until Main Course) lasted a grand total of only 4 years lol

yeah but 4 albums in 4 years -- these days if a big artist flops they'll take that long just to come back with a follow-up

well, three albums. but yeah it's different now, people take forever to record follow-ups, rather than rush out something for fear that they will be forgotten/miss their chance

Gotta dig out my copy of Life In a Tin Can now. I'm sure there is something there that I'm gonna love that I've totally forgotten about.

Also, for those of you who haven't heard Robin's contribution to "Sesame Street Fever":

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FDH_8dNRH_8

!!! omg never seen that before

otm re songcraft trivia. i love that stuff, sorta makes it seem like their brains were sub-consciously, or consciously, 24/7 tuned into songwriting, which is kind of how I imagine songwriting to be when you're seriously *in it*

Gotta dig out my copy of Life In a Tin Can now. I'm sure there is something there that I'm gonna love that I've totally forgotten about.

The first is a three-hanky Robin tearjerker with Barry trading off in the gorgeous chorus.

The second is a really good Barry country song and namechecks his unreleased record, The Kid's No Good, in the chorus -- but is otherwise unrelated I think.

Third song is a Robin ballad with an unbelievable middle eight in which he uses the duck quack soul voice from "I Can't See Nobody."

Some of my favorite stuff by these guys.

1. How Can You Mend a Broken Heart?
2. (Love Is) Thicker Than Water
3. More Than a Woman
4. How Deep Is Your Love
5. Emotion
6. Night Fever
7. To Love Somebody
8. Please Read Me
9. Nobody's Someone
10. An Everlasting Love
11. Baby As You Turn Away
12. I Just Want To Be Your Everything
13. Charade
14. I Can Bring Love
15. New York Mining Disaster 1941
16. Birdie Told Me
17. Jive Talkin'
18. Fanny (Be Tender With My Love)
19. I Started a Joke
20. Spicks and Specks
21. My Thing
22. If I Only Had My Mind On Something Else
23. If I Can't Have You
24. Nights on Broadway
25. South Dakota Morning
26. Shadow Dancing
27. Children of the World
28. Massachusetts
29. The Battle of the Blue and Grey
30. The Chance of Love

Anyone have recommendations for a good Andy Gibb comp? This poll made me realize that I need one.

The 4-CD Mythology box of the Bee Gees includes one disc per brother, with the last dedicated to Andy. Seems pretty comprehensive, but of course, you need the whole thing. Not sure what else is available.

Yeah, but then I'd also be saddled with a whole disc of Maurice.

(I KID, I KID)

I have a friend who grew up thinking this song ("I Started a Joke") was written from the perspective of Adolf Hitler, an interpretation which has always stuck with me.

.. this is awesome!

Finally put on the copy of Bee Gees Greatest I bought at a record show a few months ago. This was tucked inside:

http://i1059.photobucket.com/albums/t427/sayhey1/beegees_zps4bec8bc2.jpg

Not sure what the statute of limitations on these things is, but my checkbook's out. (There's an ad for this on the other side.)

Not sure how that happened...As ahead-of-their-time as they were, the Bee Gees were not selling website domains in 1979. Should have linked here:

http://www.amazon.com/THE-LEGEND-Illustrated-Legend-Maurice/dp/B00113HQP2

those tour shirts are sweeet

I like the look of those chains too.

ooh I missed that, I want one of those too

Send cash, check or money order to:

Official Bee Gees Fan Club
P.O. Box 9488
N. Hollywood, CA
91606

Go ahead, I dare you--I double-dare you.

Are you maniacs seriously telling me "Country Lanes" didn't place in this thing??

This thread was boss. Mad props to the Shakey Mo!

I have a friend who grew up thinking this song was written from the perspective of Adolf Hitler, an interpretation which has always stuck with me.

Lending some credence to that theory about 'AH' (I think you know who I mean) perhaps...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jrg1UAixGaM

lol

49. (Love is) Thicker Than Water (writers: Barry and Andy Gibb) -- 36 points (1 vote)

this song is lame-o and awesome in equal measure.

missed deep cuts

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=apkDuq54SeQ

For venal reasons, I didn't participate, but here's my list.

no Bee Gees list without "Mr. Natural" can be considered complete. the perfect midpoint between their phases.

also the complete absence of even a MENTION of "Stop (Think Again)" on this entire thread hurts me deeply in my heart

the hbo doc was just ok, typical useless talking head segments from chris martin, justin, gallagher dude etc. disappointing about how they glossed over the breakup as if they all went their separate ways vs robin leaving and the other 2 continuing as the bee gees (there were other shortcuts and misleading parts as well). some nice footage tho

the sideman interviews were a lot more rewarding

the nicky siano bits were great. vince lawrence, too. a mini disco doc within the bee gees doc.

I did come away thinking that Barry really does miss his brothers. The other thing is that it does catch me that the Gibbs were a bit of why Miami became such a bling bling town, in a way. It would have been something to see Miami circa 76-78. Probably on real estate alone, those guys crushed some serious cash. The clip with them making the drum loop was some cool music geek stuff.

I really enjoyed the doc - most of the “talking heads” were the brothers or the band or ppl working close with them, so the odd naff chris martin or noel gallagher was tolerable. the studio stuff was so great, and the demo tapes add so much apprecication for the raw talent.

and yeah the disco sucks section was handled really well, i loved the way they told that.

Barry having had that amazing creative bond with his brothers & to be now left alone, the melancholy of that feeling must be so difficult to endure.

as the oldest of three siblings who are very close I think how utterly bereft I would feel if they died before me, it breaks my heart to think about.

I sometimes think about examples of musicians who went into a funk when their creative partner died, namely Bill Evans after Scott LaFaro died in a car accident and Buck Owens after Don Rich died in a motorcycle accident. There is still a naive part of me that will think "couldn't you just go on with the show?" but another part of me knows "nuh-uh."

I mean I guess Buck still showed up for Hee-Haw tapings, but still.

I actually kind of adored that documentary, which has to be the third or fourth I’ve seen by this point. The contemporary talking heads were minimized and used well (Noel Gallagher talking about sibling dynamics and how you don’t just buy family members’ vocal harmonies at a store was surprisingly relevant and well put).

Beyond that tho, they did a fabulous job on the early years and the tensions that built up between them. Notwithstanding no mention of Cucumber Castle, I hadn’t really seen that articulated very well elsewhere. The footage of Robin playing to that crowd in NZ angry that it was just him was incredible.

Iand yeah the disco sucks section was handled really well, i loved the way they told that.

Barry having had that amazing creative bond with his brothers & to be now left alone, the melancholy of that feeling must be so difficult to endure.

as the oldest of three siblings who are very close I think how utterly bereft I would feel if they died before me, it breaks my heart to think about.

There is also a similarity in how the whole family was involved in this big adventure, not dissimilar to what you see in that Australian TV documentary on AC/DC. Very similar history in some ways between those two bands.

I'm not sure if Barry Gibb still lives in here, but in the early '00s when I worked at a Miami Beach bookstore he was a regular -- you could easily spot him his tall, hunched form in the history section. Like NYC, nobody bothers stars here.

I ordered The Corrections for Iggy Pop a few months later (asked by the employee at the other store transferring a copy for a name, I said, "Osterberg, James." Iggy winked at me).

Ha! That’s a great story.

All the anecdotes I've read about Iggy being hyper-literate are true. He'd buy piles of books, a genuine miscellany: Nietzsche, art books, Bellow, Tolstoy.

Anyway, back to thread.

Yeah, him and Bowie.

I think I’m actually just starting to realize what an incredible song Stayin’ Alive is. Like, in addition to the opening groove and that great drum loop story, I’m not sure I ever fully appreciated how fucking boss and weird the chorus is on this song. I mean, we all know the “ha ha ha” part but that slurry syncopated line that leads into the ha ha ha’s is subtly strange and amazing (and not that it matters but I still have zero idea what they’re singing there). This realization is just another reminder that whole thing is just perfect from top to bottom.

Maybe it is their best song? I’m willing to be convinced here.

Or the way the strings kick in for the bleak-as-fuck "I'm goin' nowhere."

Hey now, there was a thread for that sort of thing but it was only Shakey and me on it most days!

The song by song rundown?

Sorry, couldn’t keep up.

Shakey did tend to press on regardless somewhat.

Oh right! I couldn’t keep up either. Which bummed me out. Was it before quarantine? I feel like it must’ve been because I imagine I would’ve looked forward to every next entry like my life depended on it.

Pretty sure it was. Could have done with some more contributors in the Bee Gees' imperial stage because I found I couldn't think of as many things to say about something like "Staying Alive" as opposed to, er, "I Have Decided to Join the Air Force".

Lol, check out the current last post on that thread

Ha, exactly. It’s good to know my self-hatred pre-dated COVID, I guess.

the Tropical Fuck Storm version of "Stayin' Alive" almost approximates the swagger level of the original, albeit from a scuzzier angle

Where we talking about the Barry Gibb duets record? So good.

i cant remember which thread but I LOVE IT SO MUCH OMG

play "Mr. Natural" at my funeral

Is there some bad news you're keeping from us?

no I'm remaining conscious for now

Literally everything is great about the duets album. The artists, the band, the sound — they recorded at RCA studios in Nashville with a live band in the room & it really shows, just has such a beautiful warmth & depth, i cant get enough

Didn't realize that about the live band but it totally makes sense.