The Bee Gees: Song by Song

Since we like to post specific songs in our general Bee Gees thread, I thought it might be fun to have a place where we can pay a little more attention to the very many fantastic songs written by the Brothers Gibb.

Rather than do it chronologically or alphabetically, which might take forever to get to songs we might want to chat about, I feel like it will be fun to just post songs we particularly feel like sharing at any given moment. My only request will be to space out the sharing of songs so that there is time for attention to be paid to the most recent one so things don't get too cluttered. If at some point we start getting duplicates, we can maybe organize a bit better!

A few ideas for this thread!
- Include a YouTube embed of the song itself, in any version you prefer. If it is not a studio version, expand on why you picked the one you did!
- Share any thoughts you have on the songs you pick
- Point out any specific elements of the song you like the most. Nothing is too nerdy!

I can kick us off in a new comment!

 

I'll kick us off with one of the songs that was an early favorite for me, "My World."



As someone who got into the Bee Gees very late in their career, I had a lot of catching up to do. Since I was a young teen, my spending money was limited and I started my collection with quite a few compilations rather than studio albums. The one I chose to represent the Bee Gees' early years was Gold. Ultimately, it was a good choice, as "My World" is included there and became my favorite song on the album very quickly!

I've always been drawn to Robin's voice the most, and I think he shines here. The way he pulls that "what do I do to have you to staaaaa-aaaaay" and doesn't add his vibrato until the end of the phrase is still one of my favorite of his vocal moments. I also love the construction of this song, how Barry's verses are different from Robin's verses, which are different from the chorus. Barry taking us out with his strong "this is my world!" refrain is really nice as well.

It's an underrated song, I find! Even though it did end up on some "best of" compilations, it doesn't seem to get the love of the other "hits."

 

It's a wonderful song.

Very simple but very catchy. Easy to sing along to.

This is from my favorite era of the Bee Gees.

 

From the Trafalgar album:

Walking Back To Waterloo



Definitely not as well known as the hit single from Trafalgar (How Can You Mend A Broken Heart), but I like that it's not necessarily a "traditional" song. Not a love song. Not really telling a story. Just a nonsensical song that's quite interesting and catchy.

 

From the 2 Years On album:

Alone Again



Another favorite of mine. Love the harmonies and the piano intro by Maurice. I believe this was a Robin/Maurice composition. Again, probably not as well known as the hit single from 2 Years On (Lonely Days).

 

From "Life in a Tin Can", very underrated album IMO.

"South Dakota Morning"

This song is beautiful. Tommy Morgan harmonica playing on this one is stunning.

 

I really love this piano intro! Not something they did very often! I like this era for the amount of Mo on piano it included.

 

This is a great one! Both songs you posted are from two of the albums I've spent the least time with, and make me want to give them a little more attention!

 

Trafalgar is, in my opinion, one of their best albums.

 

I’ve been searching for a (reasonably priced) copy of this album on CD for years.

 

I'm playing that album today!

 

Might be my favorite use of strings in Gibb catalog. Never fails to move me.

 

I think is their most underrated album. I love it, "Saw a New Morning" and "Living in Chicago" are both great, but "Method to My Madness" is my favourite track of the album, Robin singing is awesome on it.

 

The first time I heard Life In A Tin Can, I really didn't like it. I blame it on being a teenager at the time lol.

Now that I'm older, I've come to really appreciate it's place in the catalog. Lots of lovely orchestration and vocals and harmonies.

 

Same thing happened to me, I didn't get it at first listenings, maybe due to the big change of style from previous efforts, but it has grown a lot in me over the years and now I love it.

 

Definitely give this time frame a little attention!

1970-1975(ish) is my favorite era of the band. The albums are so warm and well done, and with the exception of the hits, are relatively unknown outside of the fanbase. I had (and still have) a blast exploring this particular era of the band.

 

I'm happy that you have included 1975 in your favourite era. "Main Course" is probably my favourite Bee Gees album from the 70s

 

It's one of my all-time favorite albums, period.

It was like the perfect blend of their "old" sound (Country Lanes, Come On Over, etc) and their "new" sound (Jive Talkin', Nights On Broadway, Fanny Be Tender, etc).

 

From the To Whom It May Concern album:

Please Don't Turn Out the Lights



It's all about the harmonies. They are almost choir-like in this one. Chills. (Hit single from this album was Run To Me.)

I also love the fact their kids covered it decades later: Gibb Collective "`Please Don't Turn Out The Lights" Official Video

 

I don't care if it was a chart failure. One of my favorites:

Bee Gees - If I Only Had My Mind On Something Else

 

And another low charter that's aces in my book.

Bee Gees - Charade

 

Any song that features a clarinet (and a clarinet solo!) is awesome in my book.

I also used to play clarinet, so I may be a little biased with that opinion.

Oh well lol. Mr. Natural is a massively underrated album. It's in my top 3 Bee Gees albums.

 

Have you heard the unreleased companion, A Kick In The Head Is Worth Eight In The Pants?

There are boots of it “out there” and I think it is the stronger set of songs from those 1972 sessions in LA. A handful of cuts were officially released on Tales box and “Elisa” is stunningly beautiful.

 

Speaking of A Kick in the Head...



I really dig this song, but that is as someone who can never get enough of Robin experimenting with a singing style or vocal trick he doesn't use many other places. He really doesn't even sound like himself here, except that the vibrato sneaks in from time to time. Then he goes a little bananas at the end, which I love!

Would love to get a little input as to if we should slow down a little here or just keep posting whatever and the songs will be there for catching up when people wander in!

 

It's such an odd song, but I love it anyways lol.