Bee Gees - Their Greatest Hits: The Record
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Free Music Notes for Their Greatest Hits: The Record
Free Music Review: They wrote ALL the songs on here.
Hit: 5 Stars
First, can you believe they not only sang these songs perfectly, but WROTE all of them?? "To Love Somebody" was going to be recorded by Otis Redding when he had been working on his post-Monterey album, and only managed to get "Sittin On the Dock of the Bay" in. You know when Janis Joplin and Elvis Presley take interest in your songs, that's pretty major. "Islands" is the only one that they credit to an outside writer, but as "additional lyrics".
I really can't complain what they did put out, it's pretty awesome what is on there, from '67-'01. The early maudlin and soulful era..the R&B and disco of the 70s, Barry taking a back seat letting others sing the songs, to a resurgance in the 90s with a mature style and closing off with "This is Where I Came In", a great song. "Spicks and Specks" is tacked on at the end, maybe in case they needed to drop it at the last minute, but it should've been the first cut.
The comprehensive collection in my opinion would be:
Taking favorites from "Brilliant From Birth", which were their Australian-era recordings. It's a lot more Everly Brothers in the beginning and goes Beatlesque towards the end. You may want to check how the songs charted and your own taste, but I would've taken 8-10 off of here.
The Bee Gees singing new versions of familiar favorites. I would've preferred Celine, Dionne, Kenny and Dolly singing. "What Kind of Fool" with Babs would've been a nice add, too. "If I Can't Have You" should've been the version they did with Yvonne, and "Emotions" already had them on it. Andy Gibb also worked with the Bee Gees at that time and the songs he did with them (esp. I Just Want To Be Your Everything) should've been included. Add "Grease" with Frankie Valli (although I don't think they performed on it). If they wanted to put those "new" songs on there, it would've been better towards the end. Bee Gees as songwriters it makes sense, but they sound out of place. They are fine songs, but when you're used to hearing them a certain way, it doesn't sound right.
Having said that, this should be in everyone's music collection because it covers just about everything.
Free Music Review: The Most Complete Set To Date
Hit: 5 Stars
The Bee Gees (Brothers Gibb) have released several compilation albums; "Best of Bee Gees Vol 1", "Vol. 2" and "Bee Gees Greatest" which were primarily period pieces. Their "Tales..." Box Set was a complete and exhaustive collection of all of their hits and B-Sides plus some rarities, but only went to 1990. This collection is the first one to address ALL of their big singles including versions formerly only recorded by other artists.
In some cases, critics have arguable compared this to the "Beatles I" released last year. It's not far off. Containing no less than (19) #1 hits written by the Bee Gees and (11) of these recorded by them, it is an impressive set. None of the other songs fell below the Top 30 either in the USA or Europe; an excellent gauge to choose the best singles from well over 50 choices.
The Bee Gees own versions of hits recorded by others fare well enough, but lack the exhuberance of the originals. "Emotion" doesn't reach the heights of Samantha Sang's or Destiny's Child's versions and "Immortality", unfortunately sounds like a demo. Only "Islands In The Stream" really kicks in with Robin leading an R&B version of the song that proves it was originally intended as soul, not just Country.
However, if this is the worst one can find in this remarkable set of (40) songs, that is saying a lot. There is no better proof of the incredible songwriting and harmonizing talent the three Brothers exhibit so easily. This is sure to be a historic item in anyone's collection. Who knows. It may even outsell "Saturday Night Fever" (and it really ought to).
Trivia note: The European version of this collection has Barry Gibb singing the lead entry vocal on "How Can You Mend A Broken Heart" and also includes the singles "My World" and "Jumbo" which were mysteriously omitted from the USA release.
Free Music Review: ABGCD
Hit: 5 Stars
The Bee Gees (Barry, Maurice & Robin Gibb) are a great band, I think. They wrote catchy dance tunes, colourful ballads, and put a lot of variety in their singing and harmonies. I love their choice of synth tones too, and their choice of session men. I remember sitting in the back of my Dad's car, and he'd turn up the bass during "Staying Alive" so we could hear that ever-so-steady drum beat. Good times. They always managed to capture the era they were in pretty well, I thought.
"Their Greatest Hits: The Record" is a two disc collection, covering their mellow, thoughtful 1960s hits, their poppy disco/falsetto era all the way to their comeback in the 1990s. Some of those tracks from then are just as good as their 1970s hits, I reckon. They've also re-recorded songs they wrote for other people that went on to be hits (like "Islands in the Stream" and "Emotion"), adding a bit of a modern pop flavor to the backing tracks. They're interesting and great to have, but I do wonder what the original demos would have been like. Ah well.
The tracks have been remastered, and while it sounds rather loud, the mix is clean and all the instruments have room to breathe. It's quite a good job they did with it. I like the LP design on the CDs themselves, I've noticed they make blank CDs with the vinyl design now. Maybe this was a bit of an influence. The CD booklet is fairly sparse, but it does contain liner notes listing the Bee Gees achievement and influence. No lyrics though.
For the casual fan (like me) I think this will be all the Bee Gees they'll ever need. Worth a listen for fans of classic pop. There's also a compilation of some of the stuff they did as kids in Australia around somewhere called "Brilliant From Birth", which I suppose would be a good companion to this.
Free Music Review: Essential collection
Hit: 5 Stars
First, the drawback. I would've preferred to hear the original versions of "Emotion", "Islands in the Stream", and "Heartbreaker", as they had sang backup on those songs. The remakes sound out of place, they're not bad, but should've gone with the original. Second, why no Andy Gibb? Didn't they produce his smash hit? Third, why is "Spicks and Specks" on at the end?
Other than that, if you like the early stuff, there's enough to keep you satisfied. The ballads? Check. Disco era? Check. Great songs? No mention of "Sgt Pepper"? Yep. Consistant from beginning to end.
"American Idol" put this one back on the charts, the kids brought a 30 year catalog into a new generation. Their harmonies are one of the best ever (they had gone into radio shows over the years and just went for the harmony without a flaw), and it's hard to believe that a song like "To Love Somebody" was written as young as they were, and the CD's most recent song came from the CD that would turn out to be the last for Barry, Robin and Maurice, but what a great song to end with!! The melodies stick in your head.
I also think almost their entire debut album was written entirely by them. Not even the Beatles and Stones can make that claim..come to think of it, did they EVER cover someone else? We don't think of them as singer/songwriters and more as pop stars, but when you listen to this, you can't help but be impressed by their output. There was a time when Peter Gabriel and Genesis was trying to cop the Bee Gees sound, check their first CD out to see if I'm wrong and listen to "Silent Sun".
Free Music Review: The Soundtrack of a Generation
Hit: 5 Stars
Even if you never bought any Bee Gees when they were regularly releasing LPs and singles, you put this collection in and every song takes you back - it is the soundtrack of my generation. Every song from New York Mining Disaster through at least Islands in the Stream is recognizable. But more than recognizable; listening you really get a sense of how the Bee Gees really did define popular music for a significant period of time. From everyone who has covered their songs to their own recordings. And truth be told, their disco is the only disco that survives the test of time. You can't help but start moving from Jive Talking through Too Much Heaven.
This is a real must-have collection. I never bought the Bee Gees when their stuff was new; but I realize now how much a part of my musical psyche they are.
A fabulous collection.