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Bee Gees' 1st

Bee Gees - Bee Gees' 1st Audio CD

A fair review of the Bee Gees "Bee Gees' 1st" Audio CD. Please note that the below review is the views of the authors, and authors only. You can get a complete list of all Bee Gees reviews here, or go back to the Bee Gees tabs.

Band: Bee Gees
Title: Bee Gees' 1st
Rating:

Release Date: 2007-01-23
Media: Audio CD

Tracks: 1: Turn of the Century [Stereo] 2: Holiday [Stereo] 3: Red Chair, Fade Away [Stereo] 4: One Minute Woman [Stereo] 5: In My Own Time [Stereo] 6: Every Christian Lion Hearted Man Will Show You [Stereo] 7: Craise Finton Kirk Royal Academy of Arts [Stereo] 8: New York Mining Disaster 1941 [Stereo] 9: Cucumber Castle [Stereo] 10: To Love Somebody [Stereo] 11: I Close My Eyes [Stereo] 12: I Can't See Nobody [Stereo] 13: Please Read Me [Stereo] 14: Close Another Door [Stereo] 15: Turn of the Century [Mono Version][Version] 16: Holiday [Mono Version][Version] 17: Red Chair, Fade Away [Mono Version][Version] 18: One Minute Woman [Mono Version][Version] 19: In My Own Time [Mono Version][Version] 20: Every Christian Lion Hearted Man Will Show You [Mono Version][Version] 21: Craise Finton Kirk Royal Academy of Arts [Mono Version][Version] 22: New York Mining Disaster 1941 [Mono Version][Version] 23: Cucumber Castle [Mono Version][Version] 24: To Love Somebody [Mono Version][Version] 25: I Close My Eyes [Mono Version][Version] 26: I Can't See Nobody [Mono Version][Version] 27: Please Read Me [Mono Version][Version] 28: Close Another Door [Mono Version][Version] 29: Turn of the Century [Early Version][#] 30: One Minute Woman [Early Version][#] 31: Gilbert Green [#] 32: New York Mining Disaster 1941 [Version One][#] 33: House of Lords [#] 34: Cucumber Castle [Early Version][#] 35: Harry Braff [Early Alternate Version][#] 36: I Close My Eyes [Early Version][#] 37: I've Got to Learn [#] 38: I Can't See Nobody [Alternate Take][#] 39: All Around My Clock [#] 40: Mr. Wallor's Wailing Wall [#] 41: Craise Finton Kirk Royal Academy of Arts [Alternate Take][#] 42: New York Mining Disaster 1941 [Version Two][#]

Basic Bee Gees
"The Bee Gees 1st" was their first internationally released album, and the first to come out after their return to Britain. This album wasn't really the Bee Gees' First - two albums with the three Gibb brothers had been previously released in Australia.

Musically it's one of their most succesfull early albums. There is a great basic approach that ofter was lost on their following albums, where the ballads often suffered from heavy orchestration.

Moreover the songwriting on this album is consistently of high standards. Three of their finest singles "New York Mining Disaster", "Holiday" and "To Love Somebody" is featured here along with other great tracks like "Red Chair Fade Away", "I Can't See Nobody" and "Cucumber Castle".

In fact, there are no throwaways on the albums, and the Bee Gees really do sound like a band on this album.

On this new digitally remastered version the sound is crystal-clear, and it a great pleasure to listen to these old songs again. The second CD features alternate versions of many of the songs, and several are at least as good as the originally released versions. I especially like "One Minute Woman" - which has only the basic band instrumentation.

A couple of the previously unreleased songs are quite good too - "Gilbert Street" and "I've Gotta Learn" are two.

Great release.

THIS is The Bee Gees?!!!
Arguably, what was accomplished by the Bee Gees in this album leaves one to tear out their hair when they consider what became of them a mere ten years later. "Is it, in fact, unfair to criticize a formerly great artist for his latter day sins?"

The above question, put forth by the character 'Barry'(memorably played by Jack Black) in the movie High Fidelity must be considered when analyzing this fantastic debut by The Bee Gees. Yes, in this case, it is fair to lump a heaping helping of criticism at the Bee Gees for their latter-day sin of selling-out to the "Disco Craze" of the late 70's(although, admittedly, 'Stayin' Alive' and 'Jive Talking' were pretty incredible).

What is heard on this album is not just good music, but a mere confirmation of what made records of the 60's better than all the rest. 'Bee Gees' 1st' is highlighted by 'New York Mining Disaster 1941' and 'Every Christian Lion Hearted Man Will Show You', along with some other delights such as 'Craise Finton Kirk Royal Academy of Arts' and 'I Can't See Nobody'.

This particular package contains both the stereo and mono recordings of the album(Disc One) in addition to a bonus disc of outtakes and previously unreleased bonus tracks(Disc Two).

Hesitate not, ye grand appreciators of outstanding music. Get this album.

.

Excellent Album
Every song is excellent. Dear Music Lovers,

I can't get enough of this album, I listen to it often. The Bee Gees ruled before they turned to Blue Eyed Soul/Disco, althouth for those styles, they did them well. Anyway back to Bee Gees 1st, starting with "Turn of the Century" the album never lets up, although it is one of my favourites. Don't deprive yourself of this collection any longer, buy this now!

Tastefully yours,

Master of Taste.

Naturally I must mention First!
Besides having a bit of the heyday camp on the cover and in the music, First is also a bit of a tongue and cheek title to me.
Although 1967's Bee Gees First is a fairly recent addition to my collection, anybody who knows anything about sixties music is bound to know at least a few tunes from this one. Barry, Robin, and Maurice had been plugging away at music in Australia before releasing this their `first English' record.

Turn of the Century leads off the album in true and quirky fashion. At first all the talk of bicycles and time machines is a bit hokey, but the tune is so catchy. Soon enough you'll be singing along.

Mood and melancholy however, make their first appearance on Holiday. Robin's somber voice takes over and already you realize there is something deeper to this group. Of course nowadays everyone knows this one from the live versions and Maurice's little side show antics.

Why do I find all these old songs and their lyrics so confusing? Red Chair Fade Away is too similar to other music of the time, which is odd to say on an artist's first album. Most people do a few covers or use other's songs on a primary release, but Barry, Robin, and Maurice prove here they are more than a passing invasion band. Oh yeah!

Outside of the few monsters on this CD, One Minute Woman might be my favorite. It is quite underrated in my opinion. Barry's easy delivery and nearly begging lyrics sold me on the first listen.

In My Own Time is touch and go with me. I like it, but the tone and vocals are a bit too Beatle imitation for me. I like my Bee Gees as The Bee Gees. I've heard fifty other songs that sound like Time. Are they catchy? Sure. Unique? No. Every Christian Lion Hearted Man Will Show You is unique. The first time I heard this on record I was all over the spectrum. It's so moody and churchy and chant-like, but the chorus is almost happy. Every listen gets my wheels churning. What are they saying? Who cares it sounds cool!

Quirky Craise Finton Kirk Royal Academy of Arts is the first all Robin song presented. Already on this album we witness the duel leads of Barry and Robin. Eleven of the songs here are also credited to only Barry and Robin, including all the biggies. Kirk again has an ambiguous story almost like poetry. Everyone can read something different, and I love the toy piano like stops and starts. Very nice indeed.

When the boys penned New York Mining Disaster 1941 in a jammed elevator in England, do you think they knew what a classic it would become? If casual fans tell me they like "Have you see my wife Mr. Jones?" I always get a great chuckle. Again people know more Bee Gees songs then they realize-and not from the Brothers `height' in 1977. This is 10 years prior! Disaster represents the early genius of the brothers in lyrics, story, mood, music, and hooks.

Besides the fact that the song Cucumber Castle is not on the later album entitled Cucumber Castle , this oddity gets points again for being like nothing else heard before. Who else can put medieval touches into sixties pop? The one seemingly understandable line "Cucumber Castle be ever so humble," is so contradictory. A castle? Where kings live? How can that be humble? It makes you curious for another listen.

If you don't like To Love Somebody, come closer so I can hit you. This has to be one of the classics. One of the penne ultimate Gibb songs. None of that Fever stuff. To Love Somebody says all the love in just the right way. The proof of musical genius here is evident. (We also reviewed Somebody, Disaster, and I Can't See Nobody on our Gold review. )

I like Barry's delivery in I Close My Eyes, but some of the twists are again a bit too Beatle for me. Actually there isn't much else to say about this song! Pity. Oh yes I Can't See Nobody! My niece digs this one. When I first heard it I thought it was Maurice, but Robin switches styles-showing early on his unique range. The lyrics here are also telling. When you are falling in or out of a relationship, the other person is everything, you truly are unaware of everything else. Robin's creaky ups and downs show the heartache, yet the rhythm of the music describe the heights you can feel. Wow.

Please Read Me sounds a lot like the early Australian tunes the boys did. The sweet harmony dominating here is the early bloom of what was to come, even if it is a bit short on words. You can't have it all on your first album! The fourteenth and final track Close Another Door starts off slowly. Robin showcases himself again near the end. Door picks up to an easy pace and bookends well with Turn of the Century. Pity on anyone who listens to the first and last song of an album. Look at all the good stuff in between!

First is a unique album in every sense of the word. It's really something special to go back and see classic Gibb music even then, and don't forget several gems here were very ground breaking at the time. To the fans that have been here since the beginning, I tip my hat to you! .

One of the all time greats
I compare these 14 original songs quite favourably to that of The Beatles, "Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band". For anyone searching for pop music at it it's innovative best, your search is over! The Bee Gees 1st (their debut American album released in 1967) is by far (in my humble opinion) the best thing they have ever done. No doubt, the more famous album by the world's premier recording artists sold tons more copies, and got far more air play. But nonetheless, "The Bee Gees 1st" is a classic! It spawned three hit singles, and the b-side of their debut single, "The New York Mining Disaster, 1941", "I Can't See Nobody" could of and should of been the a-side. It easily could have been a number one hit, but in those days only The Beatles received air play for the flip side (as their legendary chart success can attest). But on this fabulous album from the opening track "Turn of the Century" through the conclusion, "Close Another Door" I promise any listener will not be disappointed. I enjoyed this music when I first obtained it, and over forty years later I still revel in it's genius. The writing, (mostly penned by Barry and Robin,) the harmonies, the amazing production of each track, all blend together to ensure that this work will remain essential in the annals of music history. If there is a negative side to this production it is that subsequent recording did not keep pace, and eventually they developed that disco sound which I did not care very much for.

You can see a complete list of all Bee Gees discography, or go back to the Bee Gees tabs. There is also a good guide on how to read guitar tabs here.