u/Harrison_Thinks

Like showtime or HBO or Cinemax after they were released and on VHS or DVD

It sounds like two voices. I know Barry would double tracks sometimes but also that their voices could sound very similar and blend well

Im very surprised to learn that Robin sang Barry’s leads when he toured solo. I always knew Barry didn’t like Robin singing Bee Gees songs after they disbanded, but I didn’t he was actually singing Barry’s parts on Barry songs, I thought he did his songs like Massachusetts and I Started A Joke. It’s so odd to hear him sing everything on More Than A Woman, Night Fever, HDIYL. To love somebody is especially odd to hear

His voice aged interestingly, I’m curious how you think his voice did on Barry’s original leads. I feel like he really didn’t sound like Robin then, very alien voice to me. It’s interesting though because I feel like Barry and Robin’s voices both aged poorly, I think it’s just bad luck, but it’s interesting when some of their contemporaries were able to hold on to them longer

I’ve never been able to grasp the difference between stereo and mono, is mono hearing the same things on both sides? It’s interesting how different some of their songs sound mono

I know that they wrote the songs, but the linear credits are Bill Sheperd and his orchestra as the only performers, it only lists the brothers as composers. I know Maurice was a good player, but the playing on Seven Seas Symphony is very tight and advanced, with a very unique style, I didn't that was something he could do, no shade to him, but it's very classical and I just didn't think they were formal musicians like that. Was it just a member of Bill's orchestra?

Also did the brothers sing on those, or was just an actual opera? Was it the British opera? It's clearly a different style of singing, operatic, but I'm curious if they joined it at all or added their own overdub?

One last thing is were they present during the recordings? Or did they discuss with Bill and tell him what they wanted and then left it to him to produce it?

I feel like it's Blue Island. It's such a refresher compared to their usual latter output. I like their later stuff but I do think they lost their roots a bit.

I don't always love the constant modern production style with synths, drum machines and direct input guitars.

To have a pure, bare-bones, acoustic number with a harmonica as well, was so nice to hear. It even feels out of place on Size. I think it's the only entirely acoustic song they did after Spirits. Very reminiscent of Morning Of My Life. The lyrics are also wonderful. Another thing I dislike about Bee Gees from the 80s on is that most of their songs began to revolve solely around love and relationships, and so the lyrics occasionally felt shallow and by the numbers. I get they were never at Dylan level but they were wonderful lyricists in the early years; And The Sun Will Shine, Horizontal, Odessa, Run To Me, Children Of The World, Turn Of The Century, Morning Of My Life, First Of May, Throw A Penny...

What is your favorite song that you'd consider the magnum opus of their latter half?

The description says it’s from 1972 which is interesting. I wonder why they would’ve performed it on television 3 years after the release, especially if they had bad associations to it. I wonder if there’s a full video on it somewhere or if it’s just this snippet. It makes me wonder how many other rare TV performances of The Bee Gees there are and if they’ll ever see the light of day

The miming is interesting too because I don’t think Barry or Maurice are playing anything remotely similar to the recording besides the strumming and rhythm

Wikipedia I understand isn't always reliable, or the end all. Are many of these tracks lost forever? I'm really wondering about the ones from Bee Gees 1st to Idea since we already have reissues of those. Is there a reason those weren't included on the initial reissues? I'd really love to hear Vince's Horizontal track that apparently had Robin on vocals. Would that have been the only instance where the brothers sang someone else's composition on an album...

Also are there more unreleased tracks that Wikipedia doesn't list, I feel like there's gotta be more just because Wikipedia doesn't have everything, I thought there were more unfinished tracks from Spirits. And the list stops at ESP, did HC, Size and so on have no unfinished songs?

Should I get the same size I get for sneakers or should I go up or down at all? Anyone have any experience with Dankso. I've never owned clogs and since they don't have laces or any strap, I'm curious how to get the best fit

I relistened to it in its entirety last night so I'll prolly be making a few posts regarding it in the next few days. It just clicked this time. Long post ahead

The first thing is that it's crazy how young they were when they created it, them all being under 25 is insane. The music and arrangements are incredibly mature that it's hard to believe that it was made by kids. This is also before prog became super popular, so I find it so impressive how they came up with the style. I can't think of them copying any other artist. It's so different from the Beatles and Sgt. Pepper. A nautical album is another factor because that style is very hard to do. To convey the atmosphere of "sea music" and sailors' tunes is not easy. It comes down to how you arrange it and the instruments you choose to use. It's just another mind blowing thing to me considering their age. The arpeggios on the title track, the use of piano and strings. I used to think the instrumentals were thrown in for the shit of it, but they do fall into place perfectly with the other songs and add to the drama of it. It gives it a cinematic edge.

I feel like Odessa is their best sequenced album as well. Sequencing is something that maybe only pretentious people care about, but it's another thing in my opinion that requires so much maturity and foresight. Poorly sequenced tracklists can hold an album back, especially on a proggy piece. The fact that they could figure that out at their age is another incredible feat to me.

How Whisper Whisper splits into two parts, the song Odessa goes through like 15 different sections, it's such an oddly structured song that somehow comes together as one cohesive piece. Whisper Whisper into Lamplight is a killer transition. Same with Edison to Melody Fair

I also think it's their best produced album. For example, the vocals on the title track; I don't know what effect it is but the droney-echo that follows each word they say. Robin's voice being doubled in many instances. It sounds so crisp and does have a Beach Boys/Spector wall-of-sound type of noise. The nautical sound is also not easy to do. The fact that they were able to emulate this vibe of dock music at sea, just from the sound, is another super hard thing to do and is even more impressive considering their age. The style of playing, I feel like it's Barry's best guitar album. He picked up the leads after Vince left, and it makes me wish he played stronger, distinct parts on subsequent albums

I love all their music, but I've always wondered if they really did have a 'best' album. I feel like Odessa's gotta be it. I don't hear it highlighted much in Bee Gees circles, or in music circles much, and that's super odd to me. Maybe it's because when music outlets and groups talk about The Bee Gees, it is on their 70s output, but Odessa should absolutely be making top of all time lists. Even though those lists are corporate junk, I just don't know why it isn't seen as a masterpiece, especially when prog has seen a resurgence. Do you think many Bee Gees fans tend to skip its praise because it's overshadowed by the behind the scenes drama; the single dispute and Robin's exit?I really wonder if it'd be looked at differently had it been a peaceful release. Not throwing shade either but Odessa is also far superior to Tommy IMO, I wish they didn't breakup because they would've been prime candidates for Woodstock and Isle of Wright. I'm sure they would've played one of them.

Unless I'm wrong, they had no theory or classical music training, so they couldn't write sheet music? Did they just sort of hum what they wanted to the orchestra to play, and did they communicate that to the entire orchestra or did they communicate with a conductor who arranger who then passed it along to the orchestra. I feel like there had to have been sheet music, do we know who wrote that? I'm always fascinated when rock artists crossed over and experimented with big orchestral tracks.

I read on Wikipedia that he expressed his dislike for the Don’t Tell A Soul mixes and how they were radio-fied. For how notorious the original Tim mix was, did he ever say how he thought it sounded, especially after Ed redid it

It seems like it was common in the 60s and 70s for fans to stir rumors and theorize over the sexuality of men in music; Lou Reed, Jagger, Bowie… to name a few. Were Bee Gees fans ever questioning if they were bi? I understand that style was different then but I feel like they all had some fruity qualities, even Barry, so it wouldn’t surprise me if they’d be in that group

Even Odessa, in its faux-concept state, doesn’t have any references or motifs that play throughout, as far as I can remember. Odessa is only mentioned in the first song. This Is Your Life is an oddity and more of a medley so I don’t think it count. But Harry and his gate are the subject of two back to back songs and I’m surprised that it might the only occurrence for The Bee Gees despite how much music they made, and how many styles they touched on

I know it’s a joke that he talks about it a lot, but is it that far fetched? He still has a lot of fans he didn’t lose so would he be popular enough to play it, it’s not that big of a venue all things considered. I’m sure he has enough fans for how relatively small it is and it’s in such a central location. People may go see it even if they aren’t fans because it’s Carnegie Hall.

I am trying to complete my Bee Gees collection. Has anyone ever made a CD of the Kick In The Head album, and be willing to sell it?

On another note, I think the album is great. I'm very surprised it got canned over Life In A Tin Can, which I think is far inferior. It has way more variety overall, and the entire album feels very unique to me. It touches on many styles. I feel like Elisa and Wouldn't I Be Someone are already better than entire Tin Can album. But Harry's Gate, Losers and Lovers, Castle In The Air are all great.

Also, is Dear Mr. Kissinger the only time The Bee Gees did anything overtly political? I wish they did more tracks like that. I love the High Civilization cut with speeches in-between

Do you think they’d consider since Vince was there at their mainstream inception that he’d earn the spot over Alan. Since they fired Alan abruptly during Living Eyes it leads me to guess they could’ve done it again, earlier as well. Though I wonder if they thought that Vince couldn’t match his contributions to their most successful period.

I know he left voluntarily and it seemed like they were all good terms. I’d be curious to hear how Vince would’ve added to their disco period. I do think he’s a much more creative player than Alan. His riff on the 3rd verse of Birdie Told Me is incredibly unique and creative. He always knew how to play just enough and not steal spotlight away from their voices. I like Alan but his contributions and phrases always seemed like pretty standard lead guitarist stuff that most people could come up with and play. I feel like his lines weren’t ever all that creative, not compared to Vince.

I don’t mean to be rude or offensive in any way, I’m just very fascinated, as well as scared, of aging, and have always wondered why Brian’s eyes looked so drastically different from the 80s onward. His always looked squinted but in the 80s he looked like a completely different person with his eyes being naturally wider. It really throws me off. I know he lost weight, but I don’t know if that’d be it because his eyes were squinted when he was skinnier in the 60s. Was it just a result of natural aging and facial changes?

I’m surprised I’ve never heard any Brian clone theories like Paul. For me 90s Brian looks nothing like 60s and 70s Brian