VA - To Love Somebody: The Songs Of The Bee Gees 1966-1970 (2017)

A decade before the Saturday Night Fever years, the Bee Gees were writing classic songs that endure to this day. A welcome addition to our Songwriter series, these recordings span the full range from the early Australian Leedon/Spin period to the soul, psych and classic pop of their 1967-1970 heyday. The top soul artists of the time would queue up to record Gibb Brothers compositions - Al Green, Percy Sledge, James Carr, Nina Simone, Bettye Swann and others put their personal stamp on these instantly recognizable songs.

Barry, Maurice and Robin Gibb always considered themselves to be songwriters first and performers second. Indeed, Barry wrote his first song, ‘Turtle Dove’, at age nine on an acoustic guitar he received for Christmas 1955. After their move to Australia in 1958, the brothers, managed by father Hugh, found plenty of work performing, writing, recording and appearing on TV – opportunities which would have been hard to come by had they remained in the UK. Barry signed his first publishing deal at 15 and supplied songs for Leedon Records’ stable of artists, as well as for the Bee Gees themselves.

1963 saw the release of the group’s first single, ‘The Battle Of The Blue And The Grey’, penned by Barry. The Australian years were a hard slog, particularly when playing the tough veterans’ club circuit, sharing the bill with exotic dancers. However, Barry and his younger twin brothers built up valuable experience. It was common to see them huddled together backstage, with an acoustic guitar, pen and paper. A new song would follow shortly after. Despite their best efforts and a number of 45s issued on Leedon, a hit record eluded them until ‘Spicks And Specks’, their second single for Spin Records, charted just as the Gibb family decided to move back to the UK.

On their return to the UK in February 1967, music biz mogul Robert Stigwood sought out the brothers, and their careers went into overdrive. By this time Robin and Maurice were also well up to speed in their songwriting. Stigwood soon had them in Polydor’s studio in Stratford Place, and before long ‘New York Mining Disaster 1941’ was in the charts.

Artists from the full spectrum of musical styles have covered the Gibbs’ songs. From US stoner rock bands to more easy listening fare, stopping off at psychedelia, lovers rock, power ballads and classic pop. The top soul singers of the late 60s seemed to be particularly adept at interpreting their numbers. Barry’s guitar playing was basic, often tuning to an open chord and barring with one finger. This lack of chops in conjunction with a simple melody left plenty of space for the soul singers of the day to put their personal stamp on the songs.

TRACKLIST

01. Sharon Tandy - World (3:25)
02. Al Green - How Can You Mend a Broken Heart (6:22)
03. James Carr - To Love Somebody (3:17)
04. Percy Sledge - I've Gotta Get a Message to You (3:02)
05. Nina Simone - I Can't See Nobody (3:13)
06. Bettye Swann - Words (2:36)
07. Lulu - Bury Me Down by the River (3:27)
08. The Staple Singers - Give a Hand, Take a Hand (5:01)
09. Marbles - Only One Woman (2:44)
10. Velvett Fogg - New York Mining Disaster 1941 (2:56)
11. Sidewalk Society - Red Chair, Fade Away (2:59)
12. Goon Moon - Every Christian Lion Hearted Man Will Show You (4:27)
13. Los Bravos - Like Nobody Else (2:57)
14. Sandie Shaw - Sun in My Eyes (2:44)
15. Paul Jones - And the Sun Will Shine (2:58)
16. Status Quo - Spicks and Specks (2:45)
17. April Byron - He's a Thief (1:55)
18. Ronnie Burns - Exit Stage Right (2:27)
19. Jon - Town of Tuxley Toymaker Part 1 (3:21)
20. David Garrick - Maypole Mews (3:13)
21. Pat Kelly - I Started a Joke (3:35)
22. John Holt - Morning of My Life (2:51)
23. Tommy Roe - Massachusetts (2:18)
24. José Feliciano - First of May (3:53)