my pleasure. I hope it makes some new fans, at least. it is very strange to me that such a huge/seminal act is so underappreciated by an (ostensible) community of music nerds.
― a dense custard of infinity (Shakey Mo Collier), Wednesday, 20 June 2012 20:40 (eleven years ago) link
whyyyyyyyyyyyy didn't I vote for To Love Somebody
oversight of the century holy shit
― Peppermint Patty Hearst (VegemiteGrrl), Wednesday, 20 June 2012 20:43 (eleven years ago) link
but yay it made #1 without me
― Peppermint Patty Hearst (VegemiteGrrl), Wednesday, 20 June 2012 20:44 (eleven years ago) link
So which song appeared on the most total ballots, regardless of placement?
― hutlock, Wednesday, 20 June 2012 20:46 (eleven years ago) link
Backtafunk
― Naive Teen Idol, Wednesday, 20 June 2012 20:47 (eleven years ago) link
Also, Primal Scream covered "To Love Somebody" at the Cleveland gig on their Screamadelica tour back in the day. I got to meet/greet/etc. (ahem) with them afterwards and I gushed all over Bobby Gillespie about them playing a Bee Gees tune and he had no idea -- said that they learned it from Gram Parsons.
Perfect.
― hutlock, Wednesday, 20 June 2012 20:48 (eleven years ago) link
Looks like "Nights on Broadway" with 14.
― Johnny Fever, Wednesday, 20 June 2012 20:50 (eleven years ago) link
yep
― a dense custard of infinity (Shakey Mo Collier), Wednesday, 20 June 2012 20:50 (eleven years ago) link
That's cool - I'm still baffled/impressed that there wasn't one single tune that made all the ballots. I would have thought at least one (maybe more like 5) of the big hits would have, considering there were only 17 voters. Speaks well to the depth of the catalog for sure.
― hutlock, Wednesday, 20 June 2012 20:53 (eleven years ago) link
yeah I think that's entirely down to them having four decades of material
― a dense custard of infinity (Shakey Mo Collier), Wednesday, 20 June 2012 20:57 (eleven years ago) link
...and only 17 people voting probably.
― Naive Teen Idol, Wednesday, 20 June 2012 21:01 (eleven years ago) link
nah more voters would have meant even less ballot uniformity
― a dense custard of infinity (Shakey Mo Collier), Wednesday, 20 June 2012 21:05 (eleven years ago) link
Wait, right.
― Naive Teen Idol, Wednesday, 20 June 2012 21:08 (eleven years ago) link
Naive Teen Idol, math major. :-)
― hutlock, Wednesday, 20 June 2012 21:13 (eleven years ago) link
Not enough of a Bee Gees fan to vote but enough of one to be enormously grateful to Shakey for this poll. I've put it all into a Spotify playlist and I'm looking forward to going through the non-hits.
― Get wolves (DL), Wednesday, 20 June 2012 21:37 (eleven years ago) link
You mind sharing it?
Thanks from me too, Shakey. I hate it when people say they didn't vote because ... but that was me here - I'd've been voting for the SNF stuff and nothing else, and figured the poll didn't need me ignorantly boostering just their best-known hits.
I wasn't even going to open the thread, but I'm glad I did. The fun facts with entry were a great idea.
― Ismael Klata, Wednesday, 20 June 2012 21:46 (eleven years ago) link
I'm looking forward to going through the non-hits.
that should cut the list down to about 6 songs :)
― a dense custard of infinity (Shakey Mo Collier), Wednesday, 20 June 2012 21:47 (eleven years ago) link
Final results
1. To Love Somebody2. Nights on Broadway3. More Than a Woman 4. How Deep is Your Love5. Jive Talkin'6. How Can You Mend A Broken Heart7. Stayin' Alive8. If I Can’t Have You9. I Started A Joke10. Night Fever11. Mr. Natural12. Fanny (Be Tender With My Love)13. Islands In The Stream14. Massachusetts15. I've Gotta Get A Message To You16. New York Mining Disaster 194117. You Should Be Dancing18. You Win Again19. Tragedy20. Heartbreaker21. Melody Fair22. Every Christian Lionhearted Man Will Show You23. Spicks & Specks24. Run To Me25. Emotion26. Lonely Days27. Holiday27. Spirits Having Flown28. Love You Inside Out29. World30. Lemons Never Forget31. I Just Want To Be Your Everything32. Words33. Grease34. Trafalgar35. Odessa (City on the Black Sea)36. Too Much Heaven37. **TIE** I Can't See Nobody, Sweet Song of Summer, Guilty38. Paradise39. Don't Wanna Live Inside Myself40. For Whom the Bell Tolls41. The Flag I Flew42. Shadow Dancing43. **TIE** Kilburn Towers, Edge of the Universe, Nobody's Someone,Please Read Me44. I Laugh in Your Face45. **TIE** Indian Gin And Whisky Dry, (Our Love) Don't Throw It All Away, Seven Seas Symphony46. Black Diamond47. An Everlasting Love48. **TIE** Throw a Penny, Chain Reaction49. **TIE** A Very Special Day, (Love is) Thicker Than Water50. Woman in Love
― a dense custard of infinity (Shakey Mo Collier), Wednesday, 20 June 2012 21:51 (eleven years ago) link
Playlist here. I know almost the entire Top 20, then it gets a bit spotty. Never got around to Odessa, Trafalgar, etc.
spoti.fi/M6rCfH
― Get wolves (DL), Wednesday, 20 June 2012 21:54 (eleven years ago) link
Thanks!
― Ismael Klata, Wednesday, 20 June 2012 22:04 (eleven years ago) link
*25. Emotion (Writers: Barry and Robin Gibb)104 points (5 votes)*
― Naive Teen Idol, Thursday, 21 June 2012 03:43 (eleven years ago) link
"Spicks and Specks" would have made a great Spïnäl Tap song title
― Lee626, Thursday, 21 June 2012 06:33 (eleven years ago) link
I saw them at Maple Leaf Gardens just prior to Saturday Night Fever, but I don't think I was ever that big a fan.
1. “More Than a Woman,” Tavares (40)2. “Night Fever,” Bee Gees (36)3. “If I Can’t Have You,” Yvonne Elliman (33)4. “To Love Somebody,” Bee Gees (30)5. “How Can You Mend a Broken Heart,” Al Green (28)6. “Run to Me,” Bee Gees (26)
― clemenza, Thursday, 21 June 2012 11:49 (eleven years ago) link
muh ballot
To Love Somebody - 40Paradise - 36Nights on Broadway - 33World - 30You Win Again - 28Every Christian Lion Hearted Man Will Show You - 26I Believe in Miracles (Robin Gibb) - 25Spicks and Specks - 24Stayin' Alive - 23Suddenly - 22Cryin' Every Day - 21I Laugh in Your Face - 20Nobody's Someone - 19Bury Me Down by the River - 18Tragedy - 17One - 16Lonely Days - 15Kitty Can - 14Holiday - 13You Know It's for You - 12
― Johnny Fever, Thursday, 21 June 2012 14:13 (eleven years ago) link
Thanks for posting!Here's mine:
To Love SomebodyMore Than a WomanHeartbreaker (Dionne Warwick)Fanny (Be Tender With My Love)Emotion (Samantha Sang)I Started A JokeI Just Wanna Be Your Everything (Andy Gibb)New York Mining Disaster 1941Love You Inside OutI've Gotta Get a Message to YouEdge of the UniverseRun To MeHow Deep Is Your Love? Jive Talkin'HolidayAll This Making LoveIslands in the StreamNights on BroadwayI Can't See NobodyWordsNight FeverYou Should Be DancingSpicks & SpecksToo Much HeavenMassachusettsMr. NaturalWildflowerMorning of My LifeIf I Can't Have You (Yvonne Elliman)Living Eyes
Just compared the final list to my ballot -- looks like 26 of my 30 made it. Would love to see some other folks' individual ballots if anyone feels like posting them...
― hutlock, Thursday, 21 June 2012 14:18 (eleven years ago) link
great stuff! here's my ballot:
Love You Inside OutMore Than A WomanTo Love SomebodyLonely DaysWords (Elvis Presley)TragedyHudson's Fallen Wind (Robin Gibb)ParadiseFanny (Be Tender With My Love)Every Christian Lionhearted Man Will Show YouSpicks & SpecksI Just Want To be Your Everything (Andy Gibb)Jive Talkin'Heartbreaker (Dionne Warwick)Nights On BroadwayAn Everlasting Love(Our Love) Don't Throw It All Away (Andy Gibb)Guilty (Barbra Streisand & Barry Gibb)You Should Be DancingAloneGive A Hand, Take A Hand (P P Arnold)Shadow Dancing (Andy Gibb)Stayin' AliveKathy's Gone (Robin Gibb)I Started A JokeWalking Back To WaterlooBoys Do Fall In Love (Robin Gibb)How Can You Mend A Broken HeartNight FeverHow Deep Is Your Love
― here's my lumber, so jack me maybe (some dude), Thursday, 21 June 2012 14:26 (eleven years ago) link
Mine: 1. Nights on Broadway 2. How Can You Mend a Broken Heart? 3. I Started a Joke 4. Mr. Natural 5. Lamplight 6. Odessa (City on the Black Sea) 7. Fannie (Be Tender With My Love) 8. The Flag I Flew 9. Run To Me 10. Massachusetts 11. For Whom the Bell Tolls 12. Islands in the Stream 13. Kathy's Gone 14. A Very Special Day 15. Heartbreaker 16. World 17. Melody Fair 18. I've Gotta Get a Message to You 19. I Can't See Nobody 20. Juliet 21. Method to My Madness 22. My Life Has Been a Song 23. To Love Somebody 24. Holiday 25. How Deep Is Your Love 26. Please Don't Turn Out the Lights 27. The Worst Girl In This Town 28. Indian Gin and Whisky Dry 29. He Can't Love You 30. First of May
― Naive Teen Idol, Thursday, 21 June 2012 15:18 (eleven years ago) link
Whoops -- Method to My Madness didn't chart, either. Great song, that.
Here’s my ballot. Mostly consensus picks:
01 Sweet Song of Summer02 Spirits (Having Flown) 03 How Deep Is Your Love04 Grease05 Guilty06 If I Can't Have You07 You Should Be Dancing 08 Tragedy09 More Than A Woman 10 Too Much Heaven11 Edge of the Universe12 Robot13 To Love Somebody14 Emotion15 Jive Talkin'16 How Can You Mend A Broken Heart?17 Paying The Price Of Love 18 I Held a Party19 You Win Again20 Trash (from 'Sesame Street Fever')21 I've Gotta Get a Message to You22 Melody Fair23 Chain Reaction24 Night Fever25 Stayin' Alive26 Words27 Morning of My Life28 Woman In Love29 Nights On Broadway30 Spicks and Specks
― Jeff W, Thursday, 21 June 2012 18:57 (eleven years ago) link
sort of kicking myself for forgetting to include the anecdote about how they wrote/came up with the idea for NY Mining Disaster 1941 (ie, warming up by singing in an echo-y stairwell outside the studio and thinking about how it sounded like they were at the bottom of a mineshaft)
― a dense custard of infinity (Shakey Mo Collier), Thursday, 21 June 2012 18:59 (eleven years ago) link
also meant to point out that every single album through 1987 was represented in the final results, with two exceptions: Life in a Tin Can and Cucumber Castle (if only one more person had voted for Maurice's "My Thing" arggh!)
― a dense custard of infinity (Shakey Mo Collier), Thursday, 21 June 2012 19:02 (eleven years ago) link
all the anecdotes about how they were inspired to write songs based on car and plane engine sounds and did diy explosion sound effects w/ microphones are so cool, goes to show how resourceful and kinda avant garde they could be for 'professional pop hitmakers' of their era
― here's my lumber, so jack me maybe (some dude), Thursday, 21 June 2012 19:06 (eleven years ago) link
also interesting to note that their "commercial nadir"(from To Whom it May Concern until Main Course) lasted a grand total of only 4 years lol
― a dense custard of infinity (Shakey Mo Collier), Thursday, 21 June 2012 19:16 (eleven years ago) link
yeah but 4 albums in 4 years -- these days if a big artist flops they'll take that long just to come back with a follow-up
― here's my lumber, so jack me maybe (some dude), Thursday, 21 June 2012 19:23 (eleven years ago) link
well, three albums. but yeah it's different now, people take forever to record follow-ups, rather than rush out something for fear that they will be forgotten/miss their chance
― a dense custard of infinity (Shakey Mo Collier), Thursday, 21 June 2012 19:30 (eleven years ago) link
Gotta dig out my copy of Life In a Tin Can now. I'm sure there is something there that I'm gonna love that I've totally forgotten about.
― hutlock, Thursday, 21 June 2012 19:50 (eleven years ago) link
Also, for those of you who haven't heard Robin's contribution to "Sesame Street Fever":
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FDH_8dNRH_8
― hutlock, Thursday, 21 June 2012 19:52 (eleven years ago) link
!!! omg never seen that before
― a dense custard of infinity (Shakey Mo Collier), Thursday, 21 June 2012 19:59 (eleven years ago) link
otm re songcraft trivia. i love that stuff, sorta makes it seem like their brains were sub-consciously, or consciously, 24/7 tuned into songwriting, which is kind of how I imagine songwriting to be when you're seriously *in it*
― Peppermint Patty Hearst (VegemiteGrrl), Thursday, 21 June 2012 20:19 (eleven years ago) link
The first is a three-hanky Robin tearjerker with Barry trading off in the gorgeous chorus.
The second is a really good Barry country song and namechecks his unreleased record, The Kid's No Good, in the chorus -- but is otherwise unrelated I think.
Third song is a Robin ballad with an unbelievable middle eight in which he uses the duck quack soul voice from "I Can't See Nobody."
Some of my favorite stuff by these guys.
― Naive Teen Idol, Friday, 22 June 2012 01:06 (eleven years ago) link
1. How Can You Mend a Broken Heart?2. (Love Is) Thicker Than Water3. More Than a Woman4. How Deep Is Your Love5. Emotion6. Night Fever7. To Love Somebody8. Please Read Me9. Nobody's Someone10. An Everlasting Love11. Baby As You Turn Away12. I Just Want To Be Your Everything13. Charade14. I Can Bring Love15. New York Mining Disaster 194116. Birdie Told Me17. Jive Talkin'18. Fanny (Be Tender With My Love)19. I Started a Joke20. Spicks and Specks21. My Thing22. If I Only Had My Mind On Something Else23. If I Can't Have You24. Nights on Broadway25. South Dakota Morning26. Shadow Dancing27. Children of the World28. Massachusetts29. The Battle of the Blue and Grey30. The Chance of Love
― Lee626, Saturday, 23 June 2012 21:39 (eleven years ago) link
Anyone have recommendations for a good Andy Gibb comp? This poll made me realize that I need one.
― hutlock, Tuesday, 26 June 2012 14:50 (eleven years ago) link
The 4-CD Mythology box of the Bee Gees includes one disc per brother, with the last dedicated to Andy. Seems pretty comprehensive, but of course, you need the whole thing. Not sure what else is available.
― Naive Teen Idol, Tuesday, 26 June 2012 15:14 (eleven years ago) link
Yeah, but then I'd also be saddled with a whole disc of Maurice.
(I KID, I KID)
― hutlock, Tuesday, 26 June 2012 21:24 (eleven years ago) link
I have a friend who grew up thinking this song ("I Started a Joke") was written from the perspective of Adolf Hitler, an interpretation which has always stuck with me.
.. this is awesome!
― SomeTwat from Tring (Tom D.), Monday, 16 July 2012 11:06 (eleven years ago) link
Finally put on the copy of Bee Gees Greatest I bought at a record show a few months ago. This was tucked inside:
http://i1059.photobucket.com/albums/t427/sayhey1/beegees_zps4bec8bc2.jpg
Not sure what the statute of limitations on these things is, but my checkbook's out. (There's an ad for this on the other side.)
― clemenza, Monday, 30 December 2013 20:12 (ten years ago) link
Not sure how that happened...As ahead-of-their-time as they were, the Bee Gees were not selling website domains in 1979. Should have linked here:
http://www.amazon.com/THE-LEGEND-Illustrated-Legend-Maurice/dp/B00113HQP2
― clemenza, Monday, 30 December 2013 20:16 (ten years ago) link
those tour shirts are sweeet
― set the controls for the heart of the sun (VegemiteGrrl), Monday, 30 December 2013 22:20 (ten years ago) link
I like the look of those chains too.
― president of the people's republic of antarctica (Arctic Mindbath), Monday, 30 December 2013 22:22 (ten years ago) link
ooh I missed that, I want one of those too
― set the controls for the heart of the sun (VegemiteGrrl), Monday, 30 December 2013 22:24 (ten years ago) link