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Archive for the 'Music' Category

Jun 09 2009

Robin Gibb: The Songwriter (cont.)

In late 1979 Robin Gibb and Blue Weaver began work to produce the “Sunrise” album for soul singer Jimmy Ruffin. Which would be released in May. The first songs they worked on were “Where Do I Go” (written by Robin, Maurice, Barry and Andy) and “Nobody” (written by Robin, Maurice and Barry). Both songs were written for the “Spirits Having Flown” album but not used. Robin reworked the lyrics for “Nobody” and it became “Forever”. Jimmy did a duet with Marcy Levy for “Where Do I Go”. For the “Sunrise” album Robin and Blue Weaver wrote “Two People”, “Searchin’ “,”Night Of Love”, “Jealousy”, “Hold On (To My Love)” and “Changin’ Me”.

Robin let his R+B style come out on the “Searchin’ “song.

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Jun 08 2009

Robin Gibb: The Songwriter (cont.)

In 1978 the Bee Gees were at it again. Writing and recording for a new album “Spirits Having Flown”. Which would be released in February 1979.

For the album Robin, Maurice and Barry wrote “Too Much Heaven” (first single - released November 1978), “Spirits (Having Flown)”, “Search, Find”, “Tragedy” (second single released February 1979), “Living Together”, “Love You Inside Out” (third single released April 1979), “I’m Satisfied”, “Until”, “Stop (Think Again)”, “Reaching Out” and “Nobody” (outtake). And “Where Do I Go” (outtake) a song Andy joined his brothers to write. Both “Nobody” and “Where Do I Go” would be used when Robin worked with Jimmy Ruffin on the “Sunrise” album.

On the same day Robin, Maurice and Barry wrote “Tragedy” and “Too Much Heaven” they joined younger brother Andy to write “Shadow Dancing”. When their creative juices start flowing, nothing can stop them.

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Jun 05 2009

Robin Gibb: The Songwriter (cont.)

In April 1977 The Bee Gees went to the Chateau D’Herouville in the north of France to mix their live album “Here At Last…Bee Gees…Live”. And begin work on a new album. The Chateau recording studio, a cold, depressing place in the middle of nowhere.  Is where the brothers were working when Robert Stigwood called. He was making a film called “Tribal Rites Of The New Saturday Night”. And needed music for the film. Rober took the songs the brothers were working on. The movies title was changed to “Saturday Night Fever”. And the soundtrack for the movie became the Bee Gees new album.

Robin, Maurice and Barry wrote “If I Can’t Have You” (Which would be give to Yvonne Elliman for the movie and soundtrack). “How Deep Is Your Love” (The first single from the soundtrack. The B side would be”Can’t Keep A Good Man Down” from the Bee Gees Live album), “Stayin Alive” (Second single. The B side was the Bee Gees version of “If I Can’t Have You”), “Night Fever” (Third single) and “More Than A Woman” (B side to “Night Fever”). All three singles hit #1 in the US.

During ‘77 Robin and Barry also wrote “Emotion”. Which Samantha Sang released and brought to #3 on the US charts. And Robin, Marice and Barry wrote “Warm Ride”. Which would appear on Andy Gibb’s third album, “After Dark”.

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Jun 02 2009

Robin Gibb: The Songwriter (cont.)

In January 1976 The Bee Gees returned to Criteria Studios in Miami to work on their “Children Of The World” album. Which would be released in September of 1976. This time Arif Mardin was not available as producer. But with Arif’s faith in them. Robin, Maurice and Barry (for the first time) decided to produce their own album.

For the new album Robin, Barry and Blue Weaver wrote “The Way It Was”. Robin and Barry wrote “Love Me”. While Robin, Maurice and Barry wrote “Subway” (B side), “Love So Right” (second single), “Lovers”, “Childern Of The World”, “You Stepped Into My Life” (B side), “Boogie Child” (third single), “Can’t Keep A Good Man Down” (B side). And the first single from the album, released June 1976. “You Should Be Dancing”, which gave the brothers another #1 single in the US.

The Bee Gees also rleased their “Gold” album. Which contained a collection of hits. “How Can You Mend A Broken Heart”, “Holiday”, “To Love Somebody”, “Massachusetts”, “Words”, “Lonely Days”, “Run To Me”, “I’ve Got To Get A Message To You”, “My World”, “I Can’t See Nobody”, “I Started A Joke” and “New York Mining Disaster 1941″.

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May 31 2009

Robin Gibb: The Songwriter (cont.)

In January 1975 the Bee Gees were working on a new album. For a change they went to Miami. Where they rented a house at 461 Ocean Boulevard. And began recording at Criteria Studios. Arif Mardin (who was producer on “Mr. Natural”) returned to work with the brothers. At a time when Robin, Maurice and Barry felt the record company had lost faith in them. Arif kept the faith. He helped to gently move them in a new direction. To a more R+B sound.

The brothers began to have fun and be creative. On the first day of the “Main Course” session Robin and Barry wrote “Was It All In Vain”(outtake). During the two months that they worked on their new “Main Course” album (which would be released June 1975). Robin and Barry wrote “Your Love Will Save The World” (outtake-would later be covered by Percy Sledge), “Come On Over”, “Wind Of Change” (B side), “Country Lanes” (B side) and “Edge Of The Universe” (B side). Robin, Maurice and Barry and Blue Weaver wrote “Songbird”. Robin, Maurice and Barry wrote “All This Making Love”, “Baby As You Turn Away”, “Nights On Broadway” (the second single from the album which reached #7 on the US charts. This was the first song Barry used falsetto on), “Fanny (Be Tender With My Love)” (the third single-reached #12 on US charts) and “Jive Talkin”.

“Jive Talkin” was inspired when the boys would drive from Criteria Studios to the house they rented on Ocean Boulevard. The drive took them across a bridge. Where the sound the car made as it crossed inspired the groove that made the song. The original lyrics were based on the rock and roll jive (the dance). When Arif told the brothers that jive talking was an expression for bullshitting somebody. The lyrics were changed from “Jive talkin’ you dance with your eyes” to “Jive talkin’ you’re telling me lies”. And the first line of the chorus became “Jive talkin’ so misunderstood”.

“Jive Talkin” became the first single off the “Main Course” album. And would be released in May. On June 18 the song hit #1 in the United States. It entered the charts in the UK and reached #5.

When the Bee Gees began their tour of the US on Mary 30 it would be the first time in eight years they would perform without a orchestra. Just the band. Dennis Bryon on drums. Geoff Westley and Blue Weaver on keyboards. Alan Kendall on lead guitar. Barry on rhythm guitar and Maurice on bass.

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May 29 2009

Robin Gibb: The Songwriter (cont.)

By 1974 the brothers were going through a down period. A week after they finished recording their new album “Mr. Natural”. On March 4th the Bee Gees began and American tour in New York City. After the high of the American tour they returned to England to begin a tour of Northern England club dates on April 28, 2974. They then moved on to Canada where from August 21st through the 31st they played to sold out houses all over Canada. On the “Mr. Natural” album the brothers worked with Arif Mardin as producer. Robin and Barry wrote “Mr. Natural” (first single released February 1974 which hit 93 on US charts yet did not even make it into the UK chart), “Dogs”, “Down The Road”, “Heavy Breathing”, “Throw A Penny” (second single) and “Charade” (3rd single. The song that Maurice said is “The Song for making Love”).

Maurice, Robin and Barry wrote “Had A Lot Of Love Last Night”, “Voices”, “It Doesn’t Matter Much To Me” (B side from “Mr. Natural” single) and “I Can’t Let You Go”.

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May 22 2009

Robin Gibb: The Songwriter (cont.)

In the end of 1972 and beginning of 1973 the Bee Gee were hard at work on their latest album “A Kick In The Head Is Worth Eight In The Pants”. But by August it was reported the Bee Gees had reached a decision to junk their album master. Robin, Maurice and Barry wrote these songs for the unreleased album. “Where Is Your Sister”, “Rocky L.A”, “Losers And Lovers”, “A Lonely Violin”, “Life Am I Wasting My Time”, “Jesus In Heaven”, “Home Again Rivers”, “Harry’s Gate”, “Dear Mr Kissinger”, “King And Country” “Castles In The Air” (which Graham Bonnet covered later in 1973) and “Wouldn’t I Be Someone” (which was released as a single on June 1973. With the Robin, Maurice and Barry written “Elisa” as the B side. “Wouldn’t I Be Someone” did appear on the “Best of Bee Gees Vol. 2″ that was released in June 1973).

In August a Robin and Barry written song “You’re My Heaven” was submitted as a single. But turned down. With no new album the Bee Gees needed a boost. Enter: Arif Mardin as producer.

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May 18 2009

Robin Gibb: The Songwriter (cont.)

Early 1972 Robin, Maurice and Barry were back writing and recording for a new album. “To Whom It May Concern”, which would be released in October of 1972. Robin wrote “Never Been Alone” for the new album. While Maurice, Robin and Barry wrote “Bad Bad Dreams”, “The Happiest Day Of Your Life” (outtake), “I Hold A Party”, “Paper Mache, Cabbages + Kings” (B side), “Please Don’t Turn Out The Lights”, “Road To Alaska” (B side to first single), “Run To Me” (first single released in July), “Sea Of Smiling Faces” and “Sweet Song Of Summer”.

By September the brothers were in LA. Where they were writing and recording for “Life In A Tin Can”. Which would be the first album for Robert Stigwood’s new RSO record label. The album would be released in the US on January 19, 1993. The album would hold four songs written by Robin, Maurice and Barry. “Living In Chicago”, “Method To My Madness”, “My Life Has Been A Song” and “Saw A New Morning” (released as a single March 1973).

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May 15 2009

Robin Gibb: The Songwriter (cont.)

Between January and April of 1971 Robin, Maurice and Barry recorded their latest album “Trafalgar”. For the new album Robin wrote “After The Laughter”, which ended up being an outtake. Barry and Robin wrote “Dearest”, “Amorous Aristocracy” (outtake), “Child” (outtake), “Lion In Winter”, “Remembering”, “When Do I” and “We Lost The Road” (which became an outtake on the “Trafalgar” album. But did appear on the Bee Gees next album “To Whom It May Concern”).

Robin, Maurice and Barry came together to write “Deep In The Dark Of Day” (outtake), “God’s Good Grace” (outtake) and “Walking Back To Waterloo”.

During the year Robin and Barry also wrote “If I Were The Sky”, which would be covered by Peter Maffay. And “My World” which the Bee Gees would release as a single on January 1972. It would also appear on “Best of Bee Gees Vol. 2″ in June 1973. The brothers proved they were back in force when “Lonely Days” (written by Robin, Maurice and Barry in 1970 for the “2 Years On” album) reached number three on the US singles charts. And “How Can You Mend A Broken Heart” (written by Robin and Barry in 1970 and appearing on the brothers “Trafalgar” album) hit number one in the US charts.

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May 13 2009

Robin Gibb: The Songwriter (cont.)

In the beginning of 1970 Robin was writing songs for his second solo album “Sing Slowly Sisters”. He wrote “All’s Well That Ends Well”, “Avalanche”, “Beat That Drum”, “C’est La Vie, Au Revoir”, “Cold Be My Days” (a six minute song that hints of his Isle of Man beginnings with the lyrics “You can see Snaefell from Pell Castle Tower”), “Everything Is How You See Me”, “I Was Your Used To Be”, “I’ll Herd My Sheep”, “Irons In The Fire”, “It’s No Use Crying Anymore”, “I’ve Been Hurt”, “Life”, “Make Believe”, “The Man Most Likely To Be”, “Return To Austria”, “Seven Birds Are Singing”, “Sing Slowly Sisters”, “Sky West And Crooked” and “A Very Special Day”.

Robin also wrote two songs that appeared on demos “Anywhere I Hand My Hat Is Home” and “Loud and Clear”. A published poem, “Your Life Was Created For Me”. And songs for two musicals. The song “The Family Circle” (for a play by the same name) and “Henry VIII” (for a play by the same name). Fifteen months after Robin had walked away from the Bee Gee. He made a surprise visit to Barry at his home. Where the two wrote “How Can You Mend A Broken Heart”. (Which would be a single on their “Trafalger” album in 1971.) “It’s not nice when you have success on your own.” (Robin) The brothers stopped work on solo projects (the “Sing Slowly Sisters” project was set aside). The Bee Gees reunion was made public on August 21, 1970.

Robin and Maurice began writing for the new Bee Gees album “2 Years On” in June. They wrote “2 Years On”, “Belinda” (outtake), “Blue Bird” (outtake), “Blues” (outtake), “Call I What You LIke” (outtake), “The Change I See” (outtake), “Come To The Mission” (outtake), “Conquer The World” (outtake), “Fantasy” (outtake), “Find Me A Woman” (outtake), “Getting Back Together” (outtake), “I Can Laugh” (outtake), “I Wonder If You Wonder” (outtake), “I’ve Been Waiting” (outtake), “Jam” (outtake), “Lost” (outtake), “Maybe Tommorow” (outtake), “No More Music Now” (outtake), “Red Train” (outtake), “Sail At My Side” (outtake), “Sincere Relation” (Robin’s tribute to his late father-in-law.[Molly’s]), “Sweet Summer Rain” (outtake), “Too Much To Think About” (outtake), “The Way I Feel Today” (outtake), “Whistle Me” (outtake), “You Got To Lose It In The End” (outtake) and “You’re Going Away” (outtake).

Barry, Robin and Maurice wrote “Back Home”, “Lonely Days” (which was released as a single in November) and “Man For All Seasons” (B side) for the “2 Years On” album. While Maurice wrote “Lay It On Me”. Barry wrote “Every Second, Every Minute”, “The First Mistake I Made”, “Portrait Of Louise” and “Tell Me Why”. Robin wrote “Alone Again” and “I’m Weeping”.

Robin Maurice and Barry also wrote an instrumental “To Dance Again” for the Musketeers TV program.

The brothers were back “It’s like a spiritual thing when we write. We know what the other one is thinking. As if we have a language between us.” (Robin)

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