Friday, August 17, 2012 12:30 PM

Warner


“Barry, Robin and Maurice – first stepped blinking into the sunshine of Queensland, Australia, in the late 1950s and in the succeeding half century has grown to entertain, enchant, and enthral millions in nearly every corner of the world. This achievement has not come without trauma and tragedy, with separation all the more painful and reunification all the more inspiring because of the family ties that bind. Some things you can never leave.”

So begins the liner notes of The Ultimate Bee Gees, written by Sir Tim Rice in 2009. The 2CD set was released to mark their 50th anniversary, this week we remember their music as Prime TV goes behind the scenes at 9:30pm on Monday night.

In Our Own Time is a documentary made two years ago on the long and illustrious career of the Brothers Gibb, from their modest beginnings to unrivalled worldwide success in the '70's. The story is told by Barry and Robin from extensive interviews, and the documentary also includes an interview with Robert Stigwood, videos, TV appearances and live performances. For a Bee Gees fan, it is a must watch. I’ve been lucky enough to see an advance screening. As you’ll see, it’s intriguing watching the home video footage of their childhood, their first television appearance in Australia, bearing their teeth, and hearing about the music that inspired them way back then. For Robin, it was Wake Up Little Suzie, then the songs of Neil Sedaka, Elvis and the Beatles. Later on are the rises and falls, as Tim Rice alluded to at the top.

Their album ‘Saturday Night Fever’ remains the best-selling soundtrack in history. Many of those songs are, of course, on this compilation album. That trade mark falsetto over a disco groove features prominently on the first disc, which showcases their more upbeat material. That’s your party CD. On disc two, the ballads take centre stage. From the opening track onwards, there are so many classics, and their voices get the time and space to really shine. To Love Somebody and the live version of Heartbreaker are particular highlights.


Track listing:

Disc one
1. "You Should Be Dancing" – 4:16
2. "Stayin' Alive" – 4:43
3. "Jive Talkin'" – 3:44
4. "Nights on Broadway" – 4:33
5. "Tragedy" – 5:02
6. "Night Fever" – 3:32
7. "More Than a Woman" – 3:17
8. "Fanny (Be Tender with My Love)" – 4:04
9. "Spirits (Having Flown)" – 5:11
10. "If I Can't Have You" – 3:19
11. "Boogie Child" – 4:11
12. "Love You Inside Out" – 4:10
13. "You Win Again" – 4:00
14. "One" – 4:52
15. "Secret Love" – 3:32
16. "Alone" – 4:49
17. "Still Waters (Run Deep)" – 4:08
18. "This Is Where I Came In" – 4:52
19. "Spicks and Specks" (Live) (Barry Gibb) – 2:25

Disc two
1. "How Deep Is Your Love" – 4:02
2. "To Love Somebody" (Barry Gibb, Robin Gibb) – 3:00
3. "Words" (mono mix) – 3:17
4. "How Can You Mend a Broken Heart" – 3:58
5. "Too Much Heaven" – 4:55
6. "Emotion" (Barry Gibb, Robin Gibb) – 3:39
7. "Lonely Days" – 3:47
8. "Run to Me" – 3:12
9. "Love So Right" – 3:37
10. "For Whom the Bell Tolls" (single edit) – 3:58
11. "I've Gotta Get a Message to You" (mono single mix) – 3:03
12. "New York Mining Disaster 1941" (mono mix) (Barry Gibb, Robin Gibb) – 2:10
13. "Massachusetts" (mono mix) – 2:21
14. "I Started a Joke" – 3:08
15. "World" (mono mix) – 3:17
16. "First of May" (mono mix) – 2:50
17. "Holiday" (Barry Gibb, Robin Gibb) – 2:55
18. "Don't Forget to Remember" (Barry Gibb, Maurice Gibb) – 3:31
19. "Islands in the Stream" (Live) – 3:46
20. "Heartbreaker" (Live) – 1:05
21. "Guilty" (Live) – 2:23