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Post by Deleted on Nov 29, 2015 6:17:20 GMT
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Post by jrmugz on Nov 29, 2015 9:51:27 GMT
Sounds good Brax, will be nice to take a fresh look at these after all these years! Look for a review by mid-week or so. Jim
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Post by queenofthehours on Nov 29, 2015 13:10:39 GMT
Great! Some disco-y pop on the run up to Christmas!
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Post by joeyjoejoejr on Nov 29, 2015 17:32:11 GMT
I always thought that 'Julie Don't Live Here' had a Bee Gee influence.
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Post by Chippa on Nov 29, 2015 18:40:18 GMT
I always thought that 'Julie Don't Live Here' had a Bee Gee influence. I'm not sure about that. I think it has a definite ABBA feel, though. The ELO song that most reminds me of the Bee Gees is the chorus to "Train Of Gold".
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Post by Helmut83 on Nov 29, 2015 19:48:25 GMT
One of my mother's favourite bands. I like their classic era stuff, not so much their disco epoque. Let's see what this selection is about...
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Post by unomusette on Nov 29, 2015 20:51:22 GMT
Perfect album to cheer us up in a rainy, dark November. Bring on the Brothers Gibb!
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Post by Chippa on Dec 2, 2015 21:07:13 GMT
I have my lime green leisure suit on, let's go....
1.Jive Talkin' - Funky, rhythmic, straight up 70's fun.
2. Night Fever - This song spins and shines like a disco ball. Barry Gibb's voice is iconic. Love the "chika chika" guitar".
3. Tragedy - Love the overall sound and production, here. Massive synths gurgle, bubble and swirl, along with the horns and strings. What a gem.
4.You Should Be Dancing - Probably the purest "disco" song the Bee Gees ever did. Cool bridge, leading into a memorable chorus.
5. Stayin' Alive - This song makes me wanna put on a shiny, tight, silk shirt(even if it's 100 degrees), and dance until I pass out and dissolve into a puddle of Old Spice scented sweat.
6.How Deep Is Your Love - One of their best ballads. Great melody, great vocals.
7. Too Much Heaven - The brothers Gibb sang harmonies like almost nobody else. Barry's vocal acrobatics towards the end are a thing of wonder.
8. More Than A Woman - Nice chorus, with those sweeping strings. Wonder if the Bee Gees took any influence from ELO?
9. Nights On Broadway - Hey, it's the Barry Gibb talk show theme! (sorry. Jimmy Fallon reference). This song builds into one epic pop song. Probably the catchiest chorus the band ever did. Great hooks. Best song on the album, for sure.
Overall, I'd give this set of songs a strong 8/10. Catchy, if a bit dated.
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Post by jrmugz on Dec 2, 2015 21:34:18 GMT
Will review later, but really enjoying playing it on the step machine. i agree with you Chippa on "Too Much Heaven", it really hit me what a great song that was hearing it after all these years.
Jim
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Post by 88keys on Dec 3, 2015 6:39:00 GMT
The Bee Gees sort of had three separate careers, it seems. Phase one was their Beatles influenced 60's/early 70's phase. Then came their late 70's renaissance as disco godfathers, then they had a come back in the mid-80's that lasted off and on until the early 2000's.
None of these songs are bad, boring or flat. They each have their own shining moment that helps them to stick out as being special.
Tragedy, Nights On Broadway, How Deep Is Your Love & Too Much Heaven each have a timeless quality to them. You could do a mild tweak to each of those songs, and they could have fit in during any era of pop music, including today. Just listen to artists like Justin Timberlake, Maroon 5, or alternative bands like Broken Bells. There's some major Bee Gees influence within their music.
The most charming and endearing thing about these songs is the organic feeling to them. I know organic isn't exactly the first word that comes to mind when you think of disco era Bee Gees, but give a close listen and you'll hear how warm these songs are with the gorgeous analog synthesizers, horn sections, and intricately woven harmonies. It's like a college course in how to write and produce great pop tunes.
Ok, I'll give this a very enthusiastic "Buy It" on the "Buy It"/"Try It"/"Trash it" scale.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 3, 2015 17:48:17 GMT
9. Nights On Broadway - Hey, it's the Barry Gibb talk show theme! (sorry. Jimmy Fallon reference). This song builds into one epic pop song. Probably the catchiest chorus the band ever did. Great hooks. Best song on the album, for sure. LMAO. The Barry Gibb Talk Show!
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Post by jrmugz on Dec 5, 2015 1:06:38 GMT
OK Brax, here is my review of the 9 Bee Gees "Greatest Hits" that you selected. 01. "Jive Talkin'" - Really love the keyboard riff on it. Fun song all around. 02. "Night Fever" - Straightforward 70s disco song right up there with "Do the Hustle" and "Rock With You". 03. "Tragedy"- "Tragedy, when you sing so high when you're a guy, it's tragedy", to quote comdian Dennis Blair. Nice majestic/adventuresque music-scape with harmonizing guitars, and they gotta sue the person who made the song "Gloria", I'm thinking. 04. "You Should Be Dancing"- I can actually be in the back seat of the Travella sitting next to my mom, leaning on her falling asleep coming back from Niagra Falls or wherever when I hear this song, it's so 70s. Groovy tune. Probably the most nostalgic of all of them for me. 05. "Stayin' Alive" - Say what we want about the Bee Gees and this song, but it sure is hard to sit still for it. 06. "How Deep Is Your Love?" - Nice haunting ballad. 07. "Too Much Heaven" - To me this really is the big standout song of all of these, they really nail the vocals and everything just right in this one. 08. "More Than A Woman" - This one sounds like a continuation of "Night Fever" to me. Nice sentimintal thought, more than a woman. 09. "Nights On Broadway" - Very nice, great majestic beginning. I agree that it sounds like the theme of a talk show. Star Rating: 4 out of 5 Prime Cuts: "Too Much Heaven", "Jive Talkin'", "Nights on Broadway" Bottom Line" Good quality 70s pop/disco, that stands the test of time, with great harmonies. Thanks Brax, enjoyed analyzing the songs up close, and will mark yo udown for your respective time slot for next year, Jim
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Post by Helmut83 on Dec 5, 2015 4:40:54 GMT
Well, when I did my previous comment I knew 5 of the 9 tracks from before, but I didn't know that the other 4 which were unknown to me were all disco tracks, making it a heavily disco loaded selection.
I have a huge respect for the Bee Gees, they are one of the few bands I grew up listening to thanks to my mother who is a big fan and I think they were immensely talented, but not being keen on disco music (and this is a rule to which I've found very few exceptions) I didn't enjoy much most of this selection.
The songs I liked are the two ballads. "How deep is your love?" is a timeless masterpiece based on a fantastic, memorable melody, over a bolero rythm. "Too much heaven" has another of those sweet, really original melodies that the Bee Gees were so good at creating, and it's beauty is enhanced with the Gibbs masterful harmonies.
Among the disco stuff, a song I think needs to be highlighted is "Nights on Broadway". It has a very good chorus, plus much of it isn't sung in that annoying falsetto tone like most of the other songs, which is a huge plus for it. The rest, like I said, I didn't enjoy, although it was good to know what's about the stuff you don't know from the Gibb brothers always deserves to be given a listen.
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Post by jrmugz on Dec 5, 2015 19:26:26 GMT
I can agree with you Helmut83 that they sound overall stronger when not using the falsetto. Jim
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Post by unomusette on Dec 5, 2015 21:00:57 GMT
The Bee Gees, consummate professionals. From their quirky '60's output, to becoming THE disco group in the late '70's, to producing loads of great artists in the '80's and still bringing out successful pop records, not many can match up to them. I think they had their worth realised properly a few years ago, in much the same way as Jeff is being recognised now, luckily whilst all three were still with us. Can't recall seeing Barry Gibb much in evidence these days, but I think he has health problems of his own so taking a well earned retirement is quite understandable. Jive Talkin' - I claim the prize for knowing trivia about this song, apparently the intro was inspired by the noise made as their car went over a slatted wooden bridge into their house in Miami *smug* I love the way the intro builds up, the irresistible beat of it and the funky bass sound. Not to mention great stereo effects on headphones, it's simply fab and a great track to kick off with. Night Fever - The strings give this a lovely smooth feel and the sparkly harp/piano sound is the icing on the cake. Loads going on again but it doesn't seem overloaded at all. Get that white suit on and strike a pose Tragedy - Epic falsetto on this song, almost to the point of parody. Love the bit where he draws out the "Youuuuuuu" just over the percussion background, and the clap of thunder, brilliant. I get the feeling on all their songs that they really enjoyed themselves putting them together. You Should be Dancing - Great super-funky opening. More interesting stereo layers, love the bongoes, the twangy guitars and the instrumental break with the shrieking over it (in a good way of course). Once again you want to make a fool of yourself on the dancefloor to this, and that's probably just what they were aiming for. Stayin' Alive - More laid back, can't help but giggle remembering the daft video though. Not to mention a million Bee Gees impressions by the likes of Kenny Everett and Stevie Riks. A total gift of a track. How Deep is Your Love - Ahhh, soothing. Time to flop down after all that prancing and get your breath back. Proves the range of their songwriting talents. Too Much Heaven - Sounding very much of its time, but that's not a bad thing at all. You always need songs like this for the end of the evening when people want to smooch with the partner of their choice More Than a Woman - Back to the classy upbeat stuff, and the bongoes are back, hurray! Lots of strings too, and I like the plinky keyboard effects from about halfway through. Extra points for the hilarious photo on the Youtube page, so adorkable Nights on Broadway - Last song already, I was so enjoying myself too. This one sounds a lot darker but the funkiness is also ramped up so it's a proper winner. This has been a real treat to listen to, we probably know all the songs pretty well already but taking time to listen properly on earphones really shows the craft that went into producing them. Not to mention a trip back in time to when I was young and fancy-free. I'd give it a solid 9 out of 10 - if I was really in the mood it might even be a perfect 10. Thanks for sharing @brax , we can always rely on you to bring some groove to this thread *cheers*
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