Show Notes
Stuart and Cristiano return for the fourth season with 1981's 'Living Eyes'. In the midst of legal affairs with RSO, a disco backlash, and a shake-up to the recording style and personnel which had accompanied the Gibbs over the previous five years, the resulting album, which also had a smash-hit predecessor in 'Spirits Having Flown' to live up to, was always going to suffer. And although the album struggled commercially and critically, and subsequently dismissed by the Brothers Gibb, it has gone on to become a fan favourite. A return to natural voices, orchestral bombast and the triumphant return of Robin and Maurice on lead vocals make this album a special one. In this first part, Stuart and Cristiano discuss the context of the album's recording, and the five songs that comprise side one.
Tim Roxborogh - 'Living Eyes at 40' - Barry Gibb With Tim Roxborogh On The 40th Anniversary Of Living Eyes - 2021 - YouTube
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More from Words - The Bee Gees Podcast
1991's 'High Civilization' had producer Femi Jiya working with the Bee Gees to create a sound that emphasised percussion, rhythm and abrasive, industrial soundscapes. The result is a departure from the traditional Bee Gees sound, and an album that has often divided opinion. Despite continued lack of promotion and success in North America, the album and subsequent tour proved to be a hit in Europe. Stuart and Cristiano compare their varying perspectives on this album, running through the five songs on side one, and uncovering a lost concept album along the way. Are you ready for high civilization?
Across April-December 1989, the Bee Gees undertook a world tour to accompany the album 'One'. With the Melbourne concert appearing in the 2014 'Warner Years' compilation, and a 2018 release of the 'Live In Australia' concert footage, there is plenty of reference material for this all-encompassing tour, and Stuart and Cristiano look through the setlist and compare the live renditions to the original studio recordings. In 1990, the Bee Gees released an extensive compilation titled 'Tales From The Brothers Gibb', chronicling the Gibb catalogue from 1967-89, and Stuart and Cristiano reflect upon this release and its significance.
The second side of 'One' continues with the album's smooth, AOR style, with Robin's R&B pop 'Tokyo Nights', Maurice's smoky 'House of Shame' and the album's centrepiece tribute to Andy, 'Wish You Were Here'. Stuart and Cristiano consider the album as released on CD in the UK, with 'Wing And A Prayer' as the closing track, and also discuss the Bee Gees' song for the 1988 Olympic Games.
First released in April 1989, 'One' was the Bee Gees' second offering with label Warner, and like its predecessor 'E.S.P.', it would follow the trajectory of scoring high in Europe whilst struggling with the North American market. Despite this, Stuart and Cristiano discuss the album's American-sounding adult-oriented-rock production, and how this was an album shaped by the recent tragic events in the Gibb's lives. With two incredible ballads, two lead singles and a possible Michael Jackson reject composition, the five songs on side one represent the mood of the album. "Say goodbye, cruel world. No pity, no pain tonight. Whatever the cost, all is lost. And if it's love with no name, then it's all in the stars."
Pat O'Grady joins the show to discuss his publication 'Bee Gees, Process and Latent Elements in Music Production', breaking down his process of constructing the text and how he has interpreted different elements of the Gibb's music, such as examining the use of space and reverb in 'New York Mining Disaster 1941', or competent layering in 'You Win Again'.