Bee Gees First (1967)

• Chris Anderson's Review  

  'Turn Of The Century' is the first song were introduced to, and with it the trading off of vocals between Barry and Robin. I like this song, and i'm sorry it wasn't a single and a big hit. With the orchestra on this song, it gives it a Beatles-esque flavour, something that occurs throught the whole album, but with songs such as 'Holiday', another song that i'm sorry about not being a big hit single, though it did reach the top 20 in the US, and 'To Love Somebody', yet another song that should have been a big hit single, it's pretty clear that the sound to the BeeGees is a lot more advanced and adult than the Beatles when they first arrived on the scene. Probably the most obvious Beatles-influenced songs comes with 'In My Own Time', a rocking song in a style that we would be treated to each album.

  We're also introduced to two very different lead vocals by Barry and Robin. On 'To Love Somebody', we have Barry in soulful delivery mode, a song that has a soul feel, something that crops a few times on the album, as the song was originally for Otis Redding. On 'I can't See Nobody', the b-side of 'New York Mining Disaster', we have Robin singing in his soulful, vibrato, elaborate delivery. And on these songs we're treated to the impeccable three part harmony.

  Another song where we have a soul feel is 'Please Read Me', a wonderful, gentle ballad. Another wondeful, happy little jaunt comes with 'Close Another Door'.

  There are also startling pieces of originality with 'Craise Finton Kirk Royal Academy of Arts', also a Beatles-esque number, but somehow a song that they wouldn't have ever been able to do that well; 'Cucumber Castle', a song that only the BeeGees would have been able to have written at that exact time; and 'New York Mining Disaster', a haunting song made even more haunting by Barry and Robin singing in unison, one of the first times we would hear this blend, with simple guitar. This song was also their first single, their first international hit, and not only one of the best things on the album, but one og the best things in the BeeGee' catalogue.

  An excellent album, certainly a must for any record collection, and an album that shouldn't be forgotten.
  
  

• Marty Hogan's Review

  The Brothers Gibb first international album is a masterpiece of songwriting, singing and production. Squeezed in the time zone of British Pop Groups ala the Beatles, they had small chance of doing well, considering they had the same vocal harmonies that the Beatles had (although they started them earlier than the Beatles in Manchester, England). Other than that, this set contains classic, everlasting songs that continue to be covered by other artists. Nearly EVERY song has been sung by another artist and To Love Somebody has been covered more than 250 times, according to Rolling Stone. Not a small achievement, by any mean, by three teenagers! Hats off to the three teen brothers who took the current technology of the time and survived, despite the georgeous Beatles, Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band of 1967. What a start! 
  Footnote: 1980s Bee Gees technical engineer, Scott Glasel mentioned to me in 1986, that whenever he feels a need for inspiration, he puts on Bee Gees First.