Bee Gees World - Reviews: Main Course

Main Course (1975)

Chris Anderson's Review

This album contains some of the best work they've ever committed to record. 'Nights on Broadway' i would put in the top 5 best songs ever. It's a marvelously crafted song, and so strong that i would never have thought a song could be so strong. Strong vocals by both Barry and Robin, and a fantastic unison vocal on every other line of the verse. Should have been a number 1 single, but was strangely never a hit in the UK. The obvious thing that stands out is it's the first song Barry used the falsetto.

'Jive Talkin'' follows, and was the perfect lead-off single. Great song on record, even greater live.

By the time we reach 'Wind Of Change', it becomes obvious that this is going to be a great album, and it's such an aptly titled song for the change of direction that was occurring around this time.

I like 'Fanny Be Tender', but for some reason find it a difficult song to listen to sometimes. 'All This Making Love' continues the new style found on the highly underrated 'Mr Natural', but this song is more experimental than the other R 'n' B songs on this album.

We next arrive at two great Robin-led country-tinged songs with 'Come On Over' and 'Country Lanes', and really two songs that could have, should have been singles.

'Edge Of The Universe' is another song that has Barry and Robin singing in unison for much of it. Strong melody, strong music, crazy lyrics.

'Baby As You Turn Away' finishes strongly, a falsetto-led country-tinged song, full of emotion.

'Main Course' is certainly one of their best and strongest albums, and certainly highlights their songwriting abilities. Maybe, with their back firmly against the wall it made them produce some of their best.
Review by George Seeley, The Ultimate Bee Gees Fan, at ultimatebeegeesfan@hotmail.com

Main Course; what better a name for the Bee Gees biggest breakthrough album in America? The one that got them on the charts, and onto the radio. The one that prepared the public for the main course of Bee Gees music to come; something that would really be full of good songs. Starting out with Nights on Broadway, the album has class and style, with that classic and recognizable Bee Gees falsetto that would forever become their trademark. (In a live performance viewable on youtube, Maurice at the end goes falsetto; check it out, you will know it when you hear it) The way they mixed falsetto with their lower, epic voices is awesome; next up is Jive Talkin' with some nice R&B flavor and righteous bass. This song is very radio fitting with a relaxed, confident sound and some nice synthesizer, but not so much like in 80's music where it was overused; the Bee Gees had their songs mixed perfectly with a little bit of everything. Winds of Change, the third, is an appropriate title as this album was their wind of change; this song is a little bit on the mellow side, but when the chorus comes in it has so much glory, that one cannot help but feel nostalgic. As Barry himself said, "Firstly, I think we give the public melodies. And secondly, we don't attempt to preach at people. There are so many groups which try to change the world. We, I think, are simply a pop group which writes all its own songs. We write songs about people and situations; we tell stories in our songs, but we don't give sermons." (1968) To me, this couldn't be more true, especially with their disco; their mid to late 70's. Their music is about melodies, and after that emotions, not current events, but universal, timeless emotions. Fanny (Be Tender With My Love) is a peaceful, serene song with emotions that only the Bee Gees could express as well as this song demonstrates. Country Lanes is a pleasant song that really gives the flavor of the country with some nice piano to soothe. With track 9, the Bee Gees deliver one of the most unique and fun Bee Gees songs ever, with a unique, flavor and melody that is pure 70's in style. A classic to say the least. Totally check the above mentioned songs for a trip back to the 70's with the Bee Gees; these songs sound good and will always be loved forever. This is the Ultimate Bee Gees Fan signing off, and my email address is ultimatebeegeesfan@hotmail.com in case you want to talk Bee Gees with me, which is always a go.

Kirsten's review

I like the Main Course album - my favorite songs on there are Nights On Boardway, Fanny (Be Tender With My Love), Edge Of The Universe, Come On Over - I didn't like Jive Talkin, Country Lanes, they were not my type of songs!
I give the Main Course album 4 stars!
Kirsten

Barry Kim's review
This is a really great album, I guess you could call it a comeback album. Very strong songs, this has to be my personal favorite of the Brothers Gibb. All the songs are great, and I love obscure songs.... But my top 5 out of the 10 has to be...in no certain order...
-Fanny (be tender with my love)
-Songbird
-Country lanes
-Edge of the universe
-Wind of change

--Barry Kim (Bee Gees tribute artist)

Robbie's review

This was The Bee Gees second effort with Arif Mardin, and this time the effort payed off by hitting the top of the charts. I like that most of the album was funky and uptempo. Which at the time, was probably the last thing you'd expect from The Bee Gees. But it also worked for The Average White Band and Hall & Oats. "Jive Talkin'", "Edge Of The Universe", "Nights On Broadway", and "All This Makin' Love" I think are the four best songs on it. I really love the Main Course album.

--Robbie

Wind of Change - by Henar

Main Course is for many the best Bee Gees work. The three singles -Jive Talkin, Nights On Broadway and Fanny (Be Tender With My Love)- were big hits, but they are not the only gems on this really varied album, where you can find R'n'B, funky, ballads, soul, country, pop.

This album marked a turning point in the Bee Gees career: the orchestra left its place to the synthesizers and a new Bee Gees sound was born. The Bee Gees didn't appear on the album cover and the sound was so different that many thought it was a black R'n'B band.

Main Course opens with Nights On Broadway, the song where Barry's trademark falsetto was oficially born in the form of ad-libs. Next is the funky Jive Talkin, an experimental song inspired by the sound made by their car on a bridge they had to cross to get to the studio. It was the first single from this album, and though they never expected it to become a hit, it entered the USA charts at no. 9 and soon went no. 1. It's one of the songs the Bee Gees always include in their concerts and which makes the audience rise on their feet and dance to it.

Wind Of Change was the second track written for the album and its title summarizes what this song represents: the turning point, the birth of the Bee Gees new sound. Its construction inspired that of Nights on Broadway.

Songbird is the first of the three ballads on this album. It was co-written by their keyboard player, Blue Weaver, and has Barry on the lead. The lyrics are naif and a bit too slushy but the soulful melody is very evocative and nice to listen to over and over again.

Fanny (Be Tender With My Love) is a powerful R'n'B song. Barry's natural voice and falsetto mix and give the song an incredible effect. You never get tired of listening to this song. It's perfect.

All this making love. Main Course was an experimental album for the Bee Gees. They tried different styles, and this pop song is different from other songs on the album. For me, the weakest song.

Country Lanes was the first song written for Main Course. It's a ballad with Robin on the lead. Beautiful.

The Bee Gees like country and Come On Over is a proof of it. I wish they had written more country-like songs throughout their career.

Edge Of The Universe has bizarre lyrics. It's about an alien and his dog. A pop song like All This Making Love. Love the live version.

The album closes with Baby As you Turn Away, a ballad. On the one hand with Main Course the Bee Gees were trying to escape from their image as a band that could write just ballads, but luckily enough they didn't get rid totally of the ballads and included in the album three outstanding examples. Baby As You Turn Away is in fact a very simple song in its construction but once you've listened to it you'll never forget its melody. And it shows the Bee Gees can write lyrics that make sense!

In brief, this album is a must, so if you haven't listened to it yet, you better run to a shop and grab your copy!