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Bee Gees 1st
Bee Gees 1st
Details

Album Type

Studio Album

Released

July 14, 1967 (UK)
August 9, 1967 (USA)

Recorded

March 7 - April 14, 1967 at IBC Studios

Length

37:39

Label

Polydor (UK), ATCO (US), Spin (Australia)

Producer

Robert Stigwood and Ossie Byrne

V - E - T - D

Bee Gees 1st is the debut album for the Polydor (USA: ATCO) label by the Bee Gees, released in July of 1967. Contrary to the group's later disco-oriented releases, Bee Gees 1st was a psychedelic rock album.

The song New York Mining Disaster 1941 was later covered by Chumbawamba on their WYSIWYG album, by Martin Carthy on Signs of Life, and as a B-side by the Levelers. "Every Christian Lion-Hearted Man Will Show You" has also been covered by The Flaming Lips as an intro to early live versions of "Shine On Sweet Jesus" as documented on the compilation 20 Years of Weird: Flaming Lips 1986-2006.

In 2006, Reprise Records reissued Bee Gees 1st with both stereo and mono mixes on one disc and a bonus disc of unreleased songs and alternate takes.

Bee Gees 1st peaked at #7 on Billboard's Pop Albums chart.

Track listing[]

Side 1

  1. "Turn of the Century" – 2:25
  2. "Holiday" – 2:54
  3. "Red Chair, Fade Away" – 2:19
  4. "One Minute Woman" – 2:17
  5. "In My Own Time" – 2:14
  6. "Every Christian Lion Hearted Man Will Show" (Barry Gibb/Robin Gibb/Maurice Gibb) – 3:39
  7. "Craise Finton Kirk Royal Academy of Arts" – 2:18

Side 2

  1. "New York Mining Disaster 1941" – 2:10
  2. "Cucumber Castle" – 2:04
  3. "To Love Somebody" – 3:01
  4. "I Close My Eyes" (B. Gibb/R. Gibb/M. Gibb) – 2:23
  5. "I Can't See Nobody" – 3:45
  6. "Please Read Me" (B. Gibb/R. Gibb/M. Gibb) – 2:17
  7. "Close Another Door" (B. Gibb/R. Gibb/M. Gibb) – 3:29


Bonus Disc for 2006 Reissue

  1. "Turn of the Century" Early Version
  2. "One Minute Woman" Early Version
  3. "Gilbert Green"
  4. "New York Mining Disaster 1941" Version One
  5. "House of Lords" (B. Gibb/R. Gibb/M. Gibb)
  6. "Cucumber Castle" Early Version
  7. "Harry Braff" Early Alternate Version (B. Gibb/R. Gibb/M. Gibb)
  8. "I Close My Eyes" Early Version (B. Gibb/R. Gibb/M. Gibb)
  9. "I've Got to Learn" (B. Gibb/R. Gibb/M. Gibb)
  10. "I Can't See Nobody" Alternate Take
  11. "All Around My Clock" (B. Gibb/R. Gibb/M. Gibb)
  12. "Mr. Wallor's Wailing Wall"
  13. "Craise Finton Kirk Royal Academy of Arts" Alternate Take
  14. "New York Mining Disaster 1941" Version Two

All compositions by Barry and Robin Gibb, except as indicated.

Personnel[]

  • Barry Gibb - Vocals, Guitar
  • Robin Gibb - Vocals, Organ
  • Maurice Gibb - Bass, Keyboards, Vocals, Guitar
  • Vince Melouney - Lead Guitar
  • Colin Petersen - Drums
  • Bill Shepherd - Orchestral Arrangement
  • Phill Dennys - Orchestral Arrangement on "New York Mining Disaster 1941", "Red Chair Fade Away, "I Close My Eyes" and "One Minute Woman"
  • Mike Claydon - Engineer
  • Robert Stigwood - Producer
  • Ossie Byrne - Producer

Charting singles[]

  • 1967 New York Mining Disaster 1941 Pop Singles No. 14
  • 1967 To Love Somebody Pop Singles No. 17
  • 1967 Holiday Pop Singles No. 16