Horizontal

Horizontal
Details Album Type Studio Album Released January 27, 1968 Recorded November 29, 1967 at IBC Studios Length 36:40 Label Polydor Records (UK), Atco (US), Spin (Australia) Producer Robert Stigwood
V - E - T - D

Horizontal is the Bee Gees' second album for the Atco label. It was released in early 1968, and included the international hit singles "Massachusetts" and "World".

Other standout tracks include "And The Sun Will Shine", a love ballad song by Robin complete with psychedelic references to trains walking by and pastoral orchestral backing conducted by Bill Shepherd. Two other Robin-led tracks are worth noting. "Harry Braff" is a rocking story about a racing driver that is reminiscent The Beatles or The Kinks and the poignant "Really and Sincerely", which documented Robin's emotions following his survival of the Hither Green train wreck while the album was being made.

Psychedelia also abounds in the quirky "Lemons Never Forget" which without the familiar string-backing and featuring guitar work from Vince Melouney as well as the piano and bass interplay of Maurice Gibb, shows a side of the early Bee Gees rarely seen by singles buyers.

In 2006, Reprise Records reissued Horizontal with both stereo and mono mixes on one disc and a bonus disc of unreleased songs, non-album tracks, and alternate takes.

Track listing

1. "World" – 3:13
2. "And the Sun Will Shine" – 3:36
3. "Lemons Never Forget" – 3:04
4. "Really and Sincerely" – 3:29
5. "Birdie Told Me" – 2:24
6. "With the Sun in My Eyes" – 2:40
7. "Massachusetts" – 2:25
8. "Harry Braff" – 3:19
9. "Daytime Girl" – 2:34
10. "The Earnest of Being George" – 2:45
11. "The Change is Made" – 3:37
12. "Horizontal" – 3:34

'Bonus Disc for 2006 Reissue

All tracks marked with an asterisk (*) were previously unissued.

1. "Out of Line"*
2. "Ring My Bell"*
3. "Barker of the U.F.O" (Barry Gibb)
4. "Words"
5. "Sir Geoffrey Saved the World"
6. "Sinking Ships"
7. "Really and Sincerely" Alternate Version*
8. "Swan Song" Alternate Version*
9. "Mrs. Gillespie's Refrigerator"* (Barry & Robin Gibb)
10. "Deeply, Deeply Me"*
11. "All My Christmases Come at Once"*
12. "Thank You for Christmas"*
13. Medley:
    • "Silent Night"* (Joseph Mohr & Franz Gruber)
    • "Hark The Herald Angels Sing"* (Charles Wesley)**

All compositions by Barry, Robin & Maurice Gibb except where noted.

**Despite the title, this is actually a portion of the song Mary's Boy Child and not the traditional carol.

Personnel

• Barry Gibb - vocals, guitar
• Robin Gibb - vocals, organ
• Maurice Gibb - bass, keyboards, vocals,
• Vince Melouney - lead guitar
• Colin Petersen - drums
• Bill Shepherd - orchestral arrangement
• Mike Claydon -  engineer
• Damon Lyon Shaw - engineer
• John Pantry - engineer