One of my all-time favorite groups has been and will always be The Bee Gees. Our friends at Eagle Rock Entertainment have just released In Our Time a revealing look at the history of the group.
The disc features new interviews with the surviving members, Barry and Robin, as well as Maurice Gibb shortly before his 2003 passing.
With a half-century of memories, and the amazing video clips and music to go with it, I was mesmerized by the documentary’s candor and bluntness. No stone is left unturned.
The DVD sells for $14.98, but you can order it through TheImproper at amazon.com for $13.99 and save 99 cents, or 7 percent, including free shipping.
Likewise, the blu-ray version sells for $19.98, but through TheImproper’s special offer you can buy it from amazon.com for $15.99 and save $3.99 or 20 percent, including free shipping. Just click the links to the left.
I think the first song I ever heard from them was “I Started A Joke” back in the ‘60s and, then, of course, came the movie “Saturday Night Fever” in 1977.
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The movie not only made John Travolta a superstar, but catapulted the Brothers Gibb to super stardom as well.
Even thinking about that film conjures up a multitude of memories for me.
I was working in the record biz back then. The film was based on legendary Nic Cohn’s article for New York magazine called “The Tribal Rights of Saturday Night.”
It was almost as seismic a change comparable to when The Beatles hit these shores.
Suddenly, disco was in, right along with “Huka Poo Shirts” and springing up by the double digits. In was, suffice to say, a heady time in more ways than one.
But, throughout it all, the Bee Gees reigned supreme. They have had at least one top-ten U.S. hit in each of five decades: “I’ve Gotta Get A Message To You”, “I Started A Joke” (1960s); “Nights On Broadway”, “How Deep Is Your Love”, “Stayin’ Alive” (1970s); “One” (1980s); “Alone” (1990s) and “This Is Where I Came In” (2000s).
Incredible highs and heartbreaking lows make the disc an essential item for fans, me included!
I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention how particularly moving their comments are on brother Andy Gibb who passed away in March 10, 1988.
We learn that the three brothers actually wanted Andy in the group, but, it never happened.
In fact, I remember an interview where Barry confirmed that and the fact the name of the band would henceforth be The Brothers Gibb.
Last month, Robin Gibb was interviewed by London’s Daily Mail, and confirmed that the story of the Bee Gees is to be made into a Hollywood movie by Steven Spielberg.
The Oscar-winning director believed the group’s journey from unknowns in Manchester to worldwide fame will prove box-office gold.
“The movie is going to be done by some very important people. It will be our life story. Barry and I will be involved on the technical side,” Robin told the Daily Mail.
One of the challenges for Spielberg will be replicating the brothers’ distinctive three-part harmonies and Barry’s falsetto voice.
“I’d like our original recordings to be used because it’s very hard to emulate them,” Robin said.
I’ll never forget when WPLJ’s legendary Tom Cuddy told, that when the group was in the studio with the late-producer Arif Mardin. I believe they were recording their excellent Main Course album.
Mardin asked Barry Gibb if he could try singing in a falsetto! Well, he did, and it worked, and the rest as they say is history.
Names In The News:
Jodi Mellman, Roy Trakin, David Adelson, Alan Rothstein, Erika Smith, Melissa Daniels, Rachael Robbins, James Edstrom, Ton & Lisa Cuddy, David Salidor, Steve Walter, Peter Abraham, Limey Joe Mastin, Lou Reed, Cfs.
