This post is mostly an intermission that encompasses the period that the Bee Gees entered into a brief hiatus.
Post-Cucumber Castle hangover
Bee Gees, with drummer Colin Petersen (far left), 1969.
Towards the end of 1969, the Bee Gees broke up informally, until when the brothers effectively confirmed their break-up. Several journalists were surprised with the decision, as the Bee Gees were a rising group with a successful album and a film set to be released in a few months. However, it was understood these ambitious factors were decisive in a stressful, and then a cold break-up. The only one that would interact with his brothers was Maurice, as the relations between Barry and Robin were cold.
"We talked for a very few times throughout those months. I was the phone between Robin and Barry. They didn't have that big, heartbreaking fight, but they just lost their enthusiasm of working with each other, as I did myself. But I kept working with them, as they liked me as a session musician, and eventually I've seen myself as a mailman between the two, haha."
-Maurice Gibb, 1987
The effects of the break up ranged between affecting the popularity of the group at the time and music sales, to affecting later albums, such as From Trafalgar to Waterloo and To Whom It May Concern, when the Bee Gees became a singles group, making eventual appearances here and there. It wouldn't be until Main Course that the band would reassert their name in music industry by going Disco.
A new day is born with a trail of despair
The first one who decided to make a solo album was Robin. Actually, this decision was taken back when he still was recording The City on the Black Sea, as the tensions between Barry and him were high. As they've reached on release First of May and Lamplight as a double A-side single, the decision was left aside for a while. However, as Cucumber Castle was being such a another stressful project, Robin began to compose new, much more personal songs at his own home studio. As the Bee Gees broke up, Robin could finally focus into a solo debut soon.
"Things were going sour and I already knew that. I've had composed and recorded a lot of songs for Trail of Despair, some of then even during Cucumber Castle, and so much that I have some that still are unreleased until today. That album and that brief solo times were quite a therapeutic experience, as far I can say! But it wasn't the same thing without my brothers."
-Robin Gibb
For the drums, Robin used a drum machine, while he mainly played an acoustic guitar, and the Hammond organ. Maurice also helped in the album, recording the double bass on Mother and Jack, and co-wrote the songs Alone Again and Sincere Relation. Kenny Clayton did the majority of orchestral arrangements, but Zack Lawrence also helped with Gone, Gone, Gone and The Worst Girl in This Town, while Vic Lewis was the conductor.
Robin's work was the first one to be shared to the general public with the release of the controversial C'est la vie, au revoir as the first single promoting his upcoming album, adding more to the controversy and rumours regarding his band's break up. Manager Robert Stigwood commented that Robin's songs were promising, as Robin was slowly becoming the main character of the solo period of the Bee Gees, conceding interviews and touring throughout the United Kingdom and the Netherlands.
"That song [C'est la vie, au revoir] was the song that made me go solo. I felt a lot from what Robin was saying at the time, and I knew that song was to me. It was the moment when I saw that he wasn't content with what was happening in the band. I needed to respond in the best way I could, and that's how I started to do The Kid's No Good."
-Barry Gibb
The album was named Trail of Despair, based in a verse of Farmer Ferdinand Hudson ("Now it is dawn and a new day is born/But with a trail of despair"). As the first solo debut of a Bee Gee, the album was widely promoted and commented by the fans of the group and music critics in general of what people could expect from the second Bee Gee?
Robin Gibb – Trail of Despair
Robin Gibb - Trail of Despair (1970)¹
Genre: Baroque pop
Total: 40:35
All tracks written by Robin Gibb, except when noted.
Side A - 20:01
1. "Mother and Jack" - 4:06
2. "Gone Gone Gone" - 2:35
3. "Alone Again" (Robin Gibb, Maurice Gibb) - 3:00²
4. "The Worst Girl in This Town" - 4:30
5. "Give Me a Smile" - 3:05
6. "Down Came the Sun" - 2:45
Side B - 20:34
7. "Farmer Ferdinand Hudson" - 3:05
8. "Sincere Relation" (R. Gibb, M. Gibb) - 3:00²
9. "Lord Bless All" - 3:15
10. "I'm Weeping" - 2:45²
11. "C'est la vie, au revoir" - 3:17³
12. "Most of My Life" - 5:12
Trail of Despair is the debut solo album of Robin Gibb, released in 9 May 1970 by Polydor Records. The album was produced by Vic Lewis and Robin Gibb, and it is the first solo work done by a Bee Gee. It also features one of the early uses of a drum machine in a rock album by Robin. The album was promoted by his most-known single C'est la vie, au revoir.
The production of the album started during the sessions of The City in the Black Sea, as Robin was getting unsatisfied with the demands, particularly from his older brother Barry, and by a suspected favouritism of Robert Stigwood over Barry. Tensions eased with the release of the album, but the relation didn't get any better with Cucumber Castle, as Robin began to record Trail of Despair.
Aside from the album, C'est la vie, au revoir was Robin's most successful single reaching number 2 in the UK Singles Chart, but struggling to reach number 87 in Billboard Hot 100. In the end, Trail of Despair wasn't a commercial success, despite getting a mild reception by music critics. The album peaked at number 19 in UK Album Charts while it failed to chart in the United States. Robin wouldn't release another solo album until Secret Agent, in 1984.
Crying while wandering through the darkness
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Barry Gibb in This is Tom Jones, 1969.
Bummed by the band's break up, the cold relations with Robin, and with the help from manager Robert Stigwood, Barry Gibb started to sporadically tour in the United Kingdom, Germany, and a few months later, Australia. On the occasion, he was invited to act as a compere on Go-Set, and gave an interview to a magazine revealing that he wasn't ready to resume the activities with his brothers.
"No doubt those months were sad times. There was a certain part of the tour in Germany where I was thinking about giving it up, I didn't feel it was the same with my brothers, but I was trying to make my own way, and Robert [Stigwood] was helping me on that one, so I couldn't refuse his help."
-Barry Gibb
Barry's debut single was I'll Kiss Your Memory, backed by This Time. The song reached number 9 in UK Singles Charts, significantly worse than Robin's debut there, but it reached number 81 in the US, six positions better than his brother. The longing lyrics reflects similarly to the break up of the band, disguised as a song of love. Later reviews drew similarities between the arrangements of the single with the Bee Gees' hit single How Can You Mend a Broken Heart.
Polydor announced Barry's album as The Kid's No Good, and the second solo album from a Bee Gee after Trail of Despair. There was a certain hype thanks to Robin's album, and the rumours revolving around the brothers.
Barry Gibb - The Kid's No Good
Barry Gibb - The Kid's No Good (1970)¹
Genre: Country rock, baroque pop, folk
Total: 46:17
All tracks are written by Barry Gibb, except where noted.
Side A - 22:34
1. "Born" - 3:54
2. "One Bad Thing" (Barry Gibb, Maurice Gibb) - 3:32
3. "The Day Your Eyes Meet Mine" (B. Gibb, M. Gibb) - 3:07
4. "Happiness" - 3:28
5. "Peace in My Mind" - 4:10
6. "Clyde O'Reilly" - 5:23
Side B - 23:43
7. "I Just Want to Take Care of You" - 3:57
8. "I'll Kiss Your Memory" - 4:26
9. "The Victim" - 3:59
10. "This Time" - 3:24
11. "What's It All About" - 3:09
12. "Mando Bay" - 4:48
The Kid's No Good is the debut album of Barry Gibb, released in 27 May 1970 by Polydor Records, one month after Cucumber Castle, and three weeks after Robin Gibb's Trail of Despair. The production of the album is credited to Barry Gibb himself. The album is mostly known by its singles, I'll Kiss Your Memory, The Day Your Eyes Meet Mine, and One Bad Thing.
Recorded amidst the solo period of the Bee Gees, The Kid's No Good is the album that drew a lot of similarities and comparisons to the Bee Gees' work, as the orchestral arrangements were done by Billy Shepherd, and the Country-influenced sound is reminiscent from the Everly Brothers influence in the band. Some critics dubbed the album as a Sinatra-esque version of the Bee Gees.
Barry Gibb's solo debut peaked in number 20 in the UK Albums Chart, ironically displaced by Trail of Despair, however, it performed better in the US as it reached number 182 in Billboard 200. Barry released three singles, with the most successful being I'll Kiss Your Memory. The other ones were One Bad Thing and The Day Your Eyes Meet Mine, this one released when the Bee Gees had already reunited.
Troubles don't get me down
Maurice was one of the club of the third members. Generally the ones who are behind the scenes, and are regarded as 'the quiet ones' under the public view, such as George Harrison, John Entwistle, Richard Wright, the list is endless. Anyway, behind the scenes, Maurice had a good reputation inside the music industry, as a competent musician, skilled multi-instrumentalist, and sometimes producer, being a close friend to figures such as Eric Clapton and George Harrison. And that's because, ironically, Maurice was the one with the best tools in his hand, contrasting with the lo-fi production of Robin's Trail of Despair and Barry's Bee Gee-derived sounds of The Kid's No Good.
Maurice Gibb, somewhere in the 1970s.
As a competent multi-instrumentalist and producer, Maurice knew the people to work with, and also how to make his own way during the process, after all, he played a lot of instruments during the Bee Gees era. By helping both of his brothers in the process of their respective solo albums, and producing a few singles to the Australian group Tin Tin in late 1969, Gibb recruited Billy Lawrie as a songwriting partner, Steve Groves and Steve Kipner from Tin Tin to play guitar and piano, respectively, and guitarist Leslie Harvey. Other musicians were hired by Gibb to play in the album, like Gerry Shury, who made the orchestral arrangements for the album.
The sessions of Maurice were far more lighthearted than the lonesome sessions of Robin and the painful sessions of Barry. Many songs emerged from conversations between Maurice and Lawrie, and the recording sessions with Tin Tin were relaxed, with some instrumentals coming from jam sessions (such as Piano/Insight). For a time, Maurice even considered release the album under The Fut, a supergroup jokingly formed between him, Steve Groves, Steve Kipner, and Billy Lawrie, but the idea was soon discarded.
"The sessions of Something's Blowing were a mess, but in a good way actually! I felt like I was producing another album for Tin Tin, and I kept forgetting that I was the main artist, haha! The record really shown some of my abilities in every range, and it was a great exercise that helped me to throw the weight that was in my back."
-Maurice Gibb
Far more modest than his brothers, Maurice did a very short tour in England along with Tin Tin and Stone the Crows. The first copies were distributed by Maurice himself as a gift to his family and friends, being very complimented by his brothers. The album was announced as Something's Blowing by Polydor, with Soldier Johnny being released as a single, becoming a hit.
Maurice Gibb – Something's Blowing
Maurice Gibb - Something's Blowing (1970)¹
Genre: Rock, progressive pop, folk rock
Total: 39:39
All tracks written and composed by Billy Lawrie and Maurice Gibb.
Side A - 21:29
1. "Journey to the Misty Mountains" - 3:05
2. "Soldier Johnny" - 2:45
3. "Please Lock Me Away" - 2:36
4. "I've Come Back" - 2:41
5. "She's The One You Love" - 3:00
6. "Have You Heard The Word" - 4:18
7. "'Till I Try" - 3:04
Side B - 18:10
8. "Piano/Insight" - 2:58²
9. "Lay It on Me" - 2:07³
10. "Leave Me Here" - 2:26
11. "Laughing Child" - 3:13
12. "Something's Blowing" - 2:33
13. "Danny" - 2:40
14. "Silly Little Girl" - 2:13
Something's Blowing is the debut and only solo album released by Maurice Gibb. The album was produced by himself and released by Polydor Records in 10 July 1970. Recorded during the solo period of the Bee Gees, and in contrast with his brothers' records, although being promoted by Polydor, Something's Blowing had little to no hype, despite spawning Maurice's hit Soldier Johnny.
Maurice was the last one that planned to do a solo album, recruiting a few people that he previously worked with. The inspiration came after contributing to the sessions for his own brothers' albums, desiring to do a record as an exercise on composition, nothing similar to the friendly rivalry between Barry and Robin at the time. Most of the lyrics were written by Billy Lawrie while the music was composed by Maurice himself.
The album didn't chart in the United States, and reached number 43 in the UK Album Charts. The only hit, Soldier Johnny, also failed to chart in the US, but became a minor hit in Europe and a hit in Britain, reaching number 15 in UK Singles Charts. In following years, Maurice's album is regarded by many fans as the best one between the three solo albums. Barry appointed that the album has shown the abilities that Maurice had as a great music composer.
Good morning mister sunshine
Bee Gees and, at least, their happy ending, 1970.
Somewhere in the middle of 1970, Robin and Maurice Gibb reunited with new drummer Geoff Bridgford, who played drums on Maurice's album, and recorded new music. According to Barry, his return happened when Robin rang him in the middle of a vacation in Spain to 'do it again'. From there, the Bee Gees would never break-up again, and quite literally, since they even contributed to each solo records. But don't be mistaken, because their plot doesn't end here.
The group recorded a set of four songs that would be released in the comeback extended play 2 Years On. At the time, the band was preparing another adventure, going back in time, with a... Napoleonic approach, if I say so. But first, the group needed to finish the sessions of the EP, which they did by early October of that year.
The extended play was named 2 Years On, and secured a very warm reception of a comeback with the worldwide hit single Lonely Days, which was regarded by the harmonies reminiscent of The Beatles' Because and Carry That Weight, and marked the turning point of the Bee Gees as a successful singles band rather than an album band. The simple lyrics reflected the time that the band broke up and was done in ten minutes.
Bee Gees – 2 Years On
Bee Gees - 2 Years On (1970)
Genre: Baroque pop
Total: 12:33
Side A - 6:56
1. "2 Years On" (Robin Gibb, Maurice Gibb) - 3:57
2. "Man For All Seasons" (Barry Gibb, R. Gibb & M. Gibb) - 2:59
Side B - 5:37
3. "Back Home" (B. Gibb, R. Gibb & M. Gibb) - 1:52
4. "Lonely Days" (B. Gibb, R. Gibb & M. Gibb) - 3:45
2 Years On is the third extended play of the Bee Gees, and the first one released internationally. The production of the album was credited to Robert Stigwood and the Bee Gees, being released in 15 November 1970. It is the first Bee Gees work after the brief solo period, and contains the hit single Lonely Days. The album cover didn't contain new drummer Geoff Bridgford.
The album reached number two in UK Record Retailer EPs chart and number nine in Billboard Hot 100. Apart from Lonely Days, the work is overshadowed by the predecessor Cucumber Castle and successor From Trafalgar to Waterloo.
Author's note: Well, here's the deal, every time the members of a band decides to do solo albums in a short space of time between one and another, there will be an intermission focused just on solo albums. And that's what happened now, wow! Now, let's calm down, because this will not happen with the Bee Gees anymore, but with another quite famous band that you may know, and you can be sure that will happen more than once.
Sources and references:
- Robin Gibb - Trail of Despair
- Robin Gibb - Robin's Reign
- Bee Gees - 2 Years On
- Robin Gibb - Saved by the Bell: The Collected Works of Robin Gibb 1969-1970
- Barry Gibb - The Kid's No Good
- Barry Gibb - The Kid's No Good (bootleg)
- Maurice Gibb - Something's Blowing
- Maurice Gibb - The Loner
- Combination of "Improvisation on Piano" and "Insight".
- Bee Gees - 2 Years On
- Bee Gees - 2 Years On
- Bee Gees - 2 Years On
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