Average Rating: 
Rating:  - 35 Years - The Definitive Collection
The Bee Gees (Brothers Gibb) have released several compilation albums; "Best of Bee Gees Vol 1", "Vol. 2" and "Bee Gees Greatest" which were primarily period pieces. Their "Tales..." Box Set was a complete and exhaustive collection of all of their hits and B-Sides plus some rarities, but only went to 1990. This collection is the first one to address ALL of their big singles including versions formerly only recorded by other artists.In some cases, critics have arguable compared this to the "Beatles I" released last year. It's not far off. Containing no less than (19) #1 hits written by the Bee Gees and (11) of these recorded by them, it is an impressive set. None of the other songs fell below the Top 30 either in the USA or Europe; an excellent gauge to choose the best singles from well over 50 choices. The Bee Gees own versions of hits recorded by others fare well enough, but lack the exhuberance of the originals. "Emotion" doesn't reach the heights of Samantha Sang's or Destiny's Child's versions and "Immortality", unfortunately sounds like a demo. Only "Islands In The Stream" really kicks in with Robin leading an R&B version of the song that proves it was originally intended as soul, not just Country. However, if this is the worst one can find in this remarkable set of (40) songs, that is saying a lot. There is no better proof of the incredible songwriting and harmonizing talent the three Brothers exhibit so easily. This is sure to be a historic item in anyone's collection. Who knows. It may even outsell "Saturday Night Fever" (and it really ought to). Trivia note: The European version of this collection has Barry Gibb singing the lead entry vocal on "How Can You Mend A Broken Heart" and also includes the singles "My World" and "Jumbo" which were mysteriously omitted from the USA release.
Rating: - 40 Songs Cover 35 Classic Years on Bee Gees "Record"
"The Record" lacks a definitive critical essay and misses some minor but notable singles ("Edge of the Universe," "Woman In You," "I Can't See Nobody," "Paying the Price Of Love"). But scanning these 40 songs (including their nine Number One hits) across two discs, you realize few groups of any genre cover such a long timeline (35 years from "New York Mining Disaster 1941" to "This Is Where I Came In") with music still sturdy if not as vital as in 1968 or 1978.The Bee Gees' multiple comebacks are rock legend, its signature songs pop culture touchstones. The CD liner notes state, "This group has provided the soundtrack to countless thousands of lives...(they) bring lovers together, console the heartbroken, lift happy spirits even higher and cause young and old alike to get on the floor..." The Bee Gees' music seemed fueled entirely on emotion; in an era of protest and psychedelica the Bee Gees' earliest hits featured Robin Gibb's trembling, somber vocal on "Holiday" and "I Started A Joke," or the melodramtic intro to "Words" and "To Love Somebody." As with all the Gibbs' early ballad hits, both songs climax with sentimental, orchestral, harmonic choruses normally associated with Christmas carols. What makes the group's renditions here of hits written and produced for others ("Islands In The Stream," "Heartbreaker") so striking is their relatively raw underproduction. Well, that and Maurice Gibb elegantly spinning around the sampled lyrics to "Ghetto Superstar." Get to 1975's "Jive Talkin'" and realize the Bee Gees didn't invent disco (although it reinvented them). But they and producers Arif Mardin, Karl Richardson and Albhy Galuten revived the genre and became superstars by adding top-flight production and populist messages to a regional, fading phenomenon before "Saturday Night Fever"'s 1977 release. (Listen to the words of "Stayin' Alive" and realize what Roger Daltrey meant when he said, "Bruce Springsteen could sing that lyric.") Not even the Beatles or Elvis Presley united black and white, old and young under one musical white satin-suited banner; only Frank Sinatra shares this accomplishment with the disco-era Bee Gees. The music keeps its appeal as "The Record" spins to a close despite the group's landing but one Top Ten American hit (ironically, 1989's catchy "One") the last 12 years. Again, UTV's exceptional Suha Gur and Bob Ludwig, helped by the Gibbs, remaster and refresh the group's 60s hits digitally while restoring the funk underbelly to its disco/pop classics. "The Record" reminds today's listeners of the breadth, depth, and resiliency of the Bee Gees' career, its staying power and influence on today's charts which the group would love nothing more than to top one last time. Nonetheless, this Bee Gees "Record" is essential for any pop music fan.
Rating: - BG's Ultimate Collection!!!
Aside from the 1991 box set, this is the best Bee Gees' CD you can buy if you want the whole picture.From their late 60's tunes, to their slight comeback of the early 70's, to the Disco era where they dominated the charts, through to the 80's comeback tracks "You Win Again" and "One", up to the 90's tracks that culminated to the decade ending "This Is Where I Came In"...this is the Ultimate collection of Bee Gees tracks. All of your favorites are here! Spicks and Specks, New York Mining Disaster 1941,To Love Somebody, Holiday, Words, I've Gotta Get A Message To You, Lonely Days, How Can You Mend A Broken Heart, Run To Me, Jive Talkin', You Should Be Dancing, If I Can't Have You, Saturday Night Fever tracks, To Much Heaven, Tragedy, Guilty, One, Alone, plus new recordings of Bee Gee classic recorded by other artists! Plus more! All of them are here! This CD does not leave my CD player unless I take it out - which I haven't. Bottom Line: If you are interested in the Bee Gees and don't want to spend the extra cash for either the box set of the 3 Best of packages, then get this. It is the Ultimate Bee Gees Collection!
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