Usually, a two-CD “greatest hits” collection means one of two things: either the act in question has dried up completely, or its record company has decided that they will honor their final contractual obligation by issuing the compilation and releasing the band.
Fortunately, neither of these is true in the case of the Bee Gees. Before you get all up in my face, indie music aficionados, let me make one thing clear: the Brothers Gibb were all about melody, melody, and more melody. Their pre-disco songs, all masterpieces, have been eclipsed by the Saturday Night Fever-related tracks showcased on this collection.
Nevertheless, this two-CD set, while omitting songs from their early years, does a great job at picking up the band’s best work at the height of their career. (The set was originally released in October 1979; why it’s being re-released now is a mystery.) The songs that you remember from the Travolta film -- most notably “Night Fever” and “Stayin’ Alive” -- are certainly represented here. However, there are some songs that might be unfamiliar to weekend listeners, especially tunes like the glorious ballad “Fanny (Be Tender With My Love)” and “Nights on Broadway” (both from the Arif Mardin-produced “Main Course”) that are perfect pieces of 1970s pop confection. Not surprisingly, the collection also includes a few B-sides and some acceptable remixes tacked onto the end of the second disc. Dan Hirsch and Bill Inglot’s remastering is acceptable, if a little muddy; the liner notes do go to pains to point out that the material was recorded on analog equipment, and I’m not sure whether that’s an excuse or an explanation. It’s interesting to hear the fully analog sound on most of these tracks (and I include the analog Moog synthesizers in that description), as these songs benefit from a lack of drum machines and processed sounds.
This set, although familiar to longtime Bee Gees listeners, will be a welcome collection for those who are just being introduced to the band’s work. I realize that, nowadays, most folks will gravitate toward the Bee Gees because of the novelty of their work. However, modern-day indie singers and songwriters could benefit from spending some time focusing on the clean, crisp songwriting of Barry, Robin, and Maurice Gibb. There was a reason why this band became a supergroup and why their songs, though a product of their time, still hold up under scrutiny: they were good. Really good. |