THE GREATEST SONGS OF THE 1960s THAT NO ONE HAS EVER HEARD
861) Maurice Gibb — “Railroad”
The first of Maurice’s (see #353, 354, 466) two singles (the other not til ’84) is “an absolutely sensational little song” (Tim Roxborogh, https://www.roxboroghreport.com/2020/04/samantha-gibb-covers-her-dads-greatest-song-my-flashbacks-to-being-backstage-with-the-bee-gees-in-1999.html) and a wonderful “throwback to country-pop balladry”. (Richie Unterberger, https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-loner-mw0001053220 (though I don’t think Richie meant that as a compliment)).
Bruce Eder tells us:
[D]uring the 1969 split between . . . Robin Gibb and his two brothers . . . . Maurice Gibb did begin work on a solo LP, and released a single, “Railroad,” co-authored by Billy Lawrie, a songwriter and singer, and also the brother of the British pop/rock legend Lulu, who became Maurice’s wife in 1969. Gibb handled all of the vocals on the single, covering the high harmonies and the lead in a manner that was impossible not to compare with the Bee Gees — he later described it as “anticlimactic” . . . but he did begin work on a solo LP to have been called “The Loner.”
https://www.allmusic.com/artist/maurice-gibb-mn0000865286
Tim Roxborogh rhapsodizes:
[When told by Roxborogh that “Railroad is one of my all time favourite songs”, Maurice responded] “I’m glad somebody liked it!” Maurice cracked up as he said this, laughing at the fact his debut solo single from April 1970 had flopped all over the world. Well, not entirely, because unknown probably to even the man himself, Railroad had done well in Southeast Asia, charting as high as #6 in Malaysia and #9 in Singapore. Still, it was hardly enough to ignite significant transatlantic interest in him as an entity separate to the Bee Gees. Confusing matters further was that Railroad’s release inexplicably coincided with I.O.I.O – the latest single [see #594] from the two-man, Barry and Maurice incarnation of the Bee Gees. With Robin having quit the band in 1969, and Barry and Maurice working on solo projects in conjunction with the spluttering continuation of “the Bee Gees”, most people thought it was over for one of the biggest, most creative bands to emerge in the late 60s. And yet I.O.I.O’s success across Europe, Asia and Australasia showed there was still a commercial appreciation out there for the Gibbs, and by the end of 1970 all three of the brothers would reunite . . . . Railroad was an absolutely sensational little song, even if it initially slipped through the cracks. . . . It was the violins on Railroad’s chorus that first got me. The song was playing on our car stereo and that six-second violin line that starts at the 59-second mark and goes through until 1:05 made my ears prick. What a hook. And I loved how the vocals were kind of buried within that orchestral hook. I turned the volume up and I’ve been addicted ever since. The quiet intro, the quiet outro, the intervening verses that trot along with the kind of country-influenced Americana that Maurice and Barry adored, the deep vocals that contrast with the upper-register harmonies, the piano lines, the bass run and wobble at the 47-second mark, the extra layer of strings that’s introduced at 1:33, the final repetition of the rousing chorus; this is a simple song put together extremely well.
Railroad’s lyrics – cowritten with Maurice’s then brother-in-law, Billy Lawrie (Lulu’s brother) – tell a mostly non-specified tale of someone who’s leaving – perhaps controversially – their adopted town to return to where they grew up. Once there, they’ll be back into the arms of their “woman”, as well as having the support of their family. . . . Maurice always did have the most swagger of the Gibb brothers, but “I ain’t juiced none of that glory”, is cool even by his standards. The question is though, are the lies told by the protagonist or by the people talking about him? And those lies would have to have been about the bad things he’s done if he insists he hasn’t exaggerated – or “juiced” – any of the good stuff. Unless, of course, the bad stuff is the glory and Maurice is pitching himself as some kind of loveable rogue a la Butch Cassidy & The Sundance Kid. Which would then make “served my time” a literal reference to jail time instead of just the spending of time in another town or city chasing dreams. Like countless Gibb songs, there is a feel that surpasses the lyrics. This is a song that feels like the proud announcement of a come back, as much as a simple proclamation of coming home.
https://www.roxboroghreport.com/2020/04/samantha-gibb-covers-her-dads-greatest-song-my-flashbacks-to-being-backstage-with-the-bee-gees-in-1999.html
On Dutch TV:
As sung by Maurice’s daughter Samantha:
Pay to Play! The Off the Charts Spotify Playlist! + Brace for the Obscure 60s Rock Merchandise
Please consider helping to support my website/blog by contributing $6 a month for access to the Off the Charts Spotify Playlist. Using a term familiar to denizens of Capitol Hill, you pay to play! (“relating to or denoting an unethical or illicit arrangement in which payment is made by those who want certain privileges or advantages in such arenas as business, politics, sports, and entertainment” — dictionary.com).
The playlist includes all the “greatest songs of the 1960’s that no one has ever heard” that are available on Spotify. The playlist will expand each time I feature an available song.
All new subscribers will receive a Brace for the Obscure 60s Rock magnet. New subscribers who sign up for a year will also receive a Brace for the Obscure 60s Rock t-shirt or baseball cap. See pictures on the Pay to Play page.
When subscribing, please send me an e-mail (GMFtma1@gmail.com) or a comment on this site letting me know an e-mail address/phone number/Facebook address, etc. to which I can send instructions on accessing the playlist and a physical address to which I can sent a magnet/t-shirt/baseball cap. If choosing a t-shirt, please let me know the gender and size you prefer.
Just click on the first blue block for a month to month subscription or the second blue block for a yearly subscription.
Brace for the Obscure (60s rock)! / Off the Charts: 60s Rock Revelations😊 