THE GREATEST SONGS OF THE 1960s THAT NO ONE HAS EVER HEARD
1,843) Bee Gees — “Turn of the Century”
On first listen [the Bee Gees’ (see #291, 484, 594, 717, 962, 1,065, 1,101, 1,125, 1,321, 1,343, 1,685) ’67 LP] Bee Gees 1st plays like a wonderful, lost baroque-pop album, which isn’t far from the truth. The opening track, ‘Turn Of The Century’, with its lush orchestration and classic vocals from the Brothers Gibb, will immediately have the listener waiting for more.” (K. Kanitz, https://therisingstorm.net/the-bee-gees-bee-gees-1st/embed/#?secret=gCZmRVNu8Y#?secret=g4ohz1eaNo) Indeed. What a wonderful song — and the best one featuring a bicyle built for two since 1892’s “Daisy Bell” (see #135)! Even HAL 9000 agrees!
But as jeffryphillipsburns queries:
At the turn of WHAT century? I very much doubt there were still many “town criers” around by 1900. In any case, it was not a thing we particularly associate with the period. On the other hand, in 1800 the tandem bicycle had yet to be invented.
Well, maybe they still had town criers in Australia!
K. Kanitz can’t get over the LP:
[T]he Bee Gees were master craftsmen of some of the greatest pop-rock the late ‘60s and early ‘70s had to offer. . . . [T]hey exploded in the North American market in the late summer of 1967 with this album (their first US Top 10 album), and three Top 20 singles: “New York Mining Disaster 1941,” “To Love Somebody” (originally meant to be recorded for the late great Otis Redding), and “Holiday.” . . . [T]he record embodies the sweet sounds of the summer of ’67. . . . full of tunes that will make you smile, whether out of pure joy or bittersweet introspection. . . . If you want to hear classic, endearing, and beautiful 1960s pop, pick up this album.
https://therisingstorm.net/the-bee-gees-bee-gees-1st/embed/#?secret=gCZmRVNu8Y#?secret=g4ohz1eaNo
Here is Bruce Eder’s take:
Up until 1966, they’d shown a penchant for melodic songs and rich, high harmonies, in the process becoming Australia’s answer to the Everly Brothers. When the Bee Gees arrived in London late in 1966, however, they proved quick studies in absorbing and assimilating the progressive pop and rock sounds around them. In one fell swoop, they became competitors with the likes of veteran rock bands such as the Hollies [see #461] and the Tremeloes [see #1,193], and this long-player, Bee Gees’ 1st, is more of a rock album than the group usually got credit for generating. Parts of it do sound very much like the Beatles circa Revolver, but there was far more to their sound than that. The three hits . . . were gorgeous but relatively somber, thus giving Bee Gees’ 1st a melancholy cast, but much of the rest is relatively upbeat psychedelic pop. . . . Robin Gibb’s lead vocals veered toward the melodramatic and poignant, and the orchestra did dress up some of the songs a little sweetly, yet overall the group presented themselves as a proficient rock ensemble who’d filled their debut album with a full set of solid, refreshingly original songs.
Live ’68:
On The Midnight Special ’73:
Here’s an alternate take:
And here is the Cyrkle:
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