Size Isn't Everything
Encyclopedia
Size Isn't Everything is the Bee Gees
' twentieth studio album
. It was released in the UK
on September 13, 1993, and in the United States
on November 2, 1993.
after their 3-album contract with Warner Bros. Records
.
The album was recorded during a time of considerable strain for the Gibb brothers, with Maurice Gibb still struggling with alcoholism and Barry Gibb's wife and prematurely newborn daughter both in ill health. Barry himself was also scheduled to have back surgery.
Then on March 5 1993, the brothers' father, Hugh Gibb, died. The date coincided with the birthday of their late brother Andy
who had died in 1988.
On August 9, 1993, the album's first single, Paying The Price Of Love
, was released in the UK and peaked at #23. The album peaked at #33 in the UK in late September. It then disappeared from the charts, only to return in December 1993 when the album's second single, For Whom The Bell Tolls
, became a UK Top 5 hit. The album then peaked at #23. In all, the album spent 16 weeks inside the UK Top 100 and was certified Gold by the BPI for sales of over 100,000 copies. A third single, the ballad How to Fall in Love, Part 1
was released on April 4, 1994 in the UK, peaking at #30. This made Size Isn't Everything the first Bee Gees album to contain three UK top 30 hits since 1979's Spirits Having Flown
and many consider this album their strongest post-Saturday Night Fever album to date.
Reaction to the album in the US was less successful, where their album peaked at #153 and spent only 3 weeks inside the whole Billboard 200
. The single Paying The Price Of Love reached #74 in the US during the Christmas season.
Reception of the album was mixed around the world, though it is notable that it was one of the most successful Bee Gees albums in Argentina
, peaking at #1 due to the big success of "For Whom the Bell Tolls" there. Worldwide sales of the album are estimated to be over 700,000 copies.
According to Barry when interviewed on American breakfast shows was asked why the album was called "Size Isn't Everything" and he explained that The Bee Gees have never been hyped and that they have always had to prove themselves musically so the title came from that idea.
Barry also commented that the song they had written from the album called "Blue Island" was "The nicest song they had ever wrote".
The album was dedicated to their late father, Hugh Gibb.
, Robin
and Maurice Gibb
.
Bee Gees
The Bee Gees are a musical group that originally comprised three brothers: Barry, Robin, and Maurice Gibb. The trio was successful for most of their 40-plus years of recording music, but they had two distinct periods of exceptional success: as a pop act in the late 1960s and early 1970s, and as a...
' twentieth studio album
Studio album
A studio album is an album made up of tracks recorded in the controlled environment of a recording studio. A studio album contains newly written and recorded or previously unreleased or remixed material, distinguishing itself from a compilation or reissue album of previously recorded material, or...
. It was released in the UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
on September 13, 1993, and in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
on November 2, 1993.
History
This album marked Bee Gees' return to Polydor RecordsPolydor Records
Polydor is a record label owned by Universal Music Group, headquartered in the United Kingdom.-Beginnings:Polydor was originally an independent branch of the Deutsche Grammophon Gesellschaft. Its name was first used as an export label in 1924, the British and German branches of the Gramophone...
after their 3-album contract with Warner Bros. Records
Warner Bros. Records
Warner Bros. Records Inc. is an American record label. It was the foundation label of the present-day Warner Music Group, and now operates as a wholly owned subsidiary of that corporation. It maintains a close relationship with its former parent, Warner Bros. Pictures, although the two companies...
.
The album was recorded during a time of considerable strain for the Gibb brothers, with Maurice Gibb still struggling with alcoholism and Barry Gibb's wife and prematurely newborn daughter both in ill health. Barry himself was also scheduled to have back surgery.
Then on March 5 1993, the brothers' father, Hugh Gibb, died. The date coincided with the birthday of their late brother Andy
Andy Gibb
Andy Gibb was an English singer and teen idol, and the youngest brother of the family whose other male siblings formed the Bee Gees: Barry, Robin, and Maurice Gibb.-The early years:...
who had died in 1988.
On August 9, 1993, the album's first single, Paying The Price Of Love
Paying the Price of Love
"Paying the Price of Love" is the first single off the Bee Gees' album, Size Isn't Everything. It was more reminiscent of the Bee Gees disco era than recent singles. With an uptempo hip-hop beat and soaring falsetto vocals, it was too heavy for adult contemporary radio, which is where the Bee Gees...
, was released in the UK and peaked at #23. The album peaked at #33 in the UK in late September. It then disappeared from the charts, only to return in December 1993 when the album's second single, For Whom The Bell Tolls
For Whom the Bell Tolls (Bee Gees song)
"For Whom the Bell Tolls" is a song by the Bee Gees, released as their second single from their album Size Isn't Everything in 1993. It peaked at #4 on the UK charts. There is also a music video for this song.-Chart performance:...
, became a UK Top 5 hit. The album then peaked at #23. In all, the album spent 16 weeks inside the UK Top 100 and was certified Gold by the BPI for sales of over 100,000 copies. A third single, the ballad How to Fall in Love, Part 1
How to Fall in Love, Part 1
"How to Fall in Love " is a song by the Bee Gees. It was the third and final single issued from the album Size Isn't Everything. After the big hit of "For Whom the Bell Tolls", the Gibb brothers experienced a new European hit with this R&B ballad. The song was the result of one song written by...
was released on April 4, 1994 in the UK, peaking at #30. This made Size Isn't Everything the first Bee Gees album to contain three UK top 30 hits since 1979's Spirits Having Flown
Spirits Having Flown
Spirits Having Flown is the Bee Gees' fifteenth original album, released in 1979. It was the group's first album after their collaboration on the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack. The album's first three tracks were released as singles which all went to no.1 in the US...
and many consider this album their strongest post-Saturday Night Fever album to date.
Reaction to the album in the US was less successful, where their album peaked at #153 and spent only 3 weeks inside the whole Billboard 200
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
. The single Paying The Price Of Love reached #74 in the US during the Christmas season.
Reception of the album was mixed around the world, though it is notable that it was one of the most successful Bee Gees albums in Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
, peaking at #1 due to the big success of "For Whom the Bell Tolls" there. Worldwide sales of the album are estimated to be over 700,000 copies.
According to Barry when interviewed on American breakfast shows was asked why the album was called "Size Isn't Everything" and he explained that The Bee Gees have never been hyped and that they have always had to prove themselves musically so the title came from that idea.
Barry also commented that the song they had written from the album called "Blue Island" was "The nicest song they had ever wrote".
The album was dedicated to their late father, Hugh Gibb.
Track listing
All compositions by BarryBarry Gibb
Barry Alan Crompton Gibb, CBE , is a singer, songwriter and producer. He was born in the Isle of Man to English parents. With his brothers Robin and Maurice, he formed The Bee Gees, one of the most successful pop groups of all time. The trio got their start in Australia, and found their major...
, Robin
Robin Gibb
Robin Hugh Gibb, CBE is a British singer and songwriter. He is best known as a member of the Bee Gees, co-founded with his twin brother Maurice , and elder brother Barry....
and Maurice Gibb
Maurice Gibb
Maurice Ernest Gibb, CBE was a musician, singer-songwriter and record producer. He was born on the Isle of Man, the twin brother of Robin Gibb, and younger brother to Barry. He is best known as a member of the singing/songwriting trio the Bee Gees, formed with his brothers...
.
- "Paying the Price of Love" – 4:12
- The lead single from the album. It had numerous alternate "mixes" available in different releases.
- "Kiss of Life" – 4:14
- Originally planned as the second single from the album, and released as the fourth single in some markets. It's an energetic rock/dance hybrid with an impressively complex vocal line involving distinctive Robin and Barry solo vocals as well as group vocals.
- "How to Fall in Love, Part 1" – 5:59
- Strangely, there was not a second part of the song available.
- "Omega Man" – 3:59
- Lead vocals by Maurice Gibb.
- "Haunted House" – 5:44
- "Heart Like Mine" – 4:41
- Robin said this was inspired by EnyaEnyaEnya is an Irish singer, instrumentalist and songwriter. Enya is an approximate transliteration of how Eithne is pronounced in the Donegal dialect of the Irish language, her native tongue.She began her musical career in 1980, when she briefly joined her family band Clannad before leaving to...
's moody songs, and he gets some of the slow dreamy feel of her music.
- Robin said this was inspired by Enya
- "Anything For You" – 4:36
- "Blue Island" – 3:15
- "Dedicated to the children of the former Yugoslavia", according to the liner notes.
- "Above and Beyond" – 4:27
- Lead vocals by Maurice Gibb.
- "For Whom the Bell TollsFor Whom the Bell Tolls (Bee Gees song)"For Whom the Bell Tolls" is a song by the Bee Gees, released as their second single from their album Size Isn't Everything in 1993. It peaked at #4 on the UK charts. There is also a music video for this song.-Chart performance:...
" – 5:06- The epic-ballad, biggest hit from the album.
- "Fallen Angel" – 4:30
- "Decadance" - 4:31
- A new remix of the classic #1 hit "You Should Be DancingYou Should Be Dancing"You Should Be Dancing" is a single by the Bee Gees, from the album, Children of the World, in 1976. The single hit number one for one week on the American Billboard Hot 100, number one for seven weeks on the US Hot Dance Club Play chart, and in July the same year, reached number five on the UK...
", which was included only in the European version of the album.
- A new remix of the classic #1 hit "You Should Be Dancing
Singles
| Date | Single | Notes | Peak positions |
|---|---|---|---|
| August 1993 | "Paying the Price of Love" | Released worldwide | #19 Netherlands, #23 UK, #24 Austria, #31 France, #33 Italy, #36 Germany, #53 Canada, #74 US |
| November 1993 | "For Whom the Bell Tolls" | Released worldwide | #1 Brazil, #4 UK, #6 IE, #20 Netherlands, #52 Germany, #109 US |
| April 1994 | "How to Fall in Love, Part 1" | Released only in the UK | #30 UK |
| 1994 | "Kiss of Life" | Released only in some European markets as a promo single | - |
| 1994 | "Blue Island" | Released only in some European markets as a promo single | - |
Personnel
- Barry GibbBarry GibbBarry Alan Crompton Gibb, CBE , is a singer, songwriter and producer. He was born in the Isle of Man to English parents. With his brothers Robin and Maurice, he formed The Bee Gees, one of the most successful pop groups of all time. The trio got their start in Australia, and found their major...
- vocals, guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with... - Robin GibbRobin GibbRobin Hugh Gibb, CBE is a British singer and songwriter. He is best known as a member of the Bee Gees, co-founded with his twin brother Maurice , and elder brother Barry....
- vocals - Maurice GibbMaurice GibbMaurice Ernest Gibb, CBE was a musician, singer-songwriter and record producer. He was born on the Isle of Man, the twin brother of Robin Gibb, and younger brother to Barry. He is best known as a member of the singing/songwriting trio the Bee Gees, formed with his brothers...
- vocals, keyboardsKeyboard instrumentA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
, synthesiser, guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with... - Tim MooreTim MooreTim Moore may refer to:* Tim Moore , American actor, vaudeville and television comedian* Tim Moore , British travel writer and humorist* Tim Moore , songwriter who released five solo albums on Elektra Records...
- keyboards, synthesiser, programmerProgrammerA programmer, computer programmer or coder is someone who writes computer software. The term computer programmer can refer to a specialist in one area of computer programming or to a generalist who writes code for many kinds of software. One who practices or professes a formal approach to... - Alan KendallAlan KendallAlan Kendall is an English musician and was the lead guitarist for the popular band the Bee Gees, before they retired the band name due to the death of Maurice Gibb in 2003...
- guitar - Tim Cansfield - guitar
- George PerryGeorge PerryGeorge Perry may refer to:*George Perry , Scottish engineer, ironmaster, draughtsman and cartographer*George Perry , former Ontario MPP*George Perry , 19th century English naturalist...
- bass - Ed CalleEd CalleEd Calle is a musician from Miami, Florida. He was born in Caracas, Venezuela.Calle plays the saxophone, flute, clarinet, EWI, keyboards, and vocals. He also composes and arranges music. Dr. Eduardo J...
- saxSax-Places:* Sax, Alicante, a municipality in Spain* Saxmundham, UK - a colloquial short form used in East Suffolk* Sax, a village in the Sennwald municipality in Switzerland-People:* Sax, later "Sax-Hohensax", name a house of barons originally at Hohensax castle... - Luis JardimLuís JardimLuís Alberto Figueira Gonçalves Jardim is a Portuguese percussionist, born in the Madeira Island, best known for his work with producer Trevor Horn.-Family:Jardim is a cousin of Alberto João Jardim...
- percussion - Trevor Murrell - drums
Chart performance
| Chart | Peak position | Certification |
|---|---|---|
| Argentina | 1 | - |
| Austria | 6 | - |
| Germany | 12 | - |
| Switzerland | 14 | - |
| Netherlands | 22 | - |
| United Kingdom | 23 | Gold (01/12/93) |
| Italy | 28 | - |
| France | 28 | - |
| United States | 153 | - |