Their Greatest Hits: The Record
Encyclopedia
Their Greatest Hits: The Record is the career retrospective greatest hits album by the Bee Gees
, released on UTV Records
and Polydor in November 2001 as HDCD. The album includes 40 tracks spanning over 35 years of music. Four of the songs were new recordings of classic Gibb compositions originally recorded by other artists, including "Emotion" (Samantha Sang
), "Heartbreaker" (Dionne Warwick
), "Islands In The Stream" (Kenny Rogers
and Dolly Parton
), and "Immortality" (Celine Dion
). It also features the Barry Gibb duet with Barbra Streisand
, "Guilty", which originally appeared on Streisand's 1980 album of the same name
.
The album peaked at #5 twice in the UK, the first time upon its release in 2001 and again in January 2003 (following the death of Maurice Gibb). It has since been certified triple platinum by the BPI
for sales of over 900,001 copies.
In the US, the album debuted on the Billboard 200
album chart at #49. It spent a total of 40 weeks on the chart and was certified platinum by the RIAA in February 2002 for sales of over one million copies there.
There are two bonus songs on the Japanese release, "Melody Fair" and "My World". Also there are two bonus songs on the UK release, "Jumbo" and "My World". Copies sold at the American retailer Target
included a bonus disc entitled 5 Live Recordings.
"Emotion" and "Heartbreaker" were recorded in 1994 as part of a Bee Gees compilation album called Love Songs which was never released. "Islands In The Stream" was recorded in 2001 with Robin singing lead in contemporary R&B sound rather than the more traditional arrangement like that heard on One Night Only
, which had Barry singing lead (Barry did not perform vocals on this revised version). "Immortality" is the original writing demo from 1996, which includes Barry singing in high falsetto as a guide to Celine Dion who would go on to record the song in 1997.
The very first UK pressings used the wrong version of "How Can You Mend a Broken Heart?
" with Barry singing the opening verse. A mastering fault was also present in "More Than a Woman
", with the audio noticeably dipping to the right briefly during the first verse. These were corrected after several thousand copies had already been distributed.
, Robin
and Maurice Gibb
, except as indicated. ** Only appears in Japan Bonus Tracks version.
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...
, released on UTV Records
Universal Music Group
Universal Music Group is an American music group, the largest of the "big four" record companies by its commanding market share and its multitude of global operations...
and Polydor in November 2001 as HDCD. The album includes 40 tracks spanning over 35 years of music. Four of the songs were new recordings of classic Gibb compositions originally recorded by other artists, including "Emotion" (Samantha Sang
Samantha Sang
Samantha Sang is a stage name of Australian singer, Cheryl Lau Sang, from Melbourne, who had an earlier career as Cheryl Gray. She had a number eight hit in Australia with "You Made Me What I Am" in 1967. By 1969, she had relocated to United Kingdom and worked with Bee Gees but then returned...
), "Heartbreaker" (Dionne Warwick
Dionne Warwick
Dionne Warwick is an American singer, actress and TV show host, who became a United Nations Global Ambassador for the Food and Agriculture Organization, and a United States Ambassador of Health....
), "Islands In The Stream" (Kenny Rogers
Kenny Rogers
Kenneth Donald "Kenny" Rogers is an American singer-songwriter, photographer, record producer, actor, and entrepreneur...
and Dolly Parton
Dolly Parton
Dolly Rebecca Parton is an American singer-songwriter, author, multi-instrumentalist, actress and philanthropist, best known for her work in country music. Dolly Parton has appeared in movies like 9 to 5, The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, Steel Magnolias and Straight Talk...
), and "Immortality" (Celine Dion
Celine Dion
Céline Marie Claudette Dion, , , is a Canadian singer. Born to a large family from Charlemagne, Quebec, Dion emerged as a teen star in the French-speaking world after her manager and future husband René Angélil mortgaged his home to finance her first record...
). It also features the Barry Gibb duet with Barbra Streisand
Barbra Streisand
Barbra Joan Streisand is an American singer, actress, film producer and director. She has won two Academy Awards, eight Grammy Awards, four Emmy Awards, a Special Tony Award, an American Film Institute award, a Peabody Award, and is one of the few entertainers who have won an Oscar, Emmy, Grammy,...
, "Guilty", which originally appeared on Streisand's 1980 album of the same name
Guilty (Barbra Streisand album)
Guilty is an album released by Barbra Streisand in 1980. After the success of the Bee Gees in 1977/1978 there was some time to perform songwriting for other artists and Barbra Streisand asked Barry Gibb to write an album for her...
.
The album peaked at #5 twice in the UK, the first time upon its release in 2001 and again in January 2003 (following the death of Maurice Gibb). It has since been certified triple platinum by the BPI
British Phonographic Industry
The British Phonographic Industry is the British record industry's trade association.-Structure:Its membership comprises hundreds of music companies including all four "major" record companies , associate members such as manufacturers and distributors, and hundreds of independent music companies...
for sales of over 900,001 copies.
In the US, the album debuted on the 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...
album chart at #49. It spent a total of 40 weeks on the chart and was certified platinum by the RIAA in February 2002 for sales of over one million copies there.
There are two bonus songs on the Japanese release, "Melody Fair" and "My World". Also there are two bonus songs on the UK release, "Jumbo" and "My World". Copies sold at the American retailer Target
Target Corporation
Target Corporation, doing business as Target, is an American retailing company headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It is the second-largest discount retailer in the United States, behind Walmart. The company is ranked at number 33 on the Fortune 500 and is a component of the Standard & Poor's...
included a bonus disc entitled 5 Live Recordings.
Song placement
Most of the songs are in chronological order, except for the placement of "You Should Be Dancing," which was released before "Love So Right". Also, "Spicks And Specks," a song from 1966 ends Disc Two, which makes it something of a bonus track."Emotion" and "Heartbreaker" were recorded in 1994 as part of a Bee Gees compilation album called Love Songs which was never released. "Islands In The Stream" was recorded in 2001 with Robin singing lead in contemporary R&B sound rather than the more traditional arrangement like that heard on One Night Only
One Night Only (Bee Gees album)
One Night Only is a live album and DVD by the Bee Gees. It features the group's concert at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas in 1997 and includes many of their greatest hits....
, which had Barry singing lead (Barry did not perform vocals on this revised version). "Immortality" is the original writing demo from 1996, which includes Barry singing in high falsetto as a guide to Celine Dion who would go on to record the song in 1997.
The very first UK pressings used the wrong version of "How Can You Mend a Broken Heart?
How Can You Mend a Broken Heart?
"How Can You Mend a Broken Heart" is an adult contemporary ballad released by the Bee Gees in 1971. The song had been written by Barry and Robin Gibb in August 1970, when the Gibb brothers had reconvened following a period of break-up and alienation...
" with Barry singing the opening verse. A mastering fault was also present in "More Than a Woman
More Than a Woman (Bee Gees song)
"More Than a Woman" is a disco song written by the Bee Gees for the soundtrack to the film Saturday Night Fever....
", with the audio noticeably dipping to the right briefly during the first verse. These were corrected after several thousand copies had already been distributed.
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...
, except as indicated. ** Only appears in Japan Bonus Tracks version.
Disc one
- "New York Mining Disaster 1941New York Mining Disaster 1941"New York Mining Disaster 1941" was the first song to be released by the Bee Gees in the United States , and their first song to hit the charts in the US or UK...
" (Barry Gibb/Robin Gibb) – 2:12 - "To Love SomebodyTo Love Somebody (song)"To Love Somebody" is the second single released by the Bee Gees from their third LP, Bee Gees 1st.The band's manager Robert Stigwood wanted Barry Gibb to write a soul song for Otis Redding. Barry, along with Robin wrote "To Love Somebody," a soulful ballad in the style of Sam & Dave or The Rascals...
" (Barry Gibb/Robin Gibb) – 3:02 - "HolidayHoliday (Bee Gees song)"Holiday" is a song by the Bee Gees. The song is haunting, even eerie, having been composed primarily in the minor key with a strong organ presence. Brothers Barry Gibb and Robin Gibb who also wrote the song share lead vocals...
" (Barry Gibb/Robin Gibb) – 2:55 - "MassachusettsMassachusetts (Bee Gees song)"Massachusetts" is a song written, recorded, and released by the Bee Gees in 1967 and later appearing on their 1968 album, Horizontal. It was their first Number 1 hit in the UK and eventually became one of the best selling singles of all times....
" – 2:25 - "WorldWorld (Bee Gees song)"World" is the second UK single from the Bee Gees second album Horizontal, released in 1967 in the United Kingdom. Though it was a big hit in Europe, Atco Records did not issue it as a single in the United States...
" – 3:16 - "WordsWords (Bee Gees song)"Words" is a song written and sung by the Bee Gees, released in the beginning of 1968. Barry Gibb said in 1996 on the VH1 Storytellers television show that it was written for their manager Robert Stigwood. It was originally intended for Cliff Richard, but he never got round to recording the track...
" – 3:17 - "I've Gotta Get a Message to YouI've Gotta Get a Message to You"I've Gotta Get a Message to You" is a song recorded by The Bee Gees in 1968, which became their second number-one single on the UK Singles Chart, and reached number eight on the U.S. pop chart....
" – 2:52 - "I Started a JokeI Started a Joke"I Started a Joke" is a 1968 song by the Bee Gees from their album Idea, which was released in September of that year.Curiously, it was not released as a single in the UK, where buyers who could not afford the album had to content themselves with a Polydor version by Heath...
" – 3:09 - "First of MayFirst of May (Bee Gees song)"First of May" is a song recorded by the Bee Gees with lead vocals by Barry Gibb, released as a single from their 1969 double album Odessa. The flip side of a single was "Lamplight" on which Robin Gibb sang the lead. Robert Stigwood, the Bee Gees manager chose "First of May" for the A-side...
" – 2:50 - "Melody FairMelody FairMelody Fair is a song by the Bee Gees. Originally written in 1968, it was included on the 1969 double album Odessa. The song was featured in the 1971 movie Melody, was included in the soundtrack album, and was released in May 1971 as a single in Japan...
" - 3:48 ** - "Saved by the Bell" (Robin Gibb) – 3:08
- "Don't Forget to RememberDon't Forget to Remember"Don't Forget to Remember" is a country ballad from the Bee Gees.It was released as a single in August 1969...
" (Barry Gibb/Maurice Gibb) – 3:29 - "Lonely DaysLonely Days"Lonely Days" is a 1970 song by the Bee Gees, featured on their album 2 Years On. The song incorporated the innovative structure and knack for changing tempos exemplified by the second side of The Beatles' Abbey Road album, released the previous year and a clear influence on this single...
" – 3:48 - "How Can You Mend a Broken Heart?How Can You Mend a Broken Heart?"How Can You Mend a Broken Heart" is an adult contemporary ballad released by the Bee Gees in 1971. The song had been written by Barry and Robin Gibb in August 1970, when the Gibb brothers had reconvened following a period of break-up and alienation...
" (Barry Gibb/Robin Gibb) – 3:59 - "My WorldMy World (Bee Gees song)"My World" was recording and released while The Bee Gees were recording their new album To Whom It May Concern during the winter of 1972. This single reached #16 on the USA charts and #16 and #41 on the U.K. and Germany charts, respectively...
" (Barry Gibb/Robin Gibb) - 4:22 ** - "Run to Me" – 3:13
- "Jive Talkin'Jive Talkin'"Jive Talkin" is a song by the Bee Gees, which hit number one on the Billboard Hot 100 and reached the top-five on the UK singles chart in the summer of 1975. Largely recognized as the group's "comeback" song, it was their first U.S. top ten hit since "How Can You Mend a Broken Heart" in...
" – 3:46 - "Nights on BroadwayNights on Broadway"Nights on Broadway" is a song by the Bee Gees for the Main Course album in 1975. The second single release from the album, it immediately followed their number-one hit "Jive Talkin'"....
" – 4:36 - "Fanny (Be Tender with My Love)Fanny (Be Tender with My Love)"Fanny " is a song written and performed by the Bee Gees for their Main Course album in 1975. It was the third single release from the album and peaked at number 12 on the United States Billboard Hot 100 singles chart and reached number two in Canada-Chart performance:...
" – 4:04 - "Love So RightLove So Right"Love So Right" is a R&B/pop ballad by the musical group the Bee Gees in 1976. It was the first Bee Gees single to feature Barry's falsetto exclusively as the lead vocal...
" – 3:37 - "If I Can't Have YouIf I Can't Have You"If I Can't Have You" is a song written by Barry, Robin and Maurice Gibb of the Bee Gees. It was most famously recorded by Yvonne Elliman for the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack.-Background:...
" – 3:22 - "Love MeLove Me (Bee Gees song)"Love Me" is a Barry and Robin Gibb composition which was an international hit in 1976-77 for Yvonne Elliman."Love Me" was originally recorded by the Gibbs' group the The Bee Gees on their 1976 album Children of the World, the track featuring Robin Gibb on lead with his falsetto evidenced on the...
" (Barry Gibb/Robin Gibb)– 4:04 - "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...
" – 4:15
Disc two
- "Stayin' AliveStayin' Alive"Stayin' Alive" is a song by the pop group Bee Gees from the Saturday Night Fever motion picture soundtrack. The song was written by the Bee Gees and produced by the Bee Gees, Albhy Galuten and Karl Richardson. It was released on 13 December 1977, as the second single from the Saturday Night Fever...
" – 4:47 - "How Deep Is Your LoveHow Deep Is Your Love"How Deep Is Your Love" is a pop song recorded by the Bee Gees in 1977 and released as a single in September. Originally intended for Yvonne Elliman, it was ultimately used as part of the soundtrack to the film Saturday Night Fever. It was a number three hit in the United Kingdom and Australia...
" – 4:03 - "Night FeverNight Fever"Night Fever" is a disco song, written and performed by The Bee Gees. It first appeared on the soundtrack to Saturday Night Fever. Producer Robert Stigwood wanted to call the film Saturday Night, but singer Robin Gibb expressed hesitation at the title. Stigwood liked the title Night Fever but was...
" – 3:31 - "More Than a WomanMore Than a Woman (Bee Gees song)"More Than a Woman" is a disco song written by the Bee Gees for the soundtrack to the film Saturday Night Fever....
" – 3:17 - "Emotion" (Barry Gibb/Robin Gibb) – 4:03
- "Too Much HeavenToo Much Heaven"Too Much Heaven" is a song by the Bee Gees, which was the band's contribution to the "Music for UNICEF" fund. They performed it at the Music for UNICEF Concert on 9 January 1979. The song later found its way to the group's thirteenth original album, Spirits Having Flown...
" – 4:57 - "TragedyTragedy (song)"Tragedy" is a song recorded by the Bee Gees, included on their 1979 album Spirits Having Flown. The single reached number one in the UK in February 1979 and repeated the feat the following month on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100...
" – 5:03 - "Love You Inside OutLove You Inside Out"Love You Inside Out" is a 1979 hit single for the Bee Gees, from their album Spirits Having Flown. It reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 for one week in June 1979...
" – 4:11 - Barbra Streisand and Barry Gibb - "Guilty" - 4:24
- "HeartbreakerHeartbreaker (Dionne Warwick song)"Heartbreaker" is a 1982 single released by American pop and soul singer Dionne Warwick. The song was written by The Bee Gees' Barry, Maurice and Robin Gibb, with Barry Gibb's distinctive backing vocal being heard on the chorus...
" - 4:26 - "Islands in the StreamIslands in the Stream"Islands in the Stream" is the title of a song written by the Bee Gees and sung by American country music artists Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton. It was released in August 1983 as the first single from Rogers' album Eyes That See in the Dark and the second pop number-one for both Rogers and Parton...
" - 4:22 - "You Win AgainYou Win Again (song)"You Win Again" is a 1987 song written and performed by the Bee Gees. Barry Gibb wrote the melody while brother Maurice conceived the drum sounds that open the track....
" - 4:04 - "OneOne (Bee Gees song)"One" is the second international single from the Bee Gees' album, One. This was the song that returned the Bee Gees to American radio and would turn out to be their biggest US hit in the 1980s. It peaked at number seven on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1989, and it stayed in the Top 40 for ten...
" - 4:56 - "Secret LoveSecret Love (Bee Gees song)"Secret Love" is a song by the Bee Gees. It was the lead single of their album High Civilisation, released in March 1991. It is an up-tempo ballad with a clear Supremes style similar to the 1986 Diana Ross hit "Chain Reaction", which was written by The Bee Gees...
" - 3:36 - "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:...
" - 3:58 - "AloneAlone (Bee Gees song)"Alone" is a song by the Bee Gees. It is the opening track on the multi-platinum Still Waters album released by the Bee Gees in 1997, and the first single from the album. The song is a pop ballad written by Barry, Robin and Maurice Gibb and recorded in 1996. The track was a big hit worldwide,...
" - 4:22 - "ImmortalityImmortality (Celine Dion song)"Immortality" is a single from Céline Dion's album Let's Talk About Love. It was released on June 8, 1998 outside the United States. The Bee Gees can be heard on the background vocals....
" – 4:15 - "This Is Where I Came InThis Is Where I Came In (song)"This Is Where I Came In" is a song by the Bee Gees. It was the first and only single from their final album and was featured as the last song performed on the live Bee Gees 1997 PBS special One Night Only before the album release of This Is Where I Came In as an "experimental" song at that time...
" – 4:00 - "Spicks and SpecksSpicks and Specks (song)"Spicks and Specks" is a song by The Bee Gees .An instrumental version of the song is part of the soundtrack for Melody, which also featured several other Bee Gees songs.-Live performances:...
" (Barry Gibb) – 2:51
Bonus Disc: 5 Live Recordings
- "Massachusetts" - 2:42
- "To Love Somebody" - 2:52
- "Jive Talkin'" - 4:35
- "How Can You Mend A Broken Heart?" - 3:38
- "How Deep Is Your Love" - 3:59