The Bee Gees are one of the longest lasting music groups in history. They rate up there with The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, and the Beach Boys as one of the most famous performing groups of the later 20th century. They are one of the most prolific song-writing and recording teams in history. They have produced hit albums and singles starting in the 1960's and going through every decade until the current day, have still maintained their edge. Their latest release, This Is Where I Came In is further proof of their ability to pen and sing quality songs. In many ways, it is a return to their harmonic and melodic beginnings.
What can one say about the Bee Gees? Comprising of a trio of brothers, Barry, Robin and Maurice, they first earned a record contract as the Gee Bees in 1963. Their debut single, 'The Battle of the Blue and the Grey' hit the top of the charts in Australia, which is where the Gibb family had moved to in the late 1950's. From the moment of the first single, The Gee Bees have maintained their momentum and made great music. Throughout the later 1960's and mid 1970's, they continued to make music and maintain a loyal fan base. In 1977, they were asked to create a few songs for a soundtrack for a film set in a dance club in New York. They agreed and made music history.
Their hits on the soundtrack, Saturday Night Fever (the best selling soundtrack record ever) made them a world name and cultural phenomenon. Their most successful single, 'Staying Alive' made them the biggest group in the world between 1977-1979. The Bee Gees then took some time off in the early and mid 80's to concentrate on family. Although they have never again achieved the popularity they had in the late 1970's, the Bee Gees have consistently been popular and maintained solid fan bases around the world. By the late 1990's, the Bee Gees found themselves being covered by a multitude of current acts. They received respect in the form of winning a number of Lifetime Achievement honours and being inducted into the Rock & Roll and Songwriter Halls of Fame. In 1997, they went on a mini world tour promoting Still Waters and found that they could still fill stadiums and the such. The Gee Bees still had it.
This Is Where I Came In is their 28th studio record. It took three years of work done both as a group and by individual efforts by the boys. They wanted to go back to their roots as a beat group and they have admirably succeeded. From the start, the title track, 'This Is Where I Came In' sets the tone showing the incredulous Beatlesque harmony of the brothers. Having said that, the album is not a copy of old styles. There is a wide selection of styles on the CD, expressing the preferences of the brothers Gibb in their music. They produced the album as well as performed on it, thus allowing complete expression of their talent and individuality.
From hard rocking tunes to gentle ballads, This Is Where I Came In has it all. The tune, 'Wedding Day' is a powerful paean by the brothers to their wives. 'The Extra Mile' was originally written for use by the Sydney Olympics but can be understood by anyone that knows adversity and what that can do to someone. The accompanying instruments are of high quality, not to mention the Gibb brothers own strong abilities. The CD also has multi-media elements to it with a video of the first single along with interviews of the band members and people that have known them for a long time. Result: a very modern touch to an older group.
In summary, This Is Where I Came In is an excellent addition to the group's repertoire, proving the talent level which is characteristic of Bee Gees music. They have been able to maintain the best of their older success and prove that they are still creative and fresh.
By Daniel Sanford, CanEHdian.com 2001
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The Bee Gees - "This Is Where I Came In" 