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PrintableSlave2daGroove said: Cloudbuster said: Michael Jackson Pet Shop Boys George Michael Billy Joel Paul Simon David Bowie Brian Wilson Madonna Noel Gallagher Elton John Just to name a few well respected artists who have named the Bee Gees as an influence. The list goes on and on. 
I can see some of these people but these bolded artists were successful and making music that influenced people before the Bee Gees knew what success was...maybe it's a case of being musicans' musicans but yeah, the folk Bee Gees may have been good songwriters but they have nothing on these people's musical history. With the exception of Elton John, who I don't particularly care for (tho I do keep meaning to investigate his '70s work more), I agree. Tho I'd say Billy Joel is more the 'American Elton John', musically speaking. 
I confess I'm very unfamiliar with the Bee Gees albums. Do they have anything approaching a 'classic album' in their back catalogue? Maybe 'Saturday Night Fever', I suppose, but I only really know them from their singles. | |
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NDRU said: The Bee Gees may be judged more kindly as time goes on. But Saturday Night Fever became a joke when disco went out. The hair, the outfits, the chest medallions, the high voices were completely ridiculed, and it hurt the perception of the music, which was actually pretty good.
Also, probably not that many people (UK excepted) even know the earlier stuff, so they only think of them as a disco band. Lets also remember that Saturday Night Fever and the music the Bee Gees did for it, wasnt meant for the movie, they were recording a new album when the producer called and said we want you to do the music for a movie and when they heard the basis of the movie they were like "whatever, no one is going care about that movie". Its funny how the Bee Gees get slighted for being in the middle of DISCO and yet Donna Summer gets praised (not that she isnt great) so once again theres a huge double standard. The funny thing is many have been influenced by the Bee Gees, but when you ask it always seems to be the Stones,Beatles and then when you get someone alone and off the record they will say the Bee Gees. "We went where our music was appreciated, and that was everywhere but the USA, we knew we had fans, but there is only so much of the world you can play at once" Magne F | |
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Cloudbuster said: NDRU said: Also, probably not that many people (UK excepted) even know the earlier stuff, so they only think of them as a disco band.
Don't talk about what you don't know. The Bee Gees were a hugely successful band internationally from the moment they released their first album. . [Edited 4/18/07 12:01pm] Then why would someone think they weren't around before Bowie & Elton? My Legacy
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Miles said: Slave2daGroove said:
I can see some of these people but these bolded artists were successful and making music that influenced people before the Bee Gees knew what success was...maybe it's a case of being musicans' musicans but yeah, the folk Bee Gees may have been good songwriters but they have nothing on these people's musical history. With the exception of Elton John, who I don't particularly care for (tho I do keep meaning to investigate his '70s work more), I agree. Tho I'd say Billy Joel is more the 'American Elton John', musically speaking.
I confess I'm very unfamiliar with the Bee Gees albums. Do they have anything approaching a 'classic album' in their back catalogue? Maybe 'Saturday Night Fever', I suppose, but I only really know them from their singles. Bee Gees First Odessa Main Course Spirits Having Flown Those four tend to be the critic's choices. Size Isn't Everything and Still Waters from later years also get high acclaim. | |
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I think another great comparison to what the Bee Gees are penalized for, would be CHICAGO, i am totally convinced that Chicago has not been put in the hall of fame due to the "ballads" of the 80's, though the Bee Gees did get into the Hall Of Fame when they were due, Chicago is yet another LEGEND that is ignored. "We went where our music was appreciated, and that was everywhere but the USA, we knew we had fans, but there is only so much of the world you can play at once" Magne F | |
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Cloudbuster said: Miles said: With the exception of Elton John, who I don't particularly care for (tho I do keep meaning to investigate his '70s work more), I agree. Tho I'd say Billy Joel is more the 'American Elton John', musically speaking.
I confess I'm very unfamiliar with the Bee Gees albums. Do they have anything approaching a 'classic album' in their back catalogue? Maybe 'Saturday Night Fever', I suppose, but I only really know them from their singles. Bee Gees First Odessa Main Course Spirits Having Flown Those four tend to be the critic's choices. Size Isn't Everything and Still Waters from later years also get high acclaim. Totally agreed, i also really liked the "This is Where i came in" album, especially that title track, very underrated record. "We went where our music was appreciated, and that was everywhere but the USA, we knew we had fans, but there is only so much of the world you can play at once" Magne F | |
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lastdecember said: Empress said: I have always been a fan of the Bee Gees, but I would never say they were better than the Beatles or Stones. They had a unique sound and were great singers/songwriters. They do deserve a lot of respect.
When someone says something like "or even the FRIGGIN Beach Boys", it shows me they don't understand real music. No offence, this is just my thoughts. I understand real music trust me on that, im not slighting the Beach Boys but i am pointing out there are alot of "hipocracy" in the "legends" category. Brian Wilson is a genius as is Mick Jagger and Lennon/McCartney and many others but to eliminate The Gibb brothers from that is INSANITY. Whether you like them or not, shouldnt be apoint and that they were in the middle of "disco", but lets not forget that Clapton and Arif Mardin the Greatest producer ever, pushed them to do "Jive Talkin" and "You Should be dancing". And i never hear anyone talking about what came before that, their early works is right up there with the "legends" we so praise. Tracks like "New York mining Disaster" "to Love Somebody" "Holiday" "Words" and "Lonely Days" to name a few amongst the genius that they did during the years of 1966-1972, and we cant forget their personal George Martin who was Robert Stigwood, who was just as important to them as George Martin was to the Beatles. Its not a put down of others, its recognizing what they did. Thanks for the clarification. I understand your point better now. | |
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I also think it should also be noted, that of the legends mentioned the Bee Gees were the ones that embraced RB and Funk the most and brought that into their creation, lets not forget that "To Love Somebody" was written for Otis Redding but he died before recording it. And their 3-part harmonies are very RB influenced. "We went where our music was appreciated, and that was everywhere but the USA, we knew we had fans, but there is only so much of the world you can play at once" Magne F | |
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lastdecember said: NDRU said: The Bee Gees may be judged more kindly as time goes on. But Saturday Night Fever became a joke when disco went out. The hair, the outfits, the chest medallions, the high voices were completely ridiculed, and it hurt the perception of the music, which was actually pretty good.
Also, probably not that many people (UK excepted) even know the earlier stuff, so they only think of them as a disco band. Lets also remember that Saturday Night Fever and the music the Bee Gees did for it, wasnt meant for the movie, they were recording a new album when the producer called and said we want you to do the music for a movie and when they heard the basis of the movie they were like "whatever, no one is going care about that movie". Its funny how the Bee Gees get slighted for being in the middle of DISCO and yet Donna Summer gets praised (not that she isnt great) so once again theres a huge double standard. The funny thing is many have been influenced by the Bee Gees, but when you ask it always seems to be the Stones,Beatles and then when you get someone alone and off the record they will say the Bee Gees. the reason any act that has any connection to Disco or it's offsprings don't get credit is the "industry" meaning critics is homophobic You CANNOT use the name of God, or religion, to justify acts of violence, to hurt, to hate, to discriminate- Madonna
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ehuffnsd said: lastdecember said: Lets also remember that Saturday Night Fever and the music the Bee Gees did for it, wasnt meant for the movie, they were recording a new album when the producer called and said we want you to do the music for a movie and when they heard the basis of the movie they were like "whatever, no one is going care about that movie". Its funny how the Bee Gees get slighted for being in the middle of DISCO and yet Donna Summer gets praised (not that she isnt great) so once again theres a huge double standard. The funny thing is many have been influenced by the Bee Gees, but when you ask it always seems to be the Stones,Beatles and then when you get someone alone and off the record they will say the Bee Gees. the reason any act that has any connection to Disco or it's offsprings don't get credit is the "industry" meaning critics is homophobic Very true, that would also apply to why QUEEN is not given its due either. "We went where our music was appreciated, and that was everywhere but the USA, we knew we had fans, but there is only so much of the world you can play at once" Magne F | |
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ehuffnsd said: lastdecember said: Lets also remember that Saturday Night Fever and the music the Bee Gees did for it, wasnt meant for the movie, they were recording a new album when the producer called and said we want you to do the music for a movie and when they heard the basis of the movie they were like "whatever, no one is going care about that movie". Its funny how the Bee Gees get slighted for being in the middle of DISCO and yet Donna Summer gets praised (not that she isnt great) so once again theres a huge double standard. The funny thing is many have been influenced by the Bee Gees, but when you ask it always seems to be the Stones,Beatles and then when you get someone alone and off the record they will say the Bee Gees. the reason any act that has any connection to Disco or it's offsprings don't get credit is the "industry" meaning critics is homophobic I'm sure that's why the Bee Gees aren't more popular...
Well written music stands the test of time regardless of it's category...while I was interested at the beginning of this thread, it's over now. | |
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lastdecember said: I also think it should also be noted, that of the legends mentioned the Bee Gees were the ones that embraced RB and Funk the most and brought that into their creation, lets not forget that "To Love Somebody" was written for Otis Redding but he died before recording it. And their 3-part harmonies are very RB influenced.
You are absolutely correct.In fact,in the 70s,the Bee Gees were really doing R&B.Songs like "You Should Be Dancing","Lovers","Jive Talkin" and "Boogie Child" are funky R&B jams."Love So Right" is a straight-up R&B ballad.It's only when their songs were used in a disco film (Saturday Night Fever) that they were considered "a disco band".Unlike the Beach Boys,the Gibb brothers have alot of R&B credibility.Al Green covered "How Can You Mend A Broken Heart" in the early 70s,while Rufus and Chaka Khan remade "Jive Talkin" in late 75. | |
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I love there old stuff like words, Massachusetts, run to me, holiday, lonely days, new york mining disaster. People forget they were apart of the british invasion of the 60's. |
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NDRU said: Cloudbuster said:
Don't talk about what you don't know. The Bee Gees were a hugely successful band internationally from the moment they released their first album. Then why would someone think they weren't around before Bowie & Elton? I really don't know what you mean. Many people are aware of their 60s work. 
Here's a list of Bee Gees compositions that have made the top ten in charts around the world with the highest known positions: 1964 One Road (Jimmy Little) #10 1967 Coalman (Ronnie Burns) #7 Spicks & Specks #1 New York Mining Disaster 1941 #3 To Love Somebody #6 Holiday #3 Massachusetts #1 World #1 1968 Words #1 Jumbo #3 The Singer Sang His Song #3 I've Gotta Get A Message To You #1 Only One Woman (The Marbles) #1 Morning Of My Life (Abi & Esther Ofarim) #2 I Started A Joke #1 1969 First Of May #2 Tomorrow Tomorrow #3 Saved By The Bell (Robin Gibb) #1 Don't Forget To Remember #1 Marley Purt Drive (Equipe 84) #4 The Walls Fell Down (The Marbles) #3 Smile For Me (The Tigers) #1 1970 Sweetheart (Englebert Humperdinck) #7 One Million Years (Robin Gibb) #5 August October (Robin Gibb) #10 I.O.I.O. #6 1971 Lonely Days #1 Melody Fair #3 How Can You Mend A Broken Heart #1 1972 My World #1 Run To Me #2 1973 Saw A New Morning #1 Wouldn't I Be Someone #1 1974 Charade #7 1975 Jive Talkin' #1 Nights On Broadway #2 1976 Fanny Be Tender With My Love #2 You Should Be Dancing #1 Love So Right #1 Love Me (Yvonne Elliman) #3 1977 Boogie Child #9 I Just Want To Be Your Everything (Andy Gibb) #1 Love Is Thicker Than Water (Andy Gibb) #1 How Deep Is Your Love #1 1978 Stayin' Alive #1 Night Fever #1 If I Can't Have You (Yvonne Elliman) #1 Warm Ride (Graham Bonnet) #2 More Than A Woman #4 Emotion (Samantha Sang) #2 Shadow Dancing (Andy Gibb) #1 An Everlasting Love (Andy Gibb) #5 (Our Love) Don't Throw It All Away (Andy Gibb) #5 Grease (Frankie Valli) #1 Too Much Heaven #1 1979 Tragedy #1 Love You Inside Out #1 Reaching Out #4 1980 Desire (Andy Gibb) #4 Hold On To My Love (Jimmy Ruffin) #7 Woman In Love (Barbra Streisand) #1 Guilty (Barbra Streisand & Barry Gibb) #3 1981 What Kind Of Fool (Barbra Streisand & Barry Gibb) #10 He's A Liar #5 1982 Living Eyes #7 Heartbreaker (Dionne Warwick) #2 All The Love In The World (Dionne Warwick) #3 1983 The Woman In You #2 Juliet (Robin Gibb) #1 Islands In The Stream (Kenny Rogers & Dolly Parton) #1 1984 Boys Do Fall In Love (Robin Gibb) #7 1985 Eaten Alive (Diana Ross) #10 1986 Chain Reaction (Diana Ross) #1 The Runaway (Carola) #3 1987 You Win Again #1 1988 E.S.P. #8 1989 Ordinary Lives #8 One #1 Wish You Were Here #2 1991 Secret Love #2 1993 For Whom The Bell Tolls #1 1997 Alone #1 1998 Immortality (Celine Dion & the Bee Gees) #1 2001 This Is Where I Came In #3 2003 Sacred Trust (One True Voice) #2 You & I (Edinho Santa Cruz) #1 My Lover's Prayer (Alistair Griffin & Robin Gibb) #5 2005 Man In The Middle #1 88 compositions that made the top 10 including 40 #1's. Not bad for a naff band, eh? And they're only those that I know about. As you can see, they had 29 top 10 entries of their own around the world before the release of Saturday Night Fever. 15 of those 29 went all the way to #1. Their older work is much loved around the world, so maybe you've been talking to the wrong people. 
. [Edited 4/19/07 5:17am] | |
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Oh, and Bowie's first hit, Space Oddity, was a deliberate rip-off of the early Bee Gees sound.
Marc Bolan: "I remember David Bowie playing me Space Oddity in his room and I loved it and he said he needed a sound like the Bee Gees" | |
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Cloudbuster said: NDRU said: Then why would someone think they weren't around before Bowie & Elton? I really don't know what you mean. Many people are aware of their 60s work.
Here's a list of Bee Gees compositions that have made the top ten in charts around the world with the highest known positions: 1964 One Road (Jimmy Little) #10 1967 Coalman (Ronnie Burns) #7 Spicks & Specks #1 New York Mining Disaster 1941 #3 To Love Somebody #6 Holiday #3 Massachusetts #1 World #1 1968 Words #1 Jumbo #3 The Singer Sang His Song #3 I've Gotta Get A Message To You #1 Only One Woman (The Marbles) #1 Morning Of My Life (Abi & Esther Ofarim) #2 I Started A Joke #1 1969 First Of May #2 Tomorrow Tomorrow #3 Saved By The Bell (Robin Gibb) #1 Don't Forget To Remember #1 Marley Purt Drive (Equipe 84) #4 The walls Fell Down (The Marbles) #3 Smile For Me (The Tigers) #1 1970 Sweetheart (Englebert Humperdinck) #7 One Million Years (Robin Gibb) #5 August October (Robin Gibb) #10 I.O.I.O. #6 1971 Lonely Days #1 Melody Fair #3 How Can You Mend A Broken Heart #1 1972 My World #1 Run To Me #2 1973 Saw A New Morning #1 Wouldn't I Be Someone #1 1974 Charade #7 1975 Jive Talkin' #1 Nights On Broadway #2 1976 Fanny Be Tender With My Love #2 You Should Be Dancing #1 Love So Right #1 Love Me (Yvonne Elliman) #3 1977 Boogie Child #9 I Just Want To Be Your Everything (Andy Gibb) #1 Love Is Thicker Than Water (Andy Gibb) #1 How Deep Is Your Love #1 1978 Stayin' Alive #1 Night Fever #1 If I Can't Have You (Yvonne Elliman) #1 Warm Ride (Graham Bonnet) #2 More Than A Woman #4 Emotion (Samantha Sang) #2 Shadow Dancing (Andy Gibb) #1 An Everlasting Love (Andy Gibb) #5 (Our Love) Don't Throw It All Away (Andy Gibb) #5 Grease (Frankie Valli) #1 Too Much Heaven #1 1979 Tragedy #1 Love You Inside Out #1 Reaching Out #4 1980 Desire (Andy Gibb) #4 Hold On To My Love (Jimmy Ruffin) #7 Woman In Love (Barbra Streisand) #1 Guilty (Barbra Streisand & Barry Gibb) #3 1981 What Kind Of Fool (Barbra Streisand & Barry Gibb) #10 He's A Liar #5 1982 Living Eyes #7 Heartbreaker (Dionne Warwick) #2 All The Love In The World (Dionne Warwick) #3 1983 The Woman In You #2 Juliet (Robin Gibb) #1 Islands In The Stream (Kenny Rogers & Dolly Parton) #1 1984 Boys Do Fall In Love (Robin Gibb) #7 1985 Eaten Alive (Diana Ross) #10 1986 Chain Reaction (Diana Ross) #1 The Runaway (Carola) #3 1987 You Win Again #1 1988 E.S.P. #8 1989 Ordinary Lives #8 One #1 Wish You Were Here #2 1991 Secret Love #2 1993 For Whom The Bell Tolls #1 1997 Alone #1 1998 Immortality (Celine Dion & the Bee Gees) #1 2001 This Is Where I Came In #3 2003 Sacred Trust (One True Voice) #2 You & I (Edinho Santa Cruz) #1 My Lover's Prayer (Alistair Griffin & Robin Gibb) #5 2005 Man In The Middle #1 88 compositions that made the top 10 including 40 #1's. Not bad for a naff band, eh? And they're only those that I know about. As you can see, they had 29 top 10 entries of their own around the world before the release of Saturday Night Fever. 15 of those 28 went all the way to #1. Their older work is much loved around the world, so maybe you've been talking to the wrong people. Maybe in the U.K but I guess in the USA there are alot of people (especially under 35) only are aware of their disco period. I tell people they were apart of the British invasion and they look shocked. |
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kpowers said: Maybe in the U.K but I guess in the USA there are alot of people (especially under 35) only are aware of their disco period. I tell people they were apart of the British invasion and they look shocked.
Weird, as they had great success in the US long before Saturday Night Fever hit. But let's face it, SNF was immense and very different sounding to their earlier stuff. People could be forgiven for thinking that they were two different bands as I've had many folk say "THAT'S the Bee Gees?!!" They often know the songs without realising who it is. | |
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Cloudbuster said: kpowers said: Maybe in the U.K but I guess in the USA there are alot of people (especially under 35) only are aware of their disco period. I tell people they were apart of the British invasion and they look shocked.
Weird, as they had great success in the US long before Saturday Night Fever hit. But let's face it, SNF was immense and very different sounding to their earlier stuff. People could be forgiven for thinking that they were two different bands as I've had many folk say "THAT'S the Bee Gees?!!" They often know the songs without realising who it is. Yeah when I play some of their stuff from the 60's people say they sound like the Beatles. But yes I agree Saturday Night Fever soundtrack was so huge that most people just think Bee gee's (and age to plays a factor) |
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Cloudbuster said: Slave2daGroove said: I've never liked the Bee Gees, maybe it was the disco angle or maybe i just haven't listened close enough. To compare artists of the British invasion or the Beach Boys is an apples and oranges comparison unless you're talking about influence on other musicians and then it's like Bee Gee's who?
I can't remember ANY artist saying that a Bee Gee's album influenced their perspective but I've heard countless artists reference Sgt. Pepper in that regard. Michael Jackson Pet Shop Boys George Michael Billy Joel Paul Simon David Bowie Brian Wilson Madonna Noel Gallagher Elton John Just to name a few well respected artists who have named the Bee Gees as an influence. The list goes on and on. I think ELO were also influenced by the Bee Gees as well.Their 1979 hit "Shine A Little Love" sounds exactly like a Bee Gees track.And don't laugh at me,but...when I first heard "Mountains" by Prince,I thought that it had a Bee Gees feel to it  Something about the horns and Prince's falsetto reminds me of late-70s Bee Gees. | |
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SoulAlive said: I think ELO were also influenced by the Bee Gees as well.Their 1979 hit "Shine A Little Love" sounds exactly like a Bee Gees track.And don't laugh at me,but...when I first heard "Mountains" by Prince,I thought that it had a Bee Gees feel to it
Something about the horns and Prince's falsetto reminds me of late-70s Bee Gees.Prince name dropped the Bee Gees many times at the beginning of his career. And just listen to his early work, clearly influenced to some degree by late 70s Bee Gees stuff. | |
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The best Bee Gees songs that they wrote and produced for others:
"Shadow Dancing" by Andy Gibb (1978) "Emotion" by Samantha Sang (1978)  | |
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SoulAlive said: The best Bee Gees songs that they wrote and produced for others:
"Shadow Dancing" by Andy Gibb (1978) "Emotion" by Samantha Sang (1978) I'll add to that Islands In The Stream and Woman In Love. Such beautiful melodies. Only One Woman is a great track, too. I hope their own version turns up on one of the remasterd albums. | |
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I remember buying the 45 of "Shadow Dancing" in 1978.It was the first record I bought with my own money  LOVE THAT SONG!!! | |
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SoulAlive said: I remember buying the 45 of "Shadow Dancing" in 1978.It was the first record I bought with my own money
LOVE THAT SONG!!!Yeah, it's class. They should have done it themselves, really. | |
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Cloudbuster said: Oh, and the Saturday Night Fever remaster is due in June.Just thought you might like to know.
 What's gonna be on it? Any bonus tracks? | |
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Cloudbuster said: SoulAlive said: I remember buying the 45 of "Shadow Dancing" in 1978.It was the first record I bought with my own money
LOVE THAT SONG!!!Yeah, it's class. They should have done it themselves, really. They actually gave Andy a ton of great songs that they could have kept for themselves: "I Just Wanna Be Your Everything" (1977) "An Everlasting Love" (1978) "Desire" (1980) "After Dark" (1980) | |
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SoulAlive said: Cloudbuster said: Oh, and the Saturday Night Fever remaster is due in June.Just thought you might like to know.
What's gonna be on it? Any bonus tracks? Supposed to be a two disc set. No tracklisting as yet. I'll post as soon as I know. | |
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SoulAlive said: Cloudbuster said: Yeah, it's class. They should have done it themselves, really. They actually gave Andy a ton of great songs that they could have kept for themselves: "I Just Wanna Be Your Everything" (1977) "An Everlasting Love" (1978) "Desire" (1980) "After Dark" (1980) I'm not so keen on An Everlasting Love. I'd have gone for Love Is Thicker Than Water, instead. | |
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Slave2daGroove said: ehuffnsd said: the reason any act that has any connection to Disco or it's offsprings don't get credit is the "industry" meaning critics is homophobic I'm sure that's why the Bee Gees aren't more popular...You'd be surprised how true that actually is. | |
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Summer Night City was Abba's attempt at writing a Bee Gees song, too.
No, they never influenced anybody, did they.  | |
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