The first three Bee Gees albums to enjoy international release have been expanded and grouped for the six-disc boxed set "The Studio Albums 1967-1968," due Nov. 7 via Reprise. The release is the first in an ongoing catalog upgrade as part of a recent deal with Rhino; each album has been remastered and paired with a second disc of rare and unreleased tracks.

"Bee Gees 1st," released in 1967, revealed the sibling group to a worldwide audience thanks to hit singles such as "Holiday," "To Love Somebody" and "New York Mining Disaster 1941," which was inspired by an Oct. 1966 incident in Wales that killed 144 people, 116 of them children.

"Our lyrics were entirely fictitious, but that was our real inspiration," Robin Gibb told Billboard in a 2001 interview. "We were very affected by it, the news of that terrible disaster, but we didn't want to say that directly at the time, out of respect for the dead and their families."

The bonus disc includes 14 previously unreleased tracks, including alternate versions of album material and the outtakes "Gilbert Green," "House of Lords," "I've Got To Learn," "All Around My Clock" and "Mr. Wallor's Wailing Wall."

The Bee Gees increased their star power with January 1968's "Horizontal," which includes the hits "Massachusetts" and "World". The bonus disc sports four non-album tracks, including the hit "Words," plus nine unreleased songs, including "Out Of Line," "Ring My Bell," "Deeply, Deeply Me" and "Mrs. Gillespie's Refrigerator."


In August of that year, the Bee Gees returned with the album "Idea," which featured their first top 10 hits on Billboard's pop singles chart: "I've Gotta Get a Message to You," and "I Started a Joke." On the extra disc are several alternate mixes, the previously unreleased "Bridges Crossing Rivers" and two songs written for films, "Chocolate Symphony" and "Gena's Theme."

PANDURITO said:

I love their 60s albums. And some of the additional tracks mentioned are brilliant, too. It'll be great to have them in good quality at last.
I'm really looking forward to these.

Me too. I'll be first in line

PANDURITO said:

I hope there's some good outtakes on the early 70s albums, 'cos I'm not so keen on that period, although there's a few good tracks on all of them.

Morning Of My Life had better be included on one of them or else there will be some bloodshed.

I don't think they're keeping things in the vaults this time.
Guess/Hope they'll release everything available. After all they won't live forever. I just hope they don't take too long between releases.

Yes, early 70's is my least favourite period too. I only own those songs in compilations and hardly ever play them...but I want them nonetheless

PANDURITO said:

What are your favourites from that period?

wake me when they remaster 'Main Course','Children Of The World' and 'Spirits Having Flown'

SoulAlive said:

You should be happy just knowing that the project is finally getting off the ground.

SoulAlive said:

davideye?

Early 70's?

Run to me
My World
Throw A Penny
Mr. Natural
IOIO

I don't remember many now really. I'd have to check back the albums.
From Main Course on I love everything though

Cloudbuster said:

Perhaps,but I really just want those 3 albums that I listed

PANDURITO said:

Throw A Penny, not keen on that one, but the others you mentioned are great.

My faves from that era:

I.O.I.O.
Lonely Days
Man For All Seasons
Morning Of My Life
How Can You Mend A Broken Heart
My World
Run To Me
Alive
South Dakota Morning
Charade
Mr. Natural

There's others, too, but they're the tracks I adore.

You like everything from Main Course onwards, huh?
You must be one of the few fans that actually likes the High Civilization album, then.

SoulAlive said:

Yeah, that was their peak, no question.
But you're missing out on some good stuff.

Cloudbuster said:

I have all their albums from Main Course onwards permanently in my CD changer +Disc one from Tales From the Brothers Gibb (to complete the vision)
Chronologically. Including Andy's , solo albums and early 80s related artists produtions
Hell! The last one is Guilty Pleasures
I also downloaded the two new Barry Gibb songs last week

Yeah...you could call me a fan

PANDURITO said:

A fan who doesn't have the early albums. Yeah, some fan you are.

Well, HC is okay, some good rhythms but the majority of the songs aren't up to scratch, imo. The title track is fucking wonderful, tho'.

Never heard Andy's solo albums. Maybe they'll get a makeover some day as well.

I didn't say I don't have them
I said I don't have them permanently in my CD changer.
Permanently like always

Andy's solo work is quite good. In fact is pure Bee Gees of the era. Sometimes you can't tell it's not Barry singing.

In fact many times it's Barry doing BVs

PANDURITO said:

Ok.

PANDURITO said:

Yeah, I know all the singles... so very Bee Gees, but then Barry wrote a lot of them anyway.

I Just Want To Be Your Everything
Love Is Thicker Than Water
Shadow Dancing
Desire
After Dark