The Bee Gees Sing and Play 14 Barry Gibb Songs is the debut studio album by the Bee Gees. Credited to Barry Gibb and the Bee Gees, it was released in November 1965 on the Australian Leedon label (1967's Bee Gees' 1st would be their international debut album). It is a compilation of most of the Gibb brothers' singles that had been released over the previous three years in Australia, which accounts for the many different styles of music on it.
Recording
Only five new songs were recorded for the album: "I Was a Lover, a Leader of Men", "And the Children Laughing", "I Don't Think It's Funny", "How Love Was True" and "To Be or Not to Be". Barry had more than enough unrecorded songs for an all-new LP, but the rest of the album was instead made up of nine lesser-known singles. Bill Shepherd set the order of the songs.
Barry plays rhythm guitar, and Maurice probably plays the other guitars, like the leads in "I Was a Lover, a Leader of Men" and "How Love Was True"; whether Maurice managed to play the acoustic lead guitar in "I Don't Think It's Funny" or the fast piano in "To Be or Not to Be" is less certain, and the organ on "I Was a Lover, a Leader of Men" and "And the Children Laughing" is either Robin or Maurice. Though uncredited on the back of this album, it is confirmed that the Gibbs' friend Trevor Gordon played lead guitar on "Peace of Mind", "Wine and Women" and "Follow the Wind". Gordon later released several recordings under the name Trevor Gordon and the Bee Gees. Gordon went on to find success with Graham Bonnet in the UK-based duo the Marbles, who had a hit with "Only One Woman" written by the Bee Gees and produced by Barry and Maurice with Robert Stigwood.
Releases
The original issue of the LP on Leedon is extremely rare. Even the 1967 reissue on the Calendar label is rarely seen in Australia. This album package was not issued elsewhere and was not issued on CD until it was released as part of a 2013 box set, Festival Album Collection: 1965–1967.[2]
The "Bee Gees" are spelled with an apostrophe on the front cover, but not on the rear sleeve or labels – and unlike on any of their single releases.
Earlier tracks, like "Peace of Mind", "Claustrophobia" and "Could It Be", are in the beat vein that was popular throughout 1964, while later singles like "Follow the Wind" and "And the Children Laughing" reflect the more folky sounds of 1965. Of the new tracks that were recorded specifically for the album, "To Be or Not to Be" was probably the biggest departure, being a blues-based hard rocker. In the compilation Brilliant from Birth, "You Wouldn't Know" is faded early to 2:03, losing the shouting and laughing in the longer original fade.
The Bee Gees' Australian album and single releases were never issued in the United Kingdom or the United States in their original track listings; instead, UK and US releases were compilations of various album and non-album singles from the Festival/Australian recording era.[3] "I Was a Lover, a Leader of Men," "Follow the Wind," "Claustrophobia," "Take Hold of That Star," "Could It Be," and "To Be Or Not To Be" were released (along with other songs not included on this album) in the UK on the compilation Rare, Precious, and Beautiful: Volume 2 by Polydor Records in November 1968 and in the US by Atco Records in February 1970.[3]
Robin Gibb – lead vocals, harmony and backing vocals; Hammond organ on "Wine and Women" (uncertain) and "Follow the Wind" (uncertain); melodica on "Claustrophobia" and "Could It Be"
Maurice Gibb – harmony and backing vocals; lead guitar on "Wine and Women" (uncertain) and "Follow the Wind" (uncertain); organ and guitar on "You Wouldn't Know"; rhythm guitar on "Claustrophobia" and "Could It Be"
Additional musicians and production
Bruce Davis, Leith Ryan – lead guitar on "Claustrophobia" and "Could It Be"
Bill Swindells – bass guitar on "Claustrophobia" and "Could It Be"
Laurie Wardman – drums on Claustrophobia" and "Could It Be"
Uncredited musicians – bass guitar ("Claustrophobia," "Could It Be,", "Timber!," and "Take Hold of That Star"); drums (except "Claustrophobia" and "Could It Be"); lead guitar and piano on "Don't Say Goodbye" and "Peace of Mind"; double bass, violin and piano on "Timber!" and "Take Hold of That Star"
uncertain (either Robin Gibb or Maurice Gibb) - organ on "I Was A Lover, A Leader of Men" and "And the Children Laughing"
unknown (possibly Maurice Gibb) - piano on "To Be Or Not To Be"; acoustic lead guitar on "I Don't Think It's Funny"
