Anybody familiar with Pre-Disco BEEGEES?

[liberalpragmatist]

I've only heard snippets of the Beegees stuff pre-60s. I'm not a huge fan of the Beegees, since I'm mainly familiar with their disco stuff, and I can't say that I'm a big disco fan. However, I've heard there '60s stuff and pre-disco stuff is actually very good, psychadelic, beatlesesque pop-rock. How good is it? Would it be recommended?

[Kat45]

1. I remember them.

I was shocked when I heard the disco-Beegees. Their music was ok; I think I had a couple of their singles.

[zbird]

2. I've always liked the Bee Gees.

Probably not a very popular opinion here, from what I've read :P , but I grew up with their music. They had a tight harmony.

[gmoney]

3. Yeah, my dad had "Best of the BeeGees"

Featured their pre-"Saturday Night Fever" stuff. Some great Brit-pop tunes, notably "Words", "To Love Somebody", "Lonely Days", "I've Gotta Get a Message to You" and "I Started a Joke" -- a bit wimpy, but charming and appealing. Plus their version of "Timothy" called something like "New York Mining Disaster 1941" about guys trapped in a mine. They have a bunch of stuff on iTunes Music store if you want to check out some 30 second clips to get a taste, but worth checking out for sure.

[flowomo]

4. New York Mining Disaster 1941 was one of my favorites....

In the event of something happening to me,
there is something I would like you all to see.
It's just a photograph of someone that I knew.

Have you seen my wife, Mr. Jones?
Do you know what it's like on the outside?
Don't go talking too loud, you'll cause a landslide, Mr. Jones.

I keep straining my ears to hear a sound.
Maybe someone is digging underground,
or have they given up and all gone home to bed,
thinking those who once existed must be dead.

Have you seen my wife, Mr. Jones?
Do you know what it's like on the outside?
Don't go talking too loud, you'll cause a landslide, Mr. Jones.

In the event of something happening to me,
there is something I would like you all to see.
It's just a photograph of someone that I knew.

Hvae you seen my wife, Mr. Jones?
Do you know what it's like on the outside?
Don't go talking too loud, you'll cause a landslide, Mr. Jones.

[TheWizardOfMudd]

5. Me too

Great one.

[flamingyouth]

10. I love that too

There is some great footage of them playing on the German Beat Club show. Good stuff.

[Philostopher]

6. It's actually not too bad, the 60s stuff.

If you don't mind a little scenery chewing. In other words, it's not bad if you're a fan of big vocal harmonies -- I'd compare it to the early Badfinger stuff as much as the Beatles. It's pretty melodramatic, but aesthetically solid. Nothing revolutionary, but interesting. Much more interesting than the disco-era stuff, to me, but I grew up on the Beatles and the Kinks. Any 'Best Of' that predates Saturday Night Fever would be good, or as someone else suggested -- try iTunes. There also were two others I remember, "You Don't Know What It's Like" and "Gotta Get A Message To You."

Funny thing about "Message" -- one of the cell phone companies used it a few years ago. The song, if you read the full lyrics, is clearly about a man about to be put to death trying to get a last message to his lover. Guess nobody in the marketing department could be arsed to listen to the whole song.

[nini]

7. Did they sing a song named "Clair"?

I think I remember that and I liked it.

in general I like their pre-disco stuff.

[Philostopher]

8. Actually ...

"Clair" is Gilbert "Alone Again, Naturally" O'Sullivan.

[nini]

9. hmmmm I wonder what I'm thinking of.

thanks.. I've got to go find the song I'm thinking of now! :-)

[jonnyblitz]

11. yup

lonely days..how can you mend a broken heart...etc

[OneBlueSky]

12. they were a great band in their early days . . .

I still have my vinyl copy of "Best of the Bee Gees" . . . great stuff, not a dud on it . . . they lost me in the disco years, but I still enjoy listening the their early stuff . . .