The studio recordings that the Bee Gees made especially for UK radio in 1967 are a complete treasure trove, not only to fans of the group, but to fans of 1960s Pop in general. The BBC were party to an agreement with the Musicians Union, which limited radio stations to playing maximum six hours per day of records on air. In order to play more pop, the company scheduled live radio sessions so the Beatles, the Stones, the Who, the Kinks, the Animals, all had to record exclusive radio-only versions of their early songs to get their music across to radio listeners in Britain.

And 50 years on, we are proud to present the songs the young Bee Gees recorded for the BBC in 1967. What you´ll hear is the group playing as a five-piece (rhythm guitar, bass and occasionally organ, with Vince Melouney on lead guitar and Colin Peterson on drums). Without added string players, they pretty much sound like a 1960s beat group, heavily influenced by the Beatles, the Byrds, the Zombies and Stax Soul.

To introduce the then-unknown group to radio listeners, presenter Brian Matthews felt obliged to remark that the Gibb Brothers wrote all their own songs. The sparse and intimate performances that can be heard on this LP prove the maturity of the Gibb Brothers as musicians and tunesmiths (Barry ‘Gibbs’ was only 19, his twin brothers Robin & Maurice just 17).

LISTEN AND ENJOY!

SIDE ONE

1.       New York Mining Disaster 1941 (R. & B. Gibb)

2.       In My Own Time (1) (R. & B. Gibb)

3.       One Minute Woman (R. & B. Gibb)

4.       Cucumber Castle (R. & B. Gibb)

5.       I Can´t See Nobody (R. & B. Gibb)

6.       To Love Somebody (R. & B. Gibb)

7.       Holiday (R. & B. Gibb)

8.       Interview

 

 

SIDE TWO

1.       Massachussetts (B. R. & M. Gibb)

2.       In My Own Time (2) (R. & B. Gibb)

3.       Mrs. Gillespie‘s Refrigerator (R. & B. Gibb)

4.       I Close My Eyes (B. R. & M. Gibb)

5.       Out Of Time (Jagger/Richards)

6.       Spicks & Specks (B. Gibb)

7.       High Hopes (Van Heusen/Cahn)

8.       Outerview