From the Vault...

09/24/2017
#1587

info
Bee Gees
"Trafalgar"


© Polydor Records

Year of Release: 1971
Rating:

track listing
  • How Can You Mend
    A Broken Heart
  • Israel
  • The Greatest Man
    In The World
  • It's Just The Way
  • Remembering
  • Somebody Stop
    The Music
  • Trafalgar
  • Don't Wanna Live
    Inside Myself
  • When Do I
  • Dearest
  • Lion In Winter
  • Walking Back
    To Waterloo

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    Previous Review: #1586
    Michael Buble--Call Me Irresponsible
    Next Review: #1588
    Soundtrack--Bugsy Malone
    Bee Gees
    "Trafalgar"



    Before there was Disco, the Bee Gees had always created and recorded great music. They've been in music since the 1960s. And it is hard to believe that brother Barry is the current surivor of the Gibb brothers family. Trafalgar, [a cape on southwest coast of Spain northwest of the Strait of Gibraltar. The British navy under Horatio Nelson defeated the French and Spanish fleets off Cape Trafalagar in 1805.]


    The Bee Gees' Trafalgar creates a great sound of early British music. Rock music? You'd have to define that word. Not exactly the rock & roll we've enjoyed since its beginnings. This is the Bee Gees displaying how great they wrote music. The Gibb brothers wrote, co-wrote all the songs on this album. And this is an album well worth to listen to, and relax by.


    The biggest hit from this album was "How Can You Mend A Broken Heart," truly one of the best songs the Gibb brothers had written. It reached #1, and with its easy and beautiful style, this is pretty much how you will enjoy the rest of the album.


    "Israel," "The Greatest Man In The World," "It's Just The Way" -- all great British easy style. If you're familiar with the Gibbs' hit, "Every Christian Lion Hearted Man Will Show You," this is how these songs are, and of course, their harmonies, another huge factor in their popularity.


    Continuing with the "Lion Hearted" comparison, "Remembering" has that quiver in Barry's vocal; another standout in the brothers' quality singing voices. "Somebody Stop The Music" continues the British easy Gibb style, another impressive track.fs


    I can't help but hear a little comparison of the Beatles' "Across The Universe" on the title track. Again, another well-done song. "Don't Wanna Live Inside Myself", as I again, go through another comparison, Neil Young's "Helpless" (by Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young). It's also spiritual in sound, yet not as sad-sounding as in Neil's version. And another artist I'm hearing (comparing to), is the early David Bowie. Yes, that's it, the early 1970s British of David Bowie...


    "When Do I" is another good British-styled track, as with the spiritual "Dearest." "Lion In Winter" is more of a "rock" style, more than the many tracks on this album. And on this one, they really hit the rough high notes. The album ends on the "Lion Hearted" comparison -- "Walking Back To Waterloo."


    As mentioned in my previous early Bee Gees' album reviews, everyone well knows that the Bee Gees made Disco what it was, with the soundtrack of "Saturday Night Fever." The Bee Gees were always a great musical group, before, during, and after Disco. Given the brothers an equal opportunity, their early recordings were just plain outright extravagant. Their music was different to the common Rock & Roll. And, again, their music would be different with their Disco popularity. Afterward Disco, they were still showing themselves as a musical group to keep their music energetic and creative. And to their fans, they have always stood out to continue themselves as a quality act. They would also write songs for other artists, including Frankie Valli "Grease," Kenny Rogers & Dolly Parton "Islands In The Stream." Barry would record two Guilty albums with Barbara Streisand. He also worked on Kenny's 2006 album, The Eyes That See In The Dark. The other brothers, Robin and Maurice would also record solo, but their albums were not as popular as brother Barry. After all, Barry would be the most "favorite Bee Gee." Barry just recently released a solo album in 2016, In The Now. It would be his second solo album of his career; his first in 1984, Now Voyager. Both Robin and Maurice (who were twins) have passed on -- Maurice in 2003 (complications of a twisted intestine; age 53), and Robin in 2012 (colorectal/liver cancer; age 62). Brother Andy, who had battled with drugs and alcohol, and was rumoured to become the fourth Bee Gee before his passing, died at age 30 in 1988, of an inflammation of his heart muscle caused by a recent viral infection. Barry is now 71 years of age, and he continues working in music.


    Discover the early recordings of the Bee Gees... You will not be disappointed. You'll recognize their incredible talent, long before they became a real household name, in the music of Disco. Trafalgar is a fine album, and one to listen to while relaxing, and again, discovering how talented Barry, Robin and Maurice really were.


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    Previous Review: #1586
    Michael Buble--Call Me Irresponsible
    Next Review: #1588
    Soundtrack--Bugsy Malone