The brilliance of the Brother' Gibb

 First of may: Lamp light: Obviously this time period was a very difficult one for the band based on external influence over which of these above tracks would be the lead single-- and it would have a profound impact as it lead to the Band splitting eventually; but Robin left (this all last for about 18 months) to peruse as solo career as we shall see soon. Now I just wanted to mention these songs ahead of time because they are two tracks which are amongst many grand examples on this Album. Truthfully-- every track on the Album must be seen as great examples of both singing and song writing. One of the important points to mention here is that these two songs showcased the Genius of both Gibb siblings (Barry and Robin)  having said all of that,  my opinion would be this: Lamp light is the better of the two. And I believe that Marley Purt Drive would be better than 1st of May. 

  Track listing: 01   CHOCOLATE SYMPHONY 02   I’VE GOTTA GET A MESSAGE TO YOU  (1968) 03   JUMBO  (1968) 04   THE SINGER SANG HIS SONG  (1968) 05   BRIDGES CROSSING RIVERS 06   IDEA  (alternate take) 07   COMPLETELY UNORIGINAL 08   KITTY CAN  (Alternative take) 09   COME SOME CHRISTMAS EVE OR HALLOWEEN 10   LET THERE BE LOVE (Alternative take)  11   GENA’S THEME  (1969) 12   ANOTHER COLD AND WINDY DAY 13   SITTING IN THE MEADOW The Outtakes.  It is hard at times to write up a review of something so great-- but I must try.  Sometimes what is on an album is great and exciting in and of itself; however, there is a greatness even in the outtakes as well. and this is just one example of this.   Here we have a little over a dozen tracks which range from singles and bides right up to the fact of alternative takes of album tracks. Let me recommend a few tacks for consider...

 I've Gotta get a message to you (July 68): I started a Joke (Dec 68): The Album to which these song are taken from or associated with was released in-between these two songs.  Now let us take note of these two songs,  both are Robin Gibb numbers-- at least in terms of the original ideas and so forth.  The first one was Robin; Barry; Robin lead in that fashion with the verses; and all three singing the choruses. The story being told, as I have said in another post, is about the final message from an inmate to his beloved before his death.  The second one is solely a Robin Gibb song with a  powerful vocal in the chorus and the outro part. But the thing we need to note is how the verses build up to a souring chorus.  Enough said. Please listen to these songs in order to hear what is missing in todays music. 

  Idea:  This is the third Album internationally; and it is a gem. But let us mark, mind you, it is yet again a different out-put.  (What I mean is this:  first was experimental in a sense; Horizontal is quite dark and edgy-- but this one is very poppy, if you will)  So Idea. Let me just make a remark on the difference in track listing in the UK (where I live) and in America-- both have 12 tracks but the later has a track swapped 'such a shame' (non Gibb Song) 'Gotta get a message to you' (Gibb song).  What is the reason for this?  I do not know.  Here is the UK listing:    A1    LET THERE BE LOVE A 2   KITTY CAN A 3   IN THE SUMMER OF HIS YEARS A 4   INDIAN GIN AND WHISKY DRY A 5   DOWN TO EARTH A 6   SUCH A SHAME B 1   IDEA B 2   WHEN THE SWALLOWS FLY B 3   I’VE DECIDED TO JOIN THE AIR FORCE B 4   I STARTED A JOKE B 5   KILBURN TOWERS B 6   SWAN SONG And here is the ...