'I.O.I.O.' is the second single (third in the U.S.) from the Bee Gees album, Cucumber Castle. Maurice Gibb described this as "Barry's African jaunt" as the opening has African-type percussion that leads into Barry Gibb singing the verse, joined by Maurice in the chorus. The single was a relative success mainly on European charts.
When you take a look at the sleeve of this single, you might think that the Bee Gees went all religious in 1969. However, the title 'Don't forget to remember the Lord' is just a case of bad sleeve design. In fact it's a combination of the two song titles included in this package.
It's a strange combination, the Bee Gees and Michael Jackson, but they both appear on this track, and it's a track by Diana Ross! Originally produced and written by Barry and Maurice Gibb, it was not until Michael Jackson heard the demo of it that he suggested the chorus could be improved. He worked with the Gibb brothers on the track and contributed his vocals to the chorus as well.
'Tokyo nights' was released as the third single from the Bee Gees 1989 album 'One', but in Europe only. In America, the track 'Bodyguard' was released as a single instead.
'One' is the second international single (and lead single in the U.S.) from the Bee Gees' 1989 album of the same name. This was the song that returned the Bee Gees back to American radio and would turn out to be their biggest US hit in the 1980s. It peaked at number 7 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1989, and it stayed in the Top 40 for ten weeks.
'Massachusetts' is a song written, recorded, and released by the Bee Gees in 1967 and later appearing on their 1968 album, 'Horizontal'. It was their first Number 1 hit in the UK and eventually became one of the best selling singles of all times.
'I've gotta get a message to you' is a song recorded by the Bee Gees in 1968, which became their second number 1 single in the UK singles chart. The song is about a man who, awaiting his execution in the electric chair, begs the prison chaplain to pass a final message on to his wife.
'Nights on Broadway' is a track from the Bee Gees' 1975 album 'Main course'. The second single release from the album, it immediately followed their number one hit "Jive Talkin'". The song introduced Barry Gibb's falsetto voice in the chorus. It was a turning point in Bee Gees style, as they progressed through their disco era writing songs mostly sung in falsetto by Barry. He did not know of his special "talent" until producer Arif Mardin asked someone within the group to try to do some kind of screaming during the main chorus.
The Bee Gees released 'How can you mend a broken heart' in 1971. Barry and Robin Gibb wrote the song in August 1970, when the Gibb brothers had reconvened following a period of break-up and alienation. They said that they originally offered it to Andy Williams, but ultimately the Bee Gees recorded it themselves and included it on their 1971 album, 'Trafalgar'.
'My world' was recorded and released while the Bee Gees were recording their new album 'To whom it may concern' during the winter of 1972. The single reached number 16 on the US Billboard Hot 100 singles chart and number 16 and number 41 in the UK and Germany charts, respectively.
'New York mining disaster 1941' recounts the story of a miner trapped in a cave-in. He is sharing a photo of his wife with a colleague ('Mr. Jones') while they hopelessly wait to be rescued. In the second and third verses, the lyrical lines get slower and slower, as to indicate that life is about to expire for the miners. According to the liner notes for the Bee Gees box-set 'Tales from the Brothers Gibb' (1990), this song was inspired by the 1966 Aberfan mining disaster in Wales.
'First of May' was released as the only single from the Bee Gees' 1969 album 'Odessa'. The song was partially responsible for the departure of Robin Gibb from the group. He wanted his song 'Lamplight' to be the album's first single, while Barry preferred 'First of May'. When Robert Stigwood, their manager, sided with Barry, Robin quit the band.
'Love so right' is a R&B/pop ballad released by the Bee Gees in 1976. The single hit number 3 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. It peaked at number 2 in Canada, but was less successful in Europe: in the UK the single only reached number 41, and in Germany it reached number 38.
Released as a single from their 1987 album 'E.S.P.', 'Angela' was not the Bee Gees' most inspired song, nor was it very successful: released exclusively on mainland Europe, it only reached number 52 in the German singles chart.
This promotional jukebox single from Italy is evidence that the Italians were a bit slow in picking up one of Kim Wilde's biggest hits, 'You keep me hangin' on'. While the Bee Gees' 'You win again' was released in September 1987, Kim's single was originally released a year earlier.
'Ordinary lives' was released in early 1989 as the first single from the Bee Gees' sixteenth studio album 'One'. Following the premature death of their younger brother Andy Gibb in 1988, the Bee Gees dedicated this song and their new album to him.
Taken from their album 'Spirits having flown', the single 'Love you inside out' was another hit single for the Bee Gees in the summer of 1979. Like many of their hits in the Seventies, it features the band's trademark falsetto vocal style.
'Too much heaven' was the Bee Gees' contribution to the 'Music for UNICEF' fund. They performed it at the 'Music for UNICEF' concert on January 9, 1979. The song later found its way to the group's thirteenth original album, 'Spirits having flown'. Released as a single, it was a number 1 hit in Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Italy, New Zealand, Norway, South Africa, Spain, Sweden and the USA.
Robin Gibb commented about this song: 'This song holds a special place for a variety of factors. One, the start of a long, lasting relationship with producer Arif Mardin. The second, that it enabled the Bee Gees to get back to their R&B/Soul roots, which in the previous years we had neglected, and thirdly, I think it was just a well constructed song! And if I may say so... one to be proud (of)'.
