Someone belonging to someone - Bee Gees

After 'The woman in you', the ballad 'Someone belonging to someone' was the second single release from the soundtrack of the movie 'Staying alive', a movie featuring John Travolta dancing his heart out to in the sequel to the movie 'Saturday night fever'.

Accoing to the brothers Gibb in the liner notes to their 1990 box set, the song was 'a fair ballad from a silly film'.

My collection: 7" single no. 4618
Found: La La Land, Den Haag, March 5, 2010
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Someone belonging to someone' (Bee Gees) / 'I love you too much' (David Sanborn)

E.S.P. - Bee Gees

E.S.P. stands for Extrasensory perception, a paranormal ability, but it's also the title track of the Bee Gees' 1987 album, which was released as a single in the autumn of 1987. The acapella intro on the album version was edited out for the single version.

The single reached number 51 in the UK singles chart and number 32 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 2596
Found: Utrecht, December 30, 1995
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'E.S.P.' / 'Overnight'

He's a liar - Bee Gees

The 12" single of 'He's a liar' was featured on this blog some time ago already, but mostly when I've got a 12" single, I also have the 7" single. And this one is no exception.

'He's a liar' was the first single from the Bee Gees album 'Living eyes', released in 1981. It had been approximately 2 years since the last Bee Gees single had been released - which was an eternity at that time - and although this song sounded nothing like the Bee Gees disco era singles, this single was ignored in most territories because the band had become so heavily associated with disco - and disco was no longer in fashion.

My collection: 7" single no. 882
Found: All that music, Leiden, June 16, 1989
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'He's a liar' / 'He's a liar (instrumental)'

Words - Bee Gees

These days, most people think that the Bee Gees have always been the trio Barry, Maurice and Robin Gibb. But when you look at the sleeve of this 1968 single, 'Words', you can see that the band consisted of five members. The additional two members are Vince Melouney and Colin Peterson. They left the Bee Gees in 1968 and 1970 respectively.

'Words' was written by the three brothers Gibb for their manager Robert Stigwood. It was originally intended for Cliff Richard, but he never got round to recording the track as he wasn't making an album at the time. Rather than wasting the song, The Bee Gees decided to record it themselves. It's good that they did: it gave them a number 1 hit in Germany and the Netherlands.

My collection: 7" single no. 4485
Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, January 30, 2010
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'Words' / 'Sinking ships'

Night fever - Bee Gees

'Night fever' was another song written and recorded by the Bee Gees for the soundtrack of the movie 'Saturday night fever'. Originally the movie was going to be called 'Saturday night', but Robin Gibb expressed hesitation at that title. When the song 'Night fever' was made, the two titles were combined, hence 'Saturday night fever'.

The single reached number 1 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and stayed at that position for two months. The single also topped the chart in Canada, the UK, Spain, Ireland and Brazil. In the Dutch Top 40, 'Night fever' reached number 3.

My collection: 7" single no. 1478
Found: July 3, 1991
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Night fever' / 'Down the road'

Stayin' alive - Bee Gees

Robin Gibb commented about 'Stayin' alive': '[It] is about survival in the big city—any big city—but especially New York.' It was written for the soundtrack of the movie 'Saturday night fever' when it wasn't even ready yet. All the producer of the soundtrack had to go on was that it was a New York story about disco-mania.

The song was not originally supposed to be released as a single, but fans called radio stations and RSO Records immediately after seeing trailers for the movie, in which part of the song was played. The single reached number 1 all over the world, including the USA and the Netherlands. In the UK singles chart, it peaked at number 4.

My collection: 7" single no. 1977
Found: October 17, 1993
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Stayin' alive' / 'If I can't have you'

How deep is your love - Bee Gees

'How deep is your love' was recorded by the Bee Gees in 1977 and used for the soundtrack of the movie 'Saturday night fever'. The track was originally intended for Yvonne Elliman, but the band finally decided to record the song themselves - and with good results.

When it was released as a single, it reached number 3 in the UK singles chart, number 1 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and number 15 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 852
Found: Den Haag, May 27, 1989
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'How deep is your love' / 'Can't keep a good man down'

Tragedy - Bee Gees

'Tragedy' was recorded by the Bee Gees for their 1979 album 'Spirits having flown'. It was released as a single in January 1979 and reached number 1 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and the UK singles chart. In the Dutch Top 40, it got to number 4.

Though not originally in the movie 'Saturday night fever', 'Tragedy' has subsequently been added to the musical score of the West End version of the musical version of that movie. In 1979, NBC aired 'The Bee Gees Special' in whcich Barry Gibb showed how the sound effect for the explosion in this song was created: he cupped his hands over a microphone and made an exploding sound. Several of these sounds were then mixed together creating one large boom heard on the record.

My collection: 7" single no. 379
Found: Den Haag, 1985
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Tragedy' / 'Until'

Living eyes - Bee Gees

'Living eyes' is the second single taken from the 1981 Bee Gees album of the same name. They completely broke away from their disco sound with the release of this album, however this didn't help the album become a commercial success. It only sold 750,000 copies worldwide, which was not much compared to its predecessor 'Spirits having flown' which sold 16 million copies.

The title track was released as the album's second single, but it was equally unsuccessful. It only reached number 45 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and didn't chart in the UK and the Netherlands.

My collection: 7" single no. 4111
Found: Empire Records, Den Haag, October 17, 2009
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'Living eyes' / 'I still love you'

Secret love - Bee Gees

I thought I couldn't go wrong with a Bee Gees single when I bought this despite the fact that I didn't know the song. But I was wrong. The Gibb brothers don't sound particularly inspired on this single, 'Secret love'. It is taken from their 1991 album 'High civilization', which is not usually recognised as an artistic high in their career.

'Secret love' reached number 14 in the Dutch Top 40 and number 5 in the UK singles chart. I don't know why. Maybe it's the B-side...

My collection: 7" single no. 4049
Found: La La Land, Den Haag, September 19, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Secret love' / 'True confessions'

The woman in you - Bee Gees

'The woman in you' is one of five new songs the Bee Gees contributed to the movie 'Staying alive' (1983), the unsuccessful sequel to 'Saturday night fever' (1977). In interviews following the release of the movie and soundtrack, the brothers expressed their displeasure at the way their songs were edited in the movie and revealed that their hearts were not in the music. By 1983, The Bee Gees were focusing their talents on solo projects and productions of other artists, so it is not surprising that they were not all enthusiastic about the 'Staying alive' movie.

The single was still a reasonable success, peaking at number 21 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 3920
Found: Plaatboef, Rotterdam, July 31, 2009
Cost: 0,25 euro
Tracks: 'The woman in you' / 'Stayin' alive'

You win again - Bee Gees

The Bee Gees had not been in the charts for four years - an eternity in that time - when they returned in October 1987 with 'You win again'. In the UK it was a number one hit, and in the Netherlands the single peaked at number 5. In America the sales were disappointing: it only reached number 75.

Barry Gibb wrote the melody of the song, while Maurice Gibb created the drum sounds that open the track in his garage.

My collection: 7" single no. 1284

Found: All that music, Leiden, August 31, 1990

Cost: 3 guilders

Tracks: 'You win again' / 'Backtafunk'

He's a liar - Bee Gees

Just to show that I read the comments on this blog occasionally, here's a disc with an instrumental version on the B-side. I think this is actually a rare 12" single, since it features a slightly extended version of the 1981 Bee Gees track 'He's a liar'. I always think that 12" singles from the late Seventies and early Eighties are rare, since the format hadn't become mainstream yet. (I could be wrong of course...)

'He's A Liar' was the first single from The Bee Gees album 'Living Eyes' (1981). Even though the single sounded very different from their late Eighties disco tracks, the interest from the media for new Bee Gees work was minimal. Even though the single made number 12 in the Netherlands, it didn't do as well in other territories.

My collection: 12" single no. 299

Found: Plaatboef, Rotterdam, 1998

Cost: 2 guilders

Tracks: 'He's a liar' / 'He's a liar (instrumental)'

You should be dancing - Bee Gees

'You should be dancing' was released by the Bee Gees in 1976. It became a US number one hit, whereas it reached number 5 in the UK and number 17 in the Netherlands. It was this song that first launched the Bee Gees into disco stardom, although rock-oriented drums and guitars can be heard in the background.

'You Should Be Dancing' is known today as the first charttopper in which Barry Gibb uses his now-trademark falsetto. The song was prominently featured in the movie Saturday Night Fever and appears on its soundtrack album.

My collection: 7" single no. 3563

Found: La La Land, Den Haag, January 31, 2009

Cost: 1,5 euro

Tracks: 'You should be dancing' / 'Subway'

Download: Album 'Children of the world', including both tracks

Too depressed to commit suicide - PeeCees

It's not blatantly obvious, but when you read a song title like 'Too depressed to commit suicide', you have to assume it's not a serious song. When you look at the sleeve and instantly recognise an album cover from The Police, you have to conclude that this is definitely a parody. And not only that: this 'triple A side' also features songs by Jack Michaelson and the HeeBeeGeeBees.

My decision was made pretty fast: I had to buy this single at last week's record fair, if only to satisfy my curiosity. It was released in 1981, at the height of the success of the Police, Michael Jackson and the Bee Gees. It's pretty amazing when you hear the tracks and how similar they sound to the original artists' work. Even more amazing when you find out that one of the three in this group is Angus Deayton. I never knew he had singing ambitions...

My collection: 7" single no. 3462

Found: Record fair, Utrecht, November 22, 2008

Cost: 1,25 euro

Tracks: 'Too depressed to commit suicide' - The PeeCees / 'Up the wall' - Jack Michaelson, 'Meaningless songs' - HeeBeeGeeBees

Download: Album '439 Golden Greats', including these three tracks