THREE BY THREE

Selections of prime Gibb, served by Jim Irvin.

THE FANFARE

Bee Gees

★★★★★ 1st

(POLYDOR, 1967)

With confidence gained from their near 10 years of experience and Robert Stigwood behind them, the Brothers Gibb cut an audacious ‘debut’ album within weeks of returning to England, filling it with Beatle-like psych-pop (In My Own Time), lachrymose curiosities (New York Mining Disaster 1941), and proto-soul classics (To Love Somebody; I Can’t See Nobody), for a stylistic switchback ride as colourful and timely as its Klaus Voormann-designed sleeve.

THE SPRAWLER

Bee Gees

★★★★

Odessa

(POLYDOR, 1969)

Started in summer ’68 and released nine months later, this ambitious, semi-conceptual double album, dressed in vivid scarlet flock, proved to be the swansong for the five-piece pop band. Dense, dramatic, sometimes beautiful, sometimes baffling, based on a hard-to-grasp concept of Robin’s, dotted with orchestral instrumentals by arranger Bill Shepherd, and apparently unfinished, it split the group, the brothers and the critics, but remains fascinating.

THE GROOVER

Bee Gees

★★★★

Main Course

(RSO, 1975)

With the relaxed Arif Mardin at the pass, the delicious Main Course demonstrated that the Bee Gees could still cook up something hearty and satisfying. Barry’s nape-bothering falsetto, a last-minute seasoning added to Nights On Broadway, would become a signature ingredient henceforth. And, fittingly inspired by the sound of car tyres crossing a bridge, Jive Talkin’’s irresistible groove helped them cross over from a period of slump to previously unimaginable success.