Published on Jun 27, 1999
Long before The Bee Gees put disco on the map, they were making
marks on the pop charts. They had been around since 1967,
presenting their own sound, and it was anything but disco.
Main Course, however, released in 1975, had just a small
taste of what was yet to come. Two years later, the soundtrack of
Saturday Night Fever peaked disco music to its full tilt.
The biggest hits on
Main Course, “Nights On Broadway” and the #1 “Jive Talkin'”
are two great songs in the beginning stages of disco for Barry,
Robin, and Maurice Gibb: The Bee Gees.
The rest of the album is equally good, as the new sound of disco
was just starting to grow. Of the ten songs on this album, less
than a handful have the actual disco sound, that would later become
their trademark. The remaining tunes sound as where they left off
from their previous “pre-disco” albums.
“Wind Of Change” is another good disco spinning record.
“Songbird” is a nice soft ballad, compared to the early Elton John.
“Fanny (Be Tender With My Love)” is another favorite tune, found on
many Bee Gees “greatest hits” compilations. “All This Making Love”
is an album track that is just that; in my opinion, its one of my
least favorite songs on this album. “Country Lanes” is another slow
ballad, featuring the vibrato vocals of Robin Gibb only.
“Come On Over” is another slow tune, as it features beautiful
harmony vocals. The piano and country rock-influenced guitar makes
this song work so well. “Edge Of The Universe” is a medium-pop
sounding record, that features Moog-sounding synthesizers. The
closing song, “Baby As You Turn Away,” has the high-vocal ranges
that would be featured on many future Bee Gees recordings.
Main Course is a nice sounding pop album. As many may not
like them, The Bee Gees proved before, during and after disco that
their music can be enjoyed. Many critics have spoiled their music,
hating disco, and putting the blame on The Bee Gees for making
disco famous as it was. When disco died in the early Eighties, it
seemed that the popularity of the Bee Gees died also. But they
continued recording, despite not having as many big hits as they
did, pre-disco and during.
Still, The Bee Gees are good to listen to. Even though their
most recent albums have achieved some good or great reviews, it
seems like the disco bug has somewhat haunted the group’s career.
In many of the big music magazines, The Bee Gees can still make
good records. It’s too bad that they don’t have the popularity they
once had. To some they do, but not according to the record-breakers
they acclaimed with
Saturday Night Fever, and the number-one songs from their
album released afterwards,
Spirits Having Flown.
What makes The Bee Gees sound so good, is their ability of
harmony vocals. When they first started in the late Sixties/early
Seventies, their harmonies were excellent, much better on the
slower ballad tunes, like “How Can You Mend A Broken Heart” and
“I’ve Got To Send A Message To You”. Even in the up-beat tempo
songs, including disco, their harmonies are exceptionally good.
If you ever get a chance, check out the concert they did for
VH-1,
Storytellers. Their unplugged style concert was truly
excellent. Robin, along with Barry on acoustical guitar, and
Maurice on keyboards, all performed their magical vocals and
harmonies they only way they could, performing their pre-disco
hits,
Saturday Night Fever favorites, and songs from their most
recent album,
Still Waters. It’s a shame that their younger brother Andy,
could not join them, as he died due to complications of his drug
addiction in 1988. But despite his death, and the post-disco era,
The Bee Gees still know how to record well, whether they record
songs by themselves, or for other popular artists.