Trafalgar

Was expecting “Staying Alive” and had to settle for my best effort at Staying Awake. I didn’t get this at all. 1.5

This is pre-disco Bee Gees which means it's not even interesting in an annoying way. This was just bleh. Insipid lyrics, music that's trying SO HARD to sound like other bands, and mediocre production combine to create a completely forgettable experience.

I didn't realize it but somehow these guys suck across multiple genres

What a let down. I think albums like this are more of a surprise to see on the list than some of the 1 star trash. At least you have a reaction to those. This is just... Nothing

The best thing about this album was reading the Wikipedia page about the Battle of Trafalgar, after I was got curious about the name's its origin (only knowing Trafalgar Square and Trafalgar D. Water Law until then). The second-best thing is the cover art.

It was fun. Felt like Beatles B sides

Very low key at first. Clear and intense vocals. Instrumental background feels more focused on the chord progression. Romantic and emphatic (Israel). Surreal and almost inspirational sound (Greatest Man in the World). Remembering has some folk feels to it. Bittersweet. Only knew Stayin’ Alive before; VERY different but pleasant, soft and sweet. Groovy baseline with chord progression in Somebody Stop the Music. Interesting transition into and out of that section. Trafalgar: not sure what’s goin on here. Felt a little bland lyrics-wise. Don’t Wanna Live Inside Myself very feelsy. I like the 3-step bass riff before each section. I like the intro to When Do I with guitar and bells? Synth in background, strings very bright and happy sounding. Dearest vocals powerful and emotional. I like this track a lot. Lion in Winter percussion intro very simple, engaging through its simplicity. I like this track. Walking Back to Waterloo: not sure I understand the lyrics but the sounds are nice. Nice end to the album, I like the long drawn out end to the last notes.

The most boring album I ever had the displeasure to muddle through.

Nahhh fuck off Bee Gees. Fuck you

Better than expected and not at all like what you expect Bee Gees to sound like

I realized I've never listened to a Bee Gees album end-to-end. This one predated their more famous disco work (yet was still their 9th album!) and seemed more heartfelt and ballad-like. Very listenable and a great summer record.

In which the author(s) don't allow Saturday Night Fever because of it's flexible rule against soundtracks so they pull a Bee Gee's album that has one recognizable song. 3/5.

I love this album. It is lush, emotional, and the instrumentation is great! More than just “How Can You Mend A Broken Heart?”, there are a lot of underrated songs from this album. My favorites: “Israel”, “When Do I”, “Remembering”, “Trafalgar”, “Don’t Want To Live Inside Myself”.

much better than Odessa imo

I had never listened to pre-disco era Bee Gees. And now I understand why. It's just not nearly as thrilling or exciting. Though the vocals are obviously those of the Gibbs brothers, they sound lifeless compared to their amazing harmonies and vocals in their disco era. From what I can tell, there is no disco era Bee Gees on this project. What an incredibly ridiculous miss. Do yourself a favor and go out on your own and check out these additional listenings for a better taste of the Bee Gees: -Saturday Night Fever soundtrack -Main Course -Spirits Having Flown -Hell, even "Greatest" is a worthy endeavor of all of their hits (containing, of course, their DISCO songs). I'm all for some music history on this project, but if you want to experience something that truly changed the landscape of music at the time, something that should be experienced by anyone taking on a listening project like this, it's Bee Gees' disco music, not this. This album could have been sung by virtually any other soft rock act of the time. Disco is what set Bee Gees apart and made them so special.

I don’t know if I hate how lame this is, or if I love how lame it is. “Israel, Where there’s sand, Where there’s beautiful sand” I mean, wtf? Really? I don’t think this was intended to be comical, but my god. Stopping after four songs. This is tedious.

it is way sadder than i thought it would be but it's a fantastic album, super beautiful

This is a bit shit

Trafalgar is a good album, but much like a few entrees on the list, it doesn’t justify itself as being essential listening. The first half is really good but it takes a massive dive in the second half (aside from the track Trafalgar which is probably the best on the album). Overall pretty lame considering it as a whole.

A fate worse than death. A reality-bending fuckfest that claims to be 47 minutes long while actually lasting over 7 millennia. Musical equivalent of the Hyperbolic Time Chamber.

SO schmaltzy but SO good, music to listen with your SO to,so warm and loving, i should hate it but i dont

How Can You Mend a Broken Heart is a classic and I really loved every song that followed it. I don’t know why these goofy voices are so enjoyable but they are.

Don't ever question my punk credentials I totally still think disco sucks, but The Gibb brothers wrote all of their own music over a career spanning decades with several major changes to the bands style and still coming out on top. Gotta give the credit where its due, these dudes can play and write, they really were the real deal and they were brothers which is cool.

It’s not surprising the Bee Gee’s never really found success with their Moody Blues-esque psych-pomp. Trafalgar’s overwrought orchestration and plodding pace makes it a chore to listen to.

i) This may have never happened if the Beatles had split up earlier--their late 60s/early 70s signature is discernible more than once, ii) I'd blame Paul but there's no escaping that Barry Gibb sounds a lot like John, especially on Greatest Man in the World and the title track (whose vocal line is mostly just a Day in the Life rip, right?), iii) Presumably, the album art and title are only significant in relation to the Gibb's aspiration to be misremembered and romanticised in the same way that British military history is--instead, this achievement belongs to ABBA.

5 stars to counteract all the low scores. Come on! These guys were legends in their time. Respect.

What a gem of an album. If you think you know what the Bee Gees are, take a listen to this, it will surprise.

Honestly shocked by this. Not that I thought I’d dislike it because I generally enjoy the Bee Gees, but this was lowkey brilliant. Maybe I’m just in the mood to be sad, but this left an impression on me in a big way. One thing about the Bee Gees is they’re so good at conveying emotions with their voices in a much stronger way than lots of other acts. “The Greatest Man In The World,” “It’s Just The Way,” “Trafalgar,” and “Don’t Wanna Live Inside Myself” are my favorite songs from the album, but there wasn’t a track I didn’t at least somewhat enjoy. Emotionally, I really felt this and vibed with it. Definitely going to be on heavy rotation for me for awhile. A good surprise.

five. five. five.

Having heard only Stayin Alive, I never realized how good the Bee Gees actually are

way better than i was expecting, so good

Love these guys

Amazing

Barry gibb is one of the great songwriters. This album is stage one bee gees at their peak. The vocal blend is among the very best. Yes. This belongs here.

Definitely an underrated group.

i said this before after listening to Odessa, but the Bee Gees were such a different band before disco came along. I love the disco tracks too, but this genuinely feels like a different band. The album is orchestral rock with no high pitched vocals, and is so delightful and easy to listen to. There isn’t really much I can fault here. It’s a great album.

Wonderful!!

A perfect early Bee Gees release with great singing.

The piano in some of the songs kinda remind me of ABBA (not a bad thing). The instrumentation is very good, I don't really like his voice but wtv. This is the only real legitimate Israel btw 🤞🤞🤞. Overall a pretty good album, a couple good songs but there are admittedly a few skips (so far). Favourites are Dearest and The Greatest Man In the World. 4/5 jk Dearest is mega cream worthy 5/5

I am always partial to melodious/tuneful music, and almost all songs on this album are just that, with beautiful accompanying instrumentals. Sure, it's not the most unique or interesting sounding music, but I really loved its comforting and lyrical nature, and it almost feels like a warm blanket of sound to the ears. It also helps that I was a pretty big fan of the Bee Gees prior to listening (though I had never heard any of the tracks on this album before). I liked pretty much every track, but especially liked Walking Back to Waterloo (shoutout Waterloo), Dearest, When Do I, Remembering, The Greatest Man in the World, Israel, and How Can You Mend a Broken Heart?. There's also something about their voices and overall sound (much more lush and full maybe?) compared to other groups that they are often accused of imitating (ie. the Beatles) that I really prefer, and I honestly can't quite explain why. Anyways, I understand that many people found this boring/uninspired, so I don't think that this is an album that EVERYONE needs to hear in their lifetime (though I do think some of their disco stuff should've been included instead). However, I'm glad that this list got me to listen to it - I personally loved this album and it made me feel happy, which is all I can really ask for. 5, it's not for everybody but it's for me!

I didn’t think I would like this as much as I did.

So melancholy and excellent

sad

The Kings of disco.

One of my all-time favorite 70s bands and albums!

This was just it. I didn’t know The Bee Gees were cool like dat.

How Can You Mend A Broken Heart ♥️

A classic

Woah best one this site recommended yet, that Waterloo song had been on repeat.

I like this a lot actually, playing with the baroque pop elements strongly.

How Can You Mend a Broken Heart?

Thought-provoking lyrics, great tones, a very good album

I was pleasantly surprised by this! What amazing harmonies and chord sequences. Very rich and warm music. There was only one song I didn't really like. The rest was excellent!

That was great, surprisingly good. It had chutzpah. Like I said before with the Bee Gees, they became a bit of a disco band but really that wasn't what they were all about and this album shows that.

Trafalgar I went on a bit of a deep dive through the Bee Gees back catalogue before their disco pop machine pomp as I’ve always been partial to stuff like New York Mining Disaster and Massachusetts. This album and Odessa stood out particularly. For such a brilliant songwriter as Barry and for how good Maurice can be, it's always seemed slightly strange that, aside from the SNF soundtrack, they don’t really have a defining album. When you listen to their albums there are some great tracks (and some not so great tracks) and a lot of dead ends, and you get a sense that they often didn’t quite know what they were as a band and as artists. Despite them, and Barry in particular, being up there with some of the best songwriters and song craftsmen (craftsthem?) of all time it feels like they never quite found their place, and that they perhaps didn’t have the personality/character/vision of some of their peers to make fully realised albums However, and despite the similarity in the balladness and tempo of the songs on here, and while they aren’t as immediate as some of their pop classics, this for me is probably their most coherent album, the sense of vaguely melodramatic overthetopness, combined with their songwriting craft and skill makes its a bit of a broodingly atmospheric overlooked gem, with some nice oddness and interest to it. There is also some great bass on this, a bit like Serge Gainsbourg in its tone and place in the mix but it really adds a great colour to it. I’m not always keen on Robin’s voice and he does sound a bit silly at the start of Remembering and When I Do, but I really love Barry’s voice, and he’s really great on Israel. Their harmonies though, as they always are, are superb throughout, so well considered and constructed with that great fraternal tone. Standouts are How Can You Mend a Broken Heart? with that super little piano counterpoint, the fantastic Israel, The Greatest Man in the World, Somebody Stop the Music, Trafalgar, the brilliantly and slightly odd Lion in Winter and Walking Back to Waterloo. It’s Just the Way and Remembering and fine but not as good as the others and When Do I and Dearest don’t work so well for me. Slightly tempted to go 5, but in reality this is a solid 4 - some great tracks, great harmonies, surprisingly good bass and an overall slightly strange and spooky atmosphere. ⚓️⚓️⚓️⚓️ Playlist submission: Lion in Winter

mild mellow harmonic not too exciting but pretty tune-y. lots of songs about love and ladies

Efter at have brugt noget tid på at forberede mig på et helt album med disco-bangers, ramte den her lyd af klassisk 70er barok-pop mig som et bagholdsangreb. Det er sjældent at jeg er så ambivalent omkring et album. Jeg grinte højlydt af en sang (When Do I), krummede tæer over flere af dem og tog mig selv i at nynne boppe hovedet til et par stykker.

Pop, with fun orchestral leanings

Nice

Enjoyed this more than I anticipated. There's a definite cheese factor, but it's genuine cheese - the production is polished but the feelings are still raw. Some great and memorable progressions in here.

This is nothing like any of the Bee Gees that I have ever heard. Its like a Beatles knockoff. not going to lie, this kinda sucks.

In the book, this album is sandwiched onto the same page as The Yes Album, Who’s Next, and Tapestry. What’s Going On takes up the previous two pages. Somehow this juxtaposition didn’t help the editors put together the idea that maybe The Bee Gees are more well known and influential for Saturday Night Fever than this nonsense. You can’t even argue that that’s not included due to its status as a soundtrack, as Shaft, Superfly, and even That’s the Way of the World stand as counterpoints. 4/10

Disco saved us all.

This is the most annoyingly mediocre piece of forgettable try-hard rubbish I have heard in a long time. Other than having their first US #1 single (How can you mend a broken heart?) for a group that LATER became massive and influential (with a wildly different sound), this does NOTHING to justify its inclusion on a list of must-hear albums. This just makes me question the clear thinking of the list compiler. 47 minutes of my life that I will never get back. (At least it wasn't the 53 minute version. Thank the lord for small mercies). I am really struggling to get through this. It sounds like everyone involved in the recording was loaded to the gills on valium, mandrax, quaaludes or similar. I think it would be a better listening experience if I was similarly sedated.

The most interesting thing about this album is the picture on the cover. This whole album makes me think of Jimmy Fallon. And that's not welcome either. At least HE had JT.

No. Just fucking...no.

The game changed once Bee Gees found out about 'drum beats'. Sadly, this album was before that phase, and it's pretty terrible.

So in addition to my love for all things prog-rock back in the day (i.e. Rush, ELP, Yes, Genesis, Iron Maiden, UFO, Zeppelin, etc.), I also enjoyed some of the more “mellow” artists like Elton John, Billy Joel, and of course – The Bee Gees… In middle school, I bought “Here At Last – The Bee Gees Live” – and I thought it was fantastic… Most of what I enjoyed was their older material, but I never bothered to check out the early catalog, and figured the best songs - like with most bands, were spread across several albums, so I was curious as to what goodness I was going to find on “Trafalgar”… The album starts out with “How Can You Mend A Broken Heart” – which is certainly royalty in the Bee Gees cannon, so quite a start, as this one is just a truly exceptional song… Unfortunately, that was pretty much the end of the goodness… The rest of the album was just dull, whiney, and tedious to be honest… The only other song that was somewhat decent, was “Don’t Wanna Live Inside Myself” – but that was it… I ran through this twice just to make sure, and can’t tell you how disappointed I was… Not only were the songs uninteresting, they also sounded identical – as there was little to no diversity in the music… One great song does NOT a 1,001 Albums list make, so a very disappointing 1-star for me…

I was not expecting this from a Bee Gees album. This has a 60s/70s singer-songwriter vibe, which I dig a lot. Actually, it feels and sounds like David Bowie. But like a cheesy Bowie.

1 star

This is a bit of a chore to listen to. I find the songs very bland; they do not work for me.

Great album. Solid vocals, instrumentation and song writing. I only remember disco Bee Gees from when I was very young. I knew they had earlier albums but I never listened to them. A little too melancholy for daily listening, but if you're in the mood it's tough to beat.

The Bee Gees are so weird!

stupid essay grr I am losing my mind. Anyways I love this it's so lovely and kitty is just chillin with me on the sofa and thats so lovely. Also trafalgar is a weird word and I don't like how it sounds sung.

Manche finden es zu seicht. Ich finde, es ist Musik, die jeder ab und zu braucht. Sänger, die singen können, sanfte Melodien, Arrangements mit Wiedererkennungswert! 5/5

pues me ha gustado mucho, es un disco que me pondría

All time divorce record

Bee Gees Nostalgie, altijd goed

9/10 sure the Bee Gees are a fairly derivative band, just copying the sounds of The Beatles and Elton John, but it still sounds really good they’re talented musicians, just not very original, I guess

Me gustaron los sonidos de las canciones aunque algunas fueran un poco melancólicas.

i really wanted to hate it. But i thought it was really good. i just thought the beegees did disco bolocks. presently suprised

Nice few tunes. Some of the songs are rather epic sounding although there are a few duds. Trafalgar, isreal were highlights. Was expecting a more disco vibe. Lead singing sings like kermit, I do like kermit though. Don't wanna love inside myself is wishy washy but a beautiful song though as it builds. Can't decide between very high 3 or low 4. When do I is a shite song. Walking back to Waterloo is an ace tune.

## In-Depth Review: Bee Gees' *Trafalgar* (1971) ### **Album Context and Background** *Trafalgar* (1971) marked the Bee Gees' ninth studio album and a pivotal moment in their career. Recorded at IBC Studios in London between January and April 1971, it featured new guitarist Alan Kendall and drummer Geoff Bridgford's only full album appearance with the band . Produced by Robert Stigwood and the Gibb brothers, the album blended baroque pop, soft rock, and orchestral arrangements, peaking at No. 34 on the US Billboard chart. Its lead single, "How Can You Mend a Broken Heart," became their first US No. 1 hit, though the album itself underperformed in the UK . --- ### **Lyrics: Introspection and Isolation** Thematically, *Trafalgar* explores loneliness, emotional vulnerability, and existential searching. The title track (written by Maurice Gibb) uses Trafalgar Square as a metaphor for disconnection: *"Ten hundred people roam through the place I call me home / I need someone to know me and to show me"* . Tracks like "Don’t Wanna Live Inside Myself" and "Walking Back to Waterloo" delve into isolation and regret, with the latter evoking historical defeat as a parallel to personal loss . While some lyrics were criticized as clichéd (e.g., *"Israel, where there’s sand, where there’s beautiful sand"* ), others, like the heartbreak anthem "How Can You Mend a Broken Heart," resonated for their raw vulnerability. --- ### **Music and Production: Orchestral Grandeur vs. Pacing Issues** **Strengths**: - **Orchestral Fusion**: Bill Shepherd’s lavish arrangements (e.g., strings on "Walking Back to Waterloo") merged classical grandeur with folk and soft rock. Alan Kendall’s guitar work added subtle texture, while the Gibb brothers' harmonies remained transcendent, particularly on "Israel" and "Lion in Winter" . - **Vocal Diversity**: Barry’s soulful leads ("Don’t Wanna Live Inside Myself"), Robin’s tremulous delivery ("When Do I"), and Maurice’s rare leads ("It’s Just the Way") showcased their dynamic range . **Weaknesses**: - **Pacing**: At 47 minutes, the ballad-heavy tracklist (12 songs) lacks rhythmic variety. Critics noted a "tedious" second half, with repetitive tempos diluting standout moments . - **Production Flaws**: Some US pressings suffered from audio defects, notably a stereo dropout during the transition from "Trafalgar" to "Don’t Wanna Live Inside Myself" . --- ### **Themes: Melancholy and Resilience** The album’s title—inspired by the Battle of Trafalgar—frames its themes of struggle and disillusionment . Tracks like "The Greatest Man in the World" (a self-reflective dirge) and "Remembering" (nostalgic folk) grapple with identity and legacy. Yet resilience emerges in "Dearest," where lush harmonies transform sorrow into catharsis . This duality—despair tempered by solidarity—reflects the Bee Gees' own career turbulence post-*Odessa* . --- ### **Influence and Legacy** Despite mixed reviews upon release, *Trafalgar* secured a place in *1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die* . Its orchestral-pop fusion influenced later artists like Fleet Foxes and Sufjan Stevens, while "How Can You Mend a Broken Heart" became a standard, covered by Al Green, Michael Bublé, and others. However, the album remains overshadowed by the Bee Gees' disco era, with critics debating whether its exclusion of upbeat hits hindered its impact . --- ### **Pros and Cons Summary** | **Pros** | **Cons** | |-----------------------------------|-----------------------------------| | 🔹 Vocals: Some of their most emotive performances (e.g., "Broken Heart," "Dearest") | 🔸 Pacing: Monotonous ballad sequencing | | 🔹 Orchestration: Rich, cinematic arrangements ("Walking Back to Waterloo") | 🔸 Lyrics: Occasional banality ("Israel") | | 🔹 Historical Significance: First US No. 1 single; showcased pre-disco versatility | 🔸 Sound Issues: Defective pressings (notably ATCO editions) | --- ### **Final Assessment** *Trafalgar* is a flawed yet fascinating snapshot of the Bee Gees in transition. Its lyrical depth and orchestral ambition shine on highlights like the title track and "Walking Back to Waterloo," but inconsistent pacing and production quirks prevent it from achieving cohesion. While not their most accessible work, it remains essential for understanding the band’s emotional and musical range beyond disco. As one reviewer noted: *"5 stars to counteract the low scores. These guys were legends"* . **Rating**: 7.5/10 | **Standout Tracks**: "How Can You Mend a Broken Heart," "Trafalgar," "Walking Back to Waterloo."

Ver un beegees

Most of what I know of The Bee Gees is disco based, so this is a lovely and chilled surprise. It’s gorgeous in many spots but I’m not a huge fan of the falsetto when it pops up, and it gets a little weepy here and there. Otherwise, this is great coffee on a Sunday morning music.

Needs another listen but a 4 I think

Beautifully sad

Solid

Beautiful, layered and textured. Melancholy. Not my favourite Beegees album, but probably my second favourite.

man I had no idea how vast the Bee Gees discography was. like most people, I was not expecting this at all in terms of genre and sound. Like a softer Beatles, kinda warbly, maybe Pink Floyd-y? Maybe I'm insane but I wound up listening pretty intently, I think I was also in the right mood for it too. I did find myself enjoying the first half more than the latter, but damn if it didnt still hook me in a way. Great use of the piano throughout, the vocals do get a bit much to deal with by the end but its still worth a listen.

The Bee Gees were great song writers and this album is proof of that. Just great soulful pop one right after ajother

This was a surprise - and an excellent one too. Early 1970s baroque pop with echoes of Moody Blues, Beatles, CSNY, and country. Not everything works ("Remembering" and "How Do I" border on easy listening radio pap) but overall this is an album I'm really happy to have found. "Walking Back to Waterloo" is immense.

Very nice album.

pretty sick, white lion is super fun

I know (and love) Bee Gees for their disco hits but I didn't know about this album. A lot of these songs remind me of songs from "Let It Be." The music has a similar grandeur, and the songwriting is that good. There's a lot of Beatles influence throughout the album, and some country twang too. And the show-stopping drama of it all! The emotions are big on this album. This feels like the sort of album you seek out when the moment is right (I can imagine playing it on a long drive down country roads), and I have a feeling I'll be playing it again soon. Fantastic album cover. I wasn't sure at first how it would fit with the Bee Gees' sound, but it totally fits with this music. 4.5

Good group from the late 70’s to 80’s. Always able to change their sound to match the genre at the time(rock,disco). Good sound, good music.

Great Album

Surprisingly somber music. Expected the high pitched Bee Gees that I knew of. Good album, though.

chill

Having only heard falsetto disco era Bee Gees before, I was surprised by the melodic lead vocals on this one. I thought many of the songs were quite beautiful and well written, but I wasn't entirely sure if I felt much real warmth behind the singing. A confusing one for me - I will say 3.5 stars, but I'm rating as a four because I want to come back and relisten to consider more.