Fri Jun 18 2021
2
Was expecting “Staying Alive” and had to settle for my best effort at Staying Awake. I didn’t get this at all. 1.5
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One album a day.
From the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.
Trafalgar
Bee Gees
1971
- Album Summary
Trafalgar is a 1971 album by the Bee Gees. It was their ninth album (seventh internationally), and was released in September 1971 in the US, and November 1971 in the UK. The album was a moderate hit in the United States, and peaked at No. 34. The lead single "How Can You Mend a Broken Heart?" was the first Bee Gees' No. 1 single in the United States but failed to chart in Britain as did the album. It is Geoff Bridgford's only full-length appearance on a Bee Gees album as an official member. Trafalgar is included in Robert Dimery's book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.
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Wed Apr 14 2021
2
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.
Sun May 07 2023
2
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
Mon Jul 05 2021
1
Nahhh fuck off Bee Gees. Fuck you
Thu Feb 23 2023
1
The most boring album I ever had the displeasure to muddle through.
Thu Jul 15 2021
4
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.
Wed Apr 14 2021
4
Better than expected and not at all like what you expect Bee Gees to sound like
Fri May 07 2021
4
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.
Wed May 19 2021
3
much better than Odessa imo
Wed Jun 16 2021
2
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.
Mon Nov 07 2022
2
Bee Gees - trafalgar 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.
Mon Jan 18 2021
4
It was fun. Felt like Beatles B sides
Sat Jun 26 2021
4
mild mellow harmonic not too exciting but pretty tune-y. lots of songs about love and ladies
Sun Feb 07 2021
3
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.
Wed Mar 17 2021
3
Nice
Tue Jun 06 2023
3
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.
Thu Dec 23 2021
2
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.
Wed Jun 14 2023
2
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
Thu Nov 25 2021
1
This is a bit of a chore to listen to. I find the songs very bland; they do not work for me.
Fri Jan 28 2022
1
1 star
Sat Jun 17 2023
1
I didn't realize it but somehow these guys suck across multiple genres
Wed Sep 09 2020
5
Thought-provoking lyrics, great tones, a very good album
Sat Apr 17 2021
5
it is way sadder than i thought it would be but it's a fantastic album, super beautiful
Fri Aug 06 2021
5
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.
Thu Apr 07 2022
5
How Can You Mend a Broken Heart?
Sun Oct 02 2022
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”.
Fri Apr 28 2023
5
Me gustaron los sonidos de las canciones aunque algunas fueran un poco melancólicas.
Sat Apr 29 2023
5
I like this a lot actually, playing with the baroque pop elements strongly.
Tue Jun 06 2023
5
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
Wed Jun 07 2023
5
Woah best one this site recommended yet, that Waterloo song had been on repeat.
Fri Jan 29 2021
4
Unexpected! Didn’t know they had already-disco sound.
Wed Nov 18 2020
4
1971. Key Songs: Trafalgar, How Can You Mend A Broken Heart, Walking Back to Waterloo
Mon Oct 12 2020
4
Better than most bee gees albums
Fri May 14 2021
4
The Bee Gees are great! This is much more folksy than the disco hits I've heard, but still really nice.
Mon Jan 18 2021
4
A lot more Beatles sounding than I was expecting. Really enjoyed it though.
Fri Feb 05 2021
4
Good
Mon Feb 15 2021
4
I think I liked this album better the first time I listened to it although there are some songs that I liked more on the second listen. Obviously, I still really like it as you can tell by the rating. It reminded me of Elton John and ABBA so I guess it sounds like an album from the 70s. There are some great songs and some songs that are just decent. "When Do I" is really weird and the chorus sounds almost like a joke. For some reason, it reminds me of Kermit. Even though it's probably the worst song on the album, I kind of love it. The vocals are weird on a lot of songs even including the beginning of How Can You Mend a Broken Heart. Anyway, if this is not even one of the better Bee Gees albums, I guess I should listen to more of the Bee Gees. Favorite songs: How Can You Mend a Broken Heart?, Israel, Somebody Stop The Music, Don't Wanna Live Inside Myself, Walking Back to Waterloo Strong 7/10
Wed May 12 2021
4
First time listening: 9/12 songs liked It's like listening to a soft beatles album with extremely glutteral voices, which is odd considering they are mainly known for their disco. I know and like their first track, so I knew what I was getting myself into. Can be bitch if you are tired. No songs saved
Thu Jun 10 2021
4
Not what I had imagined for The Bee Gees. Folky. needs a relisten.
Wed May 19 2021
4
The Beatles and Elton John influence is apparent here. The Bee Gees are better known for their late '70s disco pop, but this album showcases their ability to craft lush pop centered around themes of loss and remembrance. Highlights for me are 'How Can You Mend a Broken Heart,' 'Trafalgar,' 'Don't Wanna Live Inside Myself,' and 'Walking Back to Waterloo.'
Tue Jun 08 2021
4
Nice
Thu Sep 09 2021
4
Sevdimm
Fri Sep 24 2021
4
Well this is surprising and rather lovely. The Bee Gees as serious artists, delivering mature and emotive pop music with a melancholic vibe. Like their more well known work, this is characterised by really nice melodies and harmonies, but with just a little less chart-friendly pure pop polish and more mature sounding instrumentation in the form of horns and strings. Really like this. 4/5
Fri Sep 24 2021
4
Much more depth than the beegees bangers everyone knows.
Fri Oct 01 2021
4
Barry Gibb can write a damn good song. The opener, title track, and closer are all highlights here. The Bee Gees before disco were a totally different rock and roll band, and a great time to listen to.
Fri Oct 01 2021
4
Но хотелось бы побольше электричества
Fri Oct 08 2021
4
4.4 - At turns this record reminds me of Electric Light Orchestra, ABBA and the Beatles. The songs are exceptionally well orchestrated and express emotional vulnerability through the lyrics and vocals. There are a couple missteps. "Dearest" sounds like a B-side from "Phantom of the Opera" and "Israel" though pretty comes off as dated propaganda. The distinctive Bee Gees vibrato is here with a vengeance, and I'm sure many will take exception with the vocals. Given the shadow "Saturday Night Fever" casts on all that is Bee Gees, I'm surprised at how much I enjoyed this. I'm also surprised at its tepid critical reception and that it's mostly forgotten by time.
Wed Dec 22 2021
4
Not at all what I was expecting. More like Elton John at times, and also folkier than I would have thought.
Thu Jan 13 2022
4
Glad to hear this, I had only heard the disco hits of the bee gees before. This is a wildly different side!
Wed Feb 23 2022
4
Interesting album. A little calmer and less/different energy than I recall from some of the other Bee Gees stuff I heard. Still pretty good and worth 4 stars
Fri Apr 15 2022
4
Relaxing 70s pop. Flows easily in the background. 3.5/5
Thu May 12 2022
4
Les Bee Gees nous proposent à ma grande surprise un album formidable, bien que dénué de toute homosexualité.
Mon Jul 11 2022
4
Awesome!
Wed Jul 13 2022
4
Every song is great and the album sounds amazing. The orchestration, vocal tracks, various instruments, it’s all there when it comes to production. However, it’s really missing some different styled songs. Each song has a similar tempo and sounds like an outro song. It’s also oddly similar to “LSD” and “Across The Universe” style Beatles.
Wed Aug 24 2022
4
I've never listened to the Bee Gees but considering their era, this is impressive. It's probably more on the balladry side of rock which can be a bit much. I had my fun with this and I really wanna return to this.
Thu Sep 01 2022
4
Surprisingly good actually, never really listened to the Bee Gee's other than the classics
Sun Sep 11 2022
4
Classic
Wed Sep 21 2022
4
Ridiculous album...hated it, then kind of liked it...its very silly
Thu Sep 22 2022
4
Massor av fina låtar jag aldrig hört förut. Mycket bra platta.
Sun Oct 02 2022
4
Man, I did not expect this to be so BLEAK. The Brothers Gibb are sad. I'm glad that in a few years they will know that you should be dancin'. Yeah. This is soft and gentle if depressing. Seems I like most the tunes written by Maurice, which are the ones that sound most like The Beatles.
Sun Oct 02 2022
4
I didn't really enjoy this album, and if it wasn't the Bee Gees, it would have ranked lower...just kind of to slow and sad for me today.
Sun Oct 02 2022
4
There really is nothing like the early Bee Gees (except maybe Christopher Guest in “A Mighty Wind”). More vibrato than falsetto. Although when I say early, I had no idea this was their ninth album! And it's kind of a dark one. Interesting and compelling. And so sad sometimes!
Sun Oct 02 2022
4
I love The Bee Gees. Both their older and newer stuff. this album isn't my favorite, but I like a lot.
Fri Oct 21 2022
4
Unexpected prog about love.
Thu Nov 10 2022
4
приятненько мне понравилось не знаю что еще сказать
Mon Dec 12 2022
4
Most of the songs are about love or more specifically breaking up. I'm such a badass because I can't relate to breaking up with someone 😎 privileges of being lonely big W
Thu Dec 15 2022
4
Nice work, boys.
Fri Dec 23 2022
4
Pleasant, some nice tracks, a few duds Could have used one or two slightly more upbeat tracks to lift it
Wed Jan 04 2023
4
Yeah I came into this only thinking of staying alive and snf stuff, so this really surprised me. I liked it a lot, so much that I actually liked 3 songs immediately and they're going on the playlist. 3.5-3.75 so it got a 4
Wed Jan 04 2023
4
Not the Bee Gees that I expected to hear, and I’m thankful for that. You kind of forget that the group had a short ballad era and these songs really are haunting in the best way. I love ballads but I see why other people may hate them. Dearest is kind of a cheesy song but I loved it, I’d add it to a playlist or just listen solo if I’m in a somber mood. If this album wasn’t so rushed being made I think it could be a 5 star album in my eyes, but 4 stars for sure right now.
Wed Jan 04 2023
4
I did not expect this from the Bee Gees. In sharp contrast to Stayin' Alive and More Than A Woman, it was wistful, melancholy, and pretty, nearly every song hitting that spot and scratching that itch simultaneously. A comforting, familiar pain, you know? I can't come up with anything clever or witty at the moment, I just want to know the next album because untitled2 so shamelessly assumed I would enjoy it. Let's hope they're correct.
Fri Jan 13 2023
4
interesting.
Mon Jan 30 2023
4
This bonkers divorced dad album features the horniest song about Israel I’ve ever heard.
Fri Feb 17 2023
4
This album is nothing like the Bee Gees most of us are familiar with; sadly, there is no disco in sight. Nevertheless, it is a solid album of soft rock ballads, all of which are quite pleasing to the ear though not my genre of choice. Best tracks: How Can You Mend A Broken Heart, Israel, Trafalgar, Don’t Want To Live Inside Myself, Remembering Worst tracks: When Do I, Lion in Winter, The Greatest Man in the World
Wed Apr 12 2023
4
I enjoyed this one!
Mon Apr 24 2023
4
Disco genuinamente sesentero, con voces melódicas y melosas. Ritmos tranquilos y generando influencias para grupos futuros
Wed May 24 2023
4
Decent 7
Sat Jun 17 2023
4
Obligé d'écouter sérieusement leur discographie maintenant
Wed Jan 20 2021
3
I didn't listen to it enough to give it a proper review, but it was a bit unremarkable for me
Fri Apr 30 2021
3
Started off way stronger than Odessa but they went back to they kind of lost me again about halfway through. Was hoping for some kind of big concept album about the battle of Trafalgar or something
Fri Feb 12 2021
3
I mean idk
Thu Feb 18 2021
3
The bee gees have a different sound here than the disco era hits I was used to. This isn't a bad album, as it's more soft rock than anything, it just seems like they were trying to branch out a bit too far from their more distinctive sound. There were some good songs (" how can you mend a broken heart" and "country woman") but there were some misses for me too("israel" and "its just the way"). Lyrically "the greatest man in the world" was really good but fell a bit short with the instrumentals.
Thu Mar 04 2021
3
Early Bee Gees before their disco era. It was ok but didn’t particularly move me.
Mon Jun 21 2021
3
Fine. How Can You Mend a Broken Heart? is by far the best song here. 6/10
Tue May 18 2021
3
Wow, listening to Bee Gees songs that haven't been rammed into my ears a million times before is actually quite a pleasant experience! Fave track - "How Can You Mend A Broken Heart" at the moment, but I should maybe listen a few more times as there are some other contenders.
Thu Jan 28 2021
3
Some soft, well written music. Not much otherwise to pique my interest.
Thu Apr 15 2021
3
Quite cheesy, easy to listen
Sat Jun 05 2021
3
The beegees are fun. This wasnt fun. Lol
Sun Jan 17 2021
3
Yeah yeah it’s boring and yeah the vocal spin is WILDly incongruous with the music but at least it’s pretty (but wow this is too long)
Tue Apr 13 2021
3
What a trippy album! There are parts of this that I really did. Some of it because it is faintly reminiscent of the Beatles. But oy, some of this was really awful. But mostly pretty chill. I would listen to this again.
Tue Apr 13 2021
3
this opened my eyes (ears?) to the face that the Bee Gees were more than just staying alive, saturday night fever and disco. It was interesting and I enjoyed it but I would probably not choose to go back to it. I give it two and a half john travoltas
Thu Apr 22 2021
3
Not what I expected. Don’t really know much of the Brothers Gibb, aside from the disco stuff, but enjoyed this melancholic effort. A bit McCartney-esque in places.
Mon Mar 15 2021
3
I’m enjoying this album more than I thought I would, which is a good thing. I’m really only familiar w/ The Bee Gees disco material (which I love), so it is cool to see this side of them. Strong melodies, good choruses, varied instrumentation. A solid 3
Tue Jun 15 2021
3
Trafalgar has it's fair share of passable tracks, and my rating will reflect that, but there are some great songwriting and arrangements here. Somebody Stop the Music is a little more experimental, Walking Back to Waterloo is a great album closer with great arrangements and Don't Wanna Live Inside Myself has that overly-dramatic tension that the Bee Gees are so well known for. Fav Tracks: Somebody Stop The Music, Walking Back To Waterloo and Don't Wanna Live Inside Myself
Mon Jul 19 2021
3
Sombre, but reasonable folk/pop. Wouldn't listen to again as a whole album so 2.8 out 5 rounded up.
Tue Jun 15 2021
3
Interesting album. There are signs of a transition by the Bee Gees on this album in production as well as lyrically and vocally. What I probably like the least is that all of the songs are ballads. There are some great songs on this album but equally there are some not so good songs (Dearest). The harmonies are spot on and they stretch their vocals in some cases. Overall I would say I like the albumbecause of the steps taken to stretch a bit. It's not Odessa or Main Course but pretty good. Favorite songs: How Can you Mend a Broken Heart, Somebody Stop the Music, walking Back to Waterloo.
Sun Apr 25 2021
3
Although it lacks any stand-out tracks, this is a solid pre-disco Bee Gees album. 7.7/10
Tue May 11 2021
3
Too mellow
Fri May 14 2021
3
little flat
Wed Jun 23 2021
3
yeah alright, I saved one song, different from the single other song I associate with the bee gees, definitely a solid 3, could sneak into 4 territory