Album Of The Day

the bee gees are incredible and this is one of their best. most think disco when they think bee gees, but they were much more. early garage rock “i want home”. revolver-era psychedelic. soul tunes. one of the best bands ever. “it’s just way”, “trafalgar”, “don’t wanna live inside myself”, “lion in winter”, and “walking back from waterloo” are jams.

Always enjoyed their music since their disco era and listened to their Greatest Hits so much in 1982, while driving around with my dad to his soccer games and wherever else we went. It was years later that I found they existed before their Stayin Alive/Tragedy/Saturday Night Fever era, and had a whole catalog of really good music. This is a 4+ for me, probably closer to 5. Hell, I'm giving it a 5.

So mellow, so lovely. Another album I completely overlooked my first time around.

Great

I can definitely see why this album is on here. Definitely a quintessential Bee Gees album. It's an underrated and underappreciated classic! Some of the more melancholy-sounding tunes that defined their work of the late 60's and 70's.

PEAK.

Never heard anything by the Bee Gees outside their disco music and I'm glad I finally have. This is an incredible album, with great songs. The only gripe I have with it is that it is very Beatles derivative in places, but that's not too bad as the Beatles are my favourite band. All in all, this is a 4.5/5 for me. Can't wait to hear more early Bee Gees.

Cover is just as cool as the album 5/5

The Bees and the Gees often don’t work for me, but their channeling of Lennon and C,S, and N breathes a sweetness that’s not too saccharine. They do love a bit of melancholy.

This is a beutiful album. My experience of listening to it for the first time was nothing short of incredible. I love the concept of it being dedicated to admiral Horation Nelson that died during the battle of Trafalgar to the point that it sparked an interest to learn more about him.

Brothers Gibb are amazing

Acostumbrado a escuchar unos Bee Gees más discotequeros, fue una grata sorpresa escuchar una faceta suya más “beatle” . A guardar.

Beautiful songwriting and now I just love everything life is so awesome.

B E E G E E S

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.

Have never really delved into the bee gees properly before, this was actually very enjoyable, unexpected so it gets a 4

This was a pleasant surprise for me as someone with quite superficial knowledge of the Bee Gees' work. It's a very lush, romantic album filled with ballads; a far cry from their popular contemporary image as the white faces of disco. I'm sure the old heads out there would roll their eyes at my ignorance here but don't blame me, nobody ever plays their early stuff these days! Anyway, I found this record to be pretty enjoyable on the whole. Lots of really nice melodies and good uses of harmonies, which I'm always a sucker for. The songwriting is often on the simplistic side, but it's usually carried well by the vocal performances of the brothers and their diverse voices. Having looked up which songs had which brother on lead vocals, I'm generally more of a fan of Barry's songs on this record, but Robin certainly gave a unique texture to his songs, even though I'm not a huge fan of his singing style. I do get the impression from this album that the Bee Gees were more followers than trendsetters when it came to their musical style. I figure that's probably how they ended up becoming such a big name in disco; and how they came to be quite poorly regarded by contemporary critics. For instance, Somebody Stop The Music sounds a lot like Bowie's music from that era, and Trafalgar sounds like it could easily be a Beatles song up until you reach the somewhat uninspired chorus. They're well crafted songs, but they do feel slightly derivative at times. I wouldn't say any of the songs here stand out as all-time classics, but Walking Back to Waterloo probably comes closest to that. I really love the chorus on that track, so powerful yet tinged with an aching wistfulness. It's the most emotionally evocative track on the record for me. A few more tracks on its level of quality would have led to this album being more fondly remembered I imagine. I'll give this a 3.5, with a sympathy rounding up because of how harsh a lot of the other reviews are on here. Favourite Tracks: Walking Back to Waterloo, How Can You Mend a Broken Heart, Somebody Stop The Music

I really enjoyed this one!! A few mid songs towards the end stopped it being 5 stars

Tror detta var första Bee Gees-albumet jag hört och lät inte som jag väntat mig. Men riktigt bra vibe!

I really like pre-disco Bee Gees. What a weird and interesting band they were. I can’t help but wonder how the song Israel would be informed my current events though.

Some samey songs but overall a big fan

Musical critics can be particularly frustrating when it comes to the Bee Gees. While the group was predominantly a singles-driven act, their most culturally significant output undoubtedly arrived in the mid-to-late 1970s. Yet, within the narrow scope of many "essential" lists, only "Odessa" and "Trafalgar" tend to make the cut. If asked to name their most memorable album, most would identify the "Saturday Night Fever soundtrack". The Bee Gees contributed seven tracks as writers and six as performers to that record - every one of them a superb tune. However, it is conspicuously absent here. Instead, "Trafalgar" and "Odessa" feel like token inclusions - an attempt to recognise the brothers as great songwriters and performers, albeit via the wrong records. Upon its release, "Trafalgar" received mixed reviews in the UK press. Its sales were poor and both the album and its single (a US number-one single) "How Can You Mend a Broken Heart", failed to chart entirely in the UK. At the time, the British press and public seemed less enamoured with the group’s transition into lush, melancholic ballads. Trafalgar is not a bad album, but it doesn't strike me as essential. It captures a group in transition, moving from 1960s baroque pop toward the soulful, ballad-driven sound of the early 1970s. The result is often maudlin and downbeat. While it is extremely well-produced, arranged, and performed, the material occasionally lacks inspiration. For the uninitiated, its greatest flaw is simply that it isn't the Bee Gees of the disco era and beyond. It is a polished piece of work, but it lacks the definitive energy that made the band a global phenomenon and essential listening. Four stars. Side one 1 "How Can You Mend a Broken Heart" (5/5) 2 "Israel" (4/5) 3 "The Greatest Man in the World" (3/5) 4 "It's Just the Way" (3/5) 5 "Remembering" (3/5) 6 "Somebody Stop the Music" (3/5) Side two 1 "Trafalgar" (4/5) 2 "Don't Wanna Live Inside Myself" (4/5) 3 "When Do I" (4/5) 4 "Dearest" (3/5) 5 "Lion in Winter" (3/5) 6 "Walking Back to Waterloo" (4/5) Total - 43 Average - 3.58 321/1001 175/321 albums reviewed were new to me.

ok

I think these guys were better than we all have them credit.

Very surprised by the reaction to this album on here. It's not perfect, but some of y'all make this album out to be one of the worst of all time and I can't hear anything on this that would make me even fathom that. The Bee Gees are more than Saturday Night Fever and this album really showcases that.

Solid album. Wasn’t super familiar with The Bee Gees before this outside of Saturday Night Fever. I’d check out some of their music based on this album. Has kind of rock/folk rock sound.

That was weird, I like it. It is not the beegees in the disco era yet

Sonically nice but not for me

Classic sad boi

Isch es es Schmerzmittel oder es Album vo Bee Gees? Gege Schmerze hets ned ghulfe, defür gege schlechti regewetter-luhne. Liked it. Da schmeissi grad vier Dafalgan hinedri

I like it

I really enjoyed this today. I did not know Bee Gees pre disco, but lyrically this was so introspective and very pretty instrumentally. Don't Want to Live Inside Myself hit hard, as well as How Can You Mend a Broken Heart, so much sadness and heartbreak found here. Vocals aren't my favourite but emotion filled certainly, but overall sounds very of its time. Lion in Winter surprised me even further on the back half, gets a bit wild vocally, but instrumentally builds nicely. And I really loved the closer Walking Back to Waterloo, it feels cinematic.

i think the _saturday night fever_ sdtk. is the closest i've come to listening to a bee gees album until today. it's some pretty great pop music with lots of emotional ups and downs. i do like their disco stuff ("tragedy" remains an eternal gem), but i think i prefer them in this baroque pop vein. "it's just the way" is some magnificent beatles-esque pop.

Esse álbum é muito agradável. Interessante ouvir o Bee Gees antes da fase disco. TRN Medusa.

Nope

I only know Disco Bee Gees. This is already weird in a good way. I have a buddy who loves The Bee Gees but all I knew was disco and so I didn’t get it. On track two. I get it now. I love the song “When do I”. “Lion in winter” is such a good song.

Honestly thought this was surprisingly good. Kinda have no idea why it's on this list and had no idea that the bee gees had a soft rock pre disco era. The vocal harmonies and instrumentation and strings on this were all just really pleasant.

Weird, almost annoying album that I actually quite enjoyed.

Amazing, The Beegees have a beauty about their music that feels pure and beautiful.

Main Course is their best album. It’s a perfect album. This is the Main Course of their early period. But know that their early period wasn’t as good.

So confession. I didn't really know anything about Bee Gees. Other than hearing Staying Alive and their other big disco hits. So this was a little bit of a surprise to me, I had no idea they made music like this. And it was pretty interesting. I didn't mind it.

I only know "How can you mend...?" but it's the Bee Gees so I can give it 4 stars just on faith. Will definitely be checking this one out in the future.

Some nice smooth Bee Gees, this is not what I thought they sounded like. Really high quality with all of the singers and especially the strings. This is a strong 4

Awesome record

album quality is solid not really any lowlights with the highlights being ok

Very pleasant album.

This album was a wonderful surprise. My knowledge of the Bee Gees basically revolved around disco. I discovered a side of the Bee Gees that I never knew existed. Two songs that I've added to my rotation are Don't Wanna Live Inside Myself and How Can You Mend a Broken Heart?

Really good! Never heard the pre disco stuff

Pretty good album. I enjoyed it.

Ok, good I guess. Very soft.

Pretty good for them. Amazing song writers for others as well. One of the best family song writers.

One of my favorite Bee Gees song is on this album. The rest of the songs are somewhat heavy handed. Which for early 70’s Bee Gees was par for the course. Still, a good album.

Surprised that I actually quite like this album and rounding up cuz I don't agree with all the low ratings. And I'll take any excuse to revisit The Barry Gibb Talk Show. 3.5/5

I Did not listen to it. looks cool

Good

A good album, I liked Israel, The Greatest Man In The World and Somebody Stop The Music.

I went through a Bee Gees phase in 2nd and 3rd grade. I think the only albums I had were "Gold" and "Greatest," but I think I would have been all over this back then. The song or two that I knew already were perhaps the weaker songs on this album.

If your main taste of the BeeGees is Saturday Night Fever soundtrack... be ready for a more lyrical and musical experience.

Bob Stanley had already opened my mind to the Bee Gees in his book Yeah Yeah Yeah (haven't got around to his book specifically about them yet!), but these boys are so much more than SNF and disco. I knew this in part due to songs like New York Mining Disaster, but I didn't know anything about this 1971 album apart from the opening song that became one of the best songs ever in the hands of Al Green. And it's a great album and repays repeat immersive listens to its consistent sound and quality.

Good

If I were napoleon … a melancholy smooth album with interesting lyrics good vocals and solid insutementnal work

Never listened to the Bee Gees apart from some of their singles. This one is pop-prog-rock, which I can get behind. Plenty of stodgy prog from this era could have done with a little pop sensibility. At its best, this album has a killer sound. Similar to early Elton John records, which sometimes had this combination of ambitious rock album scope with piano-pop earworms. Unfortunately, there are numerous misses on the first half (Israel, The Greatest Man, Remembering). The big single, How Can You Mend a Broken Heart, doesn't really do much for me. The b-side is more enjoyable: Don't Wanna Live Inside Myself is solid and memorable; Walking Back to Waterloo is a great album closer. The singing is great throughout, and I like the kind of semi-baroque extravagance of their pop-rock style. I definitely want to hear more of their albums. 4*

Very nice

Timeless church music vibes but with good music, good voices and good songs. My parents would love this.

ni tan mal. mola

Like the other Bee Gees album we've had, I'm not entirely sure what to make of this one. It all sounds pretty good, but there's nothing really standing out or grabbing your attention either. I like the ambition of it, but it lacks staying power. 3.5 rounded up.

Un disco extrañísimo principalmente por ser de los Bee Gees y que suene a todo menos a los Bee Gees. No es para nada malo, pero su melancolía y hasta pesimismo me agarró muy de sorpresa. Ni las voces de pajarillos contentos habitual aparece por aquí. Pero, y eso me gustó mucho, que haciendo un disco tan distinto y que parece de otra banda, entregaran un disco así de genial. Muy extraño, pero raramente imposible de disfrutar. Geniales, los Bee Gees.

it was nice and sad

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.

I love the Bee Gees. Love their harmonies and unique voices. This is not one of their best albums but I still like many, not all, the songs. Lion in Winter was a pretty horrible song. I still need to give it a 4.

Way better than I thought it was going to be. I was pretty impressed.

Love the harmonies here, and the unexpectedly dark subject matter is really interesting. The production is really gorgeous as well.

I really expected this to be "How Can You Mend a Broken Heart" and a bunch of crap, but I ended up liking this way more than I expected. To be fair, my expectations weren't that high - I never got into them as a kid - but it was great to hear that they had a whole sound beyond just the "Stayin' Alive"/disco years. Highlights for me: How Can You Mend a Broken Heart, Israel, Don't Wanna Live Inside Myself, Walking Back to Waterloo Tracks I probably could've lived without because they're just a bit too schmaltzy and over-the-top: Remembering, When Do I, Dearest

Pre-listening thoughts: I <3 Bee Gees and I am also simultaneously confused at this album pick. Why not Spirits Having Flown, Main Course (my fav), or even the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack? I love their early stuff, don’t get me wrong, but I feel like both of their picks being their pre-disco/pre-RnB stuff is bizarre. It should be one early and one after they blew up to show their evolution but whatever. Also everyone go watch their documentary it’s really good!! Post/during listening thoughts: this is weirdly Beatles-esque at points? But this is very downtempo/midtempo. It is quite perfect for my mood tonight. I hate New Years. But Bee Gees make it a little better. 8.5/10 DID I NEED TO HEAR THIS BEFORE I DIE: I wanted to Fav tracks: How Can You Mend a Broken Heart, The Greatest Man in the World, It’s Just the Way, Somebody Stop the Music, Trafalgar, Dont Wanna Live Inside Myself, Walking Back to Waterloo (but I liked the whole album tbh) Least fav tracks: I just wish there was like a little more upbeat-ness to some of this. It drags in its middle a little and that is why it is not a 5 star album from me

I'm not sure this album can live up to the battle depicted on it's cover. The production is nice and warm, with some good stereo mixing. It's Just the Way had some standout bits. Somebody Stop the Music was alright. Lion in Winter feels like it's so close to being a really cool song. Don't Wanna Live Inside Myself hooked me more on second listen. Really good track. This is a pretty solid album, considering I only knew them from Saturday Night Fever type stuff.

Even though I've been aware for years that the Bee Gees weren't always a white disco band, it's still kind of a surprise to hear what they sounded like four years before "Jive Talkin'". 'Cuz that's just who they are in popular culture, y'know? High voices going "AH-HA-HA-HAH" over a four-to-the-floor beat. So to fall back in time and hear an album's worth of Beatles-y soft rock in decidedly normal voices... Most people, I don't think, would've ever guessed this was the same band who'd later light the world on fire with "Stayin' Alive". And, hey, wouldn't you know — I actually really like this. What can I say? I'm a sucker for soft rock cheese every now and then, and this is, mm, such good cheese. I mean, you hear these orchestrations? Goodness me. Like, I say this is Beatles-y, but really, this specifically sounds to me way more like a softer, subdued Electric Light Orchestra. That's a kind of comparison that's a big plus in my book, given how much I loved OUT OF THE BLUE when my group got it. I guess the worst thing I can say is that the Gibbs' normal voices are maybe a little wonky, but it was never a bigger problem to me than just going "Huh." Honestly, there's not even much more I wanna say about this album. I just think it's good stuff, y'know? I really enjoyed it. Not enough, I don't think, that I'm chomping to give it a 5, but I wouldn't go less than a 4. Like, I can tell why this sound isn't as iconic as their disco stuff, but, aw, heck. I'm happy to hear it. (Boy, and if you wanna talk about the Bee Gees and The Beatles... The SGT. PEPPER'S movie is a trip and a half; I'll say that much. Goodness.)

7/10 Beautiful vocals but lacking in diversity Favourite Song=Walking Back To Waterloo Least Favourite Song=When Do I

Like this a lot more than I thought I would. It sounds a bit like Beach Boys in the same era, but more ballady and grand. 4 stars

This was not the album I was expecting to hear from the Bee Gees, but that's not a bad thing and speaks to their range as musicians. This felt more like a Simon and Garfunkel or Beatles album than what I generally associate with the Bee Gees. Slower and more focused on the lyrics, this album was easy to listen to and showed me a side of the band I need to further explore. I can see why these songs are less known but this album deserves recognition for what it is.

Étant plus habitué aux Bee Gees de la fin des 70s, voire même du début des 80s, ce fut une mignonne découverte. L'avant chef-d'œuvre! Le travail de l'ombre du groupe pour atteindre ce qu'ils sont devenus en suite. Pas mal. Un peu sale le mix mais c'est 71. J'aime bien la présence assez remarquable de guitares saturées.

liked songs: most of them I was pleasantly surprised by this album. I've never listened to any Bee Gees songs that weren't disco, but this was actually a great album. 4

Pleasantly surprised by this! Lovely songs, very well produced. Definitely has me interested to hear more Bee Gees

Great record. The opener How Can You Mend a Brokenheart is one of the greatest songs of all time. Second track Israel is probably the worst track on the album, followed by Greatest Man, which is okay. Next song is where the record picks up, Just the Way, which sounds like a john lennon beatles song from 67. The other highlights include Don't Wanna live inside Myself, Trafalgar, lion in Winter and the fantastic closer Walking Back To Waterloo, which I think is one of their best songs I find it hard picking a rating for this when we are rating out of 5. I'm not sure it's a 5 star but four doesn't seem enough as it's better than the majority of 4s. I also think the BeeGees deserve to have a 5 on the list, but the two choices are slightly left field. I prefer Main Course and feel like the late 70s albums are much more important

7/10 - It was kind of boring but I enjoyed most of the experience. I thought there was some interesting instrumentation and singing.

Good opening, the instrumentation acompany really well the lyrics. Love the sound, it makes it up for the pretty simple lyricism. Track connection ups the overall narrative.

Really enjoyed this.

I only know the Saturday Night Fever era of The Bee Gees, so imagine my surprise hearing this album and loving every second of it! Did not expect this sound but it was a great album!

Big fan over here, no one out there hits those harmonies like the Team Gibb

Not a bad album. Never heard anything from these guys before disco.

A very sweet album

This will be five stars sorry team. Bee Gees mean a lot to me and this album is very important!! “How Can You Mend a Broken Heart?” is very personal to me and also all of us. Hot take I’ve finished the album and I didn’t like the rest of it…. So… 4.5?

****A beautiful, versatile , and well put together album

Það er eitthvað off við raddbeitinguna hjá Robin, en þetta er að öðru leyti áheyrilegt áttundartugarpopp og ljómandi fínt sem slíkt.

I'd instinctively say that I much prefer their disco shit, but this album is pretty damn good actually

Bueno

It's a lush, richly arranged album that embraces the big feelings without going to crazy. It's more interesting than most of the more poppier stuff the Bee Gees also released over time.

i've listened to the bee gees' saturday night fever disco tunes, but this album is a side of them i haven't dived much into till now. do you like relaxing rock? this is the album for you. with the tight upright pianos, gentle drums and an orchestral flair, this album is as influential as sgt pepper's. i'm only giving it a four because while the album is very pretty, some of the songs get meat loaf levels of dramatic.

Beautiful album - hard to beat the danceability and harmonies of Bee Gees ever hut their early work is so smooth and calm. Adore it

BungerDance

The Beatles as performed by the Bee Gees.

No disco? No problem!

I found 'Trafalgar' by the Bee Gees to be a surprisingly enjoyable album. I'd never delved into their music before, as their big hits seemed more like background music for comedies. However, this album from their early era caught my attention, and I was pleasantly surprised. It has a rich, lush sound that really resonated with me, making it quite a standout.

The Beatle-esque songs are OK, but the soul ballads are really something. Robin is the stand-out vocalist by a wide margin. When Do I is one of the best songs I’ve ever heard. Best songs: How Can You Mend A Broken Heart, When Do I, Lion In Winter, Walking Back To Waterloo

Very full sound, original and pensive 3.7

Great harmonies, good vibes, excellent musicianship and writing. If not for the lead singer's voice (which can be whiny and the vibrato a little too harsh sometimes), this would be five stars, but I give it four stars.

I really enjoyed this album. There was some falsetto songs, and some that weren't. A pretty darn good album.

I enjoyed this more than I thought I would. It had a very peaceful sound that I could listen to for awhile and just cutest music. At some points the voice was a little kermit-y, but not enough to take away from the album. I really liked the vibe of this and would listen to them again.

I wasn't aware of most of the songs on this album, but, overall, it was a pleasant album to listen to. I think I was more aware of the '70s disco side of the Bee Gees and less of this side of them. It was quite nice!

Really good!! How Can You Mend A Broken Heart is my favourite.

Israel is a cool tune. some fun

interesting, a chill 70's sound that was soothing.

I obviously know Bee Gees, and have seen this album cover, but never listened to it fully, must be a good one. First song, quite mellow already, guitar has a country vibe. Ohh the fullness was greatly brought in, it went away. I like the sadness, especially the beat that makes the sound richer. The chorus is givingg. It's chamber pop vibed too. The "lalala"s is a lazy bridge, but I'm here for it. I liked itt quite a lot even as a slow and sad song so 8.2/10. Second song, piano and the beat is already good. By the wayy his voice sounds quite nice, it's not annoying or clichéd. The beat drop thing is as great as in the last song. Just realised the name is "Israel" wondering what the song's meaning is. The vocals are scratchy, but lovely to hear. I'm loving the experience alreadyy, it's not some rock noise, that might be annoying sometimes, but a soft rock with the elements of baroque in it(I think. 8.7/10 definitelyy. Third song, starting with gibberish. I love how the "beat drops" softly when he starts singing the line. It's karaoke vibed too I must say, which is good. It's permanent wave and repetitive, but the instruments and his lyrical delivery makes it worth it tbh. Quite a big outro I am sensing. He's repeating the title as the outro I suppose, it is truly and experience, especially with the violins coming in. This was not as special so 8/10. 4th song, I love the guitar here. Unexpectedly short song. The instrumental break was everything here, but the vocals of him is just so satisfying, and mellow in the best way. Outro was softly saying the lyrics and the violins playing until they die out. I'd say 8/10 still. 5th song, Broadway-like start. The drum beat fills the song so well. It sounds more theatrical than others. Voice is enhanced(choir like now almost), plus the production got harder. The dramatic instrumental introduction is weird and not sure why does it even happen, I love it though. Songs are mostly about love as I see. It was an okay one so 7.9/10. 6th song, I liked the start, it's depressing plus the lyrics make the song more like it. Ooo the beat dropp(I don't like using this term, but it's the easiest way to say it). Vibe fully changed and Beatles came in(not exactly). After 2 minutes it's very Beatles-cored. It's more upbeat and less mellow, but obviously it stays rock. Outro is violins I think quite funn. 8.4 for the change of the beat. 7th song, guitar and piano fusion, on and electric guitar in the right ear, and normal one in the left one(I think idkk). The vocals are the most used here. Oh it's the album name too. This was as good as it should have been, but I'm kinda bored so 7.9/10. 8th song, piano start literally, his voice is weirdly different and softer. Piano is the main instrument here. The drop never disappoints with these guys. It has Celine Dion vibe, if the vocals were more focused on. I wonder if they influenced other bands or vice versa, because I'm getting many Beatles vibes throughout the album. Violin in the left ear workingg. Mmm 8.1/10 must be enough. 9th song, almost loud start. Guitar in the left ear. His voice is so country and the guitar too. Piano came in the right ear, what a productionn. It's getting better and better. The violins is a nice touch. I like the way it sounded, not like a one song. 8.4/10 it is. There was trombone at the end. 10th song, it's sadder than most other songs, only piano is the main character, oh the violin came in. It's not as unique, but it sure makes me feel something. Vocals are also quite a lot here, but not Whitney vocals, just the neutral ones. I say 7.7/10. 11th song, mannyy drum beats. Oh the guitar and soft voice of his game in. His range is obviously not high as a voalist, but he sings differently and not tooo folky, which is enjoyable. There are two voices now and one is scratched almost annoyingly. I liked this, however, too basic, so 7.8/10. 12th and the last song, totally different vibe the beat change, but it's not really soft rock now is it. The beat is low, piano and electric guitar in the right ear, flow of violin, constant beat made by the normal guitar. It's progressing to more chamberness. It's epicore vibes at the end, at the very end, it gets slower and quiet. Low key disappointed, because it sounded better at the start, still 7.9 seems fair rating. I loved this album, because of the emotions they put in it. Production was interesting with the popular instruments being involved, sooo 4 stars is quite enough, the chill and relaxing sounds make this album more unique than ever.

4.1 - I’ve not listened outside the hits with the Bee Gees, but kinda knew they had different music style. Thought this was really good and sometimes felt Bowie esque to me

Fun

Rating: 7/10 Best songs: Waking back to Waterloo, How can you mend a broken heart?

This is the Bee Gee's ninth studio album, and pre-dates all the disco that they're famous for, so its kind of weird hearing them sing this more psych-pop oriented stuff. I had no idea that they had that many albums before the transition to disco. This Bee Gee's album is like an album of Beatles B-Sides. Not bad, but kinda bland. Favourite songs: It's Just the Way, Israel, How Can You Mend a Broken Heart?, Remembering, Somebody Stop the Music, Trafalgar, Lion in Winter Least favourite songs: When Do I, Dearest 4/5

Bee Gees tracks from this period can be brilliant and sublime or melodramatic and schmaltzy. This album has both.

I had no idea the Bee Gees had such a breadth of styles and sounds. Very enjoyable.

Pre-Disco BeeGees are a very different beast. The vocals are very different, yet still strong. Not up-tempo at all, lots of ballads. Harmonies are beautiful as always. The sound is more along the lines of the Hollies, Byrds, etc. Low 4

Die Bee Gees sind einfach Ikonen. Kann mich gut erinnern, an die Zeit, als mich mein Opa von der Schule abholte und im Auto die Bee Gees liefen. Da kommen Gefühle hoch! 7.5/10

Think this gets abit of hate for being plain. I didn't feel like it was, beautiful range of vocals, especially the high ends. A relaxing listen. 3.5

3.5

if the beatles made good music

They are not just a disco band!

4.0

Excellent

Loved it!

Obligé d'écouter sérieusement leur discographie maintenant

Decent 7

Surprisingly fantastic. Very 70s

Beautiful record with lush string arrangements and stacked harmonies. Reminds me of Elton John and ELO wrapped into one. Too many mellow songs for me though.

Disco genuinamente sesentero, con voces melódicas y melosas. Ritmos tranquilos y generando influencias para grupos futuros

I enjoyed this one!

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

This bonkers divorced dad album features the horniest song about Israel I’ve ever heard.

interesting.

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.

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.

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

Pleasant, some nice tracks, a few duds Could have used one or two slightly more upbeat tracks to lift it

Nice work, boys.

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

приятненько мне понравилось не знаю что еще сказать

Unexpected prog about love.

I love The Bee Gees. Both their older and newer stuff. this album isn't my favorite, but I like a lot.

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!

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.

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.

Massor av fina låtar jag aldrig hört förut. Mycket bra platta.

Ridiculous album...hated it, then kind of liked it...its very silly

Classic

Surprisingly good actually, never really listened to the Bee Gee's other than the classics

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.

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.

Awesome!

Les Bee Gees nous proposent à ma grande surprise un album formidable, bien que dénué de toute homosexualité.

Relaxing 70s pop. Flows easily in the background. 3.5/5

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

Glad to hear this, I had only heard the disco hits of the bee gees before. This is a wildly different side!

Not at all what I was expecting. More like Elton John at times, and also folkier than I would have thought.

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.

Но хотелось бы побольше электричества

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.

Much more depth than the beegees bangers everyone knows.

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

Sevdimm

Nice

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.'

Not what I had imagined for The Bee Gees. Folky. needs a relisten.

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

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

Good

A lot more Beatles sounding than I was expecting. Really enjoyed it though.

The Bee Gees are great! This is much more folksy than the disco hits I've heard, but still really nice.

Better than most bee gees albums

1971. Key Songs: Trafalgar, How Can You Mend A Broken Heart, Walking Back to Waterloo

Unexpected! Didn’t know they had already-disco sound.

🇮🇱 All hail Benjamin Netanyahu 🇮🇱 Jokes aside, this is honestly not a terrible album. The singing is a little screechy at times, but it’s about as mediocre as the average album on this list.

Not what I was expecting when I saw Bee Gees. Interesting album and a fun listen.

Well, I started off listening to this in an optimistic frame of mind after the drivel we've been served recently. The orchestration and general production was superb and the melodies were in the main enjoyable but the lyrics and the tone were SO depressing!! The vocals near the end lost it completely but it was nevertheless an interesting taste of the first album which I hadn't heard any of before. Not surprised it had no impact on the UK charts when released after hearing it though. Happily, better was to come.

Actually didn’t hate this and not what I was expecting from the Bee Gees. Where are the falsetto’s, tight trousers and disco moves? Honestly (and I know I will get hate for this) but some of the tracks kind of sound like slightly shit Beatles b-sides I quite liked Israel & It’s Just the Way, Lion in Winter The voices are equally terrible but then also … there’s something I like about them. For example in When I Do and Lion in Winter the voices are bonkers but I still enjoyed them. The song Remembering even has the great line ‘now I feel as good, as good as if I were dead’ - emo!

I just kept thinking of the word “overwrought”. The penultimate song sounded like if Janis Joplin and Rod Stewart had a baby, fed it nothing but cigarettes and then told it to sing about being a lion.

So un-disco

They kind of sound like the Beetles. I liked the historical references and enjoyed this album more than I would have originally though

70

Good to hear they got their stuff together after "Odessa". Decent album, high 3* 3/5

Album in desperate need of disco dopamine. Not bad tho

meh

No stand ours here but inoffensive 3

When I got my first job and had my own money, the first thing I did was buy 2 CDs, and one of them was a Bee Gees greatest hits album. I played the shit out of that CD and still have it. So when I generated Odessa, I was so bummed because I was not expecting to dislike one of their albums so strongly. I'm happy to say I liked Trafalgar much more overall, but it kind of have me whiplash because I either really liked or really disliked just about every other song. The ones I disliked the most were probably the ones with the clearest Beatles influence. (Oh and also Israel and Lion in Winter.) I adore the Beatles of course but I'm here for the Bee Gees! How Can You Mend A Broken Heart is an all time great song. I think The Greatest Man In The World, Somebody Stop The Music, Don't Wanna Live Inside Myself, When Do I, and Dearest live most comfortably in that same world. That collection of songs would be a lovely EP. The rest of the songs I either didn't care for or care about. I almost want to give this 4 stars simply for how great hcymabh is, but 3 is a better reflection of my feelings for the album as a whole.

Pretty solid, kinda sounds like the Beatles

Landing at 3 based on How to Mend a Broken Heart. Otherwise this would be a 2. They are hit and miss with me and this one misses.

Lite väl långsamt men skön stämning ändå.

Had some pretty moments but ultimately not as electrifying as some of their other work

Not my favorite mode of Bee Gees but still pretty good

Interesting to hear the bridge between R&B Bee Gees and disco Bee Gees. There’s a lot of great tracks here, but also a few I skipped over on the second lesson. I still much prefer their 60s stuff.

Delightful little album. It appears that, based on reading a lot of the reviews, the only reason this album is rated as poorly as it is is because it's the Bee Gees not doing Disco. While I wholeheartedly agree that it would have been a nice inclusion to the book, and I'm a bit confused as to why this album as well as another pre-disco album was included as well, this album is not bad by itself. Plus, I was just in Trafalgar Square last week. While it would have been very cool to roll this album then, the week after is still a pretty fun coincidence. Anyway, as all Late 60's, Early 70's albums are, there are some Beatley aspects to this one. It's interesting hearing this band perform Soft Rock instead of Disco, and I think it really does work. I was also surprised to have recognized the first, and my favorite song on the album, "How Can You Mend A Broken Heart". I also really liked the titular "Trafalgar". Overall, I'm not going to remember this album in a week, but I still enjoyed spending the day listening to it, and I wholeheartedly disagree with the low rating. At 47 minutes long, it does overstay it's welcome just a little bit. It also doesn't bring anything new or interesting to the table, but that doesn't mean it's bad. The singer has a great voice, the mood is upbeat and cheery, and the instrumentation more than does enough to bring this album up to a very easy 3 rating. Not every album needs to be high energy to be great, and this album is a good example of that. If I wanted to just relax, perhaps go for a nice walk in the park, I would absolutely return to this album. It's mostly filler that blends in with itself, and absolutely nothing reached out and grabbed me, but it's far from terrible filler, and I love the vibes. That's all that really matters. I'm still confused why there are 2 Pre-Disco Bee Gees albums on this list, but it was cool to hear what they sounded like before that, even though this is inexplicably also their ninth album. Wow. They must have put out a metric ton of albums over their careers. Shoutout to my dude Trafalgar Law. He knows what's up.

Long before the disco era, this is a highly polished, melancholic slice of early 70s baroque pop. The vocal harmonies are undeniably immaculate and the orchestration is lush, but the songwriting stays strictly within very safe, somber, and slow paced ballad structures that can feel a bit uniform across the entire record.

One of the big bands in the 70s but not one of their big albums.

Really strong start with "How Can You Mend A Broken Heart" everything else was pretty good too

3.5/5

Beautiful set of love songs

Never heard this album in its entirety. A bit too melancholy in some of the songs, but it is a Bee Gees vibe for sure.

I was unaware of the non disco side of these guys which was cool to learn about. This is more of a soft rock where the second half of the album loses a bit the thread. I don't dislike what they are doing but it's not their best

I love 60s Bee Gees and the later disco stuff, but a lot of this record just sounds like syrupy easy listening to my ears. Ended up digging a few of the tunes, though, especially those written and sung by Maurice. I also enjoyed Barry's raspy Lennon-esque singing on "Don't Wanna Live Inside Myself," but Robin's voice grates on me here.

Day841 - the brothers voices are something you can’t get just putting three guys in a room. not an album i particularly liked but barry gibb was a great song writer

I've got a soft spot for the mopey, melodic and occasionally downright odd pre-disco Bee Gees, and there are some gorgeous songs here. As an album though, Trafalgar could probably have done with a bit more variation.

Portada terrible. Fin de la época barroca antes de su imparable y arrollador salto al disco, con falsete incluido. Puente entre otras dos joyas como e 2 Years On de 1970 y To Whom It May Concern de 1972. Y venían nada menos que de Bee Gees’ 1st de 1967 (mi favorito), Horizontal (68), Idea, (68), Odessa de 1969. Y luego estarían Life In A Tin Can de 1973, Main Course de 1975, One de 1989 y el emblemático Saturday Night Fever de 1977. Vamos , una de las mejores bandas de la historia, por calidad, éxito y trayectoria. Sin duda, únicos. Pero claro, el comienzo con How you can mend a broken heart? es simplemente sobrecogedor. Sigue co otro sencillo (el 3º): Israel. Uno no puede evitar acordarse de otro tema histórico con ese mismo título (el de Siouxsie Sou and The Banshees). Este es muy bueno, pop-soul de quilates. The Greatest Man In The World, es de lo mejor, con una orquestación perfecta. It’s Just The Way, con más brío pero sin perder su preciosismo. Las dos últimas canciones de la cara A son Remembering y Somebody Stop The Music con el protagonista del vibrato de Robin Abre de un modo imponente Trafalgar, que nada tiene que ver con la batalla, sino con Trafalgar Square. Va de la soledad rodeado de gente. Otro tema melancólico como Don’t Wanna Live By Myself, otro sencillo más del álbum. When Do I, con Robin y su voz grave acompañada de orquestación bastante lograda. Dearest, con Robin y Barry, se hace un poco insulsa, hace de puente hacia el final con Lion In The Winter, que comienza con un tambor y va cogiendo altura aunque la voz de Robin deascarrila por momentos. El cierre con Walking Back To Waterloo es magestuoso. Un gran disco 12 temas, pero otros 14 se quedaron fuera, se les caían las canciones de los bolsillos.

3/5

Nice album, classic early beegees, a few years ago I would liked it much more, at the moment not my style, so maybe revisit it in the future. 1. How Can You Mend A Broken Heart? 2. Israel 3. When Do I

I would give it 2.5 stars if I could, but I will bump to 3.

This was mainly slow sad songs about a break-up, fairly dull and average. I did really like Somebody Stop the Music. Had Wish You Were Here vibes.

Only knew them for the disco- but really enjoyed this one on the drive to work! I also told the really scary site super at one of my jobs about listening club and he sang me one of the songs off this album acapella. It was surreal

idk who I thought the bee gees were but it wasn’t this - really enjoyed the first half but not so much the second.

Fine

me gustó el álbum, no era lo q me imaginaba al pensar en los bee gees pero está bueno, no destaca mucho ni me sorprendió fuera de q esperaba otro estilo

Me gustó pero pensé que me iba a gustar más, me aburrió un poco

It's weird hearing non-disco Bee Gees, but it doesn't make it worse. There's a lot of great songs that happened before that era, and there are a couple of them on this album. The harmonies have always been around, and they hit throughout the album. Its not a "great" album but I put the Bee Gees in the good song makers section instead of good albums. Biggest Hit - How Can You Mend A Broken Heart Biggest Miss (if I had to choose) - Dearest Hidden Gem - Don't Wanna Live Inside Myself

Yeah it's ok. It kind of washed over me. Not grabbing me, but not offending me either.

This is #day601 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and… here's my second and final record from Bee Gees. Like the previous one, I'd never listened to this or any of their other records before. So when it comes to their disco era, I've no idea what y'all are talking about. Somehow, the music or maybe the late-night listening or maybe both matched my current mood. My almost eight-year marriage gave another crack today. Some songs, like "Remembering" and "Don't Wanna Live Inside Myself," actually hurt to listen to. I hate the generator for throwing this album at me today. Otherwise, let it be a 3 out of 5. Looking forward to #day602.

This is a surprise. Maybe it isn't, since my only exposure to Bee Gees is through their disco era, but to hear them in a lush, soft context that completely separates itself from the decadence they'd become iconic for is pretty fascinating. That's about as far as the fascination goes though. I was pretty uninterested with most of this. It's a shame when the first track is such a heavy peak and the rest of the album pales in comparison.

О! Ніііііі!!!!! Але що робити? Треба слухати)))

I hate disco Bee Gees but I didn’t mind this. The guy’s voice wasn’t as annoying in this context as I find it in all that Saturday Night Fever garbage. This reminded me of less weird Todd Rundgren or Harry Nilsson. I won’t ever listen to this again but it didn’t bother me, which is the highest praise I can give any Bee Gee’s songs other than “Guilty” by Barbara Streisand and Barry Gibb because that song makes all of the ladies in the area pregnant.

I liked this considerably more than I expected. “How Can You Mend a Broken Heart” is great, but I really appreciate the lively sound and harmonies of so many of the songs (e.g., “Israel”). 3.5?

60/100. This record has some really enjoyable tracks on it but most of it feels like a lesser work from the Bee Gees overall. The opening track is a total classic for sure and it shows how good they were at those big emotional ballads.

Just fine

little too long

Starts strong (very different and likely much better than their greatest hits). Will need to revisit.

The first half is a combo of Electric Light Orchestra and Paul McCartney. If you're expecting disco, you'll be mistaken. The second half is a bit of a snoozer.

I think this is good, but not the album I would reach for when I want a bit of BeeGees

A slight step in the right direction from "Odessa" at least. Still a tad too maudlin though, especially in the second half. Is there really not at least one disco-era Bee Gees album on this list?

нагадує елтона джона

I was really on board for the first few songs. The rest was hit or miss. Some real kermitty vocals on some of these tracks (When Do I)!

Loved the vocals, the rest not so much. I’m all here for a good and powerful ballad but too much is too much.

I like this album, the vibes are quite there Fav song - The Greatest Man In The World 3/5

As someone who loves the Bee Gees' disco era, this was a bit of a let down. I can see why this isn't so highly rated. I think the songwriting is really what was lacking here. But they are still the Bee Gees, with absolutely beautiful voices, and have made some of the best music of all time. Top Songs: How Can You Mend a Broken Heart, Trafalgar, Don't Wanna Live Inside Myself

I know this type of rock was influential, but I prefer what is out now than this to be honest.

The enlightening fact I learned here is that while this album did well in America (and "How Can You Mend a Broken Heart" was a huge, ubiquitous hit in my youth), it completely failed to chart in the UK. I think that fact goes a long way to explaining why there are so many albums on this list that the British compiler sees as "essential" but that left absolutely no mark on me as an American when they came out.

Liking this one more than Odessa. Certainly a more breezy album. Some songs are very Beatles like Trafalgar. But man, folk Bee Gees does nothing for me.

better than expected. it just doesn't speak to me today in 2025

Pre-disco Bee Gees. Hadn't heard any of the songs, and now I kinda know why. Low-energy easy- listening music.

easy listening retirement home lobby montage music. I mean any track in isolation is fine but they really are doing 47min of the same song

Boh ok, alcune hit alcune no

Bee gees? Like the bee gees? This was not what I expected but I was pleasantly surprised. Blind album. Had a great folk feeling and flowed really well actually.

Quite a whimsical and gentle journey with this group. Certainly not what I was expecting based on their more popular songs. This is much more folky and soft, but it's still nice. Vocals can be a bit dull at times, but the music is pleasant and almost fairytale-esque. Interesting record, not sure I'd revisit it intentionally again though.

I definitely like the Bee Gees, and admire their journey from indie folkpop to progpop to discopop, going from small-time to superstardom to punch line. This album was mid-tier at best. The three feels mildly generous.

I guess it would be a shame not to have the Bee Gees in this collection, so this one serves nicely as their placeholder. (I'm pretty sure, however, they *don't* warrant two albums, so I doubt I'll be as receptive to "Odessa", whenever it pops up, although who knows?) I'm not sure I understand all the weird historical and geographical references in the album and song titles, but overall it seems like a pretty harmless set of early 70s easy listening saccharine sweetness, at times reminding me a bit of Elton John or Billy Joel (but with worse lyrics), and the title track has quite a bit of David Bowie in it, oddly. I was mainly happy that there weren't too many truly horrendous tracks, although country-style "Remembering", bizarre "When do I" and the dirge "Dearest" are pretty painful, while "Lion in winter" stands out a bit for being more interesting than the rest.

"How can you mend a broken heart" is a great song, and the rest of this album isn't as good but isn't awful, and it's fun to hear the Brothers Gibb in a non-disco context.

Didn’t love this but it was ok

Honestly, that first song being as good as it was saved this from being just another forgettable pop album of the era? Nothing's particularly bad, but nothing else is particularly good either. Not much to say, honestly.

A bit like the Bee Gees does musicals

Better than the last album I listened to by them, but still not great. Sounds like most of the other music from this time period. A couple catchy lyrics here and there, but I won't revisit. 5/10

beegees pre disco you will always be strange to me

sounds kinda like the beatles. which surprises me.

I like the first song on the album, super cool! Like the album as a whole and the sound of it, it definitely gives fun 70s vibes.

not for me, felt little too slow

I like the tenderness of the vocals and how they often shift into a crescendo. I would say that’s the number one element of making these songs feel “big.” Sometimes, though, the drama of these moments doesn’t move me much. If I were to say why it’d be because there’s sort of a standard of expectation, and the threshold for doing something more with the drama isn’t met often. I do think more exposure will make me like the album more. Favorites: How Can You Mend A Broken Heart, Don’t Wanna Live Inside Myself, Remembering, The Greatest Man In The World

Surprising because I only knew the one hit song. The rest was…not what I was expecting. Good album.

It’s not bad (it’s pre their disco stuff so no real bee gees bangers we know and love on it) but still has the high voices from having their balls in a vice type sound though.

Fine

Ehh not my favorite. Also not what I expected from the Bee Gees.

Real sad but better than expected

Too much vibrato. A bit overwrought and melodramatic for, as well. Don't mind the falsetto, though. Definitely some songwriting talent, though. 3.5*

Enjoyed this more than i thought i would, but will probably never listen to it again

Seichte Unterhaltung bei der ein Lied wie das andere klingt.

A really strong album, making a statement in the music industry, meaningful lyrics and larger-than-life melodies; definitely a one worth listening 🎶

Not anything particularly interesting but still quite enjoyed listening to it. I don't know much of the other Bee Gees stuff so can't make the critical comparisons that a lot of other people seem to be doing but as a standalone album I liked it.

clearly had to tamper down my bee gees expectations going in. this album kind of goes from easy listening to slow listening. there are some really really dope little musical moments that pepper the landscape of "not my kind of thing" and that really has the album treading water scorewise. favorite song is Somebody Stop The Music, it has a certain majesty to it as a big chunky eventful song that i really appreciate. like a precarious 2.51/5. if i got cut off in traffic while listening to this album one time the smidgen of negative association would be enough to bump it down a full number score

Felt a lot more musical and easier to follow and enjoy than the previous Bee Gees album. Damn I might almost say I kind of liked it. Pretty enjoyable 6.3/10

Well, it seems like The Bee Gees have moved on from copying the San Francisco sound in general to just ripping off The Beatles and each of their post-breakup albums. This is better than Odessa by a mile, but it’s not good. I think if you’ve heard any record from the early ‘70s, this sounds nameless, faceless, and like it belongs in the $1 bin outside the record store. If you’ve taken some time to listen to The Beatles’ first few post-breakup records, this album will probably annoy you. The problem is that The Bee Gees are all really good musicians, and these songs are well-written. But they also just sound like everything else from this time period. While I think it’s interesting to note The Bee Gee’s and their pre-disco sound, none of it is essential. More importantly, I didn’t need to note it twice. Sure, I prefer Trafalgar, but that doesn’t mean I needed to hear this, and very little of it will stick with me long term. Still, it’s nice to know that The Bee Gees were always culture vultures, they were just more successful at ripping off Black artists in a genre that was single-focused where there was a lot of space for really talented players to come in and make a few really good full albums.

I wasn’t too locked in for this listen but it was solid rock for the background of my morning. Probably my first time listening to a Bee Gees album start to finish.

Bee Gees before the disco era. I thought I was getting disco, but I got post-Beatles boy band. A couple of the tracks that Robin leads on makes him sound like Jim Nabors. It was alright, but I don't really think this one belongs on the list. There's nothing groundbreaking or spectacular here. My Rating: 3/5 ships

At first the vocals kind of surprised me - I guess they sounded quite different to how I imaged Bee Gees in my head. But I pressed on and gave this record a good through listens and I quite enjoyed it. Favourite tracks: How Can You Mend A Broken Heart, Israel, It's Just The Way (great key change on the final chord), Somebody Stop The Music, Don't Wanna Live Inside Myself.

Trafalgar

Bee Gees

Reviews (page 2 of 8)