This 4-CD boxed set celebrates the 50th anniversary of Australia’s first family of pop. Each of the brothers Gibb gets his own disc. Barry picked 21 of his “personal favorites” (as did Robin). Widow Yvonne and her two children picked out the 20 songs on the disc representing Maurice Gibb (1949-2003). Most heartwarming is the fact that the fourth disc posthumously elevates younger brother Andy Gibb (1958-1988) into the Bee Gee pantheon. In life, Andy always wanted to be a Bee Gee. Now he is. His daughter Peta picked out his 19 tracks.
The 81 cuts go deep within an exhaustive catalog. The two previously unreleased Maurice tracks, “Angel Of Mercy” and “The Bridge,” are beautiful, as is the one track that Andy was working on at the time of his death, “Arrow Through The Heart.” It is the Andy disc, in fact, that’s most intriguing, consisting of most of his 1977 Flowing Rivers debut, his “I Can’t Help It” Olivia Newton-John duet and several surprisingly solid songs from his final studio effort, 1980’s After Dark.
Of course, the hits are healthily represented. Fans will be fascinated by the delineation of which track ‘belonged’ to which brother. Barry has “To Love Somebody,” “Jive Talkin,’” “Words” and “Stayin’ Alive” on his disc, while Robin’s ethereal quavering voice informs such gems as “Odessa,” “New York Mining Disaster 1941” and “Massachusetts.” Maurice lays claim to some of the deeper album cuts.
There are never-before-published photos and heartfelt testimonials from the two surviving Bee Gees, family members and celebrities galore.
Also in stores now is a DVD, In Our Own Time (Eagle Rock) chronicling their rise via rare clips as Robin/Barry (brand new) and Maurice (filmed just months before his death) go over the highs and the heartbreaking lows.
In A Word: Lavish
