In 1958 the Gibb family emigrated from England to Australia
In 1964 me and most of the Cooper family emigrated from England to Australia.
In 1966 the Bee Gees had a hit in Australia with 'Spicks and Specks' which I bought
In 1967 the Bee Gees returned to England and unleashed 'New York Mining Disaster 1941' - 'I Can't See Nobody' - 'To Love Somebody' - 'Massachusettes'.
In 1968 I returned to England and the Bee Gees were BIG.
By early 1969 a friend back in my hometown bought 'Idea'. We played it constantly and it became my favourite Bee Gee album. Before disco boogie falsetto dance music, on this LP they produced songs of heartbreak, joy and beautiful harmonies that only come from family voices - (think the Everly Brothers, Carpenters, the Wilsons in the Beach Boys, even the Osmonds)
'Kitty Can' and 'Indian Gin and Whiskey Dry' are lighter songs, then you realise that 'In the Summer of His Years' was written and sung by Robin in memory of Brian Epstein who had died the year before and the whole tone changes.
'I Started a Joke', also featuring Robin, is simply beautiful. It's been covered so many times by so many people, but this original version is forever the best.
I always preferred Robins voice. There was just something purer to my ear, taking nothing away from Barry and Maurice, just that Robin could really take a lead vocal.
When the album was released in the US, the track 'Such a Shame' was replaced with 'I've Gotta Get a Message to You'. Robin wrote the lyrics and sang lead on the first and third verses of this heart-wrenching song of a man on death row trying to get a last message to his wife.
Personal anecdote time -
'Spicks and Specks' will always be with me and Tracy. In Australia there was a TV music show of that name which we would download off the internet and thoroughly enjoy. It was hosted by Adam Hills.
Adam Hills then did a TV show in England called 'The Last Leg' starting in 2012.
In 2013 Tracy and I went to Ireland and bought tickets for his stand-up at Vicar Street, Dublin. Before the show we were the only ones in the bar when Hillsy walked past. Tracy grabbed him and we had a chat.
When the show started, he scanned the audience and asked where Tracy was. When he saw her he came over, stood her up and they sang the 'Star-Spangled Banner' together. He bought her a pint and at the end of the show got her up on stage for a final skit.
So, Adam Hills - Spick and Specks - Bee Gees - 6 Degrees of Separation (or less).
Sadly, Maurice Gibb died in 2003 aged 53, his fraternal twin Robin died in 2012 aged 62 and their younger brother Andy, who wasn't a member of the group, passed the earliest in 1988 a few days after his 30th birthday.
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