Attack of the Killer Track! is a series that explores tracks from artists from a variety of genres. Some of the tracks were singles, some of them were obscure b-sides or long forgotten album tracks. One thing is certain – all of them are killer tracks.
Think of the Bee Gees in 2019 and the 1st thing that comes to mind for most people is their late 70’s / early 80’s disco hits. To focus on that era is to ignore a fascinating, artistically resonant era from a decade earlier. In 1969 the 1st incarnation of the Bee Gees had split – after several records in Australia, and 4 increasingly complex, masterful psychedelic albums released worldwide. Robin was – briefly – a solo artist. So productive were these sessions, that 2 albums worth of songs were recorded (all eventually released on Saved by the Bell: The Collected Works of Robin Gibb 1968-1970). I “discovered” the earlier Bee Gees records through my bookworm nature of consuming anything and everything relating to the 60’s scene. I do love those albums – but Robin’s solo work is another level. Robin’s Reign and Sing Slowly Sisters were both recorded in 1970, though the latter was not officially released until 2015 (I’d like to thank New Hope, PA for providing me with so many bootlegs of obscurities 20 years ago). The songs feel beamed in from another planet – hell, another universe. World weary at 19, Robin sings with a sense of melancholy that feels lived in. Saved by the Bell was the hit single from Robin’s Reign, preceding the album’s release by several months. The song is deceptively simple, Robin singing out his heart over orchestra & piano (courtesy of Maurice Gibb). A heartbreaking tale of a broken heart, it is an essential listen.
https://youtu.be/pZf7E7tcGTA