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I've somehow become fascinated with this other famous brotherly harmony group beginning with the letter B. I'd just like to ask the board - where do I start collecting Bee Gees ? Any recommendations ?
I'm aware of their disco and hit-making period, but it's their early period stuff I'm interested in - Odessa, Cucumber Castle, Horizontal, Idea, Bee Gee's 1st, etc.
What do you consider essential ? What should I avoid ?
Don't want to pick up the ubiquitous Greatest Hits collections but want to get into the deep cuts and hidden gems...

That's easy: start with BEE GEES 1ST and then go all the way through "Living Eyes" without taking a break, and your mind will be blown..... Then take a pause and there's some great studff after that. Particiularly their last album.

There's some good stuff even before "1st" - check out the Brilliant from Birth 2cd set for their pre-fame Australia recordings.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UMeYZ0MPYvs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uaj2vt-e5vY

I really enjoy the earlier pop songs by the Bee Gees. Spicks and Specks is a favourite of mine, and I also enjoy the music quiz show of the same name.
The Disco era for the Bee Gees is slightly overrated, I don't care for it much. But I can see how they made it big with Disco

Buy this  http://www.amazon.com/Studio-Albums-1967-1968-Bee-Gees/dp/B000HKDBAO/ref=sr_1_17?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1384394579&sr=1-17&keywords=bee+gees

Their first 3 internationally released studio albums in one great set. Each album is 2 cd's- the first cd contains the mono and studio version of the album and the second cd contains rarities, b-sides, alternate takes, etc.  I bought it when it first came out and hoped the series would continue with each album but the reissue series ended with a deluxe edition of Odessa.

But then you'd miss out on their best song: Spicks and Specks!!!

Good point! Fantastic song indeed...Then, I'd suggest treating The Bee Gees as a massive history lesson and start as early as possible! Oh, and let's not forget Andy either!

The massive success of their disco years, certainly buried their early stuff.  Even if they didn't have the super-success in the late 70s, their early pop years was enough to warrant them Hall of Fame status.  It's that good.

It's amazing that this group had two uniquely different and successful runs like that.  Really speaks to their talent.

Agreed!

"2 Years On" through "Mr. Natural" is a run not to be ignored either.... Lots of weepy ballads, chest beating Barry epics, pop curios, and some experimental stuff to boot....

I wonder what would have happened to them, had the disco thing not shot off like a rocket!

There"s a gem of a single in 60"s called.. Jumbo.. A old favorite of mine

I've wondered the same.  You can hear elements of the sophisticated pop and the rock-solid, songcraft -- which continued straight through the disco years, especially the slower, less dance oriented tracks -- and get a good sense of the pure pop craftsmanship that they could have continued with.  The essence of musical quality.  The type of stuff that you know Brian Wilson was capable of, too -- let alone a founding father of -- had things been different for him.

But the BGs really had it all.  The hooks, harmonies, the feel and the songwriting, the spotless production, with all of it still feeling natural and original.  Everyone tried to copy it... and made millions doing so.  But the Bee Gees couldn't attend the party.  They're own party, really.  They were just too identified with a severely dated era, for decades -- and still to this day -- that they were left peaking over the fence.

THE BARE NECESSITIES by The Bee GeesGeneral Comments:  1973 was such a year of change.  They had a record rejected (some of it is on that Tales Box), then came to America to record Mr. Natural, produced by Arif Mardin, who also went to London to work with them there. Then on to 1975, the real change...Main Course, recorded in their new home base, Miami.  The brothers, nor Arif considered this "Disco" - that was still very new in 1975.  They were making "black records" - R&B.  Barry began to develop his falsetto, and made history.  

I've always been a sucker for How Deep Is Your Love

When you consider how many excellent hits they had, they no doubt must be considered one the greatest pop acts of all time. How Can You Mend A Broken Heart is maybe my favorite.

I'm not a big Bee Gees fan, but I like their first album on Atco Records.

I had this on in the car with my father earlier this year - and I'll never forget what he said after a couple of the tracks had finished:
"Why does it sound so much like The Beatles?"  :lol

You Win Again is also one of the most insanely catchy/addictive songs ever!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DVS68XCnFQE

Even in the disco era, these guys never lost their gift for melody. Most of the time, when I have the oldies station on, and a disco song comes on, I change the station. But not the Bee Gees. Although I definitely prefer their earlier stuff. "Lonely Days" would have to be on my all time list of favorites from the 60's/70's.

But I would say (having lived during that era), that "Bee Gees First", "Horizontal", "Idea" & "Odessa" contain the group's best songs. One reviewer who reviewed the 6-CD set "The Studio albums 1967-68"(Rhino Records' packaging of the 2-CD expanded editions of "Bee Gees First", "Horizontal" & "Idea") said, "These three albums, recorded when two of the brothers were still teenagers, remain the group's most endearing and innovative productions". I agree, but I would include "Odessa" as well.

I've never liked "You don't know what it's like' or whatever that song is, just horrible sentiment to that one.  Telling somebody they don't know what love feels like?  Ugh.

With that small exception though, almost all of their stuff was really really fantastic.  It's such a shame that they're so identified with Disco that they're basically written off because of it.  Not only were they the absolute BEST disco, they were great before that, and all of the negative things that people associate with Disco... NONE of that really applies to these guys!  On top of that, they were all sweethearts who were pretty great guys.  The whole things a travesty.

My favorite's probably How Deep is your Love too.  It's as good as a Beach Boys song and that's saying something.

The first album is awesome from start to finish. Same goes for Odessa. Idea and Horizontal have some great tunes, but not the same brilliance as 1st/Odessa. It's a shame the stuff directly following Odessa hasn't been reissued yet :(

Anyone catch Barry's surprise appearance on Saturday Night Live this weekend?

And maybe the albums after "Odessa" will never receive the expanded/remastered treatment. Warner Music(whose license on The Bee Gees catalog lasts through 2016) doesn't give a damn. Robin Gibb was the main force behind the archival releases of the 1967-69 albums…and now he's gone. Barry Gibb doesn't seem highly motivated to do much of anything, though, since recently, his wife Linda has pushed him to play an occasional concert.

Apparently, Barry Gibb indicated in a recent interview that he is not keen to release further Bee Gees vault material. But Barry must be realistic: Warner Music paid $10 Million for a 10 year (2006-2016) license on the Bee Gees catalog, and they (Warner Music) took severe monetary losses on the deal. No label will ever pay Barry(and the two estates) $10 Million ever again. How much Barry & the two estates will get from their next catalog licensing deal will be dependent on whether or not vault material will be included. If Barry remains rigidly opposed to the release of vault material, the resulting licensing deal will bring in substantially less money, causing a significant loss of potential income for the two estates.

Barry always talks about recording a solo album, or releasing an album that Robin Gibb recorded during his final years…..but nothing ever comes of it. Combined with the halt on further Bee Gees archival material, this means that for long-term fans, there will be no further Gibb CD product. This is the end of the road. From the earliest Australian recordings, through to their final album("This is Where I Came In"), I'm within 2 CD's(both easily available) of having every recording that the Bee Gees ever released(group or solo). Once I buy "Children of The World" & "High Civilization", that's it. Unless Barry Gibb relents, there is(and will be) no more.

I have mixed feelings about having to criticize Barry Gibb, because I've met him more than a dozen times(though the last time was in 2004). I also met Maurice Gibb once.