Mythology (Bee Gees album)

Last updated

Mythology
BeeGeesMythology.jpg
Compilation album by
ReleasedNovember 2010
RecordedJuly 1966 – September 2001
Genre
Label Reprise, Warner Bros.
Producer
The Bee Gees and Andy Gibb chronology
The Ultimate Bee Gees
(2009)
Mythology
(2010)
Timeless: The All-Time Greatest Hits
2012 edition
BeeGees Mythology 2012.jpg
2012 Reissue cover
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [1]

Mythology is a box set compilation of recordings by the Gibb brothers, mostly performed as the Bee Gees, arranged in a four disc set each highlighting a Gibb brother. Barry and Robin chose their own songs (presumably their personal favourites), with Maurice's songs selected by his widow Yvonne and Andy's songs selected by his daughter Peta. [2] Several U.S. and U.K. hits are absent from this collection including "Lonely Days", "How Can You Mend a Broken Heart", "You Should Be Dancing", "Nights on Broadway", "World" and "One".

Contents

Background

All of the songs on Barry's & Robin's disc have already been released on CD, though several are receiving new remasters by Rhino/Reprise, which is true for all the songs in this set. Maurice's disc includes two unreleased tracks from 1999, "Angel of Mercy" and "The Bridge", as well as his 1984 single "Hold Her in Your Hand", which makes its CD debut. Missing from Maurice's disc is his jazzy "My Thing" from 1970 and a rare B-side, "I've Come Back" from 1970, of which the latter has never been released on CD. Andy's disc contains his previously unreleased final song from 1987, "Arrow Through the Heart", which was briefly heard on Behind the Music: Andy Gibb. [3]

Originally scheduled to be released on 3 November 2009, [4] it was subsequently pushed back to March 2010, [5] but was removed from Rhino's release schedule as that date approached. The set was eventually released on 15 November 2010. During Barry & Robin's appearance on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon in March, the set was shown complete with liner notes and pictures.

Barry says in liner notes, "They say the future is always brighter if you can let go of the past, but the Bee Gees will live forever in my heart. These are pretty much our personal favorites. When I look back now, it is more about the journey, not the arrival". Robin adds in liner notes, "This is now the Bee Gees 50th anniversary. And by the Bee Gees, I mean all four brothers". Robin adds: "I always see our songs as 'just us brothers' having a good time. When I look back now, it is more about the journey, not the arrival". [6]

Mythology also features a collection of family photos, many never-before published, along with tributes from artists such as George Martin, Brian Wilson, Elton John, Graham Nash, and the band's long-time manager Robert Stigwood. [6]

Track listing

Disc 1 – Barry

No.TitleWriter(s)Place of OriginLength
1."Spirits (Having Flown)" (with counting before the intro) Barry Gibb, Robin Gibb, Maurice Gibb Spirits Having Flown , 19795:21
2."You Win Again"B. Gibb, R. Gibb, M. Gibb E.S.P. , 19874:01
3."Jive Talkin'"B. Gibb, R. Gibb, M. Gibb Main Course , 19753:44
4."To Love Somebody" (stereo)B. Gibb, R. Gibb Bee Gees' 1st , 19673:02
5."Tragedy"B. Gibb, R. Gibb, M. GibbSpirits Having Flown5:03
6."Too Much Heaven"B. Gibb, R. Gibb, M. GibbSpirits Having Flown4:58
7."First of May" (stereo)B. Gibb, R. Gibb, M. Gibb Odessa , 19692:49
8."More Than a Woman"B. Gibb, R. Gibb, M. Gibb Saturday Night Fever: The Original Movie Sound Track , 19773:15
9."Love So Right"B. Gibb, R. Gibb, M. Gibb Children of the World , 19763:34
10."Night Fever"B. Gibb, R. Gibb, M. GibbSaturday Night Fever: The Original Movie Sound Track3:31
11."Words" (mono mix)B. Gibb, R. Gibb, M. GibbNon-album single, 19683:13
12."Don't Forget to Remember"B. Gibb, M. Gibb Cucumber Castle , 19703:28
13."If I Can't Have You"B. Gibb, R. Gibb, M. GibbB-side to the "Stayin' Alive" single, 19773:25
14."Alone"B. Gibb, R. Gibb, M. Gibb Still Waters , 19974:49
15."Heartbreaker"B. Gibb, R. Gibb, M. Gibb Their Greatest Hits: The Record , 20014:10
16."How Deep Is Your Love"B. Gibb, R. Gibb, M. GibbSaturday Night Fever: The Original Movie Sound Track4:06
17."Love You Inside Out"B. Gibb, R. Gibb, M. GibbSpirits Having Flown4:12
18."Stayin' Alive"B. Gibb, R. Gibb, M. GibbSaturday Night Fever: The Original Movie Sound Track4:45
19."Barker of the UFO" (mono mix previously unreleased on CD)B. GibbB-side to the "Massachusetts" UK single, 19671:48
20."Swan Song"B. Gibb, R. Gibb, M. Gibb Idea , 19682:55
21."Spicks and Specks"B. Gibb Spicks and Specks , 19662:52
Total length:79:01

Disc 2 – Robin

No.TitleWriter(s)Place of OriginLength
1."I Am the World"R. GibbB-side to the "Spicks and Specks" single, 19662:35
2."New York Mining Disaster 1941" (stereo)B. Gibb, R. GibbBee Gees' 1st2:09
3."I Can't See Nobody" (stereo)B. Gibb, R. GibbBee Gees' 1st3:45
4."Holiday" (stereo)B. Gibb, R. GibbBee Gees' 1st2:52
5."Massachusetts" (stereo)B. Gibb, R. Gibb, M. Gibb Horizontal 2:22
6."Sir Geoffrey Saved the World" (mono mix previously unreleased on CD)B. Gibb, R. Gibb, M. GibbB-side to the "Massachusetts" (in the US) and "World" singles, 19672:14
7."And the Sun Will Shine" (stereo)B. Gibb, R. Gibb, M. GibbHorizontal3:26
8."The Singer Sang His Song" (mono mix previously unreleased on CD)B. Gibb, R. Gibb, M. GibbNon-album double A-side single, 19683:07
9."I've Gotta Get a Message to You" (mono single mix)B. Gibb, R. Gibb, M. GibbA-side single, 19682:59
10."I Started a Joke" (stereo)B. Gibb, R. Gibb, M. GibbIdea3:05
11."Odessa (City on the Black Sea)" (stereo)B. Gibb, R. Gibb, M. GibbOdessa7:33
12."Saved by the Bell" (stereo / Solo track)R. Gibb Robin's Reign , 19703:20
13."My World"B. Gibb, R. GibbNon-album single, 19724:20
14."Run to Me"B. Gibb, R. Gibb, M. Gibb To Whom It May Concern , 19723:11
15."Love Me"B. Gibb, R. GibbChildren of the World4:01
16."Juliet" (Solo track)R. Gibb, M. Gibb How Old Are You? , 19833:46
17."The Longest Night" (full version)B. Gibb, R. Gibb, M. GibbE.S.P.5:46
18."Fallen Angel"B. Gibb, R. Gibb, M. Gibb Size Isn't Everything , 19934:30
19."Rings Around the Moon"B. Gibb, R. Gibb, M. GibbStill Waters bonus track, B-side to "Alone"4:30
20."Embrace"R. Gibb This Is Where I Came In , 20014:43
21."Islands in the Stream"B. Gibb, R. Gibb, M. Gibb, Praskazrel Michel (Additional lyrics borrowed from Pras Michel's "Ghetto Supastar (That Is What You Are)" credited for the 2001 Bee Gees recording)Their Greatest Hits: The Record4:15
Total length:78:29

Disc 3 – Maurice

No.TitleWriter(s)Place of OriginLength
1."Man in the Middle"M. Gibb, B. GibbThis Is Where I Came In4:21
2."Closer Than Close"B. Gibb, R. Gibb, M. GibbStill Waters4:34
3."Dimensions"B. Gibb, R. Gibb, M. Gibb High Civilization , 19915:25
4."House of Shame"B. Gibb, R. Gibb, M. Gibb One , 19894:51
5."Suddenly" (stereo)B. Gibb, R. Gibb, M. GibbOdessa2:29
6."Railroad" (Solo track)M. Gibb, William Lawrie Non-album single, 19703:37
7."Overnight"B. Gibb, R. Gibb, M. GibbE.S.P.4:20
8."It's Just the Way"M. Gibb Trafalgar , 19712:34
9."Lay It on Me"M. Gibb 2 Years On , 19702:07
10."Trafalgar"M. GibbTrafalgar3:53
11."Omega Man"B. Gibb, R. Gibb, M. GibbSize Isn't Everything3:59
12."Walking on Air"M. GibbThis Is Where I Came In4:05
13."Country Woman"M. GibbB-side to the "How Can You Mend a Broken Heart" single, 19712:48
14."Angel of Mercy" (Duet with Samantha Gibb)B. Gibb, R. Gibb, M. GibbPreviously unreleased, 20104:59
15."Above and Beyond"B. Gibb, R. Gibb, M. GibbSize Isn't Everything4:27
16."Hold Her in Your Hand" (Solo track)B. Gibb, M. GibbNon-album single, 19844:23
17."You Know It's for You"M. GibbTo Whom It May Concern2:56
18."Wildflower"B. Gibb, R. Gibb, M. Gibb Living Eyes , 19814:23
19."On Time"M. GibbB-side to the "My World" single3:00
20."The Bridge" (Trio with Adam and Samantha Gibb)M. Gibb, Adam Gibb, Samantha GibbPreviously unreleased4:29
Total length:77:40

Disc 4 – Andy

No.TitleWriter(s)Place of OriginLength
1."Shadow Dancing"B. Gibb, R. Gibb, M. Gibb, A. Gibb Shadow Dancing , 19784:34
2."I Just Want to Be Your Everything"B. Gibb Flowing Rivers , 19774:15
3."(Love Is) Thicker Than Water"B. Gibb, A. GibbFlowing Rivers4:15
4."An Everlasting Love"B. GibbShadow Dancing4:06
5."Desire"B. Gibb, R. Gibb, M. Gibb After Dark , 19804:24
6."(Our Love) Don't Throw it All Away"B. Gibb, Blue Weaver Shadow Dancing4:07
7."Flowing Rivers"A. GibbFlowing Rivers3:37
8."Words and Music" (album version)A. GibbFlowing Rivers4:42
9."I Can't Help It" (Duet with Olivia Newton-John)B. GibbAfter Dark4:07
10."Time Is Time" (full ending)A. Gibb, B. GibbA-side single, 19804:02
11."Me (Without You)"A. Gibb Andy Gibb's Greatest Hits , 19803:41
12."After Dark"B. GibbAfter Dark4:17
13."Warm Ride"B. Gibb, R. Gibb, M. GibbAfter Dark3:30
14."Too Many Looks in Your Eyes"A. GibbFlowing Rivers4:10
15."Man on Fire" (Demo)B. Gibb, A. Gibb, M. GibbAndy Gibb, 19915:24
16."Arrow Through the Heart" (Demo)B. Gibb, A. Gibb, M. GibbPreviously unreleased3:43
17."Starlight"A. GibbFlowing Rivers3:32
18."Dance to the Light of the Morning"A. GibbFlowing Rivers3:19
19."In the End"A. GibbFlowing Rivers3:16
Total length:75:51

Charts

Certifications

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA) [20] 2× Platinum140,000^
New Zealand (RMNZ) [21] Gold7,500^
United Kingdom (BPI) [22] Gold100,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bee Gees</span> Music group (1958–2012)

The Bee Gees were a musical group formed in 1958 by brothers Barry, Robin, and Maurice Gibb. The trio were especially successful in popular music in the late 1960s and early 1970s, and later as prominent performers in the disco music era in the mid-to-late 1970s. The group sang recognisable three-part tight harmonies: Robin's clear vibrato lead vocals were a hallmark of their earlier hits, while Barry's R&B falsetto became their signature sound during the mid-to-late 1970s and 1980s. The group wrote all their own original material, as well as writing and producing several major hits for other artists, and are regarded as one of the most important and influential acts in pop-music history. They have been referred to in the media as The Disco Kings, Britain's First Family of Harmony, and The Kings of Dance Music.

<i>This Is Where I Came In</i> 2001 studio album by the Bee Gees

This Is Where I Came In is the twenty-second and final studio album by the Bee Gees. It was released on 2 April 2001 by Polydor in the UK and Universal in the US, less than two years before Maurice Gibb died from a cardiac arrest before surgery to repair a twisted intestine.

<i>One Night Only</i> (Bee Gees album) Live album by the Bee Gees

One Night Only is a live album and DVD/Blu-ray by the Bee Gees. It features the group's concert at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas in 1997 and includes many of their greatest hits.

<i>The Very Best of the Bee Gees</i> 1990 compilation album by Bee Gees

The Very Best of the Bee Gees is a greatest hits album by British/Australian pop group the Bee Gees. It was originally released in November 1990 by Polydor Records, around the time as the Tales from the Brothers Gibb box set. The album was primarily aimed at the European market, as shown by the exclusion of the US hits "Holiday", "I Started a Joke", "Lonely Days", "How Can You Mend a Broken Heart" and "Fanny ".

<i>Size Isnt Everything</i> 1993 studio album by the Bee Gees

Size Isn't Everything is the twentieth studio album by the Bee Gees, released in the UK on 13 September 1993, and the US on 2 November of the same year. The brothers abandoned the contemporary dance feel of the previous album High Civilization and went for what they would describe as "A return to our sound before Saturday Night Fever".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jive Talkin'</span> 1975 single by the Bee Gees

"Jive Talkin'" is a song by the Bee Gees, released as a single in May 1975 by RSO Records. This was the lead single from the album Main Course. It hit number one on the Billboard Hot 100 and top-five on the UK Singles Chart in the middle of 1975. Largely recognised as the group's comeback song, it was their first US top-10 hit since "How Can You Mend a Broken Heart" (1971).

<i>Still Waters</i> (Bee Gees album) 1997 studio album by the Bee Gees

Still Waters is the twenty-first and penultimate studio album by the Bee Gees, released on 10 March 1997 in the UK by Polydor Records, and on 6 May the same year in the US by A&M Records. The group made the album with a variety of top producers, including Russ Titelman, David Foster, Hugh Padgham, and Arif Mardin.

<i>Spirits Having Flown</i> 1979 studio album by the Bee Gees

Spirits Having Flown is the fifteenth album by the Bee Gees, released in 1979 by RSO Records. It was the group's first album after their collaboration on the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack. The album's first three tracks were released as singles and all reached No. 1 in the US, giving the Bee Gees an unbroken run of six US chart-toppers in a one-year period and equaling a feat shared by Bing Crosby, Elvis Presley, and The Beatles. It was the first Bee Gees album to make the UK top 40 in ten years, as well as being their first and only UK No. 1 album. Spirits Having Flown also topped the charts in Australia, Canada, Germany, New Zealand, Sweden and the US. The album has sold more than 20 million copies worldwide.

<i>Children of the World</i> 1976 studio album by the Bee Gees

Children of the World is the fourteenth studio album by the Bee Gees, released in 1976 by RSO Records. The first single, "You Should Be Dancing", went to No. 1 in the US and Canada, and was a top ten hit in numerous other territories. The album was re-issued on CD by Reprise Records and Rhino Records in 2006. This was the first record featuring the Gibb-Galuten-Richardson production team which would have many successful collaborations in the following years. Many consider this a "prologue" to the band's foray into disco, which would culminate with the iconic Saturday Night Fever soundtrack the following year.

<i>Their Greatest Hits: The Record</i> 2001 compilation album by the Bee Gees

Their Greatest Hits: The Record is the career retrospective greatest hits album by the Bee Gees, released on UTV Records and Polydor in November 2001 as HDCD. The album includes 40 tracks spanning over 35 years of music. Four of the songs were new recordings of classic Gibb compositions originally recorded by other artists, including "Emotion", "Heartbreaker", "Islands in the Stream", and "Immortality". It also features the Barry Gibb duet with Barbra Streisand, "Guilty", which originally appeared on Streisand's 1980 album of the same name. It is currently out of print and has been supplanted by another compilation, The Ultimate Bee Gees.

<i>Living Eyes</i> (Bee Gees album) 1981 studio album by the Bee Gees

Living Eyes is the sixteenth studio album by the Bee Gees, released in 1981. It was the band's final album on RSO Records, which would be absorbed into Polydor and subsequently discontinued. The album showcased a soft rock sound that contrasted with their disco and R&B material of the mid-to-late 1970s; having become a prominent target of the popular backlash against disco, the Bee Gees were pressured to publicly disassociate from the genre.

<i>E.S.P.</i> (Bee Gees album) 1987 studio album by the Bee Gees

E.S.P. is the seventeenth studio album by the Bee Gees released in 1987. It was the band's first studio album in six years, and their first release under their new contract with Warner Bros. It marked the first time in twelve years the band had worked with producer Arif Mardin, and was their first album to be recorded digitally. After the band's popularity had waned following the infamous Disco Demolition Night of 1979, the Gibb brothers had spent much of the early 1980s writing and producing songs for other artists, as well as pursuing solo projects, and E.S.P. was very much a comeback to prominence. The album sold well in Europe, reaching No. 5 in the UK, No. 2 in Norway and Austria, and No. 1 in Germany and Switzerland, though it failed to chart higher than No. 96 in the US. The album's first single, "You Win Again", reached No. 1 in the UK, Ireland, Switzerland, Germany, Austria and Norway.

<i>One</i> (Bee Gees album) 1989 studio album by the Bee Gees

One is the Bee Gees' eighteenth studio album, released in April 1989. At the time of its release, the album had varying degrees of success across the world and saw them touring internationally for the first time since 1979 through One for All World Tour.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">You Win Again (Bee Gees song)</span> 1987 single by Bee Gees

"You Win Again" is a song written by Barry, Robin and Maurice Gibb and performed by the Bee Gees. The song was produced by the brothers, Arif Mardin and Brian Tench. It was released as the first single on 7 September 1987 by Warner Records, from their seventeenth studio album E.S.P. (1987). It was also their first single released from the record label. The song marked the start of the group's comeback, becoming a No. 1 hit in many European countries, including topping the UK Singles Chart—their first to do so in over eight years—and making them the first group to score a UK No. 1 hit in each of three decades: the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s.

<i>Eaten Alive</i> (album) 1985 studio album by Diana Ross

Eaten Alive is the sixteenth studio album by American R&B singer Diana Ross, released on September 24, 1985, by RCA Records in the United States, with EMI Records distributing elsewhere. It was Ross' fifth of six albums released by the label during the decade. Primarily written and produced by Barry Gibb of the Bee Gees, with co-writing from his brothers Andy, Maurice, and Robin, the album also includes a contribution from Ross' friend Michael Jackson who co-wrote and performed (uncredited) on the title track.

<i>Greatest</i> (Bee Gees album) 1979 compilation album by the Bee Gees

Greatest is a greatest hits album by the Bee Gees. Released by RSO Records in October 1979, the album is a retrospective of the group's material from 1975 to 1979. A remastered and expanded version of the album was released by Reprise Records in 2007.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">More Than a Woman (Bee Gees song)</span> 1977 song by the Bee Gees

"More Than a Woman" is a song by musical group the Bee Gees, written by Barry, Robin, and Maurice Gibb for the soundtrack to the film Saturday Night Fever. It became a regular feature of the group's live sets from 1977 until Maurice Gibb's death in 2003 and was often coupled with "Night Fever".

<i>Here at Last... Bee Gees... Live</i> 1977 live album by the Bee Gees

Here at Last... Bee Gees... Live is the first live album by the Bee Gees. It was recorded on December 20, 1976 at the LA Forum and was released in May 1977 by RSO Records. It reached No. 8 in the US, No. 8 in Australia, No. 1 in New Zealand, and No. 2 in Spain.

<i>The Ultimate Bee Gees</i> 2009 compilation album by the Bee Gees

The Ultimate Bee Gees is a compilation album released to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the Bee Gees. Although the group did not start recording until 1963 on Festival Records in Australia, they began calling themselves the "Bee Gees" in 1959 after several name changes such as "Wee Johnny Hayes and the Bluecats", "The Rattlesnakes" and "BG's". Each disc is themed with the first containing more upbeat songs, called A Night Out, and the second containing slower songs and ballads, called A Night In, though the cover art does not distinguish this theme. Liner notes were written by Sir Tim Rice. This also marks the return of the 1970s era logo on an official Bee Gees release, which was last used on the Bee Gees' 1983 single "Someone Belonging to Someone".

<i>Timeless: The All-Time Greatest Hits</i> 2017 greatest hits album by the Bee Gees

Timeless: The All-Time Greatest Hits is a compilation album by the Bee Gees. It was released on 21 April 2017 by Capitol Records to coincide with the 40th anniversary of the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack. The album is a single-disc compilation of the group's biggest hits selected by the group's last surviving member, Barry Gibb. Gibb said of the compilation: "Although there are many other songs, these songs, I feel, are the songs that Maurice, Robin, and I would be most proud of."

References

  1. "Mythology: The 50th Anniversary Collection - Bee Gees | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic .
  2. "BeeGees.com".
  3. "Gibb Songs".[ permanent dead link ]
  4. "Bee Gees celebrate 50 years: Bee Gees Mythology and Ultimate Bee Gees CD sets coming this November 3rd". RobinGibb.com. 16 July 2009. Retrieved 5 September 2010.
  5. "Bee Gees Gold Anniversary Grows". RobinGibb.com. 20 August 2009. Retrieved 5 September 2010.
  6. 1 2 "Bee Gees – Mythology 2012 reissue at Life of a Rock Star". Archived from the original on 27 June 2013. Retrieved 23 May 2013.
  7. "Australiancharts.com – Bee Gees – Mythology". Hung Medien. Retrieved 15 January 2015.
  8. "Austriancharts.at – Bee Gees – Mythology" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 15 January 2015.
  9. "Dutchcharts.nl – Bee Gees – Mythology" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 15 January 2015.
  10. "Offiziellecharts.de – Bee Gees – Mythology" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 15 January 2015.
  11. "Irish-charts.com – Discography Bee Gees". Hung Medien. Retrieved 26 March 2021.
  12. "Charts.nz – Bee Gees – Mythology". Hung Medien. Retrieved 15 January 2015.
  13. "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 26 March 2021.
  14. "Swisscharts.com – Bee Gees – Mythology". Hung Medien. Retrieved 15 January 2015.
  15. "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 26 March 2021.
  16. "ARIA Top 100 Albums 2012". ARIA. Retrieved 15 January 2015.
  17. "End of Year 2012" (PDF). UKChartsPlus . Retrieved 26 March 2021.
  18. "ARIA Top 100 Albums for 2013". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 10 June 2021.
  19. "2019 ARIA End of Decade Albums Chart". January 2020. Retrieved 17 January 2020.
  20. "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2013 Albums" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association . Retrieved 19 August 2022.
  21. "New Zealand album certifications – Bee Gees – Mythology". Recorded Music NZ . Retrieved 20 November 2024.
  22. "British album certifications – Bee Gees – Mythology". British Phonographic Industry . Retrieved 19 August 2022.