Saw a New Morning

Last updated
"Saw a New Morning"
Saw A New Morning.jpg
Single by Bee Gees
from the album Life in a Tin Can
B-side "My Life Has Been A Song"
ReleasedMarch 1973
RecordedSeptember 1972
The Record Plant, Los Angeles
Genre Symphonic pop
Length4:13
Label RSO
Songwriter(s) Barry, Robin & Maurice Gibb
Producer(s) Barry Gibb, Robin Gibb, Maurice Gibb
Bee Gees singles chronology
"Alive"
(1972)
"Saw a New Morning"
(1973)
"Wouldn't I Be Someone"
(1973)
Audio sample
"Saw a New Morning"

"Saw a New Morning" is the 1973 single released by the Bee Gees. It was also the group's first single released on Robert Stigwood's newly created records label RSO Records. The Bee Gees moved to Los Angeles in 1972 to record the album Life in a Tin Can which was a new direction for the group, who had been recording in England since 1967. The B-side, "My Life Has Been a Song" features lead vocal by Robin Gibb as well as Barry Gibb. [1]

Contents

Composition and recording

This song contains melodic ideas that the group would revisit on the later track "Edge of the Universe". Written in 1972 and recorded around September the same year. On the song, Maurice Gibb played the bass part through electric piano with Jim Keltner's drums providing a thump. While backing guitarist Alan Kendall plays guitar with Barry and Maurice Gibb. [2]

Reception

This single was the first and only single from the album, the single did not fare well and stalled at #94 in the US, [3] while it did not chart at all in the UK. [4] Ironically, while the single flopped in most of the world, it reached #1 in Hong Kong, as did their next single "Wouldn't I Be Someone", which also flopped in both the US and UK.

In April 1973, they performed the song on The Midnight Special and The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson , in addition to a 1973 TV special called Love Sounds Special in Japan. [5]

Billboard commented on the Bee Gees "distinct vocal blend" and the backing instrumentation that "sounds like a symphonic orchestra." [6] Cash Box said that "the accent is on melody and three part harmony as Robin, Barry & Maurice prove that they're still one of the finest vocal groups around." [7] Record World said that "the familiar harmonies and thunderous orchestrations which are keys to this group's success, are right there." [8]

Personnel

Charts

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Night Fever</span> 1978 single by the Bee Gees

"Night Fever" is a song written and performed by the Bee Gees. It first appeared on the soundtrack to Saturday Night Fever on RSO Records. Producer Robert Stigwood wanted to call the film Saturday Night, but singer Robin Gibb expressed hesitation at the title. Stigwood liked the title Night Fever but was wary of marketing a movie with that name. The song bounded up the Billboard charts while the Bee Gees’ two previous hits from Saturday Night Fever soundtrack were still in the top ten. The record debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 Chart at #76, then leaped up 44 positions to #32. It then moved: 32–17–8–5–2–1. It remained at #1 for eight weeks, and ultimately spent 13 weeks in the top 10. For the first five weeks that "Night Fever" was at #1, "Stayin' Alive" was at #2. Also, for one week in March, Bee Gees related songs held five of the top positions on the Hot 100 chart, and more impressively, four of the top five positions, with "Night Fever" at the top of the list. The B-side of "Night Fever" was a live version of "Down the Road" taken from the Bee Gees 1977 album, Here at Last... Bee Gees... Live.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Too Much Heaven</span> 1978 single by Bee Gees

"Too Much Heaven" is a song by the Bee Gees, which was the band's contribution to the "Music for UNICEF" fund. They performed it at the Music for UNICEF Concert on 9 January 1979. The song later found its way to the group's thirteenth original album, Spirits Having Flown. It hit No. 1 in both the US and Canada. In the United States, the song was the first single out of three from the album to interrupt a song's stay at #1. "Too Much Heaven" knocked "Le Freak" off the top spot for two weeks before "Le Freak" returned to #1 again. "Too Much Heaven" also rose to the top three in the UK. In the US, it would become the fourth of six consecutive No. 1s, equalling the record set by Bing Crosby, Elvis Presley, and the Beatles for the most consecutive No. 1 songs. The six Bee Gee songs are "How Deep Is Your Love", "Stayin' Alive", "Night Fever", "Too Much Heaven", "Tragedy" and "Love You Inside Out". The songs spanned the years of 1977, 1978 and 1979.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Love You Inside Out</span> 1979 single by Bee Gees

"Love You Inside Out" is a 1979 hit single by the Bee Gees from their album, Spirits Having Flown. It was their last chart-topping single on the Billboard Hot 100, interrupting Donna Summer's "Hot Stuff", becoming the third single from the album to do so. In the UK, the single peaked at No. 13 for two weeks. It was the ninth and final number-one hit for the Bee Gees in the US, and the twelfth and final number-one hit in Canada as well. The trio would not return to the top 10 for ten years, with the song, "One".

<i>2 Years On</i> 1970 studio album by the Bee Gees

2 Years On is the eighth studio album by the Bee Gees, which reached No. 32 on the US charts. Released in 1970, the album saw the return of Robin Gibb to the group after an earlier disagreement and subsequent split following Odessa. 2 Years On was the first album with drummer Geoff Bridgford, who remained a full-time member of the group until 1972 although he was not pictured on the sleeve. The best-known track is "Lonely Days". Released as the first single by the reunited brothers, it charted high in the US, but peaked at No. 33 in the United Kingdom.

<i>Life in a Tin Can</i> 1973 studio album by the Bee Gees

Life in a Tin Can is the Bee Gees' eleventh studio album, released in January 1973.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I've Gotta Get a Message to You</span> 1968 song by the Bee Gees

"I've Gotta Get a Message to You" is a song by the Bee Gees. Released as a single in 1968, it was their second number-one hit in the UK Singles Chart, and their first US Top 10 hit. Barry Gibb re-recorded the song with Keith Urban for his 2021 album Greenfields.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">How Can You Mend a Broken Heart</span> 1971 song written by Barry and Robin Gibb

"How Can You Mend a Broken Heart" is a song released by the Bee Gees in 1971. It was written by Barry and Robin Gibb and was the first single on the group's 1971 album Trafalgar. It was their first US No. 1 single and also reached No. 1 in Cashbox magazine for two weeks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lonely Days</span> 1970 single by Bee Gees

"Lonely Days" is a ballad written and performed by the Bee Gees. It appeared on their album 2 Years On, and was released as a single, becoming their first Top Five hit in the US, peaking at number three in the Billboard Hot 100 and reaching number one in the Cashbox and Record World charts. Barry Gibb later re-recorded the song with country quartet Little Big Town for his 2021 album Greenfields.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Holiday (Bee Gees song)</span> 1967 single by the Bee Gees

"Holiday" is a song released by the Bee Gees in the United States in September 1967. It appeared on the album Bee Gees' 1st. The song was not released as a single in their native United Kingdom because Polydor UK released the single "World" from their next album Horizontal.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Don't Forget to Remember</span> 1969 single by Bee Gees

"Don't Forget to Remember" also called "Don't Forget to Remember Me" is a country ballad recorded by the Bee Gees, from the album Cucumber Castle. The song was written by Barry and Maurice Gibb. It was produced by the band with Robert Stigwood.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New York Mining Disaster 1941</span> 1967 single by the Bee Gees

"New York Mining Disaster 1941" is the debut American single by the Bee Gees, released on 14 April 1967. It was written by Barry and Robin Gibb. Aside from a moderately successful reissue of their Australian single "Spicks and Specks," it was the first single release of the group's international career and their first song to hit the charts in both the UK and the US. It was produced by Ossie Byrne with their manager Robert Stigwood as executive producer. The song was the first track of side two on the group's international debut album, Bee Gees' 1st. This was the first single with Australian drummer Colin Petersen as an official member of the band.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Living Eyes (song)</span> 1981 single by Bee Gees

"Living Eyes" is a power ballad recorded by the Bee Gees and was released in November 1981 as the second single and title track off the LP of the same name. It was written by Barry, Robin & Maurice Gibb. The sound of this single was closer musically to the rest of the album than its predecessor, "He's a Liar".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I.O.I.O.</span> 1970 single by Bee Gees

"I.O.I.O." is a song by the Bee Gees, released on the album Cucumber Castle. It was written by Barry and Maurice Gibb. The song was released as a single in March 1970, and was also one of the highlights of the album. The single was a relative success mainly on European charts. Its music video is taken from the film Cucumber Castle.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mr. Natural (song)</span> 1974 single by Bee Gees

"Mr. Natural" is a song by the Bee Gees, written by Barry and Robin Gibb. On 29 March 1974, it was released as a single and also released on the album of the same name in 1974. It was backed with a folk rock number "It Doesn't Matter Much to Me". The group's first single which was produced by Arif Mardin.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">My World (Bee Gees song)</span> 1972 single by Bee Gees

"My World" is a 1972 single released by the Bee Gees. It was originally released as a non-album single on 14 January 1972 worldwide. but was later included on the compilation Best of Bee Gees, Volume 2 in 1973. The flip side of the single was "On Time", a country rock number composed by Maurice Gibb. "My World" reached the Top 20 in both US and UK.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Run to Me (Bee Gees song)</span> 1972 single by Bee Gees

"Run to Me" is a song by the Bee Gees, the lead single from the group's album To Whom It May Concern (1972). The song reached the UK Top 10 and the US Top 20.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alive (Bee Gees song)</span> 1972 single by Bee Gees

"Alive" is a ballad recorded by the Bee Gees for their album To Whom It May Concern. It was the second and last single from the album released on 10 November 1972 worldwide. The song was credited to Barry and Maurice Gibb and produced by the Gibbs and their manager Robert Stigwood.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wouldn't I Be Someone</span> 1973 single by Bee Gees

"Wouldn't I Be Someone" is a song by the Bee Gees. It was released on 22 June 1973 in the United Kingdom and in July 1973 in the United States. The photo on the cover of the single was also used on Best of Bee Gees, Volume 2.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">If Only I Had My Mind on Something Else</span> 1970 single by Bee Gees

"If Only I Had My Mind on Something Else" is a pop ballad recorded by the Bee Gees. It was written by Barry and Maurice Gibb. It was the first track on the album Cucumber Castle. A remastered version was released in 1990 on Tales from the Brothers Gibb.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fanny (Be Tender with My Love)</span> 1976 single by Bee Gees

"Fanny (Be Tender with My Love)" is a song written and performed by the Bee Gees for their Main Course album in 1975. It was the third single release from the album, peaking at number 12 on the United States Billboard Hot 100 chart and number two in Canada. According to Maurice Gibb, producer Quincy Jones called "Fanny" one of his favorite R&B songs of all time.

References

  1. "The Bee Gees - Saw a New Morning / My Life Has Been a Song". 45cat. Retrieved 4 February 2015.
  2. Brennan, Joseph. "Gibb Songs: 1972" . Retrieved 4 February 2015.
  3. Dafydd Rees, Luke Crampton (1999). Rock Stars Encyclopedia. ISBN   9780789446138 . Retrieved 4 January 2015.
  4. Barry Lazell (April 1989). Rock movers & shakers. ISBN   9780823076086 . Retrieved 4 January 2015.
  5. "Bee Gees - Saw A New Morning - Live". You Tube. Retrieved 4 January 2015.[ dead YouTube link ]
  6. "Radio Action & Pick Singles" (PDF). Billboard. March 3, 1973. p. 102. Retrieved 2020-07-29.
  7. "CashBox Record Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. March 3, 1973. p. 16. Retrieved 2021-12-11.
  8. "Single Picks" (PDF). Record World. March 3, 1973. p. 12. Retrieved 2023-03-23.
  9. "Go-Set Australian charts". poparchives.com. August 4, 1973. Retrieved 4 February 2015.
  10. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (doc). Australian Chart Book, St Ives, N.S.W. ISBN   0-646-11917-6.
  11. 1 2 "Songs Written by the Gibb Family on the International Charts - Part 2" (PDF). brothersgibb.org. Retrieved 4 February 2015.
  12. "Billboard Hits of the World". Billboard. July 14, 1973. p. 60. Retrieved 4 February 2015.
  13. "Classifiche". Musica e Dischi (in Italian). Retrieved 28 May 2022. Set "Tipo" on "Singoli". Then, in the "Artista" field, search "Bee Gees".
  14. "Billboard Hot 100 Charts". Billboard. April 7, 1973. p. 72. Retrieved 4 February 2015.
  15. "Cashbox Top 100". Cashbox Archives. April 7, 1973. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 4 February 2015.
  16. "Billboard Hits of the World". Billboard. August 18, 1973. p. 47. Retrieved 4 February 2015.