Bee Gees' 1st is the debut album for the Polydor (USA:
ATCO) label by
The Bee Gees, released in July 1967 (see
1967 in music). Reflecting the group's early style,
Bee Gees' 1st was a
psychedelic rock album. The album cover was designed by
Klaus Voormann who had previously done the cover for
Revolver by the
Beatles.
"Every Christian Lion-Hearted Man Will Show You" was covered by Jeordie White's LA based band Goon Moon on their second release, Licker's Last Leg. This song has also been covered by The Flaming Lips as an intro to early live versions of "Shine On Sweet Jesus" as documented on the compilation 20 Years of Weird: Flaming Lips 1986-2006. The song New York Mining Disaster 1941 was later covered by Chumbawamba on their WYSIWYG album, by Martin Carthy on Signs of Life, and as a B-side by the Levellers. Singer and pianist Nina Simone covered three songs from the album: "To Love Somebody" and "I Can't See Nobody" on 1969 album To Love Somebody and "Please read me" on 1968 Nuff Said.
In 2006, Reprise Records reissued Bee Gees 1st with both stereo and mono mixes on one disc and a bonus disc of unreleased songs and alternate takes.
Bee Gees 1st peaked at #7 on Billboard's Pop Albums chart.
Track listing
2006 Reissue
In 2006, Bee Gees' 1st was reissued as a 2 CD set. In CD 1 were listed the original 14 songs, in both mono and stereo. In CD 2, were releasead a count of songs and versions not previously released. They were:
- "Turn of the Century" [Early Version] (B. Gibb/R. Gibb) - 2:23
- "One Minute Woman" [Early Version] (B. Gibb/R. Gibb) - 2:20
- "Gilbert Green" (B. Gibb/R. Gibb) - 3:08
- "New York Mining Disaster 1941" [Version One] (B. Gibb/R. Gibb) - 2:03
- "House of Lords" (B. Gibb/R. Gibb/M. Gibb) - 2:50
- "Cucumber Castle" [Early Version] (B. Gibb/R. Gibb) - 2:04
- "Harry Braff" [Early Alternate Version] (B. Gibb/R. Gibb/M. Gibb) - 3:10
- "I Close My Eyes" [Early Version] (B. Gibb/R. Gibb/M. Gibb) - 2:28
- "I've Got to Learn" (B. Gibb/R. Gibb/M. Gibb) - 2:50
- "I Can't See Nobody" [Alternate Take] (B. Gibb/R. Gibb) - 3:51
- "All Around My Clock" (B. Gibb/R. Gibb/M. Gibb) - 2:00
- "Mr. Wallor's Wailing Wall" (B. Gibb/R. Gibb) - 2:38
- "Craise Finton Kirk Royal Academy of Arts" [Alternate Take] (B. Gibb/R. Gibb) - 2:17
- "New York Mining Disaster 1941" [Version Two] (B. Gibb/R. Gibb) - 2:39
Personnel
- Barry Gibb - vocal, guitar
- Robin Gibb - vocal, organ
- Maurice Gibb - vocal, bass, piano, organ, harpsichord, mellotron, guitar
- Vince Melouney - lead guitar
- Colin Petersen - drums
- Phil Dennys - orchestral arrangement (3, 5, 8, 11)
- Bill Shepherd - orchestra arrangement (other songs)
- Mike Claydon - audio engineer
- Robert Stigwood - producer
- Ossie Byrne - producer
Charting singles
1967 New York Mining Disaster 1941 / I Can't See Nobody US #14 / NZ #3
1967 To Love Somebody / Close Another Door US #17 / AU #6
1967 Holiday / Every Christian Lion Hearted Man Will Show You US #16 / NL #3