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Rating: Three brothers: Barry, Robin, and Maurice, at the time just a little older than teenagers. They would go on to start a legend, establishing themselves as one of the most refined and creative pop groups (as well as one of the most successful) in history, but in 1965 the Gibb brothers certainly couldn't have known that: they were still a small local reality, and in fact, their first album was released only in Australia by Leedon Records. As easily inferred from the title, the leader and sole composer is the older brother Barry (19 years old at the time); obviously, it's a still unripe album, with a clear Beatles influence, yet, more than fifty years after its release, these 14 songs retain their young and carefree appeal intact. The refinement and care for melodies and arrangements that would characterize the entire first phase of their career are still to come, but here there is all the freshness, passion, and naivety of a debut.
In some songs, the shadow of the four baronets from Liverpool is all too overwhelming: the catchy beat of "You Wouldn't Know", "Peace Of Mind" and "To Be Or Not To Be" and the sweet and lilting melodies of "Don't Say Goodbye" and "Take Hold Of That Star" are examples of a sound that, although pleasant and catchy, is definitely too impersonal and standardized. Youthful peccadillos that can be forgiven without much thought, also because even by 1965 the Bee Gees have something extra, the trio "Timber"-"Claustrophobia"-"Could It Be", pills of lively and carefree merseybeat; on a more creative level, we find "I Was A Lover, A Leader Of Men" and "Wine And Women", lively songs with a waltz rhythm, rising further with the exquisite ballads "And The Children Laughing" and "Follow The Wind", early examples of that sweet folk purity that would become a trademark of the trio in later years.
"How Love Was True" is characterized by a very subtle vein of sweet psychedelia in its calm progression, but the gem of the album is undoubtedly "I Don't Think It's Funny"; without exaggeration, this song should be counted among the great classics of Ours: a soft and simple ballad with a heart of gold, in which Robin's unmistakable voice perfectly interprets a melody already up to the masterpieces of Pop that will follow this semi-unknown debut.
As someone sings, these are just fourteen little songs, nothing more, nothing less, yet it's impossible not to become attached to this album, in 1965 the Bee Gees are a debuting group, and this LP's is a childhood pop, in every sense: this is its limit but also its greatest strength and reason for appeal.
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
02 I Don't Think It's Funny (02:54)
You get your pleasures out of hurting me , honey
You get your kicks out of watching me cry
You play around an awful lot to hurt me , honey
Why do you laugh when there are tears in my eyes
I don't think it's funny , honey
My skies are not so sunny
Why don't you make up your mind
Let me put my arms around you
Make rainbows all around you
But I don't know if you are mine
If I was yours and you were mine , my little honey
We could be happy till the very day I die
But all you ever want to do is hurt me , honey
Why do you laugh when there are tears in my eyes
I don't think it's funny , honey
My skies are not so sunny
Why don't you make up your mind
Let me put my arms around you
Make rainbows all around you
But I don't know if you are mine
(break)
I don't think it's funny , honey
My skies are not so sunny
Why don't you make up your mind
Let me put my arms around you
Make rainbows all around you
But I don't know if you are mine
But I don't know if you are mine
But I don't know if you are mine
04 To Be or Not to Be (02:14)
You build me up , you let me down
How can I love , you give me no ground
To be or not to be , to be ore not to be
Am I gonna have you for me
One little light I saw before
The light in your eyes, I don't see no more
To be or not to be , to be or not to be
Am I gonna have you for me , Well
(break)
Give me a chance . Make up your mind
Give me romance . Tell me you're mine
To be or not to be ,well, to be or not to be
Am I gonna have you for me , Well
(break)
Well, to be or not to be
Well, to be or not to be
To be or not to be
Am gonna have you for me
(repeat last verse and fade out)
06 Claustrophobia (02:14)
I'd like to be the one to see your loving mind at the start
But I get claustrophobia 'cause there's too many boys in your heart
I'd like to know how far you'd go to use those lips of wine
But I get claustrophobia 'cause there's too many boys on your mind
Oh, one ,two, three and now there's me
You practice to deceive
You lead me on , another one
I've got no room to breathe
So byebye you who can't be true ,I'm leaving you behind
'Cause I get claustrophobia 'cause there's too many boys on your mind
(break)
I get claustrophobia 'cause there's too many boys on your mind
Oh, one, two, three and now there's me
You practice to deceive
You lead me on , another one
I've got no room to breathe
So byebye you who can't be true , I'm leaving you behind
'Cause I get claustrophobia 'cause there's too many boys on your mind
Too many boys on your mind
Too many boys on your mind
13 You Wouldn't Know (02:12)
Come a bit close to me , let me be kissed
Come on and give to me what I have missed
I love you women . I know that I'll get you somehow
You wouldn't know if I hadn't told you so
You wouldn't know if I hadn't told you so , oh
Well, I'm telling you now
Morning and nighttime too , I'm so alone
Your love and my love ,girl, we shall be one
I'm gonna get you or else there will be a big row
You wouldn't know if I hadn't told you so
You wouldn't know if I hadn't told you so , oh
Well , I'm telling you now
I go to sleep at night , I'm telling you now
My heart is asking me why , I'm telling you now
You wouldn't know if I hadn't told you so
You wouldn't know if I hadn't told you so , oh
Well , I'm telling you now
Come a bit close to me , let me be kissed
Come on and show to me what I have missed
I love you women ,I know that I'll get you somehow
You wouldn't know if I hadn't told you so
You wouldn't know if I hadn't told you so , oh
Well I'm telling you now
I'm telling you now ( repeat, ad lib, and fade )
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