jschmidt Posted January 12, 2003 Posted January 12, 2003 This is another great loss to music. Maurice was only 53. People can say what they want about the Bee Gees music, but in that period of time in the mid 70s they produced some of the greatest pop songs of all time. To hear people pigeonhole the BeeGees as Disco, kinda pisses me off. That was really just the name of the era that they peaked in. How is Disco any different than the dance music of today? It was much better written... If you take the time to listen to the Saturday Night Live soundtrack... you can really just groove on some great rhythms, memorable hooks and great production. I cant think of any musician who cant learn a thing or two about great pop music from that album. I saw an interview with George Martin recalling the first time he heard it... he remembered saying to the BeeGees "This is so good, I cant believe that its you guys".
KHAN Posted January 12, 2003 Posted January 12, 2003 That's a bummer. :( 53 is way too young. The Bee Gees were a lot more than just a disco group. They had a lot of really good music starting in the 60's . So Many Drummers. So Little Time...
Alndln Posted January 12, 2003 Posted January 12, 2003 I had heard he was seriously ill a couple of days ago with intestinal surgurey(i went through this myself a few years ago),but thought he was recouperating.Very sad. R.I.P. Maurice. "A Robot Playing Trumpet Blows"
jschmidt Posted January 12, 2003 Author Posted January 12, 2003 Yes, they were. Honestly their early stuff is a little to folky for me... but they did have a lot of fans then too. Bee Gees transcended eras and changed with the times.
urk10 Posted January 12, 2003 Posted January 12, 2003 Some info: British-born pop music star Maurice Gibb of the group, the Bee Gees, has died in a Miami Beach, Florida hospital. He was 53. Gibb's family says he passed away overnight Saturday, two days after suffering a heart attack before emergency surgery Thursday to repair a blocked intestine. In 1958, Maurice, along with twin brother Robin and older brother Barry, formed the Bee Gees, which is short for "the Brothers Gibb." He played bass guitar and keyboards for the trio, which went on to record the best-selling soundtrack of all time for the 1970's disco movie hit "Saturday Night Fever." The seven-time Grammy award winning group is among the top five highest selling recording artists of all time along with the Beatles, Elvis Presley, Michael Jackson and Paul McCartney as a solo artist. The Bee Gees also are members of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Their last album, This Is Where I Came In, was released in 2001. The Gibb brothers also wrote and produced hit songs for Presley, as well as for female pop music legends Barbara Streisand, Diana Ross and Dionne Warwick. The Bee Gees' younger brother, pop idol Andy Gibb, died in 1988 at the age of 30 of a heart ailment after years of drug addiction. Some information for this report provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.
Mark V Posted January 12, 2003 Posted January 12, 2003 Wow I hadn't realised he'd gone,that's very sad ,I dont like their music but they sure were a clever songwriting team. I once had a quasi-religious experience..then I realised I'd turned up the volume.
miroslav Posted January 12, 2003 Posted January 12, 2003 Wow! Sad news once again in the music world. This past year has seen too many go. I liked a lot of their stuff...even their "disco phase" proved that they were good tunesmiths. Some of their earlier, pre-Saturday Fever songs were big favorites... "To Love Somebody" "Words" "I've Gotta Get A Message To You" "Massachusetts" miroslav - miroslavmusic.com "Just because it happened to you, it doesn't mean it's important."
DSD Posted January 12, 2003 Posted January 12, 2003 This is a band I took with a grain of salt when I was growing up because on my side of the tracks disco wasn't cool. But I saw them last year on an A&E concert as was blown away with how awsome they really were, they did have their own sound. I thought Maurice was the best one out of the three of them
Dwarf Posted January 12, 2003 Posted January 12, 2003 A sad day indeed. And to think that last night during a jam I started singing "Jive Talkin'" when a guitarist started strumming on muted strings. Sigh. RIP Maurice. -- Rob I have the mind of a criminal genius.....I keep it in the freezer next to mother.
WFTurner Posted January 12, 2003 Posted January 12, 2003 That's sad. They were a big inspiration from the sixties that drove my young passion towards music. I didn't realize he was that young. William F. Turner Songwriter turnersongs Sometimes the truth is rude... tough shit... get used to it.
Jeff Klopmeyer Posted January 12, 2003 Posted January 12, 2003 Very sad. I think we have enough perspective now to realize the Bee Gees' level of talent despite the average backlash reaction to the late '70s disco era. Maurice was very talented and 53 is way too young. RIP. - Jeff Marketing Communications for MI/Pro Audio My solo music and stuff They Stole My Crayon
Tedster Posted January 12, 2003 Posted January 12, 2003 I was very aware of the Bee Gees and their Beatlesque harmonies in the 60s. Of course, like all respectable rock and rollers, I disavowed all knowledge of their existence in the 70s...but, nonetheless, some 30 years later, it can't be argued that their disco era tunes were the soundtrack of a decade. I wasn't aware til years later that their younger brother, teen heartthrob Andy, had died from a drug overdose. Now Maurice. Damn shame. I think it was chiefly his high falsetto that was the lead vocal on so many of those 70s tunes. "Cisco Kid, was a friend of mine"
Jotown Posted January 12, 2003 Posted January 12, 2003 Whether you are into to their music or not, you have to hand it to the Brothers Gibb for sticking together for a career that has lasted 40 years. They had an unmistakable sound and style, and managed to rise to the top of the music charts in 4 different decades. Kudo's to Maurice. Your voice will be missed by more than just your brothers. Jotown:) "It's all good: Except when it's Great"
Rick K. Posted January 12, 2003 Posted January 12, 2003 That's awful. Didn't his brother die at a really young age, too?? Rick
doc taz Posted January 13, 2003 Posted January 13, 2003 Yes. Andy Gibb died in his twenties (I think) of a drug overdose. I'm probably going to play their tunes soon. I'm in a band that plays all dance tunes, including disco stuff. Like some people here I eschewed disco in my teens, but later found some of the tunes interesting enough to play, esp. on bass. See you around, Maurice :( sevenstring.org profile my flickr page
EXAGON Posted January 13, 2003 Posted January 13, 2003 I'm sad. He was a great person, making great music. :( Features Are Not An Opinion. (John Hope, 2003) http://johnhope.blogspot.com/ Addresse: UIPLPPICDSS Ufficio Internazionale Per La Presa Per Il Culo Dei Sbruffoni Statunitensi Att. Tua Sorella Codice Mavapigliatelindomo Pirla Chi Legge
Botch. Posted January 13, 2003 Posted January 13, 2003 "Tragedy"... :cry: Botch "Eccentric language often is symptomatic of peculiar thinking" - George Will www.puddlestone.net
Super 8 Posted January 13, 2003 Posted January 13, 2003 [quote]Originally posted by Botch.: [b]"Tragedy"... :cry: [/b][/quote][i]Cute[/i] Sorry to hear the sad news -way too young. The Disco thing really helped and hurt the BeeGees. But you really can't compare their music -at least the Saturday Night Fever stuff to what typically passed for Disco. Their tunes were all quite well written. The falsetto thing is something you either love or hate -I don't care for it. But the tunes really captured that 'dance floor energy'. Musicians hated and still hate Disco -which is why they're still stuck playing Mony Mony and other tired songs that really weren't that good to begin with. Personally, I'd welcome a BeeGees 'Disco' tune with open arms! Shame about Maurice though. I hope he had a good life. Super 8 Hear my stuff here
Tedster Posted January 13, 2003 Posted January 13, 2003 Kinda funny about the falsetto thing, though, he was one of the few white artists with the balls to pull it off. A lot of black artists have used falsetto with great results, but not too many white ones. Brian Wilson is one of the other white singers who did great falsetto. Don't even say Frankie Valli...his voice drove me nuts. "Cisco Kid, was a friend of mine"
Anon-a-Monster Posted January 13, 2003 Posted January 13, 2003 Maurice (pronounced Morris), good guy, outgoing and funny. Will miss him much. White Falsetto: Lou Christie - Lightning striking Stephen Stills(damn can't get the old skull working)
JDL Posted January 13, 2003 Posted January 13, 2003 sad, sad day JDL on Purevolume Bird\'s Eye View on Purevolume
Tedster Posted January 13, 2003 Posted January 13, 2003 [quote]Originally posted by Anonville: [b]Maurice (pronounced Morris), good guy, outgoing and funny. Will miss him much. White Falsetto: Lou Christie - Lightning striking Stephen Stills(damn can't get the old skull working)[/b][/quote]Yeah, the first time I heard that Lou Christie song I thought it was Frankie Valli. Hmmm, Stephen Stills has used it, too? I suppose. Can't think of the occasion, unless it was on some high harmony parts. I'd be interested in hearing some other examples, if anyone can think of them. "Cisco Kid, was a friend of mine"
20to20 Posted January 13, 2003 Posted January 13, 2003 RIP Maurice... :( But I thought it was Barry [the hairy-one] with the falsetto thang... :confused: Bob Phillips 20to20soundesign
-_dup1 Posted January 13, 2003 Posted January 13, 2003 Man, the Bee Gees were such a part of my musical identity when I was a kid... Actually, they still are now, even though the music I make doesn't sound anything like them. Lately I've been picking up all of their albums I never heard and have been digging them... They did some really great stuff that was not as well-known as their hits... They're not the greatest lyricists, but their sense of melody is superb, the productions kick butt (compare any of their disco songs with the rhythmically sloppy/cluttered sound of ABBA), and their falsetto singing... Well, it's distinctive and it got me into other singers who did similar things (like Marvin Gaye and Smokey Robinson). I hate to say this, but I wonder if Maurice's untimely passing might make the music-buying public re-evaluate the Bee Gees as great pop melodicists and not just trendy disco hitmakers... RIP Maurice (and Andy)... :(
Super 8 Posted January 13, 2003 Posted January 13, 2003 [quote]Originally posted by Hank The Cave Peanut: [b]I hate to say this, but I wonder if Maurice's untimely passing might make the music-buying public re-evaluate the Bee Gees as great pop melodicists and not just trendy disco hitmakers... [/b][/quote]I think that has already happened -at least on VH-1. [quote]Originally posted by Hank The Cave Peanut: [b]their falsetto singing... Well, it's distinctive and it got me into other singers who did similar things (like Marvin Gaye and Smokey Robinson).[/b][/quote]Regarding the falsetto thing: Honestly, very very few have been able to pull it off in a way that doesn't make me cringe. Franky Valley drove me nuts, although I thought he had a good 'regular' voice. I thought the tune Grease was well song. But take his nasally voice up an octave or two, and ...yuk... Beach Boys falsetto just sounds wimpy to me. Ditto Todd Rundgren. I love his voice otherwise, but it's just too 'girly-man' sounding in falsetto. Now Daryl Hall (who sounds very much like Todd, but has a stronger voice) can pull off a really good falsetto. Michael McDonald can do a good falsetto, even though I have no idea what-n-the-hell he's say'n. He always sounds like he has a nerf ball stuck in his mouth... Sounds really good though! Michael Bolton has a good falsetto too, but I wish he would just shut up! Most of the good falsetto singers are black. There is something about the 'black voice' that just sounds good. Black voices tend to have a special tone -I can't describe it. I sure it's something physically different from white voices. Phil Bailey from Earth Wind & Fire can do a good falsetto. But I have a 'live' disk of theirs where he goes off on kind of an operatic 'solo' the crowd loved it, but I thought is was just awful! I guess that why I struggle with a lot of 'Soul' music. Maybe I just don't get it. I do like Smokey -I mean, how can ya not like [i]Smmm-MOH-Kay[/i] :cool: - but a lot of Soul just loses me very quickly. BUT ANYWAY: [quote]Originally posted by Hank The Cave Peanut: [b]Man, the Bee Gees were such a part of my musical identity when I was a kid... [/b][/quote]Yeah, I would agree. It's taken me some time to get comfortable with admitting that too. I was about 11 years old when Saturday Night Fever hit. Puberty was just getting going. Girls were becoming less of a diversion and more of a focus. I cared more about how my hair looked. I retired my Pele' lunch box for a brown paper sack. I went Roller skating weekly. The skating area had all of these really cool lights & stuff that went along with the music. And the whole backdrop to everything that was going on in my life at the time were tunes like "You Should Be Dance'n" and "Night Fever". I guess it shouldn't be a big surprise that those songs conjure up some special feelings, and can still put butterflies in my stomach. [quote]Originally posted by Hank The Cave Peanut: [b]They're not the greatest lyricists, but their sense of melody is superb, the productions kick butt [/b][/quote]Agreed. Was it Maurice that worked with Andy when he released his first album with "Shadow Dancing" on it? It had a really strong bass line I recall. The thing I really remember about that tune in specific was the video. Firstly, I remember Andy was a really good looking guy. It made me want to punch his lights out!!! Secondly, he was playing a ES-335, and I was impressed to see him playing along with all of the chord changes in the song -and there were plenty of chord changes. No question, he could play. Third, of course was the strong but smooth groove that is no definitive of the BeeGee's sound. It's a very smooth feel. It grooves, but it's not choppy like funk, yet it's still funky. It's that solid drum, picked guitar, pronounced bass riff thing. No one else does that -that I'm aware of. No doubt, there was plenty of talent in that family. Super 8 Hear my stuff here
Tom Capasso Posted January 13, 2003 Posted January 13, 2003 We havea thread on the Lowdown commemorating Maurice since he played bass. For you old folks, find the single "run to me" and flip it over. "Road To Alaska" is a blues-style tune with outstanding (and uncharacteristic) bass work. RIP Tom www.stoneflyrocks.com Acoustic Color Be practical as well as generous in your ideals. Keep your eyes on the stars and keep your feet on the ground. - Theodore Roosevelt
-_dup1 Posted January 13, 2003 Posted January 13, 2003 [quote]Originally posted by Super 8: [b] [quote]Originally posted by Hank The Cave Peanut: [b]I hate to say this, but I wonder if Maurice's untimely passing might make the music-buying public re-evaluate the Bee Gees as great pop melodicists and not just trendy disco hitmakers... [/b][/quote]I think that has already happened -at least on VH-1.[/b][/quote]Yeah, but you mention "The Bee Gees" among musicians and... Well, look at the similar thread over on David's forum... There is still a disco backlash, for those old enough to have lived through the era. [quote]Originally posted by Super 8: [b]Was it Maurice that worked with Andy when he released his first album with "Shadow Dancing" on it? It had a really strong bass line I recall. [/b][/quote]No, I think Barry and some of those from the Bee Gees' production team worked on "Shadow Dancing" (both the song and the album). Actually, minus one or two songs, "Shadow Dancing" is a really, really strong pop album... Not lyrically, of course, but melodically, musically, and production-wise. In my book, it's up there with stuff that's "cool" to appreciate, like "Pet Sounds"... :eek: Blasphemy, I know... :D Maybe VW will use some songs from it on a commercial, then everyone else will suddenly think it's "cool" too... ;) In any case, it's an underappreciated gem of late '70s pop/disco. [quote]Originally posted by Super 8: [b]Third, of course was the strong but smooth groove that is no definitive of the BeeGee's sound. It's a very smooth feel. It grooves, but it's not choppy like funk, yet it's still funky. It's that solid drum, picked guitar, pronounced bass riff thing. No one else does that -that I'm aware of.[/b][/quote]Good point. Their late '70s stuff is kinda at the crossroads of funk, R&B and pop. I too am not familiar with other music that grooves with a pop edge in the way the Bee Gees did it. I can find funky stuff, I can find poppy stuff, but nothing where the two are combined to such great effect. :thu:
Jotown Posted January 13, 2003 Posted January 13, 2003 Super 8 said: [quote]Most of the good falsetto singers are black. There is something about the 'black voice' that just sounds good. Black voices tend to have a special tone -I can't describe it. I sure it's something physically different from white voices. [/quote]Do I hear shades of Jimmy the Greek here? Jotown:) "It's all good: Except when it's Great"
-_dup1 Posted January 13, 2003 Posted January 13, 2003 [quote]Originally posted by Jotown: [b]Do I hear shades of Jimmy the Greek here?[/b][/quote]:D Eh, I'm not gonna put words in Super 8's mouth, but I read it to mean that that's what sounds good [i]to him[/i]. Me, I think Brian Wilson had a [i]great[/i] falsetto... ;)
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