New Bee Gees still old favorites
by Steve Grandin, The Saratogian
There are many rock critics around today that say England’s Bee Gees are a has-been group, one that lives only in the past. But most of the 4,500 fans that saw them perform Saturday night at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center would obviously disagree. Also appearing with the Bee Gees was Revelation, a four-man soul group.
Although it was the old songs that most of the audience came to hear, Maurice, Barry and Robin Gibb did many cuts from their latest album, Main Course, that got fine ovations.
The Bee Gees appear to be attempting to change their image as they are doing many more real rock tunes, and relying less on Robin’s fine, familiar voice. In some cases, such as their newest single, “Jive Talkin'”, the new approach is effective, while at other times it merely makes their fans wish it was 1969 again.
Several of the new cuts are also in the old, smooth style that made the Bee Gees famous. The best received were “End Of The Universe” and “Come On Over”, with the latter having possibilities as a top single. But again it was the oldies that most people came for.
Opening with their old hit “Gotta Get A Message To You”, the Gibb brothers went immediately to their two newest soft tunes. The following songs sounds are a list of the Bee Gees’ biggest hits: “New York Mining Disaster”, “Words”, and a medley containing “Run To Me”, “Holiday”, “I Can’t See Nobody”, and “How Can You Mend A Broken Heart”. Barry Gibb was nearly given a standing ovation due to his fine vocals on “Words.”
Some of the effect of the medley was diminished by the Bee Gees’ attempt to change their image. While Robin and Barry were singing the famed tunes, Maurice was doing comic routines behind them. Although this took away from the singing brothers, it gained Maurice quite a few laughs.
The audience was especially impressed with “Jive Talkin'”, which obviously gives the group hope that their new image may be taking hold. They closed out with “To Love Somebody”, “Massachusetts”, “I Started A Joke”, and “Lonely Days.” On the final tune, the 4,500 fans sounded like ten times that number, as they stayed quiet most of the night and seemed anxious to make some noise. Unlike most groups who leave a well- known song for a finale, the Bee Gees left the crowd asking themselves, “Now what wàs that?” It failed to dim their enthusiasm, and a great majority of the audience went away happy.
Revelation, a New York-based group, proved to be your usual, fine moving soul group that kept the audience occupied until the main course came along. They were good showmen, who could talk and dance and make the
crowd, sweltering in the summer heat, feel good.
If you wanted to hear a dynamite group, with a lot of versatility and loud music, Saturday night’s SPAC concert was not for you. But if you just wanted to sit back and be entertained, the Bee Gees did just that.
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