Bee Gees Are Big Hit In SPAC Performance

by Marilyn Nason, The Post-Star, September 11, 1971

Plainly the Bee Gees meant business when they came on the Saratoga Performing Arts Center stage last night backed by a 16-piece orchestra complete with harp.

And it was a pleasant, enjoyable evening from beginning to end for the nearly 8,300 attending. This was by far the best of the September musical specials to date and a real credit to not only the fantastic Bee Gees but the opening act, Tin Tin.

The Bee Gees are far better than they were when last at SPAC in 1968. They’ve developed a degree of sophistication combined with some spoofing humor from one of the three brothers, Maurice, which creates a perfect performing atmosphere.

Their singing has always been harmonically superior to most of the other groups of the day, the guitar playing of Maurice and Barry is excellent and the former also does quite well at the piano.

But with the addition of the complete orchestra for depth and full big band production sound, the Bee Gees have really found their place in modern-day music.

They got tremendous applause for their current best-seller, “How Do You Mend a Broken Heart?” and were equally great in “To Love Somebody,” the lilting “Massachusetts,” “I’ve Got to Get a Message to You” and “Holiday.”

It would be interesting to know why Robin, the straight singer of the trio, kept his hand cupped over his right ear whenever he was singing. At first, I thought it might be to get a better personal sound of the orchestra in back of him but now I’m not sure. It might have very simply been ear trouble, perhaps, but it certainly didn’t affect his singing.

As for Tin Tin, the opening group, what a joy they were. These three Australian singer-guitarists were excellent and a perfect complement to the Bee Gees relaxed style of music.

On their first American tour, they play sitting down in an ingratiating way most enjoyable to ear and eye. Most of
the tunes were their own with interesting musical arrangements. Several, they noted, are currently doing well in America. Perhaps the most engaging aspect of their music is the backing of four violins and two bass fiddles. Although overshadowed by the amplified guitars, the strings are not only a logical backup for such a trio but provided some novel harmonic effects in several numbers.

Tin Tin will be appearing at Philharmonic Hall, New York City, three days next week and it will be interesting to watch the critical acclaim they are certain to get from the metropolitan press. Watch for greater things from Tin Tin on the rock, country/western, pop scene in the future.

Tonight at 7 it will be the return of Bobby Sherman with Bethel Road. Tomorrow at 7, Mary Travers and John Denver
appear.

SPAC management announced the special benefit concert planned Friday night featuring Tommy James and Sha Na Na has been cancelled.