Bee Gees Gold is a compilation album, released in limited territories, that focused on the early hits of the Bee Gees. Labeled as "Volume 1", it featured their U.S. Top 20 hits between 1967 and 1972 (plus "I Can't See Nobody", an album cut from Bee Gees 1st). The album was intended to replace the two previous hits compilations, Best of Bee Gees and Best of Bee Gees, Volume 2. It reached number 50 on Billboard's album chart during a time when the Bee Gees were topping the charts with their new R&B/disco sound found on their then current album Children of the World. Gold went gold in America in January 1978 and has sold 1.3 million copies to date. A kind of second volume was released as Bee Gees Greatest in 1979 which summed up the disco years from 1975 to 1979.

Bee Gees Gold
Compilation album by
ReleasedOctober 1976
Recorded7 March 1967 – 12 April 1972
StudioIBC Studios, London, England, UK
GenreBlue-eyed soul, oldies, soft rock, acoustic rock
Length38:31
LabelRSO
ProducerBarry Gibb, Robin Gibb, Maurice Gibb, Robert Stigwood, Ossie Byrne
The Bee Gees chronology
Children of the World
(1976)
Bee Gees Gold
(1976)
Here at Last... Bee Gees... Live
(1977)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide[2]

The album was never released on CD, though the previous two compilations mentioned above were issued in the late 1980s. Cassette versions were available well into the 1990s.

Reception

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Cashbox said "The Bee Gees are one of the few groups who can put out an album of songs that have all gone gold and call it Volume One. All of these tunes were big hits, and one is staggered by the sheer numbers. Apparently this is going to be a chronological collection, as early hits like 'My World' and 'I Started a Joke' are included. A marvelous reference work for all pop programmers, this will be swept in with the sales boom on all other Bee Gees product."[3]

Track listing

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All songs are written by Barry Gibb, Robin Gibb and Maurice Gibb, except for those with asterisks, which are by Barry and Robin Gibb.

Side one
  1. "How Can You Mend a Broken Heart"* - 3:57
  2. "Holiday"* - 2:52
  3. "To Love Somebody"* - 2:58
  4. "Massachusetts - 2:22
  5. "Words - 3:13
  6. "Lonely Days - 3:46
Side two
  1. "Run to Me" - 3:10
  2. "I've Gotta Get a Message to You" - 2:59
  3. "My World"* - 4:18
  4. "I Can't See Nobody"* - 3:43
  5. "I Started a Joke" - 3:04
  6. "New York Mining Disaster 1941"* - 2:09

Certifications and sales

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Certifications for Bee Gees Gold
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[4] Gold 50,000^
United States (RIAA)[5] Gold 500,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

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  1. ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Bee Gees Gold, Vol. 1 - Bee Gees". AllMusic. Retrieved 11 July 2022.
  2. ^ Cross, Charles R. (2004). "The Bee Gees". In Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian (eds.). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide (4th ed.). Simon & Schuster. pp. 58. ISBN 0-7432-0169-8.
  3. ^ "Album Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. 30 October 1976. p. 35. Retrieved 21 November 2021 – via World Radio History.
  4. ^ "Canadian album certifications – Bee Gees – Bee Gees Gold". Music Canada. Retrieved 2 August 2022.
  5. ^ "American album certifications – Bee Gees – Bee Gees Gold". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 2 August 2022.