BEE GEES: TRAFALGAR
The Bee Gees had entered the early '70s with a roaring success in the guise of "Lonely Days" and its accompanying album, which established their sound as a softer pop variant on the Moody Blues' brand of progressive rock. Trafalgar, which followed, carried the process further on what was their longest single LP release, clocking in at 47 minutes. The music all sounded meaningful, much of it displaying the same kind of faux-grandeur that the Moody Blues affected on their music of this era, the core group (playing pretty hard) acompanied by either Mellotron-generated orchestra or the real thing, with the group's soaring harmonies and Robin Gibb's quavaring lead vocals all over the place. Although "Odessa" has been stated to be a concept album, "Trafalgar" seems to be more consistent in it's theme and musical harmony. Taking the motif from the battle of Trafalgar, this album excels in diversity and vocal variety. All songs have a orchestral lushness that carries from song to song, giving it a rich and appealing feel.
Tracklist:
1.How Can You Mend A Broken Heart 2.Israel 3.The Greatest Man In The World 4.It's Just The Way 5.Remembering 6.Somebody Stop The Music 7.Trafalgar 8.Don't Wanna Live Inside Myself 9.When Do I 10.Dearest 11.Lion In Winter 12.Walking Back To Waterloo
Lineup:
Barry Gibb - lead, harmony and backing vocal, rhythm guitar, Robin Gibb - lead, harmony and backing vocal, Maurice Gibb - harmony and backing vocal, bass, piano, mellotron, guitar, organ, lead vocal on "It's Just The Way" and "Trafalgar", drums on "Trafalgar", Geoff Bridgford - drums, Alan Kendall - lead guitar. Additional musicians: Bill Shepherd - orchestral arrangement