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Bee Gees - E.S.P. (LP)
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Genre: pop
Rating: *** (3 stars)
Title: E.S.P
Company: Warner Brothers
Catalog: 25541-1
Year: 1987
Country/State: UK
Grade (cover/record): VG+ / VG+
Comments: includes original lyric inner sleeve
Available: 1
Catalog ID: 6379
Price: $8.00
It's fascinating how quickly popular tastes change in music. That said The Bee Gees have been one of those groups that have both benefited and suffered from such changes. Throughout large parts of their career, the Gibbs Brothers have been emulators, chasing popular sounds, but on a couple of occasions they've been musical originators. Unfortunately, 1987's "E.S.P." found them in the former category. In spite of the extended break since their last studio LP (1981's "Lying Eyes"), and a new label (their longstanding relationship with Robert Stigwood's RSO Records replaced with a big dollar contract that brought them to Warner Brothers), their overall sound remained instantly recognizable, though the Gibbs seemed to be fishing around for a way to connect with popular mid-1980s genres. That search wasn't particularly successful - witness half-hearted funk numbers like 'Giving Up the Ghost' and 'This Is Your Life', faceless AOR ditties like the title track', or equally anonymous Brit-synpop ('Overnight'). Had it not been for their shrill voices, about half of this album could have been mistaken for a Quarterflash, or perhaps a Toto album. Come to think about it, with the Celtic inspired cover (Robin looked like he was wearing a priest's frock on the cover ...), you might even have even mistaken some of this for a Clannad album ... The album really did suffer from a very dated mid-1980s sound - heavy production bolstered with lots of cheesy synthesizers washes, epic drums, and virtually everything was wrapped in a harsh, dramatic aural sheen.
- With more lyrics than a novella, the title track started out with some shrill a cappella moves before diving headlong into anonymous AOR power ballad mode. The song was clearly intended as one of those heavy 'message' tunes, but absent a strong melody, or hook, the bleating synthesizer moves and new-age-ish were wasted on my ears and soul. 'Course that didn't stop Warner Brothers from releasing it as the album's second single. YouTube has a copy of the accompanying video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Hy9kaFQxls rating: ** stars
- Almost a throwback to their early-1970s catalog, 'You Win Again' was one of the few songs that had a strong, bouncy melody with clear top-40 potential and stood as a performance where the brothers seemed to actually be having a bit of fun. Even better, Barry and company avoided some of the stratospheric harmony vocals that sent dogs into a panic. Easy to see why it was tapped as the leadoff single, going on to top the UK charts, though it didn't do all that much in the States (# 74 pop). YouTube has a clip of the brothers performing the song on the UK Top of the Pops show: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g1vgzi5OQbQ
rating: **** stars
- In case you couldn't guess from the title, 'Live or Die (Hold Me Like a Child)' was one of Barry's more dramatic performances. Clearly meant as a big, relevant statement, the result was something you'd expect Celine Dion to cover. Pretty hideous (yes, Barry felt the need to reach for those super high notes), and it didn't even have a very good chorus. rating: ** stars
- The opening synthesizer bass sounded like they were trying to channel a Morris Day, or a Prince tune, which wouldn't have been a bad thing except for the fact 'Giving Up the Ghost' had about as much funk as a Charmin toilet paper commercial. Seriously dull misstep here and why did it sound like they were singing from the end of subway line ? YouTube has a clip of the song being performed live during a 1989 Australian tour and it sounds remarkably good: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h9yNM6U8YUI rating: *** stars
- Buried in the middle of 'The Longest Night' was a great Bee Gees tune, but in this stilted, arch, and heavily produced rendition whatever charms the tune had were simply lost. Shame 'cause you could tell the basic melody was a killer. Also, giving credit where due, hearing Robin Gibb using a deeper and darker timbre than usual was a real revelation. If you had him pegged as the Gibb with the think reedy falsetto, then this song was a major surprise. An extra star just for Robin's great vocal ... rating: *** stars
- Wow, the percussion heavy 'This Is Your Life' was a real mess ... In an apparently attempt to appeal to the post disco electro-dance floor crowd, the jittery dance track found the brothers sampling some of their earlier hits (along with dollops of Chaka Kahn and Rufus). Barry even incorporated a short rap sequence ... Imagine one of those $80 Casio keyboards having shorted out ... rating: *** stars
- Okay, okay, the ballad 'Angela' was about as adult contemporary as you could get without having to apply for an AARP card. It wasn't hard to imagine Barbara Streisand wanting to recorded it as a duet with Barry. That said, there was no arguing the Gibbs could write some insidiously catchy material and this sweet ballad managed to capture them at their creative best - another classic Bee Gees ballad that should make your parents smile. It was also tapped as the fourth single off the album. Another promotional video courtesy of YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dywGYhrJgIU rating: **** stars
- Showcasing Maurice on lead vocals (always liked his voice), 'Overnight' found the brothers seeming trying to mesh Brit-synpop with their signature power ballad moves. An okay track, but nothing to write home about. rating: *** stars
- The Bee Gees do Motown ? That was probably the best way to describe the retro-groover 'Crazy For Your Love'. On paper this would have sounded terrible, but in spite of the hyper-synthesizer arrangement, they somehow managed to make it work, giving the album a welcomed easy-going pop sound. One of the album's standout tracks and it was tapped as the third single. rating: **** stars
- Dipping their collective feet back into hardcore funk, 'Backtafunk' sounded like Hall and Oates trying to do a Temptations song. There wasn't an original note in the whole song, but I'll admit that it's always been a personal pleasure and Tony Beard turned in some devastating drums. rating: **** stars
- Who knows why, but the album ended with a brief a cappella reprise of the title track. Luckily it was short. rating: ** stars
The album spun off a couple of US singles and several alternative 45s for the UK and other foreign markets:
US releases:
- 1987's 'E.S.P' b/w 'Will You Ever Let Me Be' (Warner Brothers catalog number 7-22733)
- 1987's 'E.S.P' b/w 'Backtafunk' (Warner Brothers catalog number 7-28351)
- 1987's 'You Win Again' b/w 'Overnight' (Warner Brothers catalog number 7-28931)
UK and elsewhere:
- 1988's 'Crazy for Your Life' b/w 'You Win Again (remix)' (Warner Brothers catalog number W7966)
- 1988's 'Angela' b/w 'You Win Again' (Warner Brothers catalog number 9279577)
Song for song it wasn't a terrible release, especially when you got acclimated to the highly produced sound and when you realized it was a comeback of sorts coming on the heels of an extended recording break. Still, with the exception of ''You Win Again', 'Crazy For Your Love', and possibly 'Angela' the results were surprisingly dull and forgettable. Warner Brothers president Mo Osten must have wondered why he spent so much money signing them to a contract.
"E.S.P." track listing:
(side 1)
1.) E.S.P (Barry Gibb - Robin Gibb - Maurice Gibb) - 5:38
2.) You Win Again (Barry Gibb - Robin Gibb - Maurice Gibb) - 4:02
3.) Live or Die (Hold Me Like a Child) (Barry Gibb - Robin Gibb - Maurice Gibb) - 4:21
4.) Giving Up the Ghost (Barry Gibb - Robin Gibb - Maurice Gibb) - 4:26
5.) The Longest Night (Barry Gibb - Robin Gibb - Maurice Gibb) - 5:07
(side 2)
1.) This Is Your Life (Barry Gibb - Robin Gibb - Maurice Gibb) - 4:50
2.) Angela (Barry Gibb - Robin Gibb - Maurice Gibb) - 4:55
3.) Overnight (Barry Gibb - Robin Gibb - Maurice Gibb) - 4:20
4.) Crazy For Your Love (Barry Gibb - Robin Gibb - Maurice Gibb) - 4:40
5.) Backtafunk (Barry Gibb - Robin Gibb - Maurice Gibb) - 4:22
6.) E.S.P. (vocal reprise) (Barry Gibb - Robin Gibb - Maurice Gibb) - 0:34
Rating: *** (3 stars)
Title: E.S.P
Company: Warner Brothers
Catalog: 25541-1
Year: 1987
Country/State: UK
Grade (cover/record): VG+ / VG+
Comments: includes original lyric inner sleeve
Available: 1
Catalog ID: 6379
Price: $8.00
It's fascinating how quickly popular tastes change in music. That said The Bee Gees have been one of those groups that have both benefited and suffered from such changes. Throughout large parts of their career, the Gibbs Brothers have been emulators, chasing popular sounds, but on a couple of occasions they've been musical originators. Unfortunately, 1987's "E.S.P." found them in the former category. In spite of the extended break since their last studio LP (1981's "Lying Eyes"), and a new label (their longstanding relationship with Robert Stigwood's RSO Records replaced with a big dollar contract that brought them to Warner Brothers), their overall sound remained instantly recognizable, though the Gibbs seemed to be fishing around for a way to connect with popular mid-1980s genres. That search wasn't particularly successful - witness half-hearted funk numbers like 'Giving Up the Ghost' and 'This Is Your Life', faceless AOR ditties like the title track', or equally anonymous Brit-synpop ('Overnight'). Had it not been for their shrill voices, about half of this album could have been mistaken for a Quarterflash, or perhaps a Toto album. Come to think about it, with the Celtic inspired cover (Robin looked like he was wearing a priest's frock on the cover ...), you might even have even mistaken some of this for a Clannad album ... The album really did suffer from a very dated mid-1980s sound - heavy production bolstered with lots of cheesy synthesizers washes, epic drums, and virtually everything was wrapped in a harsh, dramatic aural sheen.
- With more lyrics than a novella, the title track started out with some shrill a cappella moves before diving headlong into anonymous AOR power ballad mode. The song was clearly intended as one of those heavy 'message' tunes, but absent a strong melody, or hook, the bleating synthesizer moves and new-age-ish were wasted on my ears and soul. 'Course that didn't stop Warner Brothers from releasing it as the album's second single. YouTube has a copy of the accompanying video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Hy9kaFQxls rating: ** stars
- Almost a throwback to their early-1970s catalog, 'You Win Again' was one of the few songs that had a strong, bouncy melody with clear top-40 potential and stood as a performance where the brothers seemed to actually be having a bit of fun. Even better, Barry and company avoided some of the stratospheric harmony vocals that sent dogs into a panic. Easy to see why it was tapped as the leadoff single, going on to top the UK charts, though it didn't do all that much in the States (# 74 pop). YouTube has a clip of the brothers performing the song on the UK Top of the Pops show: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g1vgzi5OQbQ
rating: **** stars
- In case you couldn't guess from the title, 'Live or Die (Hold Me Like a Child)' was one of Barry's more dramatic performances. Clearly meant as a big, relevant statement, the result was something you'd expect Celine Dion to cover. Pretty hideous (yes, Barry felt the need to reach for those super high notes), and it didn't even have a very good chorus. rating: ** stars
- The opening synthesizer bass sounded like they were trying to channel a Morris Day, or a Prince tune, which wouldn't have been a bad thing except for the fact 'Giving Up the Ghost' had about as much funk as a Charmin toilet paper commercial. Seriously dull misstep here and why did it sound like they were singing from the end of subway line ? YouTube has a clip of the song being performed live during a 1989 Australian tour and it sounds remarkably good: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h9yNM6U8YUI rating: *** stars
- Buried in the middle of 'The Longest Night' was a great Bee Gees tune, but in this stilted, arch, and heavily produced rendition whatever charms the tune had were simply lost. Shame 'cause you could tell the basic melody was a killer. Also, giving credit where due, hearing Robin Gibb using a deeper and darker timbre than usual was a real revelation. If you had him pegged as the Gibb with the think reedy falsetto, then this song was a major surprise. An extra star just for Robin's great vocal ... rating: *** stars
- Wow, the percussion heavy 'This Is Your Life' was a real mess ... In an apparently attempt to appeal to the post disco electro-dance floor crowd, the jittery dance track found the brothers sampling some of their earlier hits (along with dollops of Chaka Kahn and Rufus). Barry even incorporated a short rap sequence ... Imagine one of those $80 Casio keyboards having shorted out ... rating: *** stars
- Okay, okay, the ballad 'Angela' was about as adult contemporary as you could get without having to apply for an AARP card. It wasn't hard to imagine Barbara Streisand wanting to recorded it as a duet with Barry. That said, there was no arguing the Gibbs could write some insidiously catchy material and this sweet ballad managed to capture them at their creative best - another classic Bee Gees ballad that should make your parents smile. It was also tapped as the fourth single off the album. Another promotional video courtesy of YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dywGYhrJgIU rating: **** stars
- Showcasing Maurice on lead vocals (always liked his voice), 'Overnight' found the brothers seeming trying to mesh Brit-synpop with their signature power ballad moves. An okay track, but nothing to write home about. rating: *** stars
- The Bee Gees do Motown ? That was probably the best way to describe the retro-groover 'Crazy For Your Love'. On paper this would have sounded terrible, but in spite of the hyper-synthesizer arrangement, they somehow managed to make it work, giving the album a welcomed easy-going pop sound. One of the album's standout tracks and it was tapped as the third single. rating: **** stars
- Dipping their collective feet back into hardcore funk, 'Backtafunk' sounded like Hall and Oates trying to do a Temptations song. There wasn't an original note in the whole song, but I'll admit that it's always been a personal pleasure and Tony Beard turned in some devastating drums. rating: **** stars
- Who knows why, but the album ended with a brief a cappella reprise of the title track. Luckily it was short. rating: ** stars
The album spun off a couple of US singles and several alternative 45s for the UK and other foreign markets:
US releases:
- 1987's 'E.S.P' b/w 'Will You Ever Let Me Be' (Warner Brothers catalog number 7-22733)
- 1987's 'E.S.P' b/w 'Backtafunk' (Warner Brothers catalog number 7-28351)
- 1987's 'You Win Again' b/w 'Overnight' (Warner Brothers catalog number 7-28931)
UK and elsewhere:
- 1988's 'Crazy for Your Life' b/w 'You Win Again (remix)' (Warner Brothers catalog number W7966)
- 1988's 'Angela' b/w 'You Win Again' (Warner Brothers catalog number 9279577)
Song for song it wasn't a terrible release, especially when you got acclimated to the highly produced sound and when you realized it was a comeback of sorts coming on the heels of an extended recording break. Still, with the exception of ''You Win Again', 'Crazy For Your Love', and possibly 'Angela' the results were surprisingly dull and forgettable. Warner Brothers president Mo Osten must have wondered why he spent so much money signing them to a contract.
"E.S.P." track listing:
(side 1)
1.) E.S.P (Barry Gibb - Robin Gibb - Maurice Gibb) - 5:38
2.) You Win Again (Barry Gibb - Robin Gibb - Maurice Gibb) - 4:02
3.) Live or Die (Hold Me Like a Child) (Barry Gibb - Robin Gibb - Maurice Gibb) - 4:21
4.) Giving Up the Ghost (Barry Gibb - Robin Gibb - Maurice Gibb) - 4:26
5.) The Longest Night (Barry Gibb - Robin Gibb - Maurice Gibb) - 5:07
(side 2)
1.) This Is Your Life (Barry Gibb - Robin Gibb - Maurice Gibb) - 4:50
2.) Angela (Barry Gibb - Robin Gibb - Maurice Gibb) - 4:55
3.) Overnight (Barry Gibb - Robin Gibb - Maurice Gibb) - 4:20
4.) Crazy For Your Love (Barry Gibb - Robin Gibb - Maurice Gibb) - 4:40
5.) Backtafunk (Barry Gibb - Robin Gibb - Maurice Gibb) - 4:22
6.) E.S.P. (vocal reprise) (Barry Gibb - Robin Gibb - Maurice Gibb) - 0:34
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