The Bee Gees are more readily known for their disco days; Jive Talking, Staying Alive, upbeat tunes and dancing. Some of us remember them first as pop singers with more folksy lyrics and, to be honest, it took a bit of time to get used to their new sound in the seventies. One of the first songs I remember hearing from the Bee Gees was First of May. I was dating a tall, handsome, art major at the time and he thought I might like to hear it.
I dated that tall, handsome art major for a long time. We married in May. May 20, to be exact. The day Robin Gibb died.
I thought some of you might remember First of May, and others might appreciate another musical side of the Brothers Gibb.
I was not aware of this side of the Bee Gees Penny! Your video led me to this video – 1963! I didn’t know they started as children! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aO7C7Fuayrw&feature
That was really fun to view, Janet. Robin Gibb was the same as me, so he would have been 13/14 years old in the video you shared. I think they grew up in Australia, born in England. Thank you for linking to it.
I’ve always loved the Bee Gees, but was unaware of this song. Thank you for sharing this, Penny. It’s been a stormy day, and this video is the perfect punctuation mark for it. I trust you and your art major had a wonderful anniversary.
It wasn’t one of their biggest hits here in the States, Teresa, but I liked it then and like it still. Yes, indeed, we had a very nice anniversary. I’ll share some pictures of the gardens we saw soon.
Unknown to me too, Penny. I’ve always liked the BeeGees, but don’t know all their hits. Thanks for posting it.
They had some very nice ones before the disco era, Perpetua. Somewhere, deep in the bowels of our basement, we have old albums. I have a feeling they may be coming out for a run ’round the turntable sometime soon. You are so very welcome. A good day, today, with Louis Armstrong coming from across the pond on your blog.
Loved the BeeGees. Don’t remember First of May. Still listen to their songs from the Disco era. Brings back many memories.
It wasn’t one of their big hits, Roz, and one of many that got lost once they made a successful run with disco. Gosh, but it was fun, wasn’t it?
I’ve listened to some of their older music, but it always sounded odd and foreign to me.
I think the older music had a unique niche, Andra, that didn’t appeal to everyone, even then.
No! I didn’t know this song at all, Penny! How fun to discover more…I probably really didn’t get familiar with the BeeGees until the 70s! Aimee and I were trying to figure out how to see a BeeGees retrospective when we were in Vegas (March) but we couldn’t get the guys to go along with us! I really loved them…but I will need to check out a whole catalogue I haven’t previously heard! Debra
There are many more of the Bee Gees when they sang pop, which seemed more like folk to me at times. I think women were more into disco than men; we danced and we exercised to it. Still, I liked the early years as well. When you have time, check out Janet’s link above on the first comment. The Bee Gees have been around a long time, much like the Osmonds and the Jacksons.
What fun that retrospective would have been. You had fun anyways, Debra. So much to see and experience, isn’t there?
I really do like this song and had not heard it before today.
I had one of my “first” dates with my husband to see them in live concert here in B’ham, AL. when Sat. Night Fever was popular. It was heavenly and in more ways than one as our seats were very high in the auditorium. They looked like they were about 6 inches tall! No matter. The stage was the multicolored square one from the movie. Another fabulous memory.
Thank you for remembering them.
What a wonderful date that must have been, Marilyn, right at the height of the Saturday Night Fever frenzy – and at the height of the auditorium. I don’t mind the high spots. You can usually see more than the ones up close and jumping about. I’m smiling, enjoying your memory and those lights. Fun.
I’m glad you liked the song.
I haven’t heard this in years. I seem to remember hearing it many times while I was in college. I believe I had a very good friend who listened to it often. I love early Bee Gees music. I think I like their early work more than their later stuff that more people are familiar with. I saw them at the Illinois State Fair one year.
I am afraid that in those days my middle name was repetition, done loudly. It took me a while to get used to their disco music. I’m more folksy and pop, I guess, but I did enjoy dancing to the Bee Gees, or, pretending to exercise. tee hee I like the early years best.