"First of May" is a song by the Bee Gees with lead vocals by Barry Gibb, released as a single from their 1969 double album Odessa. Its B-side was "Lamplight". On the 1996 reissue of this single, its flipside was "How Deep Is Your Love" as the song re-entered the charts in Japan reaching #25. It was used as a B-side of "Melody Fair" in 1971 on the Melody soundtrack as well as in 1976 and 1980 on RSO Records.[2] Also in 1980, sometimes, it was chosen as the A-side with "Melody Fair" as the B-side only in Japan.
[edit] Background
Barry says in Tales from the Brothers Gibb that the title of the song came from the birthday of his dog, Barnaby.[3] This song was initially taped in demo form in New York City on 16 August 1968.[4] Later that year in London, "First of May" was remade at IBC Studios with an orchestral arrangement from maestro Bill Shepherd. His arrangement was featured on the second chorus. The song starts with a piano on the first verse and chorus. Shepherd's orchestra was featured in second verse and second chorus. After singing the second chorus, the singer repeated the first verse. The music was stopped when he sings don't ask me why, but time has passed by, Someone else moved in from far away.
The flip side of a single was "Lamplight" on which Robin Gibb sang the lead. Robert Stigwood, the Bee Gees manager chose "First of May" for the A-side. No other singles were released from the Odessa album, as Robin Gibb already had left the group.[5]
The song was partially responsible for the departure of Robin Gibb from the Bee Gees. Robin had wanted his song, "Lamplight," to be the album's first single, while Barry preferred "First of May." In the end, Barry's judgment won, and Robin quit the band.
After its release, "First of May" enjoyed a resurgence several times. In 1971, the song was featured in the soundtrack to Melody, a British motion picture about puppy love.[6] In 1996, the song was used as a theme of the Japanese drama Wakaba no Koro.[7] The song reissued on CD climbed the country's chart again and gained moderate commercial success, selling more than 100,000 copies.[8]
[edit] Chart positions
| Chart (1996) |
Peak
position |
| Japan Oricon Singles Chart |
25 |
[edit] Cover versions
[edit] Trivia
This song is the only song by the Bee Gees that exists in three different versions with each brother singing lead on one of the versions. Barry Gibb sings lead on the orginal version, Maurice Gibb sings the second verse on Lulu's version and Robin Gibb sings with G4 on their version.
[edit] References
- ^ Spicks & Specks: Bee Gees Singles Discography
- ^ "Bee Gees - Melody Fair / First Of May". Discogs. Retrieved 23 April 2013.
- ^ p. 212: Bee Gees: Tales of the Brothers Gibb by Melinda Bilyeu, Hector Cook, Andrew Môn Hughes, with Joseph Brennan and Mark Crohan. Omnibus Press, London, New York, New Revised Version, 2000.
- ^ Brennan, Joseph. "Gibb Songs: 1968". Retrieved 16 March 2013.
- ^ p. 208/209: Bee Gees: Tales of the Brothers Gibb by Melinda Bilyeu, Hector Cook, Andrew Môn Hughes, with Joseph Brennan and Mark Crohan. Omnibus Press, London, New York, New Revised Version, 2000.
- ^ First of May (Maurice Gibb performing 1st of May with Lulu)
- ^ drama dvd film comedy romance at dramadramadrama.tv
- ^ s-ビー・ジーズ
- ^ Musicline.de Chartsverfolgung: First Of May
- ^ ChartArchive: First Of May(Link redirected to OCC website)
- ^ http://cashboxmagazine.com/archives/60s_files/19690419.html
- ^ Discogs: Jose Feliciano – 10 To 23
- ^ Fleming, John (11 July 1999). "Brightman delights the ears". St Petersburg Times. p. 2B.
- ^ Hernández, Ricardo (10 November 2008). "Sarah Brightman captivates Mexican audiences". El Occidental (in Spanish).
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