Massachusetts (Bee Gees song)

"Massachusetts"
Single by Bee Gees
from the album Horizontal
B-side	"Barker Of The UFO"
Released	September 1967
Format	vinyl record
Recorded	9, 17 August 1967 IBC Studios, Portland Place, London
Genre	Oldies
Length	2:22
Label	UK: Polydor, USA/CA: Atco
Writer(s)	Barry Gibb/Robin Gibb/Maurice Gibb
Producer	Robert Stigwood and The Bee Gees
Bee Gees singles chronology
"Holiday" (1967) "Massachusetts" (1967) "World" (1967)
Music sample "Massachusetts"

"Massachusetts" is a song written, recorded, and released by the Bee Gees in 1967 and later appearing on their 1968 album, Horizontal. It was their first Number 1 hit in the UK and eventually became one of the best selling singles of all times.

For Maurice Gibb, the song had a painful memory attached. Shortly after it was recorded, Beatles manager Brian Epstein told him that it was beautiful and would be the hit of the summer. These proved to be Epstein's last words to Maurice; Epstein died a few days later.

Cover versions

The song has a minor claim to fame in the history of British radio. While many people know "Flowers in the Rain" by The Move was the first record played on BBC Radio 1, Massachusetts was the second.

Former Yugoslav band Siluete covered the song, in 1967.

Ed Ames recorded a version of this song on his album "Who Will Answer?", in 1968.

Also in 1968, Hong Kong female singer Betty Chung (鍾玲玲) covered this song in Mandarin Chinese language with Chinese lyrics written by Wei Yin (魏因) and given the title name of 我祝福他, appearing on her LP album 野火 (Wild Flame), and released by EMI Pathe Records.

Between 1972 and 1974, this song was covered by Singapore-based female singer Ervinna, backing music by The Charlie & His Boys, on her LP album Golden Hits Of 20th Century Vol. 6 with White Cloud Record of Singapore.

This single is the first number-one hit single by a non-Japanese artist on Japan's official hit chart, Oricon. Strangely, even though "Massachusetts" was a worldwide number one single, it only reached #11 in the United States where the state of Massachusetts is located.

History

When Barry, Robin and Maurice Gibb wrote this song, it was originally intended to be recorded by The Seekers, but they did not record it. The Seekers finally recorded it after Maurice Gibb's death in 2003, as a tribute to him.

When the Bee Gees wrote the song, they had never been to Massachusetts. The boys simply loved the word. The song was written on a boat near the Statue of Liberty.

Chart performance

Chart	Peak position
Australia	1
Austria	1
Belgium	1
Canada	1
Chile	1
China	2
France	4
Germany	1
Italy	5
Japan	1
Netherlands	1
New Zealand	1
Norway	1
South Africa	1
Sweden	1
United Kingdom	1
United States	11

References

Preceded by "The Last Waltz" by Engelbert Humperdinck

UK Singles Chart number one single October 11, 1967 (4 weeks)

Succeeded by "Baby Now That I've Found You" by The Foundations