To Whom It May Concern (Bee Gees album)

To Whom It May Concern
Studio album by the Bee Gees
Released	October 1972
Recorded	January 1971 ("We Lost the Road") January and April 1972 IBC Studios, London, England
Genre	Rock, pop
Length	43:32
Label	Polydor Atco (US/Canada)
Producer	Barry Gibb, Robin Gibb, Maurice Gibb, Robert Stigwood
the Bee Gees chronology
Trafalgar (1971) To Whom It May Concern (1972) Life in a Tin Can (1973)

To Whom It May Concern is the Bee Gees' tenth studio album, released in October 1972. It was the follow-up of their American successful LP Trafalgar, and continued its melancholic and personal sound. The album was recognised as "a farewell to the old Bee Gees". It was their last album recorded at IBC Studios, in London, and their last work with Bill Shepherd who had guided them since 1967, and their last under their first contract with Robert Stigwood. Even some of the songs were old ones finished up or rewritten for the occasion (in the case of "I Can Bring Love").

To Whom It May Concern has sold approximately 350,000 copies worldwide.

History

After touring, the Bee Gees now worked quickly to complete another album, They started with a song by Robin the song was "Never Been Alone" and then one of the songs Barry did on his fan club recording from 1971, The song "Paper Mache, Cabbages and Kings" was the last song appear in the album with the Australian drummer Geoff Bridgford, He left the group before their tour of East Asia, and was replaced on tour by Chris Karan, Current tour drummer Chris did not make any recordings with the Bee Gees. And the drummer on the April sessions was a veteran session player, Clem Cattini, who has appeared on many top recordings going back to 1960.

Album background

The album is also notable for containing a relative variety of song types – rock and roll ("Bad Bad Dreams"), power ballads ("Alive"), choral performances ("Please Don't Turn Out the Lights"), bizarre and psychedelic songs ("Paper Mache, Cabbages and Kings", "Sweet Song of Summer") and nostalgic love songs ("Sea of Smiling Faces"). The band never showed approval to the album, but for many fans it is an unusually authentic Bee Gees collection, closer in spirit to what the brothers found interesting to do than what they thought they owed the public. In the 2010 documentary In Our Own Time, Maurice explains (in archival footage) that by 1972 they didn't really know who their audience was, hence the title To Whom It May Concern.

Album sleeve

Another example of the contrast between the old and the new was the front cover showing Bee Gees performing in Japan early in 1972, and the back showing them in 1963. The LP also had a gatefold with pictures of many business associates and family members on a drawing of the Bee Gees and a band. The band shows Barry, Robin and Maurice Gibb, Alan Kendall and tour-only drummer Chris Karan, with Bill Shepherd conducting the orchestra.

Details

The album was primarily recorded between June 1971 and April 1972 (except for "We Lost the Road", recorded in January 1971 during the Trafalgar sessions). The Bee Gees saved a non-album single, "My World", from the sessions which was released in January 1972, becoming a UK/US Top 20 hit. The album came in November 1972 supported by very positive reviews, and preceded by the UK Top 10 hit "Run to Me", in July. Despite the critical acclaim of the variety of styles and strong tracks, To Whom It May Concern only reached #35 in the US and became their third consecutive studio album to fail to appear in the UK album charts. It performed better in other European countries. In Italy reached #10, and peaked at #6 in Spain. The subsequent single "Alive" was a modest sized hit in the US, reaching the Top 40, and a major hit in Australia, reaching #4.

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	link
Rolling Stone	(not rated) link

Track listing

All compositions by Barry, Robin and Maurice Gibb, except where noted.

1. "Run to Me" - 3:13
2. "We Lost the Road" (Barry Gibb, Robin Gibb) - 3:28
3. "Never Been Alone" (Robin Gibb) - 3:15
4. "Paper Mache, Cabbages and Kings" - 5:01
5. "I Can Bring Love" (Barry Gibb) - 2:07
6. "I Held a Party" – 2:37
7. "Please Don't Turn out the Lights" – 2:01
8. "Sea of Smiling Faces" – 3:09
9. "Bad Bad Dreams" – 3:49
10. "You Know It's for You" (Maurice Gibb) – 2:59
11. "Alive" (Barry Gibb, Maurice Gibb) – 4:04
12. "Road to Alaska" – 2:41
13. "Sweet Song of Summer" – 5:07

UK alternate release

• Some early copies of the album omitted "Run to Me", An alternate sequence appeared in some publicity materials.

1. "Alive" - 4:04
2. "I Can Bring Love" - 2:07
3. "Bad Bad Dreams" - 3:49
4. "I Held a Party" - 2:37
5. "Sea of Smiling Faces" - 3:09
6. "Road to Alaska" - 2:41
7. "Run to Me" - 3:13
8. "Paper Mache, Cabbages and Kings" - 5:01
9. "We Lost the Road" - 3:28
10. "You Know It's For You"
11. "Never Been Alone" - 3:15
12. "Please Don't Turn out the Lights" - 2:01
13. "Sweet Song of Summer" - 5:07

Outtakes

All song written by Barry, Robin and Maurice Gibb.

1. "Passport" (written only, not recorded)
2. "It's All Wrong" (written only, not recorded)
3. "Lay Down and Sleep" (written only, not recorded)

Personnel

Bee Gees

• Barry Gibb - vocals, guitar
• Robin Gibb - vocals
• Maurice Gibb - vocals, bass, piano, organ, mandolin
• Alan Kendall - guitar
• Geoff Bridgford - drums ("Paper Mache, Cabbages and Kings")

Guest musicians

• Clem Cattini - drums (all except "Paper Mache, Cabbages and Kings")