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2 Years On

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2 Years On
Studio album by
Bee Gees
ReleasedNovember 1970 (1970-11)
Recorded13 June – 5 October 1970
StudioIBC Studios, London
GenreSymphonic rock, folk rock, soft rock, baroque pop
Length35:57
LabelPolydor (United Kingdom)
Atco (United States)
Spin (Australia, New Zealand)
ProducerRobert Stigwood, Bee Gees
Bee Gees chronology
Cucumber Castle
(1970) 		2 Years On
(1970) 		Trafalgar
(1971)
Australasian cover
2 Years On album released on Spin Records only in Australia and New Zealand.
Singles from 2 Years On
  1. "Lonely Days"
    Released: 6 November 1970

2 Years On is the eighth studio album released in 1970 by the Bee Gees, which reached No. 32 on the US charts, and sold 375,000 copies worldwide. The album saw the return of Robin Gibb to the group after an earlier disagreement and subsequent split following Odessa. 2 Years On was the first album with drummer Geoff Bridgford, who remained a full-time member of the group until 1972 although he was not pictured on the sleeve. The best-known track is "Lonely Days". Released as the first single by the reunited brothers, it charted high in the US (No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 1 on the rival chart Cashbox), but peaked at No. 33 in the United Kingdom.

Background

In March 1969, Robin announced that he was leaving the band. In June, he released his debut solo single "Saved by the Bell", which reached No. 2 on the UK charts. In August, drummer Colin Petersen was fired and was replaced by Terry Cox to complete the album Cucumber Castle. Before the album was released, Barry and Maurice announced that the Bee Gees had split in December 1969. The pair released singles, "Railroad" by Maurice and "I'll Kiss Your Memory" by Barry, but their respective albums The Loner and The Kid's No Good remain unreleased to this day. During the temporary break-up of the group, Maurice appeared in London musical theatre production Sing a Rude Song. Maurice recalls: "We got fed up with all the lawyers fighting over our assets, so we walked out of this big summit meeting and started the group again".[1]

Recording

Robin and Maurice reunited in June 1970 with new drummer Geoff Bridgford. They recorded four songs, including "Sincere Relation" and "Lay It on Me". "We Can Lift a Mountain" was also re-recorded, a song from 1968. After that, Maurice joined the supergroup The Bloomfields with Billy Lawrie, and worked with Tin Tin. In August, Maurice and Robin announced that the Bee Gees were back with or without Barry's participation, and fourteen songs were recorded including "Back Home" and "I'm Weeping". On 21 August, the three Bee Gees came together to continue recording as Barry announced, "The Bee Gees are there and they will never, ever part again". He continues, "If a solo record comes out, it will be with enthusiasm and great support of each of us. We are a musical establishment". Maurice, on the other hand, recalled: "We just discussed it and re-formed".[2]

Release

Around the same time, Barry's "One Bad Thing" / "The Day Your Eyes Meet Mine" was withdrawn at the last minute in the US for single release, while Polydor planned to release "One Bad Thing" as a single by 2 October (probably in Europe and Asia). Despite Barry's longing to prove himself as a solo artist, it was decided instead that the next single should be performed by the Bee Gees as they reunited around the same time.[2]

Despite the album marking the musical reunion of the Bee Gees, only three songs credited all three Gibb brothers as composers: the single "Lonely Days", its flip side "Man For All Seasons", and "Back Home". Maurice sings on all songs, but Barry and Robin are only on the ones they wrote or co-wrote.[3] In the August sessions, they also recorded "You Got to Lose It in the End", "Little Red Train", "Sweet Summer Rain", "Melody Fair" (originally released on Odessa) and "Maybe Tomorrow". None of these were released.

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic[4]
Christgau's Record GuideC–[5]

Track listing

Side one
No.TitleWriter(s)Lead vocal(s)Length
1."2 Years On"Robin Gibb, Maurice GibbRobin3:57
2."Portrait of Louise"Barry GibbBarry2:35
3."Man For All Seasons"Barry Gibb, Robin Gibb, Maurice GibbBarry, Robin & Maurice2:59
4."Sincere Relation"Robin Gibb, Maurice GibbRobin2:46
5."Back Home"Barry Gibb, Robin Gibb, Maurice GibbBarry, Robin & Maurice1:52
6."The 1st Mistake I Made"Barry GibbBarry4:03
Side two
No.TitleWriter(s)Lead vocal(s)Length
1."Lonely Days"Barry Gibb, Robin Gibb, Maurice GibbBarry, Robin & Maurice3:45
2."Alone Again"Robin Gibb, Maurice GibbRobin3:00
3."Tell Me Why"Barry GibbBarry3:13
4."Lay It on Me"Maurice GibbMaurice2:07
5."Every Second, Every Minute"Barry GibbBarry3:01
6."I'm Weeping"Robin GibbRobin2:45

Alternate track listing

Side one
No.TitleLength
1."2 Years On"3:57
2."Lonely Days"3:45
3."Lay It on Me"2:07
4."Portrait of Louise"2:35
5."Man For All Seasons"2:59
6."The First Mistake I Made"4:03
Side two
No.TitleLength
1."I'm Weeping"2:45
2."Every Second, Every Minute"3:01
3."Sincere Relation"2:46
4."Back Home"1:52
5."Alone Again"3:00
6."Tell Me Why"3:13

Personnel

  • Barry Gibb – lead, harmony and backing vocals; rhythm guitar
  • Robin Gibb – lead, harmony and backing vocals
  • Maurice Gibb – bass guitar; lead and rhythm guitars; piano; harmony and backing vocals; lead vocal on "Lay It on Me"
  • Geoff Bridgford – drums
  • Bill Shepherd – orchestral arrangement
  • Gerry Shury – orchestral arrangement
  • John Stewart – engineer

Charts

Chart Position
Australia Kent Music Report Albums Chart[6] 22
Canadian RPM Albums Chart[7] 22
US Billboard 200[8] 32
US Cashbox[9] 14

References

  1. ^ "Bee Gees Aim for Peak Stellar Performance in All Areas". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 25 August 1973. p. 18.
  2. ^ a b Andrew Môn Hughes (2009). The Bee Gees: Tales Of The Brothers Gibb. Omnibus Press. p. 611. ISBN 978-0-85712-004-5.
  3. ^ Brennan, Joseph. "Gibb Songs: 1970". Retrieved 6 June 2013.
  4. ^ Bruce Eder. "2 Years On – Bee Gees | Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 7 April 2014.
  5. ^ Christgau, Robert (1981). "Consumer Guide '70s: B". Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies. Ticknor & Fields. ISBN 089919026X. Retrieved 21 February 2019.
  6. ^ "Australian Albums". australian-charts.com Hung Medien. Retrieved 9 November 2014.
  7. ^ "Canadian Albums". RPM Canada. Retrieved 9 November 2014.
  8. ^ "US Albums". AllMusic. Retrieved 9 November 2014.
  9. ^ "US Albums" (PDF). Cashbox. Retrieved 30 July 2019.
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