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Children of the World

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Children of the World is the 14th album released by the Bee Gees in September 1976. The first single, "You Should Be Dancing", went to No. 1 in the US and Canada, and was a top ten hit in numerous other territories. The album has sold over 2.5 million copies. It was the group's fourteenth album (twelfth internationally). The album was re-issued by Reprise and Rhino Records. This was the first record featuring the Gibb-Galuten-Richardson production team which would have many successful collaborations in the following years.

Background

Because their manager Robert Stigwood had ended his US distribution arrangement with Atlantic Records, Atlantic producer Arif Mardin, who had produced the Bee Gees' prior two albums, was no longer permitted to work with the group. In an effort to retain the same sound, the group recorded at the same studios (Criteria Studios in Miami). At first, they recruited producer Richard Perry, but they parted company after only a couple of weeks over the musical direction the group should take. At this point the Bee Gees decided to produce the album themselves, with Barry Gibb taking the lead role, along with engineer Karl Richardson. They added young musician and arranger Albhy Galuten to the control room as musical adviser. The new team saw the group through a series of top selling recordings over the next four years.

Recording

The album was recorded from 19 January to 30 March, when they recorded "You Should Be Dancing", "Love So Right", "Subway", "Love Me", "You Stepped Into My Life", "The Way It Was", "Walk Before You Run" (unreleased), "The Feel" (unreleased) and "Lovers" which had Robin singing lead in Falsetto. All the songs were finished in Quebec, except the two unreleased songs and "Walk Before You Run" which was written by Barry Gibb with Stephen Stills.[1] During a break recording Children of the World , Robin and Maurice Gibb returned in England to spend time with their families, while Barry stayed in Miami to mix the new single and to record "The Way It Was".[2] From 2 April to 26 May, the group recorded songs in Le Studio, Quebec. "Rest Your Love on Me" (recorded 2 May) was not included on the album but it was used as the B-side of "Too Much Heaven" in 1978.[1]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic[3]

Bruce Eder of Allmusic describes this album as the group's second R&B album and described "Love So Right" as a "beautiful soul ballad".[3] The effort succeeded, as the new album produced three hit singles, including a No. 1 in the US, just like its predecessor Main Course. It also featured the hit singles "Love So Right" and "Boogie Child" which peaked at No. 3 and No. 12 respectively in the US "Love Me" was made a hit by Yvonne Elliman and "You Stepped into My Life" was recorded by Wayne Newton in 1979.

Following the release of Children of the World, Barry describes it:

"This album doesn't just have disco and R&B. To us, there are other tracks on the album and on Main Course that could be hits as well. For the Bee Gees, it's not right to put out these tracks as singles yet.[2]

Track listing

All tracks written by Barry, Robin & Maurice Gibb, except where noted.

Side one
No.TitleLead vocal(s)Length
1."You Should Be Dancing"Barry4:16
2."You Stepped Into My Life"Barry3:25
3."Love So Right"Barry3:34
4."Lovers"Barry, Robin and Maurice3:36
5."Can't Keep a Good Man Down"Barry and Robin4:43
Side two
No.TitleLead vocal(s)Length
1."Boogie Child"Barry4:12
2."Love Me" (Barry Gibb, Robin Gibb)Robin and Barry4:01
3."Subway"Barry4:24
4."The Way It Was" (Barry Gibb, Robin Gibb, Blue Weaver)Barry3:19
5."Children of the World"Barry3:07

Personnel

Bee Gees
Bee Gees Band
Additional personnel
  • Joe Lala – percussion
  • Gary Brown – saxophone
  • George "Chocolate" Perry – bass guitar on "Subway" and "The Way It Was"
  • Stephen Stills – percussion on "You Should Be Dancing"
  • Peter Graves – horns
  • Whit Sidener – horns
  • Kenny Faulk – horns
  • Neil Bonsanti – horns
  • Bill Purse – horns
Production
  • Karl Richardson – engineer, producer
  • John Blanche – engineer
  • Ed Marshal – engineer
  • Nick Balgona – additional engineering
  • Albhy Galuten – producer

Charts

References

  1. ^ a b Joseph Brennan. "Gibb Songs: 1976".
  2. ^ a b Melinda Bilyeu, Hector Cook, Andrew Môn Hughes. The Bee Gees. Retrieved 8 February 2015.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  3. ^ a b Eder, Bruce. Children of the World at AllMusic
  4. ^ Kent, David. Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  5. ^ "Top Albums/CDs – Volume 26, No. 7". RPM. 13 November 1976. Retrieved 5 May 2013. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  6. ^ a b "Hit Parade Italia – Gli album più venduti del 1976" (in Italian). hitparadeitalia.it. Retrieved 5 May 2013.
  7. ^ "charts.org.nz Bee Gees – Children of the World" (ASP). Hung Medien. Recording Industry Association of New Zealand. Retrieved 5 May 2013.
  8. ^ "norwegiancharts.com Bee Gees – Children of the World" (ASP). Hung Medien. VG-lista. Retrieved 5 May 2013.
  9. ^ "swedishcharts.com Bee Gees – Children of the World" (ASP). Retrieved 5 May 2013.
  10. ^ a b "Allmusic: Children of the World : Charts & Awards : Billboard Albums". allmusic.com. Retrieved 5 May 2013.
  11. ^ "Album Search: Bee Gees – Children of the World" (in German). Media Control. Retrieved 6 May 2012.
  12. ^ "RPM Top Albums/CDs – Volume 26, No. 14 & 15, Top 100 Albums of 1976". RPM. 8 January 1977. Retrieved 6 May 2012. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  13. ^ articles with dead external links%5d%5d%5b%5bCategory:Articles with dead external links from February 2016%5d%5d[%5b%5bWikipedia:Link rot|dead link%5d%5d] "Top Pop Albums of 1977". billboard.biz. Archived from the original on 15 January 2013. Retrieved 12 August 2011. {{cite web}}: Check |archiveurl= value (help)
  14. ^ "Canadian album certifications – Bee Gees – Children of the World". Music Canada.
  15. ^ "American album certifications – Bee Gees – Children of the World". Recording Industry Association of America.
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