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Gibb Songs version 2 by Joseph Brennan, copyright 2006—2013

2003

In January 2003 Maurice Gibb went to an emergency room for abdominal pain, and just a few days later he died on the night of 11/12 January. Maurice played an essential role in the Bee Gees’ songwriting and recording and his passing left a great gap to be filled. Writer of music, harmony singer, musician and arranger, technologist, mediator between two ambitious brothers, talkative friend to fans worldwide, he will be long remembered.

At the time Maurice entered hospital Robin was just beginning the publicity push for Magnet in Europe. He flew to Florida barely in time to see Maurice before he died. Barry and Robin together gave a television interview the next day in which they vowed to carry on and said that Maurice ‘will be featured as the third member of the Bee Gees no matter what we do’.

Robin then returned to Europe and continued publicity for Magnet, saying that Maurice would have wanted them to carry on. Barry had done little since the middle of 2001 and continued until late this year when he began to be active again.

songs

BRAVE NEW WORLD
Barry Gibb, Stephen Gibb
no record. US copyright November 2003

recording sessions

Robin Gibb

Robin Gibb — vocal
Wanya Morris — vocal (first version)
Lance Bass — vocal (first version)
Alistair Griffin — vocal (second version)
Peter Brame, Carolynne Good, Alex Parks — vocal (second version)
Deconzo Smith — keyboards, guitar, bass
Olly Meacock — programming
engineer: Dave Ford
producer: Deacon Smith, Ian Curnow
middle of 2003, November 2003

MY LOVER’S PRAYER
Barry Gibb, Robin Gibb, Maurice Gibb (1995)
undated 2003
stereo (first vocal) 3:56, lead vocal Robin Gibb, Wanya Morris, Lance Bass
unreleased
stereo (second vocal) 3:57, lead vocal Robin Gibb, Alistair Griffin
single, December 2003; Bring It On, 2004

In August 2003, Robin announced the forthcoming release of Magnet version 2.0, which would be partly the same and partly different songs. He said that the leadoff single from it, ‘Lover’s Prayer’, would issued in September. This was the Bee Gees song ‘My Lover’s Prayer’ from Still Waters, where it was sung by Barry. This version, with vocals by Robin, Wanya Morris, and Lance Bass, was played on radio in Britain but was never released.

Around this time Robin was a judge on the second series of the British television competition Fame Academy and when young Alistair Griffin won, he decided to record Alistair over the same tracks of ‘My Lover’s Prayer’. The new version had the same Robin vocals and a slight remix of the instrumental track. Three other performers from the second competition of Fame Academy including winner Alex Parks sang backup vocals.

Probably Deacon Smith produced the first version of the song and played the instrumental parts. Possibly this song was recorded for Magnet with Robin singing all of it. Probably Ian Curnow produced the second version, involving the new vocal tracks, new programming, and the remix. Curnow had previously produced the Irish boy band Boyzone doing a version of ‘Words’ that reached number 1 in Britain in 1996.

Cliff Richard

Cliff Richard — vocal
Barry Gibb — guitar, vocal
Alan Kendall — guitar
Maurice Gibb — keyboard (‘I Cannot Give You My Love’)
Hal Roland — keyboard
George Perry — bass
Steve Rucker — drums
Gustav Lescano — harmonica
engineer: John Merchant
producer: Barry Gibb
November 2003, Middle Ear, Miami Beach

I CANNOT GIVE YOU MY LOVE
Barry Gibb, Ashley Gibb (2001)
undated 2003
stereo 3:43, lead vocal Cliff Richard
Something’s Goin’ On, 2004; A side, December 2004

HOW MANY SLEEPS?
Barry Gibb, David English (2002)
undated 2003
stereo 4:06, lead vocal Barry Gibb
B side, October 2004

Barry’s return to the studio after a long break was to record two songs for English recording legend Cliff Richard. They were both of the songs he had written over the past two years. Maurice’s keyboard track from the 2001 demo of ‘I Cannot Give You My Love’ was copied into this 2003 recording of it.

selected record releases

Robin’s solo album Magnet was released in Germany and Britain, with no release in North America. It did not sell well. Robin as a young dance music artist just did not make sense. Fans who wanted new emotional songs written by Robin did not see any point to this collection of songs by others and remakes of old songs.

Barry on backing vocals, recorded in 2002.

SPV gamely tried a second single in Germany, but it went nowhere.

The first and only Maurice Gibb tribute album was put together by Andrew Môn Hughes, Lynda Gillies, and friends as a followup to their CD the previous year. With everyone stunned by Maurice’s death it was quickly agreed to celebrate his life in music with a collection of songs closely associated with him. The cover has a wonderful photo of Maurice laughing, and he starts off the album himself in the form of a greeting left on a telephone answering machine. The CD is notable for the containing the first release of three songs: ‘Soldier Johnny’ (with Geoff Bridgeford again playing drums as he did on Maurice’s 1970 recording), and ‘Silly Little Girl’ and ‘Danny’ nicely combined into one song.

Maurice on piano and part lead vocal, recorded live for the English LWT television program An Audience with Lulu on May 5, 2002.

Confusion reigned over Alistair Griffin’s single. Universal first promoted his composition ‘Bring It On’ but when it did not get airplay the label jumped to the duet with Robin, which was at one time supposed to be credited to Robin Gibb and Alistair Griffin, but came out as Alistair Griffin featuring Robin Gibb. To save face it was first announced as a double A side, but Alistair did all the promotion and Universal naturally favored their signed artist. The single reached number 5 and the album released in January reached number 12.

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