The brothers’ only recorded work for 1989 was the remainder of the One album, completed in March. Then came the tour.
The Bee Gees’ One for All tour stretched from May to December with a break in October, first Europe and America, and then Australia and East Asia. The tour band were Tim Cansfield (guitar), Vic Martin (keyboard, synthesizer), Gary Moberly (keyboard, synthesizer), George Perry (bass), Chester Thompson (drums), and backup singers Tampa Lann, Linda Harmon, and Phyllis St James. The Melbourne show on December 18 was recorded on audio and video. It was edited for broadcast on Australian television and was made available on home video in 1990. Some of the songs were used for B sides later, and the whole show was issued on CD in 2014.
TEARS
Barry Gibb, Robin Gibb, Maurice Gibb
album cut by Bee Gees, 1989
HOUSE OF SHAME
Barry Gibb, Robin Gibb, Maurice Gibb
album cut by Bee Gees, 1989
WILL YOU EVER LET ME
Barry Gibb, Robin Gibb, Maurice Gibb
album cut by Bee Gees, 1989
Only three new songs! But this year they released ten songs on the One album, and spent nine months touring.
Bee Gees
Barry Gibb — vocal, guitar
Robin Gibb — vocal
Maurice Gibb — vocal, keyboards, synthesizer, guitar
Peter-John Vettese — keyboards, synthesizer
Tim Cansfield — guitar
Alan Kendall — guitar (‘House of Shame’,
‘It’s My Neighborhood’, ‘Tokyo Nights’)
Nathan East — bass
Steve Ferrone — drums
Scott Glasel — programming
engineer: Brian Tench; Scott Glasel
producer: Barry Gibb, Robin Gibb, Maurice Gibb, Brian Tench
February and March 1989, Mayfair Studios, London
The last half of the album One. The new songs were copyright February 6, March 8, and March 16, and a new version of ‘Tokyo Nights’ by all three brothers on March 17. They then went straight into rehearsal for the One for All tour.
Unlike E S P this album features one small set of musicians. It has not only more unity of style but also a better sense of restraint in the arrangements. This was also the brothers’ first digital recording, done at Mayfair Studios, London, not Middle Ear, and it has much better clarity than E S P.
TEARS
Barry Gibb, Robin Gibb, Maurice Gibb (1989)
undated 1989
stereo 5:16, lead vocal Barry Gibb
One, 1989
Another fine vocal from Barry on a good ballad some consider to be for Andy.
HOUSE OF SHAME
Barry Gibb, Robin Gibb, Maurice Gibb (1989)
undated 1989
stereo 4:51, lead vocal Maurice Gibb
One, 1989
The obligatory Maurice lead vocal on an otherwise undistinguished song. Alan Kendall returned to the Bee Gees for this and two other songs.
WILL YOU EVER LET ME
Barry Gibb, Robin Gibb, Maurice Gibb (1989)
undated 1989
stereo 5:57, lead vocal Barry Gibb
One, 1989
A rambling dance track by Barry.
TOKYO NIGHTS
Barry Gibb, Robin Gibb, Maurice Gibb (1987,1989)
undated 1989
stereo 3:56, lead vocal Robin Gibb
One, 1989
‘Tokyo Nights’ was re-made with Alan Kendall on guitar. The short undeveloped melody does not sound like Barry’s work but its drama and Robin’s strong vocal make a nice contrast to the other songs.
IT’S MY NEIGHBORHOOD
Barry Gibb, Robin Gibb, Maurice Gibb (1984)
undated 1989
stereo 4:17, lead vocal Barry Gibb
One, 1989
‘It’s My Neighborhood’ had been kicking around for over four years. Andy Gibb may have recorded it in 1986. At any rate the Bee Gees finally recorded it, probably toward the end of the sessions for One since it too has Alan Kendall playing on it. It’s a good song.
Bee Gees : single
UK: Warner Bros, March 1989
A
ORDINARY LIVES
B
WING AND A PRAYER
The lead single in Britain. Both songs were from the first half of 1988. The rest of the album was still in production. While ‘Ordinary Lives’ did not make top 40 in Britain it did reach number 8 in Germany.
Bee Gees : One
UK: Warner Bros, April 1989
01
ORDINARY LIVES
02
ONE
03
BODYGUARD
04
IT’S MY NEIGHBORHOOD
05
TEARS
06
TOKYO NIGHTS
07
FLESH AND BLOOD
08
WISH YOU WERE HERE
09
HOUSE OF SHAME
10
WILL YOU EVER LET ME
11
WING AND A PRAYER
The album One as released outside North America.
A gimmick used to promote CDs at this time was to include a bonus cut not on the vinyl or cassette versions, and on this CD ‘Wing and a Prayer’ was the bonus. Of course fans still attached to vinyl could get the song on the B side of the single.
Bee Gees : single
UK: Warner Bros, June 1989
A
ONE
B
FLESH AND BLOOD
Bee Gees : single
US: Warner Bros, July 1989
A
ONE
B
WING AND A PRAYER
The second single in Britain and the first single in North America. Unexpectedly ‘One’ hit number 7 in Billboard, the Bee Gees’ last top ten hit in America. It barely made top forty in Germany and missed in Britain, but the album was already out in those areas.
Bee Gees : One
US: Warner Bros, July 1989
01
ONE
02
ORDINARY LIVES
03
BODYGUARD
04
IT’S MY NEIGHBORHOOD
05
TEARS
06
TOKYO NIGHTS
07
FLESH AND BLOOD
08
WISH YOU WERE HERE
09
HOUSE OF SHAME
10
WILL YOU EVER LET ME
11
YOU WIN AGAIN
The album One as released in North America. The positions of the first two songs were flipped. The delayed release was timed to coincide with tour dates in the US.
The American CD had a bonus song, but it was just ‘You Win Again’, the same version as on the E S P album, for those who had missed it. ‘Wing and a Prayer’ became the last Bee Gees song released in the US only on vinyl (on the ‘One’ single).