Popdose - Latest Comments in Hooks ‘N’ You: Bee Gees, “Size Isn’t Everything”

Re: Hooks ‘N’ You: Bee Gees, “Size Isn’t Everything”

study abroad bangkok — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 18:10:21 -0000

I really enjoyed your post. I will have to come back again to read some more of them.

Re: Hooks ‘N’ You: Bee Gees, “Size Isn’t Everything”

Spence — Wed, 07 May 2008 04:48:02 -0000

Can't believe you dissed Edie.

Re: Hooks ‘N’ You: Bee Gees, “Size Isn’t Everything”

WHarrisBullzEye — Tue, 06 May 2008 09:18:05 -0000

Remind me to tell you about my phoner with John Lydon sometime.

Re: Hooks ‘N’ You: Bee Gees, “Size Isn’t Everything”

Jeffro — Tue, 06 May 2008 08:59:32 -0000

Definitely a good read! Interviews w/ heroes can definitely be both exciting and nerve-wracking...

Re: Hooks ‘N’ You: Bee Gees, “Size Isn’t Everything”

jesselun — Tue, 06 May 2008 07:40:19 -0000

great stories! and brave of you to admit them

Re: Hooks ‘N’ You: Bee Gees, “Size Isn’t Everything”

Eric P — Tue, 06 May 2008 01:54:35 -0000

Fallen Angel's opening...kind of reminds me of a cross between Animotion's "Obsession" and Human League's "Don't You Want Me."

Re: Hooks ‘N’ You: Bee Gees, “Size Isn’t Everything”

WHarrisBullzEye — Tue, 06 May 2008 01:45:14 -0000

I am embarrassed to say that, at the time of our interview, I was unaware of the greatness of "Boys Do Fall In Love." Now, of course, I am fully versed in the song which extols how hearts beat as they dance in the street to a radio...

Re: Hooks ‘N’ You: Bee Gees, “Size Isn’t Everything”

JohnHughes — Tue, 06 May 2008 00:26:40 -0000

Dear Lord, the man sounds like a Muppet during that falsetto break.

Tell me you asked Robin about "Boys Do Fall in Love!"

Re: Hooks ‘N’ You: Bee Gees, “Size Isn’t Everything”

Mike — Mon, 05 May 2008 22:26:18 -0000

I don't remember much about "Size Isn't Everything" (I think I may have listened to it once), but there are plenty of songs I love on "Still Waters"...enough that after misplacing my copy, I went out and bought it again (granted, for three bucks...but still...). There's some good stuff on that album.

Re: Hooks ‘N’ You: Bee Gees, “Size Isn’t Everything”

WHarrisBullzEye — Mon, 05 May 2008 21:56:49 -0000

I absolutely agree, Carlos. And as long as you've brought up that album, I have a soft spot a mile wide for "Technicolour Dreams." It's silly, but it always makes me smile.

Re: Hooks ‘N’ You: Bee Gees, “Size Isn’t Everything”

EightE1 — Mon, 05 May 2008 20:52:27 -0000

High Civilization did indeed suck, but I gotta stick up for Still Waters. "Alone," "My Lover's Prayer," and "I Will" are all pretty special. The record as a whole has a shiny production sheen that should have irritated me, but the writing was strong, and I was able to listen past that.

Can't believe I'm debating the quality of 1990s Bee Gees records. Very cool.

Rob
EightE1

Re: Hooks ‘N’ You: Bee Gees, “Size Isn’t Everything”

CarlosRamirez — Mon, 05 May 2008 20:23:46 -0000

Great piece Will! I've gone back and re-examined this album and it did reveal some very strong moments, especially on "Blue Island."

I still think the title track of THIS IS WHERE I CAME IN is one of the best songs in their stellar catalog.

Re: Hooks ‘N’ You: Bee Gees, “Size Isn’t Everything”

WHarrisBullzEye — Mon, 05 May 2008 19:39:59 -0000

If I ever get the chance to talk to Robin again...or Barry, for that matter...I'd really like to ask him about their methods of marketing "Size Isn't Everything." After "One," they'd finally gotten that elusive post-disco respect, but when the follow-up effectively tanked, one of their first stops to promote "Size Isn't Everything" was an NBC special called "A '70s Celebration: The Beat Is Back!" I know the idea was to sell as many records as possible, but that backpedaling of embracing their disco material again must've really left a bitter taste in their mouth.

BTW, I almost did interview Robin again when Rhino reissued the Bee Gees' best-of last year, but I was literally waiting for the call when I was told that he had abruptly canceled the rest of his interviews for the day. There was a rumor that the person in front of me had asked such a completely stupid question that it pissed Robin off to the point where he said, "That's it, I'm done with interviews," but that may not be true. Then again, maybe it is.

Re: Hooks ‘N’ You: Bee Gees, “Size Isn’t Everything”

jefito — Mon, 05 May 2008 19:21:14 -0000

I thought "Still Waters" kinda sucked, actually -- but I did think "Size" was an unexpected half-step back toward the glory of "One." Man, was I ever disappointed the first time I heard "High Civilization"...

Re: Hooks ‘N’ You: Bee Gees, “Size Isn’t Everything”

DwDunphy — Mon, 05 May 2008 18:45:39 -0000

I think you benefited from a case of fortunate misfortune - Had the Bee Gees been riding a massive '70s-like high, you might not have survived the mistake. Fact was that, being in American press, he needed you as much as you needed him. And I'm sure that once the initial awkward taste of Reebok subsided everything was cool.

But it could have been much worse. Barry could have taken you right out.

Re: Hooks ‘N’ You: Bee Gees, “Size Isn’t Everything”

Zack — Mon, 05 May 2008 18:29:03 -0000

I had a moment like your 3.) with Annie Hardy (of Giant Drag) when I bought a raffle ticket from her before a show a couple of years ago. I mentioned that how much less enthusiastic the crowd was for Pretty Girls Make Graves than they were for Giant Drag, who opened for them at a recent show, and I could see from Annie's expression that her dedication to selling raffle tickets was all that was saving me from a severe tongue-lashing. And not the good kind of tongue-lashing, either.

Re: Hooks ‘N’ You: Bee Gees, “Size Isn’t Everything”

EightE1 — Mon, 05 May 2008 18:14:57 -0000

"For Whom the Bell Tolls" is one of the Gibbs' best ballads -- when Robin goes into that chorus, the song absolutely soars. Hard not to get goose bumps when listening to that one.

This record and Still Waters (1997, I believe) were the high points of their late-career resurgence, when they showed just how fucking great they really were as pop songwriters. Thanks for posting, Will.

Rob
EightE1