Trafalgar (album)

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See also: Battle of Trafalgar
Trafalgar
Bgs trafalgar.jpg
Studio album by Bee Gees
Released September 1971 (US)
November 1971 (UK)
Recorded 28 January – April 1971
IBC Studios, London
Genre Soft rock
Length 47:28
Label Polydor (UK)
Atco (US, CA)
Producer Robert Stigwood, Bee Gees
Bee Gees chronology
2 Years On
(1970)2 Years On1970		 Trafalgar
(1971)		 To Whom It May Concern
(1972)To Whom It May Concern1972
Singles from Trafalgar
  1. "How Can You Mend a Broken Heart"
    Released: May 1971
  2. "Don't Wanna Live Inside Myself"
    Released: November 1971 (US)
  3. "Israel"
    Released: May 1972 (Europe)
Professional ratings
Review scores
Source Rating
Allmusic 4/5 stars[1]

Trafalgar is the Bee Gees' ninth album (seventh internationally), released in September 1971 in the US, and November 1971 in the UK. The album was a moderate hit in the United States, and peaked at No. 34. The lead single "How Can You Mend a Broken Heart?" was the first Bee Gees' No. 1 single in the United States but failed to chart in Britain as did the album. It is also Geoff Bridgford's only full-length appearance on a Bee Gees album as an official member.

Trafalgar is noted in Robert Dimery's book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.[2]

Background

In December 1970, barely more than two months after the group recorded their last session for the 2 Years On album, they recorded "Together", "Over the Hill and Over the Mountain", "Merrily Merry Eyes" and "When Do I". On January 11, 1971, Maurice Gibb contributed writing, producing and play guitar on Lulu's 1971 single "Everybody Clap" with Jack Bruce of Cream and Maurice's friend, John Bonham of Led Zeppelin on drums.[3] The group also did the 2 Years On Tour to support their album.

Recording

They returned to the studio with new backing band member guitarist Alan Kendall, who would play on the majority of their subsequent albums. Although the Gibb Brothers had reunited in 1970, they were still working separately as evident in the writing credits. Several songs were recorded around this time, many of which have never officially been released. All of the songs chosen for release were ballads, which gives the album something of a concept feeling. The group started to record for this album on 28 January 1971 when they recorded "We Lost the Road", "When Do I" and "How Can You Mend a Broken Heart" ("We Lost the Road" was held over for use on the following album To Whom It May Concern). Recording continued through April with several demos and outtakes recorded but never released.[3]

Release

File:Trafalgar advertisement.jpg
Advertisement and tour schedule

With "How Can You Mend a Broken Heart" as the lead single from the album, "Don't Wanna Live Inside Myself" was released as the second single but only reached No. 57 on the US charts. "Israel" was released as a single in the Netherlands and reached No. 22. The album's cover depicts the Battle of Trafalgar. Bridgford was credited on the sleeve notes on the original vinyl release as "Jeoff Bridgford".[4]

In support of the album, The Bee Gees toured the US in the fall of 1971, playing such cities as Boston, Asbury Park, New York City (7 shows), Memphis, Kansas City, and Indianapolis.

Track listing

Side one
No. Title Writer(s) Lead vocal(s) Length
1. "How Can You Mend a Broken Heart"   Barry Gibb, Robin Gibb Robin and Barry 3:58
2. "Israel"   B. Gibb Barry 3:54
3. "The Greatest Man in the World"   B. Gibb Barry 4:18
4. "It's Just the Way"   Maurice Gibb Maurice 2:34
5. "Remembering"   B. Gibb, R. Gibb Robin 4:02
6. "Somebody Stop the Music"   B. Gibb, M. Gibb Barry and Maurice 3:31
Side two
No. Title Writer(s) Lead vocal(s) Length
7. "Trafalgar"   M. Gibb Maurice 3:53
8. "Don't Wanna Live Inside Myself"   B. Gibb Barry 5:25
9. "When Do I"   B. Gibb, R. Gibb Robin 3:58
10. "Dearest"   B. Gibb, R. Gibb Barry and Robin 3:52
11. "Lion in Winter"   B. Gibb, R. Gibb Barry and Robin 3:59
12. "Walking Back to Waterloo"   B. Gibb, R. Gibb, M. Gibb Barry, Robin & Maurice 3:51

Alternate version

  • This 53-minute version of the album was sent to Atlantic Records in the US with a different track order and with 14 songs in total. The two extra songs are "Country Woman" (the B-side of "How Can You Mend a Broken Heart") and "We Lost the Road" (released on the group's next album To Whom It May Concern). There was no commercial release of the album in this state.
Side one
  1. "How Can You Mend a Broken Heart"
  2. "Israel"
  3. "The Greatest Man in the World"
  4. "It's Just the Way"
  5. "Don't Wanna Live Inside Myself"
  6. "Country Woman"
  7. "Somebody Stop the Music"
Side two
  1. "Trafalgar"
  2. "We Lost the Road"
  3. "Dearest"
  4. "When Do I"
  5. "Lion in Winter"
  6. "Remembering"
  7. "Walking Back to Waterloo"

Personnel

Bee Gees
  • Barry Gibb — lead, harmony and backing vocal, rhythm guitar
  • Robin Gibb — lead, harmony and backing vocal
  • Maurice Gibb — harmony and backing vocal, bass, piano, mellotron, guitar, organ, lead vocal on "It's Just the Way" and "Trafalgar" and drums on "Trafalgar"
  • Geoff Bridgford – drums
Additional personnel and production

Charts

References

  1. ↑ Allmusic review
  2. ↑ 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die. New York, NY: Universe, 2006. pg 165. (ISBN 0-7893-1371-5)
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