Greenfields: the Gibb..

In 1984, Barry Gibb released his first solo album, which didn’t really do anything. Thirty two years later, he issued his second one, which reached #2 in the UK. Considering the time between his first two solo offerings, it’s akin to London buses, as his third has just hit the shelves. But it cannot be classed as a solo release, as he’s joined by a plethora of acquaintances in a ‘duets album’.Now, I have to admit to having heard of a mere four of those whom join him on this, but that didn’t impinge on my enjoyment of this. And why would it. A good song is always a good song in whatever style it's sung and the dozen on here are just that. Bar a couple of tracks, the whole thing is very country flavoured, and even those couple are re-imagined as country songs, and the Bee Gees wrote a lot of songs in that style.The opener, ‘I’ve Gotta Get A Message To You’ with Keith Urban sets the scene, and it’s him who takes the lead over some very delicate background orchestra. ‘Words Of A Fool’ is a previously unreleased song and hearing this it’s difficult to understand why. It’s a corker! ‘Run To Me’ is the worst thing here, but I think that’s down to the seemingly ‘groaning’ vocal of Brandi Carlile that seems to be all the rage at the moment. It’s still decent. Dolly Parton duets on ‘Words’ and, missing the original piano ending, finishes on the last word of the lyrics. Gibb, Miranda Lambert and Jay Buchanan have managed to transform the organ led ‘Jive Talkin’ into a bluegrass/country/easy listening hybrid. It’s a bit of surprise but it works. Buchanan then belts out ‘To Love Somebody’ with Barry taking the restrained parts. The earliest song here is ‘Butterfly’ (and, if you’re wondering, the title of this album is taken from the opening lyric of this song), also imbued with some bluegrass backing and Mr Gibb playing acoustic, one of just two tracks he picks up a guitar for.At 74, his, at times, tremulous voice is still in fine fettle and I think this is going to do rather well. Hopefully there’ll be a volume two somewhere along the way. I mean, he’s the second most successful songwriter in history, so there are enough Gibb songs to choose from.Sir Barry Alan Crompton Gibb CBE has already lain down the marker for the rest of the year.

Top prices paid, for what one expects to be the best, by that I take all into consideration, but stop at the first flaw1, a nasty red sticker placed on the cling wrapThen to add insult to it all, its a naff card sleeve, not a plastic box to place your CD in.Universal have come up trumps again, Rob the punters blind, again!Amazon do not say it is a naff card sleeve and they charged me postage.As for contents, no comment because I have not opened it, but from the clips I have heard, it should be a great albumThis i think is the third title, best of, Vol. Etc, but will we see another Vol. I would hope so, but doubt full.

Another comeback from Barry Gibb.This time he has help from the leading singers in country music. Fellow legends like Dolly Parton, Olivia Newton-John and Keith Urban join Sir Barry to reinterpret Bee Gees classics. It really works and combines to deliver an epic album.Those reviewers giving the album one star due to the packaging of the cd really aren't doing the buying public a favour here. But these days people do love moaning.Based on the great music delivered on Greenfields this is a definite 5 star album.Looking forward to volume 2 Sir Barry!!

A really superb CD with excellent versions of great songs. Great to hear them with other artists.Why do people complain about the case hat the CD comes in? Surely it is the music that matters.

Like that these classic Bee Gees songs retain their classic sound with enough added from arrangements and the new voices. Great to listen to and my favourites on this first few listens are Too Much Heaven with Alison Krauss, Run to me with Brandi Carlile and a new song to me although almost 50 years old Butterfly with Dave Rawlings and Gillian Welch.