Bee Gees: The Studio Albums 1967-68 (Bee Gees' 1st, Horizontal, Idea) [Box set]

This first reissue of the Bee Gees classic albums by Rhino Records proves to be a collectors dream. Not only are "Bee Gees 1st", "Horizontal" and "Idea" Remastered, but each album's song is repeated in Mono/Stereo. Each album is suited with an additional album of outtakes, alternate versions and unreleased material.

The first album contains all three versions of the Bee Gees first hit, "New York Mining Disaster 1941". There are several album cuts, alternate versions and some new material such as the sixties rocking `Gilbert Green" and "Mr. Wallor's Wailing Wall" with Robin going at it with warbling intensity via a vaudeville style. Robin's lead on "One Minute Woman" proves that it must have been a tough choice of which brother's lead vocal to use on the original album. "House of Lords" contains some nice original vocals while "I've Got To Learn" brings out the rock and roll the Bee Gees so deftly handled.

"Horizontals" supplement disc contains the rare "Barker Of The UFO" and other B-Sides such as "Sir Geoffrey Save The World" and "Sinking Ships". "Out Of Line" and "Ring My Bell" are true curiosities in their originality and "Deeply, Deeply Me" has a Middle-Eastern flavor with Robin showing his vocal prowess. "Mrs. Gillespie's Refrigerator" is a true rocker with commercial hints. The three Christmas songs are rare and unusual additions, especially for a box set such as this.

The "Idea" second disc contains some alternate songs, along with rare B-Sides, such as "The Singer Sang his Song" (originally optioned for an A-Side release) and the rare A-Side, "Jumbo". Following in the Christmas foot-steps of novelty songs, the Bee Gees give us two versions of "Coke commercials" released in their sixties heyday. "Chocolate Symphony" and "Bridges Crossing Rivers" prove the Bee Gees were an original band with more than clever hooks and lyrics.

Considering that this entire set is completely Remastered and there is ample new material along with alternate versions and outtakes, this is a Bee Gees fan dream come true. Obviously, there is still a wealth of material unreleased, but this should satisfy the public as to what also happened with the Bee Gees writing and signing in the late sixties. It's a true gift of music.

This set contains extensive notes and several new, never before seen photos. The set is marketed in digi-paks (half cardboard and plastic), which has proven to be less durable than simple jewel cases. This Box Set is much more inclusive than their "Tales" Box Set and "The Record" double-disc.

Thanks Rhino Records for releasing this. The Bee Gees first three international albums (The Bee Gees First, Horizontal & Idea). There are several reasons for buying this box set. The sound quality, the packaging & the previously unrealeased tracks. This is a wonderful beginning and I hope Rhino Records will release the remaining Bee Gees catalogue in remastered and re-packaged form!

I'm a big Bee Gees fan. I have every official thing they ever released and then some. I even bought the Reprise versions of their Polydor and Universal CDs just for the sake of collecting. I'm excited about this release, but give it 4 stars for price jacking. Sadly I will most likely still buy this boxset to get the previosuly unreleased tracks that I don't already have and because it is mandatory for my collection, but looking at the track listings and knowing the average track back then was less than 3 minutes, they could easily have packaged this set on 3 CDs. This is just another example of those marketing jerks trying to milk the consumer by "expanding" the set to 6CDs with each CD clocking in at alittle over 35 minutes.