Alive (Bee Gees song)
{{Infobox song
| name = Alive
| cover = Alive 1.JPG
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = Bee Gees
| album = To Whom It May Concern
| B-side = Paper Mache, Cabbages And Kings
| released = 10 November 1972
| recorded = 21 October 1971
IBC Studios, London
| studio =
| venue =
| genre = Soft rock, symphonic, pop
| length = 4:03
| label = Polydor, Philips (elsewhere)
Atco (US/CA)
| writer = Barry Gibb, Maurice Gibb
| producer = Robert Stigwood, Barry Gibb, Robin Gibb, Maurice Gibb
| prev_title = Run To Me
| prev_year = 1972
| next_title = Saw a New Morning
| next_year = 1973
| misc = {{Audio sample
| type = single
| file = BeeGeesAlive.ogg
}}
}}
"Alive" is a ballad recorded by the Bee Gees for their album To Whom It May Concern. It was the second and last single from the album released on 10 November 1972 worldwide. The song was credited to Barry and Maurice Gibb and produced by the Gibbs and their manager Robert Stigwood.{{cite magazine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Bw8EAAAAMBAJ&q=bee+gees+alive+1972&pg=PA85 |title=Billboard: Radio Action and Pick Singles |magazine=Billboard |date=November 4, 1972 |page=85 |access-date=2 January 2015}}
Composition and recording
It was another piano ballad (customary for Bee Gees singles during this period), which Barry has noted that he doesn't even remember writing. As mastered for the album, the inherent dynamic range in the vocal and piano has unfortunately been compressed almost out of existence, but it still comes across as an expressive ballad.
"Alive" was recorded on October 21, 1971, "My World" having also been recorded that previous week. Geoff Bridgford's drum work on this song, made his last appearance on any Bee Gees singles after he left in January 1972 (The previous single, "Run to Me" was recorded after Bridgford's departure).{{cite web|url=http://www.columbia.edu/~brennan/beegees/71.html |title=Gibb Songs: 1971 |last=Brennan |first=Joseph|website=Columbia.edu |access-date=1 February 2015}}
Releases
The remastered version found on Tales from the Brothers Gibb somewhat increases the range missing from the original album release. The single reached number 34 on the US charts in 1973 and debuted on #63 on that chart.{{cite journal|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NQ8EAAAAMBAJ&q=bee+gees+alive+1972&pg=PA14 |title=Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart |date=November 18, 1972 |access-date=2 February 2015}} It was the group's last top 40 hit in either the US or UK until "Jive Talkin'" in 1975. "Alive" was the group's last release on the Atco label. In 1973, the Bee Gees' manager, Robert Stigwood formed his own label, RSO Records, where the Gibb brothers enjoyed their most success. On the promo video for the single, which was originally made for the Dutch TV programme TopPop and was broadcast on 23 December 1972,{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=39GyuBspzkw |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/39GyuBspzkw |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live|title=The Bee Gees - Alive • TopPop|last=TopPop|date=20 August 2017|access-date=31 May 2019|publisher=YouTube}}{{cbignore}} Maurice first appears playing the piano, with Barry and Robin appearing only holding a microphone.
Reception
Billboard called the single a "dynamite, driving ballad."{{cite news|newspaper=Billboard|access-date=31 July 2020|title=Radio Action and Pick Singles|date=November 4, 1972|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-Billboard/70s/1972/BB-1972-11-04.pdf|page=85}} Cash Box described it as a "fine selection in traditional Bee Gees fashion."{{cite news|title=CashBox Record Reviews|date=November 4, 1972|page=20|accessdate=2021-12-11|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/70s/1972/Cash-Box-1972-11-04.pdf|newspaper=Cash Box}} Record World called it a "romantic gem filled with those lush strings and velvet harmonies."{{cite magazine|magazine=Record World|date=November 4, 1972|accessdate=2023-03-28|title=Single Picks|page=16|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Record-World/70s/72/RW-1972-11-04.pdf}}
Personnel
- Barry Gibb — lead vocals
- Maurice Gibb — piano, bass
- Geoff Bridgford — drums
- Bill Shepherd — orchestral arrangement
Charts
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
=Weekly charts=
{{col-2}}
=Year-end charts=
| class="wikitable sortable"
!Chart (1972-1973) !Position |
| Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)
|align="center"|23 |
{{col-end}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Bee Gees}}
{{Bee Gees singles}}
{{Demis Roussos}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Alive (Bee Gees Song)}}
Category:Songs written by Barry Gibb
Category:Songs written by Maurice Gibb
Category:Song recordings produced by Robert Stigwood
Category:Song recordings produced by Barry Gibb
Category:Song recordings produced by Robin Gibb