words@brothersgibb.com message digest 09/06/2015 03:01 (#2015-769)
2 messages included in this issue
Date: Sat, 5 Sep 2015 19:23:59 -0600
From: kittyLarue <marjlarue@gmail.com>
Subject: Re: Dennis bio
I agree, Arif did set up the foundation on Main Course, but Albhy and Co.
had a highly polished sound, at least to me. Main Course still had a
human-band feel that was lost, or at least, less on COTW. Remember, I said
I'm not taking anything away from the Gibbs or the band; the Karlby sound
was Main Course on steroids.
You stated that Albhy probably had Barry's ear early on, I agree and it
reflects in the sound; especially the over abundance of falsetto. Even
Barry's falsetto had a harsher (twisting of the knobs) sound on COTW as
compared to MC. Barry's writing also changed when Albhy came on board, and
we know he [Albhy] wasn't hanging out with the twins. Too bad he didn't
hang around for Barry's 80s solo efforts.
Sal continues with:
I'm not too sure Albhy had that much of a critical impact on SNF either. I
don't think it was until Spirits when he makes his impact felt. I wonder if
that is where the tension that Dennis speaks of really starts.
Kitt
I'm not sure Albhy had a critical impact on anything, but he certainly had
a commercial impact on the Gibb production output.
As far as the tension starting with Sprits, surely you jest. I think that
ship had sailed by then. Wasn't it on Staying Alive that Dennis needed to
leave for family matters and upon his return part of his job had been taken
over by Albhy and the Techno Beat? Clearly this was before SHF, or was it
YSBD? If so, that's even earlier. I think those tensions started not too
long after Albhy's arrival.
I always thought Blue was pivotal to their sound, as was Mo. They sound
like a band--not a machine. Speaking of Mo, I asked Dennis this:
"This is a two part question. You stated you loved working with Robin and
Mo; when working with the twins as oppose to all 3 brothers, what was the
difference in the creative process? And what was it about working with
Robin and Mo that you loved?"
Dennis said, "Mo was creative in production. Robin would come in at night
and work all night. I loved singing with them".
Kitt-
On Saturday, September 5, 2015, Salvatore Compoccia via words <
words@brothersgibb.com> wrote:
>
> >This is the question I asked Dennis at his book signing:
>
> >"You implied the band felt left out after Albhy came on board and created
> the production team with Barry and >Karl; how did Robin and Mo feel about
> the Barry/Karlby team?
>
> >Dennis stated, hesitantly--"There was a lot of tension. Robin and Mo
> probably didn't feel they got the respect >they deserved.
>
>
> I would think Mo definitely didn't feel respected by Albhy. As for Robin,
> comments Albhy made in the book indicate he did have respect for Robin
> musically.
>
> Although, I do not recall Albhy ever making any reference to Robin's
> voice. He was definitely enthralled with Barry's voice, presumably the
> falsetto as well. But, never a mention about Robin's famous vibrato or his
> role as a lead vocalist prior to Albhy's arrival. Perhaps one can infer
> that he didn't care for Robin's voice. Could that have played a part in
> Robin's drastic reduction in lead vocals during that period?
>
>
> > But to be fair to Albhy, he was selling records. I'm not taking
>> anything away from the Gibbs, but Albhy >brought in "that" sound that made
>> the Gibbs more famous and richer.
>
>
> Kitt
>
>
>>
>>
> Did he really? I have always thought it was Arif Mardin who set up the
> foundation for that "sound:, on Main Course and then it developed into the
> sound of SNF (COTW serving as a precursor). So I don't agree with you that
> Albhy "brought" it in. Blue probably had more to do with developing the,
> well, "disco" sound on COTW and SNF with his use of the new synthesizers
> and his overall keyboard playing, as well as his own (uncredited)
> production work.Not to mention Barry's impact! Blue said in the book that
> COTW would not have been much different if Albhy wasn't there and that the
> only reason Albhy and Karl got co-producer credits and he and the band
> didn't was because Albhy and Karl got it down on paper and they didn't
> think of it.
>
> I'm not too sure Albhy had that much of a critical impact on SNF either. I
> don't think it was until Spirits when he makes his impact felt. I wonder if
> that is where the tension that Dennis speaks of really starts.
>
> Sal
>
>
> Salvatore Compoccia
> compoccia@aol.com
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: kittyLarue >
> To: words List Member >
> Sent: Thu, Sep 3, 2015 10:27 am
> Subject: [words] Dennis bio
>
>
> On Wed, Sep 2, 2015 at 10:42 AM, Salvatore Compoccia via words <
> words@brothersgibb.com
> > wrote:
>
>> My suspicion is that he did not want to or maybe could not disclose as
>> much as he could have. All in all, it's a rather tame account of his years
>> with the Bee Gees and from a Welshman who does not seem all that timid.
>
>
> If he "could not" disclose as much as he could have, that must have been
> one hell of a legal document stopping previous employees from speaking
> candidly.
>
> Dennis' remarks seem to confirm a thought I, and I would guess others here
>> on the List, have had about Albhy. Specifically, that he was not liked by
>> the band and I suspect by others in the Bee Gees camp. I would bet Maurice
>> equally resented Albhy, since Albhy sought (and ultimately succeeded) in
>> replacing Maurice on bass and marginalized him as a musician in the band (I
>> suspect Mo's drinking was only part of it).
>
>
> Even prior to Dennis' book I had the impression some of the band members
> didn't care too much for Albhy, or at least his methods. This is the
> question I asked Dennis at his book signing:
>
> "You implied the band felt left out after Albhy came on board and created
> the production team with Barry and Karl; how did Robin and Mo feel about
> the Barry/Karlby team?
>
> Dennis stated, hesitantly--"There was a lot of tension. Robin and Mo
> probably didn't feel they got the respect they deserved. ALL promised were
> broken. I'm not going to get on an Albhy crusade!" I spoke with his wife
> Kayte for quite a while... she stated "so many broken promises". She
> appears very down to earth. If only she would write a book!
>
> What I find striking was not only his strong opinions and criticisms from
>> the get go and how he sought to exert control of the musical process, but
>> how much he was ALLOWED to get away with. Which leads me to believe Barry
>> either gave his tacit support for Albhy's positions or it was the "Barry
>> don't like confrontations" thing again. More likely the former.
>
>
> I've always felt this way. Albhy could never have had so much control had
> it not been allowed by the leader--which was Barry. But to be fair to
> Albhy, he was selling records. I'm not taking anything away from the Gibbs,
> but Albhy brought in "that" sound that made the Gibbs more famous and
> richer. (Who made them laughable?) But it caused a lot of tension between a
> group of musicians that had been there prior to Albhy's arrival.
>
> The whole "don't like confrontations" thing is a crock, at least to me. As
> a leader that is part of the job. Perhaps he only feels comfortable with
> confrontation in the public, say ET!
>
> A few other comments. He got very close to Barry and eventually with Andy,
>> as well. He seemed to really like Maurice (he doesn't mention a word about
>> his drinking that I recall) and liked and respected Robin as a musical
>> talent, but made it clear he was least connected to him personally and that
>> Robin was more of a loner and not easy to get close to (probably true?).
>
>
> Someone asked if he [Dennis] was still friends with Barry, Dennis said
> no.
> Someone asked who was his favorite. Dennis said he was closer to Barry. I
> thought perhaps he should have spoken to Colin before embarking on this
> friendship.
>
>
> The lack of any mention of R&M's deaths was very odd.
>
>
> Someone asked about their deaths. Dennis said he called Barry after Mo
> died, but he was to upset to come to the phone. He said he was surprised by
> Mo's death, but not Robin as Robin had been sick. Said he was devastated by
> both.
>
>
> Kitt-
>
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Date: Sun, 6 Sep 2015 11:33:53 +0800
From: Mark Crohan <byfinger@hotmail.com>
Subject: Albhy
To me I was always intrigued by Joes interview with Albhy for Da Book. When Albhy impressed on Barry that he now had the power for his projects to afford the best musicians in the world not just be tied to the band. Being the studio perfectionist that Bar
Mark
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End words@brothersgibb.com message digest 09/06/2015 03:01 (#2015-769)