Bee Gees - Spirits Having Flown (1979) - Lp

Spirits Having Flown is the fifteenth album released by the Bee Gees. It was the group's first album after their collaboration on the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack. The album's first three tracks were released as singles and all reached No. 1 in the US.
Spirits Having Flown marked the tail end of the band's most successful era, prior to a severe downturn in the early 1980s when they would endure a near-total radio blackout (particularly in America) that Robin Gibb would refer to as "censorship" and "evil" in interviews.
Spirits Having Flown is regarded today as something of a letdown, representing the tail-end of the Bee Gees' period of greatest success, perhaps because it preceded a two-year layoff that, in turn, heralded a decline in their fortunes. At the time, however, no one heard anything less than what they expected -- beautiful slow dance numbers ("Too Much Heaven," "Love You Inside Out"), achingly gorgeous romantic numbers ("Reaching Out"), soaring ballads ("Spirits (Having Flown)"), and pounding dance-rock numbers ("Tragedy"). If a few songs on the LP's second side, like "Stop (Think Again)" or "Search, Find," weren't quite up to that high standard, even the latter song displayed dazzling interwoven vocals on the choruses (which were pretty infectious) that made the trip worthwhile. The record showcased the usual superb singing, and featured the most delicate and ambitious production and arrangements in their history. It may have lacked the spirit of freedom and experimentation found on Main Course or Children of the World, but in its place was a boldness that manifested itself not only in the singing, but also the most intricate and ambitious production and arrangements of the group's entire history. This was also the first Bee Gees album to get serious airplay on black radio stations, a major breakthrough for the trio and one of the last bits of unfinished business in the group's move into soul music.

Side A
A1. "Tragedy"  (5:03)
A2. "Too Much Heaven"    (4:55)
A3. "Love You Inside Out"    (4:11)
A4. "Reaching Out"    (4:05)
A5. "Spirits (Having Flown)"   (5:19)

Side B
B1. "Search, Find"    (4:13)
B2. "Stop (Think Again)"   (6:40)
B3. "Living Together"   Robin & Barry (4:21)
B4. "I'm Satisfied"   (3:55)
B5. "Until"    (2:27)

all songs written-by Barry Gibb except were notice.

Bee Gees

• Barry Gibb – vocals, rhythm guitar
• Robin Gibb – vocals, lead vocals on "Living Together"
• Maurice Gibb – bass, harmony vocals

Bee Gees Band

• Alan Kendall – lead guitar
• Blue Weaver – synthesiser, piano, keyboards, vibraphone, Arp
• Dennis Bryon – drums

Additional personnel

• Neal Bonsanti – horns
• Gary Brown – saxophone
• Harold Cowart – bass
• Ken Faulk – horns
• Albhy Galuten – synthesiser, bass, conductor
• Peter Graves – Horns
• Joe Lala – percussion, conga
• Lee Loughnane – horns
• Herbie Mann – flute
• James Pankow – horns
• Walter Parazaider – horns
• Bill Purse – horns
• Whit Sidener – horns
• George Terry – guitar
• Stan Webb – horns
• Daniel Ben Zubulon – percussion, conga
• Mastered by George Marino at Sterling Sound, NYC

Companies, etc.

• Manufactured By – Polydor B.V.
• Marketed By – Polydor B.V.
• Phonographic Copyright (p) – RSO Records, Inc.
• Copyright (c) – RSO Records, Inc.

Credits

• Art Direction, Photography, Design – Ed Caraeff Studio
• Producer – Albhy Galuten, The Bee Gees*, Karl Richardson

Notes
Released: 5 February 1979
Recorded: March – November 1978 at Criteria Studios, Miami
Genre: Soul, Pop
Style: Disco
Length: 45:53

Label - RSO Records