Their Greatest Hits: The Record stands as the best Bee Gees hits package available, assembling both vital European and American hits from their early-'60s period all the way through to 2001. Disc one includes their major '60s and early-'70s hits, up to "You Should Be Dancing." Included are their major American hits, such as "New York Mining Disaster 1941," "Massachusetts," "To Love Somebody," "Lonely Days," "How Can You Mend a Broken Heart," "Jive Talkin'," "Nights on Broadway," and "Words," as well as major European hits, such as "World" and the gorgeous "Don't Forget to Remember." Also included on disc one is the former B-side "If I Can't Have You" (popularized, of course, by Yvonne Elliman). Disc two continues the formula, beginning with the cultural phenomenon that was "Stayin' Alive" and continuing with "How Deep Is Your Love," "Night Fever," "Too Much Heaven," "Tragedy," and "Love You Inside and Out." Disc two also includes Barry Gibb's hit duet with Barbra Streisand, "Guilty," as well as major European hits such as "You Win Again" and "For Whom the Bell Tolls," and later American hits such as "One," "Alone," and their superb 2001 single "This Is Where I Came In." As a bonus treat, the album includes four newly recorded versions of Bee Gees songs which became hits for other artists. These include "Emotion," which was popularized by Samantha Sang and later Destiny's Child; "Heartbreaker," which was a comeback smash for Dionne Warwick; the chart-topping "Islands in the Stream," which was a hit for Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton; and "Immortality," a European hit for Celine Dion. A wonderful, stellar collection through and through from one of the rock era's biggest, brightest, most influential, and most exciting acts. As a final note, the European version of this collection includes two songs which were annoyingly left off the American version: "Jumbo" and "My World." ~ Jose F. Promis, All Music Guide
Joe Lizzi (Mixing Assistant), Tim Cansfield (Guitar), Suha Gur (Digital Transfer Assistant), Robert Stigwood (Producer), David Vance (Photography), Ed Caraeff (Booklet), Bill Levenson (Compilation Coordinator), Bill Shepherd Singers (Conductor), Brian Tench (Engineer), Joe Lizzi (Mixing), Randee Saint Nicholas (Photography), Kenny Clayton (Conductor), Richard Manwaring (Engineer), Nick Blacona (Assistant Engineer), Dick Ashby (Compilation Coordinator), Bob Ludwig (Mastering), Alan Clark (Keyboards), Mike Claydon (Engineer), Russ Titelman (Producer), John Blanch (Assistant Engineer), John Pantry (Engineer), Femi Jiya (Engineer), Russ Titelman (Mixing), Anton Corbijn (Photography), Bill Shepherd Singers (Arranger), Luis Jardim (Percussion), Clem Cattini (Drums), Barbra Streisand (Performer), Jason Goldstein (Assistant Engineer), Bee Gees (Producer), John Merchant (Technical Producer), Tim Moore (Keyboards), Blue Weaver (Synthesizer), Jeff Bova (Synthesizer Bass), Bill Shepherd (Director), Brian Tench (Producer), Dennis Bryon (Drums), Robbie Kondor (Keyboards), Trevor Murrell (Drums), Joe Lala (Percussion), Damon Lyon-Shaw (Engineer), Boneroo Horns (Brass), Bee Gees (Vocals), Robin Gibb (Producer), Karl Richardson (Producer), Blue Weaver (Vibraphone), Blue Weaver (Keyboards), Arif Mardin (Arranger), Steve Rucker (Drums), Mark Robinson (Second Engineer), Bill Shepherd (Arranger), Barry Gibb (Executive Producer), Blue Weaver (Piano), Steve Ferrone (Drums), Colin Petersen (Drums), George "Chocolate" Perry (Bass), Kenny Clayton (Arranger), Albhy Galuten (Producer), Barry Gibb (Producer), John Merchant (Engineer), Barry Gibb (Mixing), David Elliott (Tambourine), Hugh Turvey (Cover Photo), Arif Mardin (Producer), Stephen Stills (Percussion), Maurice Gibb (Executive Producer), Anton Corbijn (Booklet), Robin Gibb (Executive Producer), Suha Gur (Digital Transfers), Noel Rafferty (Assistant Engineer), Maurice Gibb (Mixing), Gene Orloff (Concert Master), Bill Shepherd (Conductor), Robin Gibb (Mixing), Vince Melouney (Guitar), Geoff Bridgford (Drums), Andy Knight (Engineer), Femi Jiya (Mixing), Tim Moore (Programming), Lewis Hahn (Mixing Engineer), Jimmy Bralower (Programming), David Elliott (Percussion), Ashley Gibb (Assistant Engineer), Peter-John Vettese (Keyboards), Ed Caraeff (Photography), Karl Richardson (Engineer), David Vance (Booklet), Ossie Byrne (Producer), John Merchant (Mastering Assistant), Nathan East (Bass), Alan Kendall (Guitar), Dave O'Donnell (Mixing)
Their Greatest Hits: The Record is the career retrospective greatest hits album by the Bee Gees, released on UTV Records in November 2001. The album includes 40 tracks spanning over 35 years of music. Four of the songs were new recordings of classic Gibb compositions originally recorded by other artists, including "Emotion" (Samantha Sang), "Heartbreaker" (Dionne Warwick), "Islands In The Stream" (Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton), and "Immortality" (Celine Dion). It also features the Barry Gibb duet with Barbra Streisand, "Guilty", which originally appeared on Streisand's 1980 album of the same name.
The album peaked at #5 twice in the UK, the first time upon its release in 2001 and again in January 2003 (following the death of Maurice Gibb). It has since been certifed triple platinum by the BPI for sales of over 900,000 copies.
In the US, the album debuted on the Billboard 200 album chart at #49. It spent a total of 40 weeks on the chart and was certified platinum by the RIAA in February 2002 for sales of over 1 million copies there.
There are two bonus songs on the Japanese release, "Melody Fair" and "My World". Also there are two bonus songs on the UK release, "Jumbo" and "My World". Copies sold at the American retailer Target included a bonus disc entitled 5 Live Recordings.
Most of the songs are in chronological order, except for the placement of "You Should Be Dancing," which was released before "Love So Right". Also, "Spicks And Specks," a song from 1966 ends Disc Two, which makes it something of a bonus track.
"Emotion" and "Heartbreaker" were recorded in 1994 as part of a Bee Gees compilation album called Love Songs which was never released. "Islands In The Stream" was recorded in 2001 with Robin singing lead in contemporary R&B sound rather than the more traditional arrangement like that heard on One Night Only, which had Barry singing lead (Barry did not perform vocals on this revised version). "Immortality" is the original writing demo from 1996, which includes Barry singing in high falsetto as a guide to Celine Dion who would go on to record the song in 1997.
The very first UK pressings used the wrong version of "How Can You Mend a Broken Heart?" with Barry singing the opening verse. A mastering fault was also present in "More Than a Woman", with the audio noticeably dipping to the right briefly during the first verse. These were corrected after several thousand copies had already been distributed.
Track listing
All compositions by Barry, Robin and Maurice Gibb, except as indicated. ** Only appears in Japan Bonus Tracks version.
