Bee Gees Fan Only!

Besides the #1 hit "How Can You Mend A Broken Heart" and interesting song "Don't Want To Live Inside Myself", the rest of the album is somewhat uneven and lackluster. I don't mean to sound like a downer, but it could of been better. The two songs I mentioned is found in the box set which will save you from buying this album. I won't say "Don't waste your money on this!" because you might still like it, but they certainly had better albums than this!

Their finest hour.

Well 'England Expects' doesn't really fit as a title. For many years my favourite Bee Gees recording was 'Life in a tin can' until the age of CD and re-release came upon us and I discovered this one. Bill Shepherd's accompaniment on this record make it one of the most finely orchestrated pop records made in my opinion (note I say pop and not rock). The song writing finds the Bee Gees in true introspective pre-disco mode, moody and reflective. Whereas their previous album '2 years on' seems to be little more than a collection of solo songs written while the brothers were apart this album could be said to be the true sequel to Odessa, being a far more cohesive work. Critics and fans vary on this record mainly because it is a sit down and listen as opposed to get up and dance Bee Gees record but it is probably their finest of their 'arty' period - from their first album to Mr Natural - so if you like that Bee Gees era this album comes highly recomended.

Uneven: great and awful

A tale of two albums.

Great: "How Can You Mend a Broken Heart" was the Bee Gees' first US #1 hit; "Israel" is a terrific & passionate song; "Somebody Stop the Music", "Trafalgar" and "Don't Wanna Live Inside Myself" are layered and interesting in a way the Bee Gees hadn't been since "Odessa"; and I have always loved the finale, the lush "Walking Back to Waterloo" (for many years my favorite Bee Gees song).

Awful: "Dearest" has got to be the worst song they ever recorded, embarassingly and comically bad. It's hard not to laugh when you hear it. "Remembering" is hardly better. For some reason, the songs where Robin takes the lead vocals just don't work on this album: "Lion In Winter" and "When Do I" are also bad.

For me, the great stuff on this album easily outweighs the bad, thus the high rating. But be prepared for some jarring potholes when motoring thru this album.