‘To Love Somebody’ is the title of a new Ace compilation that looks at the considerable song writing talents of the BEE GEE Brothers, Barry, Maurice and Robin. The 24 track collection is the latest instalment in the label’s celebration of the great tunesmiths and clearly, on the evidence here, the Gibb boys are right up there with the best.
Soul-wise you can enjoy the defining version of ‘How Do You Mend A Broken Heart’ from Al Green, ‘I’ve Gotta Get A Message To You’ from Percy Sledge, ‘Words’ from Bettye Swan, Nina Simone’s version of ‘I Can’t See Nobody’, The Staples Singers’ take on ‘Give A Hand Take A Hand’ and, the real bonus, a wonderfully mournful version of ‘To Love Somebody’ from James Carr.
Pop-wise, there are inclusions from people like the Marbles, Tommy Roe, Los Bravos, Sandie Shaw and Lulu. Her inclusion is a gospel flavoured ‘Bury Me Down By The River’. At the time she was, of course, married to Maurice Gibb and anoraks will need to know that the cut was recorded at the Criteria Studios in Miami.
