Still Waters (Bee Gees album)
Still Waters | ||||
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Studio album by the Bee Gees | ||||
Released | 10 March 1997 | |||
Recorded | October 1995 – August 1996 | |||
Studio | Middle Ear Studios, Miami Beach | |||
Genre |
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Length | 53:40 | |||
Label |
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Producer |
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the Bee Gees chronology | ||||
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Still Waters is the twenty-first and penultimate studio album by the Bee Gees, released on 10 March 1997 in the UK by Polydor Records, and on 6 May the same year in the US by A&M Records. The group made the album with a variety of top producers, including Russ Titelman, David Foster, Hugh Padgham, and Arif Mardin.
Background
In 1994, the Bee Gees and Polydor Records had planned a major tour to promote Size Isn't Everything (1993) but it was postponed in February the same year due to Barry Gibb's trouble with arthritis in his back, right hand and right knee. Following the cancellation of the tour, Robin Gibb told the press that the group was working on an album of acoustic versions of songs they had written for other artists. The project was later called Love Songs, which featured some new recordings and was announced as the Bee Gees' new album in September 1994 and planned for release on 14 February (Valentine's Day) of 1995. However, their record company rejected the album.[1]
Around 1994, the Bee Gees did record six songs, one of which was called "Miracles Happen" which was written and recorded to be the title song for a new film version of Miracle on 34th Street; the Bee Gees got the job in June 1994 and quickly returned this recording, with a boys’ choir and a big string section backing them. The filmmakers however decided later to use only old Christmas songs. On the same session, they also did their own version of their compositions such as "Emotion" (Samantha Sang), "Heartbreaker" (Dionne Warwick), "Love Never Dies" and "Rings Around the Moon", which were later released as B-sides.[1]
Recording
In July 1995, they started with seven demos for what would become included on the album, along with four demos recorded in the second quarter of 1995. In the October 1995 sessions they recorded their rendition of "Will You Love Me Tomorrow" for a Carole King tribute album Tapestry Revisited: A Tribute to Carole King.[2]
In March 1996, they relocated to The Hit Factory in New York to record two songs. Around 1996, the Bee Gees used session musicians to complete the entire album, produced by Russ Titelman. Also in 1996, the Bee Gees recorded two songs with two members of P.M. Dawn, Attrel Cordes and Jarett Cordes. The producer on "With My Eyes Closed" was Raphael Saadiq. "Still Waters (Run Deep)" was produced by Hugh Padgham. The last song recorded for the album was "Closer than Close" which features Maurice Gibb's lead vocals produced by the brothers themselves.[3]
Release and critical reception
Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
AllMusic | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Chicago Tribune | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Entertainment Weekly | C[6] |
Los Angeles Times | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Rolling Stone | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
The Rolling Stone Album Guide | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Though receiving lukewarm reviews from critics, the album was their most successful album in almost twenty years; it was released at a time when the Bee Gees were being awarded for lifetime achievements, had recently been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and were regaining high exposure on television, particularly VH1. The album peaked at No. 2 on the UK Albums Chart and No. 11 in the United States. The first single off the album, "Alone", was a worldwide hit, peaking at No. 5 in the UK and No. 28 in the United States, where it began as a "hot shot debut" at No. 34. "I Could Not Love You More" and "Still Waters (Run Deep)" also reached the UK top 20.
A reviewer for the newspaper Muzykalnaya Gazeta wrote: "There is life in the old dog yet! The water is still flowing in the river under the family name of Bee Gees! The brothers Barry, Maurice, and Robin Gibb did their best once again, for the umpteenth time, or rather to be even said, in their own style, as always."[10]
In a special agreement with Target, Polydor also sold a special edition of the album which included a bonus CD of songs from their VH1 Storytellers concert. This CD has never been made commercially available outside of the Target agreement.
Aftermath
In 2003 Robin Gibb re-recorded the track "My Lover's Prayer" as a duet with Alistair Griffin. This reached No. 5 on the UK Singles Chart as a double A-side single with Griffin's solo recording of "Bring It On". It also appears on Griffin's debut album Bring It On, which reached No. 12 on the UK Albums Chart.
The album became one of the first of the Bee Gees' catalogue to be re-released on Reprise Records after the group regained the rights to all of their recordings in 2006.
Track listing
All songs written by Barry, Robin and Maurice Gibb.
No. | Title | Lead vocal(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "Alone" | Barry and Robin | 4:49 |
2. | "I Surrender" | Barry | 4:18 |
3. | "I Could Not Love You More" | Barry | 3:43 |
4. | "Still Waters Run Deep" | Barry and Robin | 4:08 |
5. | "My Lover's Prayer" | Barry and Robin | 4:00 |
6. | "With My Eyes Closed" | Barry | 4:19 |
7. | "Irresistible Force" | Robin and Barry | 4:36 |
8. | "Closer than Close" | Maurice | 4:34 |
9. | "I Will" | Barry and Robin | 5:08 |
10. | "Obsessions" | Barry | 4:43 |
11. | "Miracles Happen" | Barry | 4:12 |
12. | "Smoke and Mirrors" | Robin and Barry | 5:00 |
Total length: | 53:40 |
No. | Title | Lead vocal(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
13. | "Rings Around the Moon" | Robin | 4:30 |
14. | "Love Never Dies" | Robin and Maurice | 4:07 |
Personnel
Bee Gees
- Barry Gibb – vocals, guitars (1, 4), drum programming (1, 7), additional drum programming (12), arrangements (12)
- Robin Gibb – vocals, arrangements (12)
- Maurice Gibb – vocals, keyboards (1, 2, 4, 7, 8, 11, 12), guitars (1, 4), arrangements (12)
Additional personnel
- Alan Clark – keyboards (1)
- Robbie Kondor – keyboards (1, 5, 7, 11), drum programming (5), arrangements (5), synth horns (12)
- Jeff Bova – synth bass (1, 12), keyboards (12)
- Chuckii Booker – synthesizer programming (2)
- Doug Rasheed – synthesizer programming (2)
- Gen Rubin – synthesizer programming (2)
- David Foster – keyboards (3)
- Simon Franglen – Synclavier programming (3)
- Mike McAvoy – keyboards (4), guitars (4)
- Rob Mounsey – additional keyboards (5)
- Kelvin Wooten – keyboards (6)
- Peter-John Vettese – keyboards (8), programming (8)
- Steve Skinner – synthesizers (9, 10), arrangements (9, 10)
- Alan Kendall – guitars (2, 4, 8)
- Michael Thompson – guitars (2), electric guitars (3)
- Dean Parks – acoustic guitars (3)
- Marc Shulman – guitars (5, 12)
- Spanky Alford – guitars (6)
- Carl Verhyn – guitars (6)
- Raphael Saadiq – guitars (6), bass (6), drum programming (6), additional vocals (6)
- Carlos Alomar – guitars (7, 11)
- Waddy Wachtel – guitars (7, 11)
- Pino Palladino – bass (4, 7, 11)
- Anthony Jackson – bass (5)
- George "Chocolate" Perry – bass (12)
- Jimmy Bralower – drum programming (1), ride cymbal (5), drum loops (12), additional drum programming (12)
- Manu Katché – drums (4)
- Steve Jordan – drums (7, 11)
- Joe Mardin – drum loops (9)
- David Halpern – hi-hat (1), additional toms (1)
- David Elliott – marching drum (1), tambourine (1)
- Ralph MacDonald – tambourine (1)
- Steven Wolf – hi-hat (12)
- Russ Titelman – arrangements (5, 12), additional drum programming (12)
- Arif Mardin – string arrangements (5, 9, 10), arrangements (9, 10)
- Gene Orloff – concertmaster (5, 9, 10)
- Florida's Singing Sons Boys Choir – choir (11)
- Jeffri Bantz – choir director (11)
Production
- Bee Gees – executive producers, producers (1, 2, 8, 12)
- Russ Titelman – producer (1, 5, 12)
- David Foster – producer (2, 3)
- Hugh Padgham – producer (4, 7, 11)
- Raphael Saadiq – producer (6)
- Arif Mardin – producer (9, 10)
- Joanne Schwartz – production coordinator (1)
- Dawn Agent – production coordinator (6)
- Maureen Droney – production coordinator (6)
- Gloria Gabriel – production manager (9, 10)
- Stylorouge – design
- Anton Corbijn – photography
- Alex Delves – stylist
- Donna Karan – clothes
- Left Bank Management – management
Technical
- Bob Ludwig – mastering at Gateway Mastering (Portland, Maine)
- John Merchant – recording (1-8, 11, 12), vocal recording (9, 10), mastering assistant, technical production coordinator
- Dave O'Donnell – recording (1, 5, 12), mixing (1, 5, 12)
- Russ Titelman – mixing (1, 5, 12)
- Artie Smith – guitar and drum technician (1)
- Felipe Elgueta – recording (2, 3)
- Jon Gass – mixing (2)
- Humberto Gatica – recording (3)
- Mick Guzauski – mixing (3)
- Hugh Padgham – recording (4, 7, 11), mixing (4, 7, 11)
- Gerry Brown – recording (6), mixing (6)
- Darrin Harris – recording (6)
- Bill Malina – recording (6), digital editing (6)
- Raphael Saadiq – mixing (6)
- Michael O'Reilly – recording (9, 10)
- Jason Goldstein – assistant engineer (1, 9, 10)
- Jason Geek – recording assistant (4)
- Steve Eigner – assistant engineer (5, 12)
- Mike Viola – assistant engineer (5, 12)
- Doug Bohem – assistant engineer (6)
- Joe Zook – assistant engineer (6)
- Glen Marchese – recording assistant (7, 11)
- Richard Alderson – additional engineer (5)
- Joe Lizzi – mix assistant (1, 5, 12), assistant engineer (9, 10)
- Kyle Bess – mix assistant (2)
- Marnie Riley – mix assistant (3)
- Chris Carroll – mix assistant (4, 7, 11)
Charts
Weekly charts
| Year-end charts
|
Certifications
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Australia (ARIA)[39] | 2× Platinum | 140,000^ |
Austria (IFPI Austria)[40] | Gold | 25,000* |
Canada (Music Canada)[41] | Platinum | 100,000^ |
France (SNEP)[42] | Gold | 100,000* |
Germany (BVMI)[43] | Platinum | 500,000^ |
Netherlands (NVPI)[44] | Gold | 50,000^ |
New Zealand (RMNZ)[45] | 2× Platinum | 30,000^ |
Poland (ZPAV)[46] | Gold | 50,000* |
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[47] | Platinum | 50,000^ |
United Kingdom (BPI)[48] | Gold | 100,000^ |
United States (RIAA)[49] | 2× Platinum | 2,000,000^ |
Summaries | ||
Europe (IFPI)[50] | Platinum | 1,000,000* |
* Sales figures based on certification alone. |
References
- ^ a b Brennan, Joseph. "Gibb Songs: 1994". Retrieved 10 March 2015.
- ^ Brennan, Joseph. "Gibb Songs: 1995". Retrieved 10 March 2015.
- ^ Brennan, Joseph. "Gibb Songs: 1996". Retrieved 10 March 2015.
- ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. Still Waters at AllMusic
- ^ Caro, Mark (6 June 1997). "Review: Bee Gees Still Waters". chicagotribune.com. Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 31 August 2011.
- ^ Schinder, Scott (9 May 1997). "Still Waters Review". Entertainment Weekly. Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on 22 January 2013. Retrieved 31 August 2011.
- ^ Gardner, Elysa (10 May 1997). "Bee Gees Show Just a Glimmer of Old Magic". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 31 August 2011.
- ^ Moon, Tom (22 April 1997). "Music Review: Still Waters by the Bee Gees". Archived from the original on 22 June 2008. Retrieved 16 April 2008.
- ^ Cross, Charles R. (2004). "The Bee Gees". In Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian (eds.). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide (4th ed.). Simon & Schuster. pp. 58. ISBN 0-7432-0169-8.
- ^ "Обзор Bee Gees Still Waters" [Review of Still Waters by Bee Gees]. Muzykalnaya Gazeta (in Russian) (26). 1997 [1997]. Archived from the original on 30 September 2019. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
- ^ "australian-charts.com Bee Gees – Still Waters" (ASP). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 16 February 2012.
- ^ "austriancharts.at Bee Gees – Still Waters" (ASP). Hung Medien (in German). Retrieved 16 February 2012.
- ^ "ultratop.be Bee Gees – Still Waters" (ASP). Hung Medien (in Dutch). Ultratop. Retrieved 14 February 2012.
- ^ "ultratop.be Bee Gees – Still Waters" (ASP). Hung Medien (in Dutch). Ultratop. Retrieved 16 February 2012.
- ^ and Archives Canada. Archived 15 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 16 February 2012
- ^ "dutchcharts.nl Bee Gees – Still Waters" (ASP). dutchcharts.nl (in Dutch). MegaCharts. Retrieved 16 February 2012.
- ^ "finnishcharts.com Bee Gees – Still Waters" (ASP). Hung Medien. Retrieved 16 February 2012.
- ^ a b Nielsen Business Media, Inc (5 April 1997). Billboard – 5 April 1997. Retrieved 16 February 2012.
{{cite book}}
:|last1=
has generic name (help) - ^ "lescharts.com Bee Gees – Still Waters" (ASP). lescharts.com. SNEP. Retrieved 16 February 2012.
- ^ "Album Search: Bee Gees – Still Waters" (in German). Media Control. Archived from the original on 2 December 2014. Retrieved 16 February 2012.
- ^ "charts.nz Bee Gees – Still Waters" (ASP). Hung Medien. Recording Industry Association of New Zealand. Retrieved 16 February 2012.
- ^ "norwegiancharts.com Bee Gees – Still Waters" (ASP). Hung Medien. VG-lista. Retrieved 16 February 2012.
- ^ "swedishcharts.com Bee Gees – Still Waters" (ASP) (in Swedish). Retrieved 16 February 2012.
- ^ "Bee Gees – Still Waters – hitparade.ch" (ASP). Hung Medien (in German). Swiss Music Charts. Retrieved 16 February 2012.
- ^ "The Official Charts Company – Bee Gees – Still Waters" (PHP). Official Charts Company. Retrieved 16 February 2012.
- ^ "Bee Gees Chart History: Billboard 200". Billboard. Retrieved 20 January 2022.
- ^ "ARIA Charts – End of Year Charts – Top 100 Albums 1997". aria.com.au. Australian Recording Industry Association. Archived from the original on 4 October 2011. Retrieved 16 February 2012.
- ^ "Austriancharts.at – Jahreshitparade 1997". Hung Medien. Retrieved 16 February 2012.
- ^ "Jaaroverzichten 1997". Ultratop (in Dutch). Retrieved 19 December 2020.
- ^ "Rapports Annuels 1997". Ultratop (in French). Retrieved 19 December 2020.
- ^ "Jaaroverzichten – Album 1997". DutchCharts.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved 17 December 2020.
- ^ "Eurochart Top 100 Albums 1997" (PDF). Billboard. Retrieved 1 November 2019.
- ^ "Les Albums (CD) de 1997 par InfoDisc" (in French). infodisc.fr. Archived from the original (PHP) on 9 February 2012. Retrieved 16 February 2012.
- ^ "Top 100 Album-Jahrescharts" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved 8 September 2016.
- ^ "Top Selling Albums of 1997". The Official NZ Music Charts. Retrieved 17 December 2020.
- ^ "Hitparade.ch – Schweizer Jahreshitparade 1997". Hung Medien. Retrieved 16 February 2012.
- ^ "Complete UK Year-End Album Charts". Archived from the original on 10 March 2012. Retrieved 16 February 2012.
- ^ "Billboard.BIZ – Year-end Charts – Billboard 200 – 1997". billboard.biz. Retrieved 16 February 2012.
- ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 1997 Albums" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 16 February 2012.
- ^ "Austrian album certifications – Bee Gees – Still Waters" (in German). IFPI Austria. Retrieved 16 February 2012.
- ^ "Canadian album certifications – Bee Gees – Still Waters". Music Canada. Retrieved 16 February 2012.
- ^ "French album certifications – Bee Gees – Still Waters" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved 16 February 2012.
- ^ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Bee Gees; 'Still Waters')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved 16 February 2012.
- ^ "Dutch album certifications – Bee Gees – Still Waters" (in Dutch). Nederlandse Vereniging van Producenten en Importeurs van beeld- en geluidsdragers. Retrieved 29 October 2011. Enter Still Waters in the "Artiest of titel" box.
- ^ "New Zealand album certifications – Bee Gees – Still Waters". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 1 April 2020.
- ^ "Wyróżnienia – Złote płyty CD - Archiwum - Przyznane w 1997 roku" (in Polish). Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 29 January 2012.
- ^ "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community: Awards ('Still Waters')". IFPI Switzerland. Hung Medien. Retrieved 16 February 2012.
- ^ "British album certifications – Bee Gees – Still Waters". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 2 August 2022.
- ^ "American album certifications – Bee Gees – Still Waters". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 16 February 2012.
- ^ "IFPI Platinum Europe Awards – 1997". International Federation of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 2 February 2012.
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- The Bee Gees Sing and Play 14 Barry Gibb Songs
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