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| name = Living Eyes
| name = Living Eyes
| type = studio
| type = studio
| artist = [[Bee Gees]]
| artist = the [[Bee Gees]]
| cover = Album_Living_Eyes.jpg
| cover = Album_Living_Eyes.jpg
| alt =
| alt =
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| recorded = February – June 1981
| recorded = February – June 1981
| venue =
| venue =
| studio = {{hlist|Middle Ear, Miami Beach (strings arrangement)|Mediasound, New York City (horns arrangement)}}
| studio = {{hlist|[[Criteria Studios]] (Miami, Florida)|Middle Ear Studio (Miami Beach, Florida) (string arrangements)|Mediasound (New York City, New York) (horn arrangements)}}
| genre = [[Soft rock]], [[art rock]]
| genre = [[Soft rock]], [[art rock]]
| length = 46:04
| length = 46:04
| label = [[RSO Records|RSO]]<br/>[[Polydor Records|Polydor Japan]]
| label = [[RSO Records|RSO]]<br/>[[Polydor Records|Polydor Japan]]
| producer = Bee Gees, [[Albhy Galuten]], Karl Richardson
| producer = *Bee Gees
* [[Albhy Galuten]]
* Karl Richardson
| chronology = Bee Gees [[Bee Gees discography#Studio albums|studio albums]]
| chronology = [[Bee Gees]]
| prev_title = [[Spirits Having Flown]]
| prev_title = [[Greatest (Bee Gees album)|Greatest]]
| prev_year = 1979
| prev_year = 1979
| next_title = [[Staying_Alive_(1983_film)#Soundtrack|Staying Alive: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack]]
| next_title = [[Staying_Alive_(1983_film)#Soundtrack|Staying Alive: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack]]
| next_year = 1983
| next_year = 1983
| misc = {{Singles
| name = Living Eyes
| type = studio
| single1 = [[He's a Liar]]
| single1date = 19 September 1981
| single2 = [[Living Eyes (song)|Living Eyes]]
| single2date = November 1981
}}
}}
}}


'''''Living Eyes''''' is the [[Bee Gees]]' sixteenth original album (fourteenth internationally), released in 1981. The Bee Gees turned away from the [[disco]] sound that was prominent on their work in the middle-to-late 1970s with this album. While it did not sell well in either the UK or the US, the album itself was a top 40 hit in the majority of territories in which it saw wide release.
'''''Living Eyes''''' is the sixteenth studio album (fourteenth internationally) by the [[Bee Gees]], released in 1981. It was the band's final album on [[RSO Records]], which would be absorbed into [[Polydor]] and subsequently discontinued. The album showcased a [[soft rock]] sound that contrasted with their [[disco]] and [[Rhythm and blues|R&B]] material of the mid-to-late 1970s; having become a prominent target of the [[Disco#1979–1981: Controversy and decline in popularity|popular backlash against disco]], the Bee Gees were pressured to publicly disassociate from the genre.


While ''Living Eyes'' did not sell well in either the UK or the US, it was a top 40 hit in the majority of territories in which it saw wide release. The album earned mixed to negative reviews from critics, and the Gibb brothers themselves have expressed their dislike of it, considering it a rush job influenced by commercial considerations.
It would be the band's final album on [[RSO Records]]. The label would be absorbed into [[Polydor]] and subsequently discontinued.


==Overview==
==Overview==
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==Recording==
==Recording==
Recording began early in 1981 without the Bee Gees band that recorded and toured with the group in the late 1970s. Barry felt that he could create the sound he wanted with sessions musicians instead of a band, and the album featured musicians including [[Don Felder]], [[Jeff Porcaro]], [[Richard Tee]], [[George Terry (musician)|George Terry]] and [[Steve Gadd]]. Also, the Bee Gees stated that they were trying to avoid being pigeonholed as a disco act, which was why the album also featured minimal falsetto vocals (which had become a Bee Gees trademark by that time), with one notable exception being the song "Soldiers".
Recording began early in 1981 without the Bee Gees band that recorded and toured with the group in the late 1970s. Barry felt that he could create the sound he wanted with session musicians instead of a band, and the album featured musicians including [[Don Felder]], [[Jeff Porcaro]], [[Richard Tee]], [[George Terry (musician)|George Terry]] and [[Steve Gadd]]. Also, the Bee Gees stated that they were trying to avoid being pigeonholed as a disco act, which was why the album also featured minimal falsetto vocals (which had become a Bee Gees trademark by that time), with one notable exception being the song "Soldiers".


Barry, along with producers [[Albhy Galuten]] and Karl Richardson had developed their own production style, with ''[[Spirits Having Flown]]'' and [[Barbra Streisand]]'s #1 album ''[[Guilty (Barbra Streisand album)|Guilty]]''. But Robin and Maurice had become active in the studio again, contributing more to vocals and production, which created some tension between them and the [[Gibb-Galuten-Richardson]] production team. Galuten later commented on why ''Living Eyes'' failed to impact both US and UK charts:
Barry, along with producers [[Albhy Galuten]] and Karl Richardson had developed their own production style, with ''[[Spirits Having Flown]]'' and [[Barbra Streisand]]'s #1 album ''[[Guilty (Barbra Streisand album)|Guilty]]''. But Robin and Maurice had become active in the studio again, contributing more to vocals and production, which created some tension between them and the [[Gibb-Galuten-Richardson]] production team. Galuten later commented on why ''Living Eyes'' failed to impact both US and UK charts:
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{{quote box|quote=''"Living Eyes'' was a turkey, I think, for a good reason, I don't think that last album does any harm but I'm really glad it was a turkey."<ref name="leave"/> |source= – Robin Gibb, on the album's failure unlike the group's previous releases.|width=20%|align=left|style=padding:8px;}}
{{quote box|quote=''"Living Eyes'' was a turkey, I think, for a good reason, I don't think that last album does any harm but I'm really glad it was a turkey."<ref name="leave"/> |source= – Robin Gibb, on the album's failure unlike the group's previous releases.|width=20%|align=left|style=padding:8px;}}
{{Album ratings
{{Album ratings
|rev1 = [[Allmusic]]
|rev1 = [[AllMusic]]
|rev1score = {{Rating|3|5}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/living-eyes-mw0000189214|title=Bee Gees: Living Eyes|author=Viglione, Joe|publisher=[[Allmusic]]|website=allmusic.com}}</ref>
|rev1score = {{Rating|3|5}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/living-eyes-mw0000189214|title=Bee Gees: Living Eyes|author=Viglione, Joe|publisher=[[AllMusic]]|website=allmusic.com}}</ref>
|rev2 = ''[[Encyclopedia of Popular Music]]''
|rev2 = ''[[The Encyclopedia of Popular Music]]''
|rev2Score = {{Rating|2|5}}<ref>{{cite book|last=Larkin|first=Colin|author-link=Colin Larkin (writer)|year=2007|title=Encyclopedia of Popular Music: Concise Edition|page=1990|publisher=[[Omnibus Press]]|edition=5th|title-link=Encyclopedia of Popular Music}}</ref>
|rev2Score = {{Rating|2|5}}<ref>{{cite book|last=Larkin|first=Colin|author-link=Colin Larkin (writer)|year=2007|title=Encyclopedia of Popular Music: Concise Edition|page=1990|publisher=[[Omnibus Press]]|edition=5th|title-link=Encyclopedia of Popular Music}}</ref>
|rev3 = ''[[The Great Rock Discography]]''
|rev3 = ''[[The Great Rock Discography]]''
|rev3Score = 4/10<ref>{{cite book|last=Strong|first=Martin Charles|author-link=Martin C. Strong|title=The Great Rock Discography|publisher=[[National Academies Press|The National Academies]]|year=2002|isbn=1-84195-312-1|chapter=Bee Gees}}</ref>
|rev3Score = 4/10<ref>{{cite book|last=Strong|first=Martin Charles|author-link=Martin C. Strong|title=The Great Rock Discography|publisher=[[National Academies Press|The National Academies]]|year=2002|isbn=1-84195-312-1|chapter=Bee Gees}}</ref>
|rev4 = [[Philadelphia Inquirer]]
|rev4 = ''[[The Philadelphia Inquirer]]''
|rev4Score = {{Rating|3|5}}<ref name=PI>{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/173705957/|title=Bee Gees: Living Eyes|page=114|date=November 22, 1981|publisher=[[The Philadelphia Inquirer]]|website=newspapers.com}}</ref>
|rev4Score = {{Rating|3|5}}<ref name=PI>{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/173705957/|title=Bee Gees: Living Eyes|page=114|date=November 22, 1981|publisher=[[The Philadelphia Inquirer]]|website=newspapers.com}}</ref>
|rev5 = ''[[The Rolling Stone Album Guide]]''
|rev5 = ''[[The Rolling Stone Album Guide|(The New) Rolling Stone Album Guide]]''
|rev5Score = {{Rating|2.5|5}}<ref>{{cite book|author=Sheffield, Rob|editor1-first=Nathan|editor1-last=Brackett|editor1-link=Nathan Brackett|editor2-first=Christian|editor2-last=Hoard|title=The New Rolling Stone Album Guide|publisher=Simon & Schuster|edition=4th|year=2004|isbn=0-7432-0169-8|page=[https://archive.org/details/newrollingstonea00brac/page/58 58]|display-authors=etal|author-link=Rob Sheffield|title-link=The Rolling Stone Album Guide}}</ref>
|rev5Score = {{Rating|2.5|5}}<ref>{{cite book|author=Sheffield, Rob|editor1-first=Nathan|editor1-last=Brackett|editor1-link=Nathan Brackett|editor2-first=Christian|editor2-last=Hoard|title=(The New) Rolling Stone Album Guide|publisher=Simon & Schuster|edition=4th|year=2004|isbn=0-7432-0169-8|page=[https://archive.org/details/newrollingstonea00brac/page/58 58]|display-authors=etal|author-link=Rob Sheffield|title-link=The Rolling Stone Album Guide}}</ref>
}}<!-- Automatically generated by DASHBot-->
}}<!-- Automatically generated by DASHBot-->
Sales of ''Living Eyes'' were far lower than those of their previous album, ''Spirits Having Flown.'' In the US, the disco backlash was still strong, and many radio stations were not even playing the Bee Gees by 1981. Also, RSO Records had fallen out of the position to promote and sell records it had once held. Promotional staff had been cut to the bone mid-year because they had simply had no product to sell. There was also a Bee Gees lawsuit going on against Robert Stigwood and RSO Records, which did not help matters.
Sales of ''Living Eyes'' were far lower than those of their previous album, ''Spirits Having Flown.'' In the US, the disco backlash was still strong, and many radio stations outright refused to play the record because the Bee Gees name was on it. Also, RSO Records was in no position to support the group; the label's massive investment in disco had wiped them out so thoroughly that by mid-1981, they had no functioning promotional division or marketing team. There was also an ongoing Bee Gees lawsuit against Robert Stigwood and the label, which did not help matters.


The Bee Gees themselves subsequently dismissed this album as weak, and having been recorded under pressure from their record company and management at a time when they needed to rethink their direction. Despite this, Barry commented about ''Living Eyes'' following its release, "It's our finest album in terms of depth, performance and quality of the production. It's been about 11 months working on this album, and we do tend to work an awful long time on our albums because we want to be sure."<ref name="leave"/> But in 1984, Barry admitted: "Obviously, we had a scare with ''Living Eyes.'' It wasn't the kind of album we should have brought out at that point. It was a little too downbeat, as opposed to having energy. But we were trying to go for a change, to draw ourselves away from the [[falsetto]] vocals and do something that might be a little different. We knew the risks when we did that."<ref name="leave"/>
The Bee Gees themselves subsequently dismissed this album as weak, claiming that it had been recorded under pressure from their record company and management at a time when they needed to rethink their direction. Despite this, Barry commented about ''Living Eyes'' following its release, "It's our finest album in terms of depth, performance and quality of the production. It's been about 11 months working on this album, and we do tend to work an awful long time on our albums because we want to be sure."<ref name="leave"/> But in 1984, Barry admitted: "Obviously, we had a scare with ''Living Eyes.'' It wasn't the kind of album we should have brought out at that point. It was a little too downbeat, as opposed to having energy. But we were trying to go for a change, to draw ourselves away from the [[falsetto]] vocals and do something that might be a little different. We knew the risks when we did that."<ref name="leave"/>


Barry claimed, in 1990, ''"Living Eyes'' was just what was needed for us. We needed to stop being what we were. It was driving us all round the twist. We needed at that point to step back and look at our lives as individuals."<ref name="leave"/>
Barry claimed, in 1990, ''"Living Eyes'' was just what was needed for us. We needed to stop being what we were. It was driving us all round the twist. We needed at that point to step back and look at our lives as individuals."<ref name="leave"/>
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===Compact Disc release===
===Compact Disc release===
[[File:LivingEyesCD.jpg|thumb|200px|A promotional photo of the Bee Gees showing off the ''Living Eyes'' demonstration CD, with an LP copy alongside for comparison.]]
[[File:LivingEyesCD.jpg|thumb|200px|A promotional photo of the Bee Gees showing off the ''Living Eyes'' demonstration CD, with an LP copy alongside for comparison.]]
''Living Eyes'' was chosen to be the first ever album to be manufactured on CD for demonstration purposes, as seen on the [[BBC]] TV program ''[[Tomorrow's World]]'' in 1981, and was featured on the inaugural issue of the Compact Disc trade magazine.<ref>{{cite book| last = Bilyeu|first = Melinda|author2 = Hector Cook, Andrew Môn Hughes |publisher = Omnibus Press|year = 2004| isbn = 978-1-84449-057-8| title = The Bee Gees:tales of the brothers Gibb| page = 519}}</ref> It was the first Bee Gees album to be released on CD, in early 1983 when compact discs were first commercially available, though few were manufactured.
''Living Eyes'' was chosen to be the first ever album to be manufactured on [[Compact Disc Digital Audio|CD]] for demonstration purposes, as seen on the [[BBC]] TV program ''[[Tomorrow's World]]'' in 1981, and was featured on the inaugural issue of the Compact Disc trade magazine.<ref>{{cite book| last = Bilyeu|first = Melinda|author2 = Hector Cook, Andrew Môn Hughes |publisher = Omnibus Press|year = 2004| isbn = 978-1-84449-057-8| title = The Bee Gees:tales of the brothers Gibb| page = 519}}</ref> It was the first Bee Gees album to be released on CD, in early 1983 when compact discs were first commercially available, though few were manufactured.


==Track listing==
==Track listing==
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| length5 = 4:25
| length5 = 4:25
| title6 = [[I Still Love You (Bee Gees song)|I Still Love You]]
| title6 = [[I Still Love You (Bee Gees song)|I Still Love You]]
| extra6 = Robin
| extra6 = Robin and Maurice
| length6 = 4:24
| length6 = 4:24
| title7 = Wildflower
| title7 = Wildflower
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#"The Promise You Made" – 3:14
#"The Promise You Made" – 3:14


==Personnel==
== Personnel ==
Credits from Joseph Brennan.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.columbia.edu/~brennan/beegees/81.html |title = Gibb Songs : 1981}}</ref>
Credits from Joseph Brennan.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.columbia.edu/~brennan/beegees/81.html |title = Gibb Songs : 1981}}</ref>

{{div col}}
'''Bee Gees'''
'''Bee Gees'''
*[[Barry Gibb]] – vocals, acoustic rhythm guitar, string and horn arrangements
* [[Barry Gibb]] – vocals, acoustic guitar (1, 3–7), guitars (1), string and horn arrangements
*[[Robin Gibb]] – vocals
* [[Robin Gibb]] – vocals
*[[Maurice Gibb]] – vocals, acoustic rhythm guitar, string and horn arrangements
* [[Maurice Gibb]] – vocals, acoustic guitar (1, 3–7), string and horn arrangements


'''Guest and additional musicians'''
'''Guest and additional musicians'''
* George Bitzer – acoustic piano (1, 3), synthesizers (2), [[Rhodes electric piano]] (7, 8)
*[[Don Felder]] – guitar on "He's A Liar," "Paradise," "Don't Fall In Love With Me," "Soldiers," "Wildflower", and “Be Who You Are”
*[[Richard Tee]] – piano on "Living Eyes," "He's A Liar," "Paradise," "Don't Fall In Love With Me," "Soldiers," "I Still Love You," and "Nothing Could Be Good"
* [[Richard Tee]] – Rhodes electric piano (1, 3), acoustic piano (2, 4–6, 8)
*[[Albhy Galuten]] – synthesizer on "Living Eyes," "He's A Liar," "Paradise," "Soldiers," "I Still Love You," "Cryin' Everyday," and "Be Who You Are"
* [[Albhy Galuten]] – synthesizers (1–3, 5, 6, 9, 10), bass (9), string and horn arrangements, conductor
* Sidney Dutiel – synthesizers (9), bass (9)
* George Bitzer – piano on "Living Eyes," "Paradise," "Wildflower," and "Nothing Could Be Good," and synthesizer on "He's A Liar"
* [[Hawk Wolinski|David Wolinski]] – Rhodes electric piano (10)
* Harold Cowart – bass except "Cryin' Everyday" and "Be Who You Are"
⚫
* [[George Terry (musician)|George Terry]] – guitars (1, 10)
*[[Steve Gadd]] – drums on "He's A Liar," "Paradise," "Don't Fall In Love With Me," "Soldiers," "I Still Love You," and "Nothing Could Be Good"
* Chuck Kirkpatrick – guitar on "Living Eyes," "Nothing Could Be Good," and "I Still Love You"
* Chuck Kirkpatrick – [[slide guitar]] (1), [[sitar]] (6), guitars (8)
* [[Don Felder]] – guitars (2–5, 7, 10)
⚫
* [[George Terry (musician)|George Terry]] – guitar on "Living Eyes" and "Be Who You Are"
* Harold Cowart – bass (1–5, 7, 8)
* David Wolinski – keyboards on "Be Who You Are"
*[[Bob Glaub]] – bass on "Be Who You Are"
* [[Bob Glaub]] – bass (10)
*[[Jeff Porcaro]] – drums on "Living Eyes," "Soldiers," and "Cryin' Everyday"
* [[Jeff Porcaro]] – drums (1, 5, 9)
*[[Russ Kunkel]] – drums on "Wildflower," "Cryin' Everyday," and "Be Who You Are"
* [[Steve Gadd]] – drums (2–6, 8)
* [[Russ Kunkel]] – drums (7, 9, 10)
*[[Ralph MacDonald]] – percussion on "Living Eyes," "He's A Liar," and "Don't Fall in Love With Me"
*Joe Galdo – drums on "Be Who You Are"
* Solly Noid – drums (9)
* Joe Galdo – [[snare drum]] (10)
* [[Ralph MacDonald]] – percussion (1, 2, 4, 5)
* [[Roger Troutman]] – percussion (5)
⚫
* [[Gene Orloff]] – contractor, conductor (10)

⚫
'''The Boneroo Horns on "He's a Liar"'''
* Don Bonsanti
⚫
* Neil Bonsanti
⚫
* Whit Sidener
* Peter Graves (leader)
* Ken Faulk
* Brett Murphey

'''Brass Sextet (Tracks 4 & 10)'''
* Peter Graves
* Ken Faulk
* Greg Lonnman
* Brett Murphey
* Jerry Peel
* Ken Waldenpfhul


=== Production ===
⚫
'''The Boneroo Horns and Brass Sextet'''
* Bee Gees – producers
* Peter Graves on "He's a Liar", "Don't Fall in Love With Me", "Be Who You Are"
* Albhy Galuten – producer
* Ken Faulk on "He's a Liar", "Don't Fall in Love With Me", "Be Who You Are"
* Karl Richardson – producer, engineer
* Brett Murphey on "He's a Liar", "Don't Fall in Love With Me", "Be Who You Are"
* [[Don Gehman]] – engineer
⚫
* Neil Bonsanti on "He's a Liar"
* Don Bonsanti on "He's a Liar"
* Don Brewer – assistant engineer
* Alex Clark – assistant engineer
⚫
* Whit Sidener on "He's a Liar"
* Lincoln Clapp – assistant engineer
* Jerry Peel on "Don't Fall in Love With Me", "Be Who You Are"
* Dennis Hetzendorfer – assistant engineer
* Greg Lonnman on "Don't Fall in Love With Me", "Be Who You Are"
* Nick Kalliongis – assistant engineer
* Ken Waldenpfhul on "Don't Fall in Love With Me", "Be Who You Are"
* Jim Pace – assistant engineer
⚫
* [[Gene Orloff]] – concertmaster
* Karl Richardson – [[Audio engineering|sound engineer]]
* Dale Peterson – assistant engineer
*[[Don Gehman]] – sound engineer
* Al Stegmeyer – assistant engineer
* Sam Taylor – assistant engineer
{{div col end}}
* Mike Fuller – mastering
* Dick Ashby – project coordinator
* Tom Kennedy – project coordinator
* Neal Kent – project coordinator
* Glenn Ross – design
* TDK/One World Productions – design concept
* Bob Sherman – photography
* Minsei Tominaga – photography


==Charts==
==Charts==
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!Position
!Position
|-
|-
|align="left"|Australian [[Kent Music Report]]<ref name="auchart">{{cite book |last=Kent |first=David |author-link=David Kent (historian) |title=Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 |year=1993 |publisher=Australian Chart Book |isbn=0-646-11917-6}}</ref>
|align="left"|Australia ([[Kent Music Report]])<ref name="auchart">{{cite book |last=Kent |first=David |author-link=David Kent (historian) |title=Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 |year=1993 |publisher=Australian Chart Book |isbn=0-646-11917-6}}</ref>
|30
|30
|-
|-
|align="left"|[[RPM (magazine)|Canadian ''RPM'' Albums Chart]]<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?&file_num=nlc008388.0426&type=1&interval=50&PHPSESSID=mhe12pta2k83e08udtq66ot062|title=Top Albums/CDs – Volume 35, No. 19|date=5 December 1981|magazine=[[RPM (magazine)|RPM]]|access-date=5 May 2013}}</ref>
|align="left"|Canadian Albums ([[RPM (magazine)|RPM]])<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?&file_num=nlc008388.0426&type=1&interval=50&PHPSESSID=mhe12pta2k83e08udtq66ot062|title=Top Albums/CDs – Volume 35, No. 19|date=5 December 1981|magazine=[[RPM (magazine)|RPM]]|access-date=5 May 2013}}</ref>
|32
|32
|-
|-
|align="left"|[[Dutch Albums Chart]]<ref name="nlchart">{{cite web|title=dutchcharts.nl Bee Gees – ''Living Eyes''|publisher=[[MegaCharts]]|url=http://dutchcharts.nl/showitem.asp?interpret=Bee+Gees&titel=Living+Eyes&cat=a|language=nl|work=Hung Medien|format=ASP|access-date=5 May 2013}}</ref>
|align="left"|[[Dutch Albums Chart|Dutch Albums]] (Dutch Charts)<ref name="nlchart">{{cite web|title=dutchcharts.nl Bee Gees – ''Living Eyes''|publisher=[[MegaCharts]]|url=http://dutchcharts.nl/showitem.asp?interpret=Bee+Gees&titel=Living+Eyes&cat=a|language=nl|work=Hung Medien|format=ASP|access-date=5 May 2013}}</ref>
|7
|7
|-
|-
|align="left"|[[Oricon|Japanese Oricon LPs Chart]]<ref name="Jachart">{{cite book|title=Oricon Album Chart Book: Complete Edition 1970–2005|publisher=Oricon Entertainment|location=[[Roppongi]], Tokyo|year=2006|isbn=4-87131-077-9}}</ref>
|align="left"|[[1981 in Japanese music|Japanese LPs]] ([[Oricon]])<ref name="Jachart">{{cite book|title=Oricon Album Chart Book: Complete Edition 1970–2005|publisher=Oricon Entertainment|location=[[Roppongi]], Tokyo|year=2006|isbn=4-87131-077-9}}</ref>
|26
|26
|-
|-
|align="left"|[[RIANZ|New Zealand Albums Chart]]<ref name="NZchart">{{cite web|title=charts.nz Bee Gees – ''Living Eyes''|work=Hung Medien|publisher=[[Recording Industry Association of New Zealand]]|url=https://charts.nz/showitem.asp?interpret=Bee+Gees&titel=Living+Eyes&cat=a|format=ASP|access-date=5 May 2013}}</ref>
|align="left"|New Zealand Albums ([[RIANZ]])<ref name="NZchart">{{cite web|title=charts.nz Bee Gees – ''Living Eyes''|work=Hung Medien|publisher=[[Recording Industry Association of New Zealand]]|url=https://charts.nz/showitem.asp?interpret=Bee+Gees&titel=Living+Eyes&cat=a|format=ASP|access-date=5 May 2013}}</ref>
|13
|13
|-
|-
|align="left"|[[VG-lista|Norwegian VG-lista Albums Chart]]<ref name="Nochart">{{cite web|title=norwegiancharts.com Bee Gees – ''Living Eyes''|work=Hung Medien|publisher=VG-lista|format=ASP|url=http://norwegiancharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Bee+Gees&titel=Living+Eyes&cat=a|access-date=5 May 2013}}</ref>
|align="left"|Norwegian Albums ([[VG-lista]])<ref name="Nochart">{{cite web|title=norwegiancharts.com Bee Gees – ''Living Eyes''|work=Hung Medien|publisher=VG-lista|format=ASP|url=http://norwegiancharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Bee+Gees&titel=Living+Eyes&cat=a|access-date=5 May 2013}}</ref>
|6
|6
|-
|-
|align="left"|[[Spanish Albums Chart]]<ref>{{cite book |last=Salaverri|first=Fernando|title=Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002|edition=1st |date=September 2005|publisher=Fundación Autor-SGAE|location=Spain|isbn=84-8048-639-2}}</ref>
|align="left"|Spanish Albums ([[Spanish Albums Chart|Promusicae]])<ref>{{cite book |last=Salaverri|first=Fernando|title=Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002|edition=1st |date=September 2005|publisher=Fundación Autor-SGAE|location=Spain|isbn=84-8048-639-2}}</ref>
|4
|4
|-
|-
|align="left"|[[Swedish Albums Chart]]<ref name="sechart">{{cite web|title=swedishcharts.com Bee Gees – ''Living Eyes''|format=ASP|url=http://swedishcharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Bee+Gees&titel=Living+Eyes&cat=a|access-date=5 May 2013}}</ref>
|align="left"|Swedish Albums ([[Swedish Albums Chart|Sverigetopplistan]])<ref name="sechart">{{cite web|title=swedishcharts.com Bee Gees – ''Living Eyes''|format=ASP|url=http://swedishcharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Bee+Gees&titel=Living+Eyes&cat=a|access-date=5 May 2013}}</ref>
|18
|18
|-
|-
|align="left"|[[UK Albums Chart]]<ref name="UKchart">{{cite web| url=http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/_/Bee%20Gees| title= Bee Gees > Artists > Official Charts| publisher=[[UK Albums Chart]]|access-date=5 May 2013}}</ref>
|align="left"|[[UK Albums Chart|UK Albums]]<ref name="UKchart">{{cite web| url=http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/_/Bee%20Gees| title= Bee Gees > Artists > Official Charts| publisher=[[UK Albums Chart]]|access-date=5 May 2013}}</ref>
|73
|73
|-
|-
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|41
|41
|-
|-
|align="left"|[[Media Control|West German Media Control Albums Chart]]<ref name="dechart">{{cite web
|align="left"|West German Albums ([[Media Control]])<ref name="dechart">{{cite web
| url=http://www.officialcharts.de/album.asp?artist=Bee+Gees&title=Living+Eyes&cat=a&country=de| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141202053913/http://www.officialcharts.de/album.asp?artist=Bee+Gees&title=Living+Eyes&cat=a&country=de| url-status=dead| archive-date=2 December 2014| title=Album Search: Bee Gees – ''Living Eyes''| language=de| publisher=Media Control| access-date=16 February 2012}}</ref>
| url=http://www.officialcharts.de/album.asp?artist=Bee+Gees&title=Living+Eyes&cat=a&country=de| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141202053913/http://www.officialcharts.de/album.asp?artist=Bee+Gees&title=Living+Eyes&cat=a&country=de| url-status=dead| archive-date=2 December 2014| title=Album Search: Bee Gees – ''Living Eyes''| language=de| publisher=Media Control| access-date=16 February 2012}}</ref>
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Latest revision as of 20:49, 28 November 2024

Living Eyes
Studio album by
the Bee Gees
ReleasedOctober 1981
RecordedFebruary – June 1981
Studio
  • Criteria Studios (Miami, Florida)
  • Middle Ear Studio (Miami Beach, Florida) (string arrangements)
  • Mediasound (New York City, New York) (horn arrangements)
GenreSoft rock, art rock
Length46:04
LabelRSO
Polydor Japan
Producer
Bee Gees chronology
Greatest
(1979) 		Living Eyes
(1981) 		Staying Alive: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
(1983)
Singles from Living Eyes
  1. "He's a Liar"
    Released: 19 September 1981
  2. "Living Eyes"
    Released: November 1981

Living Eyes is the sixteenth studio album (fourteenth internationally) by the Bee Gees, released in 1981. It was the band's final album on RSO Records, which would be absorbed into Polydor and subsequently discontinued. The album showcased a soft rock sound that contrasted with their disco and R&B material of the mid-to-late 1970s; having become a prominent target of the popular backlash against disco, the Bee Gees were pressured to publicly disassociate from the genre.

While Living Eyes did not sell well in either the UK or the US, it was a top 40 hit in the majority of territories in which it saw wide release. The album earned mixed to negative reviews from critics, and the Gibb brothers themselves have expressed their dislike of it, considering it a rush job influenced by commercial considerations.

Overview

[edit]

Following the massive success from the Bee Gees production of Barbra Streisand's album Guilty, the Bee Gees regrouped at Middle Ear studios in October 1980 to record their next album. They began work on some of the songs that would go onto Living Eyes. As they had been on all their recordings since 1975, they were backed by Blue Weaver (keyboards, synthesisers, programming), Alan Kendall (lead guitar), and Dennis Bryon (drums, percussion), but the sessions broke down and the three backing musicians were fired.[1] Alan Kendall would return to working with the Bee Gees in 1989, and he remained with them for the rest of their recording and touring career.

Recording

[edit]

Recording began early in 1981 without the Bee Gees band that recorded and toured with the group in the late 1970s. Barry felt that he could create the sound he wanted with session musicians instead of a band, and the album featured musicians including Don Felder, Jeff Porcaro, Richard Tee, George Terry and Steve Gadd. Also, the Bee Gees stated that they were trying to avoid being pigeonholed as a disco act, which was why the album also featured minimal falsetto vocals (which had become a Bee Gees trademark by that time), with one notable exception being the song "Soldiers".

Barry, along with producers Albhy Galuten and Karl Richardson had developed their own production style, with Spirits Having Flown and Barbra Streisand's #1 album Guilty. But Robin and Maurice had become active in the studio again, contributing more to vocals and production, which created some tension between them and the Gibb-Galuten-Richardson production team. Galuten later commented on why Living Eyes failed to impact both US and UK charts:

"There was a tremendous fear, that we had fallen into a rut, and I felt strongly on Living Eyes that it was time to change. When we started working on [it] and it was not being fun, I remember sitting around with my friends at the time, and saying, 'It's just not working and I think that I'm going to leave.'"[2]

Living Eyes also features the return of Robin and Maurice Gibb as a lead vocalist since 1975 in a whole song. As Barry says that his falsetto was the reason why Robin (or Maurice) had not taken lead vocals (in a whole track) on any song by the group between 1976 and 1979: "'God, every falsetto record we're putting out is a monster, we shouldn't change yet.' That's what stopped us from saying, 'Well it's time Robin had a lead.' But now it's no longer a sales point, it's important that Robin's voice get heard. It's equally important that Maurice's voice gets heard. And it's becoming less important that I get heard. And that's the way we work. There's no ego within the three of us, whoever's singing most or whoever has the most hits is irrelevant."[2]

Critical reception

[edit]

"Living Eyes was a turkey, I think, for a good reason, I don't think that last album does any harm but I'm really glad it was a turkey."[2]

– Robin Gibb, on the album's failure unlike the group's previous releases.
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[3]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music[4]
The Great Rock Discography4/10[5]
The Philadelphia Inquirer[6]
(The New) Rolling Stone Album Guide[7]

Sales of Living Eyes were far lower than those of their previous album, Spirits Having Flown. In the US, the disco backlash was still strong, and many radio stations outright refused to play the record because the Bee Gees name was on it. Also, RSO Records was in no position to support the group; the label's massive investment in disco had wiped them out so thoroughly that by mid-1981, they had no functioning promotional division or marketing team. There was also an ongoing Bee Gees lawsuit against Robert Stigwood and the label, which did not help matters.

The Bee Gees themselves subsequently dismissed this album as weak, claiming that it had been recorded under pressure from their record company and management at a time when they needed to rethink their direction. Despite this, Barry commented about Living Eyes following its release, "It's our finest album in terms of depth, performance and quality of the production. It's been about 11 months working on this album, and we do tend to work an awful long time on our albums because we want to be sure."[2] But in 1984, Barry admitted: "Obviously, we had a scare with Living Eyes. It wasn't the kind of album we should have brought out at that point. It was a little too downbeat, as opposed to having energy. But we were trying to go for a change, to draw ourselves away from the falsetto vocals and do something that might be a little different. We knew the risks when we did that."[2]

Barry claimed, in 1990, "Living Eyes was just what was needed for us. We needed to stop being what we were. It was driving us all round the twist. We needed at that point to step back and look at our lives as individuals."[2]

Compact Disc release

[edit]
A promotional photo of the Bee Gees showing off the Living Eyes demonstration CD, with an LP copy alongside for comparison.

Living Eyes was chosen to be the first ever album to be manufactured on CD for demonstration purposes, as seen on the BBC TV program Tomorrow's World in 1981, and was featured on the inaugural issue of the Compact Disc trade magazine.[8] It was the first Bee Gees album to be released on CD, in early 1983 when compact discs were first commercially available, though few were manufactured.

Track listing

[edit]

All songs written by Barry, Robin and Maurice Gibb except where noted.

No.TitleWriter(s)Lead vocalsLength
1."Living Eyes" Barry4:16
2."He's a Liar" Barry4:00
3."Paradise" Barry and Robin4:18
4."Don't Fall in Love with Me" Robin4:55
5."Soldiers" Barry4:25
6."I Still Love You" Robin and Maurice4:24
7."Wildflower" Maurice4:23
8."Nothing Could Be Good"Barry Gibb, Robin Gibb, Maurice Gibb, Albhy GalutenBarry4:09
9."Cryin' Every Day" Robin and Barry4:01
10."Be Who You Are"Barry GibbBarry6:38

Outtakes

[edit]
  1. "Heart (Stop Beating in Time)" (later recorded by Leo Sayer and released as a single in 1982, followed by Marilyn McCoo and her single release in 1983)
  2. "Hold Her in Your Hand" (Barry Gibb, Maurice Gibb) (later recorded by Maurice Gibb in 1984 for the soundtrack to A Breed Apart)
  3. "Heat of the Night" – 4:02
  4. "Loving You Is Killing Me"
  5. "Mind over Matter" – 4:30
  6. "The Promise You Made" – 3:14

Personnel

[edit]

Credits from Joseph Brennan.[9]

Bee Gees

  • Barry Gibb – vocals, acoustic guitar (1, 3–7), guitars (1), string and horn arrangements
  • Robin Gibb – vocals
  • Maurice Gibb – vocals, acoustic guitar (1, 3–7), string and horn arrangements

Guest and additional musicians

The Boneroo Horns on "He's a Liar"

  • Don Bonsanti
  • Neil Bonsanti
  • Whit Sidener
  • Peter Graves (leader)
  • Ken Faulk
  • Brett Murphey

Brass Sextet (Tracks 4 & 10)

  • Peter Graves
  • Ken Faulk
  • Greg Lonnman
  • Brett Murphey
  • Jerry Peel
  • Ken Waldenpfhul

Production

[edit]
  • Bee Gees – producers
  • Albhy Galuten – producer
  • Karl Richardson – producer, engineer
  • Don Gehman – engineer
  • Don Brewer – assistant engineer
  • Alex Clark – assistant engineer
  • Lincoln Clapp – assistant engineer
  • Dennis Hetzendorfer – assistant engineer
  • Nick Kalliongis – assistant engineer
  • Jim Pace – assistant engineer
  • Dale Peterson – assistant engineer
  • Al Stegmeyer – assistant engineer
  • Sam Taylor – assistant engineer
  • Mike Fuller – mastering
  • Dick Ashby – project coordinator
  • Tom Kennedy – project coordinator
  • Neal Kent – project coordinator
  • Glenn Ross – design
  • TDK/One World Productions – design concept
  • Bob Sherman – photography
  • Minsei Tominaga – photography

Charts

[edit]
Chart (1981) Position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[10] 30
Canadian Albums (RPM)[11] 32
Dutch Albums (Dutch Charts)[12] 7
Japanese LPs (Oricon)[13] 26
New Zealand Albums (RIANZ)[14] 13
Norwegian Albums (VG-lista)[15] 6
Spanish Albums (Promusicae)[16] 4
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)[17] 18
UK Albums[18] 73
US Billboard 200[19] 41
West German Albums (Media Control)[20] 37

Certifications and sales

[edit]
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[21] Platinum 100,000^
Hong Kong (IFPI Hong Kong)[22] Gold 10,000*
Italy — 100,000[23]
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[24] Gold 50,000^
Yugoslavia — 24,279[25]

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Gibb Songs 1981
  2. ^ a b c d e f Hughes, Andrew (2009). The Bee Gees - Tales of the Brothers Gibb. ISBN 9780857120045. Retrieved 15 February 2015.
  3. ^ Viglione, Joe. "Bee Gees: Living Eyes". allmusic.com. AllMusic.
  4. ^ Larkin, Colin (2007). Encyclopedia of Popular Music: Concise Edition (5th ed.). Omnibus Press. p. 1990.
  5. ^ Strong, Martin Charles (2002). "Bee Gees". The Great Rock Discography. The National Academies. ISBN 1-84195-312-1.
  6. ^ "Bee Gees: Living Eyes". newspapers.com. The Philadelphia Inquirer. 22 November 1981. p. 114.
  7. ^ Sheffield, Rob; et al. (2004). Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian (eds.). (The New) Rolling Stone Album Guide (4th ed.). Simon & Schuster. p. 58. ISBN 0-7432-0169-8.
  8. ^ Bilyeu, Melinda; Hector Cook, Andrew Môn Hughes (2004). The Bee Gees:tales of the brothers Gibb. Omnibus Press. p. 519. ISBN 978-1-84449-057-8.
  9. ^ "Gibb Songs : 1981".
  10. ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  11. ^ "Top Albums/CDs – Volume 35, No. 19". RPM. 5 December 1981. Retrieved 5 May 2013.
  12. ^ "dutchcharts.nl Bee Gees – Living Eyes" (ASP). Hung Medien (in Dutch). MegaCharts. Retrieved 5 May 2013.
  13. ^ Oricon Album Chart Book: Complete Edition 1970–2005. Roppongi, Tokyo: Oricon Entertainment. 2006. ISBN 4-87131-077-9.
  14. ^ "charts.nz Bee Gees – Living Eyes" (ASP). Hung Medien. Recording Industry Association of New Zealand. Retrieved 5 May 2013.
  15. ^ "norwegiancharts.com Bee Gees – Living Eyes" (ASP). Hung Medien. VG-lista. Retrieved 5 May 2013.
  16. ^ Salaverri, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
  17. ^ "swedishcharts.com Bee Gees – Living Eyes" (ASP). Retrieved 5 May 2013.
  18. ^ "Bee Gees > Artists > Official Charts". UK Albums Chart. Retrieved 5 May 2013.
  19. ^ "Allmusic: Living Eyes : Charts & Awards : Billboard Albums". allmusic.com. Retrieved 5 May 2013.
  20. ^ "Album Search: Bee Gees – Living Eyes" (in German). Media Control. Archived from the original on 2 December 2014. Retrieved 16 February 2012.
  21. ^ "Canadian album certifications – Bee Gees – Living Eyes". Music Canada. Retrieved 18 November 2021.
  22. ^ "IFPIHK Gold Disc Award − 1982". IFPI Hong Kong. Retrieved 7 December 2021.
  23. ^ Fornari), Francesco (25 October 1981). "I Bee Gees irrompono domani sul mercato poi toccherà a Police, Zero e Frank Sinatra". La Stampa (in Italian). Retrieved 7 December 2021.
  24. ^ "Solo Exitos 1959–2002 Ano A Ano: Certificados 1979–1990". Solo Exitos 1959–2002 Ano A Ano.
  25. ^ Hudelist, Darko (1 October 1984). "Rang-lista licencnih izdanja". Yugopapir. Archived from the original on 31 October 2019. Retrieved 7 December 2021.
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