Children of the World

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Allmusic

Children of the World is the album released by the Bee Gees in September 1976. The first single, "You Should Be Dancing", went to number one in the US and Canada, and was a top ten hit in numerous other territories. The album has sold over 2.5 million copies. It was the group's fourteenth album (twelfth internationally). The album was re-issued by Reprise and Rhino Records.

Background and recording

Because their manager Robert Stigwood had ended his US distribution arrangement with Atlantic Records, Atlantic producer Arif Mardin, who had produced the Bee Gees' prior two albums, was no longer permitted to work with the group. In an effort to retain the same sound, the Bee Gees recorded at the same studios (Criteria Studios in Miami), At Criteria, which was not an Atlantic-owned studio, they resumed work with engineer Karl Richardson. Adding young musician and arranger Albhy Galuten to the control room as musical adviser, the Bee Gees produced themselves with Barry taking the lead role. The new team saw the group through a series of top selling recordings over the next four years. The album was recorded from 19 January to 30 March, when they recorded "You Should Be Dancing", "Love So Right", "Subway", "Love Me", "You Stepped Into My Life", "The Way It Was", "Walk Before You Run" (unreleased), "The Feel" (unreleased) and "Lovers". All the songs were finished in Quebec, except the two unreleased songs, "Walk Before You Run" was written by Barry Gibb with Stephen Stills. From 2 April to 26 May, the group recorded songs in Le Studio, Quebec. The unreleased songs "Boogie Summer" and "Tomorrow Night" recorded in April in Quebec were originally included on the album but replaced by the songs "Can't Keep a Good Man Down" and "Boogie Child" recorded on 6 May. "Rest Your Love on Me" (recorded 2 May) was not included on the album but it was used as the B-side of "Too Much Heaven" in 1978.

Release and reception

Bruce Eder at Allmusic describes this album as the group's second R&B album and described "Love So Right" as a "beautiful soul ballad".

The effort succeeded, as the new album produced three hit singles, including a No. 1 in the US, just like its predecessor Main Course. It also featured the hit singles "Love So Right" and "Boogie Child" which peaked at No. 3 and No. 12 respectively in the US "Love Me" was made a hit by Yvonne Elliman and "You Stepped into My Life" was recorded by Wayne Newton in 1979.

Track listing

All tracks written by Barry, Robin & Maurice Gibb, except where noted.

Side one

No.	Title	Lead vocal(s)	Length
1.	"You Should Be Dancing"	Barry	4:16
2.	"You Stepped Into My Life"	Barry	3:25
3.	"Love So Right"	Barry	3:34
4.	"Lovers"	Barry and Robin	3:36
5.	"Can't Keep a Good Man Down"	Barry and Robin	4:43

Side two

No.	Title	Lead vocal(s)	Length
1.	"Boogie Child"	Barry	4:12
2.	"Love Me" (Barry Gibb, Robin Gibb)	Robin and Barry	4:01
3.	"Subway"	Barry	4:24
4.	"The Way It Was" (Barry Gibb, Robin Gibb, Blue Weaver)	Barry	3:19
5.	"Children of the World"	Barry	3:07

Chart positions

Chart	Peak position
US Billboard 200	8
Canadian RPM Albums	3
West German Media Control Albums	36
Australia Kent Music Report Albums	16
New Zealand Albums	6
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums	23

Personnel

Bee Gees

• Barry Gibb – lead, harmony and backing vocal, rhythm guitar
• Robin Gibb – lead and harmony vocal
• Maurice Gibb – bass, background and harmony vocal

Bee Gees Band

• Alan Kendall – lead guitar
• Blue Weaver – keyboards, synthesizer, piano
• Dennis Bryon – drums

Additional personnel

• Joe Lala – percussion
• Gary Brown – saxophone
• George Perry – bass on "Subway" and "The Way It Was"
• Stephen Stills – percussion on "You Should Be Dancing"
• Peter Graves – horns
• Whit Sidener – horns
• Kenny Faulk – horns
• Neil Bonsanti – horns
• Bill Purse – horns

Production

• Karl Richardson – engineer, producer
• John Blanche – engineer
• Ed Marshal – engineer
• Nick Balgona – additional engineering
• Albhy Galuten – producer