Spirits Having Flown

by Bee Gees

Overview

Spirits Having Flown is regarded today as something of a letdown, representing the tail-end of the Bee Gees' period of greatest success, perhaps because it preceded a two-year layoff that, in turn, heralded a decline in their fortunes. At the time, however, no one heard anything less than what they expected -- beautiful slow dance numbers ("Too Much Heaven," "Love You Inside Out"), achingly gorgeous romantic numbers ("Reaching Out"), soaring ballads ("Spirits (Having Flown)"), and pounding dance-rock numbers ("Tragedy"). If a few songs on the LP's second side, like "Stop (Think Again)" or "Search, Find," weren't quite up to that high standard, even the latter song displayed dazzling interwoven vocals on the choruses (which were pretty infectious) that made the trip worthwhile. The record showcased the usual superb singing, and featured the most delicate and ambitious production and arrangements in their history. It may have lacked the spirit of freedom and experimentation found on Main Course or Children of the World, but in its place was a boldness that manifested itself not only in the singing, but also the most intricate and ambitious production and arrangements of the group's entire history. This was also the first Bee Gees album to get serious airplay on black radio stations, a major breakthrough for the trio and one of the last bits of unfinished business in the group's move into soul music, which also likely helped -- along with three chart-topping singles, the major tour that followed, and the network television special in the wake of the tour -- in propelling Spirits Having Flown to 35 million sales. ~ Bruce Eder

Product Details

Release Date:	12/02/2022
Label:	Universal
UPC:	4988031536742
Rank:	25136

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Bee Gees   Primary Artist
Herbie Mann   Guest Artist,Flute
Neal Bonsanti   Horn
Dennis Byron   Band,Drums
Bonaroo Horns   Horn
Kenny Falk   Horn
Stanley Webb   Horn
Gary Brown   Bass,Saxophone,Saxophone
Stan Webb   Horn
Daniel Ben Zebulon   Congas,Percussion
Blue Weaver   Band,Piano,Keyboards,Vibraphone,Synthesizer,ARP Synthesizer
Albhy Galuten   Conductor,Synthesizer,String Conductor,Bass
Whit Sidener   Horn
George Terry   Guitar,Guitar (Electric)
Barry Gibb   Guitar,Vocals,Lead Vocals,Vocal Harmony,Guitar (Acoustic),Vocals (Background)
Harold Cowart   Bass,Saxophone
Robin Gibb   Vocals,Lead Vocals,Vocals (Background)
Maurice Gibb   Bass,Vocals,Guitar (Bass),Vocals (Background)
Bill Purse   Horn
Alan Kendall   Band,Bass,Guitar,Guitar (Acoustic),Guitar (Electric)
Kenneth Faulk   Horn
Dennis Bryon   Drums
Joe Lala   Congas,Percussion
James Pankow   Horn
Lee Loughnane   Horn
Walter Parazaider   Horn
Peter Graves   Horn

Technical Credits

Dennis Metzendorfer   Assistant Engineer
John Blanche   Assistant Engineer
Ed Caraeff   Design,Photography,Art Direction
Ted Jensen   Mastering
Bee Gees   Producer
Gene Orloff   Contractor
Barry Gibb   Composer
Dennis Hetzendorfer   Assistant Engineer
Robin Gibb   Composer
Maurice Gibb   Composer
Bob Basso   Contractor
Karl Richardson   Engineer,Producer,String Engineer
Albhy Galuten   Producer