As Barry Gibb prepares to release a new collection called Greenfields, which revisits classic Bee Gees material with an all-star list of country music collaborators, we remembers the obscure early Bee Gees tune from which it draws its title.
Barry Gibb has recently announced the upcoming January 2021 release of Greenfields: The Gibb Brothers’ Songbook Vol.1, which sees Barry revisit a dozen Bee Gees classics with some of the biggest names in country music. As Barry has stated, “our songs always had that little streak of country in them.” The album, which features collaborations with Keith Urban, Dolly Parton, Olivia Newton-John, Tommy Emmanuel, Jason Isbell, Sheryl Crow, Brandi Carlile, Alison Krauss, Little Big Town to Gillian Welch & David Rawlings and others, promises to highlight that thread as it runs through such classic songs like, “I’ve Got To Get A Message to You,” “Words,” “Run to Me” and “Lonely Days.”
When we first heard the title of the album, we were reminded of the obscure 1966 Bee Gees track “Butterfly,” which opens with the lines: Green fields where we used to wander/Purple valleys near my home. We were further thrilled to discover that that a version of the song Barry recorded with Gillian Welch and David Rawlings indeed closes the album! As it promises to be something very special, we’re happy to present the original here for those who might not be familiar with it. A beautiful and fragile number that certainly reflects its title, “Butterfly” is one of a number of country/folk influenced songs the Bee Gees recorded in Australia in their very early days.
In fact, let’s have a listen to a few of those other tunes as well. “Butterfly” is the only one of these Barry has revisited this time around, but we're hoping the inclusion of ‘Vol. 1’ in the album title is a sign of more to come. The other tracks we’ve selected here illuminate just the country and folk influences that could be found in their glorious pop arrangements right from the beginning. We hope you enjoy!
Bee Gees | “Butterfly”
Bee Gees | “In The Morning (Of My Life)”
Bee Gees | “How Love Was True”
Bee Gees | “Second Hand People”
Bee Gees | “Glass House”
Bee Gees | “Follow The Wind”
GREENFIELDS: The Gibb Brothers Songbook, Vol. 1
Tracklisting:
01. Barry Gibb / Keith Urban: “I’ve Gotta Get a Message to You”
02. Barry Gibb / Jason Isbell: “Words of a Fool”
03. Barry Gibb / Brandi Carlile: “Run to Me”
04. Barry Gibb / Alison Krauss: “Too Much Heaven”
05. Barry Gibb / Little Big Town: “Lonely Days”
06. Barry Gibb / Dolly Parton: “Words”
07. Barry Gibb / Miranda Lambert / Jay Buchanan: “Jive Talkin’”
08. Barry Gibb / Tommy Emanuel / Little Big Town: “How Deep Is Your Love”
09. Barry Gibb / Sheryl Crow: “How Can You Mend a Broken Heart”
10. Barry Gibb / Jay Buchanan: “To Love Somebody”
11. Barry Gibb / Olivia Newton-John: “Rest Your Love on Me”
12. Barry Gibb / Gillian Welch / David Rawlings: “Butterfly”
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