Bee Gees - Spirits Having Flown / Living Eyes - 2x JAPAN PRESS - CLOSE TO MINT ! - Albums LP (plusieurs articles) - Premier pressage, Pressage japonais - 1979

1.) Bee Gees – Spirits Having Flown
Vinyl, LP, Album, Repress, Gatefold - Japanese Pressing - 1979 - Japan - RSO – MWF 1058
Media: MN / Sleeve, Insert, OBI: NM

A1 Tragedy 5:00
A2 Too Much Heaven 4:54
A3 Love You Inside Out 4:08
A4 Reaching Out 4:04
A5 Spirits (Having Flown) 5:17
B1 Search, Find 4:11
B2 Stop (Think Again) 6:37
B3 Living Together 4:18
B4 I'm Satisfied 3:53
B5 Until 2:25

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.

2.) Bee Gees – Living Eyes
Vinyl, LP, Album, Gatefold - 1st Japanese Pressing - 1981 - Japan - RSO – 28MW 0012
Media: MINT / Sleeve, Insert & OBI: NM to MINT / Stickers: MINT

A1 Living Eyes 4:16
A2 He's A Liar 4:00
A3 Paradise 4:18
A4 Don't Fall In Love With Me 4:12
A5 Soldiers 4:25
B1 I Still Love You 4:24
B2 Wildflower 4:23
B3 Nothing Could Be Good 4:09
B4 Cryin' Every Day 4:01
B5 Be Who You Are 6:38

In terms of hit singles and precise musical vision, it would have been difficult for anyone to have to follow-up the brilliant Spirits Having Flown album, but these industry veterans created a real gem in Living Eyes which seems to have gotten lost in the maze that is their deep catalog. The title track is almost up there with "Spirits Having Flown," which is significant praise, and the song "Paradise" follows suit, pretty and passionate. "Don't Fall in Love With Me" has all three Bee Gees brothers contributing to this ballad with their trademark highly creative hooks. The one downer, unbelievable as it seems, is the hit single "He's a Liar." It just doesn't make it -- odd vocals on a theme which goes nowhere. Nicking the Top 30 in October of 1981, well after "Love You Inside Out," their final (and questionable) number one hit, the tune disrupts their staggering array of wonderful singles. To stay off the charts for two and a half years might have been fallout from the Sgt Pepper film debacle; though the successful Spirits Having Flown came after that non-epic, it all added up to massive overexposure. The victim of too much airplay (or too much heaven) was this very decent and highly listenable album. "I Still Love You" has Robin Gibb in classic Bee Gees form with lush arrangements and production. There is even additional information included on the inner sleeve regarding the consoles used in recording and the wardrobe person, as well as photos of co-producers Albhy Galuten and Karl Richardson. The album exhibits the opulence enjoyed by the brothers on the front, back cover, and inside gatefold -- regal photos which are enhanced by the fact that the boys had the chops to back it up. "Wildflower," not the 1973 hit by Skylark but a brilliant original with folky overtones, really should have been the single. How it didn't hit for the Bee Gees or the popular acts they were working with -- Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton in 1982 and Dionne Warwick in 1983 -- is evidence of the richness of their songbook. Barry Gibbs' lead on "Nothing Could Be Good" is so perfectly adult contemporary, a song written by Galuten and the three brothers, it is just stunning that they did nothing with it and that this beautiful work is so forgotten. A song from the Staying Alive film soundtrack went Top 25 in 1983, and in 1989 they broke the Top Ten with "One," but there is no reason for such time in between hits. "Cryin' Every Day" has it, another brilliant hook accompanied by dramatic production; the title track has it; and Barry Gibbs' ethereal and dreamy conclusion to this disc, "Be Who You Are," has it. A strong work by a classic group which is worth hearing again. Truly the weakest track is the hit single "He's a Liar," which must have contributed to this album getting lost in the shuffle.
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