Barry Gibb is going to be in the news a lot soon. A documentary about the Bee Gees debuts on Showtime on December 12th, produced by Frank Marshall. I’m looking forward to seeing it some time.
Today comes the news of a new album of Bee Gees hits recorded by Barry with country and pop stars. For some reason it’s called “Greenfields” and it has a cover that must be changed immediately. It looks like something from a funeral home. I don’t know what the art department is thinking at Universal Music.
But the album itself looks terrific. The featured guest stars are Alison Krauss, Brandi Carlile, David Rawlings, Dolly Parton, Gillian Welch, Jason Isbell, Jay Buchanan, Keith Urban, Little Big Town, Miranda Lambert, Olivia Newton-John, Sheryl Crow and Tommy Emmanuel.
Olivia Newton-John? When she started her career, Olivia was a country artist. I’m not sure but I don’t think she’s sung in a long time. So that’s pretty cool.
The first track available is “Words of a Fool,” featuring Grammy Award-winning Jason Isbell. The album hits on January 8th. So there’s plenty of time to change that cover art!
Barry says in a press release: “From the first day we stepped into RCA Studios in Nashville (the very place where Elvis, Willie, Waylon, Roy, the Everly Brothers and so many other legends made their magic) the album took on a life of its own. I couldn’t be more grateful for the opportunity to work with Dave and all the artists who stopped by. They were all incredibly generous with their time and talent. They inspired me more than words can express. I feel deep down that Maurice and Robin would have loved this album for different reasons. I wish we could have all been together to do it…but I think we were.”
But what the heck is that cover? Is Barry dead? Is this his repast dinner? This has a zero coolness factor. It should be like an old country western poster with all the artists’ names. And Greenfields? That’s a title? How about “Country Fever”?
Here’s the tracklist:
