This week, a song that I underrated for many years. It’s become one of my favorite Bee Gees songs because of Robin Gibb’s plaintive vocals, a gorgeous melody, and some wonderful lyrics:
“I started a joke which started the whole world cryingBut I didn’t see that the joke was on me oh noI started to cry which started the whole world laughingOh If I’d only seen that the joke was on me”
That stanza is simultaneously simple and sophisticated. It sounds as if it were written by an older songwriter: Barry Gibb was 22 and Robin and Maurice were 19 when they wrote and recorded I Started A Joke for the Bee Gees 1968 album Idea.
Repeat after me: The saddest songs are the best songs. That’s no joke.
We begin with the Bee Gees who begin with Robin’s haunting vocal.
Lulu was big after appearing in To Sir With Love with Sidney Poitier. It was no joke.
Richie Havens. Say no more.
The Beautiful South with a beautiful version of the Gibb brothers classic.
Here’s Paul Weller with a 21st Century version of this week’s tune.
Finally, the Bee Gees live in Vegas, baby:
What would the Friday Cocktail Hour be without an instrumental version of the week’s tune? This time, classical flautist James Galway.
That’s it for this week. Talking about the tropics hasn’t backfired this year, so let’s drink to continued quiet in the Gulf. It’s what Bogie, Betty, and Frank would want. Never argue with them.
Probably obvious to most, but “for the record” (heh) that 1968 version is not the one that was a hit for the BeeGees. They re-recorded it, sans strings. I think it hit in 1973.
I don’t call it the hit version.
Speaking of cover versions, Al Green’s take on “how can you mend a broken heart”.
https://youtu.be/PTY6Kv0nPr8