Massachusetts (Bee Gees song)

"(The Lights Went Out In) Massachusetts" is a song by the Bee Gees, released in 1967.[3] Written by Barry, Robin & Maurice Gibb. Robin Gibb sang lead vocals on this song and it would become one of his staple songs to perform during both Bee Gees concerts and his solo appearances. It later appeared on their 1968 album, Horizontal.

"Massachusetts"
Single by Bee Gees
from the album Horizontal
B-side
  • "Barker of the UFO" (UK)
  • "Sir Geoffrey Saved the World" (US)
Released19 September 1967 (UK)
November 1967 (US)
Recorded9, 17 August 1967
IBC Studios, Portland Place, London
GenrePop[1]
Length2:22
LabelPolydor (United Kingdom)[2]
Atco (United States)
Songwriter(s)[2]
Producer(s)Robert Stigwood, Bee Gees[2]
Bee Gees UK singles chronology
"To Love Somebody"
(1967)
"Massachusetts"
(1967)
"World"
(1967)
Bee Gees US singles chronology
"Holiday"
(1967)
"Massachusetts"
(1967)
"Words"
(1968)
Alternative cover
The cover single used in other territories
Music video
"Massachusetts (One For All Tour Live In Australia 1989)" on YouTube
Audio sample
"Massachusetts"
  • file
  • help
Horizontal track listing
12 tracks
Side one
  1. "World"
  2. "And the Sun Will Shine"
  3. "Lemons Never Forget"
  4. "Really and Sincerely"
  5. "Birdie Told Me"
  6. "With the Sun In My Eyes"
Side two
  1. "Massachusetts"
  2. "Harry Braff"
  3. "Daytime Girl"
  4. "The Earnest of Being George"
  5. "The Change Is Made"
  6. "Horizontal (song)

The song became the first of the group's five No. 1 hits in the UK Singles Chart, reached No. 1 in twelve other countries, peaked at No. 11 on the Billboard Hot 100 and eventually became one of the best-selling singles of all time, selling over five million copies worldwide.[2][4] When the brothers wrote the song, they had never been to Massachusetts.[3] In a UK television special on ITV in December 2011, it was voted third (behind "How Deep Is Your Love" and "You Win Again") in "The Nation's Favourite Bee Gees Song".[5]

Writing and inspiration

The song was written in the Regis Hotel, New York City during a tour of the United States. The song was intended as an antithesis to flower power anthems of the time such as "Let's Go to San Francisco" and "San Francisco (Be Sure to Wear Flowers in Your Hair)" in that the protagonist had been to San Francisco to join the hippies but was now homesick. The idea of the lights having gone out in Massachusetts was to suggest that everyone had gone to San Francisco.[6]

There are two different memories, Robin remembers us doing it in a boat going around New York City. And I remember us checking in at the St. Regis with Robert, going to the suite, and while the bags were being brought in we were so high on being in New York, that's how 'Massachusetts' began. I think we were strumming basically the whole thing, and then I think we went on a boat round New York. I don't know if we finished it, but I think that's where the memories collide. Everybody wrote it. All three of us were there when the song was born.

The song was originally intended for The Seekers. Upon arriving in London from Australia (following in the path of the Seekers who had arrived several years earlier) the Bee Gees had been unsuccessful in getting the song to the group, so they recorded it themselves. During a chance meeting in London between the Seekers' lead singer Judith Durham and Maurice Gibb, Durham learned that "Massachusetts" was originally intended for her group and in 2003 the Seekers recorded the song as a tribute to Maurice following his death earlier that year.

The Bee Gees had never actually been to Massachusetts when they recorded the song; they just liked the sound of the name as it was unusual, containing a lot of S's.[8]

Recording

"Massachusetts" was recorded on August 9, 1967 along with "Sir Geoffrey Saved the World" at the IBC Studios in London and finished on August 17.[9] Barry feels Bill Shepherd's orchestral score is perhaps the arranger's finest: "We never expected him to do that. Sometimes we would sing what we would [imagine] the strings doing. But in this case he did that himself, and I thought it was great. 'Massachusetts' was our first #1 in England".[7]

Release

Before the release of this song, Australians Colin Petersen and Vince Melouney were facing deportation, and it appeared that they might have to leave the band as a result. On 12 August, British fans staged a protest on behalf of the musicians at the cottage of Prime Minister Harold Wilson. Three days later Bee Gees fan Deirdre Meehan chained and handcuffed herself to Buckingham Palace to protest the possible deportation. Ultimately, the musicians were allowed to stay.[7]

On August 27, 1967, Beatles' manager Brian Epstein told Maurice Gibb that "Massachusetts is a great song that would be very successful." Epstein died later that night.

When it was released in the UK, the title was "Massachusetts (The Lights Went Out in)" but the subtitle was later dropped. In America, Atco Records delayed it to release "Holiday".[10] The song "Massachusetts" has a minor claim to fame in the history of British radio as it was the second record played on BBC Radio 1. The first song to be played was "Flowers in the Rain" by The Move. It was the first No. 1 hit single by a non-Japanese artist on Japan's official hit chart, Oricon Singles Chart, on April 1, 1968.

Personnel

Charts

Weekly charts

Cover versions

References

  1. Dale, Jon (24 June 2015). "Robin Gibb – Saved By The Bell – The Collected Works Of Robin Gibb 1968-1970". Uncut. Retrieved 7 May 2016.
  2. Rice, Jo (1982). The Guinness Book of 500 Number One Hits (1st ed.). Enfield, Middlesex: Guinness Superlatives Ltd. p. 112. ISBN 0-85112-250-7.
  3. "Show 49 - The British are Coming! The British are Coming!: With an emphasis on Donovan, the Bee Gees and the Who". Digital.library.unt.edu. Retrieved 6 April 2014.
  4. Billboard Vol. 85, No. 34. Nielsen Business Media. 25 August 1973. p. 18. Retrieved 21 March 2012. five million copies of.
  5. "The Nation's Favourite Bee Gees Song". ITV. 9 December 2011.
  6. Hughes, Andrew (2009). The Bee Gees: Tales of the Brothers Gibb. ISBN 9780857120045. Retrieved 20 January 2015.
  7. Sandoval, Andrew. "Bee Gees - Horizontal". Album Liner Notes. Retrieved 24 May 2013.
  8. "Behind the Track: 'Massachusetts'". Bee Gees. 16 October 2017. Retrieved 21 September 2020.
  9. Brennan, Joseph. "Gibb Songs: 1967". Retrieved 20 January 2015.
  10. Brennan, Joseph. "Gibb Songs: 1967". Retrieved 24 May 2013.
  11. "Songs Written by the Gibb Family on the International Charts" (PDF). brothersgibb.org. Retrieved 20 January 2015.
  12. "Bee Gees - Massachusetts". austriancharts.at. Retrieved 19 January 2015.
  13. "Bee Gees - Massachusetts". ultratop.be. Retrieved 20 January 2015.
  14. "Bee Gees - Massachusetts". officialcharts.de. Retrieved 19 January 2015.
  15. "あの時代のヒット曲Vol.13!1968/4/1付オリコンチャート". ORICON NEWS. Retrieved 31 May 2019.
  16. "Bee Gees - Massachusetts". Dutch Charts. Retrieved 19 January 2015.
  17. "Bee Gees - Massachusetts". norwegiancharts.com. Retrieved 20 January 2015.
  18. "Kvällstoppen 1966-1969" (PDF) (in Swedish). Hits Aller Tijden. Retrieved 28 December 2012.
  19. "Bee Gees - Massachusetts". hitparade.ch. Retrieved 20 January 2015.
  20. Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. pp. 211–2. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  21. "Bee Gees - Chart history". Billboard. Retrieved 20 January 2015.
  22. "Bee Gees - Massachusetts". lescharts.com. Retrieved 20 January 2015.
  23. "18 Songs Originally Written For Other Artists". cbslocal.com. 5 November 2012. Retrieved 20 January 2015.
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