World (Bee Gees song)

"World" is a song by the Bee Gees, released in 1967 as a single in the United Kingdom and Europe and then included on their album Horizontal the following year. Though it was a big hit in Europe, Atco Records did not issue it as a single in the United States, having just issued a third single from Bee Gees' 1st, "Holiday".

"World"
Single by Bee Gees
from the album Horizontal
B-side"Sir Geoffrey Saved the World"
ReleasedDecember 1967
Recorded3, 28 October 1967
IBC Studios, London
GenrePsychedelic pop
Length3:20
LabelPolydor (United Kingdom)
Songwriter(s)Barry, Robin & Maurice Gibb
Producer(s)Robert Stigwood, Bee Gees
Bee Gees UK singles chronology
"Massachusetts"
(1967)		 "World"
(1967)		 "Words"
(1968)
Audio sample
"World"
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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)

Composition

The song's lyrics question the singer's purpose in life.[1]

Recording

The song's first recording session was on 3 October 1967 along with "With the Sun in My Eyes" and "Words". The song's last recording session was on 28 October 1967. "World" was originally planned as having no orchestra, so was recorded on four tracks , including some mellotron or organ played by Robin. When it was decided to add an orchestra, the four tracks containing the band were mixed to one track and the orchestra was added to the other track. The stereo mix suffered since the second tape had to play as mono until the end when the orchestra comes in on one side. Barry adds: "'World' is one of those things we came up with in the studio, Everyone just having fun and saying, 'Let's just do something!' you know". Vince Melouney recalls: "I had this idea to play the melody right up in the top register of the guitar behind the chorus".[2]

Release

In 1990, Bill Inglot synched up the two tape reels and made a new stereo mix for the Tales from the Brothers Gibb box set. Two mixes of the record were played to journalists at a press conference before its release. The released version is mainly the unorchestrated version but the orchestrated version is used from 2:39.[3] The track features Robin on organ and Maurice on double-tracked piano. The vocals are mostly by Barry but Robin sings the chorus a few times prior to the fadeout.

Allmusic's Donald A. Guarisco described this song as "a thoroughly psychedelic ballad worthy of the Moody Blues' finest similar efforts".[1] The original promotional video for "World" is black and white.[4]

Personnel

Chart performance

Cover versions

References
  1. Guarisco, Donald. "Bee Gees - World review". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 21 January 2015.
  2. Sandoval, Andrew. "Bee Gees - Horizontal". Retrieved 22 May 2013.
  3. Joseph Brennan. "Gibb Songs: 1967". Columbia.edu.
  4. "Bee Gees - World". YouTube. Retrieved 21 January 2015.
  5. "Songs Written by the Gibb Family on the International Charts - Part 1" (PDF). Brothersgibb.org. Retrieved 21 January 2015.
  6. "Bee Gees - World". Austriancharts.at. Retrieved 21 January 2015.
  7. "Bee Gees - World". Ultratop.be. Retrieved 21 January 2015.
  8. "Bee Gees - World". Officialcharts.de. Retrieved 21 January 2015.
  9. "Bee Gees - World". Dutch Charts. Retrieved 21 January 2015.
  10. "Bee Gees - World". Norwegiancharts.com. Retrieved 21 January 2015.
  11. "Billboard: Hits of the World". Billboard. 4 May 1968. p. 53. Retrieved 22 January 2015.
  12. "Swedish Singles Chart 1967-1969" (PDF). Hitsallertijden.nl. Retrieved 31 May 2019.
  13. "Bee Gees - World". Hitparade.ch. Retrieved 21 January 2015.
  14. "Bee Gees Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 21 January 2015.
  15. "Declan Galbraith - World". YouTube. Retrieved 21 January 2015.
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