BEE GEES
A KICK IN THE HEAD IS WORTH EIGHT IN THE PANTS
[from master tape of unreleased LP, 1973]
It goes without saying that the early Seventies weren't particularly kind to the Bee Gees, in either the United States or England. Despite containing three smash hits ("Lonely Days", "How Can You Mend A Broken Heart" and "Run To Me"), the group's first three Seventies albums were more or less ignored. In spite of this, the Gibbs pressed on, and just as their 1973 LP 'Life In A Tin Can' was headed for stores, they were completing its follow-up and close companion.
'Tin Can' was promoted by an appearance on Johnny Carson's Tonight Show, during which the brothers sang the album's lead-off single, "Saw A New Morning," as well as the lead-off single from the upcoming companion LP, "Wouldn't I Be Someone." However, when both "Saw A New Morning" and 'Life In A Tin Can' failed to attracted buyers, the newly-formed RSO Records became worried. The next Bee Gees album was very close in style to 'Tin Can,' and when "Someone" was cautiously released as a 45, it sunk without a trace - except, oddly, in Hong Kong, where it became a #1 hit. Taking no chances, RSO informed the Bee Gees that their new album, 'A Kick In The Head Is Worth Eight In The Pants,' would NOT see record stores.
While it probably would have seen the lack of success suffered by its predecessor, 'A Kick In The Head' has become a fan favorite, deemed more commercial and overall superior compared to 'Tin Can.' Along with a small number of tracks appearing on authorized Bee Gees compilations over the years, numerous bootlegs have emerged in varying quality, more often than not presenting a song sequence nowhere close to the planned line-up.
This disc, however, is the ABSOLUTE best of the boots, presenting a crystal-clear dub of the album, allegedly direct from the master tapes. Sadly, this high-quality edition of the album is mostly overlooked - with many fans knowing only of the original bootleg, which married shoddy dubs of these songs with a number of equally poor quality "Midnight Special" performances from the same time period. Hopefully, this torrent will change that, because this album is too good not to hear in its full glory!
01) Elisa [single version] (2:50) - The actual master of this song sounds as though its received some damage over the years; for curiosity's sake, it's included as a bonus track.
02) Wouldn't I Be Someone (5:42)
03) A Lonely Violin (3:11)
04) Losers and Lovers (3:14)
05) Home Again Rivers (3:14)
06) Harry's Gate (3:26)
07) Rocky L.A. (3:50)
08) Castles In The Air (3:41)
09) Where Is Your Sister? (3:08)
10) It Doesn't Matter Much To Me (4:25)
11) King and Country (5:20) - These final four tracks were appended to the master tape sometime after the album's completion, possibly intended as B-sides.
12) Jesus In Heaven (3:23)
13) Life, Am I Wasting My Time? (2:56)
14) Dear Mr. Kissinger (4:06)
BONUS TRACKS
15) Wouldn't I Be Someone [single edit] (4:06)
16) King and Country [single edit] (2:50)
17) Castles In The Air ['Words and Music' edit] (0:30) - From a promotional LP. Sadly, this clip has been the only commercial release of an incredible song...
18) Elisa ['Tales From The Brothers Gibb' mix] (2:50)
19) Wouldn't I Be Someone ['Tales From The Brothers Gibb' mix] (5:40)
20) King and Country ['Tales from the Brothers Gibb' mix] (5:20)
21) Elisa [master tape dub, with first two minutes damaged] (2:51)
XX) It Doesn't Matter Much To Me [1974 version] (3:50) - This 'Mr. Natural'-era B-side won't fit on the disc, but I felt it was worth including.
A number of covers created for this album over the years have also been included.