Australian singles chart:
First of May entered the Kent charts on 8 March 1969 and peaked at #15. It was #93 on the Top 100 of 1969.
Album:
The song is on Odessa which entered the Kent album charts on 17 May 1969 and peaked at #13.
Songwriters:
Barry Gibb, Robin Gibb, Maurice Gibb
Producers:
Robert Stigwood, Bee Gees
Record label of Australian release:
Spin
The video shows Barry and Robin during their young years in Australia.
BONUS SONG BELOW – the B-side of the single was Lamplight (see the notes below)
Wikipedia:
Barry Gibb sang lead on First of May, which Cash Box described as a “low-key love ballad with the same mystic quality that has proved captivating in the team’s work” with “hypnotic arrangements” and a “singular vocal sound.”
Billboard called it a “big production ballad performance with compelling lyric line.”
By the time of the Odessa album in 1969, Vince Melouney had left the group, leaving Colin Petersen with the three Gibb brothers. However, by this time, Robin was feeling unhappy that manager Robert Stigwood was favouring Barry as the frontman.
Stigwood chose First of May, with Barry’s lead vocal, as the A-side of the single and Lamplight, on which Robin sang lead, as the B-side. Barry supported Stigwood’s choice but Robin disagreed, which is said to have played a part in his decision to quit the group for more than a year.
Barry said in the booklet with Tales from the Brothers Gibb that the title First of May came from the birthday of his dog, Barnaby.
Read more: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_of_May_(Bee_Gees_song)
Lyrics:
When I was small and Christmas trees were tall
We used to love while others used to play
Don’t ask me why, but time has passed us by
Some one else moved in from far away
Click for full lyrics
This song is also on our Spotify playlist Bang a Gong – the 60s
Find more songs to enjoy: Bang a Gong song finder
BONUS SONG
Lamplight was the B-side of the single, not the A-side as Robin wanted, as mentioned in the Wikipedia notes above. This is also on the Odessa album. Written by Barry, Robin and Maurice Gibb.
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