The Bee Gees* – Spicks And Specks

Here I am again writing a review for these Australian recordings of the Bee Gees which seem to have this amazing power of rejuvenation. Now presented by the Reel Music label a devision of Good Time Records of Nashville Tennesse no less. This album is the first attempt by any label to present a worthy representation replica of the original Bee Gees second Australian album called Spicks And Specks. First issued on vinyl in 1966 which has become a great rarity to find ever since.

It has taken 56 years for this first vinyl reissue event to arrive for Bee Gees fans and collectors alike, because Spin/Festival Records Australia for some unknown strange reason never thought it worth the effort to release it themselves. Even though these recordings have been presented since in many forms titles, formats and compilations but never in their original state, except for maybe Cd 2013 Warner Music Australia 3 Cd set called 'Bee Gees, The Festival Albums Collection 1965-67'. See link -

https://www.discogs.com/release/4350098-Bee-Gees-The-Festival-Albums-Collection-1965-67

This 2022 release of the Bee Gees Spicks And Specks whether official or unofficial is hard to know but it is claiming reissue status and who is to refute this? This release has the original album art work and the same back cover with the album note by Nat Kipner. All the songs run in the original running order. The only real difference from the original 1966 album is the Reel Music record label itself. Though the Spin label might have been preferred its also pressed on virgin white coloured 180g vinyl which I don't think detracts too much from this release, as it's really novel and worthy of its time.

So what does it sound like I hear you cry. It has been rumoured that this release was remastered but I can't say there is much evidence of this from what I can hear. Though these recordings were remastered by Festival Records in 1998 for their double Cd set release of 'Bee Gees Brilliant From Birth'. See Link -

https://www.discogs.com/release/1367068-The-Bee-Gees-Brilliant-From-Birth

I can honestly say if you are familiar with these Australian Bee Gees recordings you won't notice much difference here in sound.
That's not to say that this issue sounds bad, it doesn't. It just sounds like these recordings have always sounded there is nothing much new to be noted here in sound.

So here is my summation.
I welcome this release and it is worth having in your collection. Especially if your a Bee Gees fan or collector. It will nicely fill that confusing convoluted gap that has been on going for far to long in the continuity of Bee Gees vinyl and their recording career from Australia to England and it won't break the bank to buy copy either.

So I would like to commend Reel Music for this release.
I can only hope now that they will follow through and produce another two similar releases to follow up after this. Namely to reissue and replicate the 1965 album 'The Bee Gees Sing And Play 14 Barry Gibb Songs' and the 1967 album 'Turn Around Look At Us' on vinyl. A nice amber coloured vinyl for the first title would be nice and for the second I would suggest a nice grey coloured vinyl version.
I'm sure it would be much appreciated by fans and the buying public alike. So what are you waiting for Reel Music/Good Time records there is money to be made from them Bee Gees gold spinners.