E.S.P. (Bee Gees album)
Encyclopedia
E.S.P. is the Bee Gees
' seventeenth original album. Released in 1987
, it was the band's first studio album in six years, and the first album they released under their new contract with Warner Bros. It marked the first time in twelve years the band had worked with producer Arif Mardin
, and was their first album to be recorded digitally.
The album sold well in Europe, reaching #5 in the UK
, #2 in Norway
and Austria
, and #1 Germany
and Switzerland
, though it barely made the top 100 in the U.S.
.
The album's first single, "You Win Again
", reached #1 in the UK, Switzerland, Germany, Austria, and Norway.
All compositions by Barry
, Robin
and Maurice
Gibb.
Bee Gees
The Bee Gees are a musical group that originally comprised three brothers: Barry, Robin, and Maurice Gibb. The trio was successful for most of their 40-plus years of recording music, but they had two distinct periods of exceptional success: as a pop act in the late 1960s and early 1970s, and as a...
' seventeenth original album. Released in 1987
1987 in music
This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1987.See also:Record labels established in 1987-January-February:*January 3 – Aretha Franklin becomes the first woman inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame...
, it was the band's first studio album in six years, and the first album they released under their new contract with Warner Bros. It marked the first time in twelve years the band had worked with producer Arif Mardin
Arif Mardin
Arif Mardin was a Turkish-American music producer, who worked with hundreds of artists across many different styles of music, including jazz, rock, soul, disco, and country...
, and was their first album to be recorded digitally.
The album sold well in Europe, reaching #5 in the UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, #2 in Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
and Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
, and #1 Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
and Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
, though it barely made the top 100 in the U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
The album's first single, "You Win Again
You Win Again (song)
"You Win Again" is a 1987 song written and performed by the Bee Gees. Barry Gibb wrote the melody while brother Maurice conceived the drum sounds that open the track....
", reached #1 in the UK, Switzerland, Germany, Austria, and Norway.
Track listing
- "E.S.P.E.S.P. (Bee Gees song)"E.S.P." was a single by the Bee Gees. Released in 1987, it was the follow-up to their highly successful single "You Win Again". The a cappella intro found on the album version was edited out for radio airplay.-Chart performance:...
" – 5:35 - "You Win AgainYou Win Again (song)"You Win Again" is a 1987 song written and performed by the Bee Gees. Barry Gibb wrote the melody while brother Maurice conceived the drum sounds that open the track....
" – 4:01 - "Live or Die (Hold Me Like a Child)" – 4:42
- "Giving up the Ghost" – 4:26
- "The Longest Night" – 5:47
- "This is Your Life" – 4:53
- "Angela" – 4:56
- "Overnight" – 4:21
- "Crazy for Your Love" - 4:43
- "Backtafunk" – 4:23
- "E.S.P." (Vocal Reprise) – 0:30
All compositions by Barry
Barry Gibb
Barry Alan Crompton Gibb, CBE , is a singer, songwriter and producer. He was born in the Isle of Man to English parents. With his brothers Robin and Maurice, he formed The Bee Gees, one of the most successful pop groups of all time. The trio got their start in Australia, and found their major...
, Robin
Robin Gibb
Robin Hugh Gibb, CBE is a British singer and songwriter. He is best known as a member of the Bee Gees, co-founded with his twin brother Maurice , and elder brother Barry....
and Maurice
Maurice Gibb
Maurice Ernest Gibb, CBE was a musician, singer-songwriter and record producer. He was born on the Isle of Man, the twin brother of Robin Gibb, and younger brother to Barry. He is best known as a member of the singing/songwriting trio the Bee Gees, formed with his brothers...
Gibb.
Personnel
- Claude "Swifty" Achille – engineer
- Martyn Atkins – art direction, design
- Reb Beach – electric guitar
- Tony Beard – drums
- Andy Earl – photography
- Sammy FigueroaSammy FigueroaSammy Figueroa is an American percussionist born in The Bronx, New York. At 18 he joined the band of bassist Bobby Valentín and also co-led the Brazilian/Latin fusion group Raices....
– percussion - Ellen Fitton – engineer
- Bob Gay – saxophone
- Barry GibbBarry GibbBarry Alan Crompton Gibb, CBE , is a singer, songwriter and producer. He was born in the Isle of Man to English parents. With his brothers Robin and Maurice, he formed The Bee Gees, one of the most successful pop groups of all time. The trio got their start in Australia, and found their major...
– acoustic guitar, guitar, arranger, drums, electric guitar, programming, vocals, producer, drum programming - Maurice GibbMaurice GibbMaurice Ernest Gibb, CBE was a musician, singer-songwriter and record producer. He was born on the Isle of Man, the twin brother of Robin Gibb, and younger brother to Barry. He is best known as a member of the singing/songwriting trio the Bee Gees, formed with his brothers...
– synthesizer, acoustic guitar, bass, arranger, electric guitar, keyboards, programming, vocals, drum programming - Robin GibbRobin GibbRobin Hugh Gibb, CBE is a British singer and songwriter. He is best known as a member of the Bee Gees, co-founded with his twin brother Maurice , and elder brother Barry....
– arranger, vocals, backing vocals, producer - Scott Glasel – programming, assistant engineer
- Reggie Griffin – arranger, electric guitar, programming, rhythm track
- Jeri Heiden – artwork
- David A. Jones – 12-string bass
- Robbie KondorRobbie KondorRobbie Kondor is an American composer, session musician, and arranger. He has worked as a composer on The Significant Other, Ball In The House, Sally Jessy Ralphael, Happiness , The Suburbans , Forever Fabulous ,Drawing Angel , Series 7: The Contenders , Home Delivery and Equality U...
– keyboards, 12-string bass - Rhett Lawrence – synthesizer, keyboards, programming, drum programming
- Will LeeWill Lee (bassist)Will Lee aka William Franklin Lee IV is an American musician and bassist, best known for his work on the CBS television program The Late Show with David Letterman as part of the CBS Orchestra....
– bass - Arif Mardin – arranger, electric guitar, producer, horn arrangements, string arrangements, synthesizer bass
- Joe MardinJoe MardinJoe Mardin is a music producer, arranger and engineer from New York City. He is a Berklee College of Music graduate and is the son of producer Arif Mardin...
– programming, drum programming - George Marino – engineer
- Marcus MillerMarcus MillerMarcus Miller is an American jazz composer, producer, and multi-instrumentalist. Miller is best known as a bassist, working with trumpeter Miles Davis, singer Luther Vandross, and saxophonist David Sanborn, as well as maintaining a prolific solo career...
– bass - Nick Moroch – electric guitar
- Michael O'Reilly – engineer
- Gene Orloff – concert master
- Greg PhillinganesGreg PhillinganesGreg Phillinganes is an active session keyboardist in Los Angeles, California. He is a graduate of Cass Technical High School, Detroit Michigan....
– synthesizer, keyboards, electric piano, programming - Ken Steiger – engineer
- Brian Tench – producer, engineer, drum programming, mixing, percussion programming
Chart performance
| Chart | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Germany | 1 |
| Switzerland | 1 |
| Norway | 2 |
| Austria | 2 |
| United Kingdom | 5 |
| Netherlands | 6 |
| Italy | 13 |
| Sweden | 25 |
| Australia | 25 |
| Japan | 26 |
| Spain | 32 |
| Finland | 39 |
| New Zealand | 44 |
| Canada | 85 |
| United States | 96 |