Idea is the Bee Gees

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...

' fifth studio album, and their third international release on the ATCO

ATCO

ATCO Ltd. is an Alberta based corporation with more than 7,000 employees operating across three main business divisions: Power Generation; Utilities and Global Enterprises, with companies active in industrial manufacturing, technology, logistics and energy services.ATCO Ltd...

 label in the US and Polydor in the UK. Released in August, 1968, the album sold over a million copies worldwide. This album features "Such a Shame", the only Bee Gees song where lead vocals aren't sung by (nor written by) a Gibb brother. "Such a Shame" was included on the British version of the album but deleted from the American issue, which in turn included their recent hit "I've Gotta Get a Message to You", not on the UK LP. When the album was issued on CD in the 1980s, both tracks were included.

In 2006, Reprise Records

Reprise Records

Reprise Records is an American record label, founded in 1960 by Frank Sinatra. It is owned by Warner Music Group, and operated through Warner Bros. Records.-Beginnings:...

 reissued Idea (using the European cover) with both stereo and mono mixes on one disc and a bonus disc of unreleased songs, non-album tracks, and alternate mixes.

Original LP

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 Gibb

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...

 except as indicated.

1. "Let There Be Love" – 3:32
2. "Kitty Can" – 2:39
3. "In The Summer of His Years" – 3:10
4. "Indian Gin and Whisky Dry" – 2:01
5. "Down to Earth" – 2:32
6. "Such a Shame" (Vince Melouney
   Vince Melouney
   Vince Melouney was a founding member of Billy Thorpe & The Aztecs, playing with the band as lead guitarist from 1963 to 1965, which was followed by a short-lived duo with fellow Aztec Tony Barber, called Vince & Tony's Two.In 1967, after moving to the UK, he was invited to join the Bee Gees...
   
   ) – 2:28
7. "I've Gotta Get a Message to You
   I've Gotta Get a Message to You
   "I've Gotta Get a Message to You" is a song recorded by The Bee Gees in 1968, which became their second number-one single on the UK Singles Chart, and reached number eight on the U.S. pop chart....
   
   " – 2:57
   • Available only on the U.S. version of the album.
8. "Idea" – 2:51
9. "When the Swallows Fly" – 2:32
10. "I Have Decided to Join the Air Force" – 2:11
11. "I Started a Joke
    I Started a Joke
    "I Started a Joke" is a 1968 song by the Bee Gees from their album Idea, which was released in September of that year.Curiously, it was not released as a single in the UK, where buyers who could not afford the album had to content themselves with a Polydor version by Heath...
    
    " – 3:08
12. "Kilburn Towers" – 2:19
13. "Swan Song" – 2:58

2006 CD reissue

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 Gibb

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...

 except as indicated.

Disc 1

1. "Let There Be Love" – 3:36
2. "Kitty Can" – 2:43
3. "In The Summer of His Years" – 3:14
4. "Indian Gin and Whisky Dry" – 2:05
5. "Down to Earth" – 2:36
6. "Such a Shame" (Vince Melouney
   Vince Melouney
   Vince Melouney was a founding member of Billy Thorpe & The Aztecs, playing with the band as lead guitarist from 1963 to 1965, which was followed by a short-lived duo with fellow Aztec Tony Barber, called Vince & Tony's Two.In 1967, after moving to the UK, he was invited to join the Bee Gees...
   
   ) – 2:29
7. "I've Gotta Get a Message to You
   I've Gotta Get a Message to You
   "I've Gotta Get a Message to You" is a song recorded by The Bee Gees in 1968, which became their second number-one single on the UK Singles Chart, and reached number eight on the U.S. pop chart....
   
   " – 3:01
8. "Idea" – 2:57
9. "When the Swallows Fly" – 2:36
10. "I Have Decided to Join the Air Force" – 2:17
11. "I Started a Joke
    I Started a Joke
    "I Started a Joke" is a 1968 song by the Bee Gees from their album Idea, which was released in September of that year.Curiously, it was not released as a single in the UK, where buyers who could not afford the album had to content themselves with a Polydor version by Heath...
    
    " – 3:12
12. "Kilburn Towers" – 2:22
13. "Swan Song" – 3:03
14. "Let There Be Love" (mono mix) – 3:32
15. "Kitty Can" (mono mix) – 2:37
16. "In The Summer of His Years" (mono mix) – 3:09
17. "Indian Gin and Whisky Dry" (mono mix) – 2:00
18. "Down to Earth" (mono mix) – 2:33
19. "Such a Shame" (Vince Melouney
    Vince Melouney
    Vince Melouney was a founding member of Billy Thorpe & The Aztecs, playing with the band as lead guitarist from 1963 to 1965, which was followed by a short-lived duo with fellow Aztec Tony Barber, called Vince & Tony's Two.In 1967, after moving to the UK, he was invited to join the Bee Gees...
    
    ) (mono mix) – 2:31
20. "I've Gotta Get a Message to You
    I've Gotta Get a Message to You
    "I've Gotta Get a Message to You" is a song recorded by The Bee Gees in 1968, which became their second number-one single on the UK Singles Chart, and reached number eight on the U.S. pop chart....
    
    " (mono mix) – 2:56
21. "Idea" (mono mix) – 2:57
22. "When the Swallows Fly" (mono mix) – 2:28
23. "I Have Decided to Join the Air Force" (mono mix) – 2:13
24. "I Started a Joke
    I Started a Joke
    "I Started a Joke" is a 1968 song by the Bee Gees from their album Idea, which was released in September of that year.Curiously, it was not released as a single in the UK, where buyers who could not afford the album had to content themselves with a Polydor version by Heath...
    
    " (mono mix) – 3:09
25. "Kilburn Towers" (mono mix) – 2:20
26. "Swan Song" (mono mix) – 2:57

Disc 2

1. "Chocolate Symphony"* – 2:46
2. "I've Gotta Get a Message to You" Mono Single Version – 3:04
3. "Jumbo" – 2:11
4. "The Singer Sang His Song" – 3:21
5. "Bridges Crossing Rivers"* – 2:10
6. "Idea" Alternate Mix* – 2:50
7. "Completely Unoriginal"* – 3:37
8. "Kitty Can" Alternate Mix* – 2:40
9. "Come Some Christmas Eve
   Christmas Eve
   Christmas Eve refers to the evening or entire day preceding Christmas Day, a widely celebrated festival commemorating the birth of Jesus of Nazareth that takes place on December 25...
   
    or Halloween
   Halloween
   Hallowe'en , also known as Halloween or All Hallows' Eve, is a yearly holiday observed around the world on October 31, the night before All Saints' Day...
   
   "* – 3:32
10. "Let There Be Love" Alternate Mix* – 3:36
11. "Gena's Theme" – 3:33
12. "Another Cold and Windy Day" (Coke
    Coca-Cola
    Coca-Cola is a carbonated soft drink sold in stores, restaurants, and vending machines in more than 200 countries. It is produced by The Coca-Cola Company of Atlanta, Georgia, and is often referred to simply as Coke...
    
     Spot #1) – 0:57
13. "Sitting in the Meadow" (Coke Spot #2*)– 1:02

• Previously unissued.

Personnel

• Barry Gibb
  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...
  
   – vocals, guitar
• Robin Gibb
  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....
  
   – vocals
• Maurice Gibb
  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...
  
   – vocals, organ, bass, guitar, mellotron
• Vince Melouney
  Vince Melouney
  Vince Melouney was a founding member of Billy Thorpe & The Aztecs, playing with the band as lead guitarist from 1963 to 1965, which was followed by a short-lived duo with fellow Aztec Tony Barber, called Vince & Tony's Two.In 1967, after moving to the UK, he was invited to join the Bee Gees...
  
   – vocals, lead guitar
• Colin Petersen
  Colin Petersen
  Colin Petersen is a former child actor and rock drummer. He played as a member of the Bee Gees on their first five albums.-Biography:Petersen began his acting career at the age of seven...
  
   – drums
• Bill Shepherd - orchestral arrangement
• John Pantry
  John Pantry
  John Pantry is a musician, singer, songwriter, audio engineer and record producer from Harrow, Middlesex, England. He's been active since the late 1960s...
  
  , Mike Claydon & Damon Lyon Shaw - engineer